|
|
|
|
September 2017
Carer Engagement e-Newsletter
|
|
|
Autumn Carers' Forum
Care for the Carers' Autumn Carers' Forum is taking place on Wednesday, 25th October, from 10.00am to 3.30pm, at Sussex Downs College – Lewes Campus, Cliffe Building, 1 Mountfield Road, Lewes, BN7 2XH.
The theme is ‘Carers Rights’ and the workshops will be about informing carers of their rights, but will also provide an opportunity for carers to share their experiences.
Book your place now!
The Forum is free for carers and £5 for guests or cared for attendees (payable on the day). A light lunch is included.
If you'd like to book a place, please call Debbie Reid at Care for the Carers on 01323 738390 or email debbier@cftc.org.uk. You can also book online by visiting the Care for the Carers website.
|
|
|
Care for the Carers' Annual General Meeting
Care for the Carers’ Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Wednesday, 27th September 2017.
At the request of carers, we are for the third year running, holding this year’s meeting in the morning from 11.00 am until 1.00 pm.
The meeting will be held at The Cooden Beach Hotel, Cooden Sea Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN39 4TT.
Registration and refreshments will be available from 10.30am.
If you want to attend, you can book online by clicking here, You can also contact Liz Clarke lizc@cftc.org.uk or Kirsty Hart kirstyh@cftc.org.uk or telephone 01323 738390 by Wednesday, 20th September.
|
|
|
Carers Rights Day
Carer Rights Day - a national campaign which brings UK organisations together to help carers in their local community know their rights and find out how to get the support they are entitled to - is taking place on Friday, 24th November.
On Tuesday,12th September, Care for the Carers hosted a Carer Rights Day planning meeting in Bexhill, which was attended by carers and partner organisations from across East Sussex. Carers Rights Day activities have been planned and information about events will be available shortly on the Care for the Carers website and in the next e-Newsletter. A Carers Rights Day article will also feature in the Autumn/Winter edition of CareLine, which will be out at the beginning of November.
If you or your organisation are hosting an event to mark this year's Carers Rights Day, or you would like more information about how you can get involved, please contact Care for the Carers' Project Development Officer Carole Gregory by calling 01323 738390 or by emailing caroleg@cftc.org.uk.
|
|
|
Care for the Carers' Annual Survey
Please help improve services for carers in East Sussex by telling us about your experience of Care for the Carers.
We’d love to hear your views on Care for the Carers' work, the support you have received,or services you would like us to offer. It’s crucial that carers can access the right support when they need it, and we need to hear from you to make sure that the support available is right for carers.
The deadline for the survey is Friday, 29th September.
As a token of thanks, all completed surveys will be entered into a prize draw for a £25 Marks & Spencer voucher. To enter, just make sure that you include your name, telephone number and postcode.
To complete the online survey, please click here.
|
|
Engagement Opportunities
Macmillan Cancer information survey for carers
If you have in the past, or are caring for someone with cancer then Macmillan would like to hear about your experience of accessing information about cancer as a carer. You may care for a family member, friend or someone else and you may be paid or unpaid.
What you tell them will help to improve cancer information services and as a result people affected by cancer in East Sussex will have greater access to information about cancer and support services.
Once you have submitted your survey, you will be taken to the Macmillan page where you can see what further opportunities and information are available to you
The survey is very short and will take less than 5 minutes to complete.
The results are confidential and will be summarised in a report written by Greta Anderson (Macmillan Cancer Information Network Coordinator). The survey will help to inform Macmillan’s future information and signposting work in East Sussex.
Please complete the survey here: Macmillan Cancer Information Survey for Carers
LGBT carers survey
This online survey is part of a bigger PhD research project by Nancy Clark at Canterbury Christ Church University. All parts of the research are governed by the Faculty of Health and Wellbeing Ethics Committee of Canterbury Christchurch University.This is at a time of rapid policy changes in respect to caring and carers rights. This remains an area of little research within the UK for this group of caregivers (Stonewall 2015, Carers Trust 2016).
This project asks LGBT+ people who are currently informal caregivers what their experiences are of caring for a spouse, partner, friend, neighbour, colleague, or a relative such as a grandparent, parent or sibling who is aged over 65 and living at home, in England.
The closing date is 5pm on Wednesday, 1st November 2017.
Prize Draw - All those who complete the survey can choose to be entered into a prize draw for a £50 Marks and Spencer's voucher.
For more information and to complete the survey visit: https://canterbury.onlinesurveys.ac.uk/carer-online-survey-cccunc-2017
Petition for free concessionary travel for carers
Amanda McDonald is an unpaid carer from Scotland and she is campaigning for free/concessionary travel for carers. She would appreciate as many carers as possible to show their support of the campaign by signing her online petition.
The proposal is that the government take the initiative to offer free / concessionary transport to carers. This could be through adapting the concession and companion card which currently allows the carer to travel with the cared for but not separately. Or through some form of add on to carers allowance for those in receipt of it.
The link below directs you to Amanda’s petition.She would truly appreciate your signature and if you could encourage others by sharing it on your social media pages. https://www.change.org/p/free-concessionary-transport-for-unpaid-carers-it-should-be-our-right.
East Sussex Parent Carers Participation Survey
If you are the parent or carer for a child or young person with special educational needs or disabilities, Amaze, an independent parent-led charity based in Brighton, would like to know:
- How involved you feel in the way services are planned and developed
- How much influence you think you have
- If you would like to be more involved in the future
- Your information needs
After the survey you can choose to enter the prize draw for the chance to win an iPad!
To take part, go to https://tinyurl.com/esparentsurvey and complete by Friday, 6th October 2017.
Focus groups - Amaze
Amaze is hosting a series of focus groups in order to find out how professionals can work with parents and carers of children with SEND to improve services for families in East Sussex.
September
- Thursday 28th, 9.30 to 11.00 a.m. Peacehaven Community School,
- Friday 29th, 10.00 to 11.30 a.m, Chailey Heritage School
- Friday 29th, 1.30 to 3.00 p.m, Northease Manor School, Lewes
October
- Wednesday 4th, 9.45 to 10.30 a.m, Hazel Court Secondary School, Eastbourne
- Thursday 5th, 9.15 to 10.45 a.m, Harbour Primary School, Newhaven
Refreshments will be provided.
Booking is essential, so to reserve a place please email: info@amazebrighton.org.uk with your name, mobile number and the focus group you want to attend.
If you need extra support to enable you to attend, such as an interpreter or help with the cost of transport or childcare, please let Amaze know when booking.
To thank you for your time, Amaze will be giving participants a £15 Love2shop gift voucher on the day.
|
|
WRAP for Carers
If you are an unpaid carer, attending a WRAP group for carers will provide you with the opportunity to explore safe and simple tools that you can use to maintain your wellbeing when you are facing challenges.
WRAP provides you with a framework which can support you in every part of your life.
"Attending WRAP has given me a better perspective on myself and my life. I now take better care of myself on a physical and emotional level and look for the help and support I need to help me in my caring role. WRAP helps me to remember the things I need to keep a balanced life. When I get out of balance, I refer to WRAP to remember! My caring role is so much better now!" – WRAP Course Participant
The courses run for six sessions, usually weekly, meeting for up to three hours each session. There is a maximum of ten people in a group and the groups are closed.
These courses are funded through the East Sussex County Council Commissioning Grants Prospectus and are free of charge. Booking is essential. Please complete and return an application form to secure your place on a course.
BEXHILL – WRAP for Carers - starts November 2017
Venue: 73A London Road, Bexhill-on-Sea TN39 3LB
Start date: Wednesday, 8 November 2017
Session dates: 8 November, 15 November, 22 November, 29 November, 6 December, 13 December
Session time: 2:00pm to 4:30pm
Booking: Download an application form from Coastal Wellbeing website
LEWES – WRAP for Carers – starts January 2018
Venue: 47A Western Road, Lewes BN7 1RL
Start date: Monday, 8 January 2018
Session dates: 8 January, 15 January, 22 January, 29 January, 5 February, 12 February
Session time: 2:00pm to 4:30pm
Booking: Download an application form from Coastal Wellbeing website
|
|
|
CarersToolkit and Activities
The following exciting courses are on offer as part of the Care for the Carers Toolkit Programme:
- Carers Rights and Emergency Planning
- Creative Writing Course
Both courses are available to book online.
Carers Afternoon Teas
Care for the Carers is also hosting afternoon teas in Lewes, Hastings and Eastbourne for unpaid carers in East Sussex in October and November. For more information, or to book a place, please click here.
For more information about the Carers Toolkit and our other activities, you can contact Care for the Carers by calling 01323 738390 or by emailing info@cftc.org.uk.
|
|
Carers' Voices Network
Care for the Carers regularly consults with the Carers' Voices Network on different issues and sends out information and invitations to key events. Some opportunities are sent by email or post to all members, others are only relevant to certain carers, depending on where you live or your caring responsibility.
You can chose what you would like to get involved in and how much time you can spare.
If you would like to join the Carers' Voices Network, please ring Debbie Reid on 01323 738390 or email debbier@cftc.org.uk and we can add you to the mailing list.
|
|
New events for Mental Health Carers - Improving Carers' Experience (ICE) Project
Carers Information Courses
These are a series of free sessions in which a group of carers can get information on topics such as mental health diagnoses, how the system works, options on how to deal with worrying behaviours and how to keep going! The courses may seem long but there is a lot to talk about. The evaluations of this course have been 98% positive so far.
- Uckfield Civic Centre 10.00-3.30pm Wednesday, 1st, 6th,15th and 22nd November
- Eastbourne Leaf Hall 10.00-1.00pm Tuesday, 10th October,10 sessions to Tuesday, 12th December
Caring for a young person 16-21yrs old
Two special events particularly for families supporting a younger person. There are two aims; looking at the issues during the transition from younger peoples’ to adult services and to look at options when dealing with worrying behaviour.
- Hastings HVA 10am-3.30pm, Friday, 27th October
- Eastbourne View Hotel 10am -3.30pm, Saturday, 18th November
Carers’ Complaints, Comments and Compliments
These are two workshop days to look at how the mental health services are currently working with families and partners. Have you had recent contact with a mental health team or social care? Did you feel you were involved and listened to? These two days are an opportunity to talk to other carers and then to feedback your experiences to mental health managers and staff.
- Eastbourne View Hotel 10am-3.30pm , Thursday 26th October
- Hastings Café at the White Rock Theatre 10am-3.30pm , Thursday, 23rd November
These are all free events and the all day sessions include a light lunch. If you'd like to book a place, or you would like more information, please contact the ICE Project by calling 01273 617100 or emailing jane.icepro@btconnect.com.
|
|
East Sussex Parent and Carers' Council (ESPaCC)
ESPaCC is asking for people to become part of a collective voice for children in East Sussex who have additional needs.
To become involved, please fill in the ESPaCC contact form. All forms are sent to ESPaCC Participation and Contacts Lead Lisa Reynard who says:
“Help us make a difference for our children/young people who have additional needs. In order to properly represent our families and reflect a true picture, it’s important that we reach as many families as possible throughout East Sussex, so please fill in one of our Parent and Carers’ Contact forms and encourage your friends who have children/young people with any additional needs to do the same.
"You will then become a ‘contact’ on our contacts database and receive our regular e-newsletters and any other information we feel families should be made aware of.”
ESPaCC doesn't share your information with any other organisation without asking your permission first and any information you give is held securely.
You can find a copy of the contact form on the ESPaCC website at http://www.eastsussexpacc.org/parent-and-carers-contact-form.html, or you can contact Lisa at membership@eastsussexpacc.org
|
|
Older People's Day
Sunday, 1st October is Older People’s Day - an International Day to celebrate the achievements and contributions that older people make to society.
East Sussex County Council, in partnership with seniors’ forums, the voluntary sector, community groups and other statutory organisations, is putting on a programme events which are taking place across the county throughout September and October.
Please click here for more information.
|
|
Universal Credit - East Sussex
Universal Credit is for people of working age who have no or low income and whether or not they work. This new monthly payment is replacing six benefits:
- Housing Benefit
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Income Support
- Working Tax Credit
- Child Tax Credit
Universal Credit is being introduced in three stages.
- Live Service – this is already in place across the county. The Live Service is mainly for single unemployed people who are fit for work and are making new claims.
- Full/Digital Service - Universal Credit is available to all claimants, single people, couples and families (see below for exceptions) making new claims or following certain changes of circumstances.
- Once all Live Service areas have been replaced by Full Service areas, the DWP will migrate all remaining existing benefit claimants to the Full Service. This will happen between July 2019 and March 2022.
Professionals, volunteers and residents living and working in the Hastings and Rother and Eastbourne, Hailsham and Seaford areas can phone or email the Benefits & Debt Advice Project helpline to get advice and up-to-date information on Universal Credit and all other benefits by calling 0333 344 0681, Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm, or by emailing benefitseastsussex@harcuk.com .
More information about Universal Credit is also available online at www.gov.uk, and the Autumn/Winter edition of CareLine, which will be available at the beginning of November, will feature an article about the introduction of Universal Credit.
|
|
Striving for Excellence through Collaboration End of Life Care Conference
St Michael’s Hospice is hosting an educational conference on Tuesday, 10th October, 9am -5pm, at the Arthur Easton Centre, St Michael’s Hospice, Upper Maze Hill, St Leonards on Sea, TN38 0LB
There will be a full day programme including presentations from Specialist Palliative Care doctors, End of Life Care Practice Educators and other leading experts.This will be an excellent learning opportunity for anyone interested in End of Life Care.
Book your tickets now through eventbrite, or for more information visit the St Michael’s Hospice's website here.
|
|
|
The Freedom Programme
Home-Start East Sussex Domestic Abuse project is running The Freedom Programme in Hastings from the end of September 2017
The Freedom Programme is a free programme for any woman who has experience of living with domestic abuse, now or in the past. The programme examines the actions, behaviours and beliefs of an abusive man and the beliefs and responses of the survivor. The aim is to help them to make sense of and understand what has happened to them.
Women can contact the course facilitator, Sarah Jarvis, on 07505 426118 or 01273 612025 for an informal chat about the programme. Agencies and professionals can complete the referral form on the Home-Start website or contact Sarah for further information.
Ten places will be reserved for women from the following wards; Bexhill Central, Bexhill Sidley, Eastern Rother, Baird, Braybrooke, Castle, Central St. Leonards, Gensing, Hollington, Maze Hill, Old Hastings, Ore, Tressell and Wishing Tree, with a further ten places for women from any area.
The programme will run one morning a week for 11 weeks, excluding half term.
For information, please email info@hses.org.uk or phone 01273 612025.
|
|
Small Grants for Carers Groups
If you are looking to set up a new group for unpaid carers or your current group wants to try new things, then you may be eligible for a small grant.
Small grants for carers groups are funded by East Sussex County Council and available through Care for the Carers. These grants enable groups or organisations to start, improve or develop services that directly benefit unpaid carers of adults.
For more information about how to apply, eligibility criteria and what the grants can be used for, please email info@cftc.org.uk or call 01323 738390 for more information.
|
|
|
Call for content
The deadline for content submission for Care for the Carers' next edition of CareLine is Friday, 15th December.
Future editions of Care for the Carers' e-Newsletter are set to go out on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, with content due the day before. The deadline for content for the October e-Newsletter is Monday, 16th October.
If you'd would like to submit content or you have questions or queries related to article submission, please contact Care for the Carers' Media Relations Office Jenny Kennedy by calling 01323 738390 or by emailing jenniferk@cftc.org.uk.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
