Carer Support Wiltshire Newsletter · Support Wiltshire’s (CSW) newsletter. This issue marks the next step in our aim to create more opportunities for the people and businesses

Talking Labels - Kate’s story pg 4

Be a good egg with Britain’s Best Breakfast pg 7

GP Carers Scheme hits new heights pg 11

Carer Support Wiltshire Newsletter Autumn/Winter 2016

Carer Support Wiltshire is a local charity providing support to unpaid carers inWiltshire. A carer is someone who provides unpaid support to a family member or friend whocould not manage without their help. There are over 47,000 carers in Wiltshire. We help carers access local services, support groups, education and training, andbreaks from their caring role. We raise awareness of carers needs with health andsocial care professionals and support employers with our Working For Carersprogramme. To find out more visit www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk

A message from our Chief Executive, Catharine Hurford

Welcome to the autumn issue of CarerSupport Wiltshire’s (CSW) newsletter.

This issue marks the next step in our aimto create more opportunities for thepeople and businesses of Wiltshire tosupport the three in five of us who willbe carers at some point. CSW can nolonger rely on local authority fundingsupplemented by smallish grants; weowe it to the 47,000 carers in Wiltshire,11,000 of which are registered with us, toensure we continue to deliver thesupport and services they value.

It seems that every time I put pen topaper for the newsletter I’m talkingabout change, and how we can bestadapt and seize the opportunities thatare undoubtedly out there. Demand

continues to rise, with 15% more newcarers coming forward for support lastyear and the board of trustees areinvesting in building strong foundationsfor the long term success of this veryspecial organisation.

In the next few months we will launchFriends of Carer Support Wiltshire -more news to follow. As a Friend of CSWyou will be able to take part in some ofthe fabulous and fun work we do forcarers and your role will be celebratedand placed at the heart of theorganisation. The Friends will help uswith fundraising activities such asBritain’s Big Breakfast and help peoplelike young adult carer Sophie reach forthe stars. Please sign up yourself, orencourage your friends, family membersor employer to join us. You can alsomake a difference to a carer by makinga donation. Turn to page 11 to find outmore.

Thank you from everyone here at CSW.

2 www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk

Catharine Hurford, Chief Executive of Carer Support Wiltshire

!

Catharine and family walk a mile for carers

3www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk

News

Carers Week Comes to Wiltshire

In June we celebrated and raisedawareness of unpaid carers in the UKand Wiltshire during national CarersWeek. There were carer awarenessstands at the Devizes, Salisbury andMarlborough markets, at Royal UnitedHospital Bath, the Great WesternHospital in Swindon and in GP surgeriesacross the county. We finished off theweek with our Walk A Mile in My Shoessponsored walk. The sun shone and wewere joined by MP Michelle Donelanwho completed the walk in record timein wacky wellies. Thank you to everyonewho took part and to our sponsorsCorsham Print, Novum Law, HomeInstead Senior Care, Saversnake View,John Williams Heating, Wiltshire Electricsand Mears Group.

Volunteer Hero Viv Wins Award

Congratulations to Viv Bass who won theSouth West Regional Marsh Award forCarers for her volunteering work with CSW.

Viv has been volunteering for six yearsand in the past year has supported carerswho have become isolated and lonely intheir caring role with regular phone calls.She also helps out at the Salisbury CarersCafé and attends Salisbury DistrictHospital Carer Café to welcome and giveadvice to carers who have been identifiedby the hospital.

“It can be very lonely and isolating being a carer and any extra help and supportfrom a volunteer is usually welcomed with open arms.”

If you would like to become a volunteer we would love to hear from you!

Diane and Dominic Tilley

New Trustees

We are delighted to welcome Chris Meier, Janet Surr, Ruth Martindale and JaneMason to our board of trustees. The new board, led by Chair Laraine Marriott andVice-chair Huw Ponting will be working closely with Catharine to ensure the charitycontinues to support unpaid carers in Wiltshire.

Hello and Goodbye

Hello to Heather Patrick who has joined us as Office Manager, Jacqui Radford ournew Referral Duty Worker who will also be looking after our Pathways to Workproject, Laura Wells, new Support Worker for Mental Health and Jade Harold andSam Hampton who look after customer services. Goodbye to Helen Pearson andDiana Finch from the Infastructure Team who have both contributed so much to CarerSupport Wiltshire and will be sadly missed.

Are we up to date?

We have a duty to make sure the information we hold about carers is accurate andup to date. Alongside this, because of negative press caused by the poor practicesof some charities, new fundraising regulations are coming into force. We are takingthis opportunity to contact everyone whose details we hold but with whom we’vehad no significant contact over the past 18 months or so, to check that our recordsare correct. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.



Looking at the Positives

Our experience of supporting thousandsof carers has helped us recognise theskills, strengths and positivity that we allpossess. We want to build on this andwork with health and social careproviders, as well as our colleagues inother charities across Wiltshire to helpimprove what is on offer. Our supportworkers will continue to work alongsidecarers to build on their success andachievements, to help improvewellbeing and build a positive future.

Services for carers so often focus on;‘What are your problems? What’s notgoing well for you? What can we giveyou that will help?’ All valid questionsthat need to be thought about andacknowledged, but, why not ask: ‘What’sgood for you at the moment? What doyou enjoy doing? What’s around you thatcould potentially make a difference?’

We continuously evaluate how we workand support unpaid carers. Over thepast few months we have looked at howwe can help people access additionalsupport in their own communities,amongst families and friends and, mostimportantly, within their own personalresources.

A Label with Meaning

We all like labels, right? Ted Baker,Ralph Lauren, M&S?

Up to June 4th 2012 I was just me, anearly 40 year old, single, winedrinking, cat owning, sister, aunt, afriend, sometimes the funny one oreven the fat one. But that was as faras my labels went and some I liked,some I didn’t. Then on that day Ibecame Carer. A carer to my mum, andthen to my dad. Suddenly I had a labelwith a meaning. I’m not sure I actually

sat and thought about it, it wasn’t achoice, I wasn’t asked if I would like therole. It just happened and everythingchanged.

My mum had suffered a right-sidedstroke which meant a left-sidedweakness. She would never walk, beindependent, cook for herself, get upand answer the door, do anything forherself again. Ever. She would need 24hour care.


After her seven week stay in hospital,a period of visits, encouragement,asking of questions, adapting thehouse, learning of equipment, my mumcould come home. Once you get overthe sheer joy of agreeing that yourmum can be discharged from hospital,you realise you have absolutely noidea what happens next. What caredoes she receive, from whom, whopays, who do I call if I’m worried, whodo I call if my mum’s worried, ifsomething doesn’t work, if someonedoesn’t turn up, what medication getsgiven when and by whom? That’swhen the realisation of what being acarer entails hits you so that you wantto get back into your car, drive backdown the M4 and pretend that it’s justanother day. But you can’t. You have to

become chief medication-giver,equipment fairy and acronym-solver.

So, with very little information, weembarked on a journey that has beenfraught with tears, laughter, learning,anger, a lot of frustration and loss.Turns out everyone was right, there isno Life Manual, specifically one fordisease or despair or disability. Youlearn as you go…

I know I don’t wear the uniform of ahealth care assistant or nurse, doctor,physio but I am that person’s carer. Iam the person with the label who sortsit all out. I am the daughter of the ladyin the wheelchair. I tell my mum life’sgood, it’s just different. My name isKate.


Becoming a carer doesn’t always fit into your life choices orhopes for the future. If you are looking after someone whocouldn’t manage without your help there is support and adviceavailable. Contact us on 0800 181 4118

Did you know?

Three in five of us will becomecarers at some point in our lives.

The economic value of thecontribution made by carers in the UK is £132bn a year and£961m in Wiltshire

A Label with Meaning


GP Carers Scheme Hits New Heights

The Carer Support Wiltshire Investorsin Carers GP Accreditation Schemeheld their annual awards evening inJuly to recognise and celebrate thoseWiltshire GP practices that have goneabove and beyond for unpaid carers.This year saw a record number ofsubmissions and winners, with 37practices achieving awards.

The scheme, funded by WiltshireCouncil and the NHS Wiltshire ClinicalCommissioning Group, raisesawareness of carers’ issues in GPpractices and recognises their supportto carers with awards.

To achieve a gold award, practicesneed to meet more than a dozenrequirements, including: maintainingan up-to-date carer’s register, having acarer’s lead, providing flexible

appointments for carers and holding atleast one carer’s clinic a year. Twentytwo practices were awarded a GoldPlus award for their ongoing goldstandard commitment to carers.

Ann cares for her husband, John andis a patient at Gold Plus award winners,the Endless Street Surgery in Salisbury.She said:

“Everyone at the surgery has beenbrilliant. Not long after a period inhospital (for a broken pelvis) I attendeda carer health check at the surgery. Atthe time I was finding it difficult to getout and felt quite low. I was referred toone of the Carer Clinics where I metJulian, a support worker at CSW. Julianwas lovely and full of information andhelped me to get the support Ineeded.”

Hindon Surgery receiving their award


Our GP surgery led Carer Clinics were attended by 616 carers lastyear. Held in tandem with health checks, 44 carers were givenhelp for previously undiagnosed health conditions.

21% of carers providing over 50 hoursof care say they are in poor health with39% putting off medical treatmentbecause of their caring role. Since thestart of the scheme there has beenimproved identification of previouslyunknown carers, including youngcarers, with GPs being the main sourceof these referrals.

Paul Wilkins, a carer who attends theHindon Surgery, recently praised thescheme in his recent blog:

“The Hindon Surgery Carers’ Clinicwas a terrific and very worthwhileexperience which really opened up oureyes to the many ways the NHS, thesurgery, charity and Wiltshire Councilare genuinely trying to help carers, aswell as support the way in which lovedones themselves are cared for."

GP Carers Scheme Hits New Heights

Like a holiday from work, a breakfrom caring for someone canimprove health and wellbeing.Our carer cafes and supportgroups offer friendly supportover a cuppa.

Find out more on our website orby calling 0800 181 4118.


Young Adult Carers

Sophie’s story

Sophie is studying at Bristol UWE. Now20, she has been her mum’s carer sinceshe was 14 years old. Sophie had toleave university in her first year to lookafter her mum, but when she returned,the stress of combining her caring rolewith studying, a part time job, cookingand cleaning the house soon becametoo much.

When we first met Sophie, she was atcrisis point and suffering from severeanxiety and depression. Andrea, ourYoung Adult Carer Support Workerprovided Sophie with a listening ear andthe support she needed. A carersassessment meant Sophie was able toaccess help from Wiltshire Council whoagreed to pay for a cleaner to come inonce a week. She has also beenawarded a bursary from university whichmeans she doesn’t have to work duringterm, freeing up more time for studying.

Once Sophie graduates she would liketo become a mental health nurse. In themeantime, Andrea and the team will bethere for her.

Find out how you can help support more young adult carers like Sophie onpage 11.

If you are aged between 16 & 25 and look after someone who couldn’t managewithout your help, don’t wait until things become too much. There is supportavailable - from taking a break, learning new skills and helping with your CV,Andrea and the team can help. Tel: 0800 181 4118

We CAN change the world!

In February, student carer Carol Hayward, 21, started a campaign for an additionaltick box to be added to the UCAS form to prompt young adult carers to identifythemselves. The tick box would mean universities could easily find out whetherapplicants would be studying as well as caring. Carers Trust and CSW backed thecampaign and in just six weeks more than 2,500 signatures poured in to show theirsupport. UCAS has now confirmed that from 2018 there will be a specific option onits Apply form.


Donate

“I don’t have any family support so having someone in the corner for you isamazing. It’s like an angel flew in.” - Anita who cares for her disabled daughter

To make a donation or to find out about Friends of Carers Support Wiltshire please complete and return this form or call 0800 181 4118.

You can also visit our website www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk Thank you!

£250

£150

£50

£25 could provide a trip to the cinema for two Young Adult

Carers to enjoy time with their friends and a break from their caring role.

could provide relaxing pampering sessions and a

rare treat for five carers.

could pay for a series of counselling sessions for

carers who need additional support.

could provide ten driving lessons for a

Young Adult Carer living in a rural area.

From time to time we would like to keep you updated with news,events and about the difference you make to carers’ lives throughdonations. We will only contact you if you have given your consent for us to do so and we will refresh your consent every 2 years*.

Your Gift

Title First Name Surname

Address

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Email

You can help carers by supporting us today!

I am happy to receive occasional updates by email from Carer Support Wiltshire. I give my written consent for Carer Support Wiltshire to contact me.

Signed……………………................................................................ Dated……………………......................

Your Gift (continued)

I would like to make a donation of £25 £50 £120 £250 or £


Please make cheques payable to Carer Support Wiltshire or fill in your card detailsbelow. Alternatively you can donate online at www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk

Make a one-off donation If you would like to make a regular donation please contact us on 0800 181 4118

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Using gift aid means that for every £1 you give, we can receive anextra 25p from the Government, helping your donation go evenfurther. In order to Gift Aid your donation you MUST tick the boxes below:

I want to Gift Aid this and any future donations to Carer Support Wiltshire

I am a UK taxpayer. I understand that if I pay less income tax or capital gains tax than the amount of gift aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year, it is my responsibility to pay any difference. I will include gift aid donations on any self-assessment tax return.

Please notify Carer Support Wiltshire if you move, or if you have to cancel this declaration, forexample because you no longer pay enough tax to cover the gift aid.

Signed……………………................................................................ Dated……………………......................

Make your gift go further

Leaving a gift in my Will How I can fundraise Becoming a volunteer

How my business can get involved Carer Support Wiltshire events

Becoming a Friend of Carer Support Wiltshire

Please return completed form to: Freepost RSSL–JXEA–UCGY, Carer SupportWiltshire, Independent Living Centre, St Georges Road, Semington, Trowbridge,Wiltshire BA14 6JQ

Please tell me more about

*This information will not be kept on file and will be deleted once your donation is processed.


Who cares for the carers?

Pam has been a carer for her husbandsince he was diagnosed with a frontlobal brain tumour. Part of the tumourwas removed, but they were not ableto reach all of it. This has left herhusband unable to read, write orcomplete many physical tasks.Inhibitors in his brain have also beenaffected and have left him withbehavioural and personality disorders.

Pam finds it hard to get away withoutworrying about her husband’s welfare.

“He has locked himself out andsmashed a door down to get in, andoften leaves taps running.”

Pam made contact with CSW about 12years ago.

“When I’ve reached rock bottom,they’ve helped and supported me.Sometimes just being a voice on theother end of a phone when I’veneeded someone to talk to.”

Our counsellors delivered 215 hoursof counselling last year with 455carers receiving one to one support.

Someone who cares for a loved oneoften forgets to care for themselves.Our carer pampering sessions, supportgroups, carer cafes and time out treatsprovide carers like Pam with theopportunity to take a break.

You can help us to make a differenceto more people like Pam and Sue.Donate. Fundraise. Volunteer.

“Things are not always easy, but going to things like the CreativeCarers groups has been a real tonic. I go there after a fewdifficult days and it’s lovely. Everyone is in the same position andwe talk and laugh, and I come out thinking that things are not sobad.” Sue, who attends our cafes and groups.

Help to access new training & employment


Hire Me My Way

Carer Support Wiltshire is proud toback this new campaign, which aims topersuade more and more employers toopen up to part-time and flexiblearrangements, from the point of hire.By joining Hire Me My Way, you’ll behelping to create a fairer job market forall the people who can’t work atraditional full time job.

If you visit www.HireMeMyWay.org.ukyou will find:

– The chance to add your voice to this important campaign

– Downloadable career guidance packs on finding a flexible job in today’s market, and returning to work after a break

– Free advice and support on having ‘that’ flexible working conversation with a prospective employer

Pathways To Work

Thanks to some funding from WiltshireCommunity Foundation, we havestarted our Pathways To Work (P2W)project. This is aimed at carers orrecent ex-carers who, having given upwork to care, now want to re-join theworkforce.

Our newly appointed P2W SupportWorker will be helping carers accessnew training and employment, workingwith them to create an action plan,building on their strengths andexperience and putting in place theright sort of help. As a result of the highdemand for this service, the schemewill be rolled out gradually. Once thescheme is operational county wide,we’ll be able to open the doors to newapplicants. Watch this space!

Jobs Board

Looking for a job in or near Wiltshire?Our Jobs Board is exclusively forWorking For Carers members – carer-aware businesses who recognise theimportance of supporting the carers intheir workforce. Check out thevacancies on offer in the Work &Employment section of our website.


Work Placements

We’re looking for businesses tosupport our Pathways To Workscheme. Carers and former carersbring with them a wealth of experienceand transferable skills beyond whatyou might find in a traditional CV.However, employers sometimesoverlook them during recruitment,perhaps because of ‘gaps’ on their CV.Carers meanwhile need a chance torebuild their confidence to give themthe best chance to find a new job.

Could you offer a work experienceplacement for a carer seeking to re-join the workforce? There are no setcriteria for what a placement shouldoffer, so you can approach this ascreatively and flexibly as you like. Tofind out more, please [email protected] and askfor a P2W Work Placement form.

Working For Carers

Nearly 1 in 8 employees combineswork with caring for a loved one andthis figure is set to rise – not only arepeople living longer but people arealso working for longer, meaning moreand more of the UK’s workforce willalso be carers.

Becoming a Working For Carersemployer will help you to support thecarers in your workforce, retain staffand boost your employer brand. Jointhe growing number of businesses inWiltshire and beyond who are leadingthe way on carer recognition andsupport in the workplace. Find outmore at www.workingforcarers.co.uk.

Are you an employer who wants to support carers?

John Williams Heating have committed to support carers intheir workforce by becoming a Working For Carers member

Get Involved

Be a good egg and make a difference

Britain’s Best Breakfast is a national fundraising campaignto raise money to help us support more unpaid carers andgive them a break from their caring role. We want toencourage people to wake up to the issue of caring.

We are asking you to invite your friends, family or workcolleagues to join you for breakfast and raise money forCarer Support Wiltshire. You could host a fundraising fry-up for friends or a business breakfast buffet at work? Or whynot get your school involved?

Host a breakfast

It could be a platter of pastries, a celebration of cereal, or a fantastic fry up - all youhave to do is provide an eggcellent breakfast and invite people to join you for aneggceedingly generous donation. We have posters and collection tins to ensure yourevent is a success. Contact us today or visit www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk/breakfast

Working together to make a difference – Corporate Partnerships

Supporting a local charity is good for team building, great for business and canmake a real difference in your community. And there are lots of ways yourcompany can get involved; from making us your Charity of the Year, advertisingin our bi-annual newsletter or signing up for a group fundraising challenge.

To find out what we can achieve together, visit our website:www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk/



Skydive for Carers

We’ve teamed up with GoSkydive to offer you theexperience of a lifetime. Jump with us and raise money for unpaid carers in Wiltshire.

To find out more visitwww.goskydive.com/carer-support-wiltshire/

We are always on the lookout forvolunteers to join the CSW team. Youcould help out in the office, at events,or distribute our newsletter aroundyour community.

We need help with lots of things andyour skills, experience and ‘can do’attitude could be just what we need. Itdoesn’t matter how little or how muchtime you have to spare, we would loveto hear from you. Get in touch. ContactVince Danaher on 01380 871690 oremail: [email protected]

Become a Friend of CSW and set up your own volunteer fundraising group withfriends and family? There are lots of things you could do, from bake sales, charityquiz nights or selling home-made Christmas goodies – the possibilities areendless and every penny raised will make a difference to someone.

Join the Team


Wiltshire Carers Involvement Group (WCIG)

Are you aware of the Wiltshire CarersInvolvement Group, usually referred toas WCIG? WCIG is a group of carerswho meet once a quarter to discussissues that affect all carers in Wiltshireand try to come up with practical

We all know it is important to have a plan in place in case of an emergency andthat’s even more important for carers who are looking after people who couldn’tmanage without their help. That’s where the Carer Emergency Card (CEC)comes in.

This is how it works. First, you fill in a form, which includes details of the careand medication your loved one needs, as well as the contact details for otherpeople who might be able to step in to help. We then ensure those details arelogged with Wiltshire Council and Medvivo, and issue you with a CEC card witha unique reference number. If there is an emergency, anyone can call the phonenumber on the card, and Medvivo will put the emergency plan into action.

How to get a CEC

Go to www.yourcareyoursupportwiltshire.org.uk and search for CarersEmergency Card. Or, call us on 0800 066 5068 and ask for the registrationform to be sent to you. If you need help filling in the form, please let us know.

solutions to put to the variousagencies, including Wiltshire Council,who are responsible for the servicesthat are available to carers across thecounty.

The topics WCIG debate affect allcarers and the group has beeninstrumental in the development of theWiltshire Carer Partnership Strategy,the Carers Emergency Card, and anumber of reports published byHealthwatch Wiltshire.

If you would like to raise a topic orwould like to join the group pleasecontact the facilitator of WCIG, SteveRose on 0800 181 4118 or via email [email protected].

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Contact UsFreephone: 0800 181 4118 (01380 871690 from a mobile)

Social Care out of hours emergency duty number: 0845 607 0888

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk

If you require large print or audio format simply contact us on 0800 181 4118 or send a quick email to

[email protected]

Carer Support Wiltshire, Independent Living Centre, St George’s Road, Semington, Trowbridge, Wiltshire BA14 6JQ and at 15 New Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP1 2PH

Registered Charity No. 1092762 Company limited by guarantee 4415685

If you are no longer a carer, or no longer want our newsletters, please let us know.

With kind thanks to our principal funders....

Documents

Carer Support Wiltshire Newsletter · Support Wiltshire’s (CSW) newsletter. This issue marks the next step in our aim to create more opportunities for the people and businesses