NEWS

Help for the victims of childhood abuse

MULTIPLE studies conducted over the past 10 years have shown children with a disability to be at a higher risk of being abused.

Now, the NationalAssociation for PeopleAbused in Childhood (NAPAC) has launched an online booklet for adult survivors of childhood abuse with a disability.

The VERA Institute of Justice suggests that children with a disability are three times more likely to experience sexual abuse than other children, a number which increases to 4.6 times more likely if the disability is mental or intellectual.

Areview conducted by The Centre for Public Health also concluded that “children with disabilities are more likely to be victims of violence than their peers who are not disabled” .

n Support line: 0808 801 0331.

The huge costs of caring

NEARLY a quarter of all unpaid carers don’t have enough money to cover their monthly outgoings.

And many are now wondering how they will cope this winter as they face rising energy prices and increases in the cost of living.

Asurvey by the Carers UK charity of more than 8,000 people currently caring unpaid for family or friends – the majority of whom provide well over 50 hours of care every week – reveals the huge personal and financial cost of caring for a loved one.

The research shows the situation has further deteriorated during the Covid-19 pandemic, with over one in three carers saying their financial situation has got worse.

As a result many are struggling financially and unable to save for their own retirement –almost two-thirds say they are worried about their ability to save and plan for the future. To make things worse, many have to take on more hours of care, with 55% having reduced or no access to day services and a third reporting reduced or no access to paid care workers. Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: “We are seeing unprecedented levels of stress where financial worry is piling yet more pressure on carers. “With low levels of services, carers are going to be facing an extremely difficult winter with the rising costs of living, increased energy prices, a social care staffing crisis and a chronically underfunded system. ”

The survey showed that as well as providing significant levels of care, almost two thirds of carers are using their own income or savings to help the person they look after. On average

Find YOUR local Carers Centre – p19

carers are spending an estimated £1,370 a year on services or equipment.

Ms Walker added: “For years carers have been propping up our health and care system at a huge cost to their own personal health, finances and ability to stay in work.

“Throughout the pandemic they carried a huge load, with 81% taking on more care for relatives and 72% unable to take any breaks at all from their caring role. They desperately need support to regain quality of life and enable them to continue caring.

“As it stands, providing unpaid care is pushing thousands of families into poverty and will have a lasting impact on their finances and quality of life. Carer’sAllowance must be reviewed. ” n Carer’sAllowance (£67.60 weekly) is the

main benefit for people providing at least 35 hours of unpaid care a week. The earnings limit is currently £128 per week. If £1 is exceeded, carers lose their benefit

n Carers Helpline: 0808 808 7777

CHARITY SPOTLIGHT . . . . . . The Mersey Forest / Nature4Health

LEFT: Hope Community Garden, St Margaret’s, Toxteth, where horticultural therapy sessions are held every Friday between 9am and 2pm.

RIGHT: Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle: St Michaels-in-theCity Community Garden. Their sessions are held every Tuesday between 9am and 2pm, and are run by Nature4Health’s partners at Faiths4Change

Time to sample nature’s powers?

THE MERSEY Forest is opening up all sorts of opportunities for people.

And here’s the perfect way for you to experience nature’s beauty – and reap its many benefits.

The Nature4Health project recognises the link between the natural environment and our wellbeing by improving physical activity, boosting mental health, and reducing social isolation.

And it all takes place within The Mersey Forest, one of England’s Community Forests where nearly 10 million trees have been planted in the past 25 years cross Merseyside and Cheshire.

Not everyone will be at the same skill level or have the same interests surrounding the natural environment.

However, whether you’re a complete beginner or an absolute natural, there’s a range of activities to engage a wide variety of people, no matter your age, ethnicity, gender, or size.

One example activity is the “Gardening forAll” sessions, which are mostly hosted at community gardens throughout our targeted locations. These allow participants to meet new people and learn gardening skills, as well as adopt a more selfsufficient lifestyle by growing your own fruit and veg!

Other activities include group health walks, healthy conservation workouts, mindful contact within nature, and forest schools for our younger members.

Despite many of our locations being located in towns and city centres, the access to even a small area of greenery greatly improves our health and wellbeing.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the funding we receive by the National Lottery.

However, it is also our committed volunteers and participants that make our aims of reducing climate change and social vulnerabilities achievable! All sessions are completely free and require no gardening or conservation experience needed – just a passion for nature, a need for a new hobby, or a wish to make new friends is all it takes to join one of our groups.

We aim to be as inclusive and welcoming as possible, so if you are interested for whatever the reason, please get in touch by calling 01925 816217 or e-mail Elizabeth or Clare at mail@merseyforest.org.uk n www.nature4ealth.org.uk