Directory and further information

Dandelions blowing in the wind in a meadow

Caring to the end

A guide to end of life care and beyond for unpaid carers in Surrey

Directory and further information

Here is a list of organisations and other sources of information and advice, both national and local, to help you in your caring role, including areas related to:

Health Support

Alzheimer’s Society

Alzheimer’s Society is the UK’s leading dementia charity. Alzheimer’s Society is active across Surrey in Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Farnham, Guildford, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Tandridge, Waverley and Woking.

Alzheimer’s Society runs a variety of services and programmes across Surrey, including:

  • Dementia Support and Information – You can access numerous support and information services across Surrey. To find your nearest service you can visit the Alzheimers website and use the postcode service finder or call their free confidential helpline on 0300 222 1122. You can also use an interactive Talking Point service which is available 24hrs a day via the website. The local Surrey office is available on 01932 855 582 or via email on surrey@alzheimers.org.uk
  • Time for Dementia – is an exciting, innovative, award-winning educational programme designed to create a new generation of healthcare professionals who are more aware and understanding of dementia. We always need more families to participate in this vital training.

Alzheimer’s Society also have a guide specifically for carers of people who have dementia telling you more about dementia and how it can affect a person over time.

Brigitte Trust

The Brigitte Trust is an independent registered charity offering emotional, practical and social support at home to people and their families facing cancer, MND, MS, heart and lung failure and other life-threatening illnesses. The service, which has been available for thirty years, is free of charge and our volunteers help in many ways, providing:

  • Emotional support and a listening ear
  • Assistance in forward planning and accessing information and services
  • Whilst spending time and supporting someone, the carer may use this time to step away
  • Support with hospital appointments, help with shopping and trips out
  • Bereavement support

For more information, please contact our Service Co-ordinator, Sarah Pattenden on 07469 932192 or via email at: Sarah. pattenden@brigittetrust.com

Compassion in Dying

Compassion in Dying has a wealth of resources to help the person you care for to prepare for the end of life.  How to talk about it, plan for it, think about it and record wishes.

Tel: 0800 999 2434 (Monday – Friday, 11am-3pm) Information line

Dementia UK

Dementia UK is a charity committed to improving the quality of life for all people affected by dementia, including carers.  Their website includes information about the condition, including a series of free information leaflets about dementia for you to read or download. They’re all written by our specialist dementia nurses and put together in response to the questions heard on their Dementia Helpline and out in the community. Admiral Nurses provide the specialist dementia support that families need. When things get challenging or difficult, their nurses work alongside the entire family, giving them one-to-one support, expert guidance and practical solutions.  Tel: 0845 257 9406

Diabetes UK

Diabetes UK is a charity dedicated to helping people with diabetes and their carers. Their National website provides specialist information on diabetes as well as access to a helpline. 

For local Surrey support go to:

Telephone 01372 720148
Email: south.east@diabetes.org.uk

End of Life Doula UK

Doulas are the bookends of life – Just as a Birth Doula is there at the beginning, an End of Life Doula is there for the end. Meaning that the last months or weeks or days are compassionate, calm, natural and as normal as can be.

An End of Life Doula is there to support a person, and those that they love, with a terminal diagnosis. They work in the person’s home as well as Hospices, Hospitals and Care Homes. They are there for the elderly and those living with dementia too.

Telephone Number: 0113 733 9100

Email: operations@eol-doula.uk

Further information about Doulas is available on End of Life Doula UK.

Headway UK

Headway is the UK-wide charity that works to improve life after brain injury by providing vital support and information services, including:

  • a freephone helpline (0808 800 2244, helpline@headway.org.uk)
  • a comprehensive award-winning website containing information and factsheets on all aspects of brain injury.
  • an award-winning range of booklets and publications designed to help people understand and cope with the effects of brain injury
  • an emergency fund to assist people dealing with the financial implications in the immediate aftermath of a brain injury
  • a Brain Injury Identity Card to help in everyday situations and if you come into contact with the criminal justice system
  • a directory of approved residential homes, rehabilitation units and respite facilities specialising in ABI.

Headway’s booklet Caring for someone with a brain injury (PDF) provides extensive information for carers plus an overview of brain injury, useful illustrations and case studies that bring the information to life.

In addition to the national services shown above, a network of Headway groups and branches across the UK, including Surrey, provides a wide range of services including rehabilitation programmes, carer support, social reintegration, community outreach and respite care to survivors and families in their own communities.

Headway Surrey telephone number: 01483 454433.

Healthtalk.org

Healthtalk.org is a website with information on a range of illnesses, with a focus on people’s own experiences, including on film and on a forum where you can talk to other people in similar situations.

Hospice UK

Hospice UK is the national charity for hospice and palliative care. The charity works to ensure all adults and children living with a terminal or life-shortening illness receive the care and support they need, when they need it. You can use their database which lists hospice providers across the UK to find your local hospice. Simply enter your postcode in the postcode box and select search.

Surrey hospices:

Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice

01252 729400 Waverley Lane, Farnham, Surrey

Princess Alice Hospice

01372 468811 West End Lane, Esher, Surrey 

Sam Beare Hospice (Community Team)

01932 598385 Clive House, 12-18 Queens Road, Weybridge, Surrey

Shooting Star Chase

01483 230960 Christopher’s children’s hospice, Old Portsmouth Road, Artington, Guildford, Surrey

St Catherine’s Hospice

01293 447333 Malthouse Road, Crawley, West Sussex

The Beacon Centre

01483 783400 Gill Avenue, Guildford, Surrey 

Woking & Sam Beare Hospices

01483 881750  Goldsworth Park Centre, Woking, Surrey

Macmillan Cancer Support 

Charity which provides practical, medical and financial support for people and their families affected by cancer.  

Telephone 0808 808 00 00Find details of your local support groups in Surrey

Marie Curie 

A charity which helps everyone, including family carers, affected by a terminal illness to get the information and support they need, including:

  • Marie Curie support line 0800 090 2309. You can ask questions and find support on the support line which is open 8 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday and 11 am to 5 pm Saturday. Calls from landline and mobiles are free.
  • Marie Curie Community This is for anyone affected by terminal illness including family carers so that they can share experiences and support one another. Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
  • Information and support Their website has a vast range of information materials (some links provided on this website) to see online or to print in hard copy. You can also find video films and easy read guides with further links to other websites.
  • Marie Curie nurses These nurses work day and night across the UK, providing vital hands on care and emotional support to the terminally ill person and their carers. They can help the person to remain at home.  
  • Marie Curie hospices

Safe Havens​

If you are looking for urgent mental health support outside normal working hours then Safe Havens can offer a safe, relaxed and friendly environment. You can also meet other carers like you who are having similar experiences to you.

Epsom:  The Larches, 44 Waterloo Road, Epsom, KT19 8EX

Guildford: Oakleaf Enterprise, 101 Walnut Tree Close, Guildford, GU1 4UQ

Redhill:  Wingfield Resource Centre, St Anne’s Drive (off Noke Drive), Redhill, RH1 1AU

All the above centres are open 365 days a year: 6-11 pm

Aldershot:  The Wellbeing Centre, 121-123 Victoria Rd, Aldershot, GU11 1JW

Woking:  Marjorie Richardson Centre, 19 High St, Woking, GU21 6BW

The above centres are open Monday to Friday 6-11pm and Weekends and B/H 12.30pm – 11pm

Mary Frances Trust

This Surrey based charity provides wellbeing support for any mental or emotional health issues through one-to-one sessions, courses, groups and activities. They also provide wellbeing advice and information, volunteering opportunities and crisis support.

Tel: 01372 375400

Email: info@maryfrancestrust.org.uk

Multiple Sclerosis Society

Charity which gives grants and provides information and support to people affected by multiple sclerosis and their families.

Tel: 0808 800 8000 Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 7.00 pm

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association

Charity which provides care, research, campaigning and information about motor neurone disease. Its website includes the latest research as well as guidance on getting support. 

Tel: 08457 626 262

NHS 111 Helpline

Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Outline

A Surrey based charity providing support to people with their sexuality and gender identity, including but not limited to the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and trans community of surrey, primarily through a helpline, website and support groups.

They offer specific information on cancer with reference to sexuality and gender identity considerations. Outline have also been working closely with Woking and Sam Beare Hospices to provide training to staff to raise awareness and understanding of LGBT communities.

Email: info@outlinesurrey.org

Tel: 01483 727667

SANEline

Charity providing specialist emotional support

Call: 0300 304 7000

Scope

Charity providing information and support for anyone with a learning disability or physical impairment.

Tel:  0808 800 3333

Soul Midwives

An organisation offering non-medical, non-religious compassionate care and support to anyone facing end of life, their families and carers.  Skilled advocates and advisors have time to listen and talk about any fears and wishes in a safe and supportive space. They offer a range of  gentle yet powerful therapies to soothe and reassure. With a deep understanding of the stages of dying, their work begins at the point of diagnosis and continues until the final day of life. They can also support families and carers after death.

Stroke Association

Charity providing information in audio format for people who have had a stroke, and their carers. It works to prevent stroke, to support everyone touched by stroke, fund research, and campaign for the rights of stroke survivors of all ages.

Tel: 0303 3033 100

Surrey and Mental Health Crisis Helpline

A telephone service offering support to anyone in Surrey and North East Hampshire who is concerned about their own mental health or a relative or friend.  

Call 0300 456 8342

SMS Text: 07717 98 90 24

Open 24 hours, 7 days a week.  You don’t need to book an appointment and calls are free of charge.  

  

Social Care Support

Social Prescribing Services

Social prescribing is a way for local agencies to refer people to a link worker. Link workers give people time, focusing on ‘what matters to me’ and taking a holistic approach to people’s health and wellbeing. They connect people to community groups and statutory services for practical and emotional support

Surrey Information Point

Surrey County Council website where you’ll find a wide range of local support, from staying active and preventing falls, through to help with meals and jobs around the home like cleaning or gardening. There are also organisations that specialise in helping people who are beginning to have problems with their memory. All of these services can make a really big difference and allow your loved one to continue to live well and independently in their own home for longer.  

Communication Support

AbilityNet

A national charity providing free information and advice on all aspects of computing for people with a disability and their carers.

Helpline: 0800 269545

Email: enquiries@abilitynet.org.uk

Sight for Surrey

Sight for Surrey is a charity offering a lifetime of support for people who are blind or partially sighted, Deaf, deafblind or hard of hearing. They provide a range of Communication Professionals for Deaf, deafened, hard of hearing people and those with combined sight and hearing loss in order to meet their communication needs. Communication Professionals have extensive experience in the following areas: Social Care Teams, Health, Business Meetings, Community, Legal and Employment. Services available include:

  • British Sign Language/English Interpreters
  • Interpreters for those with combined sight and hearing loss
  • Deaf Translators
  • Lip speakers
  • Electronic/Manual note takers
  • Speech-to-Text Reporters
  • Remote Video Communicators

Tel: 01372 377701 or SMS: 07860 026269

Everyone Can

Everyone Can aims to help disabled people make best use of information and communication technology by giving information, help and support on all aspects of disability computing.

Helpline: 0808 800 0009

The Sequal Trust

The Sequal Trust fundraises on behalf of its members to provide communication aids, which can be in the form of a specialised computer system, voice synthesiser to relay pre-recorded messages, and many other items of communication equipment. They also maintain, repair and update equipment as necessary.

Tel: 01691 624222

Email: info@thesequaltrust.org.uk

Carer Support

Action for Carers Surrey

Action for Carers Surrey provides events, information, advice and support for carers of all ages across Surrey. Support includes benefits help, advocacy, guidance on moving and handling, workshops, information and relaxation events (by Zoom and face to face), support groups, free resources and more.

They also help carers have their say on carer matters in Surrey, and nationally. There is specialist support available for young carers, young adult carers (18-24), and carers connected to the armed forces.

Tel: 0303 040 1234. It’s open 9am-5pm on Mondays, Thursday and Fridays, and open 9am-6pm on Tuesday and Wednesdays.

Text on (SMS) 07714 075993

Email CarerSupport@actionforcarers.org.uk

Brigitte Trust

The Brigitte Trust is an independent registered charity offering emotional support and practical help at home to people and their families facing cancer, MND, MS, heart and lung failure and other life-threatening illnesses. The service, which has been available for thirty years, is free of charge and our volunteers help in many ways, providing:

  • Emotional support and a listening ear
  • Respite for carers
  • Sitting with a family member whilst a carer takes a break
  • Transport to hospital appointments, shopping and trips out
  • Bereavement support

Tel: Service Coordinator has a dedicated mobile. You can leave a message and your call will be returned as soon as possible. 07469 932192

Carers Trust

Major charity Carers Trust works to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of unpaid caring for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems

Carers UK

Providing  information and guidance to unpaid carers. This covers a range of subjects including:

  • Benefits and financial support
  • Your rights as a carer in the workplace
  • Carers’ assessments and how to get support in your caring role
  • Services available to carers and the people you care for
  • How to complain effectively and challenge decisions

Tel: 0808 808 7777 Helpline is available on Mondays and Tuesdays, 10am – 4pm 

Crossroads Care Surrey

Crossroads Care Surrey (in partnership with the NHS) can provide a free, end-of-life carer support service for carers and people affected by life-limiting illnesses. A palliative-care-trained support worker will take over the caring role, giving you, the unpaid carer, regular breaks. Crossroads also run a variety of social clubs for adults with disabilities, including dementia, which may help you to have a break. 

Tel:  01372 869970

Surrey Care Trust

A charity which provides learning, training and mentoring including:

  • An alternative education programme called STEPS for young people who are failing in mainstream school
  • Adult learning courses aimed at people with low skills who might not think about getting back into learning without positive encouragement and support
  • Outdoors learning based on two Swingbridge boats. There are opportunities for people of all ages to do basic training in land management skills, as well as learning to crew and skipper a boat.
  • Environmental conservation volunteering programme.
  • Mentoring support for young people and adults who are going through a tough time and need help with making difficult decisions.

Tel: 01483 426990

Religious and Secular Support

Children of Jannah

A charity which supports grieving Muslim parents and families following the death of a child or baby.  

Compassion in Dying

Compassion in Dying work with people from diverse faith; black, Asian, and minority ethnic; and lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) communities to enable people to plan ahead for their treatment and care.  They do this through:

  • Community outreach and raising awareness, including drop-in sessions and community events.
  • Support for local organisations, including for volunteers, community development workers and healthcare professionals – to build the knowledge, skills and confidence needed to have advance care planning conversations and support people to record their wishes.
  • Developing resources with and for diverse groups

Tel: 0800 999 2434 (Monday – Friday, 11am-3pm) Information line

Guildford Nepalese Community

GNC is an apolitical, non-religious, non-discriminative and not-for-profit organisation that has been established to cater for the needs of the Nepalese people in the area of Guildford. 

The primary aim of the community is to provide welfare and morale support.

Greater Rushmoor Nepali Community

Website to support the Nepali Community in Rushmoor and includes a webpage for condolences and funeral guidance.

Email: ramdhanrai@hotmail.com

Tel. 077270 27949

Institute of Civil Funerals (IoCF)

Can explain what is involved in arranging a civil funeral, how to find a celebrant, the history of this form of ceremony and how funeral professionals can work with IoCF members.

Tel: 01480 861411

North West Surrey Synagogue

NWSS is a progressive community and a member of the Movement for Reform Judaism. Both open and inclusive while valuing the traditional Jewish values of learning, caring for each other, and praying together. 

Email: admin@nwss.org.uk.

Sri Raja Rajeswari Amman Temple

Dell Lane, Stoneleigh, Epsom, Surrey, United Kingdom

Tel: 020 8393 8147

Surrey Muslim Association

SMA is a forum for Muslims in Surrey and consists of Imams, Chairs, Secretaries and other position holders of Mosques and Islamic Centres in Surrey.  Can advise on local Muslim funeral ceremonies  and customs.

Email: info@surreymuslims.org

The British Humanist Association

Represents the interests of ethically concerned but not religious people.  Their celebrants provide non-religious funeral ceremonies. For more information about humanist funerals and ceremonies

The Buddhist Society

May be able to advise or suggest local contacts who can help organise Buddhist funeral services.

Tel:  020 7324 3060

The Muslim Council of Britain

Contact the council for advice on Muslim Funeral ceremonies and customs.

Tel: 0845 26 26 786

​Bereavement Support 

A Child of Mine

A charity led by bereaved parents offering practical information, guidance and support from people who really understand.  The website also lists local support groups around the UK.

Tel: 07803 751229

Bereavement Advice Centre

Provides information, advice and signposting on all practical matters that face the bereaved after a death. This is through their national free helpline and website.

Tel:  0800 634 9494

Bereavement Register

You can register the names and addresses of the person who has died in order to remove their details from mailing lists, stopping most advertising material within 6 weeks.  

Tel:  020 7089 6403

0800 082 1230 (automated registration service)

Child Bereavement UK

Charity which supports families and educates professionals both when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, and when a child is facing bereavement.

Tel: 0800 02 888 40 Helpline

Children of Jannah

A charity which supports grieving Muslim parents and families following the death of a child or baby.  

Child Death Helpline

A helpline staffed by trained volunteer parents who have suffered the loss of their child. The Helpline is available every evening 7 pm to 10 pm and Monday to Friday mornings 10 am to 1 pm and Wednesday afternoons 1 pm to 4 pm.

Tel: 0800 282 986 – 0808 800 6019  Freephone

CLIC Sargent

Provides information and support for children and young people with cancer and their families.

They have also produced some easy to read booklets about end of life care and bereavement for parents.

Co-operative Funeral Care Bereavement Support

The Bereavement Centre run by Co-operative Funeralcare is a free service designed to support your emotional, practical and social needs, providing access to one to one bereavement counselling, friendship/social and support groups, walk and talk groups, life coaching and memorial services. The centre is run by a team of professionals and volunteers, with extensive knowledge and experience in counselling, bereavement and life coaching.

Tel: ​0800 008 6878

Cruse Bereavement Care

Offers counselling and support for all bereaved people.

Tel: 0808 808 1677 helpline

Dying Matters

Provides masses of information for those who are supporting someone who is dying but also those who have been bereaved.

Tel:  0800 021 44 66

Grief Encounter

Supports bereaved children and teenagers through its website

Tel: 020 8371 8455

Health Talk

As well as providing information on a range of illnesses there are several videos of bereaved people talking about how they coped with grief.

Hope Again

Hope Again is the youth website of Cruse Bereavement Care. It is a safe place where a young person can learn from other young people how to cope with grief and feel less alone.

Macmillan Cancer Support

Support for everyone affected by cancer including bereaved families, friends and carers

Tel: 0808 808 00 00

NHS Choices

Information for bereaved family and friends, and a local bereavement support search facility

Hope Again

A website designed for young people by young people who have been bereaved (part of CRUSE Bereavement Care) 

Tel: 0808 808 1677

Samaritans

Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Samaritans supports anyone in distress around the clock.

Sands 

Offers support to parents, grandparents and their families when a baby dies during pregnancy or after birth. They can be contacted in the weeks, months or years after the loss. 

Tel: 0808 164 3332

Email: helpline@sands.org.uk

SSAFA 

The Armed Forces charity offers support and advice to anyone who has served in the armed forces or who has lost someone who served. 

Tel: 0800 731 4880

Stonewall Young Features

Charity to let all young lesbian, gay, bi and trans people, as well as those who are questioning, know they’re not alone. As well as campaigning for equality and fair treatment for LGBTQ people, and against discrimination, there is helpful information on health and wellbeing for young people.

The Compassionate Friends

The Compassionate Friends (TCF) is a charitable organisation of bereaved parents, siblings and grandparents dedicated to the support and care of other similarly bereaved family members who have suffered the death of a child or children of any age and from any cause.

Tel: 0345 123 2304 helpline

WAY (Widowed and Young)

A national charity in the UK for people aged 50 or under when their partner dies. It’s a peer to peer support group run by a network of volunteers who have been bereaved at a young age. Runs activities and support groups for people coping with grief.

Winston’s Wish 

Offers support, information and guidance to people caring for a bereaved child or young person.

Tel: 08088 020 021

​Support to children and families

Childline

A free, confidential 24 hour support line for children and young people.

Tel: 0800 1111

Daisy’s Dream

Daisy’s Dream is a professional support service which responds to the needs of children and families affected by life threatening illness or bereavement. The charity works predominantly in Berkshire and the surrounding areas. Originally set up to meet the needs of children who had been bereaved, over recent years they have expanded our service to encompass families where there has been a serious illness diagnosed.

Tel:  0118 934 2604

Education and Resources for Improving Childhood Continence (ERIC)

ERIC’s Helpline service provides support for children, parents and professionals who deal with childhood continence issues. Every year, the team respond to thousands of calls about problems such as potty training, bedwetting, daytime wetting, constipation and soiling.

Helpline: 0845 370 8008 on a Monday and Wednesday (9.30am-4.30pm)

Email: helpline@eric.org.uk

Hope Again

Hope Again is the youth website of Cruse Bereavement Care. It is a safe place where a young person can learn from other young people how to cope with grief, and feel less alone.

Jigsaw

Local charity Jigsaw (South East) have a specialist service supporting children and their families who are facing the loss of a loved one. A dedicated support worker can help you prepare to speak with your children and then make plans for how to support them once they have been told the news. They liaise with the children’s schools, with parental consent, and help ensure the child receives all the support and guidance they require. They also offer 1:1 support for children to help them during the loss of their loved one and beyond. 

Tel: 01342 313895

Motor Neurone Disease Association

The MND Association has developed two key resources for young children. “MND Buddies” is a new online activity hub developed to give children aged 4 to 10 the chance to learn more about MND through games, stories, activities and galleries where they can share artwork and writing. “Why are things changing” is a storybook designed to help children to begin to adjust to some of the changes MND will bring.

Newlife

Newlife, a charity for disabled children, helps disabled and terminally ill children in the UK by providing equipment to help individual children as well providing nurse led information service and funding research. They have a special ‘Just Can’t Wait’ equipment service for families of terminally ill children.

Helpline: 0800 902 0095

Email: info@newlifecharity.co.uk

Surrey Family Information Service

Surrey FIS aims to support families of children and young people aged 0-25 to access information and services in a timely and accessible way. It enables all families to be able to make decisions and choices to keep them safe and healthy and identify opportunities available to them in Surrey.

Surrey Heartlands Health and Care Partnership GRT Health Programme

First NHS led Surrey wide Gypsy, Roma and Traveller  health programme which helps to improve access to routine healthcare for children and families. Nurses visit sites across Surrey to offer support, advice and referrals for children and families including immunisations, face to face advice, health concerns, mental health, developmental reviews etc. The team build trust with communities and can help partner up other health and social care agencies.  

Tel: 01883 340 922

email: fchc.grtproject@nhs.net