Carers Support Service

Welcome to the Carer Support Service.

You are a carer if you provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis to a family member, friend or neighbour who has any illness or disability or is frail due to being older; and who could not manage without your help.

You could be:

• A young person under 18 looking after a parent/brother/sister
• Looking after a relative with a mental illness or physical disability
• The parent of a child with special needs
• A friend or relative looking after an older person

You do not have to:

• Live with the person you care for
• Be the only carer
• Be related to the person you care for

The Carer Support Service is a central point of contact for carers where advice and guidance can be given and where carers can be signposted to other relevant services. With consent, the Service forwards requests for carers to speak to a health care worker about their caring role and the impact this has on their life. This can result in a carer being provided with support or could identify opportunities for carers to have a short break from the caring role.

The Service links in with a wide range of carer groups and organisations in the voluntary and community sectors in order to pass on relevant information to carers and connect them with additional supports. Carer Support also organises events, courses and information sessions throughout the year for carers.

The Complete A-Z for Carers can be found on NI Direct’s website at the following link: www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/a-to-z-guide-carers

Please note that information can be provided in different languages, see drop down box below for details.

Pease note that information can be provided in different languages. Please contact us if you would like to receive the information in another format – carer.support@setrust.hscni.net or (028) 4372 1807

• Carers Week 2025 Events

  Saturday 7 June

  Family Day at Delamont Country Park

  Come to Delamont Country Park, Killyleagh and have a day out with the family. Bring your picnic and enjoy what the Park has to offer. There are lovely walks with great views across the Lough to the Mourne Mountains, an outdoor adventure
  playground and a coffee shop where you can get snacks and drinks. There is also a miniature railway.

  Carer Support will send you out a car parking pass for free entry – please confirm your address for us to do this.

  We will be at the Park entrance from 10am-3pm to provide the family with vouchers for free ice creams and a voucher for each child to enjoy a ride on the miniature train.

  Monday 9 June

  10.30am-12pm Harry’s Place, Ballynahinch.

  Presentation: Aromatherapy and Hand Massage by Maggie McCarney
  Maggie will talk about ways to relax and will be showing carers how to practice techniques. Hand creams will be provided for this session.

  Tuesday 10 June

  Carer’s Health and Wellbeing Morning Clandeboye Lodge Hotel

  10.30am -2pm

  Enjoy a morning with us to enjoy time out from the caring role and focus on your Health and Wellbeing. Tea/coffee and scones on arrival from 10am. There will be a number of organisations hosting stands throughout the morning with information and advice. Maggie McCarney will be speaking about the impact of stress on our bodies and will be talking about ways to combat this. Barbara Morrow will also be there to introduce us to Chi Me. We will finish the morning with a 2 course lunch.

  Choice of mains on the day – beef Guinness pie, with root veg and creamy mash top or massaman curry with brown rice, kale and kimchi pickle. Dessert – finger chocolate eclair & chocolate brownie. Please let us know if you have any dietary
  requirements.

  Tuesday 10 June

  Craft with Lorna

  10.30am-12pm Lisburn City Library
  We will be decorating tote (shopping) bags with Lorna using floral rub on’s, pompoms, buttons and lace trim. Materials will be provided.

  Wednesday 11 June

  Strangford Woodland Walk and Tour of Strangford Village with Brigid Watson (including lunch).

  10.30am -12.30pm

  Meeting at 10.15am at the green in Strangford. Walk through beautiful woodland along a path created during famine times in 19 century Ireland to the shores of Strangford Lough. In the company of your entertaining and informative guide Brigid, learn about the Irish legends, folklore and medicinal properties associated with the wild plants and trees in the woodland. Take time out to listen to nature. Spot the seabirds and maybe a seal or two on the rocky shore of the lough. Be entertained with stories about the Vikings on and around Strangford Lough. Learn why Strangford was a hotspot for smuggling! We return to the heart of the village and you will discover the great maritime history of the port. It was an emigrant
  port for North America. The tour ends with lunch in The Cuan hotel. Please let us know any dietary requirements. Short, gradual ascent uphill at the start of the walk. Wear sturdy, waterproof footwear as during wet weather part of the path
  may be muddy underfoot.

  Wednesday 11 June

  Painting with Patricia, Rowallane Garden Saintfield (including lunch)

  11am -1.30pm

  Enjoy an outdoor painting session with our artist Patricia in the beautiful surroundings of Rowallane Garden in Saintfield. Please let us know if you need painting materials. We will finish the session with lunch in Rowallane café.
  Rest and Sleep and Head and Face Massage with Maggie McCarney.

  Wednesday 11 June

  7pm -8.30pm

  Online Teams Support Session

  Maggie will teach carers how to incorporate massage into their self-care routine. Participants need face cream on hand for this session.

  Join Meeting
  Meeting ID: 389 551 365 429
  Passcode: 6Vr3WA3A

  Wednesday 11 June

  Carer Rights and Support Session with Carers NI

  7pm – 8pm online Zoom
  Patricia Clark from Carers NI will present this session. Topic: Carers Rights & Support

  Join Zoom Meeting

  Thursday 12 June

  Carer Craft with Lorna

  10.30am -12pm Marquis Hall, Bangor

  Join Lorna to produce a framed print with the choice of ‘home’ or ‘family’ quotation in the centre. Frame decorated with flowers. The frame can be hung or freestanding. Materials will be provided.

  Thursday 12 June

  Hillsborough Castle Tour, 2.15pm
  Join us for a guided tour of Hillsborough Castle. Meeting at the café at 2.15pm to give enough time to get to the Castle for 2.45pm tour. The tour lasts 50 minutes, an expert guide is on hand to bring to life the story of lives led and exceptional moments witnessed, over the span of two and a half centuries. Following the Castle visit, carers can take time to explore the beautiful 100 acre gardens.

  Thursday 12 June

  Carer Evening at Millbrook Lodge Hotel with music from Conal Montgomery.

  6pm -8.30pm
  Join us for dinner in Millbrook Lodge, Ballynahinch. Dinner will be served at 6.30pm, the dinner will consist of:
  Roast County Down Turkey & Ham, Sage Onion Stuffing, Gravy, Creamed & Roast Potatoes With Seasonal Vegetables followed by pavlova.
  Please let us know any dietary requirements.
  Conal Montgomery will be singing for us at this event.

  Friday 13 June 

  Killough Carers Fest, 10.45am -2pm (lunch included)
  A Celebration of Creativity and Community
  Join Carer Support at the beautiful Preaching House Pottery for this year’s Carers Fest — a vibrant day dedicated to creativity, connection, and care.
  Arrive at 10:45am to explore a range of hands-on workshops and artistic experiences. Get inspired in the kitchen with cookery sessions led by David Lee from FIRED, express yourself through floral painting with artist Peter Surginor, or dive
  into colour at a psychedelic tie-dye workshop with Alice McDaniel, where you’ll design your own cushion. Plus, take part in creating a collaborative artwork that will become the centrepiece of a special carers exhibition later this
  year. Please let us know any dietary requirements.

  Friday 13 June

  Tour of Ulster Folk Museum, 2pm
  Join us at the Ulster Folk Museum for a guided tour of the village and rural area. The tour will last 1 hour. You can then spend time exploring the Folk Museum at your leisure. Meeting at the ticket office. Contact Carer Support Service to book a space as places are limited. Email: carer.support@setrust.hscni.net or Tel: 02843 721807.

• Carers Support Needs Assessment/Carer Conversation

  A carer is defined in legislation as someone who provides regular and substantial care. If you can identify with this, you are eligible for a support needs assessment/carer conversation. A member of health care staff will meet and talk with you about the changes you have had to make in your life to carry out this role.

  The meeting with this staff member will be at a time and place convenient to you. This conversation will be confidential and you will be asked for consent if information can be shared to provide you with additional support. A Support Plan will be completed on your behalf and this will identify if the Trust or another agency or community support can meet your needs.

  If you would like to be referred for a Carers Support Needs Assessment/Carer Conversation, please complete the Carer Assessment Request Form found in the Carer Support Information Booklet  page. 20 or ring Carer Support at Tel: (028) 4372 1807.

  Further support available here

• Carer Register

  The Carer Support Service maintain a carer database in order to keep carers up to date with services, new supports, events and relevant information. The database is managed in line with Data Protection Information.

  The information held also helps the Service to provide the Trust and Departments such as the Health and Social Care Board with statistics in order to maintain services and helps to shape future services for carers.

  Please complete the Carers Consent Register Form and return to Carer Support if you wish to be added to the database or ring Carer Support Tel: (028) 4372 1807.

  Any carer who is on the Trust Carer Register will receive a Carer ID Card.

• Information and Advice for Carers

  The Trust recognises that some carers may need additional information and advice to enable them to fulfil caring responsibilities without affecting their own health and well being. Staff already provide advice as part of their role in supporting carers, for example managing medicines, swallowing, moving and handling. This can be organised at home.

  Please contact Carer Support to arrange this for you Tel: (028) 4372 1807 or carer.support@setrust.hscni.net

  You can access the Carer Support Information Booklet May 24

• Benefits for Carers

  The benefit system is complex and it can be difficult to find out what help is available.

  There are independent advice organisations that can help with benefit advice such as local community advice centres or Make the Call (0800 232 1271).

  Please contact Carer Support for local advice contact details.

• Young Carers

  The caring role can have a huge impact on children and young people. They often do not know they need support or what support is available to help them in their caring role.  The role can impact on socialising, education and enjoying activities with peers. It can affect self esteem and limit the ability to pursue opportunities that are available to their peers. The Trust is committed to providing support to people who have substantial care needs to minimise the level of caring required by young carers.

  Support is provided through Action for Children Young Carers Project. This project provides a variety of supports to young carers aged 8-18 years based on their individual needs. These include 1-1 sessions, group activities and short breaks.

  Young carers can self refer to Action for Children or speak to a health care professional who will refer you with your consent.

  Please contact:

  Aisling Reynolds, Project Lead
  Action for Children Young Carers Project
  Loughshore House
  10 Heron Road
  Belfast BT3 9LE

  Tel: (028) 9046 0500

  Email: nioffice@actionforchildren.org.uk

  Website: www.actionforchildren.org.uk

• Carer Events

  Carer Support organise various information sessions and support events for carers throughout the year via zoom sessions or face-to-face.

  Please contact Carer Support for details:

  Email: carer.support@setrust.hscni.net or Tel: (028) 4372 1807 or Text: 07900936726

  Carer Support Groups: 

  Carer Support organise a number of Carer Hubs and support groups throughout the Trust area and can signpost carers to established carer groups in local areas. Please contact the Service for more information.

• Information for Deaf Carers

  A leaflet has been produced to help you to send your details to Carers Support.

  Information for Deaf Carers Leaflet 

  Click here to access the “Who are Carers?” video in BSL.

  Click here to access the “Who are Carers?” video in ISL.

• Information in Different Languages

  Please contact the service for Carer Support information in different formats and languages carer.support@setrust.hscni.net or (028) 4372 1807.

• Newsletters

  Carer Support Service Update – December 2023

  Carers Newsletter 2022 – North Down and Ards 

  Carers Newsletter 2022 – Down 

  Carers Newsletter 2022 – Lisburn and Outlying Area