www.carersbucks.org The newsletter of Carers Bucks Autumn/Winter 2016 Money and Legal Matters New Learning & Development Programme Young Carers Support Group Diary Staying Healthy for Autumn/Winter this Winter Autumn/Winter 2016 | 1 Dedicated to supporting carers Registered Charity No. 1106745 Meet the www.carersbucks.org Team... Foreword by the Chief Executive Stephen Archibald Chief Executive Finance Manager elcome to the Autumn/Winter As the winter months draw closer, Kirstie O’Sullivan W issue of Carers News – I hope ensuring you look after yourself as Adult Carers Services Manager you all had an enjoyable summer. well as the person you care for is Ann Whiteley We’ve had a busy few months here vital. On Page 8, local Nutritionist at Carers Bucks with the increasing Nikki Brown talks about the sorts of Young Carers Services Manager numbers of carers getting in touch, foods our body and immune system Sally Mansi the launch of our Carers Discount needs to stay strong with the Communications Manager Card, Carers Week 2016, summer seasonal changes. Hayley Mountstevens holiday activities for young carers, and continuing our work with local We also look at the importance of Community Fundraising GP surgeries and hospitals. getting your free seasonal flu jab Sandy Briscoe to help protect you and the person Beth Sawyers In this issue of Carers News, we you care for. Make sure you tell your take a look at some of the money GP that you are a carer so they can Carers Hub Co-Ordinator at and legal issues affecting carers, and update medical records. Stoke Mandeville Hospital Carol Aspinall focus on some of the questions which carers most frequently ask us, On Pages 10 & 11, you will find Adult Carers Support Worker - including how you apply for Carers our latest Support Group Diary for GP Clinics Allowance and other benefits. September – March 2017, and on Lucy Martin Pages 12 & 13, details about our We also look at other financial and new Learning and Development Young Adult Carers Project Lead legal issues including Paying for Programme. Sarah Collins Care and information about Lasting Family & Friends Support Service Power of Attorney. As a carer it’s Save the date! Carers Bucks AGM for Drug & Alcohol Misuse really important to understand about will take place on Friday 4th Julie Fincham the different benefits and financial November at The Gateway, support available and your legal Aylesbury from 10am – midday. To see details of the full Carers rights. Carers Bucks is here to Bucks team visit support you, and our team of Stephen Archibald www.carersbucks.org dedicated support workers can help Chief Executive answer any questions you might Carers Bucks & MK Carers Bucks have, and point you in the right [email protected] Ardenham Court direction! Oxford Road Aylesbury, Bucks, HP19 8HT Tel: 0300 777 2722 Email: [email protected] Facebook: www.facebook.com/Carersbucks Contents Twitter: @CarersBucks Practical & Emotional News from Carers Bucks 04 05 12 Programme Printed Lance Print Ltd 06 07 Money & Legal Matters 13 Fundraising 29/30 Stapledon Road, Staying Well During Orton Southgate, Young Carers Peterborough PE2 6TD 08 the Winter 14 Tel: 01733 390564 www.lanceprint.co.uk 09 Support Groups 15 Young Adult Carers 10 11 Support Groups Diary 16 17 Services and Information Carers Bucks is the operating name of Carers Trust Bucks and Milton Keynes. Registered Charity No. 1106745. Front Cover image: The Mayor of Wycombe, carer Bernice Modeste and Company No. 4941481 Chief Executive Stephen Archibald at the launch of Carers Bucks Discount Card during Carers Week 2016. Autumn/Winter 2016 | 3 NEWS FROM CARERSBUCKS WELCOME TO NEW STAFF MEMBERS We are delighted to welcome new members of staff to In Wycombe we also welcome new members of staff the Young Carers Bucks team in Aylesbury: who have recently joined the Young Carers Bucks team: Claire Brialey Olivia Cichon Maxine Lansdell Family Support Young Carers Young Carers Worker Personal Advisor Activities Worker Ray Layton Ingrida Sipaviciute-Edwards Young Carers Young Carers Support Worker Personal Advisor We also welcome new members to our Prevention Matters team who are based at our Wycombe office: Lucy-Ann Julie Nisbet Helen Sharon Thomas Mathews Community Robinson Community Community Practice Worker Community Practice Worker Practice Worker Practice Worker The Prevention Matters service is a free and friendly advice service linking eligible adults (over 18) in Bucks to social activities, volunteers and community services. Prevention Matters can support you regarding your confidence, independence and getting out and about if you are struggling to remain independent in your own home, having difficulty getting out and about, feeling lonely and isolated or recovering from an illness. For further information contact Prevention Matters on 0300 666 0159. 4 | Autumn/Winter 2016 www.carersbucks.org CARERS BUCKS AUTUMN BALL On Saturday 1st October, Older Carers Project Carers Bucks is hosting Hundreds of carers aged over 75, its first Autumn Ball at who devote their lives to looking Wycombe Heights Golf after their loved ones at home, are to Centre in High Wycombe. be supported by a ground-breaking The evening will include a new pilot project run by Carers Bucks. delicious three course meal Thank you to the Greater Aylesbury and live music from Tom Cary Eid Party in Wycombe Local Area Forum and the Rothschild (Voice of South Bucks 2015) Foundation for funding this scheme. www.voiceofbuble.co.uk We had a fantastic time at the Eid Party at Wycombe Museum this The aim of the initiative is to support summer, which was organised jointly older carers with expert guidance with Dosti Group. We had 8 carers about financial support, friendship Carers Choir from Aylesbury and 15 carers from groups and how they and their loved Wycombe & discussed what future ones stay well and active. The Carers are welcome to join our Carers projects we could do for carers in support service is being rolled out Choir which meets on the first and Wycombe & Aylesbury. across the County from September, third Tuesday of the month at 10.15am starting in Aylesbury Vale. for tea and coffee followed by singing between 10.45am – 11.45am. The choir meets at Chalfont St Peter Christmas Opening Hours Community Centre, Gravel Hill, Gerrards Cross, SL9 9QX. You do Carers Bucks offices will be closed not need to be an experienced singer from 24th December - 3rd January to join, just to enjoy singing and 2017. having some fun! Email laura.troll@ Emergency Contacts carersbucks.org for further details. If you call our offices during the Christmas period when our offices BBC South Today news covered the are closed, you will receive a launch of this project on air on Friday message with emergency contact 19th August and interviewed carer information: Velda Ifill, who cares for her husband • Bucks County Council – Adult with Alzheimer’s and our Chief Social Care ‘Out of Hours’ Executive Stephen Archibald. emergency: 0800 9997677 Stephen was also interviewed by Mix • If you have a NHS non medical 96FM and Carers Bucks had a news emergency call 111. 112 will work on article in the Bucks Herald. any mobile phone anywhere in the Carers world. Medical emergencies call 999. Dates for Discount Supporting someone the Diary with Mental Illness Card and/or Drug or Alcohol • Carers Bucks AGM - Fri 4th Nov at The Gateway in Aylesbury This summer we launched our Carers misuse issues? from 10am – 12pm Discount card for carers registered Guest speaker will be Lou with us. The card gives carers some We are running a new support group Patten,Chief Officer, Chiltern and great discounts at a range of local for people supporting or affected by Aylesbury Vale Commissioning businesses and services in Bucks someone’s mental illness and/or Group including Arriva, Lloyds Phamacy & substance misuse. The group will be Virgin Experience Days. The scheme on the last Monday of each month • Carers Rights Day - Fri 25th Nov has been really successful and we from 6pm - 8pm at our Carers Bucks are continuing to add new businesses Aylesbury office. Please contact • Carers Christmas Lunch - Sun to the scheme. Call us on 0300 777 Jo Puddephatt or Julie Fincham on 27th Nov at Beaconsfield Centre 2722 or visit www.carersbucks.org 0300 777 2722 or 07958 539590. to register for a Discount Card or To book a place call 0300 777 2722. email [email protected] to recommend a business/service to join the scheme. Autumn/Winter 2016 | 5 It’s important to understand the main benefits you are entitled to and the MONEY legal issues affecting carers. As a carer there are a range of benefits and financial support including Carers LEGAL Allowance that you may be able to & receive as a carer. We also have a volunteer who works MATTERS with our adult carers support team Here we look at some of who can offer help at our Aylesbury the most frequently asked 1) Can I receive Carers Allowance? office, over the phone or a home visit. questions carers ask which Carers Allowance is the main benefit For more information/advice please you might find useful: for carers, paid at £62.10 a week if call us on 0300 777 2722. you meet the following criteria: 3) How do I get a Blue Badge? • You look after someone who gets a qualifying disability 2) Am I eligible for Attendance The Blue Badge Scheme helps benefit Allowance? people with severe mobility problems. • You look after that person for at It allows Blue Badge holders to park least 35 hours a week Attendance Allowance is available for close to where they need to go.