The Carer Support Service, Older People/Mental Health (Belfast) - Belfast Trust

Every day across Belfast, people are dedicating their time to care for relatives, partners and friends. Caring for someone can be rewarding especially when you can see the person is well and living safely at home. However it is often hard work and can leave carers exhausted and feeling they have no life of their own. The Belfast Trust can help by providing support for carers of all ages, across all caring situations, in their caring role. Our aim is to promote and protect the health and wellbeing of carers. From the 2001 Census approximately 44,000 people identified themselves as carers in the Belfast area. It is estimated that carers in economic terms double the efforts of health and social services – in 2002 the contribution that carers make was valued at £1.9 billion, which was equivalent at that time to the Health & Social Services budget in Northern Ireland. A range of information and advice to support you as a carer can be found at www.belfasttrust.hscni.net To organise a Carer's Needs Assessment or for more information on anything you have read here, contact one of the Trust's Carers Co-Ordinators: If you live in north or west Belfast: The Carer Support Service Tel: 028 9504 2126 If you live in south or east Belfast or Castlereagh The Carer Support Service Tel: 028 9504 2126 Helping Young Carers Young Carers are children and young people aged 18 and younger who are caring for or helping to support a family member who is ill or has a disability. In some cases there may be a family member who is dealing with an alcohol or drug problem. Young carers may be helping with shopping, laundry or simply helping someone to get about. These young carers sometimes miss out on opportunities that other young people have, because they feel responsible for someone else and don’t want to leave them on their own. They may find it difficult to concentrate in school or find time to spend with their friends. Here are some organisations that can help: 174 Trust Young Carers Activity Project, Belfast www.174trust.org Action for Children Young Carers Project Belfast www.actionforchildren.org.uk Crossroads Young Carers Project Belfast www.carers.org www.youngcarers.net