Working for Carers
Do you look after someone in Newcastle, North Tyneside, or Northumberland? Are you struggling to balance your caring responsibilities with work or education?
You are not alone.
Newcastle Carers, North Tyneside Carers’ Centre and Carers Northumberland are working together to deliver the Working for Carers project. We provide friendly and specialised support for unpaid carers aged 16+ to find a job, maintain employment, access education, training and volunteering opportunities.
Upcoming events
We regularly run various information sessions and employment clinics to support you. Here are our upcoming events:
Employment support available to you – Briefing Session for Carers. Thursday 21 November, from 2pm – 3pm. Find out more and book your space here.
Supporting and identifying carers in the workplace – Briefing Session for Professionals. Thursday 21 November, from 3.30pm – 4.30pm. Find out more and book your space here.
Understand your rights at work as a carer. Thursday 21 November, from 6pm – 8pm. Find out more and book your space here.
Online CV Writing Session. Monday 25 November, from 1pm – 2.30pm. Find out more and book your space here.
We provide friendly and specialised one-to-one support to unpaid carers aged 16 and above.
If you are currently in work, or looking for employment, education, volunteering or training opportunities, our advisors are here to listen and help you.
- Every day, 600 people leave work to care for someone (Carers UK)
- Juggling work and caring responsibilities is a massive worry for carers, with 75% of carers struggling (Carers UK)
- Almost half of carers said caring had a negative impact on their job and working ability (Carers Week)
We understand that trying to find a balance between looking after someone and work, training, school, or university can be a real challenge.You might be feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and exhausted due to your caring responsibilities, and you may feel like your employer, manager or teacher doesn’t understand.
Some days you might fail to meet a deadline, arrive late to meetings, skip lessons, or simply can’t go into work or school because of your caring responsibilities.
How is the Working for Carers Project funded?
The North East Combined Authority (North East CA) was formed on 7 May 2024. It is led by Elected Mayor Kim McGuinness and the Cabinet and covers the seven local authority areas of County Durham, Gateshead, Newcastle, North Tyneside, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Sunderland.
This project is funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund aims to improve pride in place and increase life chances across the UK investing in communities and place, supporting local business, and people and skills.
We’re here to help
Thank you for the support you have provided, it has been incredibly helpful. I feel a lot more confident about trying to get a job in the future.Young adult carer
The Working for Carers project is designed to provide specialist support to enable you to balance your caring responsibilities with your job, training or school.
We are also here to help you find a job, advance in your current role, access education, volunteering, and training opportunities.
The project and our services work across the North of Tyne area (Newcastle, North Tyneside, and Northumberland) to provide you with fully accessible and flexible support.
Our advisors can provide informative and tailored support to help you:
- Maintain your current role and overcome any workplace barriers.
- Search for your first, or a new, job role.
- Access training opportunities, educational courses, or volunteering roles.
- Find work experience opportunities, apprenticeships, and paid roles.
- Improve your employability skills – such as digital literacy.
- Develop your interview skills and practice mock interviews.
- Identify your transferrable skills set to pursue employment goals and opportunities.
- Prepare and craft CVs and cover letters.
- Write university applications and personal statements.
- Build your confidence levels.
- Access benefits and legal advice.
- Understand your rights as a carer in the workplace.
We also work with employers
Employers across the North of Tyne area can also access support to create carer-friendly workplaces. We can work alongside you to identify opportunities to improve employment, training, and volunteering roles for unpaid carers.
We can offer one-to-one support directly into your workplace – helping you to understand carers’ needs, recognise the range of skills they develop through looking after someone, and support carers returning to work.
Through the Working for Carers project, we can also advise you in regard to the Carer’s Leave Act 2023, Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act 2023, and what this means for carers and employers.
If you want to arrange for one of our advisors to come to your place of work, get in touch with us.
Meet the Working for Carers team
Our friendly and specialist advisors are here to support you during your employment and educational journey, through tailored, one-to-one support.
The team is made up of Employment Advisors, Employability Advisors, a Benefits and Legal Advisor, an Employer Engagement Officer, and our Project Coordinator.
Watch the short videos from our advisors below and read more about each role further down the page.
Employment Advisors
Stirling and Lucy are our Employment Advisors on the Working for Carers project, who will work with you to identify your individual needs and deliver advice, information and guidance to enable you to balance your caring responsibilities with work, education or training.
Employability Advisors
We have three Employability Advisors on the project: Cydney, Sue, and Hayley. They provide specialist one-to-one support and work with you to explore options in order to overcome or reduce any work-related barriers you may face when seeking work or returning to work, education, or training
Benefits and Legal Advisor
Aaron is the Benefits and Legal Advisor for the project. He provides specialist benefits and legal advice to you, to support you to maximise your income in and out of the workplace.
This includes working with you to apply and appeal for benefits, and advising you on your rights as a carer in the workplace.
Employer Engagement Officer
Our Employer Engagement Officer, Fiona, works with businesses and employers to offer tailored solutions to supporting carers in the workplace, and helps to implement and review carer-friendly policies.
Fiona also works with organisations to support them in recognising employment responsibilities for carers, with a focus on flexible working and the Carers Leave Act.
Project Coordinator
Ian is the Working for Carers Project Coordinator. He works with our team of advisors across all three carers centres (Newcastle Carers, North Tyneside Carers’ Centre, and Carers Northumberland) to manage the day-to-day delivery of the project, allocating referrals to the best-suited advisor, and networking with key organisations to spread awareness about the project.
Carers’ Stories
If you’re looking after someone, it can be a real struggle to maintain or access work, training and education. Read some of the real experiences of carers who have been supported by the Working for Carers project, to find a balance between their caring role and work.
Ruth’s Story
Ruth is in her 40s and carers for her elderly mother at home. Despite a severe knock in confidence after her company fell into liquidation, Ruth has begun her journey of self-appreciation to look for a job whilst balancing her caring role.
Amara’s Story
Amara is a young adult carer and looks after her Mam. She’s had to prioritise her caring role over completing a Master’s degree. With support from the Working for Carers project, Amara has found a part-time job she enjoys, which still allows her to receive Carers…
Contact us today
Whether you’re currently in work, or looking for employment, education, volunteering, and training opportunities, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
