Wakefield Council Resources for carers
If you look after a family member or friend who has an illness, disability, a mental health problem or addiction, you are a carer. In this section you will find local information and support resources for carers living in or looking after someone in Wakefield.
Peer & Social Support Groups
NHS Check in and Chat
A Check In and Chat Call provides friendly telephone chats and encouragement to reduce loneliness and improve a person’s wellbeing.
Time for Tea
Time for Tea events run throughout the district in shared public spaces such as supermarkets and shopping centres. This is an opportunity for older people to gather informally and enjoy refreshments in open areas they already visit, making it a regular drop-in event and providing passers-by with an easy opportunity to engage, feeling comfortable and safe. No doors to open, no closed rooms!
Wakefield Parent Carer Forum
Wakefield Parent Carer Forum is an independent parent carer forum who works with families of children with special educational needs and/or disability, aged 0-25 years old, living in the Wakefield district.
Spectrum People – Activities & Events
Spectrum People offers a range of ongoing activities & events within the Wakefield district.
Maintenance Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (MCST) Carer Support Group
This therapy programme encourages engagement in stimulating activities, using established Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) methods. CST is the only non-drug treatment recommended to improve cognition, independence and wellbeing for people living with mild to moderate dementia by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
Wakefield Libraries – Free Activities & Events
We have a whole host of events running at our libraries across the Wakefield district. Find the latest events happening at your local library.
Prince of Wales Hospice Craft Group
Activities and craft therapies with an emphasis on enablement. Art can be a distraction from everyday life, it can be an escape from stress and overwhelming situations.
Groups & Activities – Havercroft and Ryhill Community Learning Centre
The learning centre was established in 1990 as Havercroft Skills Project. The Project changed it’s name in 2008 to reflect the work of the centre. We are a registered charity and offer a range of services and facilities to our local communities.
Bottoms Up Colorectal & Urology Support Group
Through our national network of support groups we unite, guide & hero those living with or impacted by Prostate Cancer.
Bottoms Up Macmillan Support Coffee Mornings
Have you been affected by prostate, bladder or bowel cancer?
Join our coffee afternoon every third Thursday of the month.
Carers Wakefield & District Support Groups for Carers
We provide the opportunity for carers to meet together in a relaxed, informal atmosphere over a cup of tea or coffee. Many people gain help and support from meeting together with others who have similar experiences or problems and from being able to ‘let off steam’ with people who understand.
Wakefield Hospice Friday Wellbeing Services
Providing practical, emotional and wellbeing support.
Anyone living in the Wakefield area who has been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness, alongside their carer/significant
other, is welcome to attend our Friday Wellbeing sessions held in the Seymour Suite at Wakefield Hospice.
Mental Health Support
One to One Support for Carers, Families & Friends
Our Wellbeing Team offers a range of services available for carers and families. The team also offers wellbeing support to anyone in the community within the Five Towns area of Wakefield District.
Counselling Support
Complementary therapy sessions can help with relaxation and symptom management such as stress, poor sleep, anxiety and pain management. Our treatments should not be seen as a replacement for conventional medicines, but they can help to boost emotional wellbeing during difficult times. Booking is required.
Complementary Therapy
Complementary therapies have been shown to help make life more comfortable for patients by promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety.
Turning Point
Inspiring Futures is the drug and alcohol service for young persons and young adults under 25. Inspiring Families is for any family member or carer that may be supporting someone who is experiencing drug and/or alcohol issues.
Wakefield Recovery College
If you see one of our courses that’s being offered face to face but would not be able to attend this due to severe anxiety, illness or caring responsibilities for example, please get in touch with the College to see if the course/s you are interested in can be offered through a blended learning approach; for some face to face courses we are able to provide an online live link so that you can join the course from your home and still participate with the group.
Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Directory
From Airedale to South Kirkby, Overton to Knottingley, and everywhere in between, we make sure NHS and Social Care leaders hear your voice and use your feedback to improve care.
Our aim is to provide therapy to those who need it.
Mental Health Support for Men
The MAN MATTERS programme, run by GASPED, is a single point of contact for adult men, aged 18 and over, delivering a range of person-centred support across the district of Wakefield.
Free Emotional Wellbeing Workshops
We offer two forms of mental health support workshops.
These include a series of On-demand Wellness Webinars, immediately accessible to you via our website.
We also have a selection of bookable Live Workshops that can be attended either face-to-face or remotely via TEAMS.
Both options are completely free.
Bereavement Support 18+
Grief and loss can be one of the most challenging situations we are faced with in life. The death of a loved one can be incredibly painful and we all react differently and in our own way. Grief can be exhausting, and the process can take time, but you don’t have to experience it alone. We are here to support everyone going through the incredibly difficult time of losing a loved one.
Wraparound Therapy
Our Wraparound Service supports people who may be feeling low, anxious, experiencing loss and grief or emotionally vulnerable and withdrawn.
Turning Minds Around
We are a CIC Counseling and Well-being services in the heart of EastMoor Estate in Wakefield.
Our aim is to provide therapy to those who need it.
Practical & Financial Help
Bathing Service
Unable to access a bathing facility, let us help you with your hygiene needs here at the Hospice. You can bring a carer to assist you or we can provide staff to help you. Enjoy a relaxing bathing experience where your privacy and dignity will be maintained.
Ducks in a row future planning
‘Putting your ducks in a row’ – This information session is presented by our social worker who will offer advice on how to plan for the future. It can include information about benefits and how to find out about writing a Will. These sessions will be friendly and with lots of opportunity to ask questions.
End of life navigation
Our aim is to maximise the quality of people’s life by optimising physical function and emotional wellbeing.
WDH Care Link
Our services help elderly, disabled or vulnerable people remain in their own homes, with the peace of mind they have somebody to help them in an emergency, at the touch of a button.
NHS Volunteer Responders
If you, or someone you know, or someone you care for would like support or have any questions about the Volunteer Responders programme, we’re here to help. Our Support Team is on standby to book your volunteer support and address any queries you may have by phoning 0808 196 3646.
Ground Work: Green Doctor Service
We can provide different kinds of support, whether that’s advice on paying off debt with energy or water companies, or spotting other concerns for a referral to other services.
Grants & Financial Support
If you, or the person you care for, need extra help to pay for something there are many grants, funds, and charities that may be able to help.
Age UK Hospital to Home Transport
Age UK Wakefield District provides supported transport for patients aged 50 and over who have been discharged from Pinderfields, Pontefract Hospital and Dewsbury.
Age UK Wheelchair & Equipment Loan Service
We can also offer free short term loans of wheelchairs and rollators for a period of up to six weeks.
Age UK Home Support Service
Age UK Wakefield District have Professional Care Assistants and Home Support Assistants providing flexible, Domiciliary care and Domestic support for older people.
Age UK Information & Advice Service
The Information and Advice service supports people aged 50 and over, and their carers who are residents in the Wakefield District.
Our service operates seven days a week with telephone lines open 9am-5pm Monday – Friday.
We aim to reply to calls and messages within 2 working days.
Staying Fit & Healthy / Keeping Active
Managing symptoms of breathlessness
Managing breathlessness – It is support and practical advice regarding managing the symptom of breathlessness. This sessions aims to help give back some control to those with issues of breathlessness. The session will be presented by our hospice physiotherapist.
Reducing the Risk of Falling
Reducing the risk of falling at home- This session will give practical advice on a difficult and often very worrying subject.
Nutrition & Wellbeing
We give advice regarding managing diet at home and tips around food preparation. Practical advice and discussion to help those who are experience poor appetite.
Managing Symptoms
Managing breathlessness – It is support and practical advice regarding managing the symptom of breathlessness. This sessions aims to help give back some control to those with issues of breathlessness. The session will be presented by our hospice physiotherapist.
Chair-based Exercise Group (Physio Support)
They are a fun way to improve physical function while having a laugh with a peer group.
Evergreen Active
Evergreen Active transforms the health and wellbeing of families and communities through positive and active change. This paves the way to the creation of peer support networks and opportunities for people to truly enrich their lives, make new friendships and feel empowered through the act of physical activity.
Mindful Movers
We are a friendly run walk talk group who use Thornes park as our main base to move more together. We cater for all abilities as we break into a walking or running group. we sometimes add in other activities but these are always optional.
Open Country – Activities for People with Learning Disabilities
Whatever your ability, access to and enjoyment of the countryside is both possible and affordable with Open Country.
As well as being fun and sociable, the activities will help you to improve your confidence, as well as your physical and mental wellbeing.
Active Through Football
We’re creating more chances for adults (16+) to improve your health and wellbeing through physical activity. We’re delivering the Active Through Football programme together with: Sport England, The Football Foundation, Frickley Athletic Foundation, NLY Community Sport, and The Coalfields Regeneration TrustActive
Parkrun
Parkrun is a free, community event where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or spectate. parkrun is 5k and takes place every Saturday morning. junior parkrun is 2k, dedicated to 4-14 year olds and their families, every Sunday morning.
Wakefield Wellbeing
We are dedicated to supporting Wakefield residents in leading happy and healthy lives.Check out the upcoming walking groups near you.
Wakefield Hospice Complementary Therapies
Complementary Therapy plays an important role in the care of our patients and loved ones at Wakefield Hospice, offering a
nurturing experience in a relaxed, safe environment, by the way of therapeutic touch.
Useful Directory / Where to get Carer Support
Prince of Wales Hospice Carer Wellbeing Services
Our care is holistic, looking after the whole person.
Recover College Carer and Parent Resources
Developed jointly by the Trust, family, friends, carers, third sector and partners. The Trust recognises the very difficult job thousands of carers do in supporting family members and loved ones. This commitment is designed to ensure that this critical role is acknowledged and respected and your own needs are met. The Trust’s guiding values are to provide services where families and carers matter. We greatly value the role that family and friends have in supporting recovery and maintaining health and wellbeing.
West Yorkshires LeDeR report and Plan
The plan sets out how we will meet our population’s health needs and how the partnership intend to arrange and/or provide NHS services to meet the physical and mental health needs of our population.
Age UK Information Guides and Factsheets
Our information guides are short and easy to digest, giving an overview of the relevant topic. If you’re looking for more in-depth information on a certain topic, our factsheets are longer and more detailed.
Wakfield Connect to Support
Information to help you look after yourself or a loved one, stay independent and connect with others.
Healthwatch Wakefield
We are your local health and social care champion for Wakefield District. From Airedale to South Kirkby, Overton to Knottingley, and everywhere in between, we make sure NHS and Social Care leaders hear your voice and use your feedback to improve care.
Turning Point (Addiction)
Turning Point are open 5 days a week, including one evening to cater for service users that are in employment. We provide support and advice for anybody experiencing problems with drug and/or alcohol use, to stop or reduce that use and minimise the harmful effects it may have.
Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Carer Support
Provides information to support you, both as a carer who is being cared for in hospital, or a carer who is caring for someone using the hospital services.
Wakefield Citizens Advice
An independent, local charity which offers free, confidential and impartial advice to the citizens of the Wakefield District.
South West Yorkshire Partnership Foundation Trust Carer Support
A carer is someone who, on an unpaid basis, provides regular help and support to someone who has a health problem or is concerned about their wellbeing. A carer may be a relative, a partner, friend or neighbour and may not necessarily live in the same house as the person they support. There are also a large number of young carers, those under the age of 18, who may care for a parent, guardian, sibling or relative.
GP Care Wakefield – Evening & Weekend Clinics
If you are registered with a Wakefield District GP practice and feel unwell when they are closed, you can get help from GP Care Wakefield: Evening and Weekend clinics.
GP Care Wakefield can also help you if you struggle to make routine daytime appointments with your practice nurse.
South West Yorkshire Partnership Foundation Trust Carer Support
A carer is someone who, on an unpaid basis, provides regular help and support to someone who has a health problem or is concerned about their wellbeing. A carer may be a relative, a partner, friend or neighbour and may not necessarily live in the same house as the person they support. There are also a large number of young carers, those under the age of 18, who may care for a parent, guardian, sibling or relative.
Apps & Podcasts
Podcast For Carers
If you care for someone, you might feel like nobody understands your situation and how you feel. Podcasts can be a way to hear about the experiences of others who are like you. They can also be a way for you to relax and take a break from caring.
Jointly
Jointly combines group messaging and to-do lists with other useful features, including medication lists, calendar and more.
Jointly makes communication and coordination between those who share the care as easy as a text message.
Young Carers
Young Adult Carers Support: Wakefield College
Details of the young adult carers information covering Castleford, Selby and Wakefield colleges.
Pre-Bereavement and Bereavement Support
A new Specialist Bereavement Service has been launched in Wakefield for children and young people experiencing complicated, long lasting and debilitating grief which they find difficult to move on from.
Pre-Bereavement and Bereavement Support – Family Support
In the world of health and care, hospices stand as sanctuaries of compassion. Supporting patients facing life-limiting illnesses and caring for their families is a cornerstone of any care strategy.
Hospices provide crucial services that support families alongside the needs of patients with life-limiting or terminal illnesses. These services address the emotional, psychological, and practical needs, and help family members to feel supported in the care they give to their loved one
Star Bereavement Support
Grief support services for children and young people in the Wakefield District.
Future Selph Mental Health Support
At Future SELPH, we provide free and tailored support to young people aged 16 to 25 experiencing difficulties with their mental and emotional wellbeing.
Support for young carers
Young Carers are those under the age of 18 who give support to a loved one. Although we support carers from the age of 17, young carers are eligible to apply for our My Time grant and when they are nearing 17 they will be eligible to join our Young Adult Carers (YAC) group.
There are a number of organisations supporting Young Carers both locally and nationally. Information about some of these can be found below or please contact us for more information.
Action for children:SideKick
A lot of young people who look after someone do not realise they could be a young carer.
Take our quiz to find out if you could be one.
Young Carers Team
Young carers are children up to the age of 18 who care for someone with an illness or disability. It does not include those paid to provide care or those who are volunteers.
Some children might be caring for someone full time and the level of care they offer may have an impact on what else they are able to do. This might be because they attend to all the physical care needs of their parent or carer. Other children might help care for someone from time to time and it may not have such a significant impact on their lives.
Carers Breaks
Carers Trust Mid Yorks
We are a network partner of Carers Trust, Britain’s leading carer support charity. We provide support in Kirklees, Calderdale, Wakefield and Leeds. No-one cares more than Carers Trust Mid Yorkshire. We take a person-centred approach to both the carers needs and that of the loved one. We are a not for profit charity with over 35 years’ experience working in the local community.
Avalon
At Avalon, the people we support are the centre of all we do. We’re a charity that works hard to make sure the people we support have access to the choices and lifestyles they want and deserve.
Learning Disabilities / Autism Support
NHS LeDeR Resource Bank
LeDeR – learning from lives and deaths – people with a learning disability and autistic people – is a local service improvement programme that has been set up to help to improve services for people with a learning disability and autistic people.
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
We exist to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities. We do this through our mental health, community, learning disability and wellbeing services across Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide specialist secure mental health (forensic) services for the whole of Yorkshire and Humber.
Autism Pathway for Adults – Support for Carers
It may feel overwhelming when the person you care for first gets a diagnosis of autism. It’s good to know that you are not alone and there are lots of places where you can access help and support including your local council, local support groups and national charities. This leaflet has been created to help make locating that support a little easier
Adult Autism Service
We exist to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities. We do this through our mental health, community, learning disability and wellbeing services across Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide specialist secure mental health (forensic) services for the whole of Yorkshire and Humber.
West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership
Our Partnership has 10 Big Ambitions and one of those is to reduce the gap in life expectancy for autistic and other neurodiverse people, people with learning disabilities and people with mental health conditions. Achieving this ambition will make life better for more than 200 000 people living in West Yorkshire. Our Learning Disabilities Challenge is the programme that will drive this aim.
West Yorkshire Neurodiversity programme
The programme is an all age programme and currently focuses on two neurodevelopmental conditions: Autism and ADHD, whilst acknowledging that these conditions rarely occur in silo and a holistic and personalised approach is needed for neurodivergent people to have a good life.
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
This directory lists all of our clinical services. Use the filters or search bar to help you find the service you are looking for. If you have ideas of what you would like to see included or if you have any problems using our directory please get in touch.
LGBTQ+ Carers
LGBTQ+ and Caring
16% of people who identified themselves in the 2021 Census as being part of the LGBTQ+ community also identified as being a carer. This means being part of the LGBTQ+ community means you are more likely to be a carer than someone who is is not part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Our House
A brand new community coffee spot & LGBTQ+ hub in the heart of Wakefield.
The Our House Cafe, is open Tues till Sat. Serving excellent coffee, queer books, delicious treats and beautiful handmade gifts.
All our profits go back into keeping the space going.
Stone Wall
At Stonewall, we stand for lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, questioning and ace (LGBTQ+) people everywhere. We imagine a world where all LGBTQ+ people are free to be themselves and we can live our lives to the full.
Black, Asian & Ethnic Minority Carers
Carers Voice & Action Groups
Dementia Voice Group
Dementia Voice Local Groups are groups of people living with dementia who influence Alzheimer’s Society’s and other organisations’ work. They do this by sharing their personal experiences of dementia, knowledge and skills to shape a wide range of projects and topics chosen by them.
Wakefield & District Carers Voice Network
The Wakefield District Carer Voice Network is a community of unpaid carers coming together to make a difference. Whether you care for a family member, friend, or loved one, your voice matters. Join us to share your lived experiences, connect with others like you, and influence positive change in your community and help shape the services that support informal carers.
Advocacy Support for Carers
Everyone has the right to speak up for themselves, especially when it’s about their health, care, and wellbeing. Not everyone can do this easily, however.
Stronger Together Peer Leadership
Explores the importance of support networks at all career stages, from early career to senior roles. Megan is joined by three guests, each with experience in building and sustaining research communities specifically to support researchers working in all areas of Alzheimer’s disease and all other forms of dementia, and neurodegeneration
WAVE (Autism Self-Advocacy Group)
If you are on the autistic spectrum, live in Wakefield and would like to come along to a support group then WAVE could be what you are looking for.
Lift Up Friends (Self Advocacy Group for people with Learning Disabilities)
This is a learning disabilities self advocacy group. Held in the centre of Wakefield every other Tuesday from 1.15 – 3.15pm.
There is voluntary donation to cover drinks and snacks. We are a group for adults with learning disabilities who talk about issues, learn self-advocacy skills, share life experiences and meet new friends.
Wakefield Hospice Community Advisory Group
Helping to shape the future of hospice care. The Community Advisory Group is made up of a diverse collection of individuals from across the Wakefield District who want to share their thoughts on how we can ensure Wakefield Hospice’s services remain ‘fit-for purpose’, for months, years and generations
to come.
Dementia and Delirium Resources
Urinary Tract Infections & Dementia
It’s common for people with dementia to get a urinary tract infection (UTI). This factsheet will help you understand the different types of UTI and recognise their symptoms. It also covers treatments, as well as ways to prevent UTIs.
Think Delirium
Delirium is a condition where people have increased confusion, changes in thinking and a reduced attention span. Symptoms can develop quickly and often change during the day. This fact sheet helps carers identify the symptoms.
Alzheimer’s Society – Dementia Connect Wakefield
The service offers 1:1 support for people with dementia, their carers & family members.
Wakefield Admiral Nurse Team
Admiral Nurses are registered nurses who have a specialist knowledge in dementia care.
We provide support to family, carers and people living with dementia within the Wakefield and five towns area.
Dementia friends
In an ageing population, more people are being diagnosed with dementia than ever before, so it’s essential that as a Hospice we are dementia friendly.
Here at the Hospice we help meet the needs of patients with dementia and provide dementia training to staff.