A befriending service, time out and Emergency Card: Some of the support available for Carers during National Carers' Week

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Adult Carers' Service is also recognising the contribution informal carers make to their communities, reflecting the theme of this year's national awareness week, 'making carers visible and valued'. 

Councillor Ann McCoy, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, said: "Carers play such an important role in supporting their family and friends and it's really important they feel valued and supported too.

"During this week we want to celebrate them and thank them for all they do but we also want to shine a light on the challenges they face.

"We want to remind carers across the Borough that there are a range of services on offer -whether this be carving time out for themselves, meeting other like-minded people or feeling confident that if they were to be taken ill their loved ones would be cared for.

"So, whether you are a new carer or someone who is looking for extra support please get in touch to find out how we can help."

Here's some of the services the Adult Carers' Support Service provides:

Carers Connect

From a friendly ear to practical advice the Carers Connect service puts carers across the Borough in touch with one another. This new befriending service links up like-minded people across Stockton-on-Tees to support one another though their caring journey.

Need 'Time Out'?

Carers can get a break from their normal caring duties for up to eight hours per month to help them attend appointments or have time to themselves. The 'Time Out' service can be booked in advance or used when needed unexpectedly.

Do you have a Carers' Emergency Card?

The Carers' Emergency Card will give you peace of mind that in an emergency, the person you care for will be looked after.  It is important to keep details like emergency contacts updated to get the best out of your card so we can support you in an emergency.

Support, Information and Advice

The Adult Carers' Service is there to offer practical support and advice about a host of issues including welfare, navigating health and social care services and looking after your own welfare.  

Lighting up

Tonight (Monday, 7 June) the Council is also turning it's feature lighting blue on Stockton High Street, Stockton Riverside and Newport Bridge to recognise the valuable contribution carers make to the Borough.