Doncaster Partnership for Carers was registered in 1993 as a local charity and became a limited company by guarantee in 1999. We are run by a management committee made up of local volunteers, most of whom are carers or have been carers.
We are accountable to adult carers living in Doncaster through our annual general meetings but are independent from the local authority and health services.
Our service is open to all carers, former carers and professionals working with carers.
We are committed to providing services, which respond to carers needs and to enable carers and former carers to take an active part in our work.
Our service is free, confidential, impartial and non-judgemental.
Our Mission Statement
Doncaster Partnership for Carers aims to provide a comprehensive service, which supports and enables carers to have a choice in their caring role.
To provide emotional and practical support and information to carers in areas of education, finance, social care, health, leisure and training.
Enabling carers to have a voice and raise awareness of carers’ issues in order to influence change.
By providing this service we hope to raise awareness of carers' issues and create a situation where carers can become empowered to have a greater choice and to be able to access the same life opportunities as everyone else.
We believe that carers themselves are the most powerful force for change and we aim to give carers a real voice in health and social services.
Doncaster Partnership for Carers is able to offer support to carers for whom English is not their main language. Please ask if you would like information in another language or format.
Who is a Carer?
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A carer is someone who, without payment (except Carers Allowance), provides help and support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without their help. This could be due to age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability.
Anyone can become a carer. Carers come from all walks of life, all cultures and can be of any age.
Every year more than two million people in the UK become carers.
Statistics taken from the 2001 census showed there were 32,000 in Doncaster of that 17,000 said they received no support.
Often caring for another person can happen very suddenly but it can also creep up gradually, by the carer taking on more and more responsibility for the person they care for. The majority of carers take on this role as a sense of love, commitment or duty.
Many carers give up an income, future employment prospects and pension rights. Others are trying to juggle jobs with their caring responsibilities. For many taking on a caring role means facing a life of poverty, isolation, frustration, ill health and depression.
Carers often have a great workload, involving personal care, emotional and practical support and many care day and night, seven days a week. This may continue for a number of years and the majority of carers struggle on alone unaware that there is help available.
They may have mixed feelings. For some it may give great satisfaction, but there may also be feelings of isolation, guilt, resentment, stress, depression, physical and mental exhaustion.
Doncaster Partnership for Carers aim to empower and encourage carers in all aspects of their caring role, and to maintain their effectiveness in that role by offering emotional and practical support.
We hope that you will finds answers to some of your questions on this website and feel able to contact us for support on any issue.
To find out what support we can offer, either click here, use the 'Services' link on the left or at the bottom of the page or, if you would like to speak to someone directly, contact us by post, phone or email (see details on Contact Us page).
In an emergency
If you need help, outside of office hours, then contact one of the following:
| NHS Direct (new window) | If you need information or are unsure whether you or your family need medical attention. Tel: 0845 46 47 (available 24 hours) |
| Your doctor | If you are seriously concerned over 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. Tel: 01302 796000. |