Caring with Confidence

A programme aimed at improving support for carers aged 18 and over in England. You can develop your caring knowledge and skills by taking part in free local group sessions.

What is Caring with Confidence?

If you are looking after a friend or relative, Caring with Confidence can help you to make a positive difference to your life and that of the person you care for.

What are the sessions all about?

There are seven generic sessions you can choose from. Some sessions are also aimed at particular groups of carers. To get started, sign up to the introductory session:

Finding Your Way
This will help you look at what matters to you and decide which other sessions you might want to do.

You can then choose to do one or more of the following sessions:

Caring and Coping
Gives you time and space to look at the emotions involved in looking after someone. What strategies you use and what you could do to cope with stress more effectively.

Caring and Me
How to be fit for life and caring. Discussion and planning around your own health and wellbeing.

Caring Day-to-Day
Looks at the essentials of caring for someone day-to-day, from medication to emergencies at home.

Caring and Resources
How you can maximise your income and access other resources which save you money as a carer.

Caring and Life
Invites you to take time out and think about how you juggle competing demands and how your caring role fits with other aspects of your life.

Caring and Communicating
Uses real-life caring situations to help you get the best from communicating with professionals and service providers.

Caring with Confidence will:

• help you build on your strengths as a carer
• give you the opportunity to share experiences and learn from others in similar situations
• give you useful information, ideas and tips about looking after someone
• help you decide what you might like to change about your caring role
• provide travel and alternative care costs for those who need it

What course participants say

Ann - Chichester, West Sussex

“The course made me feel like I’d been let out of prison for a couple of hours.”

I became a carer 3 years ago when my partner Nigel had a heart transplant.  We had not long been together so it was a difficult time but we managed to get through.  As he was starting to get better we got married, but unfortunately two years later, he was diagnosed with Burkitt Lymphoma, a rare type of cancer caused by the anti-rejection drugs he was taking from the heart transplant.

More on Ann's story