If you're caring for someone, be it a relative, a partner or a friend — and you're doing so voluntarily — then you're a carer. And you're not alone. In the UK there are an estimated six million carers and it's likely that at some time in our lives we will all undertake a caring role.
Carers can spend anywhere between an hour a day to 24 hours, seven days a week, in their caring role. Everyone's situation is different. Caring can be frustrating. Caring can be rewarding. These feelings — and many, many more — are all normal.
And we can help.
Carers can be any age, including children, from any background and regularly spend time looking after or supporting a relative, partner or friend who is unable to manage without their help. The reasons for this are because the person being cared-for is frail, has a physical or learning disability, a mental health problem or is living with AIDS/HIV
(the words AIDS/HIV are an example of a word, phrase or term defined in our glossary. Any words you see throughout this website that are in red can be clicked, taking you to the glossary. To return to the page you were viewing before you clicked, press the "back" button which will be in the top left hand corner of your web browser).
These webpages contains information on a wide variety of topics - including help and advice on using the Internet itself - as well as links to sources of information from external specialists.
One thing these webpages can't do is answer every question for every individual situation. But it can direct you to people who are in situations similar to yours.
First Steps