Carers Focus Newsletter: October 2022

Dear everyone,

Welcome to the Carers Focus Newsletter for October 2022. We hope you and your loved ones are all doing well. We have a few updates for you this month, including an introduction to three new ECC staff members, dates for our next Carers Forum and AGM, information about a new Eating Disorders Peer Support Service, and details for the Post Diagnostic Support for Dementia Review.

Welcome to New Staff!

Edinburgh Carers Council now has three new members of staff. Please give a warm welcome to Isabella Balloch, Emmy Biddle, and Glen Scott! 

Isabella and Glen will be providing individual and collective advocacy to carers and Emmy has joined our team as a Peer Support Worker for carers of adults with an eating disorder. There will be the opportunity to meet them in person at our next Carers Forum on Thursday 10th November, from 11am-2pm at Great Michael House, 14 Links Place, EH6 7EZ. (You can find further details about the Carers Forum on the following page of this newsletter)

New Peer Support Service for Carers of Adults with an Eating Disorder

Emmy Biddle, Peer Worker, is developing a new peer service which will support carers of adults with an eating disorder. We are currently working to connect with relevant organisations such as the Regional Eating Disorder Unit at St John’s Hospital. Emmy is searching for volunteers who have lived experience caring for someone with an eating disorder to help provide this service and is organising a support group for eating disorder carers as well. If interested in attending the group or volunteering, or if you would like further details, please get in touch with Emmy by emailing emmy@edinburghcarerscouncil.co.uk or calling 0131 322 8480.

Peer Support Services Information Booklets

We have published two new booklets on our Peer Support Services for Carers (age 18+). You can find digital copies of the booklets on our Website. One booklet is about our general peer support services while the other focuses on our new service which is specifically for carers of adults with an eating disorder. If you would like to be sent a physical copy of either booklet (or to be emailed a digital PDF), contact Rachael by emailing rachael@edinburghcarerscouncil.co.uk or calling 0131 322 8480. If you are interested in receiving 1:1 Peer Support, or if you would like more information about our Carers Peer Support Groups, please get in touch with Rachael by using the contact details listed above. We are also recruiting peer support volunteers for both of these services.#

Next Carers Forum : Thursday 10th November 2022

Our next Carers Forum will be on Thursday, 10th November, from 11am-2pm and will be located in The Links meeting room in our offices at Great Michael House, 14 Links Place, EH6 7EZ.

This Forum will be an opportunity for carers to meet our new staff members and to hear about their individual roles in ECC. The Carers Forum is also a great place to meet others who may be in similar situations and to raise issues that are important to you as a carer.

The Carers Forum is a relaxed environment which enables carers the opportunity to meet, look at information about current changes and developments within mental health, and to discuss and collectively address issues to move them forward to make a difference. The Forum is open to all unpaid carers supporting someone with mental health difficulties or physical disabilities. This includes carers of individuals with dementia, learning disability, autism spectrum condition, or acquired brain injury. You do not need to be a member of Edinburgh Carers Council to attend.

For more details, or to book your place, please contact Rachael by emailing rachael@edinburghcarerscouncil.co.uk or calling 0131 322 8480. Lunch will be provided on the day with teas & coffees available. We look forward to seeing you there! 

AGM 2022 & Ruth Rooney’s Retirement Gathering! : Friday 25th November 2022

The 2022 Annual General Meeting for Edinburgh Carers Council will take place on Friday, 25th November from 11am-2pm at The Mews (NASUWT, 35 Young Street, North Lane, EH2 4JD). All are welcome to attend. Teas, coffees and biscuits will be available upon arrival at 11am and AGM business will begin at 11:30am. A buffet lunch will be served afterwards, around 12:30pm.

We will also use this day as an opportunity to mark Ruth Rooney’s retirement. Ruth has been the Coordinator at Edinburgh Carers Council since 2007 and will soon be retiring. We would love for everyone to join us to celebrate and thank Ruth for all her hard work, support, and everything she has done for carers & ECC.

For more details or to book your place, please contact Rachael by emailing rachael@edinburghcarerscouncil.co.uk or calling 0131 322 8480. If you are only able to attend the second half the meeting to celebrate Ruth’s retirement, this would be fine, but please do let us know if you are planning to attend so we have an idea of numbers for catering.