news for carers · 2012. 3. 12. · you do as a carer? yes, carers’ week (13-19 june 2011) is...

News for Carers May 2011

Welcome to the May edition of News for Carers.

CARERS’ WEEK 13-19 JUNE 2011

Week but it’s not too late for you to say what it means to you (see www.carersweek.org/carers/have-your-say). You can, and do, make a difference.

A number of informative and celebratory events are being held across the Royal Borough to mark Carers’ Week. For example, come and listen to Imelda Redmond, the Chief Executive of Carers UK and Jean Daintith, Executive Director for Housing, Health and Adult Social Care, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea at Carers Kensington & Chelsea’s official launch on Thursday, 16 June, 11am to 3pm, at the Small Hall in Kensington Town Hall. Not only will representatives from a wide variety of borough-based, statutory and carer-related organisations be on hand to provide information and advice, but your own hands, neck and shoulders could benefit too! There will be free pampering sessions on offer and we also hope to be able to provide health checks on the day to carers. A tasty buffet lunch will also be on offer.

And if one day of pampering is not enough, how about a treat at St Peter’s Church, Kensington Park Road (opposite Stanley Gardens), W11 3DB from 2pm to 4pm on Tuesday, 14 June 2011? Have your eyebrows threaded, an express haircut or manicure or

Feeling down now all those bank holidays are behind us? Fancy some pampering until the summery weather makes a reappearance? How about just celebrating yourself and all you do as a carer?

Yes, Carers’ Week (13-19 June 2011) is almost here. The biggest carers awareness-raising week of the year, this year’s theme is The True Face of Carers – simply put, the reality of caring in the UK in 2011. The results of the national annual Carers’ Week carers’ survey will be revealed during Carers’

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News for Carers May 2011

Welcome to the May edition of News for Carers.

CARERS’ WEEK 13-19 JUNE 2011

Week but it’s not too late for you to say what it means to you (see www.carersweek.org/carers/have-your-say). You can, and do, make a difference.

A number of informative and celebratory events are being held across the Royal Borough to mark Carers’ Week. For example, come and listen to Imelda Redmond, the Chief Executive of Carers UK and Jean Daintith, Executive Director for Housing, Health and Adult Social Care, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea at Carers Kensington & Chelsea’s official launch on Thursday, 16 June, 11am to 3pm, at the Small Hall in Kensington Town Hall. Not only will representatives from a wide variety of borough-based, statutory and carer-related organisations be on hand to provide information and advice, but your own hands, neck and shoulders could benefit too! There will be free pampering sessions on offer and we also hope to be able to provide health checks on the day to carers. A tasty buffet lunch will also be on offer.

And if one day of pampering is not enough, how about a treat at St Peter’s Church, Kensington Park Road (opposite Stanley Gardens), W11 3DB from 2pm to 4pm on Tuesday, 14 June 2011? Have your eyebrows threaded, an express haircut or manicure or

Feeling down now all those bank holidays are behind us? Fancy some pampering until the summery weather makes a reappearance? How about just celebrating yourself and all you do as a carer?

Yes, Carers’ Week (13-19 June 2011) is almost here. The biggest carers awareness-raising week of the year, this year’s theme is The True Face of Carers – simply put, the reality of caring in the UK in 2011. The results of the national annual Carers’ Week carers’ survey will be revealed during Carers’

CARERS UKthe voice of carers

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News for CarersFeb 2012

Welcome to 2012 ! Welcome to the first newsletter from Carers Kensington & Chelsea.

With the winter months falling behind us now we look towards Spring, with a hope that we will see glorious weather coming our way. In this edition of News for Carers, we will be presenting focus articles on key services in the borough to support carers, courses that are being run and where to go for help and advice.

In this edition we focus on a key service, Time for Me, how to get a Health Trainer and a new help with energy bills and money advice service from Nucleus.

Staffing update :

Over Christmas we said goodbye to Madi Gilkes, our Development and Information Officer.

We would like to thank Madi for all the hard work and support she has given the project and wish her well in her new position.

We would also like to say a big hello and welcome to Monika Leszewska who joined our team on the 23rd of January as an Information and Advice Worker.

Monika comes to us from a role at Crossroads North and Central London were she was coordinating carers’ respite services.

Carers Kensington & Chelsea Carers Kensington & Chelsea will be running our usual advice services at the following locations:

Kensington Town Hall Monday 10am - 12 noon Hornton Street, London W8 7NX

Chelsea Theatre Monday 2pm - 4pm Chelsea Theatre, World’s Ends Place, King’s Road, London SW10 0DR

Redcliffe Medical Practice Tuesday 2pm - 4pm 10 Redcliffe Street, London SW10 9DT

Portland Road Practice Wednesday 2pm - 4pm 16 Portland Road, London W11 4LA

CARERS UK the voice of carers

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CNWL’s Quality Priorities 2012 - 2013

Many thanks to those who were able to attend our Quality Priorities (QP) consultation event on the 24th March 2011 to develop our QP for 2012-13.

We would like to invite you to a consultation workshop on 7 March to consider the following topics that we are focusing on this year.

Access to services in a crisis

Respect and involvment

Physical health

Carer involvement

This workshop will include a LINk member, service user / carer representative, lead commissioners and GPs as well as internal stakeholders to discuss CNWL’s Quality priorities for next year.

Date / Time

Wednesday 7 March 2012 1.30pm - 5.00pm

Venue : Bevan Room 1& 2 Trust HQ Stephenson House, Hampstead Road, London NW1 2PL

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact either Ela Pathak-Sen (Associate Director for Quality and Service Improvement, [email protected]) or Matt Malherbe ([email protected])

News from the Royal Borough

Volunteer Centre Kensington & Chelsea – Events and Sports Olympic Legacy Programme

Calling all Carers - would you like to be part of the Royal Borough’s Olympic Legacy?

The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is one of the official Olympic sporting venue hosts. We are looking to the Games to inspire, change and to deliver a strong message of living life locally.

We are looking for residents to volunteer in supporting organisations that are delivering sporting activities and events in and around the borough.

As part of the legacy, volunteers could help facilitate sessions, organise events and promote these activities to their local community.

This could be anything from supported swimming to organising a street party for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. A Bikeathon is planned for March and a Fashion Show on Portobello Road in September.

All volunteers will have support from the Volunteer Centre throughout the programme and training will be provided to include First Aid, Health & Safety, Events Management and Customer Service. All volunteers will receive recognition of their participation.

Short and longer term volunteering opportunities are also availble after the Olympics.

If you need further information please contact the Volunteer Centre on 020 8960 3722 or drop in: Canalside House 383 Ladbroke Grove London W10 5AA

or call Sharon Wilson on 020 8960 3722 or email: [email protected]


Local Events

Get SMART with a Health Trainer in 2012

Every year many of us make health-related New Year’s Resolutions and plan to take up new challenges and set new goals. This might include; wanting to exercise more, quitting smoking or eating more healthly. Unfortunately we often lose our motiviation and never achieve what we set out to do. Why is this so?

Frequently, our goals are not fulfilled because we do not formulate them correctly. One well know goal setting technique is the SMART goal approach.

Setting goals according to this technique can increase our chances of achieving what we wish because it makes us think more about what we want to accomplish and how we should go about it. It also allows us to clearly see how we are doing, inspiring us to work harder.

SMART stands for Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic and Timed, consequently goals should be:

SpecificThe goals we set must be very clear to give us a clear picture of what we want to achieve. To make goals specific we should state exactly, why it is important, where it is going to happen and which requirements and constraints there might be. For example:

“To look and feel better I will attend a local gym two evenings a week”

Measurable It is important that the achievement of a goal can be measured to help us stay on track, reach target dates, and experience the statisfaction of achieving. For example:

“I will lose 3 kilograms in 3 weeks”

Achievable A goal must be realistic. The best goals require us to stretch slightly to accomplish them but at the same time, they are not impossible to achieve. For example:

“If I start exercising regularly from tomorrow I will lose 3 kilograms in 3 to 4 weeks”

Realistic A goal must be relevant to us and it must represent something that we are willing and able to work towards, if a goal seems worthy and meaningful to us it is more likely to be achieveable. For example:

“I want to lose weight to help me feel good”

Timed We should set goals within a time frame. If we give ourselves a target date, a commitment to a deadline will give us a sense of urgency and help us to focus our efforts on completion of the goal. For example:

“I will start exercising from tomorrow to lose weight by 31st of March”

Health Trainers

There are numerous, free services available to improve our health and wellbeing, such as Health Trainer Services. In Kensington & Chelsea our Health trainers are local people who help others set and realise SMART goals. They can provide support and information around stopping smoking, increasing physical activity, eating more healthily, drinking sensibly or improving general wellbeing. Health Trainers can also assist in finding a variety of local services, projects and programmes for people of all ages.

For more information or to have your own Health Trainer in Kensington & Chelsea call 020 8962 5730 or email:

[email protected]


Kensington and Chelsea Link Cancer Wellbeing Day

Monday, 26 March 2012 3pm - 7pm

Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with cancer recently? Are you worried you might have cancer, but are afraid to visit your GP, or would you simply like information about Cancer?

You are invited to the K&C Cancer Wellbeing Day.

Venue : Kensington Town Hall (Small Hall)

What is the event for?To provide people living with and associated with cancer, information to help improve and support their quality of life and their physical and mental wellbeing.

What will be there?Cancer information stalls, skin and hair care stalls, therapies, financial advice stalls, guest speakers, workshops, nurses and therapists and so much more.

Guest Speaker : Mark Davies author of “Saving my arse”

The event is free and light refreshments will be provided on the day.

For more information about the event visit www.rbkclink.org or call on 020 8968 7049

Time for Me North Kensington

Time for Me North Kensington continues with regular Friday morning activities from 11am to 1pm at the Positive Age Centre. A diverse programme of fun and interesting activities and trips has again been planned, based on participants’ requests.

2nd March Trip to BBC Television Centre ( advanced booking required ) A behind the scenes guided one and a half to two hours tour of the BBC Television Centre. Visit the Newsroom, studios, dressing rooms and green rooms, and make some of your own TV in the interactive studios. See memorabilia from shows like EastEnders and Dr Who. We will contact you before the trip to confirm the arrangements.

7th March Silver Comedy Workshop Interactive comedy session hosted by Silver Comedy. The workshop will start with some participative comedy games and you will then help to create an improvised comedy drama. The session will be run by two professional stand up comedians and an experienced comedy facilitator.

9th March Chair exercise / dance / pilates with Shiralee Wakeham

15th March Trip to Kensington Palace

16th March Quiz : who wants to be a millionaire with Swati Shah

23rd March Trip to Vitality show at Earls Court (advanced booking required) The UK’s largest health, beauty, fitness and wellbeing show. We will contact you before the trip to confirm the arrangements.


Age UK Kensington & Chelsea Carers Group

In the six months since the group began, we have seen attendance gradually increase and now look forward to seeing familiar faces each month, and continue to respond to group sug-gestions for topics to cover.

In order to make information equally accessi-ble to all our carers, from January 2012 we will cover the same topic at meetings in both the north and south of the borough.

In response to member requests, we will focus on Tax issues for older people in March and April, and continue to have someone from our Information & Advice team joining us to help with any other matters arising. Please let us know if there is any special subject you want to know more about and cover at our meet-ings. As always, we will have time for tea, coffee and a chat!

St Peter’s Church

Tax for older people Wednesday 28th March 2.00-4.00pm

Lighthouse, Lancaster Road Tax for older people Tuesday 24th April 2.00-4.00pm

Wednesday 30th May To Be Confirmed

2.00-4.00pm

Tuesday 26th June To be Confirmed.

2.00-4.00pm

If you have any further questions, please call Carole or Christina on 020 8960 8137

Focus on a local service Time for Me is a borough-wide leisure and activities project for unpaid carers who are 50+ and resident in Kensington and Chelsea. It was created by Open Age nearly 4 years ago covering the whole of the borough and now, in order to reach as many carers as possible has two centres, one in the North and one in the South of Kensington and Chelsea. Both have developed programmes for carers that make it possible for them to take time out, relax, feel less isolated, make new friends and have some fun.

The project supports carers in issues that affect their lives and puts them in touch with services which can help them. They are involved in deciding what activities take place and are always asked for their thoughts about what worked and what didn’t.

The number of carers taking part has grown significantly over the years, but we are only too aware of and working hard to attract those who may have not heard of Time for Me or don’t even recognise themselves as being a carer. Life can change, problems can be shared, can be improved, can be better. In the words of a carer:

“I found myself and got my life back”

Yes we are sitting in a shell !

Some of the carers from Time for Me South Kensington & Chelsea on a summer visit to Strawberry Hill House where they had a good day out finding fun, support and friendship away from their caring roles. And yes it was summer despite the boots and coats!


And now some of the activities carers have enjoyed.......

Lost in the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Gardens.

This was a wonderful day out finding peace and tranquility in a beautiful garden, full of stunning plants and sculptures. It really was an opportunity to take some time out and relax.

The proud artists with their work.

Through our good friends at Historic Royal Palaces carers spent a day at Kew Palace designing and making copper flowers which now adorn a new Temple of the Imagination in Kew Gardens. It’s worth a trip to see how well they have done !

We were here to celebrate the 400th birthday year of Hatfield House

It actually was a hot day, hence the shorts, ‘T’ shirts and bottles of water! We went by minibus to the home of the Earls of Salisbury which was spendidly decorated for the Royal Court. Whilst talking to the guide we also heard much gossip and scandal surrounding the Lords and Ladies of the Tudor times!

We really did have to wrap up warm for our visit to the Olympic Park site.

We had a Blue Badge Guide to show us how the site was progessing and who gave us a sense of excitement as the big event is getting ever closer.

Each Time for Me has its own programme. In South Kensington & Chelsea activities have included a tour of the Houses of Parliament, paddling in Eastbourne and Brighton, International Ballroom Dancing Championships, opera in Holland Park, musical evenings at the Royal Albert Hall, Festival Hall and St Martin in the Fields, Big Flower Shows, celebratory meals out, gallery visits, river boat trips, special events for Carers Week, and much more. Also sessions carers might find helpful such as First Aid, What is Stroke, Care, K&C Services for people with Mental Health Needs and Counselling specifically for carers, Diet and Nutrition, Carers Rights Day, Pampering Therapies, Digital Photography, Staying Safe in


Your Home, Keeping Fit and Healthy, how to get Respite Care.

One of the major issues all the projects help with is a carers sense of being on their own, and the feeling that there is no one out there they can share their troubles with.

Through Time for Me they can find support they didn’t know existed, people who actually do know how they feel. They make friends and stay in touch after activities finish, they feel less alone. Some have gone on to develop new talents and interests like painting and opera. They also gain the knowledge that they have the right to a life of their own. Again in the words of a carer:

“Time for Me has given me the confidence, that I should be independent. It’s not only the person that I care for who should be independent, but me, the carer also. It requires a lot of courage to leave my husband in someone else’s hands and that I should not feel guilty. Without Time for Me I would be feeling so guilty about having time on my own”

If you or any carer you know of would like to know more about any of the Time for Me projects you can contact

Judy Graham [TfM SK&C] at New Horizons on 020 7590 8970.

Liz Butters [TfM N Ken] at Open Age on 020 8964 1900

[TfM Westminster] also at Open Age on 020 8964 1900.

Carers money section

Help with Energy bills and managing money

Thousands of low-income households who have fuel debts are missing out on a range of energy initiatives available.

Increases in unemployment, government aus-terity measures including benefit caps coupled with soaring fuel prices are causing many families to fall into debt. Between 2009/10 and 2012/13 household incomes are predicted to fall by a further 7%, while the average annual fuel bill is said to rise to above £1,300.

Nucleus has a new worker to help people:

Better understand their bills

Save money by budgeting

Apply for grants to help clear arrears

The new caseworker, Bernadette, works in an established team of money advisers who can help you to maximise your income, reduce your outgoings and take control of your debts.

They are able to provide all the help you need to take control or even start again by applying for a Debt relief order or Bankruptcy.

Nucleus has been helping local people for nearly 40 years. It is an independent charity which works with local trusts, the local coun-cil and community groups to enable people through advice.

Over the last year Nucleus managed to bring in an additional £4 million in benefits, grants and debt write offs to the people it supported.

For more information and to access the service call 020 7373 2102


Local Advice

Carers Kensington and Chelsea provides an advice and information service for unpaid carers, to gain support and information.You can attend one of our advice sessions detailed on the front cover or below is a listing of some of the advice providers in Kensington & Chelsea.

The World’s End Neighbourhood Advice Centre can be found at 2 World’s End Place, World’s End Estate, SW10. The centre offers a drop-in service for quick queries, office appointments, home visits and phone advice (tel: 020 7351 5749). Areas covered include a specialised welfare benefits service and advice to tenants and owner-occupiers on rent or mortgage arrears, possession proceedings, eviction, repairs, homelessness and transfers. Further information can be found at the website

www.wenac.org.uk.

Age UK Kensington and Chelsea offers information and advice services to older people (55 plus), their family, carers and helpers. Areas covered include welfare benefits, care needs, health and disabilities, debt and housing. The services include drop-ins, appointments, telephone advice, outreach and a home visit service. Information is also available from the Wayfinders Service. For more information, telephone

020 8969 9105 or go to www.ageuk.org.uk/ kensingtonandchelsea/Information-advice.

The North Kensington Law Centre provides a free and independent specialist legal service in the areas of education, employment and discrimination, housing, immigration and welfare benefits. The centre is open Monday to Friday, 10.00am-5.00pm at

74 Golborne Road, W10 (tel: 020 8969 7473).

The Kensington and Chelsea Citizens Advice Bureau offers practical up-to-date information and advice on a wide range of topics, including debt, benefits, housing, discrimination, employment, immigration and consumer problems. Offices are based at 140 Ladbroke Grove, W10, and at the Old Town Hall, Kings Road, SW3. You can contact the CAB on 0844 826 9708. For further information about advice sessions and telephone advice line times, please go to

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/kensingtoncab.

The Nucleus Legal Advice Centre, based at 298 Old Brompton Road, SW5, provides free legal advice, assistance and representation in the Royal Borough, in particular in the Earl’s Court area. The main areas covered are debt, housing and welfare benefit issues. Advice sessions are held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and there is also an Advice Line (tel: 020 7373 4005) and Housing Line (tel: 020 7373 6262). Further information can also be found at

www.nucleus.org.uk.

Details of events and information for carers can also be found at the Royal Borough’s carers’ pages

www.rbkc.gov.uk/healthandsocialcare/ peoplefirst/newcarers.aspx.

Carers Kensington & Chelsea is a project run by Carers UK. Carers UK is a charity registered in England and Wales (246329) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (864097). Registered office is 20 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4LX. www.carersuk.org. Carers UK © (February 2012). The information in this newsletter is for guidance only and is not an authoritative statement of the law. The information is correct as of February 2012.

news for carers · 2012. 3. 12. · you do as a carer? yes, carers’ week (13-19 june 2011) is...

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