Chepstow & Caldicot Carers Support Group

NEWSLETTER

NOVEMBER 2001 THE CHEPSTOW AND CALDICOT CARERS' SUPPORT GROUP Telephone Patsy Lewis on 01291-420602 or Alison Short on 01291-623771 Dear Carers, October saw the AGM pass the resolution for our group to become a branch of Carers Wales. The unanimous decision gave us a new name. We are now "Carers, Chepstow and Caldicot" Many congratulations to Alison Short on becoming the first Chair Person of the new Carers Wales Branch. I am now the secretary and will continue to do the monthly newsletters. Margaret MacNamara and I attended a Gloucestershire Carers Project meeting organised by the Princess Royal Trust in Gloucester for Group Leaders. It was very interesting to meet other group leaders to discuss the way we run our groups and share ideas about venues, speakers and publicising groups. We seem to be the only group who have regular pampering sessions and a monthly newsletter. STOP PRESS: One of our Carers, Hermione Ford, has been instrumental in designing a new website for carers called www.carersunited.com. They are keen to hear from you if you are a carer. Our Christmas Lunch will be at Dewstow as usual, on Monday 3rd December, meeting at 12 midday for 12.30. Dewstow has good access for people with disabilities. Carers are welcome to bring the person you care for if you wish. We would like to see as many of you as possible. We normally have about 40. It is always a good meal in a friendly atmosphere, and good value at this special price of £11.95. If you would like to come, contact Norma Gaulton at Hayes Gate House, Hayes Gate Lane, Mathern, Cheptow. We will still have our usual meeting in December, which will be on Thursday 6th December. Jane Thompson from Anne Thomas Flowers has agreed to come and do a Christmas demonstration for us. Our November meeting is on Thursday 1st of November and please note that we are going to be meeting at Dewstow Golf Club, as we are not able to use Boverton House. We have a room downstairs to ourselves. Coffee and good chat in the morning (and therapeutic care), lunch from the menu, whatever you like, and in the afternoon I have arranged a fascinating talk from a young disabled man called Gareth who has a dog for the disabled, '"Canine Partners for Independence". He is called Hero. Hero is his right hand man and helps him to dress, get things from the fridge, helps with shopping and much more! If you would like to bring the person you care for to listen to this talk, please bring them along. It will start at 2pm. Lastly, there is a new Parkinson's Society starting in Chepstow on Wednesday October 24fh at 7pm in the Day Hospital at Chepstow Community HospitaL This will be a self help group for people with Parkinsons, their families and friends. If you cannot make the meeting, or this letter gets to you after, please contact either Margaret Brooks on 01291-636676 or Anne Hughes on 01291-636662. They will tell you all about it. If you want a chat I am at Gray Hill Surgery on Monday and Wednesday mornings from lOam - 12mid-day. Anyone, members or not, can come and see me there. Ring 01291-420282 for an appointment or take a chance and pop in! For transport to meetings contact Nan Smith on 01291-421665 or Alison Short on 01291-623771. Best wishes, Patsy Lewis.