Helping you prepare for Winter and beyond - plus what's going on at SCC and within the Borough this coming month! ❄

Here at Sutton Carers Centre we are looking ahead and sharing with you the latest need-to-know information to support you through Winter and beyond.

Please scroll down our bumper bulletin to find out the latest on winter vaccines (inc. the COVID-19 booster and Carer-specific vaccine clinics in Sutton), our upcoming Support Groups, Christmas events, the return of the RAFFLE and much, much more!

Also, don't forget that it's Carers Rights Day today!

Please scroll down to find out more about our special workshop and Q&A with Citizens Advice Sutton, to help you know and understand your rights as an Unpaid Carer.

It's Carers Rights Day today!

Carers' Rights Day takes place today (25th November). This is a day that is focused on helping both Adult Carers and Young Carers understand their rights and enabling them to access the support they need in their caring role. To find out more information on Carers Rights Day please visit the Carers UK website here.

Don't miss our Carers Rights Day Workshop with Citizens Advice Sutton!

Join us today, 11am - 2pm for a Carers Rights Day Workshop and Q&A session via Zoom with Christine Kawesi, a Welfare Benefits Specialist from Citizens Advice Sutton. Christine will be covering a number of topics to help you know and understand your rights as an Unpaid Carer.

To join, please use the details below:

Meeting ID: 839 9402 6324
Password: 039400
Please click here for the link.

If you have any issues joining on the day, then please email us on communications@suttoncarerscentre.org or call us on 020 8296 5611.

Our Young Carer Ambassadors to launch the #MyWay Campaign tomorrow

Today, on Carers Rights Day, our Young Carer Ambassadors also will be launching the #MyWay online campaign.

For the past few months, they have been creating videos, live online events, podcasts and more, with the goal of making the Young Carers service more familiar and accessible to others.

The aim is to reach other young adults who do not know that they are Carers. Hopefully, these young adults will see the Ambassadors' work and recognise themselves in it.

Tune in to our YouTube channel at 5pm today, to view the showreel of videos from our Young Carer Ambassadors.

The latest on winter vaccines

Are you ready for winter? Remember that prioritising your own wellbeing, as well as the wellbeing of the people you care for, is so important. Please scroll down to find out the latest information on how to access COVID-19 vaccinations, boosters and flu jabs across the Borough.

The government has updated its COVID-19 testing guidance and is now recommending people take a rapid lateral flow test before going to high-risk places from now onwards. To keep safe this winter, you can order lateral flow tests to your home here, and you can also pick these up from your local Chemist or supermarket.

If you're a Carer aged 40 and over and you had your second jab 182 days (6 months) ago, then it is now easier than ever to get your COVID-19 booster.

You can book online via the NHS website here
You can visit one of the local walk-in clinics, a full list can be found here, but the closest one to the Centre is the St Nicholas Shopping Centre, Sutton.

If you're a Carer aged under 40, then we hope that your GP has marked you as a Carer, so you will be called in. If you haven't been called to book your vaccination, then please go see your GP to ensure that the 'Carer box' is ticked on your record.
Alternatively, if you wish to, you can visit the walk-in clinic and explain that you had your jab early because you're a Carer. Even though you are under 40, if your 182 days are up (because you were vaccinated earlier than other 40-year-olds because you are a Carer), you are eligible for your booster. You can tell the staff on duty that you were told by your GP and Sutton Carers Centre to come in and get your booster.
Unfortunately, the NHS website is not functional enough to book as a Carer under 40 (at time of going to press). If you have any issues when trying to access your booster, then please do contact us. Most Carers report having no issues.

If you are a Young Adult Carer aged 16 - 18, then you are eligible for a first AND second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The second dose usually is being offered 12 weeks after the first dose.

You can book online via the NHS website here
You can visit the St Nicholas Shopping Centre, Sutton walk-in clinic

If your 182 days is up and you are looking to get a COVID-19 booster, then please contact us for the latest information, as this area is a little unclear at present.

We do not want to cause any concern, but with the anticipated increase in cases, it is now more important than ever to ensure that you set time aside to prioritise getting your COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters.

Please also remember that if you are caring for someone vulnerable and they haven't had all their shots, for whatever reason, then please contact us. We have ways of supporting and fast-tracking your family or network to ensure you all are ready for winter.

We want to hear from you!

If you want priority clinic access for yourself, and/or the people you care for, then please email communications@suttoncarerscentre.org to register your interest. If we hear from lots of you, then we also can look at setting up Carer-specific clinics for COVID-19 vaccinations. boosters, and flu jabs with the local healthcare staff. A true one-stop-shop!

We are offering these clinics in partnership to make sure that you and your family are as safe as possible this winter!

And don't forget your flu jab!

The best form of protection against flu this winter is to have the flu jab. If you are the main Carer or e.g. receive Carer's Allowance for an older person or someone with a disability or an illness, then you are able to get a flu vaccination for free. Remember that these can be done at the same time as your COVID-19 booster, it will just be in your alternate arm. Free flu jabs are also available to anyone who is over 50 (including people who'll be 50 by 31 March 2022, have certain health conditions or are pregnant).

There are many ways in which you can get your flu jab within the Borough:

at your GP surgery
at a local pharmacy offering the service, such as our friends at Sg Barai Pharmacy, Sutton
at a hospital appointment

Unpaid Carers can still access free PPE until the end of March 2022

If you are an unpaid Carer providing personal care to someone you do not live with, then you are eligible to receive free PPE until the end of March 2022.

You can request PPE free of charge, by emailing socialcare-cv19@sutton.gov.uk. To find out what PPE to use, please read the Guidance for those who provide unpaid care to friends or family. You will find a section called 'Recommended PPE for unpaid carers who do not live with the person or people they care for' which clearly outlines the type of PPE you should wear, depending on the type of care you provide.

Once they have received your email, the PPE Team at the London Borough of Sutton will prepare your order and contact you to arrange a time for you to collect it from the Civic Offices in Sutton. The Carers Centre can help with getting PPE to you if collection will be difficult.

For any other queries or if you need to speak to someone immediately about PPE, please call the PPE team - Simon, Dale or Vanessa - on 020 8770 6041.

Please note: This image does not represent the free PPE that may be supplied to you.

Scam alert: COVID-19 booster vaccines

We have been made aware of scam texts and calls, claiming to be from the NHS offering people their COVID-19 booster vaccine. Please remember that the NHS will:

NEVER ask for your bank details, pin, banking password
NEVER ask for payment as the COVID-19 booster vaccine is FREE

The last Sutton Carers Forum of 2021 took place on the 21st of September. For the first part of the Forum, were joined by Shona Harris, Commissioning Lead - Health, Prevention and Wellbeing at London Borough of Sutton who reported on the outcomes of the 'Making Informed Choices' review and what this means for Young and Adult Carers in Sutton.

Shona also focused on how the Council will be re-commissioning support services as well as information and advice for Carers and their family and friends.

Further details were shared in regards to the new Information and Advice Hub, which is being developed by the Council, too and an update on the Multi-agency Delivery Group (MADG) for Carers and related LBS/CCG Strategy. We also welcomed Shona’s colleague Alex Towers who outlined his new responsibilities and how they relate to Carers.

For the second part of the Forum, we were joined by Steve Triner, Chief Executive Officer at Citizens Advice Sutton, who discussed the latest 'key changes' to welfare rights/benefits and income maximisation.

Due to the 'Making Informed Choices' review, this will be the last Sutton Carers Forum of 2021.

So what else does the MIC review mean for Carers and Sutton Carers Centre?
Sutton Carers Centre current core contracts for Adult and Young Carer Information, Advice and Support with the Council all come to an end in July 2022, and have been reviewed as part of 'MIC'.

We are pleased to say that Carers of all ages remain a priority for the Council - however the Council has decided that it wants to contract with a provider of Carer services as part of a much larger partnership, covering lots of different community functions like Advocacy, Healthwatch, Mentoring for Looked After Children to name but a few.

So the Carers Centre is in the midst of some significant review and potential change at the moment - needing to re-tender to supply services in a new way - but we hope to only be going from strength to strength in the New Year - as Carers need and deserve support now, more than ever.

We will be reviewing our future work with the Forum early in 2022, also in line with the tender outcomes.

In other 'Forum' news.....

Join in with the fun this festive season!

Join Sutton Council and Sutton Parent Carer Forum for the Play & Stay Winter 2021 Christmas Festival on Tuesday 21st and Thursday 23rd December. The days will be split into two sessions, 10am - 12pm and 1:30pm - 3:30pm. There will be a cost of £1.50 per child, per session.

To book your place, please email suttonparentsforum@outlook.com. For further information, please see the flyer below.

What's going on in December at SCC?

Please find below the latest free Support Groups running at SCC for Adult, Young and Young Adult Carers during December and into January 2022. Some of our Young Carers and Young Adult Carers activities have changed, with the introduction of our 12 - 14, 15 - 18 and 18+ Peer Support Groups, which offer more tailored and relevant support to each age group.

As promised in our last newsletter, we have started to reintroduce some of our group activities and have started to host some of our Young Carers support groups in the Centre once again. These are being run with a limited capacity and spaces need to be booked in advance.

To ensure the safety and wellbeing of those attending, as well as our staff and volunteers who facilitate the groups, we continue to follow COVID-19 prevention measures. All being well, with no surge in infections, we will continue to reintroduce our face-to-face groups with limited numbers and this will be reviewed again mid-January 2022.

Some of our Adult Carer groups are now taking place in person unless specified below, but we will be reviewing this over time and will reach out to you if anything changes.

Please visit our website: https://www.suttoncarerscentre.org/virtual-support-groups for our weekly schedule of virtual support groups.

As always, you also can call us on 020 8296 5611 or email enquiries@suttoncarerscentre.org or youngcarers@suttoncarerscentre.org.

Adult Carer Groups (age 18+)

Please note that all dates marked * will be in person.

Dementia Peer Support Group:
Morning Group: Tuesdays 11:00am - 12:00pm (weekly)
Evening Group: Every 4th Tuesday 6:30pm - 7:30pm
NEXT MEETINGS: 30th November, 7th, 14th, 21st* December and 11th January
Please contact gary@suttoncarerscentre.org for more information.

Our lead partner Age UK Sutton's Dementia Wellbeing Support Group for people living with Dementia and their family and friends will run every Thursday between 11:00am - 12:00pm. For further details please contact Age UK Sutton on 020 8078 0002 or please give us a call. We will be in attendance at that group as well, for any Carer-specific queries and to help co-develop our services over time, with community voices and opinions at the centre of this work.

Carers Relaxation Group: Monday 10:30am - 12:30pm (weekly)
NEXT MEETINGS: 29th November, 6th*, 13th, 20th* December and 3rd January
Please contact celia@suttoncarerscentre.org for more information.

Mental Health Carers Support Group: Wednesdays 2:00pm - 4:00pm (monthly)
NEXT MEETINGS: 14th December
Please contact celia@suttoncarerscentre.org for more information.

Complex Needs Carers Support Group: Tuesdays 6:00pm - 8:00pm (every 6 weeks)
NEXT MEETING: 14th December
Please contact celia@suttoncarerscentre.org for more information.

Male Carers Group: Tuesdays 6:30pm - 8:00pm (monthly)
NEXT MEETING: 14th December* (Tiempo Lounge, Sutton)
Please contact celia@suttoncarerscentre.org for more information.

'Carers Connect' Coffee Morning: Thursdays 11:00am - 12:00pm (fortnightly)
NEXT MEETINGS:

9th December - Carers Connect Special on decluttering with Nicola Austin
23rd December - Christmas special, so please wear your Christmas hat/headwear
6th January - Carers Connect Special on prioritising, organisation & time management with Lily Firth

Please contact nicola@suttoncarerscentre.org for more information.

Parent Carer Support Group:
Thursdays 11:00am - 12:00pm (monthly) NEXT MEETINGS: 2nd* (in person at Sutton Carers Centre, join us for a cup of tea and mince pies) & 16th December
Tuesdays 7:00pm - 8:00pm (monthly) NEXT MEETING: 7th December
Please contact corinne@suttoncarerscentre.org for more information.

Moving On Group (for former Carers): Tuesdays 1:30pm - 3:30pm* (monthly)
NEXT MEETING: 21st December*
Please contact karen@suttoncarerscentre.org for more information.

Young and Young Adult Carers Groups (ages 8-25)

Young Carers 'Chill and Learn': Mondays 4:30pm - 5:30pm (weekly)
NEXT MEETINGS: 29th November* and 6th December
Please contact j ulia@suttoncarerscentre.org for more information.

Young Carers 12 - 14 Peer Support Group: Wednesdays 5:00pm - 6:00pm (fortnightly)
NEXT MEETINGS: January 2022 dates coming soon
Please contact j ulia@suttoncarerscentre.org for more information.

Young Adult Carers 15 - 18 Peer Support Group: Wednesdays 5:00pm - 6:00pm (fortnightly)
NEXT MEETINGS: 1st December*
Please contact j ulia@suttoncarerscentre.org for more information.

Young Adult Carers 18+ Peer Support Group: Mondays 5:00pm - 6:00pm (monthly)
NEXT MEETING: January 2022 dates coming soon
Please contact j ulia@suttoncarerscentre.org for more information.

Sibling Young Carers Support Group: Tuesdays 4:00pm - 5:30pm (weekly)
NEXT MEETINGS: 30th November*
Please contact anna@suttoncarerscentre.org for more information.

For more information on one-off virtual groups and activities, training and workshops at Sutton Carers Centre, as well as confidential, 1-1 support available to Carers of all ages, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

We also hold information about Carer peer support groups run virtually by partner organisations such as Sutton Parent Carers Forum, the National Autistic Society and more.

Adult Carers, you can now keep track of the support groups taking place at Sutton Carers Centre this December by downloading our brand new calendar here!

Our 24th Annual General Meeting takes place this Friday!

All are welcome to attend our Annual General Meeting this Friday, 12:45 for a 1pm start. Our AGM is open to all, but only Members can vote, so if you would like to become a Member, then please email mandy@suttoncarerscentre.org to register your interest.

The AGM is what most people describe as the 'dry' part of charity business, but it is a very important part of being accountable to our membership. We do, however, normally do this business of part of a larger, much more lively 'Annual Review' event, which sadly, we have had to put on hold during the pandemic. We hope to return to our larger event in 2022 - so please watch this space!

We also will be taking this opportunity to thank Carer Don Brims, our Treasurer and Trustee of over a decade, for his service.

To join, please use the details below:

Meeting ID: 876 9093 5899
Password: 995708
Please click here for the link.

Come and celebrate with us this Christmas at Sutton Carers Centre!

Please join us for our Carers Christmas Celebration, being hosted at Sutton Carers Centre on the 2nd of December, 5pm - 7pm. This will be an opportunity to connect with other Carers ahead of the festive period, and to enjoy some delicious mince pies and mulled wine (soft drinks available also).

To attend, please email enquiries@suttoncarerscentre.org. Please note that spaces limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so please email us as soon as possible.

And please scroll down to see the invite for our Young Carers Christmas Party taking place on the 8th of December, 4pm - 6pm.

Enter our Christmas Raffle and win one of our fabulous prizes!

Be in with the chance of winning one of the following prizes this Christmas, as part of our annual Christmas Raffle.

You can take part by visiting our page on 'Raffall' here. Tickets cost £1 each and the raffle will be drawn Monday 20th December at 12pm.

Thank you to everyone who has kindly donated gifts for our Christmas Raffle.

Please note the picture of the hamper for illustrative purposes only! Ours is better :-).

Our Christmas Opening Hours

With just 31 days to go until the big day, we'd like to share with you our Christmas opening hours.

Please note that the Centre will be closed on Wednesday 15th December from 1:00pm for staff training and development.

A Christmas Carol

The highly anticipated Carers Trust Christmas Carol Concert is taking place on Wednesday 1st December at St George’s Church, Hanover Square, London, with doors at 6:15pm and the event starting at 7pm.

Mesmerising Christmas carols will be performed by The City of London Choir, directed by Hilary Davan Wetton, and they will be joined by soprano soloist, Margaret Keys.

There will also be festive readings from some familiar faces such as Emma Thompson, Greg Wise, Claudia Winkleman and Gyles Brandreth. You can find out more information about the event on the Carers Trust website here.

If you would like to attend the concert at no cost, then please express your interest by emailing communications@suttoncarerscentre.org asap and we will get in touch with you shortly; some free tickets may be available to Carers.

Get into the festive spirit at the LGBT+ Carers Connect Christmas celebration!

Join Wandsworth Carers Centre at their annual Christmas celebration, taking place at the Southbank Winter Market on Saturday 11th December. Carers in Sutton who identify as LGBTQ+ are warmly welcome to join our friends in Wandsworth - and you may meet LGBTQ+ Carers from other Boroughs across Southwest London, too.

Please email tom@wandsworthcarers.org.uk for further information.

What's else is happening in December?

Don't miss the upcoming South West London Mental Health Carer Form

On the 29th November, 4pm - 5:30pm via Zoom, Matthew McKenzie, Carer and Author of 'A Caring Mind', will be hosting the South West London Mental Health Carer Forum.

This Forum offers a safe and confidential space for Mental Health Carers, giving you an opportunity to share stories and experiences and connect with other Carers. Book your place by clicking the link here.

If you need any further information, then please call Matthew Mckenzie on 07881301059 or email on mmckenz11@hotmail.com.

Nice to see you, to see you, NICE!

It has been wonderful to see so many familiar, as well as some brand new faces at the recent events within the Borough, such as Praise in the Park, the St Helier Music and Community Festival and the Wallington Community Wellbeing Charity Information and Advice Day, to name just a few. We are so pleased that these events have been able to take place once again and it is great to start connecting in person with our local community.

Volunteer Christine King, and staff members Vicky Bastock and Nicola Fordyce-Brown at
the Wallington Community Wellbeing Charity Information and Advice Day

Staff members Anna Hetherton and Mandy Dennelly with Trustee Andy McCreddie at the
St Helier Music and Community Festival

And lastly...congratulations and massive thanks to our
London Marathon runners!

Congratulations to James McClintock and Jason Moran for running the Virgin Money London Marathon on Sunday 3rd October to raise funds for Sutton Carers Centre.

Collectively they have raised over £3,000 so far, which is a staggering amount! Thank you to them - and to everyone who has supported them, and by association, us. The amount raised will help us to reach and support more unpaid Carers.

Contact Sutton Carers Centre on 020 8296 5611, 10:00am – 5:00pm Monday to Friday, until 8:00pm on Tuesday evenings, and from 11:00am – 1:00pm on the second Saturday of each month, or email us on enquiries@suttoncarerscentre.org, youngcarers@suttoncarerscentre.org, or for Covid-related queries, communications@suttoncarerscentre.org.

You also can get extensive information from the London Borough of Sutton website here, including information about COVID-19 tests, with or without symptoms, PPE and more. It also has information if you feel unsafe from domestic abuse or if you have concerns about the safety of a vulnerable adult or child. We also can give information and advice about all these issues.

Your NHS is still here for you, too - so, as always, if you have any concerns about your health, please contact your GP, or in any emergency, please call 999.

For copies of this newsletter, our 8 - 13 and 14+ Sutton Young Carers News, as well as previous editions, then please visit our website here.