I Count Card launch
Our new Carer Identification card,the 'I Count Card' acts as:-
- our registration card - we want Carers to be proud of their caring status
- a way of making it easier to get existing concessions for Carers
- a way to get new concessions and discounts for Carers
Click for more details...
NEW! Young Carers Facebook Page!!
Tell us what's best for you
Contingency Planning Events
Carers Walking Group
Carer's Rights Day
HCS on Facebook and Twitter
Many PCTS in England neglecting Carers
Isle of Wight Judgement
Carers and the Flu jab
Vitalise Taster Breaks
Dimensions - Autism Friendly film screenings at Odeon
News Archive
NEW! Young Carers Facebook Page!!
Young Carers is now on Facebook! Simply log into Facebook: www.facebook.com (or set yourself up an account, if you're not already signed up) and type "Herefordshire Young Carers" into the 'Search' bar at the top of the page. You then need to click the "Request to join" button on the right. We'll then approve you a.s.a.p. and you can chat away! Any problems email us at: help@herefordshirecarerssupport.org
Tell us what's best for you
Herefordshire Carers Support is here for you. Therefore we need to know what you see as important so that we can develop our service, and encourage other organisations to do the same, based in your views.
Please help us to do this by answering a few questions and we will tell you the results in the next edition of Keeping In Touch magazine. A paper version of this survey will be going out in the February edition of the magazine for those who don't want to complete this on line.
To answer the questions just follow this link to the survey.
As a thank you we will put your name into a prize draw to win one of three cash prizes, £75, £50 or £25; but you must complete Q6 and return the survey to us by Monday 27 February 2012.
Thank you for your help and support. We are always very impressed by the number of Herefordshire Carers who respond to surveys.
Contingency Planning Events
Have you thought about a Contingency Plan for you and yours?? Have you thought what would you do if you were taken ill or had to go into hospital??
Herefordshire Carers Support have arranged a series of events throughout the County to help Carers think about and put together their Contingency plans. Session one will enable you to think about and identify what information you will need, with Session two putting the plan together. If you would like to attend the first of these events please email: chrisdunlop@herefordshirecarers.co.uk or Tel: 01432 356068.
Dates and venues as follows:
- January 11th - 10.30 - 12.30 - BUPA Care Home, Leominster
- February 1st - 10.30 - 12.30 - Phoenix Theatre, Ross on Wye
- February 7th - 14.00 - 16.00 - Market Theatre, Ledbury
- February 28th - 14.00 - 16.00 - Conquest Theatre, Bromyard
- March 6th - 19.00 - 21.00 - Heffernan House, Hereford
- March 13th - 10.30 - 12.30 - Zanes Cafe, Hereford
Looking forward to seeing you at one of the events!
Carers Walking Group
Herefordshire Ramblers have kindly offered to organise a programme of walks specifically for carers if there is enough take up.
The first Carers Walk will be held on Sunday 15th January - meeting at Home Lacy House Hotel at 11a.m. The walk will take approximately 2.5hours around Home Lacy village and finishing back at the Hotel where you can get a coffee.
Carers can also join in any of the regular Home Lacy walks which take place on alternate Thursday mornings. Meet at the Hotel at 10.30. The Home Lacy Walks are 1,15,29 March and alternate Thursdays from then on.
It has been suggested that Carers might like their own walking programme and a range of locations and grades and the Ramblers are happy to work this out with carers, so if you are interested in this, or any of the walks please contact Arthur Lee of the Herefordshire Ramblers on 01432 264374 or email arthurlee@sky.com with your suggestions. Don't forget that you can ask for time to go walking as part of your Carers Needs Assessment, if you need someone to be with the person you care for while you are out.
The dates for the next Carers Walks are:
Saturday March 10 - Wyevale Garden Centre to Breinton.
Wednesday April 4 - Haugh Woods.
Sunday May 13
Tuesday June 12
Sunday July 8
All walks start at 11.30 and a leisurely 3-6 miles (2-4 hours). Most walks will have a tea/coffee shop for afterwards but bring a packed lunch and drink as there will probably be a picnic en route.
You can get further information and a copy of the full programme from the Ramblers' website www.herefordshireramblers.org.uk.
Carers Rights Day - December 2nd 2011 - Kindle Centre - 'Carers Shaping Services'
Martin Woodford, Chief Executive Wye Valley NHS Trust signs the Herefordshire Carers Charter with some members of the Herefordshire Carers Charter Focus Group.
Over 50 Carers attended Carers Rights Day this year, held at the Kindle Centre, Hereford. The theme for the day was 'Carers Shaping Services', and was opened by Baroness Jill Pitkeathley - patron of Herefordshire Carers Support. A distinguished panel of guests comprising Ruth Hannan, Policy & Development Manager, Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Chris Baird, Assistant Director, People's Services Commissioning, Cllr. Nick Nenadich, Health & Wellbeing Board, Herefordshire Council and Jacinta Meighan-Davies, Clinical Commissioning Lead for long-term conditions, Clinical Commissioning took questions from an audience of Carers - expertly chaired by Baroness Pitkeathley!! Janet Fellowes, Chair of Trustees, Herefordshire Carers Support ensured that the day ran smoothly and to time.
In addition there were presentations from Amy Pitt, Herefordshire Council and Jane Melton, 2Gether NHS Foundation Trust on the 'draft' Carers Strategy and the 2Gether Carers Charter.
The Herefordshire Carers Charter focus group led by Valerie Fitch gave an account of how and why the Carers Charter had been developed and their aims for its future. Martin Woodford, Chief Executive, Wye Valley NHS Trust joined the group for the signing and official launch of the Charter with the ceremonial cutting of the cake!!
The event finished on a spiritual high with a performance by Welsh International Harpist/Vocalist Bethan Myfanwy Hughes to whom we would like to extend a big thank you for donating her time!!
We have prepared a report of the event which you can download here. If you would like a printed copy posted to you please contact our main office.
HCS on Facebook
Herefordshire Carers Support is now on Facebook and Twitter. Feel free to join us there!
MANY PCTS IN ENGLAND NEGLECTING CARERS
One year after the government committed millions of extra funding for England's five million unpaid carers, new research shows that spending on carers by Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) has fallen by £2.4m this year.
In November 2010 the Government allocated an extra £400m over four years (2011-2015) to provide support for carers and the research by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Care seeks to establish how the PCTs have invested the added funding this year.
The report also finds that PCTs have defied Government by not publishing plans and budgets as was requested - only 26% have published updated plans, and 13% have published budgets for 2011/12.
On a more positive note, only 4% of PCTs have not budgeted any investment in services for carers in 2011/12 - half the proportion that didn't in 2010/11. Half (50%) of PCTs are planning to invest between £100,000 and £500,000 in carers in 2011/12 and over a fifth (22%) of PCTs are investing between £500,000 and £1million, an increase from 16% in 2010/11. 7% of PCTs are investing more than £1m in 2011/12.
Liz Fenton, Chief Executive of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, says: 'We're glad to see that some PCTs have greatly increased their level of investment in services for carers. In these areas, the additional government funding has made a difference and we applaud the PCTs who have made a mark with innovative approaches to carers' breaks and improved respite care.
'However, there is a minority of PCTs still not investing anything at all, or a very small amount, in supporting carers. We understand that PCTs are under financial pressure - but strongly caution that failing to support carers does not make economic sense and is morally indefensible.' Anne Roberts, Chief Executive of Crossroads Care, adds: 'Having a break can make all the difference to a carers' health and well-being and enable them to continue in their caring role. The NHS and society in general rely on the goodwill of the millions of unpaid carers in England, families and friends, who are providing care 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We need PCTs to be upfront and transparent about how they budget their support for carers. We believe the only way local decision making can be effective and fully accountable is if local people, including carers and carers' organisations, have the information they need to hold their decision makers to account.'
Isle of Wight Judgement:
As you may know, two families recently successfully challenged the Local Authority in the Isle of Wight re their proposal to no longer provide support to their relatives.
More details on the case can be found here.
The lawyer involved has asked us to let him know if we are in contact with any families with similar issues. This is particularly relevant in Northumberland, West Berkshire and Wokingham, where the Local Authorities have set the FACS criteria as critical only.
If you are aware of any families that this applies to please contact Chrissy Dunlop or Sue Black on 01432 356068, or e-mail chrisdunlop@herefordshirecarers.co.uk or sueblack@herefordshirecarers.co.uk.
Carers and the Flu jab
As a carer you may be worried about getting the flu because it would affect your ability to care for the person you're looking after. You may be able to get a flu jab because of this, or because of your age or your own health.
The best advice we can give you is to contact your local GP. For more information visit the NHS page here.
Vitalise Taster Breaks
3 night mid-week breaks from just £299 per guest and £199 per carer.
Vitalise is offering a range of mini breaks for people with disabilities and carers including 24 hour care on-call and everything you need to enjoy your holiday.
Taster Breaks run from Tuesdays to Fridays at all of our Centres, these 3 night full board breaks include 2 daily excursions on Wednesdays and Thursdays as well as evening entertainment every night and 24 hour care on-call.
View Taster Breaks availability or call Vitalise on 0303 303 0145 to discuss your needs.
Dimensions - Autism Friendly film screenings at Odeon
Dimensions have arranged a series of screenings of films at Odeon cinemas across the country which are designed to be autism friendly. For more information click here.