News items from January 2014
Choose Better Campaign
The three clinical commissioning groups covering Leicester City, West Leicestershire and East Leicestershire and Rutland have launched a campaign encouraging the public to ‘Choose Better’ services for their needs.
The campaign aims to help patients choose the right service at the right time when they are unwell, making use of pharmacies, GP practices, NHS 111, urgent care centres, minor injury units and walk-in centres.
You can find out more at www.choosebetter.org.uk
As well as information on local health services, the website also includes a 'Find your nearest service' feature, where you simply type in your postcode to find your nearest service, such as a pharmacy.
Worried about paying your rent or mortgage? Shelter can help
One in 12 people in the East Midlands fear they won't be able to afford to pay the rent or mortgage at the end of this month. Yet many people in this situation feel too ashamed to ask for help.
Shelter is urging anyone in this situation to get in touch with them now, to avoid problems spiralling out of control.
You can find out more on Shelter's website at www.shelter.org.uk/advice or call Shelter's free telephone helpline on 0808 800 4444.
Free women-only cycling sessions
Women Today Cycling, a social cycling group for women, is offering free sessions to help you learn to ride or improve your cycling skills.
The sessions are held at The Elms (old British Legion), 8 Bushloe End, Wigston, LE18 2BA on Tuesdays, with sessions run throughout the day.
The group also offers sessions on different days at different venues, so it's well worth getting in touch with them.
To find out more call Susan Doram on 07963 159 667 or Maryam Amatullah on 07990 762 684 or email [email protected]
Click here to download a poster
FREE training for carers
Are you finding it hard to cope? Do you struggle to find enough hours in the day? Not sure where to go for updated information? Forget to look after your own health and wellbeing? Do you feel you are not being heard?
If so Caring with Confidence could help you!!
Caring with Confidence is offering FREE weekly training sessions for carers, starting on Monday 27th January 2014 from 10am to 12:30pm at The Kings Centre, 56 Bull Head Street, Wigston, Leicestershire, LE18 1PA.
There are seven sessions, each run for three hours a week on a Monday. You can pick and choose sessions but it's really important you come along to the first one please.
The sessions include:
Finding your Way: Welcome and help to look at what matters to you, your own strengths and experience and an introduction to other sessions.
Caring and Coping: Time and space to look at the emotions involved in caring and how to cope with stress more effectively.
Caring and Me: How to be fit for life and caring, together with discussion and planning around your own health and wellbeing.
Caring and Communicating: Uses real-life caring situations to help you get the best from communicating with professionals and service providers.
Caring Day-to-Day: Looks at the essentials of caring for someone day-to-day, from medication to emergencies at home.
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.
Caring and Managing Stress: Relaxation and how not to avoid it! Using simple techniques to incorporate in everyday life, which will help your health & wellbeing.
All sessions are FREE, and complementary refreshments are provided.
If you're interested in finding out more about the programme please get in touch with Ranjana at The Carers Centre on 0116 251 0999 or email [email protected]
New Year, New You
West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group is launching a month-long campaign in January promoting healthier living by supporting people who want to give up smoking, cut down on alcohol and lose weight as part of their New Year resolutions.
The New Year, New You campaign is launching on Wednesday 8 January, with a health bus touring West Leicestershire for a week offering advice and support to the public, as well as reaching out to people through social media and the Group's website during the whole of January.
The bus will be visiting the following locations:
Wednesday 8 January from 10.30am to 1pm at the Group's HQ on Woodgate in Loughborough, 1.30pm to 3pm at John Storer House in Ward's End, Loughborough and 3pm to 4.30pm at the Urgent Care Centre, Hospital Way, Loughborough
Thursday 9 January from 10am to 4pm at Tesco on Resolution Road, Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Friday 10 January from 10am to 4pm at Asda on Ashby Road, Coalville
Saturday 11 January from 10am to 4pm at Asda on Newtown Road, Nuneaton
Sunday 12 January from 10am to 1pm at the Urgent Care Centre, Hospital Way, Loughborough and 2pm to 4pm at Asda on Ashby Road, Coalville
Monday 13 January from 10am to 1pm at Asda on Barkby Thorpe Lane, Thurmaston and from 2pm to 4pm at Loughborough Market Place
To find out more call Catherine Armshaw on 07717 808 536 or email [email protected]
Do you sometimes feel you don’t have anybody to talk to?
Would you like to hear a friendly voice on the phone once a week and talk to someone who understands about caring?
The Carers Telephone Befriending Service is available throughout Leicestershire, run by experienced, trained volunteers, who understand the issues associated with caring.
One of our volunteers will ring you once a week to talk about anything you like - whether you fancy a light-hearted chat or a chance to 'get it all off your chest' - depending on what kind of a week you've had!
You don't have to wait in for a phone call either - if you're not at home, we'll simply try calling you the following week.
In a nutshell, the service is like having a supportive friend at the end of the phone - when it's convenient for you!
If you'd like to find out more please call Diane Claridge on 0845 689 9510 (calls charged at local rates from a landline).
Would you like to volunteer as a Telephone Befriender?
Please feel free to get in touch with Diane on the number above to find out more. We're always looking for volunteers and it's a very rewarding and worthwhile opportunity - you'll love it!
To find out more please download our Carers Telephone Befriending Service leaflet
