News

13 Sep

Spinach Could Help Beat Dementia

Researchers have discovered a link between low vitamin C, beta-carotene levels and dementia, meaning antioxidant rich fruit and veg – such as spinach, carrots and apricots – could help fight the disease’s devastating symptoms.

13 Sep

Acute Hospital Care is ‘on brink of collapse’

Elderly patients with conditions such as dementia are receiving the poorest quality of care and are being shipped from one ward to another ‘like parcels’, leading doctors have warned.

An aging population combined with cutbacks and an increase in admissions has put strain on resources.

13 Sep

Stem Cells Hold Hope for Cure of Deafness

Stem cell therapy may one day enable deaf people to hear again.

In a new test by UK scientists found that deaf gerbils recover their hearing after human stem cells were injected into their ears.

10 Sep

Government Fails to Support Carers Bill

Carers UK has expressed disappointment that the Government has today refused to support a backbench Bill designed to improve identification of carers and improve access to services to support carers and disabled people.

The Bill was sponsored by a cross-party group of backbench MPs and was backed by Carers UK along with charities like Age UK, Scope, Leonard Cheshire Disability and Alzheimerâ€™s Society and employers including BT and British Gas.

9 Sep

Universal Credit system warning

Seventy organisations involved in the benefits system have raised concerns about a government overhaul.

The Universal Credit aims to make the system simpler by replacing five work-based benefits with one benefit.

7 Sep

How Aprilâ€™s Council Tax Benefit Changes Could Affect You

The Government isÂ abolishing Council Tax BenefitÂ and Southwark Council is required to adopt a Local Council Tax Support scheme in its place from 1 April 2013.

The Government is also reducing the amount of money it contributes to the new scheme by at least Â£2.8 million locally.

7 Sep

U Can Cope coalition and campaign

The U Can Cope coalition now includes more than one hundred UK organisations – from mental health bodies to the Professional Cricketersâ€™ Association – to spread the message that it is possible to overcome suicidal thoughts and feelings and that there are many resources available to help those who are struggling to cope. The main partners are Connecting with People, Royal College of Psychiatrists, Samaritans and Southwick Media. Â Southwick Media is the media partner of the U can Cope initiative.

6 Sep

And theyâ€™re off! London to Paris and backâ€¦. In 4 days.

This morning saw the start of the London 2 Paris 2 London challenge. Seven cyclists will be covering nearly 600 miles in just four days, all to raise money for Carers Trust, which helps carers across the UK.

Southwark Carers were proudly joined by local MP Simon Hughes to wave the cyclists off from the newly-redeveloped Burgess Park. The riders had already arrived at Folkestone by midday! You can follow their progress at www.london2paris2london.co.uk, where thereâ€™s a live-feed and more information about the challenge.

6 Sep

Give your support to a new law for carers

Carers UK is backing a new piece of legislation which could make a big difference to carers lives. For it to become law, we need your help!

What is the Bill?

The Social Care (Local Sufficiency) and Identification of Carers Bill is being introduced as a Private Memberâ€™s Bill by Barbara Keeley MP with the backing of a group of MPs from the Conservative, Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green parties.