Carers Week Report 2016

Transcription

1 Helping people since 1907 Carers Week Report 2016 Carers Hub, Guild House, 156 Mannamead Road, Plymouth, PL3 5QL Phone: Website: Facebook: Working in partnership with: Page 1 of 5 Company Limited by Guarantee Reg.No England Reg. Charity No Company Registered Offi ce: Ernest English House, Buckwell Street, Plymouth, PL1 2DA Chief Executive: George Plenderleith

2 Report Summary Over Carers week 2016 we: Worked with 11 organisations/businesses to provide 11 opportunities/activities for carers Supported 129 carers and 91 people that they care for and their family members and friends to access these activities Held 3 information stand events and spoke to 29 people, 9 of these individuals were carers, 5 were already registered with the Carers Hub and 4 said that they would like to register after receiving information. Held carers week activities for 28 carers in 5 drop-in support groups Raised 49 from fundraising and received a 30 donation from Thomson and Jackson and 10 tickets to see Shadowlands and complimentary drinks and programmes donated by Wolferstans Solicitors Page 2 of 5

3 Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. The campaign is brought to life by thousands of individuals and organisations who come together to organise activities and events throughout the UK, drawing attention to just how important caring is. The agencies involved in Plymouth this year were: Opportunity Knocks Time Bank (Colebrook South West) ran a carers lunch and music event. OK Lets Make Music, which is a group made up of carers, played songs that they had written and hand reflexology, massage, nail art and arts and crafts were all available throughout the afternoon. Focus Oral Health CIC held an oral health awareness morning. The aim of this was to help raise both professional and family carer awareness and provide hints and tips for good oral health. The Carers Forum Craft Group ran a get crafty workshop for carers and the person they care for to learn some new crafting techniques and meet new people. Wolferstans Solicitors led a free legal advice clinic that was open to all people who require care and to those who provide the care whether it was a friend or family member. At their appointment carers received a 10% discount voucher, to be used on their standard fees for Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorneys ('LPAs'). They also provided the tickets for 10 carers to attend a production of Shadow lands at the Theatre Royal. The WEA provided a qualified tutor, free of charge, to support carers to learn the skills to make a piece of jewellery from handmade polymer clay beads. The Carers Hub offered various activities over the week and these included Sea Fishing, Trip to Mount Edgcumbe, including ferry trip, tour of the house and a picnic, Trip to Newquay zoo by train, creative writing workshop and a Carers Hubbub sing along and amateur dramatics workshop. We had five drop-in/support groups running in carer s week and each group were given the opportunity to do something a bit different. Food was definitely top of the bill and this included bacon sandwiches, cheese and biscuits and a light buffet lunch. Derriford Hospital held an information stand all week within the hospital. The Carers Hub also held information stands on two occasions at Sainsbury s, Armada Way. Page 3 of 5

4 Publicity, promotion and media coverage Information about carer s week was advertised in the May edition of the Carers Newsletter and this ensured that all carers registered with the Carers Hub received information about what was available. This generated lots of calls for enquiries and bookings. All activities/events available to carers in Plymouth were uploaded onto the Carers Week national website. Advertised on Plymouth City Councils Plymouth Newsroom All GP practices were ed information about how they can get involved. All organisations that we work with received communication to publicise carer s week and the ways that they could get involved. We used Facebook and Twitter throughout the week to show pictures of events and share comments etc. Wolferstans advertised their events on Radio Plymouth Feedback from Carers Thank you to Wolferstans for arranging a super afternoon at the Theatre Royal in Plymouth. Not only did we have a programme and ticket for Shadowlands but a drink of our choice (nearly all of us had alcohol I wonder why!) and then in the interval we had an ice cream!!!! Ho w spoilt were we and we could all get used to that. Thank you Carers Hub for co-ordinating the outing we all really enjoyed ourselves and appreciated your care. Mrs CGW (Plymouth) My wife and son along with myself all went to the trip to Newquay Zoo organised by you, I must say the day was brilliant, we had a great day out, all 3 of us. Sarah and Bev were great; they took care of us and were very friendly. Mr N (PL5) Feedback from agencies that offered activities or events to carers I would just like to say thank you to your team for their support today. It was much busier than I had anticipated, there were 24 names on the list and added another 14 but going by the number of raffle tickets given out there were about 70 people there and we had 8 people sign up to time bank too. Carer s feedback was all good so it was a good day all round. - Helen Fellows Opportunity Knocks Time Bank Page 4 of 5

5 Despite the low uptake for my actual 'Carer event' I am very happy to say have recently been able to support a couple of Carers (both 'face to face' and 'over the phone') with some oral health advice for both themselves and person they are caring for. As a result of several recent discussions with Carers, am now developing an oral health 'can do' sheet (with 'Carers perspective' uppermost in my mind!). Frances Marriott Focus Oral Health CIC There were thirteen attendees to our Carers Clinic at our North Hill Office. Most of the Carers had either heard about the clinic through the Carers Hub newsletter or the Radio Plymouth advert. Members of the Wills and Trust team discussed different legal issues with the Carers over a cup of tea and some cakes. Appointments were made for some to come back and have Wills and LPAs prepared using our 10% discount voucher and to meet with other staff in different departments. Others were given information or sent information for them to look at in their own time. All in all it was a very successful event as it has been in previous years and I am sure Wolferstans will be happy to support the Carers Week again in the future. Three members of the Wills & Trust Department met with ten Carers before they went to watch Shadowlands at the Theatre Royal during Carers Week. We gave each of the Carers a program, a goody bag and information pack. We also bought some drinks and pre-ordered some ice cream for the interval. It was lovely to meet the Carers and we hope they enjoyed their afternoon of well deserved respite. - Rebecca Bawler - Wolferstans Solicitors A lovely afternoon teaching with a brilliant group of carers - Jacquie Joyce WEA Summary This year s Carers week has been well received by all that attended. It has given the Carers Hub the opportunity to engage with others and bring agencies in Plymouth together to support local carers to access activities and events that enabled them to take a break away from their caring responsibilities. The Carers Hub will continue to engage with everyone that has made this year s carer s week so special and everyone will be invited to attend the quarterly carers support network meetings to promote partnership working. During the week we held a creative writing group and a singing/amateur Dramatics workshop. Both of these were enjoyed and we were asked, by carers, if we could continue them on a regular basis. We will now be running these monthly for carers to attend and enjoy a little me time away from caring. Page 5 of 5