Hello Everyone

Yesterday’s Halloween special was an amazing success, we had carers, former carers and carers with children joining the Arts, Crafts & Conversation group.  Our wonderful Chair of the Trustees, Sharron arrived as a witch, I must emphasis a good witch, of course she is.  Sharron is a mulitple carer, the chair and a all round great person, she could be nothing less.

We had the lovely Lisa helping carers and attendees make Halloween cards, carve pumpkins and make little Halloween sweet bags for foodbanks.  Another great activity and remember this group and the Mental health Peer Support Group is to be combined with the weekly Arts, Crafts, and Conversation Group.  Of course we listened and as from Thursday 4^th November 11am to 1pm the two groups are joining up. So if you need an activity or a natter to aid better mental health, then this is the group for you, this also applies to any carer who cares for someone with a mental health.

So come join the peer support group, be supported, have fun and laugh and walk away with a crafty treat that you have made…

After the group, our Walkingf Thursday Group had a spooky Halloween jaunt to Tower Hamlets Cemetry Park and you could see wiches floating in and out the tress…

 

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Monday 1st November – 2pm to 3.15, either at the centre or zoom

Carers Mental Health Prgramme with Talking Therapies –

Assertiveness Part 1 – Education Based

Assertiveness is an important skill to have when we are trying to balance our own needs as well as our cared-for. This workshop will look at where individuals may be on the scale of assertiveness and various techniques to improve this. We will then create an action plan to put this into practise.  This workshop will be followed by a 2nd one in December.

if you want a place then email tony@ccth.org.uk

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Next Week’s Activities

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REMINDER – YOU CAN CHECK THE CCTH CALENDAR – NOVEMBER Activities being posted soon..

If you want to know what activities are on each day at the centre then check out the CCTH Calendar – https://ccth.org.uk/new/calendar/?cid=mc-03c4653fb809aa02e303ae7a3bb5520a&month=9&yr=2021

Then email me tony@cth.org.uk to book your place.

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New services for cancer care

Two new services have been launched under the Tower Hamlets Macmillan Local Authority Partnership Programme to improve personalised care and support for people affected by cancer.

The Macmillan Cancer Care Navigation Service, provided by the East London Foundation Trust, will assess people’s holistic needs and help them produce a care plan whilst the Take Home and Settle Service, provided by Age UK, will ensure the patient’s home environment is safe and clean and provide personal care and support with household tasks, children and other dependents.

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Carers Uk Survey so far …

We found a worrying picture of carers still having reduced access to practical support services. Over half of carers (55%) who responded to our survey have reduced or no access to day services and a third have no or limited access to support from paid care workers.

Carers were worried about the future; just 13% are confident that they are going to get the support they need in the next 12 months. One in five (20%) working carers said they would be forced to reduce their working hours or give up work altogether if they do not have access to affordable and accessible care for the person they care for.  

 Full survey out next month..

 

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Spooky Story from The Creative Writing Group

The Visitation

It had been one of those days, one of those weeks, I finally escaped the office, an hour later than expected but free for the weekend.

As I walked home daylight was rapidly diminishing, casting strange shadows across the road. I hate this time of year, dark days, dark mornings, dark evenings, all my waking hours are dark, or confined in a building.

Finally, I got to our door. A strange mist hang in the air as I fumbled with the key. The lock was open, one of the others must have got back before me but the house was in darkness. Oh no there was a small trickle of light from under the front room door. I opened the door, it creaked, another job for the over-worked and under-paid. Gosh ‘snap out of it’ I tell myself, ‘I refuse to let this carry on’ and there he was sat in his usual corner, smiling at my mutterings.

‘Hello love, bad day?’

‘Bad week but all the better for seeing you’

‘Put the kettle on, tea solves most things but first he slowly rises to embrace me and his kiss briefly like balm like on my forehead. I feel the cares slipping away, they belong to another time.

Obediently I trot off to the kitchen and return with tea on a tray.

‘Thank you’ I say, ‘you always bring calm.’

‘Never forget you’re special, never forget you’re loved and I will always be here. Now get the tea’

I go across to his chair and plant a kiss on his cheek,

‘Glad you’re my dad’.

‘Daft child.’

I turn to retrieve his tea,

‘Is that enough milk dad?’

I turn he was gone, I’m alone…but the warm glow remains.

B.Wright

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The ULEZ charges come into effect today, there is a grace period until 2025 for people who claim Vehicle tax exemption, you can apply for exemption from paying vehicle tax if you get the:

• higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• higher rate mobility component of Child Disability Payment
• War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
• Armed Forces Independence Payment

The vehicle must be registered in the disabled person’s name or their nominated driver’s name.

It must only be used for the disabled person’s personal needs. It cannot be used by the nominated driver for their own personal use.

You can only have one vehicle tax exemption at any one time. For more information see here https://www.gov.uk/financial-help-disabled/vehicles-and-transport

For more information about ULEZ exemptions see here https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/driving/ultra-low-emission-zone/discounts-and-exemptions#on-this-page-0

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Carer Physical & Mental Wellbeing

As part of ongoing carer wellbeing programme we will be starting a new weekly physical movement session every Monday from 8th November 10am to 11am, so if you want to come and have some physical activity and remember it is also good for better mental health.

This will be followed by our Shared Reading for Carers – see further down this blog for more details ..

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Check out all the latest information about our relaxed viewings, audio described, BSL and captioned events, available for you to book now – just scroll down t

But first we want to let you know that we’re launching online ticketing for access members and making some changes to our access membership scheme in response to our new booking system and in consultation with the charity Attitude is Everything.

These changes will come into force from Wednesday 27 October.

From this point you’ll be able to book tickets through our website by logging into your online account. You’ll also be able to provide us with your individual requirements, which will unlock specific seats for you to purchase and help us to provide the best service we can. You’ll still be able to book tickets in person and over the phone.

If you require an essential companion in order to attend an event, you’ll be able to book a free ticket for them. You’ll need to register as requiring an essential companion first.

To review your access requirements, log in to your account  or email tickets@barbican.org.uk

Essential companion tickets

An essential companion ticket will be available to those in receipt of the following:

• PIP/DLA
• Attendance Allowance
• War Disablement Pension
• Registered severely sight impaired
• Recognised Assistance Dog ID card
• CredAbility Access Card (with +1 icon)

If you don’t have any of the above evidence but require an essential companion, you’ll be able to let us know.

Contact

If you have any questions about any of the above, please contact our Access team at access@barbican.org.uk

 

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I’m pleased to let you know that applications for our ZOOM Film School are now open.

Check out the film on our website as the students did this ealiuer this year https://ccth.org.uk/new/video/ 

This long-running training programme is generously supported by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.

It is open exclusively to low-waged and unemployed Tower Hamlets residents, offering free, professional training in film and TV production, including:

• 6 weeks of practical filmmaking training, including production of a short film.
• 3 x mentoring sessions with a high-calibre industry professional.
• Accreditation (Open College Network credits in Film Production)
• Masterclasses and networking sessions.
• Paid placement/job opportunities.
• Bespoke career guidance and pastoral support.
• Travel/childcare costs.

Further details can be found at: https://www.fourcornersfilm.co.uk/whats-on/zoom-film-school

The deadline for applications is midnight on 8th November 2021

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Don’t Forget to get your Flu Jab

I had mine last week and I am so glad I did, it was painless, no side effects and I feel better mentally equiped for the winter…

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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 neighborhood 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 neighbor’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-Defense Class

When fighting off something as an assault, the element of surprise can work in your favor. If you regularly walk alone, take a self-defense 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-defense. The idea is to disable your attacker enough for you to get to safety, and a class focused on self-defense 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.

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REMINDER TO CARERS

If you still need PPE for you and your loved one then Tower Hamlets are still providing PPE for Carers.

Collection and delivery is on Wednesday only from Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, E14 2BG. Carers can call or email Ayeda directly 0n 07366977103 or ayeda@ccth.org.uk to order.

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Did You Know we have a weekly Shared Reading Group?

How does it work?

A group of carers, one of them a trained Reader Leader, reads a great novel, short story or poem aloud. We stop and talk about what we have read. There is no need for carers to read aloud or speak – it’s fine to just listen. The idea is to create a space where people feel at ease.

Reading the literature aloud in real-time, means that everyone is involved in a shared, live experience. Carers are encouraged by the Reader Leader to respond personally, sharing feelings, thoughts and memories provoked by the reading.

Everyone experiences the text in their own way, but the literature provides a shared language that can help us to understand ourselves – and others – better.

It can even help with your ESOL needs.

If this is for you then email tony@ccth.org.uk

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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!

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/health-sports-psychology/physical-activity-health-and-wellbeing-the-caring-role/content-section-overview?active-tab=description-tab

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