Community Matters

www.melbourncambridge.co.uk

Free advice at Melbourn Hub

When you pop into the Hub to buy a coffee or borrow a book, you might wonder what the new touch screen machine in the entrance hall is all about. Well, it’s part of a project funded by the Big Lottery which is running in South Cambridgeshire to help people find information and advice quickly and easily. Care Network is working with Cambridge Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), the team at the Hub and other partners to help you get the advice you need.

The Advicehub kiosk is provided by Cambridge CAB, who offer free, independent, confidential and impartial advice. Areas of advice they can help with include legal, money, benefits, relationships, employment and housing. The kiosk offers answers to common problems on these issues through its website, which has been specially adapted by the CAB to give local advice information wherever possible.

The best way to find out more about the kiosk is to go and have a try. It’s straightforward to use, guides you through common issues and questions and takes you to safe, accurate information and advice.

We are constantly trying to improve the service our Advicehub kiosks offer. If you use the one at Melbourn, please remember to fill in the short survey and give us your feedback - you could be in with a chance of winning a £50 supermarket voucher.

There will also be advice outreach sessions at the Hub from March, offered by North Herts CAB. If you want help for those more complicated issues, a trained CAB adviser will be available at the Hub on the first Monday and third Tuesday of the month, from 9.30am onwards.

We are also looking for people who can help others use the kiosk. If you’re interested, or have any questions, please contact Lynne McAulay at Care Network on 01954 211919

For more information visit www.advicehub.org

‘Relate’ In Melbourn!

Relate is approachable, accessible and affordable. Seeking help should be ‘the next step’ – not a last resort.

Relate will be offering relationship support at the new hub in Melbourn in 2014. We can help people who present with a whole range of issues from communication difficulties, a history of failed relationships, an affair or relationship breakdown.

Many of us experience relationship or family problems at some point and may need help, but we don’t always know where to go. Not only that, but there is a huge amount of fear and trepidation about asking for support in the midst of a relationship crisis. So often we will simply battle on – in many cases for years – and we can be left feeling weighed down and emotionally exhausted.

The pain and stress that relationship difficulties causes can be minimized significantly with the right sort of help and support. Skills and strategies can be learnt which, together with understanding and encouragement from a trained relationship counsellor can make a huge amount of difference to anyone who is struggling with their relationships. We will be offering the following services:

Relationship Counselling: We can provide counselling for you and your partner or for you on your own. We can help if you are having problems and want to work them out, or if you want to separate, or if your relationship has ended.

Single Sessions: These will enable you to look at solutions to address difficulties, and ascertain whether longer-term counselling would be helpful, rather than look in depth at problems.

Couples Relationship Course: This will prepare you for - or help you cope with – any transitions in your relationship such as: moving in together or cohabiting, marriage, becoming parents, a career change, a new life stage, bereavement or “empty nest” syndrome, to name just a few.

Relate Cambridge offers confidential relationship support in Melbourn for individuals and couples who are experiencing relationship problems. A full range of services is available at our Cambridge centre in Brooklands Avenue. These include sex therapy and other adult and family services. Relate Business Solutions offers the following:

• Training solutions delivered by relationship specialists and expert trainers at competitive prices • The design of bespoke training solutions taking your workplace practices and policies into account • Improvement of individual and professional performance • Increased productivity and business performance • Increased retention and reduced absenteeism • Enhanced and development of professional and team skills • Improved communication and relationship skills • Improved work/life balance

For more information or to book an appointment, contact Relate Cambridge on 01223 357424 Mon-Thur 8am-10pm, Fri 8 am-6pm, Sat 9am-5pm (confidential answerphone at all other times). www.relatecambridge.org.uk.

Befriending & Family Support Schemes

Would you like to make a difference to the life of a child or young person with learning disabilities in your area?

Cambridgeshire Mencap is looking for volunteers for its Befriending & Family Support Schemes.

Our Befriending scheme matches volunteer young people with learning disabilities, to enable them to socialise, doing fun things like bowling or going to the cinema. It only takes a few hours of your time and it really does change lives.

Our Family Support scheme provides extra help for parents and carers when and where they need it most by providing a trained volunteer to regularly visit the child or young person and provide practical help to the family.

We think our volunteers are exceptional and you could be too!

We give training and support, but it’s the young people who make it all worthwhile. Rob said “I’m so glad I got in touch about volunteering. If you’re thinking about volunteering; just do it, you’ll never regret it.”

Like to know more? Contact Marika Newman on 01223 883141 or email volunteer@cambridgeshiremencap.co.uk

Community Lifeline Service

Residents are being reminded of a valuable community lifeline service run by South Cambridgeshire District Council. The service provides alarm equipment to help anyone of any age to feel safer, more protected and independent in their own home.

The equipment gives people peace of mind by offering the reassurance of 24-hour emergency assistance at the touch of a button on a pendant or wristband.

When activated, the button raises an alarm and connects the user directly to trained staff who speak to them via a small unit installed close to their telephone. Those staff will instantly know the name, address and health details of the user, raise the relevant help and, where requested, notify friends, family or neighbours The pendant and wristbands work within a 50 metre radius of the unit so are very effective within properties as well as gardens.

This equipment supports a host of additional telecare technology, including smoke detectors, fall detectors and bed sensors, and cost as little as £20 to install and £4.26 a week.

For more information visit www.scambs.gov.uk/communitylifeline-service, email lifelines@scambs.gov.uk or call 03450 450 500.

Adult social care needs YOU!

Homecare workers required More older and vulnerable people are requiring homecare to ensure they feel safe, happy and independent. To achieve this, the County Council is recruiting compassionate and caring people to start a career in care through a unique apprenticeship programme that enables them to “earn while they learn” by supporting them to get a job with a local homecare provider whilst being paid the standard rate of a care worker.

If you want to make a positive difference to people’s lives and would be interested in a career in care, contact Emma Laskey-MacRae, Apprenticeship Project Coordinator on 07917 615360, email Emma.Laskey@cambridgeshire. gov.uk for more information about this unique apprenticeship programme. Your age and background doesn’t matter, if you are looking for a career in care somewhere in your community there’s a job you can do to help others.

CATalyst

A Happy New “volunteering” year to everyone. Was your New Year Resolution to volunteer locally? If so why not think about becoming involved with the following Luncheon club

The diners at the Community Luncheon Club enjoyed a pleasant Christmas dinner and raffle. Thanks must go to Tesco and their Community Champion, Mandy Jinkerson, for their kind donation of mini boxes of chocolates for all the diners and two bottles for the raffle. There are now only 4 vacancies for anyone over 60 years of age and preferably able to come by themselves to Vicarage Close Community Lounge on a Thursday from 11.30am. Please do contact CATalyst if you or someone you know is interested. Transport may be available but is not guaranteed.

Read what Luncheon Club volunteer- Joan Humphris has to say -

My Husband and I decided to move to Melbourn in 2010. We knew the village very well visiting our daughter and her family on several occasions.

My Husband has Parkinsons Disease, so we found it difficult to find a social life within the village. When my husband went into residential care in January 2013 I found I needed a new social life for myself. There was an article in the Crow newspaper, Meet in Melbourn and this is how I discovered CATalyst.

I have now become involved with the Community Luncheon Club, volunteering to help with the weekly lunch, gaining my Level Two Food Hygiene qualification and where I have met and made many new friends who have made me welcome.

I have also become a Committee Member and am looking forward to helping to organising new events for the coming year. Joan Humphris.

New volunteer helpers and drivers always needed and made very welcome!

*Meet-in-Melbourn

Meet–in-Melbourn continues to highlight events and social activities for those looking to make new friends and

acquaintances. So if you are looking for someone to go to the cinema, theatre or exhibition with or just to get together for a chat then please get in touch. New suggestions are always welcomed, one recent one was a local “Tortoise & Snail” walking group!

A very enjoyable Christmas meal was held once again at the King William 1V in Heydon. A visit to the beautiful winterlights woodland walks in Anglesey Abbey also took place. Diane – CATalyst Treasurer and M-in-M organiser. Email: dianelou@hotmail.co.uk or phone: 0774 953 0112 *New social group for Carers’-2nd Wednesday of the month. 1.30pm-3.30pm URC Church Hall

The first meeting of the Carers’ social group was held in January. Comments from carers who came were very positive. If you are a carer do come along if you can or if you know someone who is and might like to come along please pass on the information.

For further information on any of the above please see the CATalyst webpage on the village website or phone CATalyst on: 0774 953 0112 email: communityactiontogether@hotmail.co.uk

Accessing adult social care services

Who to contact, where to find information

Social Care is personal and practical support to help people live their lives by supporting them to maintain their independence and dignity and ensuring they have choice and control over the support they receive. Many people don’t think about social care until they or someone they know need support, and then find they are unsure about where to find information or how to access the services they need.

The first step to accessing services is to arrange an assessment by adult social care to establish your specific needs. This is free, irrespective of your income, and available to all. It will determine if you are eligible for a Personal Budget – an allocated sum of money with which to plan the support you need. Alternatively, your circumstances may mean you are classed as a ‘self-funder’ with the means to pay for your care. Adult social care customer services are the initial point of contact for all social care enquiries. The trained staff knows about the services available and can offer advice on whom else may be able to help. Call 0345 045 5202. If you think you may need help with mental health issues you should contact your GP in the first instance.

Making decisions about the types of help, support and care that you require can be daunting, particularly if you’ve had no involvement with social care before. Your Life, Your Choice (www.yourlifeyourchoice.org.uk) Cambridgeshire’s adult social care website provides a wealth of information about adult social care for anyone looking for information for the first time. If you need to speak to someone about your adult social care needs you should contact customer services between 8.00am and 6.00pm Monday to Friday, and 9.00am to 1.00pm on Saturdays on the telephone number above, or email referral.centreadults@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Little Hands is a Private Nursery School specialising in quality education for the under fives and offers

Flexible hourly booking - open 08.30 to 16.30 Term time bookings with optional holiday club

Bumble Bee room for children 12 – 24 months

Ladybird room for 2 year olds

Butterfly room for children 3-5 years With optional “ready for school sessions”

Holiday club for children aged 12 months to 8 years

All sessions have a high staff to child ratio and are available for funded 2 year olds and funded 3/4 year olds with no extra charges

Categorised as “Outstanding” by Ofsted

For further information please contact Anne McCrossen - Nursery Manager : 01763 260964 e-mail lh-melbourn@btconnect.com

Little Hands is also at Bourn, Linton and Newton visit the website at www.littlehands.co.uk