CarersNews The newsletter of Winter 2019 – Spring 2020 Celebrating 15 years of Carers Bucks! 10 05 14 WIN A LUXURY CHRISTMAS HAMPER! Join Carers Bucks’ Carers get free flu Young Adult parkrun team! jabs from their GPs Carers Updates See page 02 for details Meet The Foreword by the Management Team Chief Executive Stephen Archibald Chief Executive Welcome to our Winter/Spring issue closer relationships with schools and Kirstie O’Sullivan of Carers News. This issue covers for our Adult Carers service it includes Operations Manager various topics including updates on developing stronger relationships with our hospital work and our Young GP practices. The aim is to reach Adult Carers service, the importance out to more carers and to make our of looking after your oral health and local communities more carer friendly. Ann Whiteley we feature two carers’ stories; ‘Being Our other good news is that Carers Adult Carers Service Manager a carer can be both challenging and Bucks celebrates its 15th birthday this transforming’ and ‘Running Became year. We were originally the Aylesbury My Therapy’. Vale Carers Association, one of three Sally Mansi carers support charities in the county. Have you had your flu jab yet? Carers Since 2004 our staff and volunteer Young Carers Service Manager are entitled to a free flu jab. It’s numbers have grown and more important to get yourself immunised importantly the number of carers we to prevent you getting the flu and support has increased hugely. We potentially passing on to the person currently support over 11,000 adult you care for. carers and more than a 1,000 young The Masons Christmas Lunch is carers and young adult carers. taking place in Beaconsfield on One person who epitomises what Carers Bucks Sunday 24th November. Please has changed and what remains the Ardenham Court contact us for more information. same is my esteemed colleague Oxford Road This April Carers Bucks was awarded Ann Whiteley, our Adult Carers Aylesbury a new carers support contract by the Service Manager. Ann has worked for HP19 8HT County Council. This is really good Carers Bucks since its inception and T: 0300 777 2722 news and means that the core of throughout that time she has remained our services have secure funding for passionate about supporting carers E: [email protected] the next five years. A key part of our whilst maintaining an enthusiasm for Registration Charity No. 1106745 proposal to the Council was that we embracing new ways of working and Company Registration No. 4941481 should develop a more geographically new ways of reaching out to carers. focussed service in which our carers support staff have responsibility for Stephen Archibald CHRISTMAS COMPETITION a particular part of the county and become the face of Carers Bucks Chief Executive Carers Bucks and Carers MK Tell us how many Christmas in their area. For the Young Carers presents you can find in this service this will include developing [email protected] newsletter to be in with a chance to win a Luxury Hamper! Answer Contents Name Address 03 08-09 Meet Our New Staff Members Oral Health 04 10-11 Tel Supporting Carers In Hospital Running Became My Therapy Email 05 12 Winter Flu Jabs Fundraising Thank You Wall Fill in the form, cut it out and post it to Newsletter Competition, Carers Bucks, Ardenham Court, Oxford Road, 06 13 Aylesbury, HP19 8HT. Alternatively you can tell us your answer online at carersbucks. Support Group Programme Young Carers Bucks News org/newsletter-competition. All entries must be received by 5pm on 09/12/19. Winners will be announced on 16/12/19. 07 14-15 See online for full T&Cs. Carer’s Story Young Adult Carers News 02 CarersNews – Winter 2019/Spring 2020 Meet Our New Staff Members Kelly Stallwood Mim McConachie My name is Kelly and I have recently My name is Mim and I recently My role at Carers Bucks will involve joined Carers Bucks as an Adult started working as an Adult Carer providing information and support Carer Support Worker. Support Worker for North Bucks. to carers, as well as signposting to relevant services. I will also be I have previously worked in various I have a background supporting out and about in North Bucks and roles within the NHS including Bucks people in the criminal I am looking forward to meeting Health Care Trust and South Central justice system and helping and supporting carers in the Ambulance Service. Most recently, communities to set up community. before joining Carers Bucks, I sustainable projects, as well worked as a receptionist/admin as lots of experience as an assistant at a local SEN school. I empathic listener. have four children and I am a carer myself, my youngest daughter has a rare genetic disorder and complex medical needs, so I know first-hand Noelle Casemore what it’s like to be a carer. My name is Noelle Casemore I have which proved to be invaluable recently joined Carers Bucks as an throughout my career and also I want to support the wellbeing of Adult Carer Support Worker. helped when dealing with all the carers and I am looking forward to red tape and day to day issues being an empathic listening ear and Prior to becoming a full time carer associated with caring. sharing up to date information that for my mother with Parkinson’s can make a difference and help. and Alzheimer’s, my background My role at Carers Bucks will involve Carers Bucks offers a great was working as an executive providing information and support service to anyone caring assistant to the European to carers as well as signposting in Buckinghamshire. I CEO and board of a well- to relevant services. I will also look forward to meeting known Japanese electronics be out in the High Wycombe carers face-to face in company. As a PA/EA for area and look forward to the Amersham and many years I have gained meeting and supporting Chesham areas. many transferable skills carers in the community. Our Annual General Meeting We had a wonderful turn out of carers and supporters at our Annual General Meeting recently. It was an opportunity for Carers Bucks to announce our new contract with the County Council and set out the service Thank you to Emma Smith changes we are introducing. In particular from Cakes by Emma for working more closely with GP practices to making and donating this support adult carers and schools to support delicious cake! young carers. We also announced our Steve Baker MP, Stephen Archibald - Carers Bucks Chief Executive & expanded carers support in local hospitals Dr Les Davies - Chairman of Trustees including the new services in Wexham Park Hospital, where half the patients are from Bucks. As always, the most powerful moments of the event were the testimonies of carers themselves. Hearing carers talk about their caring roles and the support they’ve received from Carers Bucks always reminds us of the value of the work we do and the positive impact it has on our carers. www.carersbucks.org 03 Supporting Did you know… Carers Bucks can Carers In Hospital help you on the wards when you’re visiting or admitted to hospital? Imagine talking with ward staff trying to understand The Team: what’s happening, reeling with shock after your father’s admission to hospital. He’s always been Ruth Marriott, Hospital Team Leader, Stoke independent and you’re unsure of the prognosis. Mandeville Hospital, Carers’ Lounge: Ward 9, The thought of arranging care or becoming a carer 2nd Floor, 07496 724637 Mondays to Thursdays. yourself is overwhelming. Where do you start? Jane Hansford, Hospital Support Worker, Imagine hearing from the doctor that your frail Amersham and Wycombe Hospitals, 07415 128825, mother now has increased needs that will significantly Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. affect your caring role. What will happen next? Where can you get extra help? Fernanda Mainwaring, Hospital Support Worker, Wexham Park Hospital, 07772 426863, Tuesdays, What’s it like to lie in a hospital bed worrying about Wednesdays and Thursdays. the one you care for? How are they managing while you’re ill? How will you both manage when you’re Volunteers at Stoke Mandeville Hospital recovering at home after your operation? and Amersham Hospital. The Carers Bucks hospital team regularly meet people in situations like these as they support carers in Stoke Mandeville, Wycombe General and Amersham hospitals. Since May this year we’re also reaching Would you like to be out to Bucks patients in Wexham Park Hospital. With a hospital volunteer? healthcare professionals at full stretch, Carers Bucks can step in supporting with advice and guidance If you can offer a couple of hours a week or more to help families come to terms with their changing on a regular basis to reach out to family carers in circumstances. And by connecting carers to the wider the hospitals and raise awareness of the support services of Carers Bucks, the support from Carers available to them, call 07496 724637 or email Bucks still continues after they’ve left the hospital. [email protected] for more information. Crossword Puzzle 1 2 3 4 5 Across Down 1. Opposite of old 1. The middle of the day 6 7 3. Swedish pop group 2. Stinging insect 5. Puts in 3. A walk to a summit 8 9 10 6. Look after 4. Used for chopping wood 8. Short sleeps 7. Picnic ruiner 11. Character of sound 9. Region of land 14. Object hit in tennis 10. Crew member 11 12 13 15.