Issue 17 Winter 2019/20 - Dec • Jan • Feb Cambridgeshire & Peterborough carersfor families, for partners, for supporters... for you 1 PB Contents From our CEO Information, advice and guidance 3 Useful contacts for this winter 5 Welcome to the winter edition of Using emollients safely 6 Carers magazine. Safe and Well visits 7 As the nights draw in and the Assistive technology flat 8 temperatures dip, we want to make Congratulations to our volunteer Rylan 9 sure that carers and the people they look after are prepared this winter. Peterborough carers wellbeing event 9 Cambridgeshire Partnership Board I know our specialist information and update 10 advice team are greatly appreciated Want to put your caring experience by the carers who speak to them into a recognised qualification? 11 each day, so it is helpful to see the Combat loneliness this winter 12 advice they have about the winter Family carers hubs 13 months. Have a read to check if there is anything more that you can do to Supporting people with sight and hearing loss 14 keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy at this time of year. My Guide 15 What would YOU do to improve Sunshine may seem like a distant NHS services? 16 memory, but it is great to read about Cambridgeshire Libraries 17 the difference we made to young Carer Friendly Tick awards 18 carers and young adult carers this Love to Move 19 summer. It just shows that, be it a bursary or a day out, a little can go John’s Campaign 19 a long way when supporting the Events calendar 20-25 young people we work with and their Young carers and young adult carers 26 families too. Toyah’s story 28 Support adverts 29, 32-43 Don’t forget, from homecare to groups and hubs to information Pinpoint parent carers 30 and advice, there are a number of Family Voice Peterborough 31 different services and activities What If? Plan 44 available in our local community to support carers of all ages. Take a look Liability or get in touch now to find out what Caring Together (the "publisher") takes no responsibility for the content of external websites we can do to help you this winter. whose addresses are published in this magazine. Stay warm and well this winter. We do not endorse any organisations, services or products contained in this magazine. Whilst every care was taken preparing this Miriam Martin magazine, the publisher cannot be held Chief executive responsible for the accuracy of the information or any consequence arising from it. Any written material or pictures supplied by contributors are published in good faith and on the understanding that they are free from copyright or other restrictions. The opinions expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Permissions Material may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. 2 Information, advice and guidance Some advice for the winter months from our team who answer your calls At Caring Together we landlord aware that are here year round to someone in the property provide information, has a medical condition services and campaign or disability, and it is so that carers have worth doing the same in choices. other situations, so the person you care for can Our specialist be prioritised. information and advice Safe and Well visits team help carers with You should also make The person you care for a wide range of queries sure the person you may be eligible for a free and needs. There are care for is on the priority Cambridgeshire Fire & some subjects that come services register with Rescue Service Safe and up more regularly during UK Power Networks. Well visit. These visits the winter months. Being on the Register last no longer than 60 will ensure they receive minutes. They assess Whatever you want help extra support if they six key elements of fire with, you can contact experience a power cut. safety in the home, falls our advisors on 0345 See ukpowernetworks. prevention, alcohol use, 241 0954 or email hello@ co.uk/power-cut/priority- staying well and warm, caringtogether.org to services-register crime reduction and get advice and guidance smoking. See page 6 to specifically for you. We Loneliness and isolation find out more. spoke to our specialist The winter months can information and see some people feeling The Bobby Scheme advice team who have more isolated than at A number of carers highlighted just a few of other times of years. have told us of how the topics it is useful for In this issue we once appreciative they have carers to know about at again have information been of the Bobby this time of year. on a range of groups Scheme. This was set up and activities that are by the Cambridgeshire Home repairs or available to you. This Police Shrievalty Trust maintenance includes the article on and helps older and Our advisors can give page 12 about the work vulnerable people feel you useful information Age UK Cambridgeshire safer in their own homes if the person you care and Peterborough do by improving home for is in need of repairs to combat loneliness, security. or maintenance to their information on our family home. The scheme fits door carer hubs on page chains, window and For example, Age UK 13, details of activities door alarms and other have a handyperson with Cambridgeshire security devices as well service available in Libraries on page and as providing security parts of the county about our day clubs on advice and reassurance. (see ageukcap.org. page 18. You can also see If you are a victim of uk). Tenants who need the full guide to groups crime, 60 years or over, repairs to be made and events from page 20 the service is free. If should make their onwards. you are 65 years or over, 3 All Fenland, South Kesteven, and Huntingdon residents can book to receive a free home energy advice visit from an impartial and friendly advisor from PECT. Warm Homes provides households with the information and resources needed to stay warm and healthy, whilst cutting costs and carbon. disabled or vulnerable they provide the same The service aims to offer help service but ask for a contribution towards and advice on behavioural the costs if possible. Keysafes can also be changes, choosing the best supplied and fitted. energy tariff and supplier, Call The Bobby Scheme on 01480 413311, managing your water bills, and email [email protected] or see where eligible can assist you to thebobbyscheme.org access the national £140 Warm Homes Discount and other Winter fuel payment funding opportunities. Our advisors have had a number of callers who have not realised that the person This service is vital, because they care for is eligible for the winter fuel NHS advice suggests that when payment. People born on or before 5 April the weather drops below 8°C, 1954 should receive the winter fuel payment some people are at increased automatically if they are eligible, and get risk of physical and mental the state pension or another social security health conditions; such as heart benefit (not housing benefit, council tax attack, stroke, pneumonia and reduction, child benefit or universal credit). If depression. you think you are eligible but are not receiving An advisor recently visited this payment you can find out more by calling Wendy, a family carer who we 0800 731 0160. support, and managed to save Flu jabs £420 from her annual energy bill Our team have also found that not all carers so it’s a very worthwhile service. were aware they may be eligible for a flu jab. PECT have been given some You should have the flu vaccine if you receive funding to use between now a carer’s allowance, or you’re the main carer and March 2020 to help home for an elderly or disabled person whose owners on specific benefits pay welfare may be at risk if you fall ill. You should for boilers and central heating have had the flu jab by now, but if you have systems. not speak to your GP and do try to ensure that you have this lined up for next year. To find out more or to book your FREE energy advice visit, please Make sure you know what is available contact PECT’s Warm Homes Remember our specialist information and project officer Nikki Dekker on advice team are here to help you. So if you 01733 568408 (ext 313) or email have any questions or want advice don’t [email protected] hesitate to contact us. 4 Useful contacts for this winter Police Power cut or electrical For non emergency call 101 or emergency you can report a crime via the Call 105 to report a power cut. website Calling 105 is a free-of-charge cambs.police.uk/report call from any network. You should always call 999 Do not call your electricity when it is an emergency, supplier. such as when a crime is in progress, someone suspected of a crime is nearby, when British Gas there is danger to life or when The emergency number to violence is being used or report a gas leak is threatened. 0800 111 999. Visit cambs.police.uk If you smell gas, think you have a gas leak, or are worried that fumes Fire service containing carbon monoxide are escaping from a gas For general enquiries about appliance, please call the Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue free Gas Emergency Services Service call 01480 444500.