How to Build a Support Network as a New Carer
Becoming a carer rarely comes with a handbook. Most people don’t choose a neat start date. It happens after a diagnosis, a fall, a hospital discharge, a change in behaviour, a gradual decline, or one moment when you realise: “Right. It’s on me now.”
If you’ve started caring recently — paid or unpaid — it can feel like you’re learning a new language at speed. Everyone else seems to know the system. You’re trying to keep someone safe, stay calm, and make decisions while you’re still processing the emotional shift.
And the tricky part is this: the earlier you build a support network, the easier caring becomes. Not easy. Just easier to carry.
Why new carers feel so alone
New carers often tell us they don’t want to “make a fuss”. They don’t want to look like they can’t cope. They worry they’ll be judged. Or they simply don’t know who to ask — which is the most common one.
For paid carers (new starters in home care, a care home, supported living, a hospital ward, or as a personal assistant), there can be a fear of asking ‘silly’ questions. For unpaid carers, the fear is different: “If I say I’m struggling, will people think I can’t do this?”
That silence can be isolating. And isolation is where burnout starts.
Start with one or two people (not a massive group)
A support network doesn’t need to be large. It needs to be reliable.
Think about one or two ‘anchor people’ — someone you can message after a difficult day, or someone you can ask, “Have you dealt with this before?”
In paid care roles, that might be a senior, a buddy, or a colleague you trust. In unpaid caring, it might be a family member who actually shows up, a neighbour, or another carer you’ve met through a group.
Use existing networks (they save time and energy)
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. There are already strong networks that can help you get your feet under you:
• The Professional Carers Network (for care professionals)
• The Care Workers’ Charity (support and resources)
• Skills for Care networks and learning resources
• Local carers’ centres and community support groups
These spaces can help you feel less alone and can point you towards practical information (benefits, respite, training, safeguarding support, and local services).
The difference between information and understanding
A lot of carers have access to information. What they’re missing is understanding.
You can read guidance all day and still feel like the only person in the world who is dealing with:
• a loved one refusing medication
• a client’s family disagreeing with care plans
• the emotional wobble after a tough visit
• the guilt of needing a break
• the ‘am I doing this right?’ feeling at 2am
Understanding comes from other caring people.
Where Peopleoo fits (and why it’s built for real life)
Peopleoo exists because caring people need a space that is always there — not just when services are open, not just during office hours, and not just if you’re confident enough to ask for help face-to-face.
On Peopleoo you can:
• join Circles linked to your caring reality (paid, unpaid, PAs, home care, specific needs)
• ask questions without judgement
• learn from professionals and carers with lived experience
• share honestly — and if you need to, you can post without your name
• build confidence by seeing you’re not the only one navigating this
If you’re new to caring, start building your network now — before you feel like you’re drowning. Caring is hard. It becomes harder when you try to do it alone.
FAQ
Q: How can new carers get support quickly?
A: Start with local carers’ services, established networks (e.g., Skills for Care resources), and peer communities where you can ask questions and get reassurance.
Q: Is it normal to feel overwhelmed as a new carer?
A: Yes. Caring involves practical learning, emotional adjustment, and often navigating systems you’ve never had to deal with before.
Q: What if I feel embarrassed asking questions at work?
A: It’s normal. Find one trusted person, ask one question at a time, and use peer spaces where questions are welcomed. Confidence grows through practice.
Q: Where can I talk to people who understand caring life?
A: Peer communities designed for carers — like Peopleoo — help you connect with people who ‘get it’ quickly, without needing to explain everything from scratch.