JSEPTEMBER 2001 THE CHEPSTOW AND CALDICOT CARERS' SUPPORT GROUP The Resource Centre, 5a, Church Road, Caldicot. NP26 4BP. Telephone 01291-420666 or 01291-420602 Dear Carers, Well the holiday season is almost over and we can all think about getting back to a routine - if carers can ever get into a routine! Our holiday went well in France, but even though it is only a week away it is a distant memory and thoughts of Autumn and our AGM in October are already in my mind. The date of our AGM is Thursday 4th October at 2pm. (This is our usual carers day) You will remember that in the last letter the committee were meeting with Maggie Titterton of Carers Wales (as CNA are going to be known from 16th September). We had a good chat with her and she told us about the advantages to us if we became an official branch of Carers Wales. At present we are only associate members. All members will be informed of this information so that we can vote on it at the AGM. There is a new official definition of who a Carer is, published by Carers Wales. It is: "Someone who looks after family, partner or friends in need of help because they are ill, frail or have a disability. The care they provide is unpaid" Many carers are reluctant to identify themselves as such, which then prevents them from getting the information that can make their lives a little easier. You do not have to have input from social services or any other organisation to become a carer. Many people care for a long time before statutory help is needed, because they have acknowledged that they are caring for someone and taken on board information that has proved very useful and helpful. Some carers also feel that to need to ask for further help from social services is a sign of failure and not coping. There often comes a time when life gets too difficult in a caring role, but if you ask for help at the right time, you will be able to care for longer without life becoming too stressful. So recognise when it is time to ask for help. Your local Social Services telephone number is 01291-635666. If you need help, ring between 9:00am and l:00pm and ask for the Duty Social Worker. The August walk this year was rained off, but nine carers met for coffee at the Old Tintern Railway Station. Following a walk around Tintern Abbey Mill they enjoyed lunch at the Royal George Hotel. It was Two for the price of One so they enjoyed it even more! There is another Web site that carers will find very useful. In June I gave you www.youreable.com which gives a host of information available to people with a disability including holidays. The new one I have found out about is www.ukonline.gov.uk. Go to 'Life episodes' and then 'Looking after someone'. This gives you lots of information about local and national support for carers, research that has been done on caring and government policies. Our next meeting is at Boverton House on Thursday September 6th at lOam. Our speaker in the afternoon is Jasmine Grove from Monmouthshire Crossroads who will tell us more about the extra money that has been made available for respite care through the National Assembly for carers' breaks. I am also hoping someone from Caldicot and Chepstow Crossroads will be able to come along but they have just appointed a new Scheme Manager and it might be difficult so soon after commencing her post at the beginning of September. Best wishes, Patsy Lewis.