News

“Facing up to the Future”

Tuesday 13th July: 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm

Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BJ

Speakers:

Lesley Carter: Regional Older People and Dementia Lead

Sheila Lakey: Carers Programme Lead DH London Region

The London Mental Health Carers’ Network brings together anyone caring for a person affected by mental ill health (including young people, adults of working age and older people) and mental health professionals working with carers in London to share information, ideas and good practice.

We face challenging times ahead – but out of challenge comes opportunity. The aims of this meeting are to ensure that:

• An effective strategy is in place for London’s mental health carers
• Carers and carers services across London are in a strong position  in 2010 and beyond
• The needs of carers and services for all age groups are considered

The meeting will include a short presentation on older people’s Mental Health issues and Dementia, discussion, an interactive workshop and informal networking.

Who should attend? Carers, service users, mental health professionals working with carers and families, carer representatives on LITs/Mental Health Partnerships,  LINKs, Foundation Trusts, user-carer forums.

Carers and Mental Health Professionals working with older people are cordially invited to attend.

20 places will be reserved for carers until 5 July

Please return your booking form to Panna Kotecha: socialcarepartnerships.london@dh.gsi.gov.uk Tel: 0207 217 3042 or post the booking form to: 157 – 161 Riverwalk House, Millbank, London, SW1P 4RR

CAG Booking Form

More than two out of three young carers are bullied at school (68%), reveals new research launched today (Monday 17th May) by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and The Children’s Society.

The survey of 700 6-18 year olds who care for a sick or disabled family member, found that over a third (38%) worry about the person they care for when they are at school, while a quarter (23%) suffer from the stress of juggling school work and caring responsibilities. Other young carers surveyed experience tiredness, depression, and miss homework deadlines and school altogether.

A total of 70% agreed with the statement that “being a young carer has made their life more difficult”.

Danielle is 12 years old and cares for both her mum, who was diagnosed with fibromyalgia two years ago, and her dad who is epileptic. She explains how being a young carer affects her at school: “I’ve missed homework deadlines because I’ve been looking after my mum and dad. When I’m in class I worry that my parents are ok, especially my mum as I keep thinking she might fall over if she tries to walk and will hurt herself. If the class has been naughty and we are all kept after school for detention, I worry that I’ll be late. I get a lump in my throat when I think my mum might be worried waiting for me. It makes me feel sad.”

Many young carers feel that they are unsupported or misunderstood by their teachers who are often the first point of call in identifying young carers. Nearly half (39%) of the young carers questioned say there was not a single teacher at their school who knew they were a young carer, and of those whose teachers did know, more than half (52%) do not feel supported by them. Over three-fifths (60%) do not think their teacher would understand what life was like for them.

To address these issues, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and The Children’s Society will be launching Supporting Young Carers: a resource for schools, as well as a poster campaign to run in all secondary schools across the UK in May.

Carole Cochrane, Chief Executive at The Princess Royal Trust for Carers says: “It is shocking to discover that so many young carers have to endure bullying, mental health problems and a lack of support from their teachers, all because they care for a family member who is unable to cope without their help.

“Sadly, without the right support, many young carers will underachieve or drop out of school altogether, which has a long and enduring impact on their future prospects.

“The aim of this resource is to empower schools to start identifying and supporting young carers. We know that when school staff are involved in supporting young carers it can make a huge difference to their lives.”

Bob Reitemeier, Chief Executive of The Children’s Society says: “This resource will support schools to ensure that young carers are helped to achieve their full potential and to have the same access to education as their peers.

“The resource will also encourage vital partnership working with other agencies in order to provide support for the whole family. We want to protect children from excessive inappropriate caring roles; enabling them to be children first and to have good childhoods.”

For more information, or interviews with a case study or spokesperson, please contact: Sarah Ross, PR Manager at The Princess Royal Trust for Carers on 0208 498 7920 / 07791 230 694 / sross@carers.org

Picturehouse cinemas are working in partnership with The National Autistic Society to hold special film screenings for people on the autism spectrum and their families, friends and carers.

During the film low lights are left on inside the auditorium and the volume of the soundtrack is reduced. It is fine for customers to move around, make a noise or take a break during the film if they need to.

The National Autistic Society is the UK’s leading charity for people affected by autism. If you need information, advice and support, call The National Autistic Society’s Autism Helpline on 0845 070 4004 (Mon-Fri, 10-4).
Autism Friendly Kids Club at Stratford Picturehouse

Regular Autism friendly screenings to take place at Stratford Picturehouse on the first Saturday of each month as part of their Saturday Kids Club screenings

RATATOUILLE (U, 2007, 111min)

http://disney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/ratatouille/

11am, Saturday 5 June

Join up to the Stratford Picturehouse Kids’ Club and get your first screening free!*

Membership is £4 and you can join up on the day.

Non-members prices: £3 children  / £6 adults

Members prices: £2 Children / Adults FREE

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MAY-JUNE 2010

G-FORCE 2D (PG, 2009, 88min)

http://disneydvd.disney.go.com/g-force.html

11am, Monday 31 May

The Ritzy Picturehouse

Booking line: 0871 704 2065

G-FORCE 2D (PG, 2009, 88min)

http://disneydvd.disney.go.com/g-force.html

11am, Thursday 3 June

Greenwich Picturehouse

Booking line: 0871 704 2059

G-FORCE 2D (PG, 2009, 88min)

http://disneydvd.disney.go.com/g-force.html

11am, Tuesday 1 June

Clapham Picturehouse

Booking line: 0871 704 2055
Tickets for all screenings are £3.00 per person
(No concessions or free tickets for carers)

Tickets are available to book NOW!

Please Note: Wheelchair users MUST book in advance for all screenings

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STRATFORD CINEMA CLUB

in association with Newham People First
Stratford Picturehouse has joined forces with People First Newham – a support group run by and for learning disabled adults – to make cinema going more enjoyable for adults with learning disabilities and other special needs.

On the first Tuesday of every month Stratford Picturehouse will screen 2 films from the main programme with an interval at half time for those of you that find sitting down for a full 2 hours a struggle.

Become a member of the cinema club and receive a membership card entitling you to reduced ticket prices and all cinema club screenings and unlimited free tea/coffee and biscuits!

The cinema doors open at 12noon and the films start at 1pm. Tea/coffee and biscuits are available from the upstairs bar area, before, during and after the screenings so you can chat about the movie with other cinema club members.

SEX AND THE CITY 2 (15, 2010, 148min)

http://www.sexandthecitymovie.com/

PRINCE OF PERSIA (12a, 2010, 116min)

http://adisney.go.com/disneypictures/princeofpersia/

Doors open 12pm, Tuesday 1 June

Tickets costs £3.50, carers go FREE
To book tickets call: 08707 55 00 61

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Please contact Elinor Walpole for further information on any of the above screenings.

t: 020 7326 2611
e: elinor.w@picturehouses.co.uk

The project is looking at the causes and treatment of oesophageal and gastric cancer. This research will help identify risk factors for these tumours that might be preventable. Moreover, the research will provide data on how the treatment can be improved, particularly the surgical therapy.

We would like to hear from people who have experience of oesophageal or gastric cancers. You could be a current or past patient or perhaps a carer or family member of someone who has been a patient.

What would it involve?

You would be invited to attend an informal meeting with some of the research staff who will explain the project to you and ask for your advice and comments on certain aspects of the research. This will include commenting on the research design and reviewing written materials to ensure they are clear and understandable for research participants.

You are not being asked to take part in the research, but to advise our team about how to carry out the research to best suit other patients.

When and where will it take place?

The meeting will take place in the first two weeks of June 2010. The date has yet to be confirmed but you can register your interest and we will contact you to confirm a date and time in due course. The meeting will last a maximum of 2 hours.

It will be held at Guy’s Hospital in our café space on the 16th Floor. Refreshments will be provided and we will also reimburse your travel expenses.

For further information and to register your interest please contact Sophie Auckland on 0207 188633 or email sophie.auckland@gstt.nhs.uk

Over two thirds of young carers have had to cope with bullying at school, according to new research carried out by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and The Children’s Society.

More than half of the young carers surveyed felt unsupported or misunderstood by their teachers. Even more worryingly, 39% said that none of the teachers at their school were even aware of their caring role.

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and The Children’s Society are today launching a new information pack ‘Supporting Young Carers: a resource for schools’ alongside a poster campaign to run in all secondary schools across the UK, to help address some of these issues.

“It is shocking to discover that so many young carers have to endure bullying, mental health problems and a lack of support from their teachers, all because they care for a family member who is unable to cope without their help.” says Carole Cochrane, Chief Executive at The Trust.

“Sadly, without the right support, many young carers will underachieve or drop out of school altogether, which has a long and enduring impact on their future prospects.

“The aim of this resource is to empower schools to start identifying and supporting young carers. We know that when school staff are involved in supporting young carers it can make a huge difference to their lives.”

The survey of 700 6-18 year-olds also revealed that:

• 60% do not think their teachers understand what life is like for them
• Over 50% do not feel supported, although teachers are aware of their caring role
• 38% worry about the person they care for while they are at school

A resounding 70% of the young people surveyed agreed with the statement that “being a young carer has made my life more difficult”.

Further information

Find out more about the information pack: Young Carers: a resource for schools

Would you like to be part of the Southwark Carers team for this years Thames Walk for Carers?

Taking place on Sunday 13th June the walk takes in many of London’s famous landmarks.

Starting at the Scoop by City Hall (London Bridge) and stretching over 3, 6 or 9 miles.

The walk starts at 10am and as part of the event we will be asking walkers to fundraise in order to buy a new computer for the Carers Resource Centre at Cambridge House.

If you are interested in joining the team please call Rob Danavell on 020 7708 4497

Full details of the route and a fundraising form can be found below.
Thames Walk for Carers 2010 Sponsorship Form
Thames Walk for Carers 2010 Route

Would you like some help? Can’t tell your email from your elbow?

Inspire are running a series of computing courses for the over 50s in their new computer suite.

Beginners Life Skills IT
Wednesdays 10:30 am – 12pm
8 week course 12/5/2010 – 30/7/2010
Please call for further information or to book a place.

Intermediate Life Skills IT
Wednesdays 1pm – 2:30pm
8 week course 12/5/2010 – 30/7/2010
Please call for further information or to book a place.

Drop in IT
Wednesdays 2:30pm – 4pm
8 weeks 12/5/2010 – 30/7/2010
Please call for further information or just turn up.

Inspire, The Crypt at St Peter’s, Liverpool Grove, SE17 2HH
020 7740 6868
Jayne@in-spire.org.uk

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) is working in partnership with The Princess Royal Trust for Carers across the UK to raise awareness of the need to support carers in primary care.

The publication Supporting Carers: An action guide for general practitioners and their teams, produced by the RCGP and The Trust, and distributed by the Department of Health in 2009 to every GP practice in England, has made great progress in helping GPs and their teams to identify and support carers.

There is, however, still much work to do to raise GPs’ awareness and so we are delighted to announce the inaugural “Caring about Carers Award” for those GPs and practice teams who provide an excellent service to carers.

This will be a prestigious high-profile award resulting in a winner for each home nation and an overall UK-wide winner. Awards will be presented at the RCGP’s Annual Conference in October in front of an audience of more than 1000 GPs. The Trust’s President Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal will sign a certificate for the winning general practitioners and their teams and the prize will also include a commemorative plaque to display in surgeries.

GPs must be nominated by one of their patients to be eligible for an award. Please encourage carers in your area to nominate their GP or practice team by writing to us at the contact details below, including,

• their name, address, telephone number.
• their doctor’s name and surgery contact details.
• how their GP supports them in their caring role

The closing date for entries is 11th June, 2010.

All nominations should be either emailed to caringaboutcarers@rcgp.org.uk or sent by postal address to:
Caring About Carers Award 2010
The Royal College of General Practitioners
14 Princes Gate
Hyde Park
London SW7 1PU

Once nominated, GPs and practice teams will be asked to complete a ten question self assessment checklist. This will be a shorter version of the checklist featured in Supporting Carers: An action guide for general practitioners and their teams available at The Trust’s website dedicated solely for professionals working with carers at www.carers.org/professionals.

The closing date for entries is 11th June, 2010.

The latest edition of the Southwark Carers News is available to download, please click below to access it.

Southwark Carers News May / June 2010

Pontin’s are providing three Classic self-catering apartments for Southwark Carers to give a family a weekend break. Each apartment can sleep up to four people. Apartments contain bedroom, lounge with TV, bathroom and kitchenette with full size cooker and fridge. The apartments sleep up to four people – two in the bedroom and two on bed settee in lounge.

Read more