130 Colmore Row

Birmingham

B3 3AP (opposite the Council House)

Helpline 0121 675 8000

Reception 0121 675 8170

Monthly

OCTOBER 2011

Email helplinebirminghamcarerscentreorguk

Update

Coffee Coffee Coffee ampampamp

Chats Chats Chats

Information Information Information

Advice amp Advice amp Advice amp

Guidance Guidance Guidance

Guest Speakers Guest Speakers Guest Speakers

Dates (630-8pm) lsquoEnterprise Hubrsquo

Dates (11am-1pm) lsquoBirmingham Carers Centrersquo

Wedmdash21st September 2011 Theme lsquoGeneralrsquo

Wedmdash7th September 2011 Theme lsquoCommunity Hubrsquo

Day time Opportunities

Wedmdash19th October 2011 Theme lsquoGeneralrsquo

Wedmdash5th October 2011 Theme lsquoChildren amp Young Peoplersquo

and lsquoPersonal Assistantsrsquo (PArsquos)

Wedmdash16th November 2011 Theme lsquoGeneralrsquo

Wedmdash2nd November 2011 Theme lsquoTransitionrsquo

Wedmdash14th December 2011 Theme lsquoGeneralrsquo

Wedmdash7th December 2011 Theme lsquoHousing Care and Supportrsquo

No

te Th

e lsquoth

em

esrsquo a

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ot th

e o

nly

p

oin

t of c

on

ve

rsatio

n d

urin

g th

e se

ssion

s a

nd

ca

rers c

an

atte

nd

with

an

y

disc

ussio

n to

pic

s the

y w

ish

Enterprise Hub Bottetourt Road Weoley Castle

B29 5TE

For more information please

call Paul or Lynne

on 0121 442 2944

Carers lsquoInformation Sessionsrsquo Carers lsquoInformation Sessionsrsquo Carers lsquoInformation Sessionsrsquo withwithwith 1 to 1 1 to 1 1 to 1

amp amp amp Group Sessions Group Sessions

Group Sessions Peer Support Peer Support Peer Support

Birmingham Carers Centre can offer you advice and information on issues affecting you

as a carer Please drop in or ring our advisors on 0121 675 8000 between 10am and

445pm if you need any help or assistance

Could this be you

A client contacted the centre for assistance with Day Care provision for a relative from

Birmingham City Councilrsquos Adults and Communities Department The carer had been paying for

ldquoday carerdquo for their child for nearly 2 years This was at great cost to the main carer both

financially and emotionally After many assessments and re-assessments which also took a lot of

effort they were still unable to gain the extra provision that they so badly needed At this point

they contacted the Carers Centre After writing a lot of letters and making telephone calls on their

behalf the family have finally been awarded the extra care provision they needed and are

extremely happy with this outcome

CASE STUDY

How Can ReCOM Help You

Handsworth Carers Project

Opening Doors for Carers part of Birmingham and Solihull Crossroads provides professional information advice and guidance on learning and work opportunities whilst understanding your carer commitments This is a unique service for Carers in Birmingham

If you are thinking about returning to learning or work (paid or voluntary) please give us a call on 0121 675 1376 - we would love to hear from you or call into The Carers Centre 130 Colmore Row Birmingham B3 3AP on 0121 675 8000 and ask to speak to one of the Opening Doors Team Alternatively you can email infoopeningdoorsforcarersorguk

Opening Doors for Carers

At ReCOM we have built our training around volunteers who help people start to use the computers

in their own homes Clients include carers people with disabilities and elderly people who find it difficult to get out of their homes to learn new skills By learning to use a computer it helps people maintain control of their own shopping and banking keeping in touch with families or friends exploring hobbies and interests among many other areas Those we help are often people who

have never used a computer before and learning to use a computer often breaks down the isolation that many experience Learners tell us they appreciate the personalised approach

ReCOM also provides low-cost refurbished computers to individuals and families with disabilities and low incomes ReCOM relies on donated goods to make this happen

We are happy to talk through any questions you may have on 0121 765 5282 or email us at inforecomorguk

Are You Finding Your Stairs a Struggle As we all get older we all get a little less agile For some of us it is more of a problem than for others and our impaired mobility can really impact on our enjoyment of life

Patrick Stannah of Stannah Stairlifts says lsquoNobody likes the thought of leaving their own home and our stairlifts help people stay independent in their own home for longer Installing a stairlift can re-energise people and lets them devote their energies to more

rewarding activities such as playing with their grandchildren going for a short walk or enjoying some light gardeningrsquo

Stannah offers Age Concern Birmingham service users a 12 discount and will make a donation

for every stairlift sold under this scheme For more information please Age Concern Birmingham on 0121 262 3020 or Stannah on 0800 715346 and quote ref 135

Handsworth Carers will be providing a drop in service for a variety of services including Welfare Rights advice assistance with grant applications and form filling in

a variety of languages for the community Starting from the 19th September 2011 at

Handsworth Carers Project 113 Lozells Street Birmingham B19 2AP tel 0121 554 9360

helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphellip

After a huge response from carers who attended last year

Handsworth Carers Group would like to invite all carers to

BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS COACH TRIP on Saturday 22nd October 2011

Cost CarersOAP pound1800 Additional Family pound2000 Children pound1500 12 years and under Free complimentary refreshments will be served on the coach for all carers

Please book your seats early to avoid disappointment deposits of pound500 min required to secure your seat and final payments will be due by the 2nd week of October 2011

If you require further information please contact Elona Williams from Handsworth Carers Project on 0121 554-9360 (Office Hours) or 07833602086 If she is unavailable please leave

a message and she will get back to you Email Elona_williamsbirminghamgovuk

How Can ReCOM Help You

Handsworth Carers Project

Opening Doors for Carers part of Birmingham and Solihull Crossroads provides professional information advice and guidance on learning and work opportunities whilst understanding your carer commitments This is a unique service for Carers in Birmingham

If you are thinking about returning to learning or work (paid or voluntary) please give us a call on 0121 675 1376 - we would love to hear from you or call into The Carers Centre 130 Colmore Row Birmingham B3 3AP on 0121 675 8000 and ask to speak to one of the Opening Doors Team Alternatively you can email infoopeningdoorsforcarersorguk

Opening Doors for Carers

At ReCOM we have built our training around volunteers who help people start to use the computers

in their own homes Clients include carers people with disabilities and elderly people who find it difficult to get out of their homes to learn new skills By learning to use a computer it helps people maintain control of their own shopping and banking keeping in touch with families or friends exploring hobbies and interests among many other areas Those we help are often people who

have never used a computer before and learning to use a computer often breaks down the isolation that many experience Learners tell us they appreciate the personalised approach

ReCOM also provides low-cost refurbished computers to individuals and families with disabilities and low incomes ReCOM relies on donated goods to make this happen

We are happy to talk through any questions you may have on 0121 765 5282 or email us at inforecomorguk

Are You Finding Your Stairs a Struggle As we all get older we all get a little less agile For some of us it is more of a problem than for others and our impaired mobility can really impact on our enjoyment of life

Patrick Stannah of Stannah Stairlifts says lsquoNobody likes the thought of leaving their own home and our stairlifts help people stay independent in their own home for longer Installing a stairlift can re-energise people and lets them devote their energies to more

rewarding activities such as playing with their grandchildren going for a short walk or enjoying some light gardeningrsquo

Stannah offers Age Concern Birmingham service users a 12 discount and will make a donation

for every stairlift sold under this scheme For more information please Age Concern Birmingham on 0121 262 3020 or Stannah on 0800 715346 and quote ref 135

Handsworth Carers will be providing a drop in service for a variety of services including Welfare Rights advice assistance with grant applications and form filling in

a variety of languages for the community Starting from the 19th September 2011 at

Handsworth Carers Project 113 Lozells Street Birmingham B19 2AP tel 0121 554 9360

helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphelliphelliphelliphellip helliphelliphellip

After a huge response from carers who attended last year

Handsworth Carers Group would like to invite all carers to

BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS COACH TRIP on Saturday 22nd October 2011

Cost CarersOAP pound1800 Additional Family pound2000 Children pound1500 12 years and under Free complimentary refreshments will be served on the coach for all carers

Please book your seats early to avoid disappointment deposits of pound500 min required to secure your seat and final payments will be due by the 2nd week of October 2011

If you require further information please contact Elona Williams from Handsworth Carers Project on 0121 554-9360 (Office Hours) or 07833602086 If she is unavailable please leave

a message and she will get back to you Email Elona_williamsbirminghamgovuk

Calling All Knitters

The Birmingham Carers Centre Volunteers are setting up their own knitting circle They want to knit baby clothes for premature babies at Birmingham Childrenrsquos Hospital so if you want to get involved and meet new friends please come along on the first Wednesday of the month 1-3pm

And if you canrsquot knit and you would like to learn someone will be able to help you

We are also looking for donations of wool especially baby wool for this project ndash any donations will be gratefully received

Ple

ase te

ar h

ere

Our Advice amp Information Officers will be holding an

ADVICE SESSIONS

at following locations

Amelia Allen at The Al- Shafa Medical Centre

Little Oaks Road Aston

on Friday 7th October 900am-1030am

(then every first Friday of the month)

Deborah Vatansever at Kingstanding Community

Practice Warren Farm Health Centre Warren

Farm Road Kingstanding

on Wednesday 12th October 900am-1200pm

This is an opportunity for people that live locally and cannot get into the Carers Centre to come along to see our Advisors

for help with benefits form filling or any other issues affecting you as a carer that they may be

able to speak with you about

Drop in or call the helpline to book an appointment

0121 675 8000

Birmingham Carers Centre is happy to announce TRIP TO BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM on 19th October 2011 to an event where experts will be available to tell you about any item you might bring in

We will leave from the centre at 1245pm (the event commences at 100pm) and will run to 300pm There is no charge for the trip

To express an interest in the trip please contact Mark Portlock on 0121 675 8170

Birmingham Shop Mobility

One of our carers Jean

suggested we include an

i n fo rma t i on sec t i on on

Birmingham Shopmobility in our

Newsletter as she has received

a lot of queries about this and

thinks this might be of use to many carers

Birmingham Shopmobility is a service to help anyone with mobility difficulties be it

temporary or more permanent and who wish to visit the lively and attractive city centre of

Birmingham for any of a number of different reasons to conduct

business enjoy its many visitor and cultural attractions or to shop

in the wide variety of retail outlets shops leisure and business

services Birmingham Shopmobility can do this by providing a hire

loan of an electric powered scooter an electric wheelchair or a

manual wheelchair to ease your walking difficulty They also sell

RADAR Keys that can be used to enter the Accessible Toilets

operated under the RADAR Scheme

TRIP TO ASTON HALL

Aston Hall is a magnificent 17th century red-brick mansion situated in a public

park on the north side of Birmingham The house still retains many early seventeenth century decorative features in stone plaster and wood

Price pound400pp to be paid in advance

(incl guided tour teacoffee amp transport

from Birmingham Carers Centre - meet

at Centre for 1100am to leave

expected return approx 230pm)

BOOKINGS WILL ONLY BE TAKEN FROM MONDAY 10TH OCTOBER 2011

Pls note that in Aston Hall there are approximately 80 stairs and some uneven surfaces Wheelchair users are welcome but wheelchair access is to ground floor only

Call 0121 675 8170 to register your

interest

Bullring Shopmobility

The Shopmobility Centre Level 2 Centre Car Park Bullring

Birmingham B5 4BU

Tel 0121 616 2942

Ple

ase t

ear

here

NOVEMBER 2011

Wednesday 2nd November

100pm ndash 300pm Knitting Circle

Tuesday 8th November

1030am ndash 1230pm

Indian Head Massage (fully booked ring to be put on reserve list)

Wednesday 9th November

1100am ndash 100pm

Yoga Session

(booking essential itrsquos recommended to bring your own mat)

Wednesday 16th November

1100am ndash 100pm Tai Chi

Thursday 17th November

1000am ndash 130pm

Solicitors Surgery (booking essential)

Thursday 17th November

1100am ndash 100pm Card Making Session

Thursday 17th November

200pm ndash 330pm Competition Corner

Friday 18th November

1100am ndash 100pm Chess Club

Tuesday 29th November

1100am ndash 100pm Arts amp Crafts

Wednesday 30th November

1100am ndash 100pm Extend exercises breathing and laughing therapy

Forthcoming events activities at the Carers Centre

OCTOBER 2011

Tuesday 4th October

1030am ndash 1230pm

Indian Head Massage (fully booked ring to be put on reserve list)

Wednesday 5th October

1100am ndash 100pm

Yoga Session

(booking essential itrsquos recommended to bring your own mat)

Wednesday 5th October

100pm ndash 300pm Knitting Circle

Wednesday 12th October

1100am ndash 100pm Tai Chi

Thursday 13th October

1000am ndash 130pm

Solicitors Surgery (booking essential)

Wednesday 19th October

1100am ndash 100pm

Yoga Session

(booking essential itrsquos recommended to bring your own mat)

Thursday 20th October

1100am ndash 100pm Card Making Session

Friday 21st October

1100am ndash 100pm Chess Club

Tuesday 25th October

1100am ndash 100pm Arts amp Crafts

Wednesday 26th October

1100am ndash 100pm Extend exercises breathing and laughing therapy

We are looking for volunteers to help us with our

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER MAIL OUT

on Thursday 27th October from 10am Come along meet with fellow volunteers have a laugh and a joke as you help us with this valuable task Lunch is provided for all that take part

Coffee Morning Support Group

Coffee Morning Support Groups are run by the Carers Centre staff and give Carers the opportunity to chat about any problems they are experiencing

Coffee Mornings are held on Mondays 1100am - 100pm