Carers Focus Newsletter: April 2021

Hello everyone,

We hope you and your families, friends and loved ones are all doing well. Spring has finally arrived and we hope the warmer weather will be lifting everyone’s spirits! We here at Edinburgh Carers Council continue to work from home but are always available to contact over email or the telephone. If we can help you with anything, please get in touch with us either through your advocacy worker or by using the emails below. You could also give us a ring on our usual office number 0131 322 8480

For General Enquiries or to make a Referral, please email info@edinburghcarerscouncil.co.uk

For Information/Resources, or if you want to know more about our Peer Support Services, please email Information & Resource Worker, rachael@edinburghcarerscouncil.co.uk

Latest Carer Vaccine Information

Unpaid carers who have not already been identified through social security data or GP systems will be able to register themselves for a corona (COVID-19) vaccination appointment. The new online service is for unpaid carers aged between 16-64 who provide face-to-face care for a family member or friend.

Carers who receive relevant benefits (Carers Allowance, Young Carer Grant or Child Winter Heating Payment) will be in the system and will receive a letter with details of their appointment. But all unpaid carers are being encouraged to self -register—when they do, they will be advised if they are already scheduled for an appointment so there is no duplication. You can self-register for the vaccination through the NHS Inform website, here: https://www.nhsinform.scot/carersregister

You can find more information on the Scottish Government’s website, here: https:// www.gov.scot/news/launch-of-new-vaccination-campaign/

Next Carers Forum: Thursday, 22 April 2021. 12:30 - 2:00 pm (Online via Zoom)

Thank you to all who managed to join us for our last Carers Forum on 18th February. It was great to hear from everyone and we very much appreciated all who to took the time to give their feedback about our advocacy services to Gordon Dodds from Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership, who is leading the review of independent advocacy services in Edinburgh. A big thank you also to Kathleen Taylor for updating us on her work at the Mental Welfare Commission and being there to answer questions from carers.

Our next Forum will be on Thursday, 22 April from 12:30-2pm. The Carers Forum is a place to raise issues around carers and mental health and to meet others who may be in similar circumstances. For more info or to book your place, please email rachael@edinburghcarerscouncil.co.uk

Online Peer Support Group for Carers & Relatives

In addition to our individual (one-to-one) peer support service, we have now started an Online Peer Support Group. The sessions are facilitated by ECC and held on the last Friday of every month at 2:30 pm. The group is open to anyone who cares for someone with a mental health difficulty.

Engaging in peer support is an opportunity to talk about your experiences, hear from a peer who has been through a similar difficult situation, ask questions and work through feelings. We know many people, especially carers, have felt very isolated during these difficult times and hope this group will be a way to meet others and talk about what’s been happening.

We aim for the group to be a relaxed and safe atmosphere where we can chat, share how we’re doing, and generally support each other. There is no pressure to share anything you do not feel comfortable with. If you prefer to just sit and listen, that’s okay too.

Our next group will be on Friday, 30th April at 2:30 pm. All sessions are online via Zoom. We’d love to see you there! To book your place, email rachael@edinburghcarerscouncil.co.uk

Are you a carer or former carer who would like to help others?

We’re looking for volunteers for both our peer support service and our Board of Trustees.

Peer work volunteers utilise their own lived experience of caring to help others who may be going through similar difficult circumstances. Volunteers can work one-to-one with another carer or help to facilitate the peer group. Our Board of Trustees are an integral part to the running of our organisation.

Trustees meet the last Monday of each month to look at Trustee business, and have an Annual General Meeting. Please get in touch for more information!

If you’d like to learn more about either of these roles, we’d love to hear from you! Please get in touch by emailing rachael@edinburghcarerscouncil.co.uk or phoning us on 0131 322 8480

Health in Mind - Wellbeing Workshops for Carers in April

Health in Mind will be facilitating a series of online wellbeing workshops for carers beginning in April 2021. Individual workshops include: Breathing, Mindfulness & Self-Care, Healthy Relationships, Thinking Styles, and Resilience. You can sign up to every workshop or attend a single session.

There are also two longer courses available : ‘Mindful spring for carers’ & ‘Anxiety Toolkit’. Mindful spring for carers focuses on mindfulness techniques and self-care tools while Anxiety Toolkit will help you learn tools and strategies to manage feelings of worry and anxiety. These courses take place over a 6 week period and all workshops and courses are held online via Zoom.

For more information or to book your place, please email or phone Paulina Szach — paulina.szach@health-in-mind.org.uk / 07435 274586 

Help us to support carers by donating to Edinburgh Carers Council ☺

To help support us in the work we do you can still donate through our Givey Fundraising Page. Donations will go towards continuing to run our peer support services for unpaid carers. You can also donate to us while you shop on AmazonSmile. It’s all the same prices and products as on regular Amazon, except they can donate a small portion of the price to our charity. Thank you!

Thank you for your support We hope you enjoy the Spring holidays! Stay safe & take care. Our next newsletter will be in the summer. Best wishes from all of us here at ECC.