Adult Carers Services Warrington SEPTEMBER 2015

Charity No: 1060105

Carers Newsletter

Comp No: 2997803

WE ARE SAINSBURY’S CHARITY OF THE YEAR

After a rigorous interview, and an in-store and online vote, Warrington Carers Centre has been chosen as Sainsbury’s charity partner of the year for Warrington for the next 12 months. This is potentially a massive opportunity, as the main Sainsbury’s store in Warrington employs 330 people, who will now also be promoting carer awareness and engagement across Warrington. Furthermore, there is also a community chest fund within Sainsbury’s that we will have priority access to for developing bite size projects targeting carers throughout the year. We will also be offering volunteering opportunities to the Sainsbury’s team within the Adult and Young Carers Service. Well done to the teams in becoming Sainsbury’s Charity of the Year. This is a huge opportunity to increase awareness of carers and carers issues and help Wired to reach more carers, as well as bringing in additional income for carers services. The joint work will also help identification of hidden informal carers across Warrington. It is estimated that there are in excess of 20,000 informal carers in Warrington, with less than 10% accessing support services available. Over 1,700 carers are currently registered with our service. Wired is really looking forward to a year of partnership working with Sainsbury’s Warrington, and are working together to create a plan for the year. Fabulous news - find out more in our next edition!

Our in-store poster plus Sainbury’s staff

MANY PEOPLE DON’T REALISE THEY ARE CARERS - please pass on our details to anyone who you think may need our support

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CARERS WEEK JUNE 2015

Carers Week is a UK-wide annual awareness campaign which took place from 8-14 June 2015. To celebrate Carers Week, Warrington Borough Council, Warrington Clinical Commissioning Group and partners hosted a carers conference at Orford Jubilee Neighbourhood Hub. Carers from across the borough were welcomed to the carers conference on the 10 June. 114 people attended the conference with this year’s theme being, ‘Building Carer Friendly Communities’. The conference hosted a ‘marketplace’ where carers could find information from a range of organisations in Warrington. Presentations from guest speakers included an update on the Warrington Carers Strategy 2012-2015;

Introduction to the Care Act 2015; Dementia Friendly Communities and The Neighbourhood Team and Carers Working Together. Interactive workshops were held throughout the day and included Drumming, Tai Chi, Positive Thoughts and information on Dementia Friends.

The conference was a great success and we were very pleased with the responses and level of feedback which we received regarding the content and impact of the day. Carers stated the following: “Got some good information today I am so happy to have been invited to the event” “I was able to get information for most of the things I asked about - all very good stands and manned with informative people”.

On Thursday 9 July we held our annual Picnic in the Park event, over 50 carers enjoyed a sunny afternoon at Walton Gardens, lunch and wonderful entertainment from Jamie Somers. As you can see from the pictures, a fun afternoon was had by all. The Mayor, Mayoress and Cllr Pat Wright also attended. Our entertainer, Jamie Somers, joined them for a photograph (see below). We would like to thank the individuals and organisations who made kind and generous donations to the Carers Centre for our Picnic in the Park Event: Raffle prizes were donated by: The Institution, Palmyra Sq—Lunch Las Ramblas, Palmyra Sq—Lunch Callaghans Hairdressers—Cut and style £20 from Mr Timmins The £100 Competition winner was Annette Norman who won £100 Golden Gates Shopping Vouchers.

PICNIC IN THE PARK JULY 2015

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REGULAR ACTIVITES AND EVENTS EVERY MONDAY (Except Bank Holidays)

11.00am 3.00pm Carers drop-in ~ call in for a coffee and a chat—Including ‘Gel Nails and Nail Stamping Salon’ by Karen—ring to make an appointment

EVERY TUESDAY

10.00am 12.30pm Carers drop-in ~ **Lymm Youth & Community Centre Regular activities and events along with coffee and support

EVERY WEDNESDAY

10.00am 12.30pm Carers U-Knitted Craft Group @ 86 Sankey Street You bring the wool and we’ll supply the biscuits! Studies support that knitting (and crafting in general) serves as a natural anti-depressant, helps ease anxiety and stress, can protect your brain from ageing and has the effects of meditation. Come and join our lively, supportive knitting group ‘Carers U-knitted’, don’t know how to knit?, We’ll teach you! You’re never too young to learn a new skill!

2ND AND 4TH WEDNESDAY OF THE MONTH

10.00am 12 noon Carers drop-in ~ St Andrew’s Church, Orford

EVERY THURSDAY

10.00am 12 noon Carers drop-in ~ Fearnhead Cross Youth & Community Centre, Padgate Regular activities and events along with coffee and support

EVERY FRIDAY (Except Bank Holidays)

11.00am 3.00pm Carers drop-in ~ 86 Sankey Street ~ call in for a coffee and a chat

Warrington Borough Council’s Carer Support Workers will also attend drop-ins on the second week of every month to offer additional support, advice and information.

FRIDAY 11th SEPTEMBER, 16th OCTOBER and 13th NOVEMBER 2015

1.00pm 3.00pm REFLEXOLOGY SESSIONS with Sarah from BodyMindSole. Please ring to book an appointment—only ONE appointment per person over the 3 dates, thanks

TUESDAY 15 SEPTEMBER

1.30pm 5.30pm MUSICAL MEMORIES AFTERNOON (Live Music by Elvis Impersonator) at The Crown, Lymm—Free coach from The Golden Gates. £5—monies on booking please.

THURSDAY 22 OCTOBER 2015

10.00am 4.00pm OSWALDTWISTLE MILL ~ shop till you drop! £7.50

TUESDAY 27 OCTOBER—TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2015

11.00am 1.00pm 4 WEEK MINDFULNESS COURSE Practising Mindfulness can give more insight into emotions, boost attention and concentration and improve relationships. Please ring 01925 633492 to book yourself on the course—places are limited, preference to carers who can attend all 4 sessions.

EVENTS THIS QUARTER

ALL OUR EVENTS TAKE PLACE AT 86 SANKEY STREET UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED. PLEASE RING 01925 633492 TO BOOK

LIMITED PLACES

STOP PRESS

See our Carers U-knitted

Group in Sept. issue of

Simply Knitting

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EVENTS CONTINUED

PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION

We’d like to invite you to take part in our first Photography Competition. Winning photographs will be framed and displayed in The Centre. Photos can be of anything - a landscape or an object, but the subject must be in or about Warrington, the more unusual a view/object the better. Please send your photographs in to the team either by post or email wcsadmin1@wired.me.uk with a few words about the photograph, pictures will be on display later this year. Closing date for entries: Friday 20 November 2015

Disclaimer: Every effort is made to ensure that the information in this newsletter is correct. Wired Adult and Young Carers Services Warrington can accept no liability for errors and omissions and cannot recommend products or services. Views and

opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Wired Adult and Young Carers Services Warrington.

Guess where this particularly inviting little spot in Warrington is? Come and join us for our Drop Ins when the sun is shining!

FRIDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2015

12noon 1.00pm DEMENTIA FRIENDS SESSION

TUESDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2015

7.30pm 8.30pm DEMENTIA FRIENDS SESSION

THURSDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2015

10.00am 4.00pm CHESHIRE OAKS—Get a head start on that Christmas Shopping! £5

OUR SERVICES

Wired Adult and Young Carers Services are a charity commissioned by Warrington Borough Council to provide a range of services to support and enhance the lives of unpaid carers of all ages. Listed are just a selection of the services we provide. You are welcome to call into The Centre at 86 Sankey Street between 9.00am - 5.00pm or visit our Outreach Drop ins (see listings inside) 1:1 Emotional Support Carer’s Advocacy/LGBT Advocacy Information and Signposting Training opportunities, personal

development and stress management Counselling GP Liaison and Hospital Discharge Carer

Support Dementia Friends Free Emergency Card Therapy and Pamper Sessions Free Quarterly Magazine Volunteering Reminder Text Messaging, for appointments/events/trips

Outreach Drop in venues Craft Group Day Trips/lunches There are several ways you can refer to us: Call The Centre direct on 01925 633492 Contact us via Facebook Send an email to wcsadmin1@wired.me.uk Ask your Social Worker or support worker to

refer you Ask your GP to refer you Download a registration form from our website

www.wired.me.uk/services/carers support

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A new service to make it easier for patients to see a GP in the evening and weekends is now up and running in Warrington town centre. The service runs weekday evenings from 6pm to 8pm and from 8am to 8pm at weekends at Bath Street Health & Wellbeing Centre and appointments can be offered to Warrington residents registered with a Warrington GP practice.

The appointments are available between the hours of 6pm to 8pm weekdays and 8am to 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays for non-urgent patients only, on a first come first served basis. The appointments must be booked in advance and can only be accessed following referral to the service by your own practice. It is not a same-day appointment service. The service has been developed by Warrington Health Plus, a new social enterprise established by Warrington’s GP practices, following the award of extra funding from the Prime Minister’s Challenge

Fund. The Fund recognises and supports the GPs’ work to develop family doctor services in Warrington.

Dr Sue Burke, GP at Springfields Medical Centre said “This service will be a real benefit to patients. It can be very difficult for some people to access GP appointments if they are working, which is why we are offering more choice to those who find it hard to see their own GP within core hours”. “If you are registered with a Warrington GP, your practice will be able to refer you to this service if you need a routine GP appointment either out of normal hours or sooner than your practice can offer. Self-referral will not be possible as access to these appointments can only be arranged through GP practices.”

Dr Burke added: “Of course, seeing a GP is one of a number of services available to people and for some conditions, a GP may not be the most appropriate source of support. Other options include NHS 111, the local pharmacy and the out of hours service for urgent care.” Patients who would find a later or weekend appointment more convenient, should ask the receptionist when booking a non-urgent GP appointment.

NEW SERVICE—MAKING IT EASIER TO SEE A GP IN EVENINGS

AND AT WEEKENDS

Two members of our team have recently completed LGBT Advocacy and are available to support any members of the LGBT Community who are caring for someone. We’ll be available at ’Be You, Be Proud’ on Sunday 8 November, you can contact us on the usual number at The Centre; 01925 633492.

LGBT ADVOCACY AT WIRED

DEMENTIA FRIENDS AT WIRED

OUTREACH DROP IN VENUES

A Dementia Friend learns a little bit more about what it’s like to live with dementia and then turns that understanding into action. Anyone, of any age, can be a Dementia Friend. Dementia Friends learn more about dementia and the small ways you can help—from telling friends about Dementia Friends to visiting someone you know living with dementia - every action counts. Dementia Friends Information Sessions are run by Volunteer Dementia Friends Champions who are trained and supported by the Alzheimer’s Society. Each information session lasts around an hour. You will learn more about dementia and how you can help to create dementia friendly communities. See our events listings for dates of upcoming sessions.

We are hoping to arrange venues in the Burtonwood and Culcheth areas.

If you are interested in attending or finding out more, please contact us on 01925 633492 for more details.

NEW

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If you have an email address and would like to receive information and reminders of events, please let us know your name and email address. You can either email us on:- wcsadmin1@wired.me.uk or telephone 01925 633492. If you have recently changed your mobile number please let us know, we can update you via text too! Alternatively check out what’s happening on Facebook.

Connect 5, Brief Mental Wellbeing Advice is a half-day training session for staff, volunteers and carers who work with adults. The aim of the training is to increase people’s skills and confidence, so they feel better able to support others. The training is based on a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach. This approach can help people to recognise and change some of the unhelpful patterns of thinking or behaviour that are behind their difficulties, so people can then improve the way they feel on a daily basis. If you’re interested in attending this free mental wellbeing training session then please let Deb Fitzsimon at the Carers Centre know. Tel 01925 633492 or email wcsadmin1@wired.me.uk. Once there are enough people to fill a session, a date for the training will be arranged.

FREE TRAINING FOR CARERS

The CEA Card is a national card scheme developed for UK cinemas. The scheme was introduced in 2004 and is one of the ways for participating cinemas to ensure they make reasonable adjustments for disabled guests when they go to the cinema; in particular it ensures a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them. Approximately 90% of cinemas accept the card. What does the CEA Card entitle me to? The CEA Card allows you to obtain ONE free ticket for the person who is accompanying you to enable you to visit the cinema, by providing the assistance you require as a result of your disability, provided you purchase an applicable full price ticket for yourself for the same performance of the same film in the same auditorium. The free ticket is provided on the assumption that the person who accompanies you is able to provide you with Appropriate assistance. For example, this might include • assisting you in moving around the cinema including finding and taking a seat; • helping you evacuate the cinema in the event of an emergency;

• accompanying and/or assisting you in using the cinema’s toilets; • assisting you in purchasing refreshments. Currently people who receive one of the following benefits are eligible: • Disability Living Allowance (DLA); • Attendance Allowance (AA); • Blind Persons Registration; • Personal Independence Payment (PIP); and • Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP). Fee is £6 per year. (Cared for needs to apply for carer to go free), applications available from The Centre, call us on 01925 633492

FREE CINEMA FOR CARERS—CEA CARD

KEEP IN TOUCH AND KEEP UP TO DATE