Registering with our service
When registering with our service, one of our team members will take some details from you, including your name, age, contact details, and other basic information about you and the person you care for. They will also ask you about your caring role and what challenges you may currently be facing. Carers find us at different points of their caring journey, and therefore these questions help us to provide the support and resources that are right for you. We will send you our carers’ information pack containing all the details about our service and other resources we feel may be appropriate for you. Once we have received all the information we need from you, we will send out your carers’ card.
What is a carers card?
Should you be in an accident or taken unwell, the carers’ card will alert emergency services (who will look in your purse or wallet for identification) that you are a carer and that you have someone who depends on you.
Our carers’ cards are designed so that you can add three emergency contacts on the back of the card. We encourage you to have a discussion with the people you wish to be your emergency contacts and let them know, to make sure they are willing and able. If you do not have any close relatives or friends, your emergency contact might be social services or, in some cases, a care provider. To find out more about how to plan for emergencies, we encourage you to take our free short online session (which can be done in your own time). This mini training session will equip you with all the knowledge you need to make an informed contingency plan should you not be able to care in the short term. You can access this training by clicking HERE.
For your own safety, we do not recommend putting your address on your carers’ card.
The main function of the carers’ card is to identify to others that you are a carer, but it can also be helpful in situations where you may be able to access concessions when attending somewhere with the person you care for. Our carers’ card gives you access to several concessions in and around Solihull, and you can download our concession leaflet HERE.
Please be aware that although we have made every effort to keep our concessions list updated, venues can change their conditions at any time. Therefore, if you are thinking about using your carers’ card for one of the noted attractions, we encourage you to check with the venue beforehand to avoid disappointment.
What if my card has expired?
Please let us know if your carers’ card has expired. You can do this by calling us at 0121 788 1143, and one of the team will update any change of circumstances and issue you a new card
I’ve misplaced my card can I have another?
Yes, please let us know if you have lost your card and we can re-issue you with another. Just call us on 0121 788 1143.
What if the person I care for goes out with a family friend or paid carer, can they use my card to get a concession?
No, unfortunately the carers’ card is registered solely to you and for your use only. However, they may still be able to gain a concession if the person you care for has proof of disability, such as an access card.
What about the cinema?
You cannot use our carers’ card to access concessions at the cinema. To access this type of concession, you would need a CEA card, which is a national card scheme developed for UK cinemas by the UK Cinema Association (UKCA). The card enables a disabled cinema guest to receive a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them when they visit a participating cinema. It has an annual fee of £6 and eligibility criteria apply, but you can find out more HERE.
How old do I have to be to have a Carers Card?
Our adult carers card is for adults 18+ however, young carers registered with our service can access a carers card too but this will have different benefits and criteria. To find out more about the young carers card call the young carers team on 0121 788 1143 and option 2.
