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Please find below our frequently asked questions. You can click on the questions to show more information. If you can’t find the answer you are looking for don’t hesitate to get in touch.
You may be entitled to Carers Allowance. Click here to find out if you are eligible.
Click the following link for more information click here.
Respite can come in many forms.
The Carers Centre can help you find out what respite Means to you and help you access this.
Find out more about managing someone’s affairs by clicking here.
You can also speak with your Support Worker for guidance and support.
You can find out more about policy and legislation relating to Carers by clicking here.
We have a Young Adult Carers Project which covers 18-25. Please see our main Young Adult Carers page for more information.
We will personalise our service to ensure we can still support you in a way that meets your needs. We may be able to offer a meeting outwith office hours.
Yes – if you have not been in touch for more than five years, we may have deleted your records but you can still return to us for support.
No – we support unpaid Carers. If you are paid to look after a family member or friend and also provide unpaid support, we can support you.
Yes – we can offer face to face meetings at a place of your choosing. This could be in our office, other base or within your own home.
If you are a kinship carer looking after a family member, we cannot offer support unless you meet the criteria as an unpaid Carer (see main page).
If your caring role ends for any reason, we can continue to support you for up to 24 months. This may be limited to emotional support and guidance and generally does not include access to grants and Short Breaks.
Yes, we offer a variety of groups across the region where Carers can meet up.
We can support you to complete an Adult Carer Support Plan. You can also complete this on your own or with another professional before having our support to complete your outcomes and submit it to Social Work (if appropriate).
You can call Social Work Service on 0303 333 3001.
Self-directed support (SDS) is a way of providing support that means people are given choice and control over what kind of support they get. It means that people can choose and arrange some or all of their own support instead of having it chosen and arranged by other people .Self directed support can be for the person you care for or you as a Carer.
It may take a couple of weeks to hear from a Support Worker after speaking with our registration team.
We will support you to explore options to ensure you can have a life alongside/outside your caring role.
We do attend meetings with Carers from time to time. This may depend on the type of meeting and whether we are the best service to support your with this. There are also other services which may be more appropriate (eg D&G Advocacy).
Check if your employer has a Carers’ Leave policy. Carers UK have been campaigning nationally for a right to Carers’ Leave. You can find out more by clicking here.
You can access support through your Support Worker or at the Carers Hub at DGRI.
You can access us for support in your caring role. You may also wish to seek support from Change Mental Health.
ou can access us for support in your caring role. You may also wish to contact Alzheimers Scotland.
You can access us for support in your caring role. You may also wish to contact Parents Inclusion Network or Quarriers.
Click here for Parent Inclusion Network or here for Quarriers to find out more information.
We offer one to on emotional support and there may be times when more intensive, specialised counselling is required. You can access this direct with Relationship Scotland.
We can help you access relevant training opportunities. You may also be able to access training appropriate to your caring role at Care Training & Consultancy (CIC).
To find out if you are eligible and to apply for a blue badge, click here.
We have an accessible room on our ground floor where you can meet with a member of staff.
Our service covers the whole of Dumfries & Galloway so you can access support wherever your live. Contact us for more information.
We offer support to Young Carers from the age of seven.
The person you care for does not need to have a formal diagnosis for you to access support. Please see our main page for more information on “Who is a Carer”.
No you do not need to live with the person you care for to access support in your caring role.
Yes. We will work with you to explore the best option to provide your support and employ the services of a translator if appropriate.
After your first Time for You application you can apply again after 12 months (this will be a contribution rather than the full amount). You can apply a total of 3 times over a 5 year period.
If your child is a Young Carer they can apply.
You can apply to our Time for You fund if you are not registered – you will need to name a referee who can confirm your caring role.
Carer Respite does not need to be a break away. It can be for something else which will give you much needed time out from your caring role. See our Grants & Funding page for guidance.
Yes.
This will depend on your situation. Our Support Workers will help you with this. Grants and funding change from time to time and there are other opportunities outwith the Carers Centre you may be able to access.
Depending on your situation, you may be able to get help through ourselves or other organisations. Please get in touch more information.
You can find out if you are entitled to Carers Allowance by clicking here.
We work in partnership with Dumfries & Galloway Citizens Advice Service. They can provide advice on benefit entitlements for you and the person you care for. Please get in touch to find out more.
You may be entitled to apply for a grant if you are on a low income. You can find out more about the Family fund by clicking here.
If you know where you want to go you can apply to our Short Breaks project. Or You may be able to access suitable accommodation by contacting PAMIS. Click here for more information.
Respitality is a new model of respite that moves away from more traditional settings and looks at connecting carers to organisations within hospitality, tourism and leisure sectors for flexible alternative offers of short breaks and respite.
Respitality is only successful due to the amazing local businesses that donate to the scheme. These donations are then gifted to our Unpaid Carers. For more information, please visit our Grants & Funding page.
Yes, to go on our Respitality waiting list you need to be a registered Carer with us.
Any registered Young Carer, Young Adult Carer or Adult Carer can apply.
YES! We would love to hear from any local business who wishes to donate to our Respitality scheme. Please call Nina on 01387 248 600 or email: nina.raynor@dgalcarers.org.
Funding is available to help Carers learn a new skill/upskill or to help with costs when accessing free/funded education. See our Funding & Grants page for more information.
Yes. There is a Support Worker at our groups.
We offer a range of groups for Carers – please see our What’s On page.
Yes. We do offer some peer groups. For example – for Carers or someone with Mental Health issues. If you would be interested in a peer group but we don’t offer this, please contact us.
We offer a range of wellbeing opportunities to help you have some time out and look after yourself. This can be anything for a therapy voucher to groups and grants for a break.
We work with trained Mindfulness Teachers to offer sessions from Carers. Contact us to find our more.
No. Unfortunately our groups are for carers only.
You may be able to access specialist counselling at Relationships Scotland. Click here for more info.
Your Support Worker may be able to help signpost you to other organisations which can help. You may also be able to access our Skills Fund. Apply for the Skills fund here.
We may be able to help you access specific courses that will help you – please speak with your Support Worker. CTC offer training for unpaid Carers. Click here for more information.
CTC offer training for unpaid Carers. Click here for more information.
Our Young Carers Project supports children from age 7.
We will ask for parent/guardian consent if you are under 16. However, you can access support in school without parental consent.
Yes you will need to be registered with us to access these.
We offer a wide range of groups and activities, particularly during school holidays. These are offered across the region and you can attend groups in your area once you register with us.
Yes we offer school drop-ins at all secondary schools where a Support Worker will visit and you can arrange to see them.
You can continue to get support through our Young Adult Carers project.
You can find out more about your rights and other help you might get on the Scottish Government website. Click here to find out more
When you turn 25 you can continue to be supported through our Adult Carers project. Your Support Worker will help with this.
You can talk to your Support Worker in private about your caring role but you do not need to talk about this at groups or activities if you don’t want to.
Young Scot Card offers a Young Carers Package which is a special bundle of treats available to all young carers who are 11 to 18 years old (inclusive) in Scotland. It’s filled with special treats to help you make the most of your free time and support you in your caring role. Best of all, it’s completely free! Click here for more information https://young.scot/get-informed/young-carers-package
We support Young Carers aged 7-18 in this project.
The Young Carers Grant is a payment from the Scottish Government for Carers aged 16-18 who are caring for someone for 16 hours per week. You can find out more by visiting
https://www.mygov.scot/young-carer-grant
If your child helps to support you due to a condition or illness you have, they are a Young Carer and may benefit from being in touch with us.
A Young Carers Statement is a plan to help Young Carers work out how caring responsibilities affect their life.
It may be important that your School knows you are a Young Carer. This will help you get the support you need and also understanding around your caring role at home. However, you don’t have to tell anyone if you don’t want to.
Yes – you can contact us through this website or email us info@dgalcarers.org
Yes we can. Your Support Worker will help you to explore options and find the best way forward.
Our Young Adult Carers project supports young people aged 18-25.
Many people do not see themselves as Carers and may be missing out on vital services, benefits and information. A Carer is someone who provides support to a family member or friend who is affected by long-term illness, disability, age or addiction.
A Young Adult Carer is someone aged 18-25 who cares for a family member, child or partner who suffers from a long-term illness, physical or learning disability, mental illness, drugs, or alcohol misuse. Our Young Adult Carers team can offer information, advice, and support specifically for young adults.
There are many children and young people who help to look after someone in their family. This may be Mum, Dad, brother or sister. The project aims to provide Young Carers aged 7-18 years with a break from their caring role through one-to-one support, groups and activities held across the region.
