Issue 106 March 2019 The newsletter of Carers’ Resource Bradford 01274 449660 Skipton 0C1756 700888hHarro ga te 0 1423 50i0555 cRipoen 01765 690s 222 Bradford adult carers’ contract stays with us We have been contracted to continue to over the past few months that has involved enabling provide services for adult unpaid carers in the some workers to get to know local communities in Bradford district for at least three more years. greater detail. Chief executive Chris Whiley says: “We have been “For example, Kay Nichols has been focussing on delivering support services for carers for several years central Keighley. She has got to know the local area and we are delighted that funders have continuing well and carers contacting the organisation from that faith in our ability to deliver high-quality services.” area have been allocated solely to Kay. We found out just weeks ago we will also run the “Her knowledge of the local area and the links she district’s young carer services from April, enabling has made ensure that she can offer the best possible services to be offered to whole families. See page 2 support and advice to carers, and local drop-ins mean for more on this. that carers can see a friendly face on a regular basis. Chris adds: “It is exciting that we will soon be “Kay is also better placed to reach the diverse providing services to all carers across the district, no communities across her geographical spread, and matter how old they are. Delivering both these she is more knowledgeable about community groups contracts brings many opportunities for us and the and courses that are close to carers’ homes.” people we support.” The planned changes were presented to staff at a Carers’ Resource supports 16,000 unpaid carers in team away day in January. the Bradford district, and the Harrogate and Skipton l Read more about Kay and the pilot in Keighley on p5 . areas through one-to-one support, information, Carers’ Resource will present its planned new ways support groups, form-filling, employment and of working to carers and professional partners at an training advice, planning for emergencies, and event in the Ernest Saville Room at City Hall, maintaining wellbeing. Bradford, on Thursday March 21, 1.30-3.30pm. We plan to change some of our working practices Anyone who is interested to know more and give when the new contracts come into force. Chris adds: their feedback is welcome to attend. “We have been piloting a different way of working Fiesta time as Easter chicks Team leaders offer I’m not Sorry my mum unveiled, Page 9 wellbeing tip, Page 9 moved in, Page 12 Email [email protected] Web carersresource.org facebook.com/carersresource @CarersResource Children tell their stories for Young Carers Awareness Day Several young carers we work with spoke about their caring She is also a master negotiator experiences in the press, a national magazine and on the radio to mark and turns Joe around from saying Young Carers Awareness Day at the end of January. a flat “No”, to coaxing him to do Jess Whitaker, 17, of Sutton-in- something that has been asked of Craven, featured in the Craven him – a skill their parents Sarah Herald and Keighley News; Maddie and Dave appreciate. Shaw, 11, of Harrogate, was in the Although she feels “amazing” Yorkshire Post; Jacob Heagney, 16, of when she is able to support Joe, Ripon, was on Stray FM; and Benjy Maddie often has to consider her Collins, eight, of Harrogate, was with brother’s needs ahead of her own. his mum Lizzie in Bella magazine. She says: “He gets things that I All the young people were don’t sometimes and I feel a bit excited to share their stories and left out. But I understand that he’s spoke eloquently about the ups autistic and he needs that.” and downs of their lives. Both the girls have been supported A-level student Jess was 12 Jess and Judith by Carers’ Resource’s young carer teams. Jess has had one-to-one when her mum Judith, now 45, After school Jess carries out was diagnosed with multiple support with a worker and they both other jobs then prepares the attend our youth clubs. sclerosis and myelitis, which can evening meal and waits until her cause issues with vision, They both felt it was important to dad is home to cook it with him. speak up about their experiences, movement, sensation and balance. She adds: “Sometimes I break off She says: “I get up at 6.30am to as did Jacob, who says: “I am very to do the dishwasher, or I go happy to see Carers’ Resource help Mum get dressed and sort her upstairs to get things for Mum. lunch. She goes to work and Dad working with Stray FM - not only “I have to help her with her to offer opportunities to young goes 10 minutes later, and I am left tablets because she can’t press to take care of my brother Jack carers like myself, but also to get them out of the packets. It’s a bit the good publicity our cause can and get us to school. Sometimes full-on sometimes.” we have the odd thing to do like use to further spread awareness of One in 12 children is thought to who we are.” the washing-up before school.” give some sort of care to a parent or sibling with a physical or mental illness, a disability, or an addiction to drugs or alcohol – which works out at 85,000 young carers in Yorkshire and the Humber. Maddie helps to look after her elder brother Joe, 13, who has autism. She supports him by helping him zip up his coat, caring for their animals, ensuring he is up for school and encouraging him to The Shaw family eat healthily. Jacob with Stray FM journalist Lisa Darvill We will deliver Bradford young carers services from April Carers’ Resource will run services for young carers in We currently support 395 young carers across the Bradford district for at least two years from April. Harrogate and Craven through trips, holiday activities, We are delighted to be able to offer services to youth clubs and by our staff going into schools to young carers in this area for the first time, building meet young carers and give specialist support. on the expertise that we have gained working with Chief executive Chris Whiley says: “Young carers young people in the Harrogate and Skipton districts. can feel isolated from peers, face bullying and find it Carers’ Resource has been supporting young carers difficult to take part in out-of-school activities. across Harrogate and Craven for 23 years and “With support, they can be given coping strategies continues to receive no funding from the local authority and breaks from caring. We are delighted to be able in those areas to do so. This has meant the services to offer carer services and support for young people. have been run in recent years entirely on donations and We plan to run clubs, trips, and send staff into schools grants. This will not change in the near future. to meet young carers and give specialist support.” Page 2 Choices: Carers’ Resource – Harrogate | Craven | Bradford | Airedale Carers tell professionals It’s your how their lives really are Forty carers attended Choices our three Carers Rights By Carers’ Resource Day events in chief executive Chris Whiley. November. The new year A hundred has brought professionals from excellent news health, social care and for all of us at charities heard from Carers’ carers about how Resource. We listening and working heard just before together could improve Christmas that carers’ lives. we had been The carers, aged from successful in being contracted to Sallie Turner, of Bradford District Care NHS Foundation in their teens to their Trust, our Bradford locality manager Jan Burrows, deliver services for young carers and carer Satveer Sahota sixties, spoke about the across Bradford district. issues they face Then, in the middle of January, including their struggles to get the correct paid-for care, wrong we heard that we will be assumptions people make about carers, and difficulties looking after continuing to deliver services for their own wellbeing. The sessions were held simultaneously at Margaret adults across Bradford and Craven McMillan Tower, in Bradford city centre, the Friends Meeting House, in for another three years. This Harrogate, and our office in Skipton. means that we can build on, and Satveer Sahota, of Thornbury, told professionals: “I care for my mum strengthen, our services to carers. 24 hours of the day and people assume that I am strong and can cope. In order to do this, over the next I am mentally tired. Buying in care might sound simple but it’s a headache. few months we will be tweaking It can cause more harm than good sometimes. I hope that this is the start some of the ways we work. of change and I am pleased that the professionals reacted positively.” The biggest change is that Carol Beardmore, chief executive of charity SNOOP, cares for her workers will be allocated to defined daughter, 33, who has Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, a heart geographical areas and will work condition and early onset dementia. with all carers in that area. Staff will She told the audience: “Please keep in the forefront of your mind to get to know communities better listen to us, value us, talk to us, build a relationship with us.