News items from December 2012
Free holidays for carers to take a break
The Respite Association is offering carers free holidays to help them take a break from their caring role.
Carers can use the Association's static carvan, sited at The Richmond Holiday Centre in Skegness, free of charge for a week, including electricity and gas and access to all the Holiday Centre's facilities.
If you'd like to apply for a free holiday, simply fill in the application form on the Association's website.
Please note: The free holiday scheme is designed for carers to take a break, therefore it's not normally expected that you'll bring the person you care for. The Association may be able to help you pay for respite care though, if you can't make alternative plans, and in some special cases you may be able to take the person you care for.
To find out more visit the Respite Association website or call 01406 373163 or email [email protected]
Do you look after a child with a disability or additional need?
Do you look after a child with a disability or additional need?
Menphys Special Outreach Service, Parent Participation and the Parent and Carer Council are working together to help families in Leicestershire, by making sure families receive relevant and accurate information about what's happening in the county and the services available. They also want to make sure families' voices are heard.
You can find out more on the new Leicestershire Parent Carer Forum website or call Kirsty Neale on 0116 282 3659 or email [email protected]
Help for older people in Leicestershire - have your say
Communities in Partnership is currently working with Leicestershire County Council Adults and Communities Department to deliver two consultations which could affect you or those around you:
Assistive Technology and Housing Related Residential Support Services
Residents of Leicestershire are being asked for their views on plans for a ‘fairer and more flexible approach’ towards helping older people stay in their homes.
Assistive Technology uses lifelines and a range of additional sensors, such as fall detectors, to support people to live independently. At present, Assistive Technology is only available to people who live in their own home, and the County Council is considering extending the service to include those who live in sheltered or social housing.
The other proposal which forms part of the three-month consultation concerns Housing Related Support for older people. This would enable people who own or rent their homes to have the same access to services as those who live in social housing – if it would help them. Historically, the support is usually given by housing wardens or scheme managers.
Click here to complete the online survey
Paper copies are available, please call 0116 305 0004 to find out more. The consultation runs until February 2013.
Have Your Say
Communities in Partnership is also looking for members of the public to participate in focus groups throughout January and February 2013, with one focus group being held in each Leicestershire district.
If you would like to attend a focus group and have your say in transforming services then please contact Liz on 0116 233 4243 to find out more.
Oadby Asda, Oadby and Wigston District - Wednesday 16th Jan 10.30am to 12.30pm - call Alison Cooper on 2718341 to find out more.
Blaby Scout HQ, Winchester Road, Blaby District - Tuesday 22nd Jan 2pm to 4pm - call 2778998 to find out more.
St Marys Court, Hugglescote, North West Leicestersire District - Tuesday 29th Jan 11am to 1pm - call Kaizad Johnston on 01530 454640 to find out more.
John Storer House, Charnwood District - Tuesday 15th Jan 10am to 12pm - call Ann Standing on 01509 631750 to find out more.
Atkins Building, Hinckley and Bosworth District, Thursday 24th Jan 10.30am to 12.30pm - call Robert Warwick on 01455 247070 to find out more.
Lubenham Village Hall, Harborough District - Wednesday 6th Feb 2pm to 4pm - call Len Bale on 01858 462440 to find out more.
Planning for your future – thinking about what things might help you as you get older
Residents of Leicestershire are being asked for their views on planning for the future, thinking about what their needs might be. Communities in Partnership would like to find out how older people can be encouraged to plan for the future, what barriers may be faced in doing so, and how to support older people in the community for as long as possible.
Get Involved
They will be visiting various groups and meetings throughout December and January. If you would like them to come to your group or would just like to be involved, please contact Harvey on 0116 229 3019.
To keep informed of all future engagement activity affecting you and those around you, join the Communities in Partnership Engagement Network now by calling 0116 234 1577 or email [email protected]
Free festive lunches & overnight stays for older people who would otherwise be alone over Christmas
Charitable organisation, Abbeyfield, runs a campaign called Companionship at Christmas, which provides free festive lunches and overnight stays to older people who would otherwise be alone during the Christmas period.
For the third year running, Abbeyfield is inviting older people who might otherwise be alone over Christmas, to spend time at an Abbeyfield house or care home for a free festive dinner or even an overnight stay - giving older people an alternative to spending the period alone throughout the holidays (24th December - 4th January).
This year over 100 houses and care homes are participating in the campaign with more joining the campaign on a daily basis. You can register your interest now if you or someone you know could benefit from companionship at Christmas. Simply click here to register.
In Leicestershire, Abbeyfield's Holloway House, 35 Sutton Close, Quorn, LE12 8GA is taking part.
The only requirements are that you are:
Over 55
Alone over Christmas
Currently living independently
To learn more about the campaign you can watch Abbeyfield Patron, Geoffrey Palmer, talking about Companionship at Christmas Campaign in this exclusive Web TV Interview.
Winter Newsletter - hot off the press!
The winter edition of our newsletter should be with you very soon, whether you receive it via email or in the post.
In the meantime, you can read it right here online - including top tips for keeping warm this winter, a guide to Carers' Support Groups in the county and lots of news and events.
Feel free to let us know if you've got any comments about the newsletter or you'd like to contribute to it - we're always looking for articles, photos, poems, recipes or anything else you've got in mind.
We hope you enjoy reading this month's issue.
