Site guide
Chat / forums
What is this page for?
It often helps to talk about your experiences and find out how others cope. You can share thoughts and ideas with sympathetic friends without having to leave the person you care for by using one of the many chat rooms and discussion groups around the world.Talking locally?
You may like to be put in touch with someone who lives near you.Your local West Sussex Carers Support Services can help introduce you to people or can help you set up an online discussion group yourself. They can even help find rooms for you to meet in if you want to start a carers group for your area.
EXACT - expert by experience - regular forum for service users and carers to have their say about drug and alcohol services in West Sussex. If you want to share how good a service is, or have suggestions for improvements, contact Brian Morgan on 01243 382624 or email brian.morgan@westsussex.gov.uk
West Sussex Parents Forum - this forum, run by parents for parents/carers, focuses on the services available to children and young people aged 0-25 years with learning difficulties and disabilities in West Sussex. Meetings are held at least once a year. For more information write to PO Box 3328, Littlehampton BN16 9EX, email: parents@westsussexparentsforum.co.uk or visit www.westsussexparentsforum.co.uk
Wellspring West Sussex is an independent organisation set up to provide information, dialogue and discussion with and for children and young people with disabilities, and their parents and carers in West Sussex. Visit www.wellspringwestsussex.org.uk
Talk Nationally and Internationally
Carers World - this is a free and safe Community Forum where carers can get together and chat about anything, from day to day life as a carer, to what your hobbies are, etc. It is an opportunity to connect with other carers, chat, interact, share stories and to become part of a caring and compassionate online community. This site is for carers, whether paid or unpaid. Visit: www.carers-world.com/forumsCarers in Society - this is a Royal Society for the Arts (RSA) project designed to support involuntary, unremunerated carers by raising awareness of the diversity of people in caring role and their needs, and by campaigning for change on their behalf. Visit: twitter.com/carersinsociety
Carers in Touch - scheme run by Yours magazine specifically for carers. Email or write giving your name, address, telephone number and brief details of the person you care for. Names and addresses will not be published in the magazine or passed to anyone apart from other carers. Every carer will have his/her name added to a list which is updated regularly and sent to other carers. It is up to individual carers to get in touch with people they choose. Contact: Carers in Touch, Yours, Media House, Peterborough Business Park, Peterborough PE2 6EA, Email: rosemary.sandall@bauermedia.co.uk
Carers Connect - free social networking site for carers and care sector workers. This is a family-run site for carers to talk to other people in similar situations, either through the CarersConnect Forum or via private messaging. Visit www.carersconnect.com
Just Visiting - free health social networking website backed by the NHS to improve care for housebound patients and their carers. www.justvisiting.com is a not-for-profit website built around a secure interactive message board which creates online visiting rooms.
Special Friends Online - Social networking site for young people with learning difficulties and their parents and carers (added 27.6.08)
The site’s creator, Martin Harris, states that the site will be strictly policed to protect its users at all times. It is a safe and secure environment for people to chat, instant message and make friends worldwide. It has a facility, Smiley Talk, which will soon be available to translate users' conversations in 14 different languages. For more information visit www.specialfriends.com
www.chill4us.com - National carers support website so that carers can get companionship and practical help even when they can't leave the house. The site has information, humour, fantasy and fun, but most of all support and concern for one another. The site's members have experience in all aspects of care needs. If they can't answer your questions or solve your problem they will know someone who can. It is for adult carers who look after a family member, partner or friend in the UK and is completely free. (added 3.6.08) Visit www.chill4us.com
Talking around the country - groups.google.com/ - Search for various national and international chat groups with Google search.
Share your experiences in this website
Many people are now asking us for examples of what providing care has been like for others.Write about your experiences looking after someone; the successes, the frustrations, mistakes and triumphs - and share them here:
Your story
Setting up a group of your own
If you can't find a discussion group that covers what you want to talk about try setting up a group yourself.Have a chat with your local West Sussex Carers Support Services who will help you set up a chat group or even a local support group if that's more appropriate.
If you do, please remember to let us know so that we can tell other visitors.
Other Information sources
These pages contain only a few of the many sources of help that might be available to carers. For information about other sources of help search our database by clicking on 'Search for help', or phone the ICIS Enquiry Line on 0800 859929.