Discounts for carers are a great way to reward them for the essential work that they do. But they’re important for other reasons, too. Disabled people may not be able to access public spaces, services and events without a carer – so it’s important that the cost of being accompanied by a carer isn’t a hindrance.

At SureSafe, we’ve previously discussed what support and national benefits are available to carers and the people they care for, including carer’s allowance, carer’s leave and attendance allowance.

In this article, we’ll discuss a variety of great discounts for carers, including ones related to entertainment, mobility, finance, travel and more.

Who applies for the discount?

It’s worth noting that some of these discounts are applied for by the person receiving care rather than the carer – particularly the ones that allow a disabled person who has purchased a ticket to bring a carer with them at reduced or no cost.

But other discounts don’t need anyone to fill out an application – you just need to explain to the ticket office that you are a carer accompanying someone who needs your care. So, be sure to check the requirements for each discount!

1. Cinema Exhibitors’ Association Card

The CEA (Cinema Exhibitors’ Association Card) scheme is one of many schemes that provide free companion tickets to a carer when that person is accompanying someone who needs their support to access the service. So, if you are a carer and the person you care for requires your company to go to the cinema, you can go with them for free.

The eligibility requirements for the CEA card offer many ways for the person receiving care to demonstrate that their carer needs to accompany them.

9 out of 10 cinemas in the UK belong to this scheme, including cinemas from the Curzon, Everyman, Odeon and Vue chains. Use the CEA postcode lookup tool to find a participating cinema near you.

2. The National Trust’s Essential Companion card

As a part of its accessibility mission, the National Trust offers an Essential Companion card that allows a person receiving care to be accompanied by one or two carers or companions at no cost. In fact, a person receiving care doesn’t even need to have this card in order to bring a carer for free. But having the card can make the process of entering with carers quicker and easier.

To apply, you can call 0344 800 1895 or email [email protected]. You don’t have to be a National Trust member to apply. However, ensure that you still make a booking for all visitors at sites where bookings are required.

English Heritage also offers free entrance to carers who are with a person receiving care. However, as with National Trust, you’ll still need to book everyone’s visit in advance if the attraction uses bookings. To learn more, use English Heritage’s online form.

3. CarerSmart

Carers Trust is an organisation focused on supporting unpaid carers, and CarerSmart is a discount club that’s connected to Carers Trust. The club is free to join, and membership gets you discounts at a wide range of companies, including shopping, insurance, legal services and more.

You can register for CarerSmart online.

4. Blue Light Card

The Blue Light Card provides discounts to people in a range of professions, including teachers, medical staff and carers. In contrast to CarerSmart, this card is primarily for people who are professionally employed as carers. Discounts available include vehicle-related expenses, entertainment and travel.

To prove your eligibility, you’ll need to show proof that you are a specific type of carer, such as a carer for a care company or a council, or a personal assistant carer. Check the details of eligibility for your specific care type – many involve showing proof of employment for known carer employers.

5. Disabled Persons Railcard

The Disabled Persons Railcard from National Rail is available to people who have difficulties travelling by train because of a disability. To be eligible, a person needs to receive benefits, such as Attendance Allowance, or have certain disabilities such as a hearing disability. The railcard is currently £20 per year.

With the railcard, a disabled person can get a 1/3 discount on the price of their train tickets – and 1/3 off the price of tickets for an adult companion or carer who accompanies them.

6. Hynt Card

Here’s a discount specifically for people in Wales. The Hynt card is another card that provides a free ticket to carers who are accompanying a person requiring care who has purchased a ticket. What venues belong to the Hynt scheme? They’re mostly theatres, museums, arts centres and other cultural or historic locations.

To apply, a disabled person will need to show that they receive certain benefits or have a visual impairment.

7. Merlin annual pass

Many of the top attractions in the UK belong to the Merlin Entertainments group. Legoland Parks, Madame Tussauds, Sea Life, the London Eye, Alton Towers and Chessington World of Adventures are just some of the brands you might recognise.

The perk here is for Merlin Annual Pass holders. If they need assistance from a carer, the pass-holder will be issued with a free Carer Pass. This Carer Pass can be used by anyone acting as carer that day, so there’s no problem if different carers use the pass on different visits.

8. Personal Assistant or Essential Companion tickets with ATG Tickets

ATG Tickets provides tickets to many of the UK’s major theatre venues, including the Edinburgh Playhouse, London’s Lyceum Theatre, and many other playhouses and opera houses large and small.

People who require a carer’s support at these venues can get a free Essential Companion ticket with the purchase of their own ticket.

To be eligible for this free companion ticket, a person needs to have an Access Card. This is a card that you apply for, and it’s not primarily for discounts. Its purpose is to show management at events and venues what a disabled person’s needs are. The card has a set of symbols on it corresponding to different access requirements. The “+1” symbol indicates the need for an essential companion, and this is what ATG tickets will be looking for.

To apply for an Access Card, you’ll need specific documentation about disability needs.

9. Carers’ tickets for football matches

We’ve discussed a lot of different ways for carers to get free companion tickets when they’re attending an event or performance with a person who needs their assistance.

In fact, it’s worth remembering that many individual venues have this type of scheme. If you’re heading anywhere while accompanying someone as their carer, give them a call or take a look at their website to see whether free or discounted companion tickets are available.

This advice particularly applies to attendance at football matches. There is no central scheme to provide carers’ tickets at these events, but many individual clubs and sporting venues offer ways to request companion tickets. You’ll just want to get in touch with them and prepare any relevant documentation – typically proof of disability for the person being accompanied by the carer.

10. Discounts for Carers

Last, but certainly not least, there’s Discounts for Carers.

With a Discounts for Carers membership, you can access discounts and cashback on a very wide range of goods and services, including finance, travel, utilities, shopping and more.

There is no cost to join Discounts for Carers. Discounts are often obtained through online shopping, though there is also a cashback card you can apply for and use in person.

You’ll start on the Discounts for Carers website. Search for the type of discount you’re interested in – such as “Home Appliances and White Goods.” Click on the discount that you want, and the Discounts for Carers website will take you to the retailer’s website, where you’ll see the discounted price.

How SureSafe offers peace of mind for carers

At SureSafe, we’re here to protect vulnerable people and their carers.

Many carers worry that the person they’re caring for will have an emergency while they’re in a different part of the home, out shopping or asleep. SureSafe’s personal alarms for the elderly and vulnerable offer peace of mind for everyone because they offer ways to call for help when no-one is around. Our alarms’ one-touch SOS buttons, fall detection and GPS tracking keep the carer and person receiving care connected even when they’re apart.

Curious to know how our affordable, highly rated personal alarms could help protect the person you’re caring for? Call our expert team at 0808 189 1671 for a chat. Alternatively, get in touch with us via live chat or request a call back.