Carers support

Young Carers under 18 have their own services and some have in-school support. If you are aged 16 to 25 and not in secondary school, there are also services for Young Adult Carers.

If you are an ’unpaid Carer’ and aged over 16, there are free services (universal support) that you can use.

These include:

• Signposts for Carers - an advice and information service
• Join Torbay Carers to get: 
  • The Torbay Carers Passport - is available to all registered Carers which:
    • gives free parking and other support at local hospitals when you are supporting the person that you care for
    • works as a discount card for local businesses - view the map of discount services
    • works as an emergency card - if you have an emergency we will follow your back up plan 
  • the Signposts for Carers’ quarterly Newsletter 
  • carers education courses - they are free and include training to help with caring such as First Aid or Legal Workshops, plus courses such as crafts or exercise which give a break from caring
• Carers’ groups and activities
• Online videos and a video library to support you in your caring role
• Access to free online support, training and Jointly App from Carers UK
• Support for you to live healthier and happier for longer from Your Health Torbay
• Support and coaching if you are working and caring for someone
• Carers’ Aid Torbay - give enabling and advocacy support. Advocacy is when someone is there to speak up for you. They can also help with the cost of living and benefits
• Carers’ Telephone Line - volunteers make planned calls to isolated Carers

There is specialist support if you care for:

• an adult with mental health issues
• a person over 65 with mental health issues
• someone with drug or alcohol issues
• someone in hospital
• an adult with a learning disability
• an adult with autism with no learning disability
• a child with additional needs

Carers with additional needs may be able to have more support - see Extra Carers’ Support for more information.