How we help Is our service for you? Carers in Southampton is a free service for adults who give their time, unpaid, to look after an adult who needs additional support, such as a family member, a friend, or a neighbour. What do we mean by unpaid? Unpaid means providing care in a voluntary rather than professional or employed capacity. You are still an unpaid carer even if you receive Carers Allowance or other carer related benefits. What do we mean by carer? The term carer can be confused with someone who provides care professionally e.g. a personal care assistant. Most family carers just think of themselves as doing what any daughter, mother, brother, father, sister, friend or neighbour would and should do. Caring is not always a choice and difficulties can go unrecognised with many carers struggling silently, not knowing what help is available to them. Who can use the service? You must be an adult providing care and support to an adult (18 years +) who is living in the local area served by Southampton City Council and who is disabled, ill or elderly. Carers assessments, carers cards, carers talk/lunch and our link worker services are available to anyone resident in a Southampton city postcode or looking after someone who lives in a Southampton city postcode. However, our social media and website (events, news, wide range of information) are available to ALL. Click here for Hampshire carer services. Do you provide services to parent and kinship carers? Yes. Parent and kinship carers (looking after someone under 18) are eligible for all our services except carers assessments if you are resident in a Southampton city postcode or looking after a young person who lives in a Southampton city postcode. Carers assessments for parent carers are delivered via JIGSAW. See here. Do you provide services to young carers? We work with No Limits to provide the Young Carers Service for a smooth transition into the adult carer support service where needed. Young Carers in Southampton is a project in partnership with Southampton Mencap for children and young people aged 8-18 years old whose lives are affected by caring for an unwell or disabled family member. Phone: 023 8022 4224 Email: [email protected] Website page: https://nolimitshelp.org.uk/get-help/young-carers-in-southampton-2/ If you are a young carer who doesn't know who to contact please contact us and we can make the referral for you. There is plenty of support available to you and the first step is as easy as making contact with us.