News for Carers NewsFeb 2012 for Carers NewsMay 2011 for Carers May 2011 Welcome to 2012 ! Monika comes to us from a role at Crossroads Welcome to the May edition of News for Week but it’s not too late for you to say what North and Central London were she was WelcomeCarers.Welcome to the to theMay first edition newsletter of News from for Carers Weekit means but it’ sto not you too (see late www for you.carersweek.org/ to say what coordinating carers’ respite services. Carers.Kensington & Chelsea. it meanscarers/have-your-say). to you (see www .carersweek.org/You can, and do, make CARERS’ WEEK 13-19 JUNE 2011 carers/have-your-say).a difference. You can, and do, make CARERS’With the WEEK winter months13-19 JUNEfalling behind2011 us now a difference. we look towards Spring, with a hope that we A numberCarers of informative Kensington and celebratory & will see glorious weather coming our way. A numberevents areof informative being held and across celebratory the Royal In this edition of News for Carers, we will be eventsChelseaBorough are being to mark held Carers’ across W theeek. Royal For example, presenting focus articles on key services in the Boroughcome andto mark listen Carers’ to Imelda Week. Redmond, For example, the borough to support carers, courses that are comeCarersChief and Executive Kensingtonlisten to Imeldaof Carers& Chelsea Redmond, UK andwill beJeanthe running being run and where to go for help and advice. ChiefourDaintith, Executive usual Executive advice of Carers services Director UK at and forthe Housing, Jeanfollowing Daintith,locations:Health Executive and Adult Director Social Care, for Housing, Royal Borough In this edition we focus on a key service, Time Healthof Kensington and Adult Socialand Chelsea Care, Royalat Carers Borough for Me, how to get a Health Trainer and a of KensingtonKensington and& Chelsea’ Chelseas officialat Carers launch on new help with energy bills and money advice KensingtonKensingtonThursday &, Chelsea’16 T ownJune, Halls 1 official1am to launch 3pm, at on the service from Nucleus. ThursdayMondaySmall Hall, 1610am June,in Kensington- 12 1 1amnoon to 3pm,Town atHall the. Not SmallHorntononly Hall will Street,inrepresentatives Kensington London W8 Tfromown 7NX a Hall wide . 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HowWe would about likejust tocelebrating thank Madi yourself for all theand hard all weRedcliffe checksalso hope on Medical theto be day able Practiceto carers.to provide A tasty health buf fet How about just celebrating yourself and all youwork do and as supporta carer? she has given the project checksTlunchuesday on will the 2pm also day - be 4pmto on carers. offer. A tasty buffet youand do aswish a carer? her well in her new position. lunch10 Redclifwill alsofe be Street, on of Londonfer. SW10 9DT Yes, Carers’ Week (13-19 June 2011) is And if one day of pampering is not enough, Yes, Carers’ Week (13-19 June 2011) is almostWe would here. also The like biggest to say carers a big helloawareness- and AndPortlandhow if one about day Road a of treat pampering Practice at St Peter is not’s Church,enough, almost here. The biggest carers awareness- raisingwelcome week to Monika of the year Leszewska, this year who’s theme joined our howWKensington ednesdayabout a treat 2pmPark at St- Road 4pm Peter (opposite’s Church, Stanley raising week of the year, this year’s theme isteam The on True the Face 23rd ofof CarersJanuary – assimply an Information put, Kensington16Gardens), Portland Park W1 Road,1 Road 3DB London from(opposite W12pm1 4LA toStanley 4pm on is The True Face of Carers – simply put, theand reality Advice of W caringorker .in the UK in 2011. The Gardens),Tuesday W1, 141 June3DB from 2011 ?2pm Have to your4pm eyebrowson the reality of caring in the UK in 2011. The results of the national annual Carers’ Week Tuesdaythreaded,, 14 anJune express 2011? haircut Have youror manicure eyebrows or resultscarers’ of thesurvey national will be annual revealed Carers’ during Week Carers’ threaded, an express haircut or manicure or carers’ survey will be revealed during Carers’
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26859_Newsletter.indd29435_CarersNewsletter.indd 1 1 24/5/1116/2/12 13:38:5414:50:28 26859_Newsletter.indd 1 24/5/11 13:38:54 CNWL’s News from the Royal Borough Quality Priorities 2012 - 2013 Volunteer Centre Kensington & Chelsea – Events and Sports Olympic Legacy Programme
Many thanks to those who were able to attend Calling all Carers - would you like to be part of our Quality Priorities (QP) consultation event the Royal Borough’s Olympic Legacy? on the 24th March 2011 to develop our QP for 2012-13. The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is one of the official Olympic sporting We would like to invite you to a consultation venue hosts. We are looking to the Games workshop on 7 March to consider the following to inspire, change and to deliver a strong topics that we are focusing on this year. message of living life locally.
Access to services in a crisis We are looking for residents to volunteer in supporting organisations that are delivering Respect and involvment sporting activities and events in and around the borough.
Physical health As part of the legacy, volunteers could help facilitate sessions, organise events Carer involvement and promote these activities to their local community. This workshop will include a LINk member, service user / carer representative, lead This could be anything from supported commissioners and GPs as well as internal swimming to organising a street party for the stakeholders to discuss CNWL’s Quality Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. A Bikeathon is priorities for next year. planned for March and a Fashion Show on Portobello Road in September.
Date / Time All volunteers will have support from the Volunteer Centre throughout the programme Wednesday 7 March 2012 and training will be provided to include First 1.30pm - 5.00pm Aid, Health & Safety, Events Management and Customer Service. All volunteers will receive recognition of their participation. Venue : Bevan Room 1& 2 Trust HQ Stephenson House, Hampstead Short and longer term volunteering opportunities are also availble after the Road, London NW1 2PL Olympics.
If you need further information please contact If you have any questions, please do not the Volunteer Centre on 020 8960 3722 or hesitate to contact either Ela Pathak-Sen drop in: (Associate Director for Quality and Service Canalside House Improvement, [email protected]) or 383 Ladbroke Grove Matt Malherbe ([email protected]) London W10 5AA
or call Sharon Wilson on 020 8960 3722 or email: [email protected]
29435_CarersNewsletter.indd 2 16/2/12 14:50:28 Local Events Achievable A goal must be realistic. The best goals require us to stretch slightly to accomplish them but Get SMART with a Health Trainer in 2012 at the same time, they are not impossible to achieve. For example:
Every year many of us make health-related “If I start exercising regularly from New Year’s Resolutions and plan to take up tomorrow I will lose 3 kilograms in 3 to 4 new challenges and set new goals. This might weeks” include; wanting to exercise more, quitting smoking or eating more healthly. Unfortunately Realistic we often lose our motiviation and never A goal must be relevant to us and it must achieve what we set out to do. Why is this so? represent something that we are willing and able to work towards, if a goal seems worthy Frequently, our goals are not fulfilled because and meaningful to us it is more likely to be we do not formulate them correctly. One well achieveable. For example: know goal setting technique is the SMART goal approach. “I want to lose weight to help me feel good”
Setting goals according to this technique can Timed increase our chances of achieving what we We should set goals within a time frame. If we wish because it makes us think more about give ourselves a target date, a commitment to what we want to accomplish and how we a deadline will give us a sense of urgency and should go about it. It also allows us to clearly help us to focus our efforts on completion of see how we are doing, inspiring us to work the goal. For example: harder. “I will start exercising from tomorrow to SMART stands for Specific, Measureable, lose weight by 31st of March” Achievable, Realistic and Timed, consequently goals should be: Health Trainers
There are numerous, free services available Specific to improve our health and wellbeing, such The goals we set must be very clear to give us as Health Trainer Services. In Kensington & a clear picture of what we want to achieve. To Chelsea our Health trainers are local people make goals specific we should state exactly, who help others set and realise SMART goals. why it is important, where it is going to happen They can provide support and information and which requirements and constraints there around stopping smoking, increasing physical might be. For example: activity, eating more healthily, drinking sensibly or improving general wellbeing. Health Trainers “To look and feel better I will attend a local can also assist in finding a variety of local gym two evenings a week” services, projects and programmes for people of all ages.
Measurable For more information or to have your own It is important that the achievement of a Health Trainer in Kensington & Chelsea call goal can be measured to help us stay on 020 8962 5730 or email: track, reach target dates, and experience the statisfaction of achieving. For example: [email protected]
“I will lose 3 kilograms in 3 weeks”
29435_CarersNewsletter.indd 3 16/2/12 14:50:28 Kensington and Chelsea Link Time for Me North Kensington Cancer Wellbeing Day Time for Me North Kensington continues with Monday, 26 March 2012 regular Friday morning activities from 11am 3pm - 7pm 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 Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with TV in the interactive studios. See memorabilia cancer recently? Are you worried you might from shows like EastEnders and Dr Who. We have cancer, but are afraid to visit your GP, will contact you before the trip to confirm the or would you simply like information about arrangements. Cancer?
You are invited to the K&C Cancer Wellbeing 7th March Day. Silver Comedy Workshop Interactive comedy session hosted by Silver Venue : Kensington Town Hall (Small Hall) Comedy. The workshop will start with some participative comedy games and you will then What is the event for? help to create an improvised comedy drama. To provide people living with and associated The session will be run by two professional with cancer, information to help improve and stand up comedians and an experienced support their quality of life and their physical comedy facilitator. and mental wellbeing. 9th March What will be there? Chair exercise / dance / pilates with Shiralee Cancer information stalls, skin and hair care Wakeham stalls, therapies, financial advice stalls, guest speakers, workshops, nurses and therapists 15th March and so much more. Trip to Kensington Palace
Guest Speaker : Mark Davies author of “Saving 16th March my arse” Quiz : who wants to be a millionaire with Swati Shah The event is free and light refreshments will be provided on the day. 23rd March Trip to Vitality show at Earls Court For more information about the event visit (advanced booking required) www.rbkclink.org or call on 020 8968 7049 The UK’s largest health, beauty, fitness and wellbeing show. We will contact you before the trip to confirm the arrangements.
29435_CarersNewsletter.indd 4 16/2/12 14:50:28 Age UK Kensington & Chelsea Focus on a local service Carers Group 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 In the six months since the group began, we ago covering the whole of the borough and have seen attendance gradually increase and now, in order to reach as many carers as now look forward to seeing familiar faces each possible has two centres, one in the North month, and continue to respond to group sug- and one in the South of Kensington and gestions for topics to cover. Chelsea. Both have developed programmes for carers that make it possible for them to In order to make information equally accessi- take time out, relax, feel less isolated, make ble to all our carers, from January 2012 we will new friends and have some fun. cover the same topic at meetings in both the north and south of the borough. The project supports carers in issues that affect their lives and puts them in touch In response to member requests, we will focus with services which can help them. They on Tax issues for older people in March and are involved in deciding what activities take April, and continue to have someone from our place and are always asked for their thoughts Information & Advice team joining us to help about what worked and what didn’t. with any other matters arising. Please let us know if there is any special subject you want The number of carers taking part has grown to know more about and cover at our meet- significantly over the years, but we are only ings. As always, we will have time for tea, too aware of and working hard to attract coffee and a chat! 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 St Peter’s Church be shared, can be improved, can be better. In the words of a carer: Tax for older people Wednesday 28th March 2.00-4.00pm “I found myself and got my life back” Lighthouse, Lancaster Road Tax for older people Yes we are sitting in a shell ! Tuesday 24th April 2.00-4.00pm
Wednesday 30th May 2.00-4.00pm To Be Confirmed
Tuesday 26th June 2.00-4.00pm To be Confirmed.
Some of the carers from Time for Me South If you have any further questions, please Kensington & Chelsea on a summer visit to call Carole or Christina on 020 8960 8137 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!
29435_CarersNewsletter.indd 5 16/2/12 14:50:29 We were here to celebrate the 400th And now some of the activities carers have birthday year of Hatfield House enjoyed...... 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 Lost in the Hannah Peschar Sculpture spendidly decorated for the Royal Court. Whilst Gardens. talking to the guide we also heard much gossip and scandal surrounding the Lords and Ladies of the Tudor times! 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.
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. 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 ! 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
29435_CarersNewsletter.indd 6 16/2/12 14:50:34 Your Home, Keeping Fit and Healthy, how Carers money section to get Respite Care.
One of the major issues all the projects help with is a carers sense of being on their own, Help with Energy bills and managing and the feeling that there is no one out there money they can share their troubles with.
Through Time for Me they can find support Thousands of low-income households who they didn’t know existed, people who have fuel debts are missing out on a range of actually do know how they feel. They make energy initiatives available. friends and stay in touch after activities finish, they feel less alone. Some have gone Increases in unemployment, government aus- on to develop new talents and interests terity measures including benefitcaps coupled like painting and opera. They also gain the with soaring fuel prices are causing many knowledge that they have the right to a life of families to fall into debt. Between 2009/10 and their own. Again in the words of a carer: 2012/13 household incomes are predicted to fall by a further 7%, while the average annual “Time for Me has given me the fuel bill is said to rise to above £1,300. confidence, that I should be independent. It’s not only the person that I care for who Nucleus has a new worker to help people: should be independent, but me, the carer also. It requires a lot of courage to leave my husband in someone else’s hands and Better understand their bills that I should not feel guilty. Without Time for Me I would be feeling so guilty about Save money by budgeting having time on my own” Apply for grants to help clear arrears
If you or any carer you know of would like to know more about any of the Time for Me The new caseworker, Bernadette, works in an projects you can contact established team of money advisers who can help you to maximise your income, reduce your outgoings and take control of your debts. Judy Graham [TfM SK&C] at New Horizons on 020 7590 8970. 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. Liz Butters [TfM N Ken] at Open Age on 020 8964 1900 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 [TfM Westminster] also at Open Age on 020 through advice. 8964 1900. 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
29435_CarersNewsletter.indd 7 16/2/12 14:50:34 Local Advice The Kensington and Chelsea Citizens Advice Bureau offers practical up-to-date information and advice on a wide range of Carers Kensington and Chelsea provides topics, including debt, benefits, housing, an advice and information service for unpaid discrimination, employment, immigration and carers, to gain support and information.You can consumer problems. Offices are based at 140 attend one of our advice sessions detailed on Ladbroke Grove, W10, and at the Old Town the front cover or below is a listing of some of Hall, Kings Road, SW3. You can contact the the advice providers in Kensington & Chelsea. CAB on 0844 826 9708. For further information about advice sessions and telephone advice The World’s End Neighbourhood Advice line times, please go to Centre can be found at 2 World’s End Place, World’s End Estate, SW10. The centre offers www.citizensadvice.org.uk/kensingtoncab. a drop-in service for quick queries, office appointments, home visits and phone advice The Nucleus Legal Advice Centre, based at (tel: 020 7351 5749). Areas covered include a 298 Old Brompton Road, SW5, provides free specialised welfare benefits service and advice legal advice, assistance and representation in to tenants and owner-occupiers on rent or the Royal Borough, in particular in the Earl’s mortgage arrears, possession proceedings, Court area. The main areas covered are debt, eviction, repairs, homelessness and transfers. housing and welfare benefit issues.Advice Further information can be found at the website sessions are held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and there is also an Advice Line www.wenac.org.uk. (tel: 020 7373 4005) and Housing Line (tel: 020 7373 6262). Further information can also Age UK Kensington and Chelsea offers be found at information and advice services to older people (55 plus), their family, carers and www.nucleus.org.uk. helpers. Areas covered include welfare benefits, care needs, health and disabilities, debt and housing. The services include drop- Details of events and information for carers can ins, appointments, telephone advice, outreach also be found at the Royal Borough’s carers’ and a home visit service. Information is also pages available from the Wayfinders Service. For more information, telephone www.rbkc.gov.uk/healthandsocialcare/ peoplefirst/newcarers.aspx. 020 8969 9105 or go to www.ageuk.org.uk/ kensingtonandchelsea/Information-advice. Carers Kensington & Chelsea is a project run by Carers UK. Carers UK The North Kensington Law Centre provides is a charity registered in England and a free and independent specialist legal service Wales (246329) and a company limited in the areas of education, employment and by guarantee registered in England discrimination, housing, immigration and and Wales (864097). Registered office welfare benefits.The centre is open Monday is 20 Great Dover Street, London SE1 to Friday, 10.00am-5.00pm at 4LX. www.carersuk.org. Carers UK © (February 2012). The information in this 74 Golborne Road, W10 (tel: 020 8969 7473). newsletter is for guidance only and is not an authoritative statement of the law. The information is correct as of February 2012.
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