Further resources

Books about caring written for carers 

The recommended books listed below can be obtained from your local library or from online retailers such as www.amazon.co.uk:
 
The Carer’s Handbook: 2nd edition by Jane Matthews 
Essential information and support for all those in a caring role. 

Partners in Healing by William Collinge
Simple ways to offer support, comfort, and care to a loved one facing illness.

The Selfish Pig’s Guide to Caring by Hugh Marriott
How to cope with the emotional and practical aspects of caring for someone.

Dementia: The One-Stop Guide by June Andrews
Practical advice for families, professionals, and people living with dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. 

Keeping Mum: Caring for Someone with Dementia by Marianne Talbot

Skills-based Learning for Caring for a Loved One with an Eating Disorder by Janet Treasure, Grainne Smith and Anna Crane
Supporting and encouraging those suffering from an eating disorder.
 
Reading Well Books on Prescription
Reading Well helps you to understand and manage your health and wellbeing using self-help reading. The scheme involves recommended reading lists endorsed by health professionals, as well as by people living with the conditions covered and their relatives and carers. You can be recommended a title by a health professional, or you can visit your local library and take a book out yourself or you can visit the website https://reading-well.org.uk/ or visit your local library.

'Overcoming' series of self-help books
The ‘Overcoming’ series found here: https://overcoming.co.uk/7/Home offers practical advice on a range of common problems and are based on the techniques of CBT, which lends itself particularly well to self-help approaches. The complete list of titles is available online and at your local library.

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Directory of carer contacts

Local authorities

Cambridgeshire County Council
General enquiries: 0345 045 5200 
Adult social care: 0345 045 5202 
Children and families services: 0345 045 5203
Emergency duty team social care and health (out of hours): 01733 234724 

For more information visit the website: www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk. Select the ‘Residents’ link followed by the ‘Adults’ link which leads to carer information pages. 

Peterborough City Council
Customer services: 01733 747474 
Children’s services: 01733 864170 or 864180
Family information services: 01733 864446 
Social care emergencies: 01733 234724

For more information visit the website: www.peterborough.gov.uk. Select the ‘Health and Social Care’ link which leads to carer information pages.

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A-Z directory

Age UK
Age UK provides a wide range of services for older people across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, including respite care, social clubs, local groups, support with recovery, befriending and visiting schemes as well as practical help in the home. For services in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough: Telephone: 0300 666 9860, 9am-5pm; outside these hours you will be automatically transferred to the national helpline. E-mail: infoandadvice@ageukcap.org.uk

Website: www.ageuk.org.uk/cambridgeshireandpeterborough/
National helpline: 0800 678 1602 (freephone number) available 8am-7pm, 365 days a year.
Website: www.ageuk.org.uk

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Alzheimer’s Society 
The Alzheimer’s Society offers information, advice and emotional support to people affected by dementia, and their carers. Advisers provide support by phone, e-mail, social media, and through the online forum Talking Point. More than 200 free publications are available via the website, as well as the comprehensive services directory Dementia Connect. Many services are provided locally, including carer support groups, memory cafes and art and music therapy groups. For more information telephone:

Cambridge and Ely: 01954 250322 
Fenland and Marshland: 01945 580460 
Huntingdon: 01480 415235 
Peterborough: 01733 893853 

National Dementia Helpline: 0300 222 11 22 
Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk

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BEAT - eating disorders website
A comprehensive website that includes a helpline for carers.
Telephone: Helpline: 0808 801 0677; studentline: 0808 801 0811
Website: www.b-eat.co.uk 

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British Red Cross - Cambridgeshire 
Provides short-term loans of mobility aids to people in need, including wheelchairs, and, in some locations, commodes.
Telephone: 01223 868 696 - Tuesday and Friday

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Care Network Cambridgeshire 
Care Network Cambridgeshire provides help for older, isolated and vulnerable people living in Cambridgeshire, enabling them to remain independent and maintain social contact with friends and the community. The network offers practical and emotional support for people discharged from hospital or living at home with an illness and offers a wealth of information about lunch clubs, singing groups, community cars, friendship clubs and much more.

Telephone: 01954 211919
Website: www.care-network.org.uk

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Caring Together  
Previously known as the Carers’ Trust, Caring Together supports family carers of all ages across the county and also offers flexible, professional care services to adults and children with a range of disabilities and health conditions. The Trust provides information about rights and available support, access to benefits advice, carers assessments, support and emergency planning, health and wellbeing training, and respite care and short breaks for family carers and people with care needs. Through working with people in their own homes, in their communities and in groups, the Trust provides a reliable service, tailored to meet the individual needs and personal outcomes of each family carer and the person they are caring for.
 
Cambridgeshire: 
Telephone: 0345 241 0954 or 01480 499090
Website: www.caringtogether.org

Peterborough: 
Telephone: 01733 645236

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Cambridgeshire Onine directory
The Cambridgeshire Online directory provides residents and families with information on events, services and organisations across Cambridgeshire.  
www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/cambridgeshire-online-directory

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Carers UK
Carers UK offers a range of support services for carers to cope with the pressures of caring including online information and a telephone advice and support service. Many useful factsheets are available on its website such as ‘Coming out of Hospital’. To view these factsheets, select the ‘Help and Advice’ link on the website and then search the link ‘Expert Information for Carers’.

Telephone: 020 7378 4999 
National Carers UK Helpline: 0808 808 7777  
National website: www.carersuk.org

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Centre 33 for support for Young Carers
If you are a young carer, Centre 33 is here to help. It can support you to overcome any challenges or barriers you are facing because of your caring role.

Tel: 0333 414 1809
Email: youngcarers@centre33.org.uk
www.centre33.org.uk

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Citizens Advice Bureau
Cambridge branch:    
Website: www.cambridgecab.org.uk

Peterborough branch:    
Website: www.citapeterborough.org.uk

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Cruse Bereavement Care
Cruse in Cambridge and Fenland provides support to bereaved people in the local area. Services offered include a telephone helpline, drop-in centres, one-to-one support, telephone support and bereavement support groups.

Telephone: 01223 633536  
E-mail cambridge@cruse.org.uk
Website: www.cruse.org.uk/cambridge 

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Family Action
Family Action transforms lives by providing practical, emotional and financial support to those who are experiencing poverty, disadvantage and social isolation across the country.
Tel: 0808 802 6666   Text: 07537 404 282
E-mail: familyline@family-action.org.uk
Mon-Fri, 9am to 9pm
www.family-action.org.uk

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Family Voice 
Family voice is a  local registered charity which is actively seeking to improve services in all areas of the lives of children and young people with disabilities or additional needs. It is there for parents and carers of children and young people aged 0-25 years with a disability or additional needs.

http://www.familyvoice.org/
Tel: 01733 685510

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FEAST
A global network that provides support for parents and carers of a loved one with an eating disorder. It is very active in the UK.
https://www.feast-ed.org/

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Lifecraft 
Lifecraft is a user-led organisation for adults in the Cambridge area who are experiencing mental health difficulties. Lifecraft offers a wide range of free services to help and support members in their wellbeing and recovery, including creative activities, recovery groups, social activities and employment and volunteering opportunities. Lifecraft also has an information hub, a counselling service and Lifeline, a free telephone helpline. 
 
Telephone: 01223 566 957
Lifeline: 0808 808 2121 free service, 2pm–11pm, 365 days a year.
Website: www.lifecraft.org.uk 

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Making Space 
Making Space is a leading provider of adult health and social care services to enable adults with care and support needs, and their carers, to lead independent and fulfilling lives. The charity offers high-quality, person-centred services and accommodation to support adults of all ages, with a diverse range of needs, including mental health conditions, learning disabilities, dementia and older people with age-related concerns. Making Space Cambridgeshire offers support to relatives or friends who care for someone with mental ill health in Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire, Ely and Fenland. 

Telephone: 01925 571680 or 01480 211006
E-mail: enquiries@makingspace.co.uk 
www.makingspace.co.uk 

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MIND in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
MIND provides a wide range of services to support people recovering from mental health challenges, to promote positive mental health and to tackle mental health-related stigma and discrimination. CPSL is the local branch of MIND for the Cambridgeshire and 
Peterborough area; services include training and wellbeing workshops. 

Visit the website for more information: www.cpslmind.org.uk
Telephone: 0300 3034 363; 9.30am to 5.30pm
E-mail: enquiries@cpslmind.org.uk
www.mind.org.uk

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Money Advice Service
Financial support is available for carers and this service helps you to find out what help and benefits are available and how to apply for your entitlements.

Telephone: 0800 138 7777 – Monday to Friday, 8am-8pm; Saturday, 9am-1pm.
Website: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk - select the link to ‘Family’ and ‘Care’.

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NHS guide to care and support services
This online guide provides information for people who have care and support needs, their carers and people who are planning for their future care needs. A telephone helpline service for carers is also available.

Helpline: 0300 123 1053 – Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm; weekends, 11am-4pm. 
The helpline is closed on bank holidays.
Website: www.nhs.uk. Select the link to ‘Care and Support’.

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Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
CPFT’s Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) ensures that the Trust listens to patients and their carers and answers their questions and resolves their concerns as quickly as possible. PALS also helps CPFT to improve services by listening to what matters to patients and their loved ones and making changes when appropriate.

Freephone: 0800 376 0775
E-mail: pals@cpft.nhs.uk

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PEDs 
A Cambridgeshire-based charity that provides support for people with an eating disorder and their carers.
https://www.pedsupport.co.uk 

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Pinpoint Cambridgeshire
Pinpoint Cambridgeshire is an independent information, support and involvement network for parents in Cambridgeshire. The charity particularly supports parents and carers of children with additional needs and disabilities.
Telephone: 01480 877333
E-mail: enquiries@pinpoint-cambs.org.uk
Website: www.pinpoint-cambs.org.uk

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RCE Wellbeing Hub
The RCE Wellbeing Hub is a collaborative, educational learning environment for people who receive services from CPFT and partner organisations, and their carers. The college follows an adult education model and aims to deliver a responsive, peer-led education and training curriculum of recovery focused workshops and courses. 

RCE | CPFT NHS Trust

E-mail: RCEWellbeingHub@cpft.nhs.uk

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Rethink Carer Support - Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
Rethink Carer Support  provides a phone support service, and support groups in Peterborough and Cambridge run by and for the families and friends of people with mental health conditions. It also acts as a voice for carers locally, working in partnership with CPFT and commissioners to improve mental health services. The service is affiliated to Rethink Mental Illness the national charity which provides an information and advice line, campaigning, and a comprehensive set of leaflets on mental health issues.

Telephone: 07783 267013
E-mail: CambridgeRethinkGroup@rethink.org
Website: www.rethink.org 
Rethink National Advice line: 0300 5000 927 

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Samaritans
The Samaritans is a 24-hour confidential, listening service providing emotional support to anyone in crisis.

Cambridge branch:
Usual hours open to receive callers at the door.
Telephone: 01223 364455 - local call charges apply.
Website: www.samaritans.org/branches/cambridge-samaritans

Peterborough and District branch:
Telephone: 116 123 free from any phone or 0330 094 5717 (local call charges apply).
Website: https://www.samaritans.org/branches/peterborough/

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Silver Line Helpline for Older People
Silver Line is a free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people. The befriending service helps combat loneliness and the sign-posting service provides links to the many and varied services that exist for older people. The service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
 
Telephone: 0800 470 8090
E-mail: info@thesilverline.org.uk 
Website: www.thesilverline.org.uk

 

As a patient

As a patient, relative or carer using our services, sometimes you may need to turn to someone for help, advice, and support. 

Patient Advice and Liaison service  Contact the Trust