Please Register As a Carer at Your GP Practice Now!
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Carers really do count! Winter/Spring 2020 Newsletter Celebrating Carers in 2019 Carers Count held two carers celebration events this year. One was at Brian Jackson House in Huddersfield and the other was at Crow Nest Park in Dewsbury. Both events were well attended by carers and their loved ones and were a great day out for all. Both events provided food and entertainment. The activities included head massages donated by the White Rose Beauty College, Bollywood dancing from Salma Zaman and MMO Movement and Dance with Kirklees Council, to name a few. Food was provided by Cake Box in Dewsbury and Frankie’s Burgers in Batley and there were many raffle and tombola prizes donated from a number of organisations. “I would like to thank you all so “It was most enjoyable, it takes you “I’ve had fun and an absolutely much for all you do and for this out of your problems and gets you fantastic time! A thousand thanks.” lovely birthday celebration. It has thinking about other things. The been so much fun. You are all staff are all nice and helpful.” greatly appreciated.” Who are Carers Count? Carers Count works in the Kirklees area with carers over the age of 18 who look after either an adult over the age of 18 or a child with an additional need. It is a free, independent support service. This service is provided by Cloverleaf Advocacy. Contact us on 0300 012 0231 or email [email protected] Service Managers Steph, Heather and Rachael manage the Carers Count service in Kirklees across the Huddersfield and Dewsbury sites. They Please feel free to call or email. We wish are very approachable and keen to answer Ann Marie well in her new role at Carers your questions and take on board your Count supporting employers to review the feedback to develop the carer service to information, advice and support offered to be the best it can be for carers in Kirklees. working carers. Trips Out with Carers Count At Carers Count, we offer many day trips to our carers throughout We regularly receive very positive feedback from carers about the year. These cover a variety of different locations and activities for our trips. We offer long and short trips so all carers can have an a small fee to cover transport costs. opportunity to join us around their caring role. Our convenient pick up points from Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Batley are This year, carers have enjoyed visiting Pugneys Country Park, designed to make these trips accessible to all. Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Oakwell Hall, Ponderosa Zoo, Yorkshire Coal Mining Museum and Whitby Coast. We also have an We are open to suggestions and ideas for future trips and events upcoming coach trip to Harrogate Christmas Market on the 15th and would love to hear from you, so please get in touch with us November 2019. via phone 0300 012 0231 or email [email protected]. Oakwell Hall Pugneys Country Park and Whitby Caring for the Carers by Carers Count, with outings and exercise classes as well as information courses, helps make life easier for the carer. 2 A big thank you. Information and Advice Service Our Information and Advice team consists of five We are here to answer any query you may have with regard to your caring role people: Corinne Green, Lynne Heighway, Stephanie and to help in any way we can. If we cannot assist you directly, we will always find Lepic, Sue Purdie and Ros Walters (our Specialist someone who can. Here are some of the examples of the things we can help with: Benefits Advisor). • Benefits (such as Disability Living Allowance for children, Personal Independence • Grants Payments, Attendance Allowance, Carer’s Allowance and many others); we provide • Disability equipment benefits checks and can help to fill out the forms • Respite care (to give the carer a break) • Support and practical help for the carer and the person they care for through Carers can visit the office either by appointment or Social Services (this may include financial assessment and help) at our drop-in sessions (when an appointment is not • Assistive technology (for example care phones) necessary) which take place between 10am and 2pm every Tuesday. We also offer home visits if that • Blue badges (for disabled parking) is more convenient. • Other transport help To access our service, please telephone 0300 012 • Other specialist services relevant to the person’s needs 0231 or email [email protected]. High Tea Calling all carers! Please register as a carer at your Love a good cuppa? In research, 50 per cent of people say their mood and outlook GP practice changes after a cup of tea, with 58 per cent agreeing it helps ease stress. What’s more, 90 per cent say there’s some truth in the saying “a cup of tea is the answer now! to every problem.” Thank you so much for your support, you helped me find my voice. 3 Mental Health Support It goes without saying that mental health issues affect all of us at some point in our lives. With figures saying that one in six people are experiencing a common mental health problem at any given time, this means that around 27,000 people in Huddersfield are suffering right this moment. Puts things into perspective, right? And because mental illness can turn you into your own worst enemy, many of us end up feeling isolated, unworthy of care and as though there is no help or hope out there. But there is. We’ve compiled a detailed guide of the support available in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire and nationally. Help is available for all mental health issues, from psychosis, addiction and post-partum mental health. The Kirklees Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) Service You don’t just have to go to your doctor for help with is also based at Folly Hall. They provide talking therapies, cognitive behavioural your mental health (although it is recommended that therapy and counselling for common mental health problems, such as anxiety, you do); there are now lots of services, charities and depression and stress. There are waiting lists for individual therapy but courses and helplines who are there to listen, advise and basically online therapy can be accessed quickly. just be that extra arm of support we all need from time to time. You can self-refer to IAPT by calling 01484 343700 or by completing a referral form on their website: www.kirkleesiapt.co.uk Here’s where help is available both locally and nationally: Crisis Support in Kirklees Firstly, the NHS There is a helpline in Kirklees for adults who need support or intervention for their mental health. People in a crisis who need immediate support can contact the The backbone of our country and your first port of Single Point of Access Team 24 hours on 01924 316830. call if you’re struggling. Always, always visit your GP if you think you may be suffering with a mental health WomenCentre Calderdale and Kirklees problem. Doctors speak to thousands of people every day about this - you are not alone. Your GP will be This charity doesn’t get half the recognition it deserves. WomenCentre has able to give the best advice on what services you can changed the lives of thousands of women in Huddersfield and Halifax on the brink. access in the area, as well as prescribe medication It has bases on Lord Street in Huddersfield town centre as well as Silver Street in should you need any. Halifax and Wakefield Old Road in Dewsbury. WomenCentre provides all sorts of help and free counselling for women struggling with mental health issues, as well Folly Hall Mills as victims of domestic abuse. Folly Hall is the hub of mental health services You can contact WomenCentre on: 01484 450866. provided by the South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. Based on Chapel Hill, your United Churches Healing Ministry GP can refer you to services based there, which include mental health nurses, psychiatrists who can Don’t be put off by the name if you’re not a church-goer; this charity is based in review and prescribe medication and psychological Milnsbridge and while Christian-run, the counselling services they offer are non- therapies. These services are accessed through religious, non-judgemental and available to anyone over 16. They help support referral only so speak to your GP first - however there people suffering with all sorts of mental health problems, as well as bereavement are waiting lists for therapies. counselling. You can contact Folly Hall Mills on: 01484 343100 You can contact them on: 01484 461098. You have been amazing, I don’t know what I would 4 have done without you guys. Huddersfield Samaritans We are so lucky to have this fantastic charity in this country. Because of the Samaritans, there is always a friend there to listen and support you, no matter how isolated you feel, whatever the time of day or night. Although the Samaritans is a national service, it has a base in Huddersfield town centre on New North Parade. You can reach the Samaritans 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Contact the Samaritans for free on: 116 123. Support2Recovery (S2R) Another fantastic charity that doesn’t get enough credit for the work it does in the community. S2R helps people with all mental health issues, as well as those battling and recovering from addictions Carers Count Mental Health team such as alcoholism, drug addiction, gambling and even shopping addiction.