Carers Catch up October 2016

The

October 2016 023 8090 2404

www.1community.org.uk

CARERS

CATCH UP News...Events...Information

WELCOME TO THE FIRST EDITION OF CARERS CATCH UP

Carers Catch Up is for you.. therefore we want to ensure the content is led by the Carers we support Being a Carer can be extremely lonely especially when having time out to socialise is difficult. We hope this newsletter will be able to connect you with others. Therefore we would love to hear from you if you have suggestions for content and any of the following you would like to share:

Stories

Recipes Information Poems Blogs Tips Photos Produced by One Community, 16 Romsey Road, Eastleigh SO50 9AL Registered Charity Number 1052978 Registered in England as company limited by guarantee number 3132524

Hello Carers, My name is Jo Miles and I have recently taken over the management of the Carers Centre here at One Community following Julie Bythell's recent departure. I have worked for the charity since 2008 starting out as the Carers Centre Assistant and then in 2010 I was promoted to Young Carers Manager.

Over the years I have built the Young Carers project up from 40 Young Carers to 220 Young Carers accessing regularly, I have also managed to source funding from different funders.

HELLO

One Community’s aim is to have a Carers Centre that will support Carers in the Borough offering respite opportunities to all Carers and specifically to those who are under supported by statutory services. We are in the process of recruiting a new project worker and we are hopeful they will be in post shortly.

SUPPORT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM THE CARERS CENTRE:

Coffee Morning Every Tuesday 10am - 12 Masonic Hall 2 Cranbury Rd, Eastleigh SO50 5HA

Computer Cafe Every Friday 10am - 12 Oakmount Rd, Chandler's Ford, SO53 2LH

Signposting via telephone or email support

Information via telephone or email support

SUPPORT CURRENTLY AVALIABLE FROM THE CARERS CENTRE PARTNERS:

We are pleased to announce that therapist Jocelyn Wright will be offering her previously subsidised service at a generous reduced rate for Carers, see details in advert above.

Paula was recently employed by One Community is now offering a low cost counselling service. Please contact Paula direct.

EVENTS & GROUPS IN EASTLEIGH

FLEXIBLE WORKING - KNOW YOUR RIGHTS It is a little known fact that after 26 weeks of working you are entitled to request flexible working hours. Here at One Community one thing we are looking at presently is how we can ensure Carers are not excluded from working due to the responsibilities of the caring role.

Flexible working could be the answer for many Carers who are concerned they may need to reduce their hours resulting in economic hardship, or give up their job all together which as well as the reduction in disposable income could lead to increased social isolation.

We understand here at One Community that it is a difficult balance to strike as a carer – helping a loved one maintain their independence whilst also maintaining your own. Work can provide positive stimulation, a break from the caring role, and also allows a person to follow their own ambitions.

It is an incredibly important facet of life to maintain for when the caring cycle ends. Carers often say they feel a bit lost when their caring role ceases, and a job can help ensure that person still has a sense of belonging and purpose at that time.

So what is flexible working?

Flexible working is a way of working that suits the needs of the employee. Types of flexible working may include job sharing, working from home, part time hours, alternative hours outside of the normal working day, compressed hours (same hours over less days), flexitime (employee chooses start and finish time within a limit, 8 hours between 7am-11pm for example), and annualised hours (a certain number of hours a year).

How do you apply for it?

If you have worked at one place for over the 26 weeks you can apply simply by writing to your employer. Your letter should include, the date, a statement which says this is a statutory request (which means you are entitled to make this request by law), details of what type of flexibility you require, for how long, and when you wish it to start, your assessment of how this will affect the organisation you work for, and acknowledgement of any previous applications. Your employer is required by law to consider your request within a maximum of three months. If agreed, your employer is required to change your contract. If refused, it must be a business case as to why. You can apply for flexible working once a year.

Things to note Obviously not all jobs are suitable for flexible hours, but there are many that are and so you may want to consider finding work where it is possible. Employers don’t have to grant you flexible hours, but they need to explain to you why not if they don’t. If you feel as though your request hasn’t been handled appropriately you can take it to an employment tribunal. The employer should offer an appeals process, and should hold a meeting with you to discuss the application. They may not agree if it incurs extra costs to the business, that it adversely affects other staff, if it will affect the quality of your work, if customer demand is not able to be met, or if the business is planning changes to the workforce.

If it is agreed, you should receive a statement of the agreed changes, a date for when the flexible working will start, and a new contract encompassing these changes in the terms and conditions.

All this should happen within 28 days of the application being agreed.

FLEXIBLE WORKING - KNOW RIGHTS Research - ensuring we build theYOUR service you need Hello Carers, My name is Kylie Barton, I have worked for One Community for over two and a half years, and I started here as a researcher.

For three days a week now I am assistant manager of our Young Carers project, one day I spend digital marketing, and for one day a week I am researching how best to support carers like yourselves moving forward. This is where you come in!

As you know the service is going through changes at the moment, and I am here to make sure that the new Family Carers Centre fulfils your needs. As part of my research I am conducting a survey - the link to which was included in the email with this newsletter, so it would be great if you could take 5 minutes to complete that for us.

As well as the survey I am inviting you to attend a focus group to discuss with me in person, as well as with other carers, what you would like to see from us as a service...

Focus Group 1

OR

Focus Group 2

When? Friday 21st of October

When? Friday 11th of November

What time? 10am to 12pm

What time? 12pm to 2pm

Where? One Community, 16 Romsey Road, Eastleigh

Where? One Community, 16 Romsey Road, Eastleigh

Who? Up to 12 Carers

Who? Up to 12 Carers

How? Phone Kylie on 023 8090 2462 Or email kbarton@1community.org.uk

By Monday 10th October

How? Phone Kylie on 023 8090 2462 Or email kbarton@1community.org.uk

By Monday 10th October

Tea coffee and cake will be provided! Hope to see you then :) If you would prefer to meet on a one to one basis please get in contact.

Carers Action Network A forum of Carers who work together to provide social opportunities and a voice in the community

Carers Action Network was started in Eastleigh to support carers, provide them with information and support. They run trips four times a year for carers to have some time out. Anybody is welcome to attend.

The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 9th November 10am - 12 CAN meetings take place monthly at 16 Romsey Road, Eastleigh SO50 9AL

for more information please contact Wayne Irish wayne.irish@eastleigh.gov.uk or call 07778 636315 CAN are hoping to run a Spring trip for Carers If you have any suggestions please also contact Wayne on the email address above

Carers Christmas Celebration

We will be hosting a Carers Christmas Celebration on Tuesday 13th December 12pm - 2pm at Eastleigh Masonic Hall If you are interested in attending please contact the office on 023 8090 2404 or email jmiles@1community.org.uk