The Carers Centre can provide lots of information and support with general and specific queries. We can support you in finding and getting the services you need.
This page is about services provided by other agencies, and about help in an emergency.

In an Emergency
If you need help, outside of office hours, then contact one of the following:
N.H.S. Direct. If you need information or unsure whether you or your family need medical attention Tel. 0845 46 47
Your GP. If you are seriously concerned about your health needs, or those of the person you care for.
Social Services Emergency Team. If you need urgent support for yourself or the person you care for, e.g. if they have high care needs which you can suddenly not meet because you have been taken ill at the weekend or in the evening Tel 01454 615165 (if you live in Bristol or in South Gloucestershire). During working hours, contact the Duty Teams below

Getting Services and Support from Social Services
In order to access services such as homecare, daycentres, home delivered meals etc, the person you care for needs to have an assessment by a social worker. As a carer you can also have an assessment of your own needs which will then be taken into account, e.g. your need to have a break from caring. In some cases social workers can access specific funds to help carers, e.g. to have a break. The policies are different in Bristol and South Gloucestershire, so phone the CarersLine on 0117 9652200 or email us for details admin@carers-bs.org.uk. Or contact Social Services directly:

South Gloucestershire Adult Duty Desk:
8.30am - 12.30 pm Monday- Friday 01454 866122
12.30pm – 5.00 pm Monday – Thursday and 12.30pm – 4.30pm Fridays 01454 866270

Bristol Adult Care Duty Desks
0117 903 6684
0117 903 6685
0117 903 6686
0117 903 6687
0117 903 6688 (Fax)
0117 903 6689 (Minicom)
You can also find out more by visiting their websites:
www.southglos.gov.uk
www.bristol-city.gov.uk

Having a Break
Everyone needs to have a break from work. Carers are no different, and you should not feel guilty about this. It is important that you and the person you care for have a choice about how care is provided when you take a break. That might be for a couple of hours, overnight or longer.
There are organisations which can help you have a short break, by providing alternative care. 
The Carers Centre provides volunteers in South Gloucestershire (for more information, click on South Gloucestershire). Other organisations provide paid staff, and may make a charge;
Crossroads Schemes provide paid carer attendants.
Contact:
South Gloucestershire Crossroads 0117 947 7735
South Bristol Crossroads 0117 923 1125
North Bristol Crossroads 0117 983 9944
Dementia Care Trust provide trained attendants specifically to work with people who have some level of dementia or confusion. Contact 0117 952 5325
The Carers Centre can also provide details of agencies. It is also worth talking to your social worker about your need for a break. In Bristol social workers may be able to access money to help you have a break. Sometimes charities will fund a break, contact the Carers Support Officer for more information.
If you or the person you provide care for are finding it very difficult, perhaps you need to look at alternatives. It is sometimes possible for disabled people to get funding to employ their own assistants, so that they do not need family to provide their own care. For more information contact West of England Centre for Inclusive Living Tel 0117 903 8900 (voice & minicom)

Financial Help
Invalid Care Allowance Unit 01253 85 61 23
Benefit Enquiry Line 0800 882 200
Disability Benefits Customer Care Line 0845 712 3456
South Bristol Advice Centre 0117 985 1122
North Bristol Advice Centre 0117 951 5751
St Paul's Advice Centre 0117 955 2981
Barton Hill Outreach Advice 0117 956 5735

Other Helpful Agencies
There are lots of other organisations who can support you. To talk through your difficulties and get advice about who could help contact the CarersLine, or email the Carers Support Officer:
For Bristol:                             neilm@carers-bs.org.uk 
For South Gloucestershire:            keiths@carers-sg.org.uk 
Here is just some of the help available:
Home maintenance and adaptations to your home:
South Gloucestershire Care and Repair 0117 964 2277
Bristol Care and Repair 0117 954 2222
Financial advice, insurance and practical help for older people:
South Gloucestershire Age Concern 01454 858 750
Bristol Age Concern 0117 922 5353
Advice about aids and adaptations:
to help you and your family keep as independent as possible:
West of England Disabled Living Centre 0117 965 3651

Transport:
Tripscope provide information about accessible transport and travel including holidays. Contact 0117 939 7782
Local schemes providing accessible transport for disabled people, and others who can not access public transport:
Bristol Dial-a-Ride 0117 939 5525

South Gloucestershire Dial-a-Ride:

• Four Towns Transport (covering Filton area) :01454 868529
• Kingswood Community Transport (as far as Marshfield and surrounds): 0117 9616016
• Vale Link Community Transport (Thornbury and rural surrounds):01454 856612
• Yate, Sodbury and District Community Transport (as far as Winterbourne):01454 316448

You may also be entitled to an orange badge for parking contact
South Gloucestershire Social Services 01454 865994
Bristol City Council Parking Services
PO Box 485, Brunel House, St Georges Road, BS99 1WD.
Tel: 0117 922 2846

Travel tokens and passes
Bristol City Council Concessionary Bus Passes
Brunel House, St Georges Road, BS1 5UY
Tel: 0117 922 3089 (Enquiry Line)
South Gloucestershire. Contact Public Transport and Rapid Transit Section
01454 864595
Information can be found on www.southglos.gov.uk  under the index Links to other sites

At the Carers Centre we can provide details of all kinds of helpful information. Ring us.

The following links to other websites may be useful:
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers. The national site includes Centres in other areas, and also a notice board so you can “chat” to other carers: www.carers.org
The Department of Health have a carers site, where you can find out what the Government is doing to help carers, www.carers.gov.uk
Alzheimer’s Disease Society, www.alzheimers.org.uk
National Schizophrenia Fellowship, if you care for someone with a mental health problem: www.rethink.org
MENCAP if you care for someone with learning difficulties, www.mencap.org.uk