There are 28,000 Carers in the borough of Barnet and 1,000 are under the age of 18. Barnet Carers Centre is dedicated to helping support Carers. Since 1992 we have helped over 11,500 Carers gain vital support as they care for a child, friend, partner or family member.
Your donation is vitally important to the work of Barnet Carers Centre and will help ensure we can continue to meet the needs of Carers in Barnet into the future.
| Yes I would like to become a regular donor click "Donate Now" | |
|
I am not able to commit to a regular gift at this time but would like to make a donation, click "Donate Now" or to download a donation form click here. |
Case study: Kathy (Young Carer)
Kathy looked after her stepmother from the age of ten through to thirteen. Her stepmother had type 2 diabetes and had her leg amputated. ‘I was more like a 24 hour careworker’. Kathy’s dad looked after stepmother during the day and dealt with all the official things that Kathy could not look after herself as she was too young. Although Kathy was going to school she was going home at break and at lunchtime to check on the situation at home. ‘School did not support me’ and occasionally Kathy had to skip school as well.
While Kathy was caring she did not really go out or get taken out ‘I felt quite envious of my friends’ Kathy explained as they had everything and I was just coping with my caring role. Barnet Carers Centre helped me get away from caring and showed me I could go out and have a good time, they helped me connect with my peers. I was offered counselling and other support networks. The clubs are fun they bring me out of myself and have helped me make friends of my own age. The clubs made me feel that I was not alone – we did not talk about our caring role we just chilled together
‘They are always there – they are so lovely’
Sarah – Adult Carer
Sarah has been her husband Peter’ Carer for 22 years. For all of that time he has suffered from a mental health condition, complex post traumatic stress disorder with acute anxiety. Peter has attempted suicide several times. He lives with the constant fear that something dreadful is going to happen to him and follows Sarah around the house all the time, wherever she goes.
To maintain some kind of life of her own and as a break from this constant pressure she works part-time. To try to protect her physical health she goes swimming, dancing and walking. During these times her husband has care workers to keep him occupied.
Impact on Sarah has been unimaginable her life is constantly stressful and traumatic. She has to be constantly on the alert for anything that might be a danger. For example, she hides her purse and all medication is locked away. She also has to keep him away from rivers or lakes as in the past he has tried to jump in. Her own physical, mental and emotional health has been severely undermined by this constant stress.
Barnet Carers Centre have really helped there was always a lot of support from staff when Sarah was able to pop into the Centre. The Welfare benefits surgery was useful and she attended a mental health carers support group. One of the Care Support workers also wrote letters to help get respite care for her husband.
| Yes I would like to become a regular donor click "Donate Now" or click here. | |
|
I am not able to commit to a regular gift at this time but would like to make a donation, click "Donate Now" or click here.
|
 |
| Yes I would like to become a regular donor click "Donate Now" or click here. | |
|
I am not able to commit to a regular gift at this time but would like to make a donation, click "Donate Now" or click here.
|
|
