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We hope the information below is useful to you in your caring role. If you need any advice or information, please call us on 0800 368 8349 - our opening hours can be found here.
Carers Week is coming up between 5-11 June and we're looking forward to hosting carers at some special events and helping to shine a spotlight on the vital work that carers do.

You can help us to raise awareness of caring by taking part in our 'More Than a Carer' campaign - illustrated in the picture above - and completing this survey.

#MoreThanACarer highlights the many different roles, hobbies, hopes and dreams of carers - sometimes we might feel like we're just a carer, but it's important (although often difficult) not to lose sight of our identity. When your caring role is very intensive you may feel like you are just a carer. This generally isn't sustainable long-term. If you are feeling this way, please give us a call on 0800 368 8349 to make sure you are accessing all of the support available to you. 

Here are some of the responses we've had from the survey so far. 

"I'm a carer, but I'm also a writer, mother, daughter and sister. I enjoy reading and spending time in nature. With the person I care for we like to learn new things, visit museums and grow." Dominique 

"I'm a carer. but I'm also very much retired. I enjoy gardening and amateur dramatics. With the person I care for we like to listen to music." David

"I'm a carer, but I'm also me! I juggle working full time, have grown-up children, a partner and friends I don't get to spend time with like I used to. I enjoy photography, music, walking and kayaking. With the person I care for everything is worthwhile for the short time we have." Michelle

View Carers Week events taking place in Dorset

Complete the 'More Than a Carer' survey
Upcoming events
These are our upcoming drop-ins where you can come for information and to speak in person to a Carer Support Dorset advisor. Please check our What's On page for a full list of dates. 
Drop-in - Wareham
Mon 5 Jun
10.00am-2.00pm
Wareham Library
Drop-in - Ferndown
Thu 8 Jun
10.00am-2.00pm
Ferndown Library
Carer family event
Thu 8 Jun
4.00-6.00pm
Weymouth Library
Drop-in - Sherborne
Mon 12 Jun
10.00am-2.00pm
Sherborne Library
Drop-in - Bridport
Mon 19 Jun
11.00am-2.00pm
Bridport LIbrary
Drop-in - Weymouth
Wed 21 Jun
10.00am-2.00pm
Volunteer Centre Dorset, Weymouth Information Shop
Drop-in - Dorchester
Wed 28 Jun
10.00am-2.00pm
Dorset Carers Hub, 48 South Street
Drop-in - Shaftesbury - with Rural Mental Health Matters
Wed 28 Jun
2.00-6.00pm
The Town Hall

Still places available at our Carers Week Weymouth family event

Join us at Weymouth Library on Thursday 8 June, 4 -6pm, for an event for parent carers, carers and their families and young carers. We'll have a special craft activity, refreshments and more :) 

Booking is essential for this event (so we can make sure we have enough craft packs for everyone!) so please book your place in advance here. 

There are a number of other events and activities taking place in Dorset during Carers Week. View them all here. 
 
View all Carers Week events

Free tickets for Chalke Valley History Festival

Chalke Valley History Festival takes place at the end of the June and the organisers have kindly gifted us some tickets for carers and the person they care for to attend for the day on Wednesday 28 June. 

Tickets are limited and will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Please email us at our Wiltshire office at admin@carersupportwiltshire.co.uk to request your tickets. 

Attendees will need to make their own way to the festival. There is blue badge parking available. We will meet at the entrance in the morning and enter the festival together. Some of the talks cost extra to attend, but there is plenty on offer at the festival for free. 

We look forward to meeting those who would like to join us :)
Good to know
2023 guide to mental health and debt
If you are affected by debt, Money Saving Expert have this excellent guide which explains the various options that might be available to you. Many topics are covered, including the link between poor mental health and debt. There are also links to many charities and organisations who can help. As the guide says - they have never heard of someone with debts so bad there wasn't a path through them, so there are always options available to you. 

Carers Trust annual survey 2023
Carers Trust are asking for unpaid carers' experiences of support. They will be using the findings of the survey to raise the voices of unpaid carers as publicly as possible and influence the Government to make positive changes. Taking the survey is easy and should take 15-20 minutes to complete. 

NHS Dorset - views wanted on palliative care line
NHS Dorset are looking at developing a 24/7 single point of access telephone line for anyone in the last year of life, as well as their families, carers and staff looking after them. They would very much appreciate your opinion and feedback to enable them to develop a service which meets the needs of the local population. Complete the survey here. 
 
Health and Wellbeing Fair - Weymouth
Come along to the Health and Wellbeing Fair and get advice for taking control of your health. Find out information about local groups and services available to you. Takes place Tuesday 13 June, 10am-1pm at Council Chamber, Weymouth Town Council, Commercial Road, DT4 8NG.

Caring for Carers information event - Dorchester
Mid Dorset Primary Care Network are hosting an information event for unpaid carers being held on Wednesday 7 June, from 12 until 3:30pm in the Victorian Hall at the Dorset Museum in Dorchester. Carer Support Dorset will be there alongside over 20 other services. 

There will be range of support available on the day including;

  • Health and wellbeing services
  • Community support
  • Health and social care support
  • Dedicated GP practice carers lead and PCN carers lead
  • Mini health checks
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