Being A Carer

Carers carry out vital work in their own communities. This site is dedicated to providing information and practical help to support carers in Leicestershire.

It aims to help carers continue in their caring role by highlighting key services and support available in the county and signpost organizations and support groups that exist locally.

Who is a carer?

A carer is someone who, without payment, provides help to a friend, neighbour or relative who has a frailty, illness or disability and needs support with every day living at home.

This may be an adult, elderly person or child with an illness, mental ill health, a physical or learning disability, or parents caring for children with a disability.

There are an estimated 85,000 carers in Leicestershire.

In total there are almost seven million adult carers across the UK, of whom around one million are looking after somebody for more than 50 hours a week.

There are also estimated to be 50,000 young carers in Britain - children or young people under the age of 18 who have responsibility, either as a sole carer or in the support of another family member, for the care of a parent or family member who has a long term illness, disability or as the result of substance misuse. The caring role may be physical, emotional or both.