Please note: We are currently refreshing the All Age Carers Strategy for 2025-2029. Working alongside Carers and our wider partners, we will define our new commitments to all carers across the borough. The new strategy will be available later this year and will be shared on this webpage.
We recognise and value the vital role carers play, and we want to help you feel supported so you can continue caring for as long as you feel able. There are many ways that you can find support across our borough, and we have put together some top tips in the following video to help you.
Having a discussion about your needs as a carer
You may find it easier to continue in your caring role if you can find the support that is right for you as early as possible. You might be wondering what support is available and where to start. All adult carers of adults over the age of 18, have the opportunity to discuss your caring role as well as the support and services that could help you.
We are not here to assess your ability to be a carer but to discuss how caring impacts you and to consider aspects such as:
- What you can do to remain fit and well
- If you need support or advice with socialising and connecting with others
- If you work or volunteer or wish to in the future
- Education and training opportunities
- Your physical and emotional needs
- Whether you are able and willing to continue with your caring role and how you could be supported.
What happens next?
A range of information, advice and support will be offered, including:
- Signposting to services and organisations that could support you
- Information on activities that may help you
- Advice on welfare and benefits
- Advice on training and education opportunities
- If appropriate, you may be offered a personal budget to support you as a carer. This is an allocation of monies to support you in your role and can be used in a variety of ways
How to make a request
Wigan Council work in partnership with Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre who offer a range of advice, information and support to carers of all ages across the Wigan and Leigh borough.
If you'd like a discussion about what services and support is available, you can:
Mytime Wigan
We also work in partnership with Mytime Wigan (external link) to support carers across the Wigan and Leigh Borough to take time for themselves. By signing up to Mytime, carers will have the opportunity to take a break from their caring role with complimentary leisure, cultural and educational activities. Experiences include overnight stays, afternoon tea, restaurant meals, sporting events, days out and relaxation therapies.
Financial support and advice
If you care for someone, you or the person you care for may be entitled to welfare and benefit support. For information and advice on financial support, check out the following services:
- Here for you - are you feeling the pressure of rising costs and finding it hard to know where to turn? These webpages are here for you to signpost you to services, organisations and resources that might be able to help with things like working out your eligibility to benefits, borrowing wisely, keeping warm and keeping well
- Help to claim - Cost of living support event - Visit one of our face-to-face drop-in sessions where we can talk you through what you’re entitled to, help you to complete forms and be there as a listening ear and helping hand. You can also call the team on 01942 489015 for further details or to discuss how the team can help you.
- Wigan Welfare Support and Welfare Rights or call 01942 705221
- Citizens Advice Wigan Borough (external link) or call 0808 2787801
- Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre (external link) - offers advice on welfare rights for carers, just call 01942 697885 or email [email protected]
- Help for Carers (external link) - offers information and guidance on Carers Allowance, Carers Credit, Universal Credit and Pension Credit. Carers Allowance is the main benefit for carers and you may be eligible if you're looking after someone for 35 hours a week or more
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP) (external link) - if the person you care for has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, then they may be entitled to PIP
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children (external link) - if you're looking after a child with a health condition or disability who is under the age of 16 years then they may be entitled to DLA
- Carers UK (external link) - for further information on financial support for carers
- Turn2us (external link) - helps people in financial need access welfare, benefits, charitable grants and other financial help.
Health and wellbeing support
Caring can be very rewarding, but it also makes demands on your time, your health and your emotions, and can be tiring. So, taking an occasional break from caring is important - it gives you the chance to recharge your batteries and look after your physical and mental health.
- Respite and breaks (external link) - Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre offer a range of activities to help carers get a break from their caring role. Call 01942 697885 or email [email protected]
- Befriending, counselling and group services (external link) - Wigan and Leigh Carers Centre offer a befriending service to carers. As a carer, you'll gain support from a volunteer who is fully trained and can offer a listening ear. Additionally, they operate a free, confidential counselling service Call 01942 697885 or email [email protected]
- Download the managing unpaid carer mental health and wellbeing toolkit (external link) - Unpaid carers don’t always have an employer or manager to provide support, and so the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) have developed a short, 2-page toolkit specifically for unpaid carers, highlighting key resources to help them.
- Help and advice for carers from Carers UK (external link) - Supportive online groups, a forum where you can connect with other carers, regular online wellbeing chats and a free online wellbeing course
- Carers Emergency Card from WLCC (external link) - Carers Emergency Cards are issued to all registered carers in Wigan. It may help you to identify as a carer. It's also used to alert people that the person with the card is supporting a vulnerable person. To apply for a card call 01942 697885 or email [email protected]
- Get a Be Well Card - You will need a Be Well card to take part in any activity at our 7 leisure centres in the borough. A Be Well +1 card allows free admission for carers who are supporting a person who needs additional help and assistance when using the swimming pool or gym, and offers a reduced rate for classes when you are with the person you care for or if you attend alone. Carers can also receive a monthly membership discount using their Wigan Carers emergency card from Wigan and Leigh Carers centre
- Qwell (external link) - Free, digital mental wellbeing support.
Want to know more?
To find out more about the key services and organisations that support carers, you can visit: