Taking breaks from caring

As an unpaid carer, taking a break is important for your own well-being and ensures you can continue providing the best care possible. Kingston Council's day opportunities and short breaks services offer tailored support, giving you time for yourself and enriching experiences for the person you care for.

There are several different ways you can take a break from caring, this includes:

• get some overnight care support to look after the person you care for
• use a local care home for some short breaks (also known as respite care)
• arrange for the person you care for to visit local day centres

It may be possible to get some funding from Kingston for all these options. You can access these funds in two ways.

Get a care assessment for your loved one

If the person you look after meets certain criteria they may be able to get help towards the cost of a carer coming in to look after them, or visits to a day centre, which will give you a break from caring.

Learn more about care assessments.

Talk to Kingston Carers’ Network

Kingston Council has partnered with Kingston Carers’ Network (KCN) to provide support service to carers.

KCN can offer you advice and guidance on how to take a break and they manage our discretionary payments for respite care.

These payments are not means tested, but are based on how much your caring responsibilities are impacting your wellbeing.

Who can get relief care

You must be:

• a carer living in Kingston
• over 18 years old
• caring for someone in Kingston who cannot be left safely alone due to illness, disability, frailty, dementia, or other health conditions​
• significantly impacted by your caring responsibilities, this means you can show that caring for someone impacts your wellbeing and causes you considerable challenges like making time for yourself

If KCN decides you need to complete a carers’ assessment. This assessment will help you and the person you care for understand your needs.

The two options of funding through this assessment are:

• relief care, this is up to 72 hours of paid for care in any 1 year
• discretionary payment, a small, one-off payment to help you, the carer, go out and do something that you enjoy, such as going to the gym

Arranging your own breaks

Day centres

Our partners Staywell have 2 day centres that offer activities, lunches, hairdressing and podiatry services. Learn more about Staywell day centres.

The Milaap multicultural day centre offers activities, exercise classes and lunch clubs that reflect the rich multicultural diversity of Kingston.

Geneva Road Services offer a rich programme of support for adults with any physical disability, learning disability or autism.

Find a professional carer

If you cannot get funding for relief care and the person you care for does not qualify for funding from the council, you can pay for some professional support so you can take a break from caring.

Connected Kingston lists some local care agencies and care homes. You can check the rating of care providers.

Help choose a private carer

If you’d like some advice and guidance about choosing a care agency to give you a break, have a chat with Kingston Carers’ Network.

Call 020 3031 2757 or email admin@kingstoncarers.org.uk

Other benefits for carers in Kingston

Transport assistance

There are many schemes in the borough that may help you and the person you care for get out and about, including dial-a-ride and the London Taxicard scheme. Learn more about accessible transport in Kingston.

Apply for active Kingston discount card

If you're a carer living in the borough and receive Carer's Allowance, you have the opportunity to apply for the Active Kingston Discount Card.

This card opens the door to discounts on a diverse range of activities at 7 local leisure centres.

It's designed to encourage you, as a carer, to participate in leisure and recreational activities that will support your physical and mental well-being.

You can apply for the discount card online.

Get a carer’s cinema card

As a carer, you are eligible to apply for the Carer's Cinema Card, provided by the Cinema Exhibitors’ Association (CEA), which allows you to receive a complimentary cinema ticket when accompanying the person you care for.

There is a £6 application fee. It is valid for one year and is accepted at numerous cinemas, including Odeon, Cineworld, Curzon, and Vue.

To apply, you can either apply for the cinema card online or reach out to the CEA directly by calling 01244 526 016 or via email.