You are receiving this email because you have registered as an unpaid carer* with Carer Support Dorset.
We hope this newsletter finds you well and you are finding some time to look after yourself this October. We hope this information can help you in your caring role.
Guest speaker, Kim Harbut from RNID, is coming to talk about hearing loss awareness and how to support someone with hearing loss.
Rethink Mental Health Workshop on Communication -Wednesday 20 October, 10am–11am A session led by Rethink Mental Illness on how you can best communicate with the person you care for about both of your needs, as well as how to communicate and advocate with professionals on behalf of the person you care for.
Know your rights as a carer - Monday 25 October, 1.30pm-3pm A session led by Not a Care in the World which will look at what rights carers have and how you can assert your rights as a carer. The training will also explore what stops carers asserting their rights and how you can find solutions to this.
A session led by Not a Care in the World which will look at verbal and non – verbal communication such as speaking, body language, signs and symbols. You will explore listening skills, passive and aggressive behavioural traits, space and power dynamics and speaking up for your own wants and needs.
If you would like to register for any of these session, please contact us on 0800 368 8349 or email admin@carersupportdorset.co.uk.
25 November 2021 - Save the date Carers Festival
Dorset Council are putting on a whole schedule of events for Carers Rights Day on Thursday 25 November. We will be sending out more information soon.
Carer Support Dorset have been busy collaborating with award-winning theatre company, LUNG. They are performing their incredible production of ‘Who Cares’ at the Bridport Arts Centre. The show follows the story of two young carers and is adapted from real-life testimonies. Carer Support Dorset will also be there to answer any of your questions around young carers.
Tickets are £12 for adults, £10 concession, and can be booked online now.
If you can’t make the performance, you can also listen to a radio production of the show on BBC Radio 4.
COVID-19 booster update
People who are more vulnerable to the virus are being invited to top up their protection with a booster jab. This must be six months or more after receiving their second jab.
They do not need to contact the NHS but will be invited when it is their turn. Texts and letters are now starting to go out.
People will be able to book an appointment online at www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccinationat one of the convenient vaccine sites across the country. People who are not able to go online can book by phoning 119.
Those who are eligible for a booster include:
those living in residential care homes for older adults
all adults aged 50 years or over
frontline health and social care workers
all those aged 16 to 49 years with underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of severe COVID-19 and adult carers.
adult household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals
Community outreach project
We are currently running a pilot project targeting 16 villages across the county, to highlight that support is available for unpaid carers.
Carer Support Dorset staff are making face-to-face visits to these villages, working with community groups and conducting local leaflet and poster drops with the intention of supporting future events within these locations.
Come and say hi and talk to us about your experiences of being an unpaid carer.
‘If only I’d known that’ free booklet
Anyone who has recently registered with our service should have received a hard copy of the ‘If Only I Had Known That’ booklet produced by The Leonardo Trust and PramaLife. If you don’t have a copy of this booklet but would like one, please give us a call on 0800 368 8349 and we can post one out to you. Alternatively, you can download an e-version on our website.
Read our latest carer story
We have a new carer story from Paul, who cares for his wife, Mandy. She has Parkinson’s disease and dementia. You can read Paul’s full story on our website.
If you too want to share your story of caring to tell others just what you do in your own words, email admin@carersupportdorset.co.uk.
Unpaid Carer Advisory Group
We are looking for unpaid carers to join a new advisory group. This is an organisation-wide group which includes carers from our sister organisation, Carer Support Wiltshire.
Joining the group will give you the chance to express your thoughts and experiences as a carer, influence services and make a difference for carers in Dorset and Wiltshire.
Some of you will receive this survey through computerised random selection. Please note the letter and survey will not be sent to all carers.
The letters with surveys will go out this week and must be returned by 30 Nov 21.
For requests and enquiries about this survey call 01305 221016 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm) or email acsresearch@dorsetcc.gov.uk.
Surveys are to be returned to: Adult Care and Housing, County Hall, Dorchester, DT1 1XJ
Socially Connecting Shaftesbury
Rural Mental Health Matters (RMHM) and Mental Health North Dorset Help and Peer Support are running a Socially Connecting Shaftesbury Project.
This is project is about connecting people living in and around Shaftesbury with all aspects of mental health and wellbeing related support/services, groups and other community organisations available in local and wider pan Dorset areas.
A final note from us
The Carer Support Dorset team are here to support you, whatever the question or issue you’re facing. We acknowledge and appreciate the hard work you’re doing in your caring role.
Carer Support Dorset is open Mon-Thurs 9.30am-4.30pm, Fri 9.30am-4pm. Call 0800 368 8349 or email admin@carersupportdorset.co.ukif you need support or advice on anything related to your caring role.
Best wishes,
Anna Elston
Manager
Carer Support Dorset
*you are still considered to be an unpaid carer even if you are receiving any government welfare benefits e.g. Carers Allowance.
Contact us on 0800 368 8349 or email admin@carersupportdorset.co.uk if you’d like to receive future correspondence in a different format or if you no longer wish to be on the carer register.
