FREE Issue 2 of 3, 2019 Carers Magazine You are a Carer if you look after a friend or family member who can not manage on their own because they have an illness, poor health, disability, mental health issue or an addiction Getting to know Gofalwyr Ceredigion Carers – pg. 4 Meet your Community Connectors – pg. 8 Information for Parent Carers – pg. 12 Young Carer news – pg. 14 And lots more…. Produced by Ceredigion Carers Unit Message from the Carers Unit Welcome to the Summer edition of the Carers Part of connecting Carers is about ensuring you Magazine, the magazine for Carers in Ceredigion. have information in a timely manner. Members of We hope, as always, this issue is packed with the Carers Information Service (see page 19) will useful information to help you in your caring role as receive the Carers Magazine 3 times a year well as updates about services and resources (August, December and April) and the Carers available to Carers across the county. We also Forum Newsletter in the months of October, hope that it helps signpost you towards some of February and June. We hope this will ensure that the local and national organisations that can you always have up to date information about what provide you with additional support where you is happening for Carers nationally, across the need it. county and in your local community. In this issue we have concentrated on looking for You can also keep an eye out for more news and information about groups, activities and events that information on our website: http:// are happening in your communities, with the aim to www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/social-care- connect you as Carers to the support that is local wellbeing/support-for-carers/ . to you. We hope you find the magazine interesting and We have held two major events since the last informative, and as always if there is a topic you magazine, a garden party in Aberystwyth and a would like us to include in the future please contact relax and recharge day, near Cardigan during us with your ideas. Carers Week. Along with our partners we have also We hope to see you soon. supported lots of smaller events for Carers in Heather West Aberystwyth, Borth, Tre’r-ddol, Tregaron, Carers Lead Officer Aberaeron, Aberporth, Cardigan and Lampeter. Ceredigion Carers Unit SAVE THE DATE THURSDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2019 Every year the Ceredigion Carers Unit and partners host a large event to bring Carers and a range of organisations together for Carers Rights Day. We are currently planning this year’s event, look out for more information in the Carers Forum Newsletter and Ceredigion County Council website: http://www.ceredigion.gov.uk/resident/social-care- wellbeing/support-for-carers/ Every day 6,000 people become Carers but often it's not something that people have planned for. Carers Rights Day takes place every year to help Carers know their rights, to help Carers find out how to get the help Last year’s event was and support they are entitled to and to raise awareness of Carers’ held at Aberystwyth needs. University’s Old College. 2 Carers Unit, Ceredigion County Council Carers Week 2019 Carers week is a national campaign that happens Events like this are only every year to raise awareness of caring, highlight successful when well the challenges Carers face and recognise the attended by Carers and contribution they make to families and we were extremely communities. pleased to see 52 Carers who braved the This year, Carers Week took place between the th th horrendous weather to 10 and 16 June. Ceredigion County Council’s attend the day. We hope Carers Unit organised a special event for Carers they all returned home at on Tuesday 11th June to give them a chance to the end of the day relax and ‘recharge their batteries’. feeling relaxed, having The event was at Rhosygilwen Mansion, a country enjoyed a break from retreat 10 minutes south of Cardigan. The beautiful their caring role. venue and surrounding grounds added to the Ceredigion County Council Carers Champion, relaxing and uplifting atmosphere of the day. Councillor Catherine Hughes said: “The Carers Unit Carers enjoyed the complimentary therapies such is to be commended for arranging another as reflexology, aromatherapy and massage that successful Carers Week. Rhosygilwen Mansion were on hand all day. This was made possible by proved to be an excellent venue where Carers were the therapists who supported the event so well. given a chance to think about their own wellbeing. Along with the complimentary therapies, 14 Thanks to all who attended and made the day a organisations, all focusing on Carers wellbeing, special one for our Carers”. were there to provide information and advice to Arwyn Morris, Ceredigion County Councils Carers. Corporate Lead Officer for Customer contact said: Carers were given a delicious lunch and had the “Another successful and well attended Carers event chance to take part in many group activities that provides a wealth of information and support to running throughout the day such as Tai Chi, talks our Carers. It was nice to see so many Carers and activities around wellbeing and mental health, participating in the activities and able to access a drumming, African singing and arts and craft diverse network of support organisations in a activities. It was a great to see so many Carers wonderful venue. Thanks to all the different meeting and talking with other Carers. organisations for their continuing support, the Carers Unit for organising another successful event Carers said that and to the Carers that braved the rain.” they had been made to feel One of the many positives of the event was that very welcome by organisations and individuals from the statutory and “very friendly third sector, social enterprises, businesses, self- and helpful employed people and volunteers alike all worked people” and that closely together to make the day a success for “the atmosphere Carers. was relaxing” Ceredigion Carers Unit would like to thank all the and the stands organisations and businesses that supported the were “very day, including the therapists and those informative”. A professionals who kindly volunteered their time and bus was laid on skills. The Carers Unit would not have been able to from Cardigan to offer as many activities to the Carers attending and from the without their support. venue to help those who had difficulty getting to the event. Carers Unit, Ceredigion County Council 3 Getting to know Meet some of the dedicated workers who support Adult Carers in Ceredigion, Gofalwyr Ceredigion Carers provide a bespoke service whether you need a little information , one to one support or to be connected with others. The service is free and open to all Carers who are age 18 and over. Meet outreach worker This makes the role really varied and interesting Sue Lee: and I feel very lucky to be able offer a service which is really able to help people. What is your job title and What is the most challenging part of your job or role? day? My job title is Outreach The most challenging element is when there are worker for Ceredigion, this barriers to support that are beyond my control. involves supporting Carers Sometimes bureaucratic wheels turn very slowly for with what is most important example when waiting for benefits to come through to them in a way that works and this may prevent carers from accessing support for them. Some people as quickly as they could if they didn’t need to apply want a ‘sounding board’ over the phone, others for certain types of funding. prefer to meet up to access support, advice and guidance. Each person is unique and I try to work What do you enjoy most about your job? in a way that suits each individual. Every person I enjoy meeting people and supporting, enabling who is referred into Gofalwyr Ceredigion Carers will and empowering Carers to find solutions to be able be treated as an individually and my job is to listen to cope with whatever the future brings, and make to understand that is important to each person. connections with others. Myself and my colleague Mandy Dean provide I have a degree in Fine Art and really enjoy running information, advice and emotional support across Arts and Crafts activities and meditation. I find that the county. We also support Carers groups across this is very helpful for individuals to help them to Ceredigion the details of which are in the magazine. ‘switch’ off from the pressures of their situation. This As well as Carers groups, we collaborate with helps to give space so that they are able to carry Carers on ideas that they have to connect carers on. and enjoy wellbeing activities. We run Arts and Enabling people to value and take care of Crafts activities for example, and Carers have said themselves, make connections with others and they would like trips out and bingo. We generally have fun is a very important part of the role. try to help people connect with each other, gain mutual support and have fun. What happens at the Carers group? I am currently undertaking Forest school leader Every group is different and so what happens training and will offer some outdoor sessions or depends upon the members. If you join a group or walks in woodlands and parks. start a new one, you can help shape it into the kind I am also a Welsh speaker and can provide one to of group you want. Some groups love to relax one support in Welsh for Carers.