What is The Carers' Centre and who does it support?
The Carers' Centre (banescarerscentre.org.uk) is a small, local charity that supports unpaid carers — anyone looking after a partner, friend or family member who could not manage alone because of old age, illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction. It has been running for 30 years and covers Bath and North East Somerset. The support is aimed at people giving round-the-clock care as well as those offering occasional help, such as doing some shopping or taking someone to an appointment.
Who the charity helps
The site organises its support around six groups. If you recognise yourself in one of these, that is the starting point for finding the right service.
| You are… | The Centre's description |
|---|---|
| An adult looking after someone | You help a partner, friend or family member who couldn't manage alone, and you're over 18 |
| An adult looking after a child | You're a parent or guardian over 18, caring for a child with additional needs |
| A young person looking after someone | You help look after someone in your family or a friend, and you're under 18 |
| A parent or guardian of a young carer | You're the parent or guardian of a young person who looks after someone |
| Someone who works with carers | You work in education, health or another sector and have contact with carers |
| Someone who knows a carer | You recognise someone caring for another person and want to help them |
The distinction matters because the services differ by age and role — a young carer and an adult caring for a partner are routed to different support.
What counts as "caring"
The charity's definition is deliberately broad. You do not need to provide full-time personal care to qualify. The site explicitly includes ad-hoc help like shopping or taking someone to appointments alongside round-the-clock care. If you are unsure whether your situation counts, the "Who we help" section is designed to let you check by picking the option that matches you.
Services and resources mentioned
- Bridgit Care — a self-help service launched to support unpaid adult carers.
- Carer's Voice — an advisory group of carers; a member attended the Prime Minister's launch of the Big Conversation on social care reform.
- Practical guidance — for example, a page on how to cope in hot weather, aimed at people who are more vulnerable in high temperatures.
- Fundraising — the Centre promotes Easy Fundraising, which lets supporters raise money for it while shopping online at no extra cost to them.
How to find the right support
- Go to the "Who we help" section on the homepage.
- Pick the option that describes you (adult carer, young carer, professional, parent of a young carer, etc.).
- Follow the link on that option to see the services available to you.
If you are contacting the Centre on someone else's behalf, the "I know someone looking after someone else" route explains how to help them take the next step.
Things to keep in mind
- The Centre is local, not national — its services are tied to Bath and North East Somerset, so check your area before relying on it.
- It is a charity, and the site does not state that services are free or that any login is required; confirm costs and eligibility directly with the Centre.
- The news section shows ongoing activity through 2026, including Carers Week (8–14 June 2026) and social care reform campaigning, so the organisation is currently active rather than dormant.