COVID-19: Services, support and advice
Updated: 17/8/2020
Our services and support
In light of government guidance about social distancing we are currently operating our usual service for carers on the phones during our opening hours, offering support and advice. If you need help, support or someone to talk to, please get in touch on 01904 715 490. We will be able to directly support you or signpost you to the most appropriate service to help you.
Online support groups: We are now running many of our support groups and events via zoom, to allow carers to get support from home. This includes the substance misuse carers group, the mental health carers group and a new monthly Carers Social. We are exploring ways we can safely offer our face to face groups in the future. Please see our events calendar for current support group dates and how to book a space. If you’d like to take part in a group and need help setting up Zoom, please let us know as we’d be happy help.
As the situation is evolving we will maintain updates through our website and monthly email news. If you would like to receive our monthly email news and don’t already, please get in touch. York Carers Centre is also contacting by telephone the most vulnerable carers who are registered with us to ensure they know where to get support. This is particularly aimed at those carers who don’t have internet access.
Government advice for carers
- Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family: The Government is urging all unpaid carers to create an emergency plan. This would be used in circumstances where help may be needed from other people to deliver care. Carers UK have also created guidance on contingency planning and protecting the person you care for.
- Providing unpaid care to adults with learning disabilities and autistic adults: this government guidance aims to help those with caring responsibilities keep people with learning disabilities and autistic people safe, to support them to understand the changes they need to make during the COVID-19 outbreak, and to protect their own wellbeing.
Help from City of York Council
If you’re on your own and struggling to manage or you don’t have any support, but need it City of York Council have set up a COVID-19 helpline, contact covid19help@york.gov.uk or call 01904 551 550. Please also continue to refer to City of York Council for general COVID-19 guidance.
Resources
- We have compiled a range of national and local coronavirus resources which may be helpful to carers (see the ‘in this section’ menu).
