Are you a Carer? Do you regularly help someone who would not be able to manage without your help due to their age, illness, disability or mental health problem?

You may be caring for someone who is a friend, a relative or a neighbour and you do not have to be living with them and caring for them 24 hours a day. Of course there are carers who do provide 24 hour care and cannot leave the house without someone else being there to care.

So take a moment to think about what you are doing to help. Washing, shopping, cleaning , help with sorting out bills and money, checking they are eating meals, gardening and household repairs, going in every day for a chat, making appointments and going with them, helping with tablets or other treatments. These are just some of the things carers do and often they build up slowly.

Does this sound like you? Or does it sound like someone you know? If so, you may be interested in what Carer Support Wiltshire could offer. We are a Wiltshire-wide charity supporting people who care for family members or friends. This could be looking after a young child with a learning disability, caring for an elderly spouse with dementia or helping a friend with a mental health problem, to name but a few examples.

We provide carers with confidential emotional support, access to information that can help them with their caring role, as well as opportunities for time out – social groups, pampering sessions and days out. All of our services are free to carers.

We have regular support groups in Amesbury where you can meet-up with others in similar situations to yourself for a chat and a cup of tea.

If you’d like to find out more about us, or would like to receive some information or support, please freephone us on 0800 181 4118 or visit our website at www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk