NEWS-SHEET Issue No. 82 Autumn 2019

Carers Wakefield & District 25 King Street, Wakefield WF1 2SR Tel: (01924) 305544 E-mail: info@carerswakefield.org.uk Website: www.carerswakefield.org.uk

A Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England No. 3143673 Registered Charity No. 1053295

This year our Learning Disability and Autism Carers Development Day will be held on

Thursday 10th October 9.30am - 2.00pm

Sandal Rugby Club, Standbridge Lane, Sandal, WF2 7DY

Following on from last year’s success we are again holding our Learning Disability and Autism Development

Day. The day will consist of several small group presentations and discussions. There will also be

information stands and the opportunity to talk to other carers and professionals and the chance to

enjoy a free lunch.

Please come along and take the opportunity to gather useful information, meet other carers and give your own

views on issues important to you .

If you would like to book a place

please telephone (01924) 305544, with details of any

special dietary requirements that your might have.

LEARNING DISABILITY AND AUTISM CARERS DEVELOPMENT DAY

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CARERS GROUPS ACROSS THE DISTRICT

For more information about the Groups or to book on any of the activities, please ring Carers Wakefield & District on (01924) 305544.

Name When Where Dates & Activities

Ackworth Carers Group

3rd Friday each month 1.30pm - 3.30pm

*NEW VENUE* Ackworth Library Bell Lane Ackworth WF7 7JH

20th Sep; 18th Oct; 15th Nov

BAME Ladies Carers Group

Last Tuesday each month 10.00am - 12.00 noon

Carers Wakefield & District 25 King Street, Wakefield

24th Sep 29th Oct: No Group Meeting 26th Nov

The Delivery Group (for people who support someone with a learning disability)

10.30am - 12.30pm County Hall Wakefield

Thursdays: 19th Sep; 31st Oct

Ferrybridge & Knottingley Carers Group

Last Wednesday each month 10.00am - 12.00 noon

Kellingley Social Club 25 Marine Villa Road Knottingley WF11 8ER

25th Sep: Voluntary Eye Screenings 30th Oct: Speaker to be announced 27th Nov: Coffee, Chat & Support

Hemsworth & SESKU (South Elmsall, South Kirkby & Upton)

1st Thursday each month 12.30pm - 2.30pm

Hemsworth Methodist Church Barnsley Road Hemsworth

3rd Oct; 7th Nov

Men's Group 4th Friday each month 12.30pm - 2.30pm

Lupset Pub Horbury Road Wakefield WF2 8JF

27th Sep; 25th Oct; 22nd Nov

Mental Health Carers Group

1st Tuesday each month 10.30am - 12.30pm

Carers Wakefield & District 25 King Street, Wakefield

1st Oct: Meditation 5th Nov: Please ring for details

Outwood Carers Group

2nd Thursday each month 11.00am - 1.00pm

Bevin Community Centre, Bevin Close, Outwood

10th Oct: Coffee & Chat 14th Nov: Coffee & Chat

Pontefract & Castleford Carers Support Group

2nd Tuesday each month 10.30am - 12.00 noon

Baileygate Court Sheltered Housing Complex, North Baileygate, Pontefract

10th Sep; 8th Oct; 12th Nov

Wakefield Carers Group

Last Thursday each month 10.30am - 12.00 noon

Quaker Meeting House, Thornhill Street, Wakefield

26th Sep; 31st Oct; 28th Nov

Working Carers Group

1st Thursday each month 5.30pm - 7.00pm

Sainsbury's Cafe, Trinity Walk, Wakefield

3rd Oct; 7th Nov

Care Home Carers Support Group

2nd Wednesday each month 10.30am - 12.30pm

Thornycroft Centre, Halfpenny Lane Pontefract WF8 4AY

*THIS GROUP IS CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE*

Care Home Carers Support Group For Wakefield

4th Monday each month 10.30am - 12.30pm

Morrison's Dewsbury Road WF2 9BY

23rd Sep; 28th Oct; 25th Nov

WALKING GROUP Wednesday 18th September at the Waterway behind The Swan & Cygnet,

Denby Dale Road, Wakefield, WF4 3BB. Meet at 11.00am in the Swan & Cygnet car park.

Come along and join one of our walks. These are usually around one hour of moderate physical activity in aesthetic surroundings aimed at people of all abilities and fitness levels. You don’t need any fancy walking gear, just sensible footwear and clothing suited to the weather conditions. We always aim to stop afterwards for tea, coffee and a spot of lunch. So come along and join in. We look forward to walking with you. For more information, please ring (01924) 305544.

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UP HILL AND DOWN DALE FOR CARERS WAKEFIELD

HE'S DOING IT AGAIN!

Our very own super sprinter powerful Pete McEvoy Is putting himself to the test once again and training

for yet another gruelling 10K run on

13th October 2019 at

Richmond Castle, North Yorkshire.

The route includes many steep inclines including Sleegill.

Peter has been doing this for us for the past 5 years! The money he has raised has enabled us to put on

some fantastic day trips for carers

CAN WE DO IT AGAIN?

If anyone would like to sponsor Powerful Pete you can:

Make a donation and/ or ask family and friends to

make a donation by contacting us on (01924) 305544.

Check our facebook page to donate online via GoFundMe.

Please share our facebook page with family and

friends and ask them to donate.

DISABILITY CONFIDENT COMMITTED

Carers Wakefield & District have recently been accepted as being

committed to being disability confident.

This will support us in ensuring that disabled people and those with long

term health conditions have the opportunities to fulfil their potential and

realise their aspirations.

As part of this commitment we will be offering work experience to a

Young Carer with a registered disability.

YOUNG ADULT CARERS Our young adult carers group is fast growing and always well attended. We have had some recent trips to outdoor laser tag and Scarborough, with a planned trip to the theatre coming up. We have recently secured funding from Live Well Wakefield to be able to deliver two Looking After Me programmes, which we aim to hold in the autumn and spring. We are always looking at ways to raise money for our young adult carers, and this doesn’t come without any stumbling blocks. In order to provide the best service possible, some of the staff at Carers Wakefield have signed up to do a sponsored 5K run.

If anyone wishes to sponsor us please contact the office or see our GoFundMe page.

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WOULD YOU LIKE A DEMENTIA FRIENDLY SOCIETY? WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT DEMENTIA?

Dementia Friends sessions are open to all carers although they may be particularly useful for anyone that is caring for a loved one with dementia, especially if there has been a recent diagnosis. 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 is about learning 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. The Information Sessions are being run by a Carer Support Worker who, as a champion, has been trained and supported by Alzheimer’s Society. Each information session lasts around one hour. You will learn more about dementia and how you can help to create dementia friendly communities.

We are holding 2 Sessions:

Wednesday 2nd October The Chimes, Town Hall , Wakefield WF1 2HQ

Thursday 3rd October The Glasshoughton Centre, Castleford WF10 4PF

Both sessions are 1:00pm to 2:00pm with tea & coffee.

Following the sessions there will be a short presentation from Sarah Merriman from TIDE (Together in Dementia Every day). TIDE support carers of people living with Dementia. Sarah will tell you about the service they provide and we will be working together with Sarah in the near future to run sessions that will support carers. This session will finish at 2.30pm. Both buildings are accessible and the Glasshoughton Centre has its own free parking and although there is no free parking for Town Hall there are a variety of car parks nearby.

To book a place, please telephone (01924) 305544.

MID YORKSHIRE HOSPITAL TRUST/GP PROJECT

Carers Wakefield & District have recently received funding through Wakefield Council to support carers with a relative in hospital. Support Workers will initially be working within Pinderfields Hospital to support carers with relatives on the stroke, elderly care and respiratory wards.

Support Workers will help carers practically and emotionally, supporting them with discharge planning, helping them negotiate the hospital systems and ensuring that they feel supported and valued in the care of their loved ones. We are also helping Mid Yorkshire Trust to develop a Carers Charter and to create ‘Carer Friendly’ spaces within Pinderfields Hospital.

Alongside, this work we are working with local GP’s to help them to better identify carers and support them within their practices. GP’s in England are being urged to adopt new measures to support unpaid carers. Your surgery should have a ‘Carers’ register’. If you would like to know what your GP surgery is doing to support carers, please ask them.

If you would like further information about either of these projects, please contact us on

(01924) 305544 to discuss.

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A POEM BY CHRISSIE BRIGHTON ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE OF CARING FOR HER FATHER

Breakthrough

My dad was a cheeky chap

And a cheery soul was he

So no-one was more alarmed

And scared with shock than me.

We used to hop on buses

Spirit of adventure strong

Not knowing their destination

And then it all went wrong.

His character came and went

Proud military bearing gone

No more sharp trouser creases

Nor shoes brushed til they shone.

He now favours the unkempt look

Dishevelled clothes and hair awry

Slouched in chair, unshaved grimace

Increasingly hard not to cry.

Still I ‘man up’ and visit

Two or three times a week

Each time I lose more of him

Then he refused to speak.

Ignored the gravy lip liner

And custard encrusted chin

Persevered with game of dommies

To tempt and motivate him.

Then he left his universe

Won game fair and square and winked

As if to say ‘I’ve still got it’

And smiled broadly in his drink.

New day on what cloud would he be

I went anxious trepidation

His once cold, fish eyes twinkled

As he waved and smiled at me.

Chrissie Brighton

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VOLUNTEERS

All the volunteers were invited to celebrate Volunteers week on 4th July with a lovely day out at Cannon Hall. This is one way of saying a big thank you for their support in various roles such as befriending, admin, support groups etc as we wouldn’t be able to offer all that we do without them. We currently are recruiting Volunteer befrienders in the Hemsworth and surrounding areas for carers who have become lonely or isolated.

If you would like to know more please contact Rebecca Varney on (01924) 305544 or email rebeccav@carerswakefield.org.uk.

VOLUNTEER - ZEYNEP HOPWOOD I am Zeynep. I have got an eight year old daughter with Autism and complex learning difficulties. Carers Wakefield & District has been my greatest support since I registered as a carer for my daughter. I met Linda, a Carers Support Worker, in the office and had one to one support for two years. At the end of those years, Linda offered me this fantastic opportunity to volunteer for Carers Wakefield & District. I became an official volunteer for this great organisation after completing my induction in July 2018. I currently support Anna, a Carers Support Worker, at her Ackworth

Group every third Friday of each month. I have also completed several training programmes, such as safe guarding adults and Eyes Right Tool Kit. Alongside this I have also completed the befriending programme to enable me to me become a befriender in the future. Everyone here is very friendly, welcoming and caring. I’m honoured to be a part of such a great organisation.

CARERS WAKEFIELD STAFF UPDATE We would like to say a big thank you to Emma Juckes, Joanne Catch, Carol Topham, Tracy Stead, Sarah Scott, Tracey McHale, Linda Blackburn, Amanda Walker and Di Morley on all having completed 10 years or more service at Carers Wakefield & District.

We would also like to welcome Richard Newman, Elle Ramsbottom, Sam Goldspink and Bev Plummer who recently joined the organisation.

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FREE 3 MONTH CARE LINK TRIAL FOR CARERS

Wakefield Council are working in partnership with Wakefield District Housing to offer a comprehensive Care Link package for free to support informal/unpaid Carers for a three

month period. Access to the three month free Care Link offer will allow Carers access to the full Care Link package on a trial basis to see if this is something that works for them.

The service, among other things, will allow carers access to an alarm pendant for their cared for to give added peace of mind when they are on their own. After the 3 month trial period,

carers can choose to discontinue the service if you find it doesn’t work for them without incurring any charges. If you would like more information about this scheme or would like to

be referred to the service, then please telephone us on (01924) 305544 for details.

THANK YOU! TOGETHER WE INSPIRED NEIGHBOURLY ACTION

ACROSS WEST YORKSHIRE AND HARROGATE

From 15th March to 28th June 2019 we all united and looked out for our neighbours. We’ve made a real difference across the area and couldn’t have done it without your support,

commitment and care. Don’t let the campaign end here. Continue to look out for your neighbours and keep sharing your stories on social media using #OurNeighbours.

Thank you - West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership.

45, 962+ people across West Yorkshire and Harrogate took action and looked

out for their neighbours because of their engagement with neighbour

packs and online content

72% of people believe the campaign has made a positive difference to the wellbeing of their neighbours

88% of people ‘loved’ or ‘liked’ the campaign

CAN YOU USE A COMPUTER? SEND AN EMAIL? DO ONLINE SHOPPING? BOOK A GP APPOINTMENT ONLINE?

Using digital technology can be a fantastic way to access information, stay in touch with family/friends, order your weekly shop, do your banking, arrange appointments and much more! Four Community Centres in Wakefield are offering exciting opportunities for carers to develop skills in using a range of equipment - including computers, ipads/tablets, mobile phones, Alexa etc. You may have absolutely no previous experience of using technology, or you may wish to learn more about using equipment. Sessions will be tailored to meet your needs so that you are able to get what you want from taking part in the project.

For more information drop in to any of the centres below, give us a call or (if you are able to) drop us an email. (If you don’t know how to email, we can help you with that!)

St George's Community Centre, Broadway, Lupset, Wakefield, WF2 8AA Tel: (01924) 369631 Email: info@stgeorgeslupset.org.uk

Eastmoor Community Project, Arncliffe Road, Wakefield, WF1 4RR Tel: (01924) 361212 Email: info@eastmoorcommunity.co.uk

Standbridge Lane Community Centre, Standbridge Lane, Wakefield WF2 7NP Tel: 07495738522 Email: info@slcdt.org.uk

Kinsley & Fitzwilliam Community Centre, Wakefield Road, Kinsley, WF9 5BP Tel: (01977) 610931 Email: rlucas@kinsley-fitzwilliam.org.uk

This project could make your life so much better! We look forward to hearing from you!

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IF YOU DON'T WANT TO RECEIVE OUR NEWS-SHEET If you do not want to receive any further

News-sheets, please contact us: Tel: (01924) 305544

or E-mail: tracys@carerswakefield.org.uk

HELP SAVE POSTAGE COSTS If you have Internet access, we can send you your

news-sheet by e-mail, please email: tracys@carerswakefield.org.uk

with your name, address and email address.

CARERS DIGITAL RESOURCE Wakefield Council has teamed up with Carers UK to give carers in our area access to a wide range of digital tools and essential resources that may help make their caring situation easier. The resources include free access to a variety of publications, links to other useful resources, e-learning and a phone app called ‘Jointly’ which can help carers store and manage important information about the person that they care for. The resource is user friendly and contains useful practical information. It can be accessed via the internet at carersdigital.org where you can create your own free account using the code: DGTL7298.

TEAM

TEAM is the Wakefield Parent/Carer Forum for parents of children and young people (age 0-25) with special educational needs and disabilities. It’s a bit of a long title hence the name TEAM (together everyone achieves more - to be precise!). If you have any ideas how we can spread the word about what TEAM is and how it benefits parents and families we'd love to hear it. There are 5000 children with SEND in Wakefield and 500 follow TEAM Facebook page. TEAM would love to reach more parents, so that TEAM can better represent the voice of parents and carers. Essentially, it is the vehicle by which professionals can work with parents on developing services, and also represents parental voice. TEAM has the potential to be really influential - for example TEAM has a seat on the WMDC SEND Board that meets regularly discussing the councils work for children with SEND. We would love to increase the number of parents/carers that like our page, so more parents can hear about engagement opportunities with service providers. We have some fantastic events lined up for the rest of 2019, and we want parents and carers to know about them.

Please Contact us:

Email: jackie.parkin@kids.org.uk Text or call: 07590 487736

Facebook: https://www.facebook.comTeamwakefieldparentforum/