Support for Carers
If you provide unpaid care to a friend or relative, you are entitled to an assessment of your own needs as a carer from the Council.
What is the Assessment?
A Carer’s Needs Assessment under the Care Act will look at what your care and support needs are. It will look at the impact that caring for your friend or relative is having on you.
It will consider the things you want to achieve in your day-to-day life, what might need to change to make that happen and whether you are willing and able to continue providing the same level of care.
It will also assess if you can have support from the Council. If you can, a support plan will be drawn up for you and you may be entitled to a personal budget to pay for your support.
Support from an advocate
You may be able to get help from an advocate with your Carer’s Needs Assessment if you would find it difficult to complete it without an advocate and you do not already have someone suitable to help you.
Can the person I care for have an advocate?
In some circumstances, yes. For more information, see the Manchester Advocacy Hub website (known as Gaddum Advocacy) or call the helpline on
0161 214 3904 to speak to an advocate for advice.
What other help can I get?
Manchester Advocacy Hub
This service provides advice and information about care and support issues. Call the advice line on 0161 214 3904 Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm to speak to an experienced advocate. Or email advocacy@gaddum.org.uk.
Welfare benefits advice
You may be entitled to certain welfare benefits. Follow this link for more information.
To get advice on welfare benefits you can contact Manchester Citizens Advice Bureau on 03444 111 222.
The Carers Manchester Contact Point
This service acts as a first point of contact for all unwaged carers in Manchester who need advice and support. You can make contact in a number of ways:
- Telephone: 0161 543 8000 (Mon-Friday 10am-4pm except bank holidays and 10am – 6pm on Wednesdays)
- Email: contactpoint@carersmanchester.org.uk
- Facebook messenger: send a message to the Facebook page
Gaddum Shine Manchester Young Carers Project
This is a support project open to all young carers aged 5-16 years old (and sometimes older depending on circumstances). It offers one-to-one support and a range of activities and events throughout the year. Find out more here or email shine@gaddum.org.uk.
More information and support for young carers
There is help and support available to young carers by following the links below: