Carers' support

A carer is anyone who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid.

If you are a carer, we can help you. As a local authority we can:

provide information, advice and guidance. This may include pointing you in the direction of specialist organisations
carry out a free carer's assessment. This includes seeing whether you have eligible needs. If you do, we will agree a support plan with you

Our commitment

We work in partnership with local organisations to provide the best possible support for carers. Dorset Council funds Help & Care Dorset Carers Service and the online self-help platform Bridgit Care, which are the lead partners for carers’ services.

How to access support

If you identify as a carer, you can access support through Help & Care Dorset Carers Service. Help & Care works alongside MYTIME Young Carers to support carers of all ages, starting from 5 years old.

What you can expect:

a listening ear
clear guidance
help to access the right support

No matter your age or circumstances, you’ll feel heard, supported, and valued in your caring role.

Bridgit – online support 24/7

Bridgit is an online self-service platform available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Carers can:

telephone Bridgit, the AI Carer Coach to ask questions 01305 237 395
chat with Bridgit or read the web pages
create a self-help plan
request a Carer pre-assessment with Help & Care, or start a Carer Assessment
apply for a Dorset Carer Friendly ID Card
find out about local events
read about support available in Dorset

Support for young carers - MYTIME Young Carers

MYTIME Young Carers is a Dorset-based charity dedicated to young carers. They offer:

positive activities and breaks during school holidays with other young carers
weekly virtual youth groups
employability programme to support education and work opportunities

If a young carer has a significant caring role, they may be referred to the Dorset Council Young Carers Team for additional support. The adult they care for will also be encouraged to seek advice and support from Dorset Council.

Dorset Carers Card

Forward Carers provide the Dorset Carer Friendly ID Card. This is available to Dorset Council residents who register as an unpaid Carer with Help & Care Dorset Carers Service.

It serves as:

a photo ID card to verify your status as a Carer
a way to display In Case of Emergency (ICE) contact details
access to discounts or special offers at participating businesses

I need to talk to someone

If you need to talk, Help & Care are there to help. They have a freephone line you can call to find out about their services. You can also register with them for ongoing help.

Start now

The Care Journey - carer support

View a transcript of this video

Lifestyle support for carers
- carer's assessment
- your health and wellbeing
- respite
- digital help
- home library service
- parking, transport, toilets and more
Financial support for carers
- Carer's Allowance
- Carer's Credit (National Insurance Credits)
- GOV.UK benefits if you are caring for someone
- discounts and more
Planning ahead in case of an emergency

Find out about developing a contingency plan or what to do if you need immediate support.
Carer's Journal

A resource you can download. Here you can record health details of the person you care for, medication, contacts, dates of events and all sorts of information that may be helpful to keep in one place.

SWAN - South West Advocacy Network

SWAN is a charity providing independent advocacy to ensure everyone, especially the most vulnerable, has equal rights. They offer support to carers aged 16+ through various assessments and planning, ensuring their needs and rights are met and respected. We work with them closely and you can contact them directly if you need support.