Chepstow & Caldicot Carers Support Group

APRIL 2002 NEWSLETTER

CARERS... Look after family, partners or friends in need of help. Because they are ill, frail or have a disability. The care they provide is unpaid. 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 Dear Carer, Our March meeting was the formal launch of the group becoming a branch of Carers UK. We held it at Dewstow Golf Club and it was a lovely day, proving interesting, entertaining and a super lunch. 60 carers and guests enjoyed the day which was hosted by Carers Wales. They were represented by Dr Sheila Curran, the Chairman of Carers Wales and a Trustee of Carers UK, and by Maggie Titterton who is the Development Officer for Carers Wales. We also invited County Councillor Don Spencer, Chairman of Monmouthshire County Council (and also a Carer) and Councillor Henry Hodges, Mayor of Chepstow. All spoke well and had had first hand experience of caring. After lunch, we had a hilarious afternoon being entertained by Fred Wedlock, who had us all laughing and forgetting all our worries for an hour. Every one went home with a smile on their face! Thank you to all who helped the day run so well. Our next special day like this will be Carers Day for National Carers Week, on Thursday 13th June at the Royal George Hotel, Tintern. Put it in your diaries now and let me know if you would like to come. Three of us attended the Carers Wales Branches Network meeting in Llandrindod Wells on the 16th of March. We had a seminar from the Chief Executive of the new Care Council for Wales. This is a new body that has been formed to ensure that those engaged in social care are properly trained, qualified and regulated. The Council will set codes of conduct and practice for social care workers and employers and it will register the social care workforce. The people that this will affect are care workers, (Home Carers) Social Workers, Care Agencies etc. quite a large branch. LAUNCH OF NEW RESEARCH FROM CARERS UK, AND THE NEW WEBSITE "CARERS ONLINE" (FROM MAY 2nd.) It is often quoted that carers save the state upwards of an estimated £34 Billion every year. This new research will bring that figure up to date. The Website aims to tackle the social isolation of carers by providing online advice and support. Carers can also meet each other through notice boards. Click here to view www.carersonline.org.uk. And here's a note from the Caerwent Community website's administrator, Bryan Morgan: "If any carer needs help with operating a computer please feel free to call me on 01291-422276. I can offer help with computer operation. If anything really goes wrong and I can't fix it, like the Automobile Association commercial 'I know a man who can!' Call anytime - I'm nearly always there. Remember - a computer is only a calculator with ideas above its station!" Parkinson's Awareness Week runs from 8 -14th April. If you would like an Information Pack, from the Parkinson's Disease Society ring 02079639305. Remember, there is a Parkinson's group at the Community Hospital for people with Parkinson's disease and their Carers. British Gas, in partnership with Carers Wales and Employment Services has launched a scheme to assist carers with securing employment. A large part of the scheme is work preparation training that will be provided for all potential applicants. If you are concerned that you have been out ofwork for some time, a wide range of topics will be covered from interview and application preparation to confidence building. Several open days have been arranged to find out what positions are available with the National Sales Centres for British Gas which is based in Churchill Way, Cardiff. It will be an informal opportunity for you to go along and see the type of roles that are available and experience the friendly office environment. You do not need to commit yourself to work at this stage. To find out more ring 02920-381188. If you are currently in work, and looking for a change, then this may also be an opportunity for you. However, if your caring responsibilities do not allow you to consider employment then, this scheme could be for you. Boverton 'Power' House is now an umbrella organisation run jointly by Social and Housing Services and Life Long Learning. Some of our carers already attend the computer classes on Thursdays and have done really well. If other carers would like to join them, contact Boverton House on 01291-626309 (The classes are free). If you need extra respite to enable you to get there, contact Crossroads 0n 01291-672750 or Age Concern on 01633-763330 Finally, I have a directory of catalogues of companies who claim to solve footwear problems. There are many companies who do special footwear, and if you would like to see this directory, please ask. OUR REGULAR MEETINGS ARE ON THE SECOND THURSDAY OF THE MONTH, AT BOVERTON HOUSE, CHEPSTOW. The next meeting will be on Thursday April 4th and the Benefits Agency will be with us all day. 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, Patsy Lewis.