Carers Voice North Tyneside Carers Centre

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1 Carers Voice North Tyneside Carers Centre Issue 102 May - July 2018 Centre s Five Year Strategy Carers Week 2018!! State of Caring 2018 Power of Attorney Refund Project 24 Goes LIVE!! What s Happening in North Tyneside

2 2 Centre News! Welcome to our Spring edition of Carers Voice. We have streamlined production so our newsletter will now be issued three times a year but it will still be packed with useful information for you! As you know, we moved out of our offices to enable the YMCA to carry out refurbishment work. For the time being we are working in the conference room on floor 2 of the YMCA. Work is progressing and we will keep you informed of developments. GDPR: The new General Data Protection Regulations come into force on the 25 May, If you haven t had the time, or the energy, to complete the form we issued with our last newsletter, please give us a call as soon as possible to let us know that you do give us consent to hold your information. We are now planning activities for Carers Week which will take place this year from the June. This year s theme is: Helping Carers to be Healthy and Connected. Further details of our activities can be found on pages 5-6. You will see from our Young Carers Corner that Project 24 was a huge success. We were extremely proud of the way our young carers delivered their powerful message to an audience of professionals. We are confident that this is just the beginning of many more such exciting ventures for our young carers! Best wishes Claire Claire Easton, CEO

3 3 Centre Strategy: : Our strategy over the next five years will be ambitious and bold, in how we grow our services and position ourselves in North Tyneside. As one of the lead voluntary organisations in North Tyneside, we are already in a strong position with a solid track record. We will seek to maintain our position of trust, both from carers who access our services and professionals who refer carers to the Centre and seek advice from us. We are fully aware of the challenges we face in a continuously changing environment but we are equally aware of the opportunities this will generate. The Centre is responsive to and led by the needs of local carers. We will provide innovative, cost-effective solutions to delivering services, to help prevent and delay the need for support from statutory services, while improving carers resilience. To meet the increasing demand for support we will work with other partners to support their organisations to identify and support carers at an early stage in their caring role. Schools and GP surgeries are a priority area where we will focus our resources to make the most difference we can for carers. The Centre is a learning organisation. We will build stronger partnerships with external organisations to achieve our goals and share best practice locally and nationally to improve the lives of carers. 20

4 4 To help fulfil our purpose and work towards our vision, we have identified the following challenges and opportunities: Increased Demand Income Generation Collaboration Infrastructure Premises and Accessibility Monitoring and Evaluation And, to help us to fulfil our priorities and work towards our vision, the following strategic priorities will underpin everything we do until 2023: Extend our reach to improve early identification of carers Increase carer involvement Develop opportunities for carers to reach their potential Improve carers physical and mental well-being Build a strong and sustainable organisation In order to achieve our strategic plan we will only work on initiatives that meet our strategic priorities. An annual action plan will support us to achieve our strategy and will take into account the challenges and opportunities we face. We owe our continued growth and passion to bring about lasting change for carers to the dedication and commitment of the carers we support, staff, volunteers, funders and partners. Thank you all for your support. To read the full strategy document, learn more about our work, donate or volunteer, please visit:

5 5 Carers Week 2018!!! The Carers Week campaign takes place each year to raise awareness of carers and the challenges they deal with on a daily basis. It is supported by thousands of individuals and organisations who organise activities and events across the whole of the UK. The week long campaign, led by Carers UK, acknowledges the contribution made by carers, not only to their own, individual families, but also to communities across the UK. The theme of Carers Week th - 17th of June, is to help carers stay: Healthy and Connected There are approximately 6.5 million carers in the UK who are looking after a parent, partner, child or friend. It has now been estimated that this figure will increase to nine million by However, unless a significant change takes place, most will still not recognise themselves as carers. In a poll commissioned by Carers UK for Carers Week, 74% of the public felt that unpaid carers were not valued by society, 50% stated that, should they be faced with a caring role, they did not feel prepared. People who had no experience of caring were asked where they would go to for support if they were to become carers.

6 61% of those in the age range and 39% in the range, said that they would turn to family or friends, followed by local authority social care departments. Using technology as a method of support was more popular with younger people, with 33% of year olds saying they would be most likely to use technology to support a caring role, compared with 14% of those aged Despite a 35% increase in the number of carers over the age of 65 recorded in the last decade, 71% of those in the 75+ age range do not expect to become carers. With regard to health and well-being, carers rarely put their own needs first. To enable carers to be Healthy and Connected it is essential that they receive the information and practical support they require to care safely, with regard for their own physical and mental well being, as well as the person or people they care for. To ensure that carers in North Tyneside have the information to help them stay healthy and connected, our staff and volunteers will be out and about across the borough during Carers Week. We are planning an action packed programme of activities, predominantly aimed at raising awareness of our service to carers who may not be aware of the support available to them and how to access it. We will still have our usual activities during the week, including our Peer Support Groups at Killingworth on Tuesday, Whitley Bay on Thursday and Wallsend on Friday. You will also be able to join our Centre Strollers for a stroll around Wallsend. Please check our website for details. 6

7 7 State of Caring Survey 2018: The annual State of Caring Survey undertaken by Carers UK has now been launched. The aim of the survey is to help show the reality of what life is really like for carers. Carers UK is asking people to support the campaign by completing their survey. The survey, which Carers UK say is the most extensive carried out, will take approximately 30 minutes to complete and can be found at: This year Carers UK is campaigning for the following: Carers being able to access a break from caring An increase in Carer s Allowance Stronger rights for carers in employment who are juggling work with their caring responsibilities Evidence gathered from the surveys enables Carers UK to be the voice of carers' when challenging the government of the day, policy makers and MPs about what carers need. The State of Caring Survey 2017 was completed by over 7,000 carers. This ensured that carers voices were heard in debates on areas including the funding of NHS and care services, loneliness, human rights and pensions. Evidence gathered from the State of Caring Survey 2018 will be integral in ensuring that carers remain at the centre of all discussions about increased funding, with social care and the NHS at the top of the agenda. If you wish to find out more about the survey and the results of the survey 2017 you can do so by visiting:

8 Training: Power of Attorney (POA) Refund: 8 If you applied to register a power of attorney from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2017 you may be able to claim part of your application fee back. This applies to lasting powers of attorney (LPA) and enduring powers of attorney (EPA). Who can claim a refund? The donor - the person who made the POA An attorney - someone appointed by the donor (in an LPA or an EPA) to make decisions on their behalf People who have been formally appointed as a replacement attorney How much will I get back? This depends on when you paid the fee and varies from If you paid a reduced fee you will be eligible for half the refund and you can still make a claim, even if you don t know the exact date you paid the fees. You will also be entitled to 0.5% interest. How do I claim? Online at: You need to ensure that you have the donor s bank account and sort code and, if you have it, a copy of the LPA. (It will take approximately 10 minutes to complete). Telephone: Contact the Refunds Helpline on if the donor does not have a UK bank

9 9 account and for all other queries. What happens after you submit your claim? If your claim is approved, the refund will be paid into the donor s bank account. It can take up to 12 weeks to process a claim. If rejected, you can appeal by contacting the Refunds Helpline on (option 6). Can I still claim if the donor has died? In this situation only the executor of the will, or administrator of the estate, is able to claim a refund. To make a claim you will need to send the following (originals or photocopies) to the Refunds Team at the following address: POA Refunds Team, 7th Floor, Office of the Public Guardian, PO Box 16185, Birmingham, B2 2WH. Alternatively you can the documents to: poarefunds@justice.gsi.gov.uk Once the Refunds Team has received your documents they will contact you by telephone to complete your refund. Please note that all claims must be made by 31/01/2021 Young Carers Corner! Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health: With funding from Carers Trust, young carers were able to facilitate a six week Emotional Well-Being and Mental Health course in October November Six young carers, aged between12 and 14, attended weekly

10 10 community based sessions, where they were given time to relax and have a break from caring. As a group, the young people explored coping mechanisms to help them feel more positive and strategies to help them remain healthy. The young people were offered access to information and support to help them explore how best they could look after their own emotional well-being and mental health. in Clinics: A template for the group will enable the team to repeat the activities for other groups of young carers. Young Carers Awareness Day: young carers from North Tyneside Carers Centre celebrated Young Carers Awareness Day with an event for professionals from education, health and social care. Speakers included young carers project staff, North Tyneside Council, schools sharing good practice and young carers, who spoke powerfully about their own experiences of what life as a young carer is like and how essential support from professionals and the community is to them. Students from John Spence Community High and St Thomas More RC Academy spoke of how important the support from their school had been to them. John Spence has introduced a Young Carers Club where young people are able to talk with other young carers and access specialist information, advice and support. St Thomas More has introduced a number of measures, including: Student Ambassadors, drop in sessions and information for young carers on display across the school.

11 11 Project 24! The hard work and dedication paid off for our young carers, when they showcased Project 24: A Day in the Life of a Young Carer. Since August 2017, the young people worked with Community Drama Practitioner, JonLuke McKie and Community Artist, Faye Oliver; attending workshops to develop their art and performance skills. Most of the young people had little or no previous art or performance experience! Although they have the same number of hours in a day as any other young person, young carers have so much more to manage within those hours than those who do not have those caring responsibilities. A Question and Answer session followed the performance, in which professionals put a series of questions to a panel of young carers. After attending the event, Norma Redfearn, CBE, Elected Mayor of North Tyneside, said: The needs of our young carers have always been close to my heart and we do our best to make sure they fulfil their amazing potential. The performance at the end of Project 24 was incredibly powerful; I was touched by the honesty of the young people and moved by their stories. Thanks to an award from Comic Relief, a new Social Action Co-ordinator, has been appointed. This will enable the young carers to focus on empowering more of our young carers to take social action across North Tyneside.

12 12 What s Happening in North Tyneside? North Shields Live at Home Scheme: For 25 years the national charity MHA has run Live at Home, local schemes promoting independence and wellbeing for people aged 60 and over who, as the name suggests, live in their own homes or in sheltered housing. Every scheme is able to signpost its members to the relevant services if they should find themselves in need, and all have newsletters to keep them informed of what is happening within the scheme. In addition, members have the option to join in numerous activities and events, which may include lunch clubs, assisted shopping trips, outings and more. Carers are encouraged to accompany their cared for to initial sessions, until they feel comfortable on their own and have become part of a friendship group. partners' Dementia Art Group: partners offers people living with dementia the opportunity to express their creativity through painting, as well as giving support to their carers. The sessions are informal. A team of volunteer artists provide practical help and tuition. There is increasing evidence of the beneficial effects of art for people with dementia. Gaining a means of self-expression, learning a new skill or reawakening former skills can all bring another dimension to life. Meanwhile, supportive volunteers are on hand to sit alongside, to chat to carers in the adjoining area, and to serve light refreshments. Participation is free and all materials are provided. Some carers have noticed that taking part has a calming effect on the person with dementia, which can last for the rest of the day.

13 Every effort is made to support older people to come out of the house and re-engage with the community. Transport (either taxi or private bus), can be arranged. Please contact the scheme for further details. Regular Activities: Weekly Monday Lunch Club at North Shields Methodist Church 11.30am - 2:30pm 5.50* Fortnightly Tuesday Activities Club at St. John's Methodist Church in Whitley Bay 1.00pm pm 3.50* Fortnightly Wednesday partners' Dementia Art Group at North Shields Methodist Church 10.30am pm. Free of charge but no transport available. Weekly Thursdays Activities Club at North Shields Methodist Church 1.00pm pm 3.50* Weekly Fridays Fryday Lunch Club at North Shields Catholic Working Men's Club 11.30am pm 5.50* * Plus transport costs if required For further information on becoming a member you can: Telephone to speak to one of the team, northshields.liveathome@mha.org.uk or visit: 13

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15 . Clinics: 15 Admiral Nurses, from Age UK North Tyneside, offer monthly surgeries at the Carers Centre. If you care for someone with memory problems or dementia this may be helpful. Benefits Advice: A member of the Warmzone team delivers one to one sessions, providing advice, guidance and help on benefits and with the completion of forms. It is essential to book for both clinics. Please contact the Centre on to reserve a space. Adult Social Care, North Tyneside Council Age UK Alzheimer s Society Care Call, North Tyneside Council Emergency Response Carers Allowance Unit Carers Direct, NHS Carers UK Adviceline Carers Trust Citizens Advice Bureau Healthwatch North Tyneside LD: North East MIND North Tyneside NHS Non-Emergency Number 111 PROPS

16 16 Next issue: August 2018 For the latest news and updates from the Centre, visit our website: /NorthTynesideCarers Comments and Concerns North Tyneside Carers Centre is committed to providing a high quality service to carers. If you feel we have failed to meet our usual high standards, for whatever reason, please let us know and we will endeavour to make the necessary improvements. If you are still not satisfied then please contact the Chief Executive. If you have any difficulties reading our newsletter, please contact us so that we can discuss your needs. We endeavour to provide an alternative format where possible. Usual Opening Hours Monday - Thursday: 9:00am - 5:00pm Friday: 9:00am - 4:30pm On the second Tuesday and fourth Thursday of each month we are open until 8:00pm. enquiries@ntcarers.co.uk North Tyneside Carers Centre, Third Floor, YMCA Building, North Shields, NE29 0AB