A new telephone advice service for carers in England has been launched. Carers Direct, which is funded by £2.8 million a year, aims to support the five million carers in England by offering advice and signposting them to sources of further information where necessary.

Information offered will include:

• details of support available, including assessments, benefits, direct payments, individual budgets and time off
• help to maintain, leave or return to employment
• help in education or training
• advice on how carers maintain or improve their social and emotional wellbeing and their physical and mental health
• access to health and social care for the person being cared for
• how to access information about, and support from, health and social care services for the person being cared for

At the launch of the new helpline, Care Services Minister Phil Hope said: ‘I know that carers' lives are often made unnecessarily difficult if they have to struggle to find the information, advice and support they need. I hope Carers Direct will put this right. I have huge respect and admiration for the five million carers in England, who do fantastic work every day. The Carers Strategy has already gone a long way to better support carers, but there is still a lot of work to do.’

For further details about Carers Direct and the new initiatives that are being developed through the Carers Strategy, visit the News Distribution Service website.