Useful Contacts

Care for the Carers work in partnership with or signpost to many organisations in the county that can provide additional help to carers. To see what support they can offer, please either click their logo to go straight to their website or call the number provided.

Our contacts list is only a small selection of the numerous statutory and voluntary organisation contacts throughout the region.

Note: Care for the Carers is not responsible for any content displayed on the following linked sites or for any information found on the sites.

Adult Carers (A-Z)

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Age UK has a vision of a world in which older people flourish. They aim to improve later life for everyone through our information and advice, campaigns, products, training and research.
Age UK Free Telephone Helpline from landlines: 0800 0800 169 6565
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Carers Direct service of NHS Choices offers information, advice and support for carers
Tel: on 0808 802 02 02
Textphone on 0800 988 5657
The helpline is open from 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday and from 11am to 4pm at weekends. Calls from UK landlines are free.
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Carers UK campaigns for people to recognise the true value of carers’ contribution to society and help carers get the practical, financial and emotional support they need.

Carers UK CarersLine: Telephone 0808 808 7777
Wednesday and Thursday – 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm

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Contact the Elderly helps people aged 75 or older who are lonely, live at home on their own or are unable to easily get out of the house unaided and provide them with transport and social opportunities.
Contact the Elderly Telephone: 020 7240 0630
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The Department of Health site provides details of health and social care policies, guidance and publications for NHS and social care professionals.

Telephone: 020 7210 4850
Textphone (for deaf and hard of hearing) 020 7210 5025
Lines are open from 09:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday
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The Department for Work and Pensions website provides information and support on:

Carers Allowance
Telephone: 01253 85 61 23
Lines are open between 9am and 5pm Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4.30pm on Fridays

Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance
Telephone: 0845 7 12 34 56
Lines are open between 7.30am and 6.30pm Monday to Friday
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The Directgov website is the offficial website for citizens providing easy access to public services and information, delivered by the UK government.

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East Sussex County Council website providing information about the services provided by the county, district and borough councils in East Sussex including Adult Social Care, Children and Families.

Telephone: 01273 481000
Social Care Direct (Adult Services): 0345 60 80 191
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ESCIS – East Sussex Community Information Service website provides information on local organisations, clubs and services across East Sussex and Brighton & Hove

ESCIS Telephone: 01273 481754
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ESDA – East Sussex Disability Association exists to help all disabled people in East Sussex be independent and control their own lives. Services provided include disabled living centre, information resource, employment and direct payments adviser.

ESDA Telephone: 01323 514500
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East Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care is part of the NHS and has some very useful information about local health services for people living in the Eastbourne, Lewes and Wealden districts.

Contact telephone number: 01273 485300
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NHS Direct provides a 24 hour health advice service, 365 days of the year. Includes helpful information such as a Health Encyclopedia, Self-Help Guide and common health questions.

Telephone: 0845 4647 Available 24 hours
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PRTC – Princess Royal Trust for Carers is the largest provider of comprehensive carers support services in the UK. Care for the Carers comes under the PRTC “umbrella". The Trust currently provides quality information, advice and support services to almost 310,000 carers, including over 15,500 young carers.

Call the PRTC on: London office 0844 800 4361
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Parkinsons UK was established in 1969, and has a network of over 330 branches and support groups located across the UK offering support and services, enabling everyone affected by Parkinsons and their families to meet others in similar situations.

Telephone Parkinsons UK on: Helpline 0808 800 0303
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The Stroke Association is the only UK wide charity solely concerned with combating stroke in people of all ages. It funds research into prevention, treatment and better methods of rehabilitation, and helps stroke patients and their families directly through its Rehabilitation and Support Services.

Telephone the Stoke Association: Helpline 0845 3033 100
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Children & Families

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Family Information Service for free parenting and childcare information service

Telephone: 0845 60 10 77
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Parent Link offers information, advice and support on all educational issues for parents of children with special educational needs. Trained volunteers can help fill in forms, talk to schools, and help with statements and appeals.

Telephone: 01273 481172 (9.30am - 3pm)
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Mental Health

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The Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading care and research charity for people with dementia and those who care for them. They work to improve the quality of life of people affected by dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Telephone: Helpline 0845 300 0336
Usually open from 8.30am - 6.30pm Monday to Friday
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MIND (National Association for Mental Health is a leading mental health charity in England and Wales working to create a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress.

Telephone: Info Line – 0845 766 0163
Lines open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm

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ReThink is the leading national mental health membership charity, and provides support to people who are caring for someone with a mental health diagnosis. They also provide emotional support, information and advice.

Telephone Rethink on: 01424 716712

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Sussex Partnership NHS Trust provides mental health, specialist learning, disability and substance misuse services for the population of East Sussex.

Telephone their East Sussex Office on: 01323 440022

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Respite – Taking a Break from Caring

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The Association of Carers provides a respected, award-winning, free-of-charge service delivering respite care for those in the St Leonards-on-Sea and Hastings community.

Telephone: 01424 722309

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Crossroads is a national charity that can offer a professional caring respite service in your own home. The free service provides a trained and experienced person to stay at home with disabled or sick person who will take over the role as carer.

Telephone: 01273 483620 (Lewes)
01323 848422 (Seaford, Eastbourne and Wealden)
01424 444954 (Hastings and Rother)
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The Red Cross Society offers a service specifically designed to support carers and their cared for in the North Wealden area of East Sussex. They can offer practical and emotional support for a period of 4-6 weeks to enable the carer to take a break.

Telephone: Freephone 0800 587 8929 (for the Sussex area)

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