News items from May 2014
Summer newsletter hot off the press!
Our Summer newsletter includes details of our free Carers Summer Fest in celebration of national Carers Week, an update on our Carers’ Choirs project and a round up of Carers’ Support Groups we run around the county.
Free drop-in event - 12 June
Leicestershire County Council is holding a free drop-in event for carers and cared for who want to find out more about 'Keeping well, staying safe and independent in your own home'.
The event is on 12 June from 10.30am to 2.30pm at Oadby Library, 10 The Parade.
To find out more call 0116 305 8763.
“Carers Have Your Say” event - 19 June
Have you or the person you look after been discharged from hospital in the last 12 months?
Are you aware that Leicestershire County Council have two consultations going on at the moment that may affect the carers and adult prevention services you receive?
If you look after a member of your family or a friend and are interested in either or both of these topics then you are invited to attend Healthwatch Leicestershire's "Carers Have Your Say" event on Thursday 19th June from 9.30am to 12.30pm at County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8RA.
There will be representatives from:
• The University of Leicester Hospitals NHS Trust to talk to you about your experiences of discharge from hospital, either as a patient or as a carer
• Leicestershire County Council to explain the proposals around Carers Support Services and Prevention Services and to ask your opinions
If you would like to have your say and influence the people who make decisions about the services that you use then please book your place by registering here
To find out more email [email protected]
Events for Dementia Awareness Week 2014
The Alzheimer's Society is running two local events for Dementia Awareness Week 2014:
Monday 19th May from 10.30am to 3.30pm at Coalville Library, High Street, Coalville, LE67 3EA
Click here to view the event poster for more details
Thursday 22nd May from 10.30am to 3.30pm at Blaby Hotel, Enderby Road, Blaby, LE8 4GD
Click here to view the event poster for more details
The aim of both events is to raise awareness of dementia and how the Alzheimer's Society supports people affected by dementia.
Free training for carers
The Carers Centre Leicestershire and Rutland and Sayi Training & Consultancy are offering carers free training, to help you in your caring role.
You’re welcome to book any or all of the sessions below:
2nd June, 10am to 1pm
The Angel Hotel, 37 High Street, Market Harborough
Dealing with Stress – Learn how to identify and manage the stress in your life!
4th June, 10am to 1pm
The Marlene Reid Centre, 85 Belvoir Road, Coalville, LE67 3PH
Dealing with Stress – Learn how to identify and manage the stress in your life!
9th June, 10am to 1pm
The Angel Hotel, 37 High Street, Market Harborough
Getting Help – identify the help you need, find out who to contact and what to ask for!
11th June, 10am to 1pm
Snibston Discovery Centre, Ashby Road, Coalville, LE67 3LN
Getting Help – identify the help you need, find out who to contact and what to ask for!
16th June, 10am to 1pm
The Angel Hotel, 37 High Street, Market Harborough
Understanding Personalisation – find out how the social care system can work for you, and the choices that are available to you
18th June, 10am to 4pm
Salvation Army, Ladysmith Road, Leicester, LE18 4UZ
Safe Handling of Medication/Safer Moving and Handling – find out about the risks and responsibilities of handling medication, and protecting yourself from injuries.
18th June, 10am to 1pm
Snibston Discovery Centre, Ashby Road, Coalville, LE67 3LN
Understanding Personalisation – find out how the social care system can work for you, and the choices that are available to you
2nd July, 10am to 1pm
Gorse Covert Community Centre, Maxwell Drive, Loughborough, LE11 4RZ
Dealing with Stress – Learn how to identify and manage the stress in your life!
9th July, 10am to 1pm
Gorse Covert Community Centre, Maxwell Drive, Loughborough, LE11 4RZ
Getting Help – identify the help you need, find out who to contact and what to ask for!
16th July, 10am to 1pm
Gorse Covert Community Centre, Maxwell Drive, Loughborough, LE11 4RZ
Understanding Personalisation – find out how the social care system can work for you, and the choices that are available to you
16th July, 6pm to 9pm
Salvation Army, Ladysmith Road, Leicester, LE18 4UZ
Dealing with Stress – Learn how to identify and manage the stress in your life!
23rd July, 6pm to 9pm
Salvation Army, Ladysmith Road, Leicester, LE18 4UZ
Getting Help – identify the help you need, find out who to contact and what to ask for!
30th July, 6pm to 9pm
Salvation Army, Ladysmith Road, Leicester, LE18 4UZ
Understanding Personalisation – find out how the social care system can work for you, and the choices that are available to you
To find out more call Debbie on 0116 251 0999 or email [email protected]
Sing it from the rooftops!
Rehearsals for our Carers’ Choir project are well underway so why not join our singing carers for fun, uplifting choir sessions? Best of all, you don’t need any experience!
In April, we launched carers’ choirs in Hinckley and South Wigston. Each choir session is held on a fortnightly basis on a Tuesday afternoon.
Sessions are relaxed and light-hearted. We start with a full warm-up, then work on simple rounds and part songs before moving on to a variety of longer songs in harmony. Halfway through the session we have a break for refreshments and carers get chance to chat to each other.
The response to the choir sessions has been fantastic. One of our carers said:
“I really enjoy coming. Such lovely people and all carers we can relate with. I smile on my way here and smile all the way home. It helps me to keep going through the week I don’t come. It should be on prescription!”
Another choir member said:
“Please accept my sincere thanks for a super choir session today. I may warble, I may trill, but rest assured, with your tuition and gentle coaxing, I'm beginning to feel like me again!”
Most choir members have no previous experience of singing, just a willingness to learn.
Leicestershire Carers’ Choir Musical Leader, Alex Reffell, said:
“I’m delighted with how well the choir members are responding to the sessions. We’ve already been singing in three-part harmony and the groups are both creating a beautiful sound and are working well together and forming friendships.
The music is varied and carers have an input into styles of music they would like to sing. So far we have looked at rock, pop, show tunes and a bit of gospel music. Choir members are guided through the music step-by-step and also learn about vocal technique.”
One of our carers said:
“My first week was amazing. I couldn’t believe how much was achieved in two hours. I have no musical background but managed to understand the instructions and, at the same time, enjoyed the session.”
So, why not take the plunge and see why our carers are enjoying the sessions so much?
To find out more about the sessions, please call Alex Reffell on 0845 689 9510 or email [email protected]
Carers Spring Fest - evaluation
As many of you will know, we held our Carers Spring Fest on 25th April at the Bassett Centre in Wigston.
The event went very well with 39 people attending, including carers, cared for and representatives from different organisations who had information stands.
We had two guest speakers, Amanda Gilhespie, Specialist Discharge Nurse, who talked about what's involved in hospital discharge and Kim Westbury who talked about how to prevent fires in the home. We finished with chair based exercises from Nisha Popat.
Thank you again to all our guest speakers and stall holders.
From the evaluation forms, feedback showed that the overall majority attending found the Fest informative, fun and useful. Carers and cared for also appreciated having the opportunity to visit the stands, talk to stall holders and have information available to take away. All in all, everyone felt the event had met their expectations.
We also had lots of suggestions for future guest speakers including the Police, Social Services and Alzheimer’s Society.
The food for the event was kindly donated by Sainsbury’s (Market Harborough).
FREE Massage Teachathon - 15th May
Essentials for Health are holding a FREE Massage Teachathon on 15th May in Lougborough - to teach carers simple massage techniques with the aim of improving the quality of life of both carers and cared for.
Click here to download the event poster for full details
To book and for more information visit www.massageteachathon.com or call 0845 1080088
