Our community is at the heart of everything we do. York Carers Centre brings together unpaid carers, staff, volunteers, trustees and partners, all working to support carers in York. Here you can learn more about us! Who we are, what we do and the people who help make a difference every day.
York Carers Centre is an independent charity and a proud network partner of the Carers Trust. We work with other organisations to ensure that unpaid carers in York receive the confidential information, guidance, and support they need.
Many of our staff team are carers themselves, and we are all committed to working alongside carers to drive positive change in service delivery across all organisations.
We offer free information, benefits advice, community care advice, and emotional support. It’s crucial for unpaid carers to look after their own health and wellbeing to prevent burnout and breakdown.
We organise regular free activities for carers of all ages.
For young carers (aged 5 – 18), we have youth clubs and day trips and for young adult carers (aged 18 – 25) we have social events and days out. For unpaid carers aged 25 and over, we provide welcoming, supportive groups that offer time away from caring, a chance to make friends, and the opportunity to share experiences with others who understand the challenges of being a carer.
We support unpaid carers in York. An unpaid carer regularly helps someone close to them due to frailty, physical or mental illness, addiction, or disability.
We support unpaid carers in York from the age of 5, including young carers, young adult carers adult carers and parent carers.
Many people do not recognise themselves as unpaid carers, seeing themselves instead as a parent, grandparent, child, partner, friend, or neighbour simply doing what needs to be done to maintain the quality of life for someone they care about.
Our free activities are available both in person and online, providing numerous opportunities for you to get involved.
Visit our activities calendar to find out more and book your place on an activity.
Our team are here to support anyone who may feel nervous or worried about attending an activity for the first time.
Additionally, carers registered with us receive a free Carers Discount Card, offering discounts at local businesses – it’s our way of helping you save money on everyday expenses.
To find out more about us, please browse our website, email enquiries@yorkcarerscentre.co.uk or call 01904 715 490.
Our vision is that unpaid carers in York, are valued, recognised and supported to have a good quality of life.
Our mission is to challenge the inequalities unpaid carers face, and ensure carers have access to support and services that reflect their needs and interests.
We achieve this by employing staff who align with our values, actively listening to carers, and maintaining the flexibility needed to respond to their needs. Our services are designed to adapt and evolve as required, with an acute awareness of the impact that caring has and how it may affect carers.
Our staff are highly skilled at recognising when someone needs practical advice, emotional support, or anything in between.
Our funding comes from a variety of sources, but our main funders are the City of York Council and the Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership.
We depend on grants from charitable trusts, as well as donations and fundraisers, to fund and deliver specific projects.
Want to know more about our work helping unpaid carers in York?
Our Annual Report 2024 – 2025 is now available to download.
Read about our current projects and core support work with carers of all ages, including summaries from our Chair of Trustees Rosemarie Temple, CEO Sharron Smith, Patron Matt Harper-Hardcastle as well as our plans for the future.
We actively promote equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills, and potential and welcome applications from a wide range of candidates, including those with criminal records. We select all candidates to interview based on their skills, qualifications, and experience.
York Carers Centre is committed to the fair treatment of its staff, potential staff or users of its services, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependants, age, physical/mental disability or offending background.
Please see our recruitment of ex-offenders policy below.
York Carers Centre has a code of conduct for all staff and volunteers to ensure that carers are treated with respect and courtesy at all times, but we also recognise that sometimes things may go wrong. If you want to make a complaint or give any feedback, please email, telephone or write in the first instance to:
By post: York Carers Centre, 17 Priory Street, York, YO1 6ET
Email: enquiries@yorkcarerscentre.co.uk
Telephone: 01904715490
If you would prefer it to go straight to a manager please mark for the attention of Sharron Smith, CEO. Find out about our Comments and Complaints Policy here.
We would expect all carers to treat our staff with respect and courtesy. We will not tolerate any abusive behaviour towards any member of the staff team. Staff will end any telephone call or meeting if they feel the carer is being aggressive, intimidating, abusive or offensive. The carer will be advised that their behaviour/language is unacceptable and the call or meeting will be politely ended if it continues.
If you need support or have a question, we are here to help, please get in touch.
Phone: 01904 715 490
Phone line opening hours:
Monday to Thursday: 9.30am to 4.30pm
Wednesday – advice line: 5pm to 8pm
Friday: 9.30am to 4pm
