Carers Central is here to help the 19,000 unpaid carers in Luton
Carers Central is a hub that enables adult carers to have the information, advice and support they need to have a life of their own, alongside their caring roles.
Carers Central is a free service provided by The Disability Resource Centre funded by Luton Council.
Opening hours
We are open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 10am to 4pm, and on Tuesdays from 10am to 7pm.
Call 0300 303 0201
Email: carerscentral@drcbeds.org.uk
Instant help:
Simply click the pink ‘Chat with us’ button below, open 10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Emergency help
If you need help in an emergency then there are many local and national services available
Latest news
Carer’s breaks
You may be able to receive some help that enables you to take some time out from your caring responsibilities…
Are you an unpaid carer?
A carer is someone who looks after a relative or friend who, because of age, mental health, physical or other disability, cannot manage at home without help. Even if you receive Carer’s Allowance for your caring role, you are still classed as an unpaid carer.
Help to get a Blue Badge
A Blue Badge for disabled parking If you feel the person you are caring for could benefit from a Blue Badge to help with disabled parking they can apply (or you can apply for them as their carer) via their local authority’s website. Who is entitled to a blue badge? You may be able to
Discounts for carers in Luton
We’ve compiled all the great price discounts available for carers in Luton including venues, activities, transport and more…
We are busy helping unpaid carers in Luton, every week
Read this small selection of the ways we’ve recently been helping carers in Luton:
We helped a carer get a wheelchair for her dad
We supported a carer to have more control over their caring role and improved communication with mental health services
We helped a carer get a repeat prescription for their cared-for person and to access a local counselling service
We supported a carer to join Yoga classes and they now also attend our weekly carers coffee morning with other local carers
We helped a carer fill in the forms to claim Attendance Allowance and Carers Allowance
We helped a carer set-up a Needs Assessment and Carers Assessment with Luton Council. This was conducted over the phone and they received the specific equipment needed for their cared-for person
We referred a carer to Total Wellbeing Luton for talking therapy. The carer was supported to start online exercise classes. We have started to call this carer every month to check how they are doing, as part of our welfare phone calls to local carers that need regular support
We helped a carer to apply for Attendance Allowance and a Blue Badge. We also supported them with a referral to Luton Council Adult Social Services to conduct a Needs Assessment
We supported a carer to create a wellbeing action plan and have now started weekly welfare calls to the carer, to check their progress and help with any issues
We referred a carer to Age Concern to organise help with house cleaning and to Morrison’s for their Doorstep Delivery service. We also supported the carer to talk to their GP about mental health issues and helped them organise a key safe to be installed and a weekly sitting service to be set-up
We helped a carer to request a risk assessment for their cared-for person and talking therapy support. We then helped them obtain a Carer’s Assessment to look at their own wellbeing needs
Get boosted…
Visit the NHS website for more information and to book free COVID-19 vaccinations including booster jabs.
Free handbook and newsletters for unpaid carers in Luton
Newsletters
Subscribe to our popular newsletter for unpaid carers in Luton. It’s full of practical information and all the latest local events in the area that are free to attend.
Luton Carers’ Handbook
We launched the Luton Carers’ Handbook last year and it’s been now downloaded by many carers across Luton. The handbook is full of important information and useful tips including: Carer’s assessments & breaks for carers, Carer’s benefits and money, Employment support, End of life care, Information on medications and health conditions, Useful local and national contacts plus a handy Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and answers section…
Services for unpaid carers at The Disability Resource Centre
Direct Payments support
A Direct Payment is a way that people can access funds (e.g. from their council) to arrange their own care and can continue to live as independently as possible.
The experienced team at The Disability Resource Centre helps hundreds of local people to hire their own personal care assistants. The team will handle all the paperwork that goes with Direct Payments and employing a carer too.
Read full details and book an appointment on The Disability Resource Centre website
Mobility equipment advice
You can hire a wheelchair, get help choosing mobility equipment like scooters, walkers and rollators. Specialist advice on seating and beds is available along with many practical daily living aids and lower priced second-hand equipment.
Book an appointment on The Disability Resource Centre website.
Disability advice service
The disability advice service is confidential, independent and free.
You'll get lots of help with benefits form-filling like Carer's Allowance and PIP, plus plenty of support with accessing many of the free local and national services for unpaid carers.
Book an appointment on The Disability Resource Centre website.
Carers Central is a free service provided by The Disability Resource Centre funded by Luton Council in partnership with NHS Luton Clinical Commissioning Group.