Unpaid carers are people who give informal care to their family or friends on a regular basis. You may organise appointments, help someone with their personal care (like washing), do housework and make sure the person you look after is safe and well.
1 in 10 people living in Havering are carers (2021 census). It’s really important that we work together to find out who these informal carers are so we can support them.
NHS England describes a carer as “anyone, including children and adults 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.”
People who get Carers Allowance or Attendance Allowance are also ‘unpaid carers’.
Carers are from all ages and backgrounds. The support they provide is vital.
There are lots of different types of carers, but for Havering’s Carers Strategy, we are focusing on 3 groups. The strategy explains what we want to do to help support each group.
If any of the below statements describes your situation, you are a carer:
If you relate to any of these descriptions you are a Carer, you may qualify for free support and advice. It’s really important that you get support for your own physical and mental wellbeing. Make sure you register as a carer.
Register with the Havering Unpaid Carers' support service so that you can access information and advice, support, and a Carers Assessment when you need it.
This service is launching in February 2026 and will give comprehensive support to carers across Havering, promoting wellbeing and equipping them with the knowledge and resources to thrive.
Contact the service by:
Imago run Havering's Young Carers support service. They can support unpaid carers between the ages of 5 and 18 with activities, workshops, and respite.
They work with school staff and other professionals. They aim to make sure Young Carers have access to the support they need and know they are not alone.
Contact the service by:
If you are the parent or carer of a child or young person with SEND, there are services designed to support you. Visit the SEND Local Offer for the full details.
Havering's Carers Board, made up of Havering residents who have lived experience of being a carer in the borough, have come up with some top tips for other people caring in Havering.
This will make sure that you are flagged for priority flu and COVID-19 vaccinations to protect the person that you care for.
This will also give you the right to a personal Health Check to make sure that your health and wellbeing is looked after.
Attendance Allowance is money you can get from the government to support you with extra costs if you have a disability or health condition that means you need someone to help look after you. This is not means tested and is available if you are over the age of 66.
If you need help applying for attendance allowance, speak to the Havering Carers' Hub or Citizen's Advice.
Apply for attendance allowance on the government website.
This assessment will let you know what support you can get. You can get an assessment via the Havering Carers Hub or via Adult Social Care.
If the person you care for wanders at night, or if you’re worried about them leaving the house alone, make use of technology to keep track of the person you care for.
Telecare & Assistive Technology
You can check out the Council’s Telecare offer, to get access to tools that an alert you if the person you care for falls over or leaves home without you knowing.
If you have less than £20k in savings, you can get Telecare and other assistive technologies for free. You can also pay for these tools yourself if you wish.
Location tracker apps
You can use apps like Life360 (other providers available) which are free ways of tracking someone's location via their mobile phone with their consent.
These apps can notify you when someone leaves a specific location or when they arrive at a specific location so you know they're safe.
It can also tell you how long they've been at a particular location for.
If you are in employment, know your rights, including flexible working and Carers' leave. Visit the Carers UK website to find out more.
You can apply for a discount on your council tax if your house has been significantly adapted because someone with a disability lives there.
Visit the Havering Council Tax webpage for more information.
Speak to the Carers Hub about Power of Attorney – this will help you to manage the health and, if needed, financial needs of the person you’re caring for.
There are many carers support groups across Havering where you can connect with people going through similar experiences:
Do you need advice about a child or young person’s speech, language or communication? We are offering drop-in sessions available: For children ages 18 months to 16 years (no referral...
Drop-in information, advice and support for people living with dementia and their carers.
Enjoy a hot drink and socialise with new friends. A safe environment to chat, use computers, play cards, play board games, do puzzles and much more! £5 per session.
This is a friendly and relaxed free drop in for those with dementia and their carers.
Support for unpaid adult and young adult carers aged 16+ in Havering. If you are a carer providing help and care to family members and friends, we are here to support you.
The Live Well Empowerment Service gives adults living in Havering wellbeing support in the community. The service is commissioned by Havering Council and delivered by Tapestry Care UK through community hubs in Rainham, Harold Hill and Hornchurch.
Telecare is equipment and services that supports safety and independence in the home.
Free expert guidance and a like-minded community - all in one space, whenever and wherever you need it.
Tapestry provides invaluable support for carers, recognizing the vital role they play in looking after loved ones. Caring for someone can be both rewarding and challenging, and Tapestry aims to ease the burden by offering practical assistance, emotional support, and respite opportunities.
We give care to people in their homes who are experiencing a physical health crisis that does not warrant a hospital admission.
Refer yourself/your family members to our service. We are here to help. We provide information and advice for anyone worried about their own or someone else’s memory. Anyone who has a diagnosis of dementia or is a carer/family member of a person who is living with dementia and resides in Havering are welcome to get in touch with us.
A fortnightly choir for those who are living with dementia and their carers with tea and coffee provided. Every other Thursday, 10am – 11:30am. £2 per person.
RAGS provide help and support for families who have a child / children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. We believe that every person with autism has potential to fulfil, and we enable this by supporting the entire family – parents, siblings and the individual with autism.
Havering SENDIASS provides free, impartial and confidential information, advice and support on matters relating to education, health and social care.
We are the Parent Carer Forum for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) families who live in the London Borough of Havering. We work Tues, Weds, Thurs term times.
A warm and friendly drop-in for those with Dementia and their carers. Enjoy tea, coffee, music, and friendship in a casual and supportive environment.
We provide Talking Therapies for people over the age of 18 and registered with a GP in the London Borough of Havering.
Weekly support group for families affected by addiction.
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