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​Care for the Carers (CFTC)

Care for the Carers is an independent charity and the Carers Centre for East Sussex.  It has been supporting and representing unpaid carers in East Sussex since 1989.
Its team of staff and volunteers can provide free practical and emotional advice – face to face, by telephone, or online. It can also put you in touch with other carers, and offers a range of groups, training and events across the county. 


​​Have you heard of your local Carers Centre, run by Care for the Carers?  Did you know that some of their services are open to parent carers?  The following services are available to you as a parent carer in East Sussex:

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  • Carers Activities – social activities, days out, courses and treats, to give carers an opportunity to have fun, relax, or socialise with other carers.  Some activities are for carers only, and some you can bring along the person you care for.  Forthcoming activities can be found on our Facebook page @careforthecarers and website www.cftc.org.uk or by calling our Gateway team on 01323 738390. 
  • East Sussex Carers Card – offers carers savings and discounts at a variety of retail and leisure venues in East Sussex, including all day parking at the Conquest Hospital and Eastbourne DGH for just £1.70. You can sign up on online and view a directory of where discounts are available at www.cftc.org.uk/carerscard or by calling 01323 738390. 
  • CareLine Magazine – produced quarterly by Care for the Carers on behalf of commissioned carer support services and provides local and national information relevant to carers. Available by email, on www.cftc.org.uk/sign-up-to-careline, or by post for those without internet access.  
  • Care for the Carers E-newsletter – produced monthly and targeted at carers that are interested in regular updates and opportunities to get involved in ensuring carers’ voices get heard.  You can sign up on online via www.cftc.org.uk/sign-up-to-careline​

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​Is the young person you care for aged 18 or over?  If so, Care for the Carers’ other services are also for you, including:
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  • Gateway – telephone (01323 738390) and drop-in (Highlight House, 8 St Leonards Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3UH) service delivered by Carer Support Workers, providing advice, information and support to carers, empowering you to negotiate the maze of health and social care services and helping you to access a range of carer services.  Our Gateway opening hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
  • Carers Information and Advice Groups – regular daytime and evening meetings for carers of adults, facilitated by Carer Support Workers.  The first half of the meeting gives time to have a cuppa and a chat with other carers, and the second half has a guest speaker who brings useful information and advice.  
  • Carers Wellbeing Groups – regular informal drop-in groups for carers of adults, with input at some groups from Carer Support Workers.  These are usually the ‘next step’ groups for carers after they have been attending Information and Advice Groups for 12 months. 
  • Mental Health Carers Support Groups – regular Saturday meetings for carers of adults with mental health issues, facilitated by Carer Support Workers.  
  • Young Adult Carers (YACs) Groups – regular evening meetings for carers aged 17-25yrs, facilitated by Carer Support Workers.  The first hour is a structured workshop related to education, training, employment and ‘having your voice heard’, based on what YACs tell us they want to discuss.  The second hour is for YACs to ‘chill’, catch up with each other and access any support from the workers present if required. Contact Gateway to get details of the next group and to request an invite to Care for the Carers’ private YAC Facebook group. 
  • Carer’s Clinics – one-to-one pre-booked hour-long face-to-face or telephone appointments with a Carer Support Worker, to listen to a carer’s worries or concerns, and give advice, information and support regarding your caring role.  Contact Gateway to book an appointment. 
  • Supported Self-Assessment – face-to-face or telephone support to carers to complete the Carers Self-Assessment and ensure that your needs are fully reflected in the assessment.  Contact Gateway to book an appointment. 
  • Time to Talk Counselling –12 sessions of free counselling to support you to cope with the emotional impact of your caring role. Contact Gateway to access the counselling service. 
  • Healthcare Appointment Respite Grant – available for respite services for carers of adults who have no care provision in place or pay for care themselves. Funding can be applied for to meet the costs of respite so that you can attend your own healthcare appointments such as counselling, physiotherapy or GP appointments and training or courses that help in your caring role such as dementia training or moving and handling. Contact Gateway for information or to request the funding.
​You can also connect with Care for the Carers on social media: