Who we are
Carers Central is a free service provided by The Disability Resource Centre.
The service is completely free and dedicated to unpaid carers living or caring for someone in Luton.
The service provides advice and information for carers, derived from the knowledge and experience of working with all the existing local services; Luton GP practices, the Carers Partnership Board in Luton and many operational partners like Mind BLMK, Deafblind UK, LutonSENDIAS, Autism Bedfordshire, Luton All Women’s Centre, Headway Luton and many more. See our partners page for full details.
Thanks to funding by Luton Council the service provides practical support to a great number of carers in Luton.
Caring for carers through the pandemic
How carers have coped in the pandemic – Our survey results
Read the report we produced in April 2022: Caring for Carers through the Pandemic…
The Disability Resource Centre is an independent organisation and a registered charity, that has disabled people and carers at the centre of its decision making.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Leader
Why we are here
Approximately 9% of the population of Luton have caring responsibilities – that is over 18,000 people of all ages caring for others of all ages.
Luton Council and Luton Clinical Commissioning Group recognised the crucial role that carers play in the lives of those they care for. Luton Council worked with carers, voluntary and statutory sector partners to refresh the strategic plan for carers in the town.
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 network of partners and peers led by The Disability Resource Centre whose aim it is to empower carers to:
- care effectively and safely
- look after their own health and well-being
- fulfil their education and employment potential
- have a life of their own alongside caring responsibilities
- achieve the outcomes that matter to them as an individual
Trained advisors are at the end of a phone on 0300 303 0201 and provide carers with accurate, up-to-date information in a range of formats, and can suggest lots of other sources of support.
They help carers to find the help they need, near to them. This can be anything from arranging an assessment with the local authority to respite care or courses for emotional resilience, workshops, or wellbeing groups.
We make a real difference to carers, including those who may be:
• New carers
• Carers in distress
• Carers who cease care responsibility
• Carers with changing circumstances
• Carers who need advocacy
• The families of carers
Carers Central is a service completely dedicated to unpaid carers living or caring for someone in Luton.
We make full use of existing local services to develop an integrated, holistic support system to carers, and will add additional partners to our network including Luton GP practices. We also work in close conjunction with the Carers Partnership Board in Luton.
Please call us on 0300 303 0201.
We are a member of the Luton Carers Network.
Funding by Luton Council enables us to provide information and practical support to a great number of carers in Luton.
Learn all about how The Disability Resource Centre started
Find out how we are helping Cathy and Roy living at home
Hear from Priyal who has been working at The Disability Resource Centre as an apprentice
Zaqia tells us about how she has used a number of services offered by The Disability Resource Centre
Michael talks about his voluntary work at The Disability Resource Centre
Share this page
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
We are open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
Carers Rights Day in Luton 2023
Thursday 23rd November 2023 is Carers Rights Day. Come and see us for help and support outside TK Max in Luton from 10am to 2pm…
Even if you claim Carer’s Allowance you are still an unpaid carer
You could be an unpaid carer and get enhanced support from local services. Read full details about how you qualify as an unpaid carer…
Photos from our recent carers event
Sally Glancy and Levi Habashanti were the hosts of the event, with Sally saying “It was really lovely to see everyone and they all know that we are here to support carers in Luton all year around”. The event was attended by over 40 carers and partners with 17 stands from organisations including East London NHS Foundation Trust, CHUMS Young Carers Service and Total Wellbeing Luton. Read all about the event and see the photos…
Coffee afternoon at Luton Central Library on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month
Levi and Sally will be available to offer support and advice to unpaid carers in Luton. Come for a coffee and catch up, no appointment is necessary.
Carer coffee mornings, online every Monday
Join us online every Monday for 10:30am – 12pm for our carer support Group meeting. Enjoy a break for coffee and chat with other local carers.
Quick guide to dementia and local support in Luton
Read about dementia and its different forms, diagnostic tests for detecting it early on, available treatments and prevention methods against it. We have included some links to local support groups and organisations for carers in Luton…
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.
Download your copy of the Luton Carers’ Handbook
We just updated the free Luton Carers’ Handbook. It’s full of important information and useful tips including: Carer’s assessments, respite breaks for carers, 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…
32 ways to improve your wellbeing
There are lots of ways to help improve your overall wellbeing as a carer. Here we have compiled some local organisations and support groups that can help with your wellbeing, as well as some nationally available services, phone apps and useful websites. Total Wellbeing Luton Total Wellbeing in Luton “is a service that supports people
How to use mindfulness to help your mental health as a carer
Mental health is something that’s become a lot more visible recently. There are now numerous campaigns and initiatives focusing on bringing mental health to the forefront of public attention. There’s also been an increase in people speaking about their own experiences, whether that be through social media or other platforms, which has helped many begin
Working while being a carer: The 7 steps every carer/employee needs to know
Being a carer can be hugely time-consuming. You might find it hard to fit work around your caring responsibilities, but most people need to support themselves financially at some point in their lives. Working while being a carer is not easy, but we’ve put together this guide to help you find the perfect balance between
10 tips to get approved for a Disabled Facilities Grant
If you’re a disabled person you may be eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to help you make adaptations to your home. Read our 10 tips on how to increase your chances of getting approved for a DFG…