Hello Everyone – How Advocacy can help carers.
I am not sure if you know this but the majority of the Carers Centre Team are qualified Care Act Advocates including myself. The Carers Centre strongly believes that not only do we provide information, connection and support with our broad range of services but being supported with advocacy when highlighting your needs is crucial for carers to undertake a successful caring role, be able to have a life outside of caring, and for carers to pursue activities that maintain good emotional and physical wellbeing.
It can be hard talking to statutory services sometimes and you may need a little help, so don’t forget us, as we are here to make your life as a carer the least stressful it can be. We know there will be stressful periods but hopefully not to often.
The Care Act 2014 came into force on April 1st 2015. The Act for the first time gives carers the legal right to recognition and entitlement to support in their own right.
Local Authorities now have a responsibility to, “assess a carers needs for support where the carer appears to have such needs,” this now applies not just to carers who provide a substantive amount of care on a regular basis.
The Statutory Carers Assessment will assess what the carers needs may be and whether this will entitle the carer to support for their own needs. This would enable carers to look at the things they want to achieve in their own life, such as work or study and also look at whether the carer is able or willing to keep on caring.
I was also struck by a conversation I had with a carer and I wanted to highlight to you that when a life limiting diagnosis has happened to a loved one, this can be an extremely worrying time, you might not know what direction to take, you might need counselling, or support with your grief, funeral planning as well as looking to the future. I know many carers have stopped work, taken a back seat from their former lives to carry out this much valued caring role.
So, I wanted to tell you that in June we are holding another workshop called ‘Life After Caring’, there will be a practical element about being prepared with care plans and loved ones wishes. There will also be a section of the workshop on looking forward and thinking about what you as a carer might want to do.
I am in the process of setting up a new Peer support Group for carers who have experienced Bereavement and Grief and this will be a monthly group. Keep an eye out if this might be something you feel you want to join.
Finishing on a more upbeat note, the June timetable is packed with amazing activities including Carers Week, so if you want a life outside of caring, you want to exercise, connect with others, find a little mindfulness or be supported emotionally then check it out and put you name down to join an activity
You deserve a life outside of your caring role, and get support, connection and information when you need it…
Why do you need a Lasting Power of Attorney?
Does the person you look after making their own decisions but want help managing their money? Maybe they can make their own decisions now but want an arrangement in case they can’t in the future. Without a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) your family may need to go to Court. This can cause lots of hassle, delay, and expense.
There are 2 types of Lasting Power of Attorney; finances & property matters and decisions about health and care.
Why should you do it now?
- 1 in 3 of us will suffer dementia
- Many of us will retain mental capacity, but will physically struggle to manage our affairs at some point in our life
- Being married or asking your chosen person to act for you is not enough – you need to legally give them the power to help you
- If you leave making your Power of Attorney until you need it, it will be too late.
Carers Centre Partners
The Carers Centre Tower Hamlets is pleased to work in partnership with respected Law firms to provide carers with affordable support with LPA.
Jones Whyte are a Glasgow based multi award winning Solicitor firm and the reigning Law Firm of the Year 2021
- They prepare thousands of Powers of Attorney every year
- Have partnerships with many major national charities
- They offer competitive Power of Attorney fees £349 + vat
Carers Centre staff can refer you, or you can contact them yourself on 0330 175 1234 or email appointments@joneswhyte.co.uk
You can find our more about Jones Whyte here Power of Attorney – Solicitors Glasgow | Jones Whyte Law
Duncan Lewis Solicitors – “We believe in access to justice for the most vulnerable in society and do everything we can to ensure legal advice and support is available for those who need it most”.
Duncan Lewis Solicitors are a national firm with offices locally.
- They prepare thousands of Powers of Attorney every year
- They are available for face-to-face appointments at their local office (1 Kingsland High Street, Dalston, Hackney, London, E8 2JS) or surgeries at the Carers Centre if requested
- They offer competitive Power of Attorney fees £350 + vat
Carers Centre staff can refer you, contact us on 0207 790 1765 or at enquiries@ccth.org.uk
You can find out more about Duncan Lewis here https://www.duncanlewis.co.uk
Most solicitor firms support with LPA and carers are under no obligation to use either firm listed above and are free to seek support from any firm they choose.
What is I do not want to pay for support with LPA?
We also provide workshops and information for those who want to set up an LPA themselves, many people set up LPA without legal support. You can check our Calendar or give us a call for updates on our latest workshops.
You can also see the information links below for information.
Different ways to manage someone’s affairs
Call us on 0207 790 1765 or email enquiries@ccth.org.uk to find out more about LPA.
Millions of people have provided unpaid care to family and friends over the past two and a half years to ensure they were looked after and kept safe. The level of support that carers have provided to family and friends has been staggering, but has often come at great cost to their own health and wellbeing. Although some may feel that the pandemic is over, many carers don’t feel that way – both the legacy of the pandemic, as well as worries about infection, are still present in carers’ lives.
Ahead of this winter, and to ensure carers get the support they need as soon as possible, Government needs to provide more support to unpaid carers to enable them to care safely and well, and to live a life beyond their caring responsibilities. That’s why this Carers Week we are collectively calling for Government to develop a Recovery and Respite Plan for unpaid carers, outlining additional support for carers across a range of areas – including breaks, respite and care services, infection control, identification of carers, financial help, and support to juggle work and care. Doing so would recognise the enormous impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on carers’ lives, as well as the lives of people they care for, and help to mitigate some of the negative impacts that caring can have on carers’ own physical and mental health.
To raise awareness of Carers Week and our campaign, please click the button below and take a couple of minutes to write to your local MPs today. We have provided a template letter and ask that you add your own personal experience of caring to this, before sending it. Please forward any response you receive from your MP to policy@carersuk.org so that we can follow up with them, if you are happy to do so.
Click link below to write your letter
https://carersuk.e-activist.com/page/105999/action/1?ea.tracking.id=cuk-aff&utm_source=Carers%20UK&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=13220633_Email%20to%20affiliates%20-%20Carers%20Week%202022%20campaign%20-%2023rd%20May&dm_i=74C,7VD3T,W8A2O3,W5F7U,1
East London Peer/Carers Group coming soon at the Carers Centre Tower Hamlets
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION LAUNCHES NEW PROJECT IN LONDON TO SUPPORT CARERS WITHIN THE ARMED FORCES COMMUNITY
- RBL launches ‘Network for Carers’ to support carers within the Armed Forces Community who feel isolated or lonely
- The first ever event in London will be held at Imperial War Museum London on Friday 10 June
- RBL research shows 70% of carers in the Armed Forces community surveyed say caring has negatively affected their mental health, with 50% saying it has affected their physical health
- Register your interest here: rbl.org.uk/networkforcarers
A new project that aims to support carers within the Armed Forces Community who feel isolated or lonely is coming to London for the first time.
The Royal British Legion (RBL) has launched Network for Carers, offering monthly face-to-face and virtual social groups to provide opportunities for the military community in London to access support and share knowledge and experiences. It is funded by a grant from the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust’s Tackling Loneliness programme.
Recent research from the RBL reveals that 70% of surveyed unpaid carers in the Armed Forces community experience a negative impact on their mental health, and over 50% say their physical health is suffering due to the strain of their caring responsibilities.
For unpaid carers who have a family member currently serving in the Armed Forces, nearly 90% say their own mental health has been negatively affected.
The research also identified that unpaid carers within the Armed Forces community are receiving half as much support as carers in the civilian population.
Despite carers in the Armed Forces community being at risk of loneliness and isolation, 40% of unpaid carers surveyed admitted they had received no support at all over the last two years.
Over the course of the pandemic, half of these carers have seen a reduction in the availablity of support and services that they and the person they care for need.
But now, for the first time in London, a face-to-face social group will meet at Imperial War Museum London on Friday 10 June.
Jane Britton, RBL’s Head of Community Development said: “The RBL’s research has revealed a troubling situation for many carers in the Armed Forces community.
“The strain of caring has damaged their mental and physical health and very few are able to take a break which is why establishing this Network for Carers is so important.
“The purpose of this new project is to help Armed Forces carers feel less lonely and isolated because of their caring role.
“By connecting the military community with their shared memories and experiences, the Network for Carers social groups will support people to develop friendships, interests and engage more with their communities.”
In total, the RBL intends to establish twenty support groups across the UK, all held in safe environments connected to the Armed Forces community.
- Carers within the Armed Forces community that are struggling to look after a loved one or feel they would benefit from having a wider support network of those in a similar situation, and would like to access the programme should visit rbl.org.uk/networkforcarers
Project Launch – East India Company Spice-War Stories (1600-1625)
Do you want to learn about the early 17th Century European craze for spices?
Do you want to know about the Anglo-Dutch wars over the control of the Asian
spices trade?
Do you want to understand how England first got connected with the vast regions of oceanic Asia?
Are you interested in writing historical fiction based on facts?
BEFRIENDER – Bangladeshi Elders
We are an older people’s charity, providing support to lonely and isolated older people in Tower Hamlets for 75 years.
We are looking to recruit a Bangladeshi speaker with a good understanding of Bangladeshi Elders, to visit and support older men and women in the borough, increasing their confidence, their mental well-being and keeping them independent for longer. We are particularly interested in recruiting a Bangladeshi woman as we currently have a waiting list of women from this community.
Fluency in Sylheti/Bangladeshi as well as excellent spoken and written English is essential. Must be IT literate and have experience of working with Microsoft packages.
For more information about the role and how to apply please email admin@thfn.org.uk and you will be sent out an application pack.
Closing date for applications is 14th June 2022
Come and join us at this wonderful event
How about you join up for a Self-Care Workshop…
Carers Week is coming soon – June 6th to 12th 2022
The Carers Centre Tower Hamlets is excited that Carers Week is happening in June 6th to 12th.. We have developed a full timetable of activities incorporating this year’s theme Make caring visible, valued and supported.
| Time | Monday 6th | Tuesday 7th | Wednesday 8th | Thursday 9th | Friday 10th | Saturday 11th | Sunday 12th |
|
AM
|
Shared Reading Group 11.15 to 12.15 Pamper Day & Garden Party – First come, first served 10 to 3pm |
Coaching for Carers – 3 Steps to Self-care 11am to 1pm |
Peer support group with Ageing Well with Open University doing a talk for carers 11am to 1pm |
Day Trip to Kensington Palace 10 to 4pm |
Free day |
Community Festival 11.30 to 4.30 |
Community Festival 11.30 to 4 .30 |
|
PM
|
Safeguarding for carers – what carers should know 2 to 3pm
|
Yoga 2.30 to 4pm (@ LBC)
|
WeConnect Hub 2pm to 3.30pm |
Email tony@ccth.org.uk to reserve your place
Check out the https://ccth.org.uk/new/calendar/
Check out the monthly 2022 timetable, as this will let you know our weekly activities’ and then email tony@ccth.org.uk for a place.
Check out a new free course that has just been launched that focuses on carer wellbeing. It is called ‘Physical activity for health and wellbeing in the caring role’ and has been kindly endorsed by the Carers Trust. The course is 6 hours in length and learners can achieve a ‘badge’ on completion of the end quiz, and this can be added on a CV to evidence their learning/continuous professional development. We hope that it will be helpful to those working with carers, including carer centre staff, those supporting carers less formally and importantly carers themselves!
A carers guide to home fire safety
A new video resource has been launched on the London Fire Brigade website to help carers learn how to keep people that receive care safe from fire.
Sadly, around one third of those here who die or are severely injured by fire are in receipt of some form of care or support. If you are a formal (domiciliary care worker, support worker or clinician) or informal carer (family member, friend or neighbour) and are caring for someone in their own home, this new resource will help you identify fire risks and show you what you can do to reduce them. There is also more information available on the website around fire safety and prevention.
Watch the video >
ELOP’s LGBT+ Groups
Join our fun, friendly and non-judgemental safe space to meet new people and discuss LGBT+ topics!
LGBT+ Over 50 Social Group
Every Monday 1.00 – 2.30pm, online
LGBT+ Social Support Group
Every Tuesday 7.00 – 8.30pm, online
Stonewall – https://www.stonewall.org.uk/
LONDON Friend – https://londonfriend.org.uk/
WALKING ALONE? REMEMBER THESE 10 TIPS
1) Plan Your Route
Make sure you plan your route ahead of time. If you are walking in an area you are not familiar with, this can help keep you from getting lost. You will be able to walk with confidence. If you do get lost, don’t wander aimlessly, find a gas station, supermarket, or fast-food restaurant where you can ask for directions.
2) Make Sure Someone Else Knows Your Plans
Don’t go out when it is dark without telling someone, even if you are just taking the dogs out for a walk around your neighbourhood or walking home from a friend’s house nearby. It may seem paranoid, but in fact, knowing someone knows where you are can be reassuring and help you feel safe. If you fall and hurt yourself or run into trouble, and someone knows where you are, they can send help if you don’t arrive at your destination on time.
3) Always Carry Your Phone with You
Always carry your phone, but not for music or to make social calls as your walk. Your phone can be a lifeline if you see something suspicious or worse if something happens to you. Download a safety app on your phone, so you’ll be able to discreetly alert the authorities if you feel threatened or see something suspicious.
4) Avoid Suspicious People and Areas
Areas that are dark, deserted, or out-of-the-way, such as an alley or a parking lot, can be riskier than a well-lit area full of people. Stick to busy, lighted paths, to minimize the risks. Also, walk mainly in familiar places where you are known. That way, if you feel like a suspicious person is following you, you can always duck into a store you know or knock on a neighbour’s door. Avoid empty streets and pathways with thick shrubbery.
5) Keep Your Hands Free
Except for a flashlight and one of the items discussed below, keep your hands free. If you are carrying anything, put it all in one bag or backpack. This will make it easier for you to react if you notice someone following you. In a dangerous situation, carrying too many bags can keep you from moving as quickly as you can if your hands are free or if you only have one bag.
6) Carry a Non-Violent Deterrent
In addition to a flashlight, carry a non-violent deterrent such as a whistle, mace, or pepper spray. A whistle will help you alert others and call them to aid you if something is wrong. The loud noise may put off attackers, and they’ll move on to find someone else. Mace or pepper spray can give you enough time to evade a potential attacker, and in a pinch, a flashlight can be used as a weapon. Make sure you know how to use the mace or pepper spray to get its full effect.
7) Wear Reflective Clothing to Prevent Accidents
When it comes to personal safety, it’s not just about suspicious people. Areas with low visibility can be prone to accidents. Reflective clothing allows bikers and cars to see you as you walk along. A flashlight or headlight can also help drivers see you if there are dark stretches of road on your route.
8) Take a Self-Defence Class
When fighting off something as an assault, the element of surprise can work in your favour. If you regularly walk alone, take a self-defence class. You don’t have to become a black belt. In fact, it’s probably better to learn something like Krav Maga, which has been popular for self-defence. The idea is to disable your attacker enough for you to get to safety, and a class focused on self-defence will help give you those survival skills.
9) Remove Any Distractions
Keep your phone in your hand in case you need to hit the panic button on your safety app, but don’t let it distract you. When walking alone at night for exercise, music can be motivating and energizing but also distracting. You may not hear someone driving or walking up behind you. Avoid wearing headphones or talking on your phone as you walk.
10) Trust Your Gut
When walking alone at night, trust your gut. If you feel like an area or situation may be dangerous, don’t wait around to find out. Stop and scan your surroundings if you think someone is following you. If you are being followed, walk as quickly as you can to a well-lit public place. You can wait until you feel safe, or call a friend, a taxi, or an Uber to help you get safely get home at night.
Following these personal safety tips will help keep you stay safe when walking alone. Always be aware of where you are and alert to suspicious activity.
Important Numbers:
Domestic Violence Duty Line: 020 7364 4986 between 9am – 5pm.Victim Support: 020 7364 2448/7957
Just wishing everyone a peaceful, safe and week and remember if you need information and advice from the Carers Centre just email enquiries@ccth.org.uk
Tony Collins-Moore
Carers Wellbeing Academy Manager
Opening hours
Monday - Friday – 9.30am – 5pm
Saturday and Sunday – Closed
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