Support for Carers

At Headway Tyneside we understand that caring for someone with a brain injury can be both rewarding and challenging. Whether you’re a family member, friend, or loved one, your role as a carer is invaluable

This page is dedicated to providing you with key information, support, and resources to help you navigate your caring journey – from emotional and practical support to advice on maintaining your own wellbeing.

National Support

Headway – the brain injury association

Headway UK has a range of useful web resources available to carers.

Here is some of the support they can offer:

Headway’s information library, which includes a range of e-booklets and factsheets cover many of the symptoms and practical issues associated with a brain injury

HealthUnlocked is an online community forum where you can discuss, share and engage with others who have been through similar situations. You can talk about anything related to brain injury – from symptoms and rehabilitation to welfare benefits and local services – and get answers and support
Headway UK has a free, nurse led support helpline, which is a confidential service available to anyone with a question about brain injury. This is open 9-5, Monday to Friday, but you can leave an answerphone message at any time: 0808 800 2244

Carers UK

Carers UK is a charity dedicated to making life better for the 5.7 million carers across the UK. They aim to give unpaid carers expert information, guidance, and campaigns to promote their rights.

Here are some of the services they provide:

Carers UK has a ‘share and learn’ video resource, giving information, guidance, and health and wellbeing advice. They also have a range of holistic videos including exercise, arts and music.
A carers’ specific help and advice page is available on their website, which has information and videos tailored to carers to help with navigating the different, and sometimes unexpected parts of being a carer
They also host online carers’ chats – a range of online meetups for carers to connect, share experiences and enjoy relaxing activities.
For additional information and signposting, Carers UK’s telephone Helpline is available on 0808 808 7777 from Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm (including Bank Holidays).

Carers Assessment

A Carers Assessment from Adult Social Care helps you explore how caregiving affects your life and find support, including breaks. It’s not about assessing your caregiving skills but about supporting you, and you’re legally entitled to it.

- You can get a Carers Assessment even if the person you care for doesn’t receive Adult Social Care services. If eligible, you may receive a Carers Personal Budget to support your well-being, such as funding for breaks, equipment, or activities like a computer to help with online tasks. Find out more about getting a carer’s assessment.

North Tyneside Carers

North Tyneside carers is an independent charity supporting carers in the community.

Their knowledgeable teams support carers with everything from advocacy to mental health through one-to-one sessions and peer support groups. They also offer specialist training sessions to help make your caring easier.

They have a variety of events which are based around information, including stroke awareness, trauma, and mental health. They also run mental health support groups. You need to book tickets to attend these sessions, which you can do here: Events and Activities – Home

They also have newsletters, which you can view here: News and support for people who care in North Tyneside which outlines the different information events and support events they are running throughout the month. They also have lots of useful information regarding the time of year and helpful information about caring.

Gateshead Carers

Gateshead Carers supports people providing unpaid care through a few different routes, primarily navigating challenge, training for carers and social support groups.

Navigating Health and Social Care challenges:

All stages of challenging decisions and actions regarding health and social care services, helping to make change happen.
Monitoring all Health and Social Care strategies, policies and procedures to ensure carers legal rights are recognised and reflected in practice.
Developing unpaid carers knowledge in their legal rights, understanding of the complaints process and developing the confidence and skills to complain successfully.

Training sessions:

Their schedule of training sessions throughout the year aims to help carers understand their rights and how to take rights-based actions.
If you are interested in any of the free training below, please complete their online referral form for more information.

Peer support groups:

The Carer Café gives unpaid carers across Gateshead an opportunity to enjoy good company, conversations and cuppas together every month.
Anyone who is an unpaid carer is welcome to come along to a Carer Café sessions.
If you are interested in attending a Carer Café sessions, please contact them here to register your interest.

Newcastle Carers

Newcastle Carers provides holistic support for those caring for someone due to illness.

They have an experienced and knowledgeable team to make sure that you are supported and that your caring role is identified and acknowledged.

They offer appointments to speak to members of their team. You can do this throughout the week at:

Gosforth Library on a Monday (10-12pm)
Cruddas Park on a Wednesday (1:30-3:30pm)
Westerhope community association on a Thursday (10-12pm)

They also run social events to help support carers:

Carers connect: 1^st Wednesday of every month (10.30-12pm) at Newcastle Carers Centre in Byker
Carers café: last Thursday of every month, 10.30am – 12noon at Westerhope Community Association (known as “The Tute”)

Carers Trust Tyne and Wear

Carers Trust Tyne and Wear are a local charity that support carers and their families. They offer respite care and support with additional challenges.

They have community-based support, home based support and dementia day care centre. You can request support through their referral form: Adult Carers: Request Support – Carers Trust Tyne & Wear

They also have a resource page outlining information and rights as a carer which you can access here: Resources for Adult Carers – Carers Trust Tyne & Wear