Caring for family, partners or friends in need of help because they are ill, frail or have a disability can be physically and emotionally draining work. This caring is almost always unpaid, and many carers juggle this responsibility with the pressures of holding down paid employment - or have to face the consequences of losing their job.  The organisations below provide practical and emotional support to carers.

Cancer and Carers Support Group
Offers various forms of support in Swindon.

CancerBACUP
National helpline providing information and support for people with cancer and their carers.

Carers
Government website giving information for carers.

Carers UK
Advice on how to access services and benefits in your area.

Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities (CTPLD) (Swindon Borough Council)
Provides an assessment and care planning service to adults with learning disabilities.

Crisis Support Service (CSS) (Swindon Borough Council and Primary Care Trust)
Short-term support to people over the age of 65 who are facing a medical crisis.

Cruse (Bereavement Counselling)
Offers counselling, advice and help to all bereaved people.

Department of Old Age Psychiatry (Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership)
Provides a range of services which aim to help older people with mental health problems.

Depression Alliance
A self-help group for people with depression, their family and friends.

Disability Information Service (DIS)
A free, confidential service for people with disabilities, their carers and professionals.

Help The Aged
National advice service for older people and their carers.

HIV/AIDS
See: Terrence Higgins Trust under Gay Issues

Holiday Care Service
Give up-to-date information about holidays and respite care for people with disabilities.

Learning Disabilities - Community Nursing Service (Primary Care Trust)
Offers support to individuals of any age who require specialist help with learning disabilities.

Marie Curie Nursing
Offers practical nursing care to people with terminal cancer in their own homes.

Mencap (Swindon and District)
Local Branch of national charity providing support to people with learning disability and their carers.

Meningitis Research Foundation
Charity at the forefront of fighting death and disability resulting from meningitis and septicaemia.

Narcotics Anonymous
Information, support and advice for ex drug users and their carers.

NHS Direct
NHS Direct operates a 24-hour nurse advice and health information service, providing confidential information.

Parkinson’s Disease Society, Swindon
Local group giving support and information to people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and their carers.

Respite Care (Swindon Borough Council, Primary Care Trust and The Great Western Hospital)
Long and medium term accommodation placements, respite placements and emergency placements to all vulnerable adults.

Rethink (formerly the National Schizophrenia Fellowship)
National organisation providing support and information for people with severe mental illness, their families and carers.

Swindon Cancer and Carer Support Group
Support group for people affected by cancer - especially carers.

Swindon Community Database
Help people with learning disabilities with housing, finding properties and moving.

Swindon Stroke Support Group
Aims to further the abilities of people who have had a stroke and help them to socialise as they did previously.

Swindon Stroke Support Group
Aims to further the abilities of people who have had a stroke and help them to socialise as they did previously.

Swindon Young Carers
Offers ‘time out’ groups and one-to-one support for young carers aged five to 25 years of age.