Chepstow & Caldicot Carers Support Group

JANUARY 2002 NEWSLETTER

THE CHEPSTOW AND CALDICOT CARERS' SUPPORT GROUP Chairman: Alison Short (01291-623771) Secretary: Patsy Lewis (01291-420602) Office: 'Cobblers Pitch', Highmoor Hill, Caerwent, Monmouthshire NP26 5PF A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL CARERS! Dear Carer, Well, here we are again. Another Christmas and another year gone by. We all enjoyed our Christmas lunch at Dewstow, as always. Forty-five carers and some of the people we care for came long and joined in the festive spirit. A few days later we met at Boverton House for our monthly meeting. In the afternoon Jane Thompson of Anne Thomas Flowers came and did a Christmas Floral Decortions demonstration. A fascinating hour watching someone make wonderful creations whilst constantly talking about hundreds of other things! A very talented lady. Now, a few other snippets of information which were in the latest copy of the Carers Wales magazine 'CONTACT', which comes out quarterly for those are members of Carers Wales. 1. FREE HOME INSULATION. British Gas has joined up with the Government to provide free home insulation for people who are in receipt of certain welfare benefits. If you receive a retirement pension, an income related benefit, including the Working Families Tax Credit or a disability benefit, you may be eligible for help. Ring British Gas on 0800-316-6004 between 8:30am and 5:30pm, Monday to Friday, for more details. 2. FREE NURSING CARE. The National Assembly for Wales has announced its decision to provide free nursing care to people in nursing homes, from December 3rd 2001. The scheme will only apply in the first instance, to people who are paying for their own care. Only the nursing element of care will be free. Funding will be set at a level of £100 per individual who is assessed as needing nursing care. 3. LOCAL HEALTH GROUP REPRESENTATION. The National Assembly for Wales has accepted the principal of having a Carers Representative on every Local Health Group in Wales. This means that the Carers' voice will now be heard on the planning of health services in Monmouthshire. Watch this space! 4. WINTER FUEL PAYMENT. If you were aged 60 or over on 23rd September 2001, you may qualify for a winter fuel payment. You do not need to be receiving a retirement pension and the payment is not means tested. You will receive £200 if you qualify, live alone, are the only person in your household to qualify, or if receive the Minimum Income Guarantee or Income-based Job Seekers Allowance. If there are other people in the household who qualify for a payment you should receive £100 each. For example, a married couple who both qualify would receive £100, or three people in a household who all qualify would receive £100 each. If you received a Winter Fuel Payment last year, you will automatically receive a payment this year. You should have received it by Christmas. If you want to make a claim, ring 08459-151515 THE CARERS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP This is UK a registered charity set up in 1997 to give Christian support to people who care. They have a quarterly newsletter with information and encouragement through poems, reflections, letters and items written by carers of their own experiences. They also try to link up carers with one another where this is desired. Quiet days and Fellowship Days are held. For further details contact: Mrs Sue Jones, 14 Cavie Close, Nine Elms, Swindon, Wilts, SN5 5XD. Telephone 01793-887068 or e-mail sjones.ccf@ntlworld.com THE BIG GARDEN BIRDWATCH 2002 It's the UK's biggest and longest running garden bird survey ever and you can be a part of it from your own home. You don't have to be an expert, all you have to do is watch a garden or local park for one hour any time during the weekend of 26-27 January. Record the largest number of each bird species you see at once - not the total number you see because the same bird may visit more than once during the hour. If you are interested in taking part contact the RSPB on 02920-353000 or look at www.rspb.org.uk OUR REGULAR MEETINGS ARE ON THE SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, AT BOVERTON HOUSE, CHEPSTOW. If you want a chat I am at Gray Hill Surgery on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10:00am-12:00 mid-day. Anyone, subscribers 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, and a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL CARERS Patsy Lewis.