We recognise that being a carer can be a very challenging role.  If much of your time is taken up with caring it can be difficult to find the time to look after yourself and keep healthy, particularly with the additional stress that being a carer can bring.  To enable to you take care of yourself as well as the person you care for,  Southwark Carers has a range of services designed to give you the information and support you need to stay healthy.

Counselling Service

Caring for another person has the potential to be emotionally draining and stressful.  This stress can damage relationships and lead to other health problems so it is important to seek support if you begin to feel overwhelmed.  Southwark Carers provides a professional counselling service which is free to all carers in Southwark who are registered with us.

The purpose of counselling is to help you gain a greater understanding of yourself and the problems you have to face.  A counsellor will not tell you what to do but will encourage you to develop confidence in your own ability to help yourself.  If you would like to find more about the Southwark Carers Counselling Service please call 020 7708 1411.

Healthy Carers Group

This group offers you the chance to hear from expert speakers who can provide advice on ways to improve your health, wellbeing and lifestyle.  This groups meets every third Tuesday of the month in the Rainbow room of the Southwark Carers centre.  Please contact Irene for more details

Support groups

Southwark Carers manages a number of support groups based around the Borough of Southwark.  These groups offer a great chance to meet fellow carers and have regular speakers from a range healthcare professions who can provide advice on different aspects of care.  Each group also has a regular free massage service to help you unwind.  Details on current support groups are listed below:

Darwin Court Surgery Group – 1 Crail Court, Walworth, SE17 1AD

Meets: Every first Wednesday of the month 1.30pm – 3pm

Gardens Surgery Group – Lew Evans House, 188 Underhill Road, SE22 0QH

Meets: Every first Thursday of the month 2pm-2.30pm

Bermondsey Surgery Group – Artesian Branch, 138 Grange Road, SE1

Meets: Every second Tuesday of the month 2pm-3.30pm

Nunhead Surgery Group - Nunhead Grove Surgery, 58 Nunhead Grove, SE15 3LY

Meets: Every second Tuesday of the month 4pm-5.30pm

Peckham Library – 122 Peckham Hill Street, SE15 5JR

Meets: Every second Wednesday of the month 2pm-3.30pm

Park Medical Centre – 57 Hawkstone Road, Rotherhithe, SE16 2PE

Meets: Every second Friday of the month 2.30pm-4pm

Elm Lodge – 2 Burbage Rd, Herne Hill, SE24 9HJ

Meets Every third Thursday of the month 2.30pm-4pm

Camberwell Green – 17 Camberwell Green, SE5 7AF

Meets every last Thursday of the month 2.30pm-4pm