News items from October 2013
The Carers Centre - free programme for carers
The Carers Centre is running a FREE programme for carers called Caring with Confidence from Friday 15 November, 10am to 12.30pm at The Kings Centre, 56 Bull Head Street, Wigston, Leicestershire, LE18 1PA.
The programme includes seven sessions and you're welcome to pick and choose from the list below, but it's really important you go along to the first one. If you'd like to go but would have problems getting along The Carers Centre can help you with transport and care costs.
The sessions include:
15 November: Finding your Way - welcome and introduction to the sessions
Help to look at what matters to you and how to recognise your own strengths and experience.
22 November: Caring and Coping
Gives you time and space to look at the emotions involved in looking after someone and how to cope with stress more effectively.
29 November: Caring and Me
How to be fit for life and caring. Discussion and planning around your own health and wellbeing.
6 December: Caring and Communicating
Uses real-life caring situations to help you get the best from communicating with professionals and service providers.
10 December: Caring Day-to-Day
Looks at the essentials of caring for someone day-to-day from medication to emergencies at home.
10 January: Caring and Life
Invites you to take time out and think about how you juggle competing demands and how your caring role fits with other aspects of your life.
17 January: Stress Management
Relaxation and how not to avoid it!! Using simple techniques to incorporate in everyday life, which will help your health and wellbeing.
All sessions are FREE, and complementary refreshments are provided.
If you're interested in finding out more about the programme please call Ranjana or Debbie at The Carers Centre on 0116 251 0999 or email [email protected]
Befriending Week Coffee Morning - 5th November
Come along to our coffee morning on Tuesday 5th November at the Methodist Church Youth Wing, Northampton Road, Market Harborough from 9.30am to 12 noon and help us celebrate national Befriending Week, which runs from 2 to 9 November.
We'll be promoting the good work that our volunteer Befrienders do for isolated people in the area and talking about our Befriending schemes.
We'll also be selling our booklet 'Bake for Befriending' which includes some favourite cake recipes sent in by our Befriending volunteers and the people they visit.
We hope to see you there!
More about Befriending Week
Befriending Week has two aims:
To raise awareness of the issue of loneliness in our society
To promote the great work of befriending services across the UK
Around the UK, thousands of volunteer befrienders support a huge range of people who, for one reason or another, are isolated and need somebody in their life just for themselves. Volunteer befrienders provide a listening ear, companionship, and encouragement to try new activities. For many, they mitigate the effect of loneliness, giving their 'befriendee' something to look forward to, and a new purpose to their life.
How our Befrienders are making a difference
"I look forward to him coming. We speak a lot, he's perfect. We really enjoy each other's company. I think the service is great and my Befriender is great. Thank you for picking him for me."
"I feel as though I have known my Befriender for years. Her calls always lift my spirits, she remembers the smallest details about my family life."
If you're interested in volunteering as a Befriender or you'd like to refer someone to our schemes please call Hilary Dunsmore on 01858 439269 or Diane Claridge on 0845 689 9510. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or [email protected]
Free education programme for mental health carers - starts 6th November
We run a free education programme for mental health carers in Leicestershire and Rutland. The programme is confidential and aims to help carers look after their own health and wellbeing whilst understanding more about mental illness and the support services available both locally and nationally. In addition, the programme is a chance for carers to get together and share experiences and help one another. Overall, we hope the programme will help carers to feel more confident and empowered and able to make positive changes in their caring role. Download our leaflet to find out more
Next programme
The next programme will start on 6th November and will run on Wednesday evenings from 6pm to 8.30pm at Gorse Covert Community Centre, Maxwell Drive, Loughborough for eight weeks.
If you'd like to find out more please call Nicky Daly, our Carers' Mental Health Support & Educational Officer, for an informal chat on 07847 228 737 (please leave a message if Nicky doesn't answer and she'll call you back as soon as she can) or email [email protected]
The programme is for anyone supporting someone with serious mental illness and aims to:
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Help you understand mental illness and health
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Find ways to look after your own wellbeing and health
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Feel empowered to make positive choices
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Help you learn new coping strategies
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Feel less isolated
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Access a support network
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Meet other carers supporting someone with mental illness
Carers’ Rights feature now online
One of our carers recently suggested we put information about Carers' Rights and legislation on our website.
We're pleased to announce the new section is now ready to view and includes useful links to Carers' Rights guides as well as updates on key policy developments, legislation and regulations in policy areas including benefits, health and social care services, employment and equality.
Click here to go to Legislation
Recent newsletters now available online
After several requests from carers, we've added a new feature to our website - Newsletters. In this section, you'll be able to see details of our recent newsletters and view and download them online.
We hope you find the new feature useful and please let us know if you'd like us to add more newsletters.
Click here to go to Newsletters
