Hidden Carers – Unheard Voices
This week Connecting Carers travelled to Edinburgh, in glorious sunshine, to the Scottish Parliament building to find out more about the MECOPP project Hidden Carers – Unheard Voices.
MECOP (Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project) is an independent charity based in Edinburgh which provides a range of health and social care services to support minority ethnic carers in their caring role including multi-lingual advice and information. In May 2011 a new project was put in place working with Gypsy/Travellers in Edinburgh, Lothians, Perth & Kinross and North Argyll.
Work that has specifically focussed on this group of carers has included awareness raising sessions; production of a powerful DVD ‘Hidden Carers – Unheard Voices’ where carers talk openly about the issues they face such as ‘being blamed for causing their own problems’. In order to raise political awareness of these issues, presentations have been delivered to the Cross Party Group on Carers and the Equal Opportunities Committee (EOP) at the Scottish Parliament. The project also works directly with carers through provision of advocacy and outreach services whereby individuals can provided with one to one support where needed.
Connecting Carers were hugely moved by the evidence given to the committee regarding their experiences as Carers. We are now exploring ways of extending the good work of MECOPP into the Highland region.
For more information to go http;//goo.gl/Mqda or email equal.opportunities@scottishparliament.uk
BBC Scotland Investigates 2012: Meet the Carers
This week BBC Scotland broadcast the moving stories of Carers in Scotland in an investgative piece lead by Fiona Walker. The full programme is available on the BBC iplayer here. Firstly a huge Thank You! from Connecting Carers to all the Carers and their families who agreed to share their stories. This was a very brave and it is really appreciated by us, as it will help us in conversation with so many other Carers now and in the future.
The programme was a powerful example of the struggles that Carers face in their day to day lives, from the stress of juggling families and commitements to the challenges they face in communication with services. For those unfamiliar to caring this programme would have been a real eye opener and in the run up to the elections in May and Carers Week in June it is an important part of the awareness rasing that needs to take place across the board. Well done to Fiona Walker and her team for helping to put Carers issues on the agenda!
If this programme has helped you to identify as a Carer or you think you know someone who is a Carer and would benefit from our support please get in touch with the Connecting Cares Information and Support Line on 01463 723 560 or email carers@hccf.org.uk
Raising Awareness of Vulnerable Adults
This week also saw the start of a TV campaign being run in Scotland this week to raise awareness about the abuse of vulnerable adults and what can be done about it. Fourteen councils are behind the campaign, which takes the form of an advert being screened in the STV area. They cover the day-to-day harassment suffered by people with learning disabilities (the image above), financial abuse of older people and what would appear to be self-neglect (as a result of long-term alcohol abuse).
It’s heartbreaking to hear Carers talk about the abuse of their loved ones from neighbours and members of their own community. So lets all join the fight to raise awareness and tackle this sensitive subject
You can see the advert on the adult protection site until 31 March, and there is also a helpline that is also open during the campaign (0300 777 6520).
Carers Budget
At Connecting Carers we watched closely to see how George Osbornes 2012 Budget might impact on our Carers.
To find out how the budget may change your finances try the BBC Budget Calculator or the Guardian’s Budget Analysis page
Fuel
This one is particularly significant to Carers in rural areas, whose car is a necessity to access goods and services.
- No change to existing plans on fuel duty – a 3.02p per litre increase will go ahead on 1 August.
- Vehicle excise duty to rise by inflation, but frozen for road hauliers.
Many rural Carers already live in isolation and povery and these increases will only stretch their finances further.
Don’t forget there are a number of local elections in 2012, join the campaign to raise these issues with you local candidates. Don’t forget to fill in the Carers Parliament Survey to get your issues on the agenda on the 1os of October 2012.
Tax Credits
Plans to change tax credit entitlement for carers have been scrapped. From April 2012-2013 Couples where one person is a full time carer in receipt of Carers Allowance will be exempt from tax credit changes. This means that these families will continue to receive tax credit support even if one person is working for 16hours.
As many people compromise and cut down on their hours in order to meet their caring responsibilities these exemptions are great news.
Please note that you must be in receipt of Carers Allowance to qualify for this exemption. If you are not already receiving Carers Allowance you can check your entitlement here.
Carers under 65 who are in paid employment
People with a caring role find it difficult to meet the additional demands of full time work. They often take part time and flexible roles that support them in their caring commitments. However this also means that Carers compromise their earning potential and many of them face poverty as low earners.
From April 2013 the Personal Income Tax Allowance will increase to £9,205. This is the third increase from the UK Coalition government, in April 2011 the threshold was increased by £1000 to £7,475 and in April 2012 the second increase to £8,105. This means that Carers who are on low or middle income earnings will be able to earn more before becoming liable for tax. Initial estimates are that this will make low and middle income earner £220 to £170 a year better off.
Carers with children
Child benefit will remain a universal entitlement, however from the Jan 7th 2013 the level of entitlement will become means tested. Families with an income of more that £50,000 will have a stepped reduction rather than the cut off that was orignially proposed in 2010.
This additional assessment is an unwelcome addition to the mountain of paperwork and red tape that Caring families already have to face.
Older Carers
From April the personal tax allowance for those aged 65 to 74 will be £10,500, if you are aged 75 or over the amount will be £10, 660.
There are two key points:
- In April 2013 the tax allowance for those aged 65 and over will be frozen.
- Those whoe turn 65 on or after the 5th of April 2013 will not be entitled to the extra allowance and will have the same personal allowance of someone under 65. At that point will be £9, 205.
These changes will not impact on people on the basic state pension and pension tax. However it may change the finances of those who receive a private pension, earning and investments. Although the UK Government is keen to stress that no one will have cash taken away that they have already received these changes will mean that many people planning for the future will now have less in the pot. It also means that, similar to the changes in child benfit, many more people will be expected to complete annual self-assessment tax forms.
If you are concerned at how changes in the budget will impact on your finances and benefits please seek advice as soon as possible from your local Citizens Advice Office.
To end on a positive note the Calvert Trust Keilder, Northumberland have have been awarded funding for adults and children with disabilities, carers and young carers from Scotland, Scottish Borders and West of Scotland to have a holiday with them during 2012. For more information call 01434 250232 or email enquiries@calvert-kielder.com to request an application form.
World Book Night.
Join our book club
Connecting Carers are delighted to announce that we have been chosen as World Book Night Givers!!
World Book Night is a celebration of reading and books which sees tens of thousands of people gift books within their communities to spread the joy and love of reading. In 2012 World Book Night will be celebrated in the UK, Ireland, Germany and USA.
We have 25 copies of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho to gift absolutely free. The Alchemist is described as “a fable about following your dream” and is an uplifting, positive read.
We have spoken to carers who come along to the drop in held at The Dunbar Centre on a Tuesday, and they are keen to start a book group there. So we have decided to launch The Dunbar Book Group on Tue 24th April – the day after World Book Night, and would like to invite any carers interested in joining the book group to come along to The Dunbar Centre, Church St, Inverness on Tue 24th April at 12noon.
We would also like to send a copy of The Alchemist to any carers – anywhere in Highland – that would be interested in starting a book group that “meet” over the telephone. I am currently taking names of any carers interested in this and I can send the book to them, I will also make arrangements for the telephone group to “meet” up.
So get involved reading – you have no excuse now!!
Any questions contact – Carol Summers, Volunteer Co-ordinator on 01463 723563 email; csummers@hccf.org.uk
Volunteer Community Activitst Wanted!
At Connecting Carers we support unpaid carers and young carers across Highland. We have an exciting programme of events due to take place across the Highlands during Carers Week 2012 ( 18th – 24th June ).
We are looking for local volunteer co-ordinators to help support local events and activities we have planned during that week.
You should be a good communicator, enthusiastic and able to engage with your local community.
We will support you, and pay expenses.
Even if you only have 1 hour that week to spare – you can help us make a difference to unpaid carers across Highland.
Contact Carol Summers for more information;
Email; csummers@:hccf.org.uk
Phone; 01463 723563
Mobile; 07850 794 425
Scotlands first Carers Parliament
One of the Scottish Government’s Manifesto commitments in support of carers is to hold an annual Carers Parliament. The first Carers Parliament will be held on Monday 1 October 2012 in the Scottish Parliament.
The Carers Parliament will allow carers, and young carers too, to raise the issues that impact most on their lives with MSPs and Scottish Government Ministers.
Carers Scotland is leading the work of the National Carer Organisations (NCOs) with the Scottish Government to organise the first Carers Parliament. As a first step in this process Carers Scotland are consulting with carers on the possible themes and topics. They have developed a survey for carers to assist in this:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CarersParliamentQuestionnaire
Take part in Research
The Clinical Neuropsychology department in Raigmore Hospital is currently carrying out a research project investigating the needs of people with neurological conditions and their carers. They are looking for people living in the Highlands who have or care for someone with one of the following conditions:
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Motor Neurone Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Epilepsy
- Chronic headache
Participation would involve answering a range of questionnaires. If you are interested in participating or would like more information please contact Fiona Corrigan, Research Assistant on 01463 253697 or at fiona.corrigan@nhs.net.
Free Badaguish Places
Badaguish offers a holiday experience that is stimulating, interesting and fun. They currently have 20 free places funded by the Scottish Government Short Breaks Fund. They encourage learning new skills and taking part in as wide a choice of activities as possible. The centre hope to promote an active, healthy and sociable lifestyle by offering the widest choice of activities in a way that supports personal development on many levels regardless of disability.
Badaguish Centre caters for many youth and community programmes and for the general public. We provide activities which make maximum use of an excellent range of public and community facilities in the surrounding area.
The holidays take place under the personal supervision of the Care Manager: Silvie MacKenzie.
To request an application form, please contact Silvie MacKenzie at Badaguish, via email – silvie.m@badaguish.org or via telephone on 01479 861382
The closing date for all applications will be the end of March 2012.
All enquiries must be made directly to Badaguish.
Technology and Carers
At Connecting Carers we’ve keen to embrace new technologies and explore ways in which we they can improve the lives of the people we work with. As we work with carers across the whole of the Highland region it is particularly important that we find effective ways of communication with people far and wide. So we’ve expanded the number of ways in which we communicate with others and by which carers can get in touch with us.
- Our information line 01463 723 560 is open from 9.30am -1pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
- Sign up to our Carers Network to receive our carers pack and regular newsletter with information on local events and funding.
- This regular blog www.connectingcarers.wordpress.com looks at news items and expand on hot topics for Highland carers.
- Our Twitter account @HighlandCarers will keep you posted with the latest developments in our organisation and other key contacts in the caring sector
- Our Facebook pages Connecting Carers to connect with other carers and organisations across the UK? We’ll also use this space to tell you about our events and training.
- You can also join in discussions with other carers on our website www.connectingcarers.org.uk via our discussion room.
As well as increasing the ways in which we send out information we are also interested in new ideas for increasing the availbility of technology for carers, so they can access this information.
One of the ways we will be doing this is through a series of IT workshops, to run throughout April and May to improve confidence and IT skills amoung carers. To register your interest in one of the workshops contact the Carers Information Line on 01463 723 560 or email carers@hccf.org.uk
In addition to building skills we’re also interested in projects that would make IT more accessible for carers. We know that carers are disproportionately affected by poverty as their caring responsibilities often mean giving up or reducing hours at work and becoming increasingly reliant on benefits. This sort of fixed incomes means that caring families often stuggle with rising food costs and fuels bills. For more information on in check out the website from Carers Rights Day 2011 Money Matters.
Families under financial pressure are unable to invest in the latest technologies but become disadvantaged when the institutions they rely on such as banking, social care or utility bills move over to these systems. These disadvantages are even more acute in rural areas such as the Highland when local services are closed down in favor of online or remote delivery systems and the nearest face to face alternative is a days journey away.
Yet the irony is, as many studies have shown (Yunus 1998, Sachs 2002) that those who have least access to technology are the ones who could benefit most from it. With affordable hardware Carers can take advantage of distance learning, flexible working, online communities and friendships, and 24 hour access to bill payment and service support. All of these things could help tackle the social isolation that Carers experience, improve their employment and learning opportunities, and decrease stress.
So we watched with interest the launch of the Raspberry Pi this week and look forward to seeing how that develops but we’re also really keen to find out more about how other projects are tackling IT poverty, via hardware donation, recycling or sponsorship programmes. Please let us know about these projects so we can find out what works and explore solutions to the technology gap that is currently experienced by Highland carers.
Leave a message on the blog or email dhopcroft@hccf.org.uk
Carers Week 2012 Film Competition
Are you a Young Carer who could film what it means to care for someone on a daily basis? Or are you a film maker who can explore what it means to care about someone around you?
The carers week video challenge 2012 wants to explore what life is like for a young carer, how it affects their school life and friendships.
Find out more at the Carers Week website
Carers UK have let us know about the nominations for
the unpaid Carer Award 2012.
The Carer’s Award is a special category for the Great British Care Awards, and will be given to an unpaid carer or former carer who, in the opinion of the judges, can demonstrate commitment and perseverance in helping to bring about better recognition and support for carers. This award seeks to acknowledge and celebrate the dedication that carers show to their local community or society.
This special award is supported by Carers UK, a charity set up to help the millions of people who care for family or friends. At some point in our lives, every one of us will be involved in looking after an older relative, a sick friend or a disabled family member. Six million people in the UK are caring right now, but while caring is part and parcel of life, without the right support the personal costs of caring can be high.
Nomination forms can be downloaded and submitted online at www.care-awards.co.uk/entry-form.php
Closing date for entries is 14 May 2012
Lets celebrate social care and help it get the recognition it deserves.
For more information on The Great British Care Awards please visit our web site at: www.care-awards.co.uk
And finally …..What’s on in March?
We’ve got a great selection of events and training taking place in March.
Find out all the details on our Connecting Carers Website.
The Autism Alert Card and campaign news for carers, it’s all happening!
Autism Alert Card
The Autism Alert Card is a way of quickly and discreetly helping other people like police, paramedics, doctors, nurses, firefighters or other emergency staff to be aware that the holder has Autism. The card provides an opportunity for staff presented with a card to contact a named representative of the individual on the autism spectrum, in order that they can gain a full understanding of their needs, and to help them to use the correct approaches.
Examples of situations where the card may be useful.
- Request a room change in a hotel. Discretely asking for support at a hotel reception on presenting the card.
- Discretely demonstrating the need for a double appointment in a GP surgery.
- To deter unwanted social contact.
- To access a disabled toilet.
- If you are a witness to an accident and are asked to give a statement.
To apply for the Autism Alert card:
Telephone 01463 720056
Email: autism.alertcard@nas.org.uk
Find further information on www.autism.org.uk
Tommy Whitelaw Campgain
Tommy is a man with a mission! To tour across Scotland raising awareness of the challenges carers face and deliver their concerns to the deputy first minister at their next meeting on May9th.
To find out more about Tommys journey visit his blog Tommyontour
Or contribute to his meeting by sending your letters about levels of care and support in the community where you live.
You can send letters to
tommy@i-woz-there.com
Tommyontour@alzscot.org
Or send to
Tommy whitelaw
39
Crosslee street
Craigton
Best of Luck Tommy!
Contact a Family is calling on parents and other family members caring for a disabled child to take part in their important research about the financial situation for families with disabled children in 2012.
Counting the Costs 2012 is a repeat of a survey and report we carried out in 2008 and 2010. Your collective responses will give a snapshot of families’ current financial situation and whether it has improved or worsened over the last four years.
The findings and report will help Contact a Family to raise awareness and lobby for change particularly around some of the detail that is yet to be finalised in the welfare reforms. Please help to build that picture by completing the survey which should not take more than 15 minutes. The deadline is 11th March.
Survey
North West Sutherland Care Alliance
It has been reported in todays papers that the North West Sutherland Care Alliance (NWSCA) is to close after failing to reach a funding agreement with the Highland Council.
Read the full story here at the Northern Times…
Connecting Carers are extremely sad to see this highly regarded locally based provider close and it is aniticipated that the current caring arrangements will cease on Friday the 30th of April.
If you are a carer that is affected by this news and in need of support or advice please contact our information line on 01463 723 560 or email carers@hccf.org.uk
If you would like Advocacy support to express your views and opinions in the negotiations for alternative providers the Highland Carers Advocacy Service can be contacted on 01463 723569 or by emailing carersadvocacy@hccf.org.uk
Fort William Drop In
Our first Fort William drop in for carers took place yesterday in the Fort William library. Many thanks to the library staff, Macmillian and Lochaber News for their support. The day was a great success in making local connections and providing face to face support for Lochaber carers. We were able to provide information on benefits, respite care, adaptations for the home and applications for grant funding. We also took the opportunity to signpost people to their local organisation the Lochaber Community Care Forum.
We hope to run the drop in sessions on a monthly basis so we look forward to being back soon. You can keep up to date with these plans on our website or via our Twitter feed @HighlandCarers.
There was a lot of interest shown in training and this has been passed onto our training team. They are looking for a suitable venue and hope to run some sessions soon. If you’d like to be kept informed of training please sign up to our Carers Network by contacting our information line on 01463 723 560 or emailing carers@hccf.org.uk
We’re always looking for new places to run a drop in session so if you’d like to see us in your local area just let us know.
