Derbyshire Carers Association Blog
Welcome to the blog of Derbyshire Carers Association
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International Women's Day
07 March 2019
Founded in 1988, this organisation provides help and support to the sympathetic carers that aid the elderly, the disabled, and the addicts, offering advice for these carers, and recommendations for other helpful services. DCA hosts support groups at the Chaddesden Fire Station, the Royal Buildings on Victoria Street and the Roman Catholic Church on Uttoxeter Road.
This event has been around for more than a century, having first began in Germany and neighbouring countries as a celebratory event, and later in Russia as a protest for gender equity.
By 1975, the UN recognised International Women’s Day as an event, and is even considered a holiday in several countries you wouldn’t expect, including Angola, Cambodia, Eritrea, Laos, and Tajikistan.
As an inspiration let’s look at what some of the female members of DCA do:
Deb has been a veteran care worker for years, and now works as the operation manager.
Helen often referred to as “Lovely Helen” is the civil and diligent manager.
Nicky is the stalwart overseer of all aspects of administration in the four different offices.
Katie is the highly motivated administrator, working as the engine of the company.
Louise is a professional in finance, with a keen eye for detail.
Janie is legendary for her soothing telephone manner, and ensures that the team is up to date with the relevant qualifications.
Janis “The heartbeat” is the heart of DCA, with a massive amount of empathy an understanding, she’s a truly inspiring woman.
For 2019, the theme is “balance for better”, which is about promoting women in the workplace. There’s been an increase of women in several industries, ranging from culinary to logistics, which is a far cry from a hundred years ago, where the idea of women filling these roles was seen as ludicrous.
Other companies from all over the world are playing their part to make a contribution for IWD as well.
AECOM, an international company that designs solutions to a variety of challenges, is working to increase the amount of women found in managerial roles by twice as much in the next twelve months, and even have more employed women for their Middle East, Indian, and African branches.British American Tobacco is using the day as an opportune moment to show off their female scientists—from toxicologists to sensory scientists—in the industry that design many of their alternatives to cigarettes found in almost fifty countries.
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Open Auditions for performers with a learning disability
06 March 2019
LEVEL PERFORMANCE TEAM
JOIN THEM
Open Auditions for performers with a learning disability
14 May 2019, 10 – 4pm
lEVEL are looking to meet people with a passion for performance who would be interested in creating new and exciting theatre for both learning disabled and mainstream audiences.
Do you love to perform?
Are you aged 18+?If so, come along to their open audition day on Tuesday 14 May. Workshops are free, informal and will give you a chance to meet the LEVEL team and see their beautiful arts centre.
The audition day will run from 10 – 4pm. Attendance is completely free but please book in advance. Lunch will be provided along with copious amounts of hot drinks.
If you would like to book your free place or have any questions for the team
please email imogen@levelcentre.com
or
call them on 01629 734848
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Support for Deaf women
05 March 2019
A local charity called Deaf-initely women, seeks to support deaf and hard of hearing women locally.
They have a number of free sign language classes on offer which aim to give women who have hearing loss communication skills in sign language.
See below for the two areas where they are running courses.
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Guise and Grace Groups
04 March 2019
Paul Strachan coordinates Derby’s Guise Group (carer peer-support) and Grace group (for carers who are bereaved or adjusting to change as their loved one has entered residential care).
These support groups take place on the last Wednesday of every month between 10.30am-12.30pm.
Come along and enjoy a friendly chat or just relax, with free tea and coffee.
A chance to get out of the house and meet new people.
There is a lift for those with mobility issues and there are plenty of parking spots in the area.
We have regular guest speakers and plans for trips to places such as Chatsworth.
Activities including crafts, photographic courses and a book club are also being considered.
You’ll receive a very warm welcome.
If you’re interested in attending, please call Paul on 01332 200 002
Derby Carers Group (Guise Group) enjoy a fun quiz at the city’s Cosy Club.
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Carer Success Story
18 February 2019
Sue Pratt is a Carer for her husband Ted who has been experiencing some age related difficulties with his breathing and mobility.
As the couple were shopping they came across a stand for Derbyshire Carers Association in Carers week and agreed to have a visit.
The home visit helped with planning the support for them as a couple, they had a chance to be referred for help and support after a bespoke Carers Assessment.
Sue mentioned that her main hobby was photography, which she managed to pursue at a local community centre, this gives her time to relax and forget about her caring role. She enjoys the social side and learning more about taking great photographs.
Sue has been helped to get a Carers budget which has helped her to pursue her hobby and to have some time away from the pressures of caring. It is a hobby she can pick up while her husband is resting, for example she is able to tinker on the computer with the photographs she has taken.
On good days they have been out to visit local places of interest or the NEC photography exhibition.
Having the support from Derbyshire Carers group at Swadlincote has made them feel supported, and at a recent event at the group Sue took her camera along to take some pictures of the group which she has had framed.
She first came across Derbyshire Carers when she met one of our support workers Lisa on a stall in a supermarket, Lisa registered her with Derbyshire Carers and has done several visits to Sue with a view to seeing what help and support Sue needed.
As a result of these conversations Lisa determined that Sue has a lifelong passion for photography. Lisa helped sue to get a Carers budget to pay for photography related equipment and to enable her to do a course that runs near to her house.
Sue is grateful for the money and says that having a hobby helps her cope with the pressures of caring. When Ted has a rest Sue can tinker on the computer with her photographs which helps her day along.
When Ted is well enough he takes Sue out to places to do some photography including a trip to the NEC photograph event.Sue now attends our support group and has used her skills in photography to photograph the group and produce some framed pictures for the group.
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Derby County Collection
11 February 2019 by Sarah White
On Saturday 9th February Derbyshire Carers were invited to do a collection at Derby County Football Club for the Young Carers we support.
Staff and volunteers (whom included some young carers) braved the cold to raise a whopping £625.99 for young carers.
A big thank you to all the fans from both teams who donated.
As part of the day Derby County generously gave us some free tickets for the game so that the volunteers could enjoy the match after the collection.
And DCFC won 2-0 to complete the day
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Health Watch Questionnaire
11 February 2019
Healthwatch have a carers questionnaire, they are asking carers questions that they are using to gather feedback from people.
If you know of anyone who would like to complete this, including yourself, please pass it on.contact Sharon Mellors, Healthwatch Engagement Officer South if you want more information
sharon.mellors@healthwatchderbyshire.co.uk
Suite 14, Riverside Business Centre Foundry Lane, Milford Derbyshire, DE56 0RN
Tel: 01773 880786 Mob: 07943505261
Click here to download the questionnaire
Completed questionnaire’s can be sent to Healthwatch Derbyshire, Suite 14, Riverside Business Centre Foundry Lane, Milford Derbyshire, DE56 0RN
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Carers in Employment
05 February 2019
There are a complex set of challenges when supporting Carers to remain in or return to the workforce, but the Carers in Employment Project has highlighted the importance of raising the profile of working Carers as a group in the workplace.
Below is an article published by the BBC highlighting the huge demands of a caring role whilst being employed.
Our Carers in Employment project will help both employers and employees to benefit from using existing opportunities, such as the right to request flexible working.
The project has also shown that initiatives like this one can add value to the working practices of SME’s.
This is because they are less likely than larger employers to have established HR policies and practices to support working Carers.
The project will raise employer awareness of the realities facing working Carers, encourage more supportive workplace cultures and reduced conflict between staff over work adjustments for Carers.
Advocacy and support work services provided by our project will also help working Carers cope better at crucial ‘tipping points’ or domestic crises that otherwise were likely to have had a more detrimental effect on maintaining the balance of care and work.
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Young Carers Awareness Day 2019
30 January 2019
Young Carers Awareness Day
Each year Carers Trust organises a national Young Carers Awareness Day. This year the day will take place on Thursday 31 January 2019.
The purpose of the day is to raise public awareness of the challenges faced by young people because of their caring role, and to campaign for greater support for young carers and their needs.
The theme for this year is Young Carers mental health.Here at Derbyshire Carers Association we provide the Young Carers Service for young carers across the county of Derbyshire.
Who are young carers?
A young carer is someone under 18 who helps look after someone in their family, or a friend, who is ill, disabled or misuses drugs or alcohol.
How many young carers are there?
There are 800,000 secondary school pupils in England with a caring role.
This means there are six young carers in every secondary school classroom.What might a Young Carer do?
• Practical tasks, such as cooking, housework or shopping.
• Physical care, such as helping someone out of bed.
• Emotional support, such as talking to someone who is distressed.
• Personal care, such as helping someone dress.
• Managing the family budget and collecting prescriptions.
• Helping to give medicine.
• Helping someone communicate.
• Looking after brothers and sisters.As part of our work with Young Carers we recently had the Young Carers we support take part in a music project.
This project was a series of workshops where the Young Carers wrote, recorded and produced their own song, they also have made a video for this song.
To celebrate Young Carers Awareness Day, the group will be interviewed on local radio. You can hear them on the radio and maybe catch their song being played on the following shows on Thursday 31st January.
• BBC Radio Derby – Sally Pepper show between 9am and 12pm
• Amber Sound – Trevor Middleton show around 7.15pmSupport for Young Carers
You can find out more about the support we offer for Young Carers by following the link below
Some photos of the music project
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Annual health checks - Learning disabilities
29 January 2019
Anyone aged 14 or over who’s on their GP’s learning disability register can have a free annual health check once a year.
You can ask to go on this register if you think you have a learning disability. You do not need to be diagnosed with a learning disability to be on the register.
The learning disability register is different from the register of social care needs managed by local councils.
Check with your GP practice if you or the person you care for is on the register.
