Support for carers at the Pear Tree Fund
At the Pear Tree Fund, we know that carers play a vital role by providing essential support for people with life-changing illnesses or long-term conditions.
We recognise that this can bring its challenges and offer a range of services which can help.
They include:
- Personalised help: We provide one-on-one support such as counselling, as well as holistic and complementary therapies.
- Connecting with others: We run groups for carers, as well as dedicated men’s and women’s groups, which will connect you with people facing similar challenges and provide mutual peer support.
- Financial advice: Accessing financial help can be daunting. We can offer you valuable advice and make sure you’re receiving the benefits you’re entitled to.
- Emotional support: Our trained staff provide a listening ear, together with tailored support, to help you manage your caring responsibilities alongside your own life.
- Practical support: We can help with short term emergency care by arranging for someone to look after your loved one if you need to go to an urgent appointment, for example.
Whatever you're facing, we're here to walk alongside you and offer local support when you need it most.
What to expect when you get in touch
We understand that every person’s situation is unique, and what works for one person might not be right for another. When you get in touch with the Pear Tree Centre, you’ll be offered an initial chat with one of our team so that we can understand your situation and suggest the best ways we can support you.
This could include signposting you for counselling or complementary therapies, or to one of our support groups. This includes core groups which are available at any time, as well as some which are dependent on the grant funding we receive.
Our core services
We offer a range of core services which are available at any time. They include:
- A listening ear and warm welcome. When you come to the centre, one of our friendly team will offer you a cup of tea and chat so that we can understand how best to support you.
- Counselling and bereavement support, which is available on a one-to-one basis to meet your individual needs.
- Holistic and complementary therapies, such as Reiki, massage and reflexology to help you relax and recharge
- Financial support. We can hold your hand and offer guidance while filling out forms to make sure you’re receiving the benefits you’re entitled to.
- Support groups to help you connect with others and offer peer support. These include our:
- men’s wellbeing group, which is open to all men who are bereaved, managing a long-term condition or caring for someone else. The weekly sessions include activities and socialising, together with coffee, cake and a good chat.
- women’s wellbeing group, which is our equivalent group for women.
- carers support group, which meets fortnightly and provides a warm, welcoming space for carers to take time out, meet new people and enjoy a chat over coffee and cake.
Grant-funded services
In addition to our core services, we also run grant-funded services. These change over the year depending on the support we receive, but can include sessions such as:
- Cooking for carers, which gives carers the chance to meet other people in a similar situation and socialise while learning to cook some healthy and tasty dishes.
- Carers art wellbeing, which invites carers to get together and express themselves through art, in turn helping to support their wellbeing.
Our team will let you know if there are any sessions currently taking place which you may find useful.
Case studies
Read real stories from carers and families who have been supported by the Pear Tree Fund, and discover the difference that care, guidance and understanding can make.
Carol Southam
“I’ve been caring for my husband Malcolm, who is 82, since he was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s four years ago. I took voluntary redundancy from my job in a bank in 2023 and we were able to enjoy two lovely holidays afterwards, but then he suddenly deteriorated and my caring responsibilities increased as a result.
“Malcolm is still able to wash himself and carry out personal care, but I am responsible for everything else. That includes managing our finances, arranging the home insurance and checking the tyre pressure on the car, as well as deciding what we’ll eat, doing the shopping and cleaning and everything in between. It has a huge impact on me and can be very draining.
“Life can be quite repetitive, and sometimes I feel like there is nothing to look forward to. We used to love visiting Italy but Malcolm would find that far too stressful now. We still go out, but I have to make all of the decisions when we do, which can feel like a lot of responsibility.
“I found out about the Pear Tree Fund through our district nurse and am so pleased I took the first steps by visiting the centre to find out more. Since then, I’ve taken part in meditation, art groups and ‘crafty chatter’ sessions, which have been great. I’ve always enjoyed crafts and the groups give me the chance to spend some time on my own doing something I love without feeling the pressure of my caring role.
“I would absolutely recommend it to other people who are in a similar situation. Taking a couple of hours out for yourself really can make all the difference and give you that extra strength to face the next challenge.”
Jenny Ball, Wissett
“I began caring for my husband David around 15 years ago, when he started to lose his sight as a result of age-related wet macular degeneration. He is now almost completely blind so I have to do a lot for him while still trying to help him stay as independent as possible.
“I do things like putting David’s socks on, turning on the TV and cutting up his food. He used to love cooking, but now can’t see when the meat is colouring, for example, so I have become his sous chef. David also enjoys pottering in the garden but often needs to call me to help him with weeding or when he is planting up pots for the patio. We try to keep him active and doing things he enjoys, but it can be very difficult at times.
“I found out about the Pear Tree Fund through Barbara and Richard Kell, who were very heavily involved in the charity for many years. I also helped to raise money to build the centre in Halesworth. I’ve attended carers groups, which are brilliant as you can vent if you like and everyone understands. I’ve also taken part in art groups and flower arranging, which I found a really useful way of relaxing while chatting to others.
“The charity has also really helped us plan for the future. I need to go into hospital for an operation soon, and the Pear Tree is helping me to put some respite care in place for David while I am out of action.
“As a result of developing peripheral neuropathy, having operations on arthritic feet and having suffered a stroke, David is also much less mobile than he was. He attends an exercise class at the Pear Tree Centre which he enjoys very much and really helps with his general mobility. I also know that if we need further help in the future, the staff will be on hand and will be able to give us information to make our lives easier.
“I would recommend the centre to anyone in a caring role. They offer lots of different types of support and the chance to concentrate on something else for a while, which is vital as you need to look after yourself before you can look after anyone else.”
Get in touch
You are welcome to drop into the Pear Tree Centre on Culters Hill in Halesworth at any time, or can call us on 01986 899655 or email info@peartreefund.org.
Alternatively, please fill in the form below and one of our friendly staff will be in touch.
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