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CLAN Issue 54 published February 2008
Welcome to the New Year Edition of CLAN Hello and a very happy New Year to all of our readers. As we begin the New Year, 2008 already promises to be a time of excitement and new challenges for North Staffs Carers Association. Back in the Summer of 2007, we announced ambitious plans to develop a Carers’ Centre for the people of North Staffordshire. Continuing in our quest to develop the dedicated Carers’ Centre, we have officially launched a NEW ‘Carers Prize Draw Club’. The Carers Prize Draw Club is a fun and very easy way for you to get involved in the development of the Carers’ Centre whilst providing the opportunity to win some fantastic prizes; and all for as little as £12 a year. So spread the word to your family, friends and colleagues and invite them to join the new Carers Prize Draw Club. On behalf of all the staff at North Staffs Carers Association I would like to take this opportunity to say a very big ’thank you’ to everybody that has supported us throughout 2007. Many thanks to all those who have volunteered for the Association; taken part in fundraising activities and coffee mornings; and to those who have generously given donations. Here’s to a fantastic 2008. Until next time..... Lisa Denney– Information Officer
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North Staffs Carers Association Launches Its
The Carers ‘Prize Draw’ Club is your opportunity to have a stake in the creation of a dedicated “Carers Centre” and at the same time to have a chance to win a monthly Cash Prize. You will shortly be receiving a few application forms in the post which will enable you to join the new ‘Prize Draw’ club and to spread the word. Encourage family and friends to join or why not buy someone a number as a special and lasting gift…for just £12 per year. As more people join the Carers “Prize Draw” Club the fund will grow and 50% of the fund will go directly as prize money. Could you help by putting up a poster in your workplace, local Community Centre or Club? Please ring us if you would like to help or if you would like some posters or application forms. North Staffs Carers cannot put the world right, but we can ease the burden and help improve life for people who unselfishly care for others, and we can do it better with your valuable contribution. Please support this worthwhile cause.
HELP US TO BUILD A BETTTER FUTURE FOR CARERS IN NORTH
Carers Letters & News
Anne Smith, a Carer from Stoke on Trent, recently enjoyed a trip to London with her husband Alan, son Joseph and Anne’s mother. If you have a story to share about a holiday or trip that is accessible for Carers and people with disabilities then contact Lisa on 01782 831615 or email lisadenney21@yahoo.co.uk
My husband Alan, had a massive stroke in June 2006, and is now confined to a wheelchair. We hadn’t had a holiday since then so last November we decided to go to London for three days. Alan was initially a little dubious about going so far away and to places where we didn’t know if they had good wheelchair accessibility. But he needn’t have worried. David Fowell, a carer from Meir, contacted the Association to share his experiences of a holiday at the Bond Hotel with his wife, Sylvia.
My name is David Fowell and I care for my wife Sylvia. Over the past six years we have been regular visitors to the Bond Hotel in Blackpool. The Bond Hotel is a hotel with a difference as it caters for people who have disabilities. The Bond Hotel 01253 341218. www.thebondhotel.co.uk A Week In The Life Of....Tracy Harper-Slack
Tuesday. I arrive in the office at 8.30 am. I collect my messages; make a few phone calls; then I’m off to Leek and Cheadle to see Carers. I’m back at the office around mid-afternoon which allows me to catch up with any paperwork and to talk to professionals regarding carer referrals. Wednesday. Today is’ Group Day’. I facilitate several groups in the area; today is the Mental Health Carers group at the Greenfield’s Centre. At the group we chat about the things that affect carers. Occasionally we have guest speakers talking about benefits, medication etc. Our most popular one is when we have Irene Abbots or Nicola Brough, who come along to the group for the ‘Pamper Session’. In the afternoon I facilitate the Headway Group. This is a relatively new group so the first priority is to allow people to get to know one another. I try to encourage Carers to lead what they want in any of the groups, after all it is their group.
Thursday. This morning I attend a meeting about a new training programme for Carers. I will be going on the training, along with other professionals and Carers. The training will enable us to train other Carers – sort of ‘Pyramid Training’. Friday. I am busy with arranging a Carers Café, so this morning I make numerous phone calls to professionals who have been invited to attend and post out invites to Carers. As I am in the office this morning I take many phone calls from Carers- answering their queries; taking referrals and giving telephone support. Sometimes my head is like a phone book with the amount of telephone numbers we have to remember. It’s the end of a busy week…. Time to put my feet up and do nothing, apart from laundry, housework, shopping…. The list is endless!
Local News help! is a National Autistic Society (NAS) Parent Programme. The aim of the help! programme is to provide parents and full-time Carers with information, advice and support.The 2 day help! programme that is running in Newcastle covers an overview of ASDs, communication, education and rights and entitlements to services and benefits. Each family receives a help! programme manual with useful information and contacts. This particular programme is being run for parents/Carers of children aged between 5 and 11 years who have received a recent diagnosis of an ASD within the last 18 months. However, families who have received a diagnosis earlier than this are welcome to contact us if they feel they would benefit. Comments received from parents who have attended help! programmes have included ;
“Such a well run fantastic course…….I have a totally different outlook on the situation now” “It’s great to meet other parents who understand” If you are interested in attending the Newcastle help! Programme contact Gill Phillips at the NAS on 0115 847 3530 or email Gill.Phillips@nas.org.uk for an application form. We also run help! 2 seminars within the NAS, aimed at parents who already have a basic understanding of ASD and cover more in depth topics such as; Writing Social StoriesTM, Supporting Siblings, Managing Anger in Adolescents with AS, Meeting your Child’s Sensory Needs, Anti-bullying and Adult Life. Contact the help! Team to register your details on 0115 847 3538
Lorraine MacAlister
The Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) provide confidential, on-the-spot advice and support to patients, relatives or Carers who may have concerns about the care the NHS provides. PALS acts independently from other NHS services when helping you with your concerns. PALS will talk with other NHS staff and managers and if required other organisations, to try to resolve your query. They can also signpost, patients, families and Carers to other local and national support agencies. PALS in North Staffordshire is available at the following places: University Hospital of North Staffordshire for concerns relating to the Royal Infirmary, the City General and Central Outpatients – 01782 552814 North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare for concerns relating to complex care and clinical services – 0800 389 9676 For concerns relating to community healthcare services i.e. doctors, community nursing, health visiting, dentists, opticians, pharmacies and therapy services please call either:
Stoke-on-Trent PCT – 0800 783 2865
North Staffs Prostate Cancer Support Group Providing help, support and information The North Staffs Prostate Cancer Support group meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 6:00pm-8:00pm. Meetings are held locally at Joiners Square Community Centre, Cornes Street, Stoke-on-Trent.
From April 2008, people over the age of 6o years and eligible disabled people will be entitled to free travel on local buses throughout England. Under the current system, people who are eligible to receive free bus travel can do so within their local authority of issue. Once the new initiative is in full operation, people will no longer be limited to their home area of travel, but instead will have the freedom and ability to use their bus passes throughout England. This applies to all off peak travel; Monday-Friday 9:30am-11pm and all day weekends and bank holidays. Prior to scheme implementation in April 2008, local authorities will be issuing existing bus pass holders with new passes that will display a nationally recognised logo.
Local Involvement Networks (LINKs) April 2008 sees the introduction of the new Local Involvement Networks or LINKs. LINKs will be replacing the existing PPI Forums and will be rolled out across all local authorities that have social services responsibilities. LINKs are a new initiative that aim to ensure greater patient and public involvement within the development of health and social care. Effectively, they will provide a greater voice to all sectors of society and a pathway to enable communication about local health and social care services and needs for improvement. Anybody can become a member of LINKs; from patients and Carers groups and forums, Voluntary Agencies, Individuals, local Business Groups
www.nhscentreforinvolvement.nhs.uk News from NSCA Update from the Support Outreach Service The Team has been extremely busy over the last couple of months. We have expanded on the launch of the Carers Café that we held in Hanley at the Hope Centre as we had such a fabulous turn out. We are now facilitating Carers Cafes each week in different neighbourhoods throughout the City (See below for more details). The aim of the Carers Cafe is to give Carers and the cared for the opportunity to access information and support in their caring role, and having professionals who work with Carers available to answer any questions Carers may have. We are also holding Carers Clinics throughout the City and County and will be visiting local Area Housing Offices, local libraries and the Central Out-Patients Department at the University Hospital. If you need any information no matter how great or small please come along to meet us or if you are housebound we can arrange a home visit. SOS Team
February 2008 Thurs 21st Learning Disabilities/The HUB Bentilee 10am-12pm Fri 29th Mental Health/The HUB Bentilee 10am-12pm March 2008 Thurs 6th Older People/The Meadows 1pm-3pm Thurs 13th Parent Carer/Kemball Special School 9:30am-11:30am Thurs 20th Mental Health/Christ Church Community Centre 10am-12:pm Thurs 27th Learning Disabilities/St Paul’s, Blurton 10am-12pm
Then why not come along to the mental health carer support groups. If you would like to find out more about the groups contact Tracy, Mental Health Support Worker on 01782 834836. Alternatively pop along to one of the many groups that are taking place. You will be most welcome.
Wednesdays 10.30am-12noon
12th March
Headway Carers Group
12th March
Lymebrook
7th March
For those avid shoppers amongst us, now’s your chance to indulge in your favourite pastime and at the same time support your favourite charity, North Staffs Carers Association. And all at the simple touch of a button! North Staffs Carers Association is asking all of its supporters to shop on line at www.buy.at/northstaffscarersassociation. Each time you make a purchase on line through the webshop you will automatically earn money for North Staffs Carers and at no extra cost. Over 100 retailers are accessible through the webshop including Tesco, Marks and Spencer, Waterstones, Amazon and many more. You can even book your summer holidays.
www.buy.at/northstaffscarersassociation
Have you had a Carers Assessment?
Would you like to join the NEW Carers Theatre Group?
Link Project Update As it is the beginning of a new year we would like to take this opportunity to remind you about the Link Project at North Staffs Carers Association. The Link project is responsible for providing and maintaining the ‘Files of Information for Carers’ that are located in GP Surgeries and Hospital Wards. These files contain useful information for Carers and are easily accessible. Within the files you will find information regarding North Staffs Carers Association, Carers Assessments, Employment and training, Health and Health Conditions, Hospital Discharge, Financial and Legal Affairs and much more. So next time that you visit your GP surgery or hospital why not take a look inside the Files to access the information that could support you!. It is important that your GP recognises your caring role. When you are next in your surgery inform reception staff that you are caring for someone. Ask for this to be recorded on your medical records. The majority of GP’s now have registers in place so this information can be recorded. By doing this, we can all raise Carer awareness and Carers will receive the recognition they truly deserve. For any further information about the Carers’ Link Project you can contact Anna, Liz or Mandy on 01782 831616.
City Chat Line Project I hope that those of you who attended our 1960’s Carers Christmas party in December had an enjoyable and fun-filled evening. It was the first time that we have used Birches Head Club as a venue for our social events and I would like to thank the committee for allowing us to use the room free of charge. I would also like to thank Ridgeway caterers, Cookies, and the local supermarkets for their support in making the evening a huge success. Special thanks also to the staff and volunteers from the Association for all their help. Please read future editions of CLAN to find out about plans for future social events. If anyone would like a copy of the photographs taken on the evening they can be obtained by contacting me on the 01782 834836. A small donation is kindly requested to cover the cost of photo paper and ink.
Sadly, by the time you get to read this Karen my support worker will no longer be with me as she has moved on to pastures new. I’m sure that you will all join me in wishing her the very best for the future. Finally, just a quick reminder about the Chat Line project. If you are a Carer living in Stoke-on-Trent and have recently had a Carers assessment and would like to speak to someone on a regular basis, then Chat line could help. Should you require more information about the service, you can contact me on 01782 834836. May I wish you all a very happy and stress free 2008. Peter Shepherd. Emotional Wellbeing Project The New Year has arrived and I must say I am always amazed at how quickly the time passes when you’re having fun! I have decided to resign from my post here at NSCA to pursue my private work as a Cranio-sacral Therapist. The project is already in its final quarter, and I have had the privilege of being the Emotional Wellbeing Worker for the past two years. It fills me with a sense of satisfaction, knowing that all who have engaged in the project have received benefits from the services offered, and those of you who will have ongoing support as the project moves forward in 2008 will continue to do so. It has been a wonderful project to be involved in and ALL of you have touched my life in so many ways, I wish you well. For anyone wanting to step into my shoes to undertake the role as Carers Emotional Wellbeing Worker, please contact Julie Hammersley for an application form on 01782 831612. During the last quarter, the emotional wellbeing project delivered a two day Carers Break at the idyllic Wedgwood Memorial College, Barlaston where 19 Carers took part in a Seasonal Energy Workshop, Yoga, Jewellery Making and Carer Care for Thyself sessions, Reiki trainings and Self Esteem workshops. There are currently no support/drop-in groups scheduled for the Newcastle & Moorland areas.
Reiki Training for Carers in Newcastle and Moorlands
Learning to say NO!
Bare Foot Boogie Fundraiser
Complementary Therapy Course
Complementary Therapy Voucher System To express an interest in any of the above activities or to refer someone to the Carers Emotional Wellbeing Project, contact Nicola Brough on 01782 831617.
You will get a Christmas lunch though won't you...? Are you mad they said! My colleagues questioned, quizzed, shuddered & winced as I told them I would not be attending our annual Christmas knees up, but that I had decided to jilt them for the chance to undertake a 10 day Vipassana Silent Meditation course based in Sheringham, East Anglia.
You will get a Christmas lunch though won’t you! No. On the 21st December I set off on my five-hour drive to Sheringham. Set on a 23-acre site, Hilltop is used regularly by the Dhamma Organisation to run Vipassana courses. Vipassana means to see things as they really are. It was comforting to know that 99 other individuals from all walks of life had opted to undertake this journey with me. (Relieved not to be the only one avoiding those overwhelming shopping experiences, over indulgence) As we handed over our car keys and valuables, and gave a verbal agreement that we would not leave until the course had completed in 11 days time, I knew that I was in this until the end. Our first evening was a gentle orientation to the venue and programme that stretched before us, this involving a very clear and concise do and don’t list and a schedule starting at 4.00am each day, that rolled on until 9.30pm. I also got to ‘choose my spot’, that being my 2ft x 2ft cushion that would become my place in the meditation hall for the next 10 days. How do you decide? Is it fate? Or is it luck of the draw? I am pleased to say that for me, I was blessed with two lovely calm women either side of me, a girl of Chinese origin who I nicknamed Warrior Princess as her fierce determination when sitting throughout all sessions gave me strength. And so it began, a 12-hour programme of meditation observing my breath for 3 days, (the objective being to concentrate the mind) then on the fourth day expanding awareness to the rest of my body. Simple! I wanted to shout OUCH and ARGH at the top of my voice on so many occasions. The torture I felt as I had been sitting for twenty minutes or so, not the imaginary 2 hours my ego mind was telling me. Sitting with no felt sense of my legs (they were both numb) I eventually realised that to surrender to my current reality was the only way in which I would survive this ordeal. Somehow, as the days passed and I dragged my aching body to bed each night, I started to feel strangely rejuvenated and wired as the days progressed. My only concern became the fact that I was surviving on 3 or 4 hours sleep per night. I met with the Assistant Teacher to voice my worries and she assured me that by doing this deep operation on my subconscious mind that I would be fine! So I continued, on this rigorous programme, Christmas day came and went, with no verbal or outward communications with the 5 women in my dormitory. How do our shifts for using the shower work? (Given that we never discussed it before hand) How did it all run so smoothly? Meals provided for at the said times without any pushing and shoving in the queue, dishes washed and everything flowing with out fuss. Amazing. New Years day was finally approaching. In-between the meditation sessions I would reflect on my journey so far, the ups and downs, the moments of despair and times I wished I had not handed my car keys in (speeding off through the estate seemed so exciting). But also there was an underlying sense of wellbeing and inner resource knowing that somehow I am supported even in the darker moments. I was almost at the finish line. Our noble silence was to be broken at 11.00am on the final day. Again, I was surprised to feel apprehensive at the prospect of engaging with my fellow meditators. It suddenly felt overwhelmed and decided to ease myself in slowly having a quick walk to take in some air. My first interaction was with one of my roommates with whom I exchanged experiences. It was interesting to notice how tired I became after just a short exchange. Similarly, to notice how my mind/body pattern to automatically engage and seek relationship with others took over, but what was different was the fact that these usually unconscious actions, were now in my control and I was present and conscious with thoughts as they arose and could observe how the interaction was resonating or affecting me on a physical level.
My need for rest was obvious. As I had surrendered to all that had arisen during this time, I took a rest before leaving for my journey back to our waking world. As the Teacher SN Goenka would end his evening discourse he would say “TAKE REST, TAKE REST, TAKE REST.” To all Carers – take rest when you need to, the world continues whether we engage in it or not! News from the Young Carers Department We hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas break and didn’t eat too much chocolate! We want to say a big thank you to all those Young Carers who went along to our Ice Skating trips. Everyone behaved brilliantly and even staff ventured out onto the ice!
During October half term our forum members had a ‘Fun and Consultation day’ for Young Carers aged 11+. There was sports, graffiti, relaxation and art workshops but the focus of the day was to gather comments and ideas about what Young Carers would like from the Department in the future. Thank you to all those who took part. During November, three Young Carers attended the Citizen of the Year awards. Congratulations to Mellissa Docherty, Bethany Richardson and Rebecca Mason for their nominations; they all looked lovely at the awards and were a credit to all Young Carers on the night. Rebecca Mason won the award for Young Carer of the Year and has since been interviewed by the Sentinel Newspaper and local community radio station X Rhythms. Well-done Becky! We are looking into First Aid Training for our Young Carers again this year which will hopefully happen during the February half term.
We have a lot of staff news for you this time. We said a sad farewell to Ange who has moved onto a new job. She is now working as an EWO in the City so some of you may still hear from her from time to time. Also, farewell to our Play Workers, Amy and Michelle, who have moved on to new jobs. Finally we would like to say congratulations to Sarah who gave birth to a happy and healthy little boy named Owen. Mum and Baby are both doing well! Well-done Sarah.
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Monday. Monday mornings are dedicated to catching up with events from the previous week. We also have our referral meetings and team meetings, so we can catch up on what each member of the Support Outreach Service are up to. This afternoon I visit Carers who live in the Newcastle area. I try to see at least two or three Carers, offering emotional support and information, before finishing for the day.
