This service provides support, practical help, information, advice and training to carers or relatives of people experiencing mental ill-health. This is offered via initial confidential one to one sessions and monthly carers' peer support meetings, which are facilitated by Carers Support Workers. Carers benefit from support groups by receiving mutual support from each other and in helping each other to find ways of coping better. The service enables carers to stay in touch with each other, in particular at times of recurring crisis, so as not to feel isolated with their particular difficulties. Currently, there are peer support groups for carers in Stonehaven, Banchory, Banff, Westhill and Peterhead, and new groups are in development in Ellon and Inverurie.

The service also promotes, enables and facilitates communication and consultation between carers and service managers from the statutory, public and community sector.

It enables carers’ representation at strategic development and planning stages, in order to highlight and explore gaps/ difficulties experienced by carers regarding service provision for their relatives and for themselves.

Relevant and topical information can be regularly passed on to carers via monthly mail drops and/or quarterly news letters. Support Workers, in conjunction with the Aberdeenshire Senior Service Manager, provide or co-ordinate training and information events for carers and their ill relatives.

This service is currently undergoing development and it is anticipated that the operational hours will be 21 per week, split flexibly across different localities in Aberdeenshire, to meet the needs of carers' support groups.

The following are the days, times and location of carers' peer support meetings:

Stonehaven

1st Monday, each month. 

7.15 - 9.15pm at Invercarron House in Stonehaven.

Banff

2nd Monday, each month.

7.00 - 9.30pm at The Arches, Anderson House, Ardanes Brae, Banff.

Westhill

3rd Wednesday, each month.

7.00 - 9.00pm at the Trinity Hall in Westhill.

Banchory

Every 3 months during week 4.

2.00 - 4.30pm at the Dalvenie Resource Centre in Banchory.

Peterhead

4th Tuesday, each month.

7.00 - 9.30pm at the King Street Centre in Peterhead.

The days and times of this group are currently under review.