Tameside Carers Centre
Tameside Carer's Centre
A Guide to who we are and the service we provide
- Looking After Someone
- Information and Advice
- Support Groups
- Advocacy
- Join the Carers Register
- Carers College Course
- Carers Council
- Carers Forum
- Young Carers
Opening times:
Monday to Friday 10am - 3pm for Drop-ins. Other times/visits by appointment.
Tameside Carers Centre opened in March 1995. It's aim is to provide those who look after someone in Tameside with information, advice, support and advocacy. The Centre is part of Tameside Adult Services Strategy for Carers.
Looking After Someone?
Who is a Carer?
A Carer is someone who looks after a friend, relative or neighbour who, because of his or her age, physical or other disability cannot manage at home without help.
If, for instance, the following applies to you, then you are a Carer:
- Your mum or dad is ill or disabled
- Your husband or wife is disabled or sick
- Your child has special needs
- Your brother or sister needs a lot of help
- Your parents suffer from senile dementia
- You are a 'good neighbour'
- Your friend cannot manage without your help
- You support someone who has mental health problems
- Your elderly parents are getting frail
If you are a Carer, both the Centre and your local Adult Services may be able to help to make things easier for you. Services can be provided for the person you care for as well as for you. To work out what services would be helpful in your situation, Adult Services will need to discuss:
- The help the person you care for needs
- The help you are giving at the moment
- The services your Council may provide
The way this is done is called an assessment. See the New to Caring section of Carers in Tameside.
Information and Advice
Carers have different needs. A wide range of information from the Centre's Library is available to meet those needs. For example, you may wish to know more about health issues, entitlements, mobility, grants for holidays, equipment and support.
Services provided by the Centre are free of charge.
Information is also kept on services and schemes within the local authority, private and voluntary services.
Please contact us to ask for information and/or advice on any related matter.
Who can use the Centre?
If you care for someone who lives in Tameside then you can use the Centre and discuss any issues with a member of the Carers Team. We look forward to hearing from you.
The Drop-In Centre is open Monday to Friday 10am to 3pm (excluding Bank Holidays). However, if you would like to book a specific time to come and see a member of the Carers Team do get in touch.
Comprehensive on-line information is also available from the Carers in Tameside.
The Carers Centre is a member of Tameside Community Legal Services Partnership 
and can give general help on some legal issues such as benefits.
Support Groups
Caring for someone can be very isolating.
Carers Support Groups can help Carers:
- cope with caring responsibilities
- meet other Carers in similar situations
- alleviate some of the isolation felt by Carers
The monthly-held groups allow Carers to seek practical and emotional support and up-to-date information from a member of the Carers Team.
Carers are welcome to pop along to any of the Group meetings, where refreshments are available in comfortable surroundings.
Support Group venues:
- Ashton-under-Lyne - The Carers Centre, 50 Warrington Street
- Ashton-under-Lyne - The Carers Centre, 50 Warrington Street. (Asian Carers only)
- Hattersley - HAMPA House, 73 Hattersley Road East
- Hyde - Ashton House, Victoria Street
- Hyde - Healthy Living Centre, Great Norbury Street (Asian Carers only)
- Mossley - Marsden Close Community Room, OL5 0PA
- Stalybridge - Richmond House, SK15 1SE
List of venues, dates and times.
Advocacy
For some Carers, talking about their needs can be difficult. The Carers Team can help Carers look at issues they might want to raise at these meetings and, if necessary speak on their behalf.
There are also issues and concerns which are shared by a number of Carers. Tameside Carers Centre and the Carers Council actively pursue these issues on behalf of Tameside Carers.
Join the Carers Register
The Centre has a Carers' Register, this is a mailing list which enables us to send you regular information about new developments or changes to services. You will also receive any new information on illnesses or disabilities as well as our newsletter for Carers called Signpost.
We inform Carers of any meetings they might want to attend and can, subject to qualification, provide a sitting and support service to enable them to go. The register is confidential and names will not be passed on to anyone without the Carer's permission.
New areas of work are being undertaken and there is always something new and interesting happening. Everyone on our register is kept up to date with all new developments.
To be included on the register please complete the on-line Carers Registration Form. Alternatively, you can contact us and a form can be mailed to you.
Having joined we will telephone you to confirm your details. An Information Pack will then be sent containing the following:
- How to get help in looking after someone
- Signpost Newsletter
- Caring for someone - a basic guide to:
- Carers Allowance
- Income Support
- Protecting your State Retirement pension - How to make a compliment, suggestion, complaint
- Increased benefits for Carers
- Carers Centre Support Groups
- Carers Centre contact information
Carers College Course
Tameside College, in partnership with the Carer's Centre, runs a course for Carers which takes place one day a week for sixteen weeks. The course has two main aims:
- To give Carers knowledge and understanding to enhance their skills.
- To give Carers support and strengthen the existing support framework.
Some of the topics covered are: personal care, first aid, safety, moving and handling, services and support available, plus information about local and national issues affecting Carers. All students completing the course will receive a certificate from the Open College.
If, as a Carer, you would need support for the person you look after, in order to attend the course, the Carers Centre Team can arrange it.
Although some written work is required to build up a portfolio, the teaching style is informal and the group atmosphere is relaxed and welcoming. The course provides a mutually supportive group and former students have moved on to other training and learning opportunities after gaining confidence on it.
For more information, contact the Carers Centre on 0161 342 3344.
Information on language support for the course can be obtained from the Race Equality and Diversity Team on 0161 370 1179.
Carers Council
The Carers Council consists of 16 Carers/Former Carers who give up some of their valuable spare time to represent Carers issues in Tameside. Some members of the Council also represent Carers on other committees.
The Carers Council has played a major role in influencing Carers issues in Tameside and nationally.
Each Council member serves a three-year term and is eligible for re-election after that period of office.
New members of the Carers Council will receive support and training from the Carers Team and members of the Carers Council.
To be a member of the Carers Council you must be on the Carers Register at the Carers Centre. When a vacancy on the Carers Council occurs, the Carers Team will contact all registered Carers to allow them to nominate themselves. For an informal chat and more information please contact us on 0161 342 3344.
Carers Forum
The Carers Forum is an opportunity for Carers to meet other Carers and speakers of interest to share views, experiences and information. There will often be a speaker to talk about relevant issues. Details of Forum dates are given via the Signpost newsletter and by mail outs.
The Forum is held at:
Age Concern Building, 131, Katherine Street, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7AW
0161 308 5000
All Carers are welcome and refreshments are provided.
To allow you to attend, the Carers team can also provide and meet the cost of a sitting and support service. Alternatively, there will be Home Care workers at Age Concern's building to look after the person you care for while you are in the meeting.
The Carers Team can also arrange and meet the cost of a taxi to and from the Forum for those of you who cannot get there otherwise.
For more information or to book a sitter or taxi, please contact The Carers Team.
Young Carers
If you are a Young Carer, under the age of 18, you can join the Young Carers Project. The project can give you:
- Individual advice and support
- The chance to meet other young Carers
- Regular trips and activities
- A regular newsletter
- A Young Carers Pack
For further information, contact:
Family Support Team Office, Newton Family Centre, Victoria St, Newton, Hyde
0161 368 3192
For other local and national organisations please connect to Carers in Tameside - Young Carers section.
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0161 342 3344
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 0161 342 3720
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 0161 342 3721
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