_edited.jpg)
Respite
Caring for someone can be rewarding, but it can also be tiring, emotional, and demanding.
Respite is a short break from caring that gives you time to rest, recharge, and look after your own wellbeing - while ensuring the person you care for is safe and supported.
Respite looks different for everyone. This page explains why respite matters, what respite can include, and some of the common barriers Carers face, so you can make informed choices that feel right for you.
You can also skip top our Respite Directory for some useful contacts to find care cover or activities for you!
If you run an activity locally which would be suitable for Carers to access as a respite opportunity, complete our form.
Why Respite is important
Respite is not a luxury, it’s an essential part of staying well as a Carer. Taking time away does not mean you care any less. Looking after yourself helps you continue caring in a sustainable way.
Taking a break can help you to:
-
Reduce stress, exhaustion, and burnout
-
Maintain your physical and mental health
-
Have time for yourself, your family, or friends
-
Continue working, studying, or volunteering
-
Strengthen your relationship with the person you care for
-
Feel more confident and able to continue in your caring role
Types of Respite and how to use your time
Respite can be planned or flexible, short or longer-term. It can take place at home, in the community, or away from home entirely.
Residential Time Away
This may involve the person you care for staying in a residential or care setting for a short period.
-
Provides a longer, uninterrupted break
-
Can be useful during periods of exhaustion or illness
-
Supports carers who need time to reset or attend to other responsibilities
Exercise Classes or Physical Activity
Time away to move your body can improve energy, sleep, and mood.
-
Gentle exercise, walking, swimming, or fitness classes
-
Helps reduce stress and physical strain
-
Supports long-term health and wellbeing
Relaxation and Treatments
Respite can give you the chance to slow down and recover.
-
Massage, wellbeing sessions, or relaxation therapies
-
Time to rest, sleep, or enjoy quiet space
-
Activities that help you feel calm and restored
Education, Learning, and Hobbies
Taking part in learning or enjoyable activities can rebuild confidence and identity beyond caring.
-
Courses, workshops, or adult education
-
Creative hobbies or personal interests
-
Opportunities to learn new skills or revisit old passions
Access to Work or Volunteering
Respite can make it possible to stay connected to employment or purposeful activity.
-
Paid work, training, or job seeking
-
Volunteering or community involvement
-
Building experience and maintaining independence
Emotional Support or Counselling
Some carers use respite for emotional care and support.
-
Counselling or therapy sessions
-
Peer support groups
-
Space to talk openly about feelings, pressure, or grief
Barriers to Accessing Respite
Many Carers would like to take a break but find that different challenges get in the way. These barriers are the things that can make it harder to arrange, accept, or benefit from respite, even when it is needed.
Barriers can be practical, emotional, financial, or linked to a lack of information or support. If you face barriers, you are not alone - they are shared by many Carers, but understanding these challenges can help you recognise what might be affecting you and identify where extra support or guidance could make a difference.
Practical and Systemic Barriers
-
Long waiting lists or limited availability
-
Complex referral or assessment processes
-
Inflexible services that do not match individual needs
Financial Barriers
-
Cost of replacement care
-
Loss of income while caring
-
Uncertainty about funding, grants, or entitlements
Cultural and Social Barriers
-
Expectation to provide care without outside help
-
Language or communication difficulties
-
Concerns about cultural understanding or appropriateness of services
Relationship Barriers
-
Guilt about 'leaving' the person you care for
-
The cared-for person resisting outside support
-
Fear of damaging trust or routine
Psychological Barriers
-
Anxiety about taking time for yourself
-
Feeling you must 'cope' alone
-
Worry about being judged
Trust and Safety Concerns
-
Worries about quality of care
-
Fear that needs will not be understood or met
-
Lack of continuity in support workers
Awareness and Information Gaps
-
Not knowing what respite options exist
-
Unclear eligibility or how to apply
-
Limited local information or guidance
Other Barriers
-
Sudden changes in health or circumstances
-
Transport or accessibility issues
-
Lack of emergency or short-notice respite
Respite directory
Keep us updated!
If you come across any inaccuracies or broken links please contact us. If you run a respite opportunity which may be useful for other Carers, complete the form below.
How to use the Respite Directory
Click any of the boxes to filter your results. You can select more than one box to look for more specific results, or please deselect boxes to widen your search.
Respite for Carers
Care cover options
Beddington and Wallington Senior Citizens Club
Contact details:
Are you over 65 and looking to meet new friends? The Beddington & Wallington Senior Citizens Club every Monday (excluding school holidays) meeting at the Guide Hall, Wrights Row, Wallington (off Manor Road, after the Dukes Head Pub. From 10.30 to 2.45pm). This is not a lunch club, but offers sandwiches and soup at a very reasonable price. Members can play cards and games and bingo is played after lunch and they run quizzes and entertainments during the year including a Christmas party. The club is run by volunteers and self funded. It was started in 1947 and we are looking for new members.
N/A
Name:
Tel:
Email:
Chill, chat & Connect Men's Group
Contact details:
Led by male parent volunteers who are fathers themselves. Come along to meet other dads and male Carers and take some time for yourself.
N/A
Name:
Tel:
Email:
Community Cafe
Contact details:
Join the Community Cafe at Westcroft Leisure Centre on the third Tuesday of the month for hot drinks, biscuits, board games and a friendly chat.
N/A
Name:
Tel:
Email:
Curam Care
Contact details:
A UK-based online marketplace that connects people directly with vetted, independent carers, offering flexible hourly, overnight, and live-in care. It provides a platform for personalized, often lower-cost, home care compared to traditional agencies, allowing users to select their own caregivers.
N/A
Name:
Tel:
Email:
Duffus Foundation
Contact details:
Social, crafty, culture and wellbeing sessions.
07856 482888
Name:
Tel:
Email:
Friday Fever Daytime Disco 55+
Contact details:
Weekly daytime disco vibes and sing-along classics from the '60s -'90s. Book you place.
N/A
020 80780002
Name:
Tel:
Email:
Friends of the Elderly (Cloverdale Court, Wallington) Day Centre
Contact details:
A local Day Centre in Wallington where staff are trained in supporting older people with a range of age related conditions, including short-term memory loss and dementia. Visit the website to find out more and arrange a visit. Transport may be available.
N/A
Name:
Tel:
Email:
Men in sheds
Contact details:
Our Sutton Men in sheds group meets regularly for men to connect, converse and create. The activities are often similar to those of garden sheds, but for groups of men to enjoy together. They help reduce loneliness and isolation, but most importantly, they’re fun.
N/A
Name:
Tel:
Email:
Oaks Way Day Centre
Contact details:
An Adult Day Care Centre situated in South Carshalton and providing care for the elderly within the LB Sutton and its environs. Their main aim is to address loneliness and isolation and provide respite care for families and Carers. They can now support clients with dementia. Transport may be available.
N/A
Name:
Tel:
Email:
She Is You Active Sessions
Contact details:
In collaboration with Everyone Active at The Phoenix Centre, these sessions are designed to make fitness more accessible, enjoyable, and empowering for women. Each month will feature a different fitness or dance style, offering a welcoming space to get moving, build confidence, and connect with others in a supportive and uplifting environment.
N/A
Name:
Tel:
Email:
Sutton Lodge Day Centre
Contact details:
Sutton Lodge organise meals on wheels and have a Day Centre in south Sutton for those who are retired and want to get out, make friends and undertake activities throughout the day for a minimal charge. Visit website for full details. Transport may be available.
Name:
Tel:
Email:
Sutton Talking Therapies
Contact details:
If you are feeling overwhelmed, stressed or anxious then you are not on your own. Previously known as Uplift, Sutton Talking Therapies (STT) offers services for ages 18+, to help you feel positive again. At SCC we have a full time STT Wellbeing Navigator, who provides emotional support as well as workshops for Carers. You can contact us to make a referral or complete a self-referral via their website.
Name:
Tel:
Email:
Sutton Womens Centre
Contact details:
Sutton Women's Centre offers a range of services to help build a community where every woman has achieved her full potential, with a focus on supporting those who are surviving domestic abuse. There are regular courses and interest sessions, so get in touch and see what's going on.
Name:
Tel:
Email:
The Fatherhood Hub
Contact details:
Monthly meet up in Mitcham with an activity such as discussions, guest speakers, games nights, fitness sessions and much more.
07301304122
Name:
Tel:
Email:
The Proper Blokes Club
Contact details:
Local peer to peer walk and talk groups with the opportunity for refreshments and a chat. Visit website and search Sutton local groups or email theproperblokesclub@gmail.com
07397 501110
Name:
Tel:
Email:
Turn2Us
Contact details:
Turn2us is a national charity providing practical help to people who are struggling financially. Turn2us helps people in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help – online, by phone and face to face through our partner organisations.
Name:
Tel:
Email:
U3A
Contact details:
Sutton u3a is part of a unique and exciting international self-help movement providing recreational, educational and social activities for semi-retired and retired people - offering a wide range of interest groups and "out and about" activities. Sutton U3A gives you the chance to develop your interests, make new friends and enjoy yourself.
Name:
Tel:
Email:
Add a respite opportunity
Do run an activity which unpaid Carers could use for respite? If yes, complete the details below!