Wolverhampton City Council Carer Support Team
October 2011 Bulletin
Welcome to our October Bulletin for carers. I realise this is earlier than usual but I am not going to be able to send it next week so wanted to make sure you got your news and information beforehand. Remember the carer support team are always here for you and you can call on 01902 553409 to speak to our duty officer, Monday to Friday between 9am and 4.30pm or you can call into our office on Blossoms Fold.
I hope you find some of the information below useful and please get in touch if there is something that you would like to include or be included in future bulletins.
City Carer Magazine - Coming Soon!
The City Carer will be available at the end of October and as usual I will we distributing this to GP's surgeries, hospitals, our partner organisations, and various Information points in the in the city, through our support groups via Omega and those on my email distribution list will be getting an electronic copy. You can always pick up copies from the Carers centre. if you would like a hard copy(ies) of the newsletter, please email me on or call me on 01902 553529 and leave your name and full address, letting me know how many copies you require. I hope you will find this magazine useful - please let me know what you think!
Wolverhampton Carer Forums Annual General Meeting will be held on Thursday 29th September from 1:45pm - 2:15pm at Action 4 Independence Centre (A4I), Albert Road, Wolverhampton, WV6 0AF. For further information contact Omega on 0845 259 3163
Age UK - shaping their new services
Age UK Wolverhampton would like to involve you in the design and development of new services in Wolverhampton for people over 50. They want to build on their highly valued established services such as Luncheon Clubs, Advice and Information, Friendship Club, Safety Support, Hospital Discharge Service, IT Project, Holidays for the Physically Frail, Telephone Support, Telephone Buddying. Age UK Wolverhampton wants to provide additional services that reflect the needs of an ageing population in today's society and aim to;
· Improve health and wellbeing, and support people to live healthy, independent lives for longer
· help older people to socialise
· support carers
Have you say by completing the attached questionnaire and return to the address provided on the form.
Carer Housing event
Monday 10th October 9.30 to 3pm
Newhampton Road Arts centre, Dunkley Street Wolverhampton, WV1 4AN
The event will offer information, advice and guidance to carers around housing options in Wolverhampton for people with Learning disabilities. Carers will have the opportunity to attend workshops which will cover a range of topics. The will also be a market area where carers will be able to talk to providers around the services that they deliver.
Workshop topics include:
· What is important to carers when planning for the future
· Homeownership and family investment
· Maximising income and mastering benefits
· Tenancies and capacity: keeping people safe
If you would like to attend the event, then please confirm your attendance with Bob Heath on 01902 550694 or email Bob.Heath2 at Wolverhampton.gov.uk no later than Friday 30th September.
Dementia cafes in Wolverhampton
The Alzheimer's Society in partnership with Wolverhampton City Council holds regular Dementia Cafes in the city
· 'Suhaani Yaadein' Beautiful memories Café at Blakenhall Community and healthy Living Centre, Bromley Street, Wolverhampton, WV2 3AS on First Wednesday of the month 10.30am to 12.30pm
· Café in the Park at Bantock House, Finchfield Road, Wolverhampton, Wv3 9LQ, on first Tuesday of the Month 10am to 12pm
· Gathering space café at Wolverhampton Art Gallery, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 1DU on third Thursday of the month 10.30am to 12.30pm
For further information please contact Gurvinder Dhupia on 07714 139678 or Claire Reynolds on 07714 139679. You can contact the Alzheimer's Society on 0121 525 7600.
Planning for the future events
If someone in your family or someone you care for has a learning disability, you can take steps now to ensure that they are well looked after when you are no longer around. Mencap have organised some Free information sessions where you can find out more information about setting up wills and trusts for the benefit of someone with a learning disability.
There are a number of dates and venues
Mon 17 Oct 12.30 to 2.30pm, The subscription, George St, Stroud, GL5 1AE
Tue 18 Oct 12.30 to 2.30pm, Shottery Memorial Hall, Hathaway Lane, Statford-upon-Avon, CV37 9BL
Wed 19 Oct 12.30 to 2.30pm, The Civic Suite, Redditch Borough Council, Town Hall, Walter Stranz Square, Redditch, B98 9AH
Thu 20 Oct 12.30 to 2.30pm, Museum of Cannock Chase, Valey Road, Hednesford, Staffordshire, WS12 1TD
Fri 21 Oct 12.30 to 2.30pm, Wilnecote Parish Hall Association, Watling Street, Two gates, Tamworth, Staffordshire, B77 5Ad
To book your place, please call 0207 696 6925 quoting PFFE11WMG/651330
Beacon Centre for the Blind - Annual i Sight Exhibition
The Beacon centre for the Blind are holding their annual i Sight Technology Exhibition on 12th October. We have 8 suppliers exhibiting their ranges of assistive equipment including Optelec, Enhanced vision, Humanware and Optima. Contact John if you need any further information. John Walters, Equipment & Advice Officer , Beacon Centre for the Blind Wolverhampton Road East, Wolverhampton, WV4 6AZ.Call 01902 880111 or 01902 886786 or visit www.beacon4blind.co.uk
Wolves Aid specialises in supporting small to medium sized locally based organisations whose work focuses on children, families, disadvantage and disability and 'make a difference' within the community. Any work which has a positive effect on the welfare and quality of life, or which enhances the opportunities and life choices for people in this region will be considered. Areas of support to date have included physical and learning disability, physical and mental health, plus social challenge and deprivation. They are particularly keen to support those who have already begun to make an impact, but need a helping hand to expand their work and increase their effectiveness, therefore organisations need to have been running for over 12 months and able to produce audited accounts. Organisations who use a high level of volunteers in order to achieve their objectives are encouraged to apply. Wolves Aid prefers to deal with registered charities but is happy to consider applications from other 'not for profit' organisations operating with the community's interests in mind. Funding is generally not available for national charities or large, established fund-raising bodies.
Funding is normally provided in one of three forms:
. 'One-off' awards for capital projects (e.g. the purchase of equipment or refurbishment of community facilities).
. 'Kick-start' awards aimed at helping an organisation launch a specific initiative
(e.g. the ongoing cost of hiring a venue for a community project or the launch costs for a new initiative).
. 'Multi-year' awards providing annual funding over an agreed period for community projects
(e.g. a three year agreement to fund the annual running costs of a holiday activities programme for children).
The type, size and time period of an award is based on the perceived 'difference' that Wolves Aid support will make to the project and its beneficiaries.
Not funded: Animal Welfare - Arts/Heritage - Conservation/Environment - Expeditions and Overseas Travel - General Fundraising Appeals - Individual and Sports - Sponsorship - Large National Charities - Mainstream Education - Promotion of Specific Religions
For further information please contact 01902 828366 http://www.wolvescommunitytrust.org.uk/wt/wolves_aid <http://www.wolvescommunitytrust.org.uk/wt/wolves_aid
Buses to New Cross Hospital
Centro have listed the buses that travel to New Cross Hospital in their new City Centre Map and Guide and provided stands in the new bus station for these buses. Bus number 28 travels inside New Cross Hospital and can be found at stand F and Bus number 25 (a not so frequently running bus) can be found at stand B. For further information please call Traveline 0871 200 22 33.
Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust has launched a great new interactive website that will help residents to lead a healthier life in the City. www.wolverhamptonwellbeing.nhs.uk
The website has four sections, is available anytime for everyone, and is translated into four community languages:
· Healthy Lifestyles - with information on healthy eating, physical activity, stopping smoking and reducing alcohol consumption
· Healthy Minds - with information and self help resources for dealing with stress, depression, anxiety and panic
· Mental Wellbeing - with sections for young people, adults and parents on the "5 ways to wellbeing"
· Supporting Employment - with information on help with finding work, training, education and volunteering
Caring for our future
The Government has launched Caring for our future: shared ambitions for care and support - an engagement with people who use care and support services, carers, local councils, care providers, and the voluntary sector. It is about priorities for improving care and support. Caring for our future is an opportunity to bring together the recommendations from the Law Commission and the Commission on Funding of Care and Support with the Government's Vision for Adult Social Care, and to discuss what the priorities for reform should be. The engagement exercise will run until 2 December and the results from the discussions will inform a Government White Paper that will be published in spring 2012. For more information and for details on how to get involved, please go to: www.caringforourfuture.dh.gov.uk <http://www.caringforourfuture.dh.gov.uk%20
All our bulletins are available on our website at www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/carers and you can also access our Carer Awareness training at this site.
Many thanks
Melinder Kaur
Information Officer
Carer Support Team, Carer Support Centre, Blossoms Fold, Wolverhampton, WV1 4HJ
Tel: 01902 553429
Email: <mailto:>
Website: www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/carers <http://www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/carers