Support Groups for Carers in the Leeds area – 2011 Support Groups for Carers dealing with Mental Health issues North West Carers Group Headingley Enterprise and Arts Centre (HEART), Bennett Road, Leeds LS6 3HN
7.00 to 8.30 pm 2nd Mon of the month
Central Leeds Carers Support Group In office of Carers Leeds, 6-8 The Headrow, Leeds LS1 6PT
5.30 to 7.00 pm 2nd Thurs of the month
Brook House Carers Group Brook House, Church Lane, Garforth, LS25 1HB
12.30 to 2.00 pm 3rd Fri of the month
South Leeds Family and Friends Carers Group Parkside Community Health Centre, Dewsbury Road, Beeston, LS11
2.00 to 4.00 pm 3rd Wed of the month
West Leeds Carers Group
If you want to come along please call 0113 2954445
MEFHIL Asian Women’s Carers Group 233-237 Roundhay Road, Harehills, LS8 4HS
1.30 to 3.30 pm 4th Thurs of the month
Mental Health Carers Team Newsletter Issue 3 - Oct/Nov 2011
For more information contact the Mental Health Carers Team on 0113 2954445. Support Group for Carers dealing with Aspergers issues Aspergers Carers Support Group Headingley Enterprise and Arts Centre (HEART) Bennett Road, Leeds LS6 3HN
10.30 to 12 noon Last Thurs of the month
For more information contact the Mental Health Carers Team on 0113 2954445 or Carers Leeds on 0113 2468338 Support Group for Carers dealing with Eating Disorder issues Yorkshire Centre for Eating Disorders Carers Support Group Congregate at Newsam Centre Reception, Seacroft Hospital, York Road, LS14 6WB
7.00 to 8.30 pm 1st Wed in the month
For more information contact Deborah Tee, 0113 3056400 Support Groups for all Carers Morley Carers Group Morley Fire Station Community Room, Corporation Street, Morley LS27 9NB
10.00 to 12 noon 3rd Tues of the month
Wetherby Carers Group Micklethwaite Room, Wetherby Town Hall, Market Place, Wetherby LS22 6NE
10.00 to 12 noon 4th Thurs in January, March, May, July, September, November
For more information contact Carers Leeds on 0113 2468338 Family members and carers drug and alcohol support groups Carers Leeds Carers Leeds 6-8 The Headrow Leeds LS1 6PT Telephone 0113 246 8338
Last Tuesday in the month 12noon to 1.30pm Last Wednesday in the month 5.30pm to 7pm
Mental Health Carers Team
Love Arts Festival
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The Love Arts Festival has been brought to you by Leeds Partnerships NHS Foundation Trust and the Arts and Minds Network. We are delighted to be partnering with so many amazing art organisations across the city to explore connections between the arts, mental health and wellbeing. Our festival is the culmination of eight fruitful years developing links between arts, mental health and wellbeing through our Arts and Minds Network.
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Our aim is to develop the role of the arts in health and social care, whilst enabling people who may feel excluded to take part in the rich cultural life of Leeds. We harness the power of the arts to explore mental health issues such as identity, stigma, social justice and even happiness! We are supporting Time to Change, England’s biggest ever attempt to end the stigma and discrimination that faces people with mental health problems. It is a campaign to change attitudes and behaviour. One in four of us will experience a mental health problem in our lifetime, and, if we do, we’re highly likely to face stigma from others. We want to change all that, and we think the arts is a fantastic way of getting us thinking and talking about mental health. By balancing artistic integrity with social purpose we want to make a difference in Leeds. The Festival will run throughout Leeds from Tuesday 27 September to Wednesday 16 November 2011, which will have a range of events from art exhibitions, music, dance poetry, theatre, literature, guest lecturers, special events and much much more. We hope you thoroughly enjoy our festival. Many of our events are free and will get booked up very quickly. Please book early to avoid disappointment. To find out more go to website www.loveartsleeds.co.uk
Spiritual and Pastoral Care
What do our governors say The Council of Governors provide an important strategic steer to the Trust,and includes six carer governors who represent YOU! These governors are here to ensure that issues that affect Carers are represented at a strategic level. Future newsletters will include information about what the Governors talk about at their council meetings. We are also planning to have a governor page on the Carers Website section. These governors are here to support you and represent your views at a strategic level. To find out more about the governors please visit the Trust website http://www.leedspft.nhs.uk/about_us/governors/elected_governors and to contact the governors please e-mail governors.lpft@nhs.net or telephone 0113 305 5951 and we will pass your messages on.
Become an Arts & Minds Member Carers need time off caring and this is where Arts and Minds can help! Taking time for yourself to indulge some creative fun is a great antidote to stress, and can promote your health and well-being. You don’t need to be a great artist to take part since we have something for everyone – watching performances, making films, dancing, singing, arts & crafts. Membership of the network is free and it’s easy to on our website, www.artsandmindsnetwork.org.uk. If you do not have an email address please contact us and we can send you a postal application. Contact: 0113 305 6621 info@artsandmindsnetwork.org.uk
Become a volunteer for Leeds PFT Leeds PFT offers many different opportunities to volunteer. We’re looking for volunteers and we need you! Whether you have previous experience of volunteering or have an interest in mental health, and wellbeing, this could be a great opportunity for you. We offer a variety of constructive and challenging roles in a friendly and supportive environment. Volunteering can be a great way to meet new people, learn new skills and gain new experience. If you can spare a few hours or want to know more, please get in touch with us at: volunteer@leedspft.nhs.uk. Or ring the team on 0113 29 52358
Are you suffering from the following:
bereavement • life changes • things that hurt emotionally • relationships • difficult times Are you a carer in need of spiritual, pastoral or religious guidance? The department of Spiritual and Pastoral care can offer you the following:
• Time to listen to you, let you talk • Visit as soon as possible • Discuss spiritual issues or offer pastoral support if needed • Arrange for you to be visited by a representative of your faith community if you wish • Non judgemental sensitive support • A complete confidentiality service where we do not preach and let you talk If you want to get in touch then please contact the team on 0113 3055513.
Tell us what you think! We would like to hear from carers about your experiences of the services we provide. We have an online questionnaire available at http://www.leedspft.nhs.uk/carers. There is also paper copies available that can be requested via the Carers Team on 0113 2954445 or through the service that offers support to the person that you care for. It is important that we hear what you have to say so that we can continue to improve the experiences of service users and carers
Yellow Card Referal Scheme Carers Leeds Yellow Card scheme enables carers living in Leeds to register with their GP practice as a carer by filling in a Yellow Card (available at GP practices) and handing it in to the GP reception. Once GP practices are aware a patient is a carer they can offer them additional support/advice relevant to their needs and many practices provide carers with regular health checks and free flu jabs. The yellow card also allows carers the option to be referred to Carers Leeds by their GP practice. Carers can complete the back of the yellow card to choose to receive a free carers newsletter and/or confidential advice or information from a Carers Leeds support worker either by phone or by appointment at our city centre offices. Home visits are available to carers who are unable to attend our city centre offices. Carers who do not want to complete a yellow card at their GP practice or carers who have an urgent enquiry can contact Carers Leeds direct by phoning 0113 2468338, emailing info@carersleeds.org.uk or dropping in to our offices at 6-8 The Headrow Tues-Thurs 10am - 3.30pm Fri 10am-1.30pm.
Keeping costs down We are always trying to keep costs down and at the same time becoming greener. You can download this edition and future editions by going to our website: www.leedspft.nhs.uk/carers or by emailing carersteam.lpft@nhs.net