Carers Focus Newsletter: April 2019

Carers Week Event Invitation -- Save the Date

This year Carers Week will be held from Monday, 10th June -- Sunday, 16th June. You are invited to celebrate Carers Week with us on Friday, 14th June from 11am-2:30pm at The Mews (35 Young Street, North Lane, Edinburgh EH2 4JD). We will be hosting two workshops, one of which we will be welcoming back our favourite artist Heather, who will facilitate an art workshop based on 'Bringing the Outside In'. The aim of the day is to have fun and relax.

Next Carers Forum : 11am -- 2pm, Thursday, 25th April 2019
Venue: Great Michael House, 14 Links Place EH6 7EZ

Thank you to everyone who came to our Carers Forum on 28th February. We welcomed Colin Beck from Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership, who spoke to us about 'Thrive' Edinburgh, Mental health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The next Forum will be on the 25th of April, from 11am-2pm and the theme will be centred around 'Coping Strategies’. New to the carers forum? The Carers Forum enables carers the opportunity to meet and look at information about current changes and developments within mental health, and to discuss and collectively address issues and move them forward to make a difference. We also run regular fun sessions that allow carers to have time for themselves and meet others who may be in similar situations. The Forum also provides a means for carers to feedback and make suggestions to help us ensure we are providing what carers really want from an advocacy service. All carers are welcome and you do not need to be a member of Edinburgh Carers Council to attend.

Booking is not required, but is helpful to know approximate numbers for catering purposes. A light lunch will be provided. Please contact Rachael on 0131 322 8480 or email rachael@edinburghcarerscouncil.co.uk for more information.

The Peer Collaborative

Edinburgh Carers Council is part of The Peer Collaborative, a network of support for peer workers and volunteers in Edinburgh. They provide opportunities for training, peer volunteering, development and career progression. They also keep people up to date with Peer Support services in Edinburgh and other developments through their monthly newsletter. You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter. If you would be interested in utilising your lived experience to help others in similar situations, the Peer Collaborative would be the ideal place to start! They can also help you access peer support or group support for yourself. Check out their website on edspace.org.uk/peer-collaborative to sign up to their newsletter, and to see what events and training opportunities are happening across Edinburgh.

Care for Carers — Respite, Stepping Out, Day Breaks and Activities

Care for Carers is a carer service that supports carers regardless of their age, gender, disability or relationship with the person they care for. They provide short breaks throughout the year through their Stepping Out service, and other day breaks and activities within and outwith Edinburgh. Examples of activities include nature walks, photography workshops, guided tours, and much more. To download their programmes for 2019, you can visit their website. For more information, give them a call on the number below.

www.care4carers.org.uk | 0131 661 2077 | enquiries@care4carers.org.uk

Purple Alert — App to Help Find Missing People with Dementia in the Community

Alzheimer Scotland have recently launched a free mobile phone app which alerts members of a community that a person with dementia has gone missing nearby. Once downloaded, carers are able to create a profile for themselves and for the person with dementia, so in a crisis they are able to send out an alert to others with the app within a 30 mile radius. Police Scotland should always be called when someone goes missing, so they will also be searching. When the person is located, the carer can be contacted through the app. Alzheimer Scotland have worked with carers, people living with dementia, Police Scotland, Social Work, Dementia Friends Scotland, Health and Social Care Partnerships, and telecare services to create the app. They are keen for as many people to download it as possible so more loved ones can be found quickly and safely. Visit their website to learn more and to join the Purple Alert Community today : https://purplealert.org.uk

Disabled Living Foundation: Living Made Easy and Ask Sara

The Disabled Living Foundation are a charity who collects information on products to assist people to live more independently. On their website https://www.livingmadeeasy.org.uk/ they have a variety of information on various products such as adaptive clothing, mobility scooters, easy turn keys, bath seats, gardening tools, kitchen gadgets, and more. They also have demonstration videos and guides to help with installation. Products are not sold directly from the website, but links to the suppliers are provided. Ask Sara https://asksara.dlf.org.uk/ is an interactive guide to help you find what you need. Questions are asked about which daily tasks you may be struggling with, then suggestions are given to which products may be most beneficial to you. There is also a helpline (0300 999 0004) which can be called for more info, and for a hard-copy fact sheet for those who do not have access to the internet. All products have been OT authorised to NHS standard. For more information, visit https://www.dlf.org.uk/

Free Health Surgeries for Carers at VOCAL

Carer organisation VOCAL is offering free health surgeries led by an NHS nurse on Tuesdays & Fridays. Sessions will be held at their Carers Hub on 60 Leith Walk. 45 minute appointments can include a Health MOT, a chance to ask questions about your health, and strategies to safeguard and promote your health and wellbeing. To book your place, please contact VOCAL on 0131 622 6666 or email centre@vocal.org.uk.

Edinburgh Headway: New Social Club for Young Adults with an ABI

Edinburgh Headway Group have launched their first social group for young adults aged between 18 and 30. Their club will support young people with an acquired brain injury to meet with their peers, which will encourage them to build friendships, confidence and social skills, reduce isolation and the risk of depression, and improve overall health and wellbeing. The Social Club will run every Friday from 1-3pm. It will be held at their new premises at (Unit 4) 27 Peffer Place, EH16 4BB. They are now taking referrals, so if interested please give them a call on 0131 370 0393 or email them at office@edinburghheadway.org.uk. To find out more visit their website edinburghheadway.org.uk