Help and Support Services

0808 808 7777

Carers UK is a carer led national membership charity for carers offering expert help, support and information to all carers in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The information and advice offered covers a range of subjects relating to caring including:

• Benefits and tax credits
• Carers employment rights
• Carers assessments and how to get support
• Services available to carers
• How to complain effectively and challenge decisions

Carers UK Advice line: 0808 808 7777

Mondays to Fridays 9am to 6pm.

Carers UK Forum is an online community of carers where you can talk with other carers, sharing experiences, ask questions or just let off steam by logging in and joining the conversation.

It includes a forum specifically about mental health which may be useful if you are caring for someone with mental health difficulties.

The UPFRONT guide to caring is an online tool to help you find your way through the maze of benefits and entitlements. It is especially useful if you are new to caring, – fill in your details, spend a couple of minutes answering questions and it will guide you to the information you need.

Carers UK is also organising online meet ups – including ‘care for a cuppa?’ with carers – as well as weekly online share and learn sessions.

Adviceline England:  Tel:  0844579 1495

Relay UK: If you can’t hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say using an app or Textphone : 18001 0800 144 8884

Adviceline open: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (calls cost the same as calls to landline numbers)

Or talk to a trained Adviser online about:

• A money or debt problem (between 8am and 7pm, Monday to Friday)

• Any other kind of problem (between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday)

Support for parents and carers:

Helpline Familyline: 0808 802 6666

Text: 07537 404 282

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday – 9am to 9pm

Email: [email protected]

Mind was set up to make sure that no one has to face a mental health problem alone, in England and Wales, and offers help and information on its website and via it’s phone lines.

Infoline: 0300 123 3393

An organisation providing support for carers. Their website includes a carers toolkit with information about essentials such as the Carers Allowance, Carer Assessments, and emergency planning for carers. They also offer a pre-booked, free, one-to-one call with a Carers Coach to talk through how to cope – including looking at support options and building an action plan with you.

Mobilise is also running a pre-booked virtual ‘Cuppa’ for carers at varied times – a way to chat to other carers.

A charity working to prevent young suicide – for children and young people under 35, who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, and those supporting them.

HOPELINEUK:  0800 068 4141

Opening Hours: 9am – midnight – every day of the year

Text:   07860039967

Email: [email protected]

Rethink provides expert, accredited advice and information to those affected by mental health problems in England and has dedicated pages for carers, families and friends within a carers’ hub section.

Adviceline: 0300 5000927

Opening Hours:  Monday to Friday: 9.30am to 4pm

This helpline is run by the Rethink Mental Illness advice service and offers practical help on carers rights and issues relating to mental health.

Samaritans offer a round the clock listening service for people when they need help. You can talk to Samaritans at any time you like, in your own way, and off the record, about whatever’s getting to you – you don’t have to be feeling suicidal.

Helpline: 116 123

Opening Hours:   24 hours every day of the year and is free to call from both landlines and mobiles.

Email: [email protected]  – email response time is 24 hours

Sane is a mental health charity offering emotional support, and help and information on its website, and via a helpline.

SANEline:  0300 304 7000

Offering ways to help keep people safe from thoughts of harm and suicide, seek support, and discover hope of recovery.

Developed by 4 Mental Health with help from many professionals, as well as people with lived experience.

Support Line provide a confidential telephone helpline offering emotional support to any individual on any issue.

Supportline: 01708 765200 (hours of opening vary so please ring for details)

Email: [email protected]

The website is full of advice and information to give young people the tools to look after their mental health. The charity seeks to empower parents and professionals to be the best support they can be to the young people in their lives. It gives young people the space and confidence to get their voices heard and change the world in which we live  in order to create a world where no young person feels alone with their mental health.

Parents Helpline:  0808 802 5544  (Mon-Fri  9.30am – 4.30pm)

Local authorities have the overall responsibility to arrange an assessment of carer needs for carers in their area and may also have carers hubs or information for carers in their local areas.

You can use the link below to search for your local authority using your postcode.

Many towns, cities and communities have services such as those listed below that offer advice, information and support including:

Carers Centres
Citizens Advice Bureaux
Local GP Practices
Local Community and Faith Centre
Local Carers Groups
Local Libraries
Adult Social Care Teams

Age UK provides help and information on money, care or health to people in later life and their families, friends and carers.

Helpline: 0800 678 1602  – 

Opening Hours:  8am – 7pm (365 days)

Al-Anon offers advice for families and friends of those with alcohol problems across the UK and Ireland

The Alzheimer’s Society provides help and advice for those supporting people with dementia

Dementia Connect Supportline: 0333 150 3456

Opening Hours: 

Monday to Wednesday  9am – 8pm

Thursday and Friday     9am – 5pm

Saturday and Sunday    10am – 4pm

Or you can join the online community ‘Talking Point’ – open 24/7 to share experiences with others.

Scotland:  www.alzscot.org

Helpline for Scotland: 0808 808 3000 – open 24 hours

Dementia UK provide specialist support for families facing dementia – including, when needed, Admiral Nurses.

Admiral nurses are mental health nurses specialising in dementia care who give expert practical, clinical and emotional support to families living with dementia. Usually funded by a partnership of the Dementia UK charity and local services.

The Dementia UK website also has key information about dementia.

To ask for support from an Admiral Nurse and/or find out about local services:

Dementia helpline: 0800 888 6678

Monday to Friday: 9am to 9pm

Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 5pm

Email: [email protected].

Families Anonymous offers help and support for families and friends affected by another’s abuse of mind-altering substances, or related behavioural problems. Families Anonymous has groups, spread throughout the country, which meet regularly.

Helpline: 0207 4984 680

For older people, including advice about care, money and health.

Helpline: 0800 319 6789

Opening Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 6.30pm

Email: [email protected]

The Mix is a UK based charity that provides free, confidential support for young people under 25 via online, social and mobile – it also includes mental health information.

Helpline: 0808 808 4994

Opening Hours: 3pm to midnight, 7 days a week.

Crisis Text Message Service:  Text THEMIX to 85258

Opening Hours: 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Webchat: through the website.

Opening Hours: 3pm – midnight, 7 days a week.

Carers Hub Information and Advice Line:   0333 006 9711 (low cost call rate)

Opening Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 8.45am – 5.00pm

Wednesday: 8.45am – 6.45pm

Out of hours you can leave a message or email, including your name and phone number, and someone from the team will call or email  you back.

You can also stay connected with other Carers by joining and using the ‘Making Space for Carers’ group on Birmingham Carers Hub’s Facebook page.

The Carers Hub also offers outreach services in several areas of Birmingham

Email:   [email protected]

Forward Carers offers city-wide carer information sessions and also lists local carers group events.  Theyhave also produced a ‘What IF’ plan for carers. It’s a simple guide which may help carers and families plan and record vital information for emergency situations which may mean that you are unable to provide care.

Carers Trust Solihull, part of the UK-wide Carers Trust, offers support services and outreach to adults, young people and children who care for family and friends who have a long term illness, disability or addiction in the Solihull area.

Telephone:  0121 788 1143

You can also use their online contact form or email: 

[email protected]

Chinese Community Centre Birmingham provides services that meet the social, health, welfare and development needs of the Chinese community in Birmingham including support for carers of people with mental health issues

Carer Support Availability
Appointment Based: Monday and Tuesday 10.00am – 4.00pm
Drop in Sessions: Friday 10.00am – 12.00pm

For Urgent Support: 0121 685 8510

Forward Thinking Birmingham is a partnership of organisations in Birmingham providing mental health support, care and treatment for children and young people age 0-25 and their families.

Access Centre Number: 0300 300 0099

Opening Hours: Monday – Friday: 9.00am – 5.00pm