You might provide care because someone has:

• A physical or mental health condition.

• A disability.

• A long-term illness.

• An addiction.

• Needs related to ageing or frailty.

You do not have to live with the person you care for, and you do not have to receive Carer's Allowance to be considered an unpaid carer.

💡 You might be a carer if you:

• Help someone with washing, dressing or eating.

• Manage medication or medical appointments.

• Help with shopping, cooking or household tasks.

• Provide emotional support or companionship.

• Help someone get around or access services.

• Keep an eye on someone because you are worried about their safety.

• Provide regular support to a child, parent, partner, relative, friend or neighbour.

🌱 You are not alone

Recognising yourself as a carer is often the first step towards finding support.

You can access advice and support even if you have been caring for someone for many years.

Start by exploring the sections below to find support with your health, wellbeing, finances, rights, breaks and caring responsibilities.

If you look after or support a family member, partner, friend or neighbour, letting your GP practice know can help them understand your circumstances and connect you with appropriate support for both you and the person you support.

You could ask about:

• Recording your caring role on your medical record.

• A health check (if available).

• Local support services.

• A referral to social prescribing.

• Support if you're finding things difficult.

• Help with your own physical or mental health.

Helpful resource

Carers UK has practical advice on preparing for a GP appointment, including a downloadable letter that can help explain your caring role and the impact it has on your life.

🔗Carers UK Talking To You GP

💡 Remember: You may be entitled to support even if you don't think of yourself as a carer. Many people who regularly help a family member, friend or neighbour are carers without realising it.

What is it?

If you look after or support a family member, partner, friend or neighbour, Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre can help.

Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre is a free local charity supporting people who provide unpaid care across the Wigan Borough.

Whether you have recently started supporting someone or have been doing so for many years, they can help you understand what support is available and access the right help.

Support available:

• Information and advice to support you in your caring role.

• Carer's Assessments on behalf of Wigan Council to understand your needs and identify available support.

• Emotional support and counselling.

• Support groups and befriending opportunities.

• Benefits advice and help completing forms.

• Emergency Carer Cards.

• Short breaks and wellbeing activities.

• Support tailored to young carers and parent carers.

• 
  

Who can use this service?

Anyone who provides unpaid support to a family member, friend or neighbour living in the Wigan Borough. You do not need to identify yourself as a carer to access support.

You can:

• Refer yourself.

• Ask a health or social care professional to refer you.

Contact Details

📞 01942 697885
✉️ info@wlcccarers.com
🔗Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre

A Carer's Assessment is an opportunity to talk about how looking after or supporting someone affects your everyday life and what support could help you. It focuses on you and your needs, rather than assessing how well you provide care.

You can ask for a Carer's Assessment if you regularly support a family member, partner, friend or neighbour who could not manage without your help. You do not need to receive Carer's Allowance to request one.

❤️ What can you talk about?

Your assessment can include:

• Your physical and mental health.

• How supporting someone affects your daily life.

• Work, education or training.

• Whether you need a break.

• Your finances.

• Your relationships and social life.

• What would happen if you became unwell.

• Equipment, services or other support you may need.

🌱 What happens after the assessment?

You may receive:

• Information and advice.

• Referrals to local support services.

• Help to access breaks or other support.

• A support plan.

• A personal budget, if you meet the eligibility criteria.

💡 Remember

A Carer's Assessment is not a test of how well you care for someone.

It is an opportunity to explain what life is like for you, the impact supporting someone has on your wellbeing, and what could help make things more manageable.

📍 In Wigan

Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre carries out Carer's Assessments on behalf of Wigan Council.

If you look after or support someone, you can contact them directly to request an assessment or find out more about the support available.

📞 01942 697885
✉️ info@wlcccarers.com
🔗Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre

👉 Ask Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre about a Carer's Assessment

If you look after or support a family member, partner, friend or neighbour, it can be easy to put their needs before your own. Taking time for yourself is important and can help you maintain your wellbeing, recharge and continue supporting the person you care for.

A break does not have to mean a long period away. Even small moments throughout the day can make a positive difference.

💡 Small Ways to Take a Break

• Enjoy a quiet cup of tea or coffee.

• Go for a short walk and get some fresh air.

• Listen to music or read something you enjoy.

• Talk to a friend or family member.

• Spend time on a hobby or activity you enjoy.

• Take time to rest and recharge.

  
  

🌱 Taking a Break: Support Available in Wigan

There are local services available to help you access breaks, activities and wellbeing support.

💙 Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre

Find activities, short breaks, wellbeing opportunities and support to help you take time for yourself.

🔗 Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre Respite and Breaks

🏛️ Wigan Council: Support for Carers

Information about Carer's Assessments, advice, local services and support available across the borough.

🔗 Wigan Council: Support for Carers

💻 Mobilise

Online support, peer communities, events and practical guidance for anyone looking after a family member or friend.

🔗Mobilise Wigan

📅 Events & Activities

💙 Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre

Regular wellbeing sessions, workshops, support groups and social activities.

🔗Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre Events

👥 Age UK Wigan Borough

Activities and events to help people stay connected and involved in their local community.

🔗 Age UK Wigan Borough

🌟 Mytime Wigan

A service supporting people who look after family members or friends to take time for themselves through free leisure, cultural and educational activities.

Activities may include:

• Overnight stays.

• Afternoon tea.

• Restaurant meals.

• Sporting events.

• Days out.

• Relaxation therapies.

  
  

📞 0151 705 2327
🔗 My Time

💡 Remember: Taking a break is not selfish. Looking after your own wellbeing helps you continue supporting the person you care for.

Provide your feedback on BizChat

💙 Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre

Support with:

• Benefits advice.

• Welfare rights.

• Help completing forms.

• Understanding what financial support you may be entitled to.

  
  

📞 01942 697885
✉️ info@wlcccarers.com
🔗 Benefits and Financial Support

🏛️ Wigan Welfare Support & Welfare Rights

Help and advice with:

• Benefits.

• Financial support.

• Cost of living concerns.

• Welfare rights advice.

  
  

📞 01942 705221

🔗Wigan Welfare Support & Welfare Rights

🤝 Here For You - Wigan Council

Support and guidance for residents who are struggling with rising costs or need help finding the right support.

Support available includes:

• Benefit checks and support with applications.

• Cost of living advice.

• Support with essential costs and financial difficulties.

• Help accessing local services and organisations.

📞 01942 489015
🔗Here For You

📋 Citizens Advice Wigan Borough

Free, confidential advice about:

• Benefits.

• Debt.

• Housing.

• Employment rights.

• Money worries.

  
  

📞 0808 2787801
🔗Citizens Advice Wigan Borough

🔍 Benefits & Financial Support Tools

Turn2us

Check benefits entitlement, grants and financial support.

🔗 Turn2us

Carers UK - Financial Support

Information about Carer's Allowance, Carer's Credit, benefits and carers' rights.

🔗 Carers UK Financial Support

♿ Disability & Mobility Support

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Support for people with long-term health conditions or disabilities.

🔗 Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for Children

Support for families caring for children with disabilities or health conditions.

🔗 Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for Children

Blue Badge Support

Help with Blue Badge applications and mobility support.

📞 01942 489014
🔗 Blue Badge Support

🏠 Help with Energy Costs

AWARM (Affordable Warmth Team)

Support for people struggling to keep their homes warm due to:

• Low income.

• High energy costs.

• Health conditions.

  
  

🔗 AWARM

💡 Tip: Even if you don't think of yourself as a carer, you may still be entitled to financial support because of the help you provide to someone else.

If you are a veteran, serving member of the Armed Forces, or support a family member within the Armed Forces community, a range of support services are available.

❤️ Health & Wellbeing

Support for:

• Mental health and wellbeing.

• Counselling and talking therapies.

• Wellbeing activities and groups.

• Peer support and wellbeing navigators.

• Access to specialist services.

• 
  

📞 01942 821293
📧 info@armedforceshq.org.uk
🔗Armed Forces HQ

🏠 Housing Support

Support with:

• Housing advice and guidance.

• Accessing affordable accommodation.

• Help if you are at risk of homelessness.

• Links to local housing providers.

• Welfare, financial and wellbeing support.

• 
  

🔗Housing Support

🤝 Social Inclusion & Community Support

Support to help you:

• Stay connected with your community.

• Reduce loneliness and isolation.

• Access groups, activities and events.

• Meet others with similar experiences

  
  

🔗Social Inclusion & Community Support

👨‍👩‍👧 Relationships & Family Support

Support for:

• Relationship difficulties.

• Family wellbeing.

• Family members and those supporting loved ones.

• Accessing additional support services.

• 
  

🔗Relationships & Family Support

💼 Skills & Employment Support

Support with:

• Employment advice.

• Skills development.

• Training opportunities.

• Career planning and progression.

  
  

🔗 Skills and Employment Support

📋 Professional Referrals

Professionals can refer veterans, serving personnel, family members and those supporting them using the Armed Forces HQ referral form.

For professionals supporting veterans, serving personnel, Armed Forces families and those who care for or support them, Armed Forces HQ provides a range of services to help improve wellbeing and access to support.

Support Available

• Health and wellbeing support.

• Welfare and debt advice.

• Housing support.

• Social inclusion and community support.

• Relationships and family support.

• Skills, training and employment support.

  
  

Professionals can signpost or refer veterans, Armed Forces personnel, family members and carers to access appropriate support and services.

📞 01942 821293
📧 info@armedforceshq.org.uk

🔗 Armed Forces HQ

📋 Professional Referral Form
(Available at the top of this post).

Community Link Workers support people with non-medical issues that may be affecting their health and wellbeing. Professionals can refer patients who may benefit from additional community support.

Referral reasons include:

• Social isolation.

• Housing concerns.

• Financial difficulties.

• Loneliness.

• Lifestyle support.

• Accessing community services.

• 
  

📞 01942 836967
📧 Wigan.CLW@nhs.net

🔗 Community Link Workers

📋 Referral Form

(Available at the top of this post).

Practices can refer patients to the Care Co-ordinator Team via EMIS tasks. Care Co-ordinators help people navigate health and care services, ensuring they receive the right support at the right time. They work with patients, carers, families and professionals to coordinate care and improve access to local services.

They can support with:

• Coordinating care across health and social care services.

  
  

• Supporting people with long-term conditions or complex needs.

  
  

• Personalised care and support planning.

  
  

• Signposting and connecting patients to local services.

  
  

• Supporting carers and families where appropriate.

  
  

🔗 NHS England - Care Co-ordinators

📋 Referral via EMIS Task

Referrals should be submitted to the Care Co-ordinator Team via an EMIS task.

Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre accepts both self-referrals from people who look after or support a family member, friend or neighbour, and professional referrals from health, social care and voluntary sector organisations.

Support Available

• Carer's Assessments.

• Information and advice.

• Emotional support and counselling.

• Welfare benefits and financial advice.

• Wellbeing and respite support.

• Support groups and befriending.

• Emergency Carer Cards.

• Training and workshops.

  
  

📋 Professional Referral Form

📝 Self-Referral Form

📞 01942 697885
📧 info@wlcccarers.com

🔗 Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre

💡 You do not need to identify yourself as a carer to access support. If you regularly look after or support someone, help may be available to you.

1. 🩺 Tell your GP about your caring role

Ask your GP practice to record that you support someone and find out what support may be available to you.

2. 💙 Find out about a Carer's Assessment

A Carer's Assessment gives you an opportunity to discuss how supporting someone affects your health, wellbeing, work and daily life.

3. 🧭 Connect with local support

Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre can provide information, advice, emotional support, activities and help accessing other services.

4. 💷 Check what financial support is available

You may be entitled to benefits, financial support or help with costs.

5. 🌿 Look after yourself too

Support with breaks, wellbeing and your own health can help you maintain your wellbeing while supporting someone else.

👉 Explore the sections on this Padlet to find the support that's right for you.

You may be entitled to support even if you do not think of yourself as a carer.

If you look after or support a family member, partner, friend or neighbour, you can contact Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre directly to request a Carer's Assessment.

📝Self-Referral Form

📞 01942 697885
✉️ info@wlcccarers.com
🔗 Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre

💡 You do not need to receive Carer's Allowance or identify yourself as a carer to request an assessment. You may still be eligible for support.

If you look after or support a family member, partner, friend or neighbour, Wigan Council provides information, advice and support to help you maintain your own wellbeing and continue in your caring role.

• Carer's Assessments - Find out what support may be available to you.

• Short breaks and respite - Support to help you take time for yourself and recharge.

• Financial support - Information about benefits, grants and support with money.

• Health and wellbeing - Support to help you look after your own physical and mental health.

• Young and parent carers - Information and support for different family circumstances.

• Work and caring - Information for people balancing employment and caring responsibilities.

• Local services and organisations - Help finding support in your community.

  
  

You can contact Wigan Council to find out what support may be available to you, even if you do not think of yourself as a carer.

🔗 Wigan Council – Support for Carers
/

They can help you explore practical, social and wellbeing support that may be available locally, including community groups, activities and voluntary organisations.

You can speak to a Community Link Worker if you are unsure what support might be right for you

🔗Wigan Council Community Link Workers
✉️ wigan.clw@nhs.net

📞 01942 836967

They can help you:

• Share your experiences of health and social care services.

  
  

• Find information and advice about local services.

  
  

• Have your voice heard about how services are provided.

• Give feedback about services and help highlight areas that need improvement.

  
  

• Find information about making a complaint about NHS or social care services.

Healthwatch uses feedback from local residents to help improve health and social care services.

📞 Contact Healthwatch Wigan & Leigh

📞 01942 834666

✉️ info@healthwatchwiganandleigh.co.uk

🌐Visit Healthwatch Wigan & Leigh

You may benefit from support if you are:

• Feeling stressed, anxious, overwhelmed or low.

• Struggling to cope with your caring responsibilities.

• Feeling isolated or needing someone to talk to.

• Finding it difficult to balance caring with your own health, work or personal life.

💙 Support Available

Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre

Support available includes:

• Respite and short breaks.

• Counselling and emotional support.

• Befriending services.

• Carer support groups.

• Emergency Carer Cards.

📞 01942 697885

📧 info@wlcccarers.com

🔗 Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre

🌱 Looking After Yourself

Some simple ways to support your wellbeing include:

• Taking regular breaks, even if only for a few minutes.

• Talking to someone you trust.

• Making time for activities and hobbies you enjoy.

• Getting fresh air and gentle exercise.

• Using relaxation or mindfulness techniques.

• Asking family, friends or support services for help.

If stress is affecting your health, speak to your GP.

🩺 Health Checks and GP Support

Make sure your GP practice knows that you are an unpaid carer. This helps them understand your circumstances and offer appropriate support.

You can ask about:

• Your physical and mental wellbeing.

• Health checks or reviews.

• Vaccinations you may be eligible for.

• Support if you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

• Local services to support your caring role.

💡 Top Tip: Ask your GP practice to record your carer status on your medical record.

🔗 Useful Resources

Carers UK – Your Health & Wellbeing

Carers UK – Talking to Your GP

NHS Talking Therapies

NHS – Stress and How to Cope

Qwell Online Mental Wellbeing Support

My Health, My Way

ADASS Mental Health & Wellbeing Toolkit

Be Well Card Application Form

Be Well for Less

💙 Remember: Looking after yourself is part of looking after someone else. Asking for support does not mean you are failing as a carer.

Mobilise provides free online support for anyone looking after a family member or friend in Wigan.

🔗 Mobilise Wigan

Support includes:

• Online peer support and community forums

• Weekly online cuppas.

• One-to-one support from the Mobilise .Carer Support Team.

• Practical guides and resources

• Support available seven days a week, including evenings and weekends.

Useful Mobilise Resources

📚 Email Course for New Carers

📖 Mobilise Library

☕ Online Cuppas

💬 Mobilise Hub Community

📞 One-to-One Support

🤖 Mobilise Assistant

A parent carer is someone who provides additional care and support for a child or young person with a disability, long-term health condition, additional needs or mental health condition.

Parent carers may be entitled to information, advice and support to help them manage family life, maintain their wellbeing and access services.

Support Available

• Parent Carer's Assessments.

• Information, advice and guidance.

• Emotional wellbeing support.

• Benefits and financial advice.

• Support with education, SEND and transition planning.

• Peer support and opportunities to connect with other parent carers.

• Wellbeing activities and short breaks.

• Training, workshops and practical resources.

💙 Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre

Support for parent carers, including assessments, information, wellbeing support and access to local services.

📞 01942 697885
📧 info@wlcccarers.com
🔗 Parent Carers - Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre

🤝 Wigan Parent Carer Forum

A parent-led organisation supporting families of children and young people with additional needs and disabilities. The forum helps parents share their experiences, access support and influence local services.

🔗 Wigan Parent Carer Forum

🏛️ Wigan Council Parent Carer Support

Information about assessments, local support services, wellbeing support and resources available for parent carers across Wigan Borough.

🔗 Wigan Council - Parent Carers

🎓 Wigan SEND Local Offer

Advice, guidance and support for families of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), including education, health, social care and preparing for adulthood.

🔗 Wigan SEND Local Offer

🌈 Embrace Wigan & Leigh

Provides support for children, young people and families, including family support services, activities, advice, groups and opportunities to connect with other families.

🔗 Embrace Wigan & Leigh

💡 Remember: Looking after a child with additional needs can have an impact on your own wellbeing. Support is available for both you and your family.

Balancing work, education or training alongside supporting a family member, partner, friend or neighbour can be challenging. Support and advice are available to help you understand your rights and access practical help.

💙 Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre

Support with information, advice, wellbeing and accessing services that can help you balance your caring role with work, study or daily life.

📞 01942 697885

📧 info@wlcccarers.com

🔗 Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre

💼 Carers UK: Juggling Work & Care

Information and advice about:

• Employment rights.

• Flexible working.

• Carer's Leave.

• Talking to your employer.

• Combining work and caring responsibilities.

🔗 Carers UK - Work and Career

🎓 Carers UK: Student Carers

Advice and guidance for people balancing education, university or training alongside caring responsibilities.

🔗 Carers UK - Student Carers

🏛️ Carer's Leave

Employees may be entitled to unpaid Carer's Leave to help them balance work and caring responsibilities.

🔗 GOV.UK - Carer's Leave

💻 Mobilise

Practical support, guides and online resources to help you balance caring with work, family life and other commitments.

🔗 Mobilise Wigan

🤝 Citizens Advice Wigan Borough

Advice on employment rights, benefits, debt, finances and work-related concerns.

📞 0808 278 7801

🔗 Citizens Advice Wigan Borough

💡 Remember: Looking after someone should not mean facing work or study challenges alone. Support, advice and legal protections are available to help you balance your caring responsibilities with other areas of your life.

🚑 Medical Help

NHS 111 For urgent medical advice when it is not a life-threatening emergency.

📞 111

🔗NHS 111

Emergency Services

If someone is seriously ill, injured, or their life is at risk.

📞 999

💙 Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre Emergency Carer Card

The Emergency Carer Card helps identify your caring role and provides reassurance that arrangements can be put in place for the person you support if something unexpected happens to you.

📞 01942 697885

📧 info@wlcccarers.com

🔗 Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre Carers. Emergency Card

📋 Emergency Planning

Having an emergency plan can help if you suddenly become unwell or are unable to provide support.

Consider:

• Keeping important contact numbers accessible.

• Sharing key information about the person you support with trusted family or friends.

• Keeping details of medication, routines and care needs in one place.

• Registering for an Emergency Carer Card.

🤖 Mobilise Emergency Planning Guide

Advice on creating an emergency plan and preparing for unexpected situations.

🔗 Mobilise Library

❤️ Mental Health Crisis Support

Samaritans Available 24 hours a day for anyone who needs emotional support.

📞 116 123

🔗Samaritans

SHOUT Free confidential text support.

📱 Text SHOUT to 85258

🔗 Give Us A Shout

💡 Tip: Don't wait until a crisis happens. Creating an emergency plan and registering for support can provide peace of mind for both you and the person you support.

💙 Wigan & Leigh Carers Centre

📞01942 697885

📧 info@wlcccarers.com

🌐Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre

NHS 111

📞111

🚨 Emergency

📞999

💙 Samaritans

📞116 123

If you look after or support someone and need advice, support is available. You do not need to wait until things become overwhelming before asking for help.

Accessing appointments can sometimes be difficult. The following transport services may help people attend healthcare appointments, community activities and local services across Wigan Borough.

🚗 Driven CIC

A charitable door-to-door transport service supporting vulnerable and isolated people.

📞 01942 409602
🌐 We Are Driven

📧 enquiries@wearedriven.co.uk

♿ Disability Transport Services (DTS)

Transport support for people with disabilities and mobility difficulties.

📞 07961 940101

💡 DBS status should be confirmed before signposting.

🏥 NHS Patient Transport Service

For people who are unable to use public transport or private transport to attend hospital appointments.

📞 0300 707 0737

🚌 Ring and Ride (Transport for Greater Manchester)

Accessible, low-cost door-to-door transport for disabled people and older people with mobility difficulties.

Key features:

• Door-to-door service.

• Wheelchair accessible vehicles.

• Trained drivers.

• Accompanying adult permitted.

• Travel to hospitals, town centres and other eligible destinations.

Operating hours:

• Monday to Saturday: 8:00am to 10:45pm

• Sunday: 8:00am to 10:25pm

• Closed on Bank Holidays

Registration required before use

To register, check eligibility or book:

📞 0161 244 1000

🔗 Ring and Ride

💡 Patients can also book online or via the Ring and Ride app once registered.

Consider signposting or referring patients who:

• Have a medical need for transport.

• Require assistance during their journey.

• Cannot safely use public or private transport.

• Need support attending hospital appointments due to their medical condition.

Contact Details

📞 0300 707 0737

📧 PTS.BookingEnquiries@nwas.nhs.uk

💡Please note: Eligibility criteria apply. Transport is not routinely provided solely because a patient does not have access to a car, family support, or public transport.

Useful for: Hospital outpatient appointments, diagnostics, treatments, and other NHS secondary care appointments where patients meet the PTS eligibility criteria.