Carer Support Hubs

What are Carer Support Hubs?

You told us that you wanted much stronger local support for carers and thanks to a grant of £200,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund (formerly the Big Lottery Fund) awarded in the year 2013/14 we have been able to provide a grassroots service run by carers for carers, to best meet your needs. The hubs are one-stop shop where you can find information about what is happening in your local area, get advice, support and make friends. There are also peer led and interest based groups. 

Please note that due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) most of our hub groups are meeting online using Zoom. Some of our groups had started meeting in community venues again in October 2020, but the second lockdown in England (5th November - 2nd December 2020) has meant a few of these groups have returned to meeting online, although a couple are still holding face to face meetings. Please contact us for details. If you wish to join in a meeting you need to book a place as space is limited. Please contact us on 01992 58 69 69 or email  to book. We can also guide you through using Zoom if you require some help with this. We will update you as things change.

We have 16 area-based hubs - Berkhamsted, Bishop’s Stortford, Borehamwood, Buntingford, Chorleywood, Harpenden, Hemel Hempstead, Hoddesdon, Potters Bar, Letchworth Garden City, Royston, St Albans, Stevenage, Ware, Watford and Welwyn Garden City.

Our hubs are groups run by volunteers or carers for carers and focus on offering emotional and practical support. Most groups meet once a month and offer activities include a programme of speakers and time to talk. Carers can book 1:1 appointments with a Carers in Hertfordshire Carer Support Advisor at some meetings to plan their caring role.

We also have a Men's Carers' Group that started meeting in January 2020. Due to the coronavirus the group has been meeting online on Zoom since September 2020. It meets the last Tuesday of the month, from 1.30pm - 2.30pm. Contact us if you're interested in booking a place.

In addition to our Carer Support Hub groups many areas will have Peer Led Carer Groups, for example there is a Carers' Camera Club (meeting online during the COVID-19 situation), a Pudding Club, plus support groups in areas such as Borehamwood and Radlett. You can find out about all these here -  Carers' Support Hubs and Peer Led Groups List.

There are some evening groups including such as the one that usually meets in Hatfield at the Tesco Extra (Community Room) on the second Wednesday of each month from 7.30pm - 9pm.

You can find out more about hubs in our video An Introduction to Carer Support Hubs 

In addition each hub area has Volunteer Ambassadors whose role it is to help identify new carers and to spread the word about what is available locally for them.

Within each hub area you can also attend workshops to learn new skills and have a break from caring. Please click here to see what events are available.

Volunteer Ambassador James promoting support for carers at a Community Event.

Upcoming Hub Events

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) most of our group face to face events are currently paused. However, we are holding many of our Hub meetings by Zoom, an online video communications tool. Places are limited at our meetings, but if you wish to be part of them you should book a place by calling us on 01992 58 69 69 or email

We will update you as things change. Please contact us for support or advice related to your caring role.

Tuesday 24th November 2020, 10.30am - 11.30am: Buntingford Carers Support Hub Online via Zoom so carers can have a catch up. 

Tuesday 24th November 2020, 1.30pm - 2.30pm: Men's Carers' Group Online via Zoom. This meeting one of our Carer Support Advisors will be giving a talk about the support they can provide to unpaid carers. 

Wednesday 25th November 2020: Our Potters Bar Carers Support Hub is meeting in person in a community venue, although places are limited and must be booked by contacting us. There are two sessions to choose from - 10.30am - 11.15am or 11.45am - 12.30pm. 

Thursday 26th November 2020, 10.30am - 11.30am: Stevenage Carers Support Hub Online via Zoom. An opportunity for carers to meet up virtually for a chat. 

Friday 27th November 2020: Our Hoddesdon Carers Support Hub is meeting in person in a community venue, although places are limited and must be booked by contacting us. There are two sessions to choose from - 10.30am - 11.15am or 11.45am - 12.30pm. 

Wednesday 2nd December 2020, 10.30am - 11.30am: Bishop's Stortford Carers Support Hub Online via Zoom. An opportunity for carers to meet up virtually for a chat.

Thursday 3rd December 2020, 10.30am - 11.30am: Royston Carers Support Hub Online via Zoom. An opportunity for carers to meet up virtually for a chat.

Tuesday 8th December 2020, 10.30am - 11.30am: Berkhamsted and Hemel Hempstead Carers Support Hub Online via Zoom. An opportunity for carers to meet up virtually for a chat. There may even be a festive-themed quiz.

How can you get involved?

Volunteer

There are lots of training opportunities for carers to take on a variety of voluntary roles with their local hub. We are particularly looking for volunteers to run our Berkhamsted, Harpenden and Potters Bar Hub groups.

You can also look at the volunteer roles by clicking here (link to Volunteer Jobs page) or find out more about being a Carers in Hertfordshire volunteer on our Volunteer page. To register your interest in any part of this project please email  or call 01992 58 69 69.

One way we keep in touch with our Volunteers is via newsletter and you can find them on our Volunteer page. 

Speakers

If you think you have a topic that would be of interest to carers at our Hub support groups please email the volunteer email with details.