CareLine: Winter 2016

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Winter 2016 February to April

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Do Yo Look u After Someo ne?

CareLine The magazine for unpaid carers in East Sussex

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Also availabl

Park The Charges

New Care To Chat Service 4

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Carers Forum: Taboo Subjects 22

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Contents 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 2

Carers Allowance Park The Charges People Bank Keep Warm This Winter East Sussex Young Carers Headway Carers Group Carers Groups Directory Carers Toolkit Courses Pull-out and keep Carers Groups calendar

Carers Groups: February Carers Groups: March Carers Groups: April

Carers Groups Directory Libraries: Equal Access Services

New Care to Chat Service Southdown: Growing Ambition ICE Project Update Carers Forum - Spring 2016 - “We don’t talk about that!”

Carers Allowance Many carers do not receive all of the benefits they are entitled to, often because they are not sure whether or not they are eligible. The Carers Trust website provides the following useful information.

Carers allowance is for people who regularly spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with a disability who receives a Disability Living Allowance (Middle or Higher Rate for Personal Care), Attendance Allowance or Constant Attendance Allowance (paid as an addition to a War Disablement Pension or industrial disablement benefit).

If you made your claim before 6 April 2010, you may also be able to get extra benefit for your partner or someone who looks after your children. This includes partners who are living together as well as those who are married or in a civil partnership.

You can only get the extra benefit if the person you are claiming for has earnings below a certain amount and does not get certain benefits in their own right which are worth more than the extra Carer’s Allowance. If you made your claim after 6 April 2010, you can no longer get the extra benefit.

Other Important Information Who qualifies for a Carer’s Allowance?

• • • •

• •

You must be 16 years old or over You must look after someone for at least 35 hours a week The person you look after must receive a qualifying disability benefit If you work you must not earn more than £102 a week net pay, although this figure is revised every April, so be sure to check You must be living in the UK when you claim Carer’s Allowance You must not be a full-time student. This is defined as supervised studying for 21 or more hours per week

How much is Carer’s Allowance?

Carer’s Allowance is currently set at £62.10 a week.

Make sure to check with the person you are caring for before you make a claim for Carer’s Allowance since they may lose some of the benefit they receive, such as a severe disability addition, as a result of the Carer’s Allowance claim. This is only if the disabled person lives on their own and does not include underlying entitlement awards of Carer’s Allowance.

Underlying Entitlement: You cannot receive Carer’s Allowance and a State Retirement Pension at the same time. If however you are a carer who would qualify for Carers Allowance, you may be entitled to what is known as Underlying Entitlement, which may entitle you to benefits that your retirement pension does.

You can find out more and apply online at www.gov.uk/carers-allowance

Carers Allowance

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Carers UK is working with Julie Cooper MP to campaign to make hospital parking free for carers in England.

Why CarersUK are campaigning on this

What next?

CarersUK knows that hospital car parking is a big issue for many carers. Visiting hospital with someone you care for is tough enough, without the stress of having to renew the parking ticket, the time it takes, and even just having the right change, not to mention the cost which can run into hundreds of pounds each year.

CarersUK are disappointed, but not defeated by the outcome.

As a result of the Bill and your support, the Department of Health has updated its guidance on hospital parking charges to specifically include carers – for the very first time – as a group for which concessions, such as free or reduced charges or caps, should be available.

Whilst these are guidelines and not legal duties on hospitals, CarersUK believes this is a step towards tackling the unfair burden hospital parking charges place on carers.

What has happened so far?

Julie Cooper MP wanted to introduce new legislation to Parliament which would exempt carers entitled to Carer’s Allowance from NHS hospital car parking charges in England. The Hospital Parking Charges (Exemption for Carers) Bill was presented to Parliament and debated in the House of Commons on 30 October 2015.

Unfortunately the Bill failed to win enough support in Parliament to progress to its next stage, making it almost impossible for it to become law.

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Park the Charges

CarersUK are asking supporters to contact their local NHS Trust to tell them about the changes and ask what concessions will be now available for carers, in light of the new guidance.

You can contact East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust using the following methods: Phone: Write to:

Email: Website:

01424 755255 St. Annes House, 729 The Ridge, St. Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex, TN37 7PT esh-tr.enquiries@nhs.net http://www.esht.nhs.uk

People Bank East Sussex County Council People Bank is your chance to get your voice heard, and use your knowledge and experience to help influence the way that adult social care is provided in East Sussex. You need not be currently receiving services from East Sussex County Council Adult Social Care in order to join.

By registering, you can choose how much or how little you wish to get involved, focusing on the subjects that you care about most, whatever your circumstances.

Your skills, experience and preferences will be matched with the appropriate opportunities and topics as they arise. For example, if you’d like to join workshops or events, and have experience of or interest in housing issues, then you may be invited to attend a housing event.

Joining the People Bank is also a way of learning about planned Participation Training sessions. Further details of this are provided on the joining form. If you are interested in being notified about forthcoming Participation Training sessions the People Bank joining form allows you to note this.

To access the People Bank online sign-up form, scan the QR code on this page or visit https://consultation.eastsussex.gov.uk/ adult-social-care/joining-the-people-bank For further information or a printed copy of the consultation, please contact Ian Hearnden - Customer Insight Officer, Consultation and Engagment Team by phone on 01273 335267 or by email at ian.hearnden@eastsussex.gov.uk

People Bank

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Keep Warm This Winter Winter can be beautiful with sparkling frosts and clear bright days however caring for someone living in a cold home can be a concern. Keeping someone warm at home is not just about their comfort but about their wellbeing.

One of the best ways to keep well during winter is to stay warm. This can help prevent colds, flu or more serious health conditions such as heart attacks, strokes, pneumonia and depression. The chances of some of these problems are higher for older people, the very young and anyone with a pre-existing condition or disability that is made worse by the cold and limits their ability to stay active at home.

Some people find it difficult to afford heating their home to the right temperature. Heating your home to at least 18째C (65F) in winter poses minimal risk to your health when you are wearing suitable clothing.

This threshold is particularly important for people 65 years and over or with pre-existing medical conditions.

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Keep Warm This Winter

Practical help to stay well There is good news for carers who want to get practical help on keeping warm and well at home. As a carer there are times when help is hard to find, however there are many types of assistance available for households vulnerable to the cold.

The East Sussex Winter Home Check service is available all year round and offers the most vulnerable people a full assessment of their home and support and advice on how to keep it warm. The service can help people on a low income who may struggle to keep warm, safe and well in cold weather, such as older people, families with young children, disabled people or people with a long-term health condition.

As well as offering practical help and advice, the service can offer emergency temporary heating, can help with switching energy supplier or can make improvements to the energy efficiency of a property with minor works such as installing draft excluders. In some cases the service can also arrange for the installation of replacement boilers, central heating systems or home insulation, subject to eligibility and limited availability.

It’s important to be aware of the wide range of help that is available to meet the cost of heating the home, such as Winter Fuel Payments, Cold Weather Payments and other benefits.

It would also be worth talking about the Priority Service Register with those you care for. It’s for older and disabled people and offers extra help and support with someone’s energy supply, such as priority reconnection if your supply is interrupted.

For more information call the Energy Saving Advice Service on 0300 123 1234 (9am-8pm Mon-Fri and 10am-2pm Sat) or ask about the register directly with your energy supplier.

The government have also produced a ‘Keep Warm Keep Well’ leaflet which is filled with really useful information. Visit www.nhs.uk/winterhealth to download your copy.

Alternatively, you can contact Care for the Carers on 01323 738390 who will be happy to provide you with a printed copy.

The East Sussex Winter Home Check service can be contacted free on: 0800 085 1674 and they will be able to talk through the eligibility and provide signposting to other funded schemes. You can also contact the service by email: whc@osborneenergy.co.uk or see further information online at: www.eastsussex.gov.uk/keepwarm

Keep Warm This Winter

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East Sussex Young Carers (ESYC) supports children and young people aged 5-18 living in East Sussex who are caring for someone due to that person having a mental health issue, substance misuse issue, long term condition or disability. It could be that they are caring for a sibling, parent, grandparent or other person at home. Different situations mean that some Young Carers have a bigger role than others, this could be due to the needs of the cared for person, their age or family construction. ESYC will carry out an assessment for each Young Carer to identify their caring role and how best they can be supported.

ESYC offers a range of services across the county including:

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Workshops – build on self-esteem and confidence as well as learning new skills such as first aid.

Action Plans – working through where Young Carers feel they are at currently with life at school, home, friends and if there are any areas they would like to work on. They revisit this from time to time with their Support Officer to update.

Information, Advice and Guidance – via the central Hub. Contact to find out about referring, activities and more.

Young Carer Awareness Day has been moved!

Chill Clubs – a chance to meet others who care for someone too, do games, cooking, sports, crafts and more.

This year it is being held on Thursday 28th January rather than in June. There will be local events held so please visit the ESYC Facebook page and twitter to find out more.

1:1 Support – meeting with their Support Officer to chat through their thoughts.

To find out more and for a referral form contact the East Sussex Young Carers Hub:

School Support – meeting with their Support Officer and other Young Carers that go to their school. They will be told if there is a support group in their school when they register.

Phone: 0300 7772011 Email: info@eastsussexyoungcarers.org.uk Website: www.eastsussexyoungcarers.org.uk Twitter: @ESussexYCarers Facebook: East Sussex Young Carers

Activities – offering some time for them and a chance to try new things and visit places such as the beach, woodland skills days, bowling, pantomime etc.

East Sussex Young Carers is a service of Imago Community, registered charity number 1108388.

East Sussex Young Carers

Headway Carers Group Headway Hurstwood Park offers rehabilitation and support services for people with acquired brain injuries, their families and carers. A brain injury can result from many different causes including stroke, accident, tumour, sporting injury or assault.

Discussion also recognises the need for respite to support personal wellbeing.

Part of the ESCC Carers Network, Headway encourages the development of positive relationships through communication whilst exploring self-support strategies towards wellbeing.

Heading Forward Headway Carers Group have been exploring the challenges of brain injury particularly with relationships. The impact of damaged neural pathways often leads to experiences of mental overload and fatigue. This causes frustration for the individual and carers who become exhausted trying to understand difficulties whilst offering support.

For more information contact Trudy Mayes Counselling and Carers Services Manager Telephone: 01825 724323 – Option 18 Mobile: 07425 626242 E-mail: trudy.mayes@headway-hp.co.uk Website: www.headway-hp.co.uk

Headway Carers Group offers a regular opportunity for mutual support. Carers focus on strategies to work with challenges promoting effective communication.

Registered Charity No: 1084715

Rebuilding Lives after Brain Injury Headway Carers Group

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Carers’ Groups

Directory

Here you can find out about your local carers’ groups, which organsations they are run by and where they meet. To find out when a group meets please check out the Carers’ Group centre-fold calendar.

If you would like to find out more about any of the carers’ groups details please contact Care for the Carers who will be happy to advise.

Info & Advice Care for the Carers’ Information and Advice groups are regular meetings for all carers, between 10:00 am - 12:00 pm, facilitated by Carer Support Workers.

Each group meeting follows the same basic format - the first half of the meeting gives you time to have a cuppa and a chat with other carers, and in the second half a guest speaker will join the meeting, bringing with them useful information and advice.

Following each group meeting, the Carer Support Worker will also be available should you wish to discuss any worries or concerns.

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Carers Groups Directory

• Crowborough United Church, Croft Road, Crowborough, TN6 1HA

• Forest Row

Forest Row Community Centre , Hartfield Road, Forest Row, RH18 5DZ

• Heathfield

Heathfield Community Health Centre, Sheepsetting Lane, Heathfield, TN21 0XG

• Netherfield

Netherfield Village Hall, Netherfield Way, Netherfield, TN33 9PZ

• Langney

St Barnabas United Church Hall, Kingfisher Drive, Langney, Eastbourne, BN23 7RA

• Ore

The Bridge, 361 Priory Road, Ore, Hastings, TN35 5BH

• Pevensey & Westham

Church Bailey Court, Montague Way, Westham, Pevensey, BN24 5NB

• Ringmer

St. Mary’s Room, Ringmer Village Hall, Ringmer, Lewes, BN8 5QH

• Wadhurst

Carillon Cottage High Street, Wadhurst, TN5 6AA

Carers Toolkit Course s The Carers Toolkit is a programme designed to equip carers with skills and information on a wide range of care-related issues. If you would like to book on to any of the courses shown below, contact Laura or Hazel at Care for the Carers on 01323 738390 or by emailing carerstoolkit@cftc.org.uk.

You can download the latest course booklet from http://cftc.org.uk/carers-toolkit/

Date

Time

Location

Course

Tue 2nd Feb Mon 8th Feb Tue 9th Feb Mon 15th Feb Tue16th Feb Tue 1st Mar Mon 7th Mar Tue 8th Mar Mon 14th Mar Tue 15th Mar Tue 29th Mar Mon 4th Apr Tue 5th Apr Mon 11th Apr Tue 12th Apr

10am - 12 noon 10am - 12 noon 10am - 12 noon 10am - 12 noon 6pm - 8pm 10am - 12 noon 10am - 12 noon 10am - 12 noon 10am - 12 noon 6pm - 8pm 10am - 12 noon 10am - 12 noon 10am - 12 noon 10am - 12 noon 6pm - 8pm

Herstmonceux Hastings Newhaven Heathfield Langney, Eastbourne Herstmonceux Hastings Newhaven Heathfield Langney, Eastbourne Herstmonceux Hastings Newhaven Heathfield Langney, Eastbourne

Accessing Healthcare Money Matters Emergency Planning Accessing Healthcare Legal Matters Legal Matters Emergency Planning Accessing Healthcare Legal Matters Carers Rights Carers Rights Carers Rights Carers Rights Carers Rights Money Matters

Hastings

Heathfield

Herstmonceux

The Bridge Community Center, 361 Priory Road, Hastings, TN34 3NW

Heathfield Community Health Centre, Sheepsetting Lane, Heathfield, TN21 0XG

Herstmonceux Village Hall, Hailsham Road, Herstmonceux, BN27 4JX

Langney

Newhaven

St Barnabas United Church Hall, Kingfisher Drive, Langney, Eastbourne, BN23 7RA

The Hillcrest Centre, Hillcrest Road, Newhaven, BN9 9EA

Carers Toolkit Courses

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February 2016 Tuesday 2nd Wednesday 3rd Tuesday 9th Wednesday 10th

Tuesday 16th Wednesday 17th Thursday 18th

Tuesday 23rd Wednesday 24th Thursday 25th Saturday 27th

10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Groups - United Free Church Hall, Croft Road, CROWBOROUGH, TN6 1HA - St Mary’s Room, Ringmer Village Hall, RINGMER, BN8 5QH 10:30am - 12 noon Wellbeing Group - Fleur de Lys Meeting Room, Market Street, HAILSHAM, BN27 2AE 10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Group - Carillon Cottage, High Street, WADHURST, TN5 6AA 10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Group - The Bridge, 361 Priory Road, ORE, Hastings, TN34 2NW 10am - 12 noon Wellbeing Group - Seaford House, Crouch Lane, SEAFORD, BN25 1PW

10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Group - Forest Row Community Centre, Hartfield Road, FOREST ROW, RH18 5DZ 10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Group - Church Bailey Court, Montague Way, Westham, PEVENSEY, BN24 5NB 2pm - 4pm Information and Advice Group - Heathfield Community Health Centre, Sheepsetting Lane, HEATHFIELD, TN21 0XS

10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Group - Netherfield Village Hall, Netherfield Way, NETHERFIELD, Battle, TN33 9PZ 2pm - 4pm Mental Health Carers Support Group - Brightview, 6 Saffrons Road, Eastbourne, BN21 1DG 10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Group - St Barnabas Church Hall, Kingfisher Drive, Langney, EASTBOURNE, BN23 7RA 10am - 12noon Mental Health Carers Support Group - Carisbrooke House, Stockleigh Road, ST LEONARDS-ON-SEA, TN38 0JP

12 Carers Groups: February

March 2016 Tuesday 1st Wednesday 2nd Tuesday 8th Wednesday 9th

Tuesday 15th Wednesday 16th Thursday 17th

Tuesday 22nd Wednesday 23rd Thursday 24th Saturday 26th

10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Groups - United Free Church Hall, Croft Road, CROWBOROUGH, TN6 1HA - St Mary’s House, Ringmer Village Hall, RINGMER, BN8 5QH 10:30am - 12 noon Wellbeing Group - Fleur de Lys Meeting Room, Market Street, HAILSHAM, BN27 2AE 10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Group - Carillon Cottage, High Street, WADHURST, TN5 6AA 10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Group - The Bridge, 361 Priory Road, ORE, Hastings, TN34 2NW 10am - 12 noon Wellbeing Group - Seaford House, Crouch Lane, SEAFORD, BN25 1PW

10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Group - Forest Row Community Centre, Hartfield Road, FOREST ROW, RH18 5DZ 10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Group - Church Bailey Court, Montague Way, Westham, PEVENSEY, BN24 5NB 2pm - 4pm Information and Advice Group - Heathfield Community Health Centre, Sheepsetting Lane, HEATHFIELD, TN21 0XS

10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Group - Netherfield Village Hall, Netherfield Way, NETHERFIELD, Battle, TN33 9PZ 2pm - 4pm Mental Health Carers Support Group - Brightview, 6 Saffrons Road, Eastbourne, BN21 1DG 10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Group - St Barnabas Church Hall, Kingfisher Drive, Langney, EASTBOURNE, BN23 7RA 10am - 12noon Mental Health Carers Support Group - Carisbrooke House, Stockleigh Road, ST LEONARDS-ON-SEA, TN38 0JP

Carers Groups: March 13

April 2016 Tuesday 5th Wednesday 6th

Tuesday 12th Wednesday 13th

Tuesday 19th Wednesday 20th Thursday 21st

Wednesday 27th Thursday 28th Saturday 30th

10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Groups - United Free Church Hall, Croft Road, CROWBOROUGH, TN6 1HA - St Mary’s House, Ringmer Village Hall, RINGMER, BN8 5QH 10:30am - 12 noon Wellbeing Group - Fleur de Lys Meeting Room, Market Street, HAILSHAM, BN27 2AE

10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Group - Carillon Cottage, High Street, WADHURST, TN5 6AA 10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Group - The Bridge, 361 Priory Road, ORE, Hastings, TN34 2NW 10am - 12 noon Wellbeing Group - Seaford House, Crouch Lane, SEAFORD, BN25 1PW

10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Group - Forest Row Community Centre, Hartfield Road, FOREST ROW, RH18 5DZ 10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Group - Church Bailey Court, Montague Way, Westham, PEVENSEY, BN24 5NB 2pm - 4pm Information and Advice Group - Heathfield Community Health Centre, Sheepsetting Lane, HEATHFIELD, TN21 0XS

2pm - 4pm Mental Health Carers Support Group - Brightview, 6 Saffrons Road, Eastbourne, BN21 1DG 10am - 12 noon Information and Advice Group - St Barnabas Church Hall, Kingfisher Drive, Langney, EASTBOURNE, BN23 7RA 10am - 12noon Mental Health Carers Support Group - Carisbrooke House, Stockleigh Road, ST LEONARDS-ON-SEA, TN38 0JP

14 Carers Groups: April

Telephone 01323 738390

Telephone 01424 773687

Telephone 01825 724323

Mental Health

Dementia

If you look after someone with a mental health issue, these specialist groups from Care for the Carers have tailored information and advice just for you.

The Alzheimer’s Society’s Carer Support Groups meet regularly across the county.

Group meetings provide a safe, friendly environment - where you can be yourself and talk about dementia comfortably with others who find themselves in similar situations.

(There are new additional dementia groups at Hailsham and Seahaven. Please contact Lea James on 07834 755639 for more details.)

Battle - 2 pm - 4 pm Alzheimer’s Society Battle office, Beckett House, Mitre Way, Battle, East Sussex, TN33 0AS

These Headway Hurstwood Park support group meetings aim to provide carers with the opportunity to meet other people in similar situations.

You can obtain and exchange information and support from facilitators, speakers and each other in a relaxed and informal setting.

Eastbourne Brightview, 6 Saffrons Road, Eastbourne, BN21 1DG Hastings & St Leonards Carisbrooke House, Stockleigh Road, St Leonards, TN38 0JP

Wellbeing Groups These are informal groups that carers are welcome to pop along to any time between 10:30 am - 12 pm for a cuppa, a chat and wellbeing sessions.

•FleurHailsham De Lys Meeting Room, Market Street, Hailsham, BN27 2AE

Bexhill - 2 pm - 4 pm The Old Bank Chambers, Buckhurst Road, Bexhill on Sea, TN40 1QF Crowborough 2 pm - 4 pm Horder Centre, St John’s Road, Crowborough TN6 1XP Eastbourne 1.15 pm - 3.15 pm Milton Grange, Milton Road, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN21 1SL Hailsham - 1 pm - 3 pm Fleur de Lys Meeting Room, Inglenook Market Street, Hailsham, BN27 2AE

Acquired Brain Injury

Brighton Montague House, Montague Place, Brighton, BN2 1JE Eastbourne East Sussex Disability Association, 1 Faraday Close, Hampden Park, BN22 9BH Hailsham Diplocks Hall, The Diplocks, Hailsham, BN27 3JY

Hastings - 2 pm - 4 pm St Barnabas Church, Hoads Wood Road, Hastings, TN34 2BA

Carers Groups Directory

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Libraries: Equal Access Services East Sussex Library and Information Service offer a range of services in order to enable people with disabilities to access books and other resources.

Disabled Access The vast majority of libraries in the county have disabled access, with only Pevensey Bay and Sedlescombe lacking disabled access, and Northiam having limited access due to a narrow corridor. The mobile library has steps and is very limited for space inside, but the library staff will do what they can to bring books to you, and can order in specific titles from static libraries.

Home Library Service

Online Services, including Ebooks and downloadable Audiobooks If you have an East Sussex library card and PIN, you can renew your books online, order books from other branches to be delivered to a branch of your choice at a reduced cost, and log in to the eLibrary, from which you can download eBooks and audiobooks from the online selection free of charge.

There is also an online reference library, which enables library members to access a number of resources, such as Encyclopedia Britianica, the Times Digital Archive, Newsbank, and Oxford Art and Music Online services, along with many others, from the comfort of your their own homes.

You can access these resources via their website, at http://www.eastsussex.gov.uk/libraries.

If you do not know your PIN, you can ask a member of staff for it in person, or you can ask for it to be emailed The home library service is free to join, but eligibility is or posted to the address the library has on file for you. restricted to those who are disabled or frail, and those Please note that library staff cannot tell you your PIN who are caring for someone who cannot be left. If over the phone. you live in a residential home, nursing care home or sheltered housing, or attend a day centre, then the service may be provided in a different way.

You can apply to receive this service online, or by phoning the enquiries line on 0345 60 80 196. Once you have applied, a member of staff will contact you regarding your needs.

16 Libraries: Equal Access Services

Books in Other Formats

Computer Buddies

The library service holds a selection of books in large print, on audio CD, MP3 CD, and on tape cassette.

While the selection in each branch is usually less than that of the regular print books (and few libraries continue to stock tape cassettes) - titles held at other libraries can be ordered and held for you at a branch of your choice.

Computer buddies are volunteers who spend time in libraries helping out when people get stuck with computers and the Internet.

If you know the basics of using computers but can get stumped by quite simple problems like the menu bar disappearing or filling in an online form, you can ask a buddy for help.

Buddies are not available during all opening hours, so if you need help with a specific task - it is advisable to book in advance by calling the enquiries line on 0345 60 80 196.

Read Aloud Groups Read Aloud groups meet regularly, usually weekly, to read aloud and listen to stories and poems. A volunteer leads the group and you can join in as much or as little as you want. They’re friendly and relaxing groups and you don’t need to read anything in advance before the meeting. Phone the enquiries line on 0345 60 80 196 to find out where your nearest group is and when they meet.

Books Beyond Words Books Beyond Words groups are for adults with learning disabilities to share books together to help explore and understand their own experiences.

Phone the enquiries line on 0345 60 80 196 to find out where your nearest group is and when they meet.

Bus Pass Forms and Blue Badge Forms East Sussex Libraries hold forms for both older person’s and disabled concessionary bus passes, and also the forms and guidance packs for the ‘blue badge’ permits.

While staff are unable to complete the form for you, they do operate a “check and send“ service for older people’s bus pass forms - where they can verify your identity and send the form off for you. Unfortunately, this is not available for the disabled bus passes or blue badge forms at this time.

www.eastsussex.gov.uk/libraries Libraries: Equal Access Services 17

New Care To Chat Service What is the “Care To Chat“ Service?

How does “Care To Chat“ work?

Carers, for many reasons, often find themselves isolated whilst in their caring role. Whatever that reason is, feeling isolated can be very difficult and detrimental to your well-being.

Care for the Carers has a list of all carers who would like to be in contact with other carers.

This is a free service to ‘put carer in touch with other carers’. There will be a variety of ways in which you can ‘chat’ including: Facebook, Skype, Online Forum, Email Pen-Pal, Phone calls and Letter Pen-Pal.

Carers who are interested in communicating with other carers will be provided with ‘Guidance’ and an ‘Agreement’ that carers are asked to sign up to.

When you sign up for the service you will be asked to provide some details, including information about you and your preferred method of contact.

How might “Care To Chat“ support me?

You will then be added to the database and Care for the Carers will look to match you Talking to another carer provides mutual support, it is an opportunity to talk and be a with another carer. As soon as a ‘carer match’ listening ear. Talking to someone who is also is identified both carers will be informed and contact details will be made available to in a caring situation may help you feel like you. you are not alone You may want to talk about day to day issues, you may want to talk about ‘life before you were a carer’, or you might discuss common interests. You might also share experiences and ideas.

Having a conversation with someone really can make all the difference.

18 Care To Chat

Carers are then responsible for contacting each other.

Is “Care To Chat“ time limited?

No. The length of time you communicate with the other carer is for you to both agree on.

How do I get involved?

If you would like to be put in touch with another carer contact Care for the Carers either by phone or email.

If you would like to communicate with another carer online (Skype, Forum, Email) but do not have the technology then call Care for the Carers and we will see what we can do to help.

Following the sign up process and being What happens if I am not happy with the matched with a carer, you will have an initial service? communication whereby you will both agree the basics of how you will be in touch: If for any reason you are not happy with the service please let Care for the Carers know • Date and time? as soon as possible. We will do our best to • Phone calls - taking it in turns? resolve any problems.

• How often?

• Agreed topics of conversation?

Anything else I should know?

• Anything else you would like to establish?

Care for the Carers will not disclose carer addresses. If you would like to be in contact For carers who would like to communicate with another carer by letter, send your letter via The Forum or Facebook we will provide C/O Care for the Carers and we will forward details of how to get started. envelopes on to the carers.

What can I do if I want to use technology but don’t have the skills or equipment?

As this is a new service we will be asking for your feedback. We want to ensure we are getting it right and identify any changes that may improve the service.

That’s not a problem, let us know and we will put you in touch with the Association of Carers. They can provide computer training If you would like to speak to someone about this service please call Care for the Carers on to help you. This service is provided by a team of volunteers who will visit you at your 01323 738390 home and look at how they can help you gain the skills required. This is a free service for carers in East Sussex.

Care To Chat 19

Growing Ambitions Southdown’s Ambitions service has now been offering vocational support to carers in East Sussex for over a year.

During that time we have worked with over 50 carers helping them to achieve a variety of outcomes; including paid employment, volunteering, training and educational courses.

We have worked closely with Care for the Carers in promoting what was a new service for the county and this has resulted in the Ambitions service becoming well established as part of the wider offer to carers in East Sussex.

Referrals to the service have been received from a range of organisations including Care for the Carers, Adult Social Care, The Alzheimer’s Society and Jobcentre Plus. In addition we work closely with other services within Southdown to promote carer’s services and to identify ‘hidden carers’ who may not have identified themselves as a carer prior to meeting our support workers. Carer Awareness training has been

delivered by Paul Turk to over 80 Home Works staff, including managers and frontline workers, to make them more aware of carers’ needs and the services that are available. This training is also available, free of charge, to other agencies and companies.

For more details contact Paul by phone on 07805 811186 or e-mail p.turk@ southdownhousing.org As the number of referrals has increased we have now taken on a second Vocational Specialist, Isabel Deykin, who has previously worked as an Employment Specialist for Southdown’s Supported Employment programme in Brighton and Hove. Isabel will be supporting carers across East Sussex to achieve their vocational goals and can offer support in writing a CV, job searching, accessing educational opportunities or finding voluntary work.

This can also include supporting carers to find ways to balance their caring responsibilities with

20 Southdown: Growing Ambitions

realising their personal goals by accessing respite care or by identifying potential funding opportunities. Isabel has been supporting people with mental health needs in Brighton and Hove to access work, learning and voluntary opportunities and is experienced in supporting individuals to find and retain appropriate and meaningful vocational experiences. You can contact Isabel on 07816 644101 or email i.deykin@ southdownhousing.org

ICE Project Update ICE (Improving Carers’ Experience) is a project which aims to support carers in mental health, particularly by improving the information which is available to them.

Feedback from the last course included-

We are very pleased to be able to report that the new ‘Information Booklet for Mental Health Carers’ is about to be printed. This is an updated version of the 2013 booklet and has been expanded to include local services from across the whole of Sussex as well as including some new topics.

are talking about. Excellent content and honest sharing. Opened up information and contact with services.

Very welcome.

This was a rare and very welcome “opportunity to be with people, trainers and fellow carers who know what you

”

What is especially helpful is that the printing has been funded by Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust, the NHS Trust that provides mental health services locally. The hope is that staff in mental health teams will offer the booklet to carers they come into contact with. In the past the Trust has only funded publications written by its own staff so this is a first!

Of course the booklet doesn’t provide all the answers but it hopefully makes some helpful suggestions, most of which have been collected from national and local carers groups and from people who use mental health services. If anyone would like a free copy please call or email and we will send one ‘hot off the press.’

ICE also runs a ‘Carers Information Course’ where a small group of carers can spend time discussing the issues that they are dealing with and getting some practical information.

The next course will be early in 2016 in Newhaven.

Please contact us if interested!

You can contact Alan by phone on 01273 617100 or 07435 786182, or by email at alan.icepro@btconnect.com Jane can be contacted on 07483 133543 or by email at jane.icepro@btconnect.com To find out more about ICE Project, and to keep up to date with the latest news, visit www.iceproject.co.uk

ICE Project Update

21

We don’t Talk About That!

Spring 2016 Carers’ Forum BOOK YOUR PLACE TODAY! Wednesday 4th May 2016 International Tennis Centre, Devonshire Park, Eastbourne, BN21 4JJ. 10 am – 3 pm (to include a light lunch)

The next Carers’ Forum is just around the corner and will offer the opportunity for carers from across the county to come together and explore issues that you have told us are important to you but are often difficult to talk about.

“All I want is a hug

and sometimes I can’t even get that.

”

As well as a market place full of information stands from local support groups and service providers there will also be local and national updates and a choice of workshops that you can get involved in such as:• End of life planning • Deciding on care options • Mental health issues such as self-harm, depression or suicidal thoughts • Alcohol or drug use as a coping mechanism

22

Spring 2016 Carers’ Forum

• Sexuality, intimacy and relationships - the impact of being a carer on your own relationships or how you support the person you care for around these issues.

The workshops will be held in breakout rooms where you will have the opportunity to explore, in small groups, the issues that are important to you with other carers.

Workshops will be facilitated by professionals with experience of the subject areas and knowledge of the specific challenges faced by carers.

“People expect me to know these things but I don’t.

I’ve never been here before.”

We anticipate this being a very popular forum so please tell us if you want to come along using the booking form below or by visiting Care for the Carers website at www.cftc.org.uk, emailing debbier@cftc.org.uk or telephoning Debbie Reid on 01323 738390.

If you would like to attend and may need some support to do so, please contact Debbie on the number above and Care for the Carers will do their best to assist you.

booking Form Name: Address:

Care for the Carers

Telephone: 01323 738390

www.cftc.org.uk

Email: info@cftc.org.uk

I would like to attend the Spring 2016 Carers’ Forum “We don’t talk about that!“ If you have any access or dietary requirements, please note them here:

Postcode: Telephone: Email: Please complete & post this to our FREEPOST address: Care for the Carers, FREEPOST RTAC-GURC-XUJC, Highlight House, 8 St Leonards Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3UH

23

Contact Us

Care for the Carers

Telephone: 01323 738390

www.cftc.org.uk

Email: info@cftc.org.uk

I am a carer Name Sign me up to receive CareLine Address

Please update my address Send future editions of CareLine by email

Postcode Telephone Email Please complete & post this to our FREEPOST address: Care for the Carers, FREEPOST RTAC-GURC-XUJC Highlight House, 8 St Leonards Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3UH

Please contact me about the help available

I am no longer a carer Please unsubscribe me from CareLine Please send me the “After Caring” booklet I would like to know about staying in touch