Carers Newsletter May 2016
It’s nice outside: come out and play!
There are plenty of events coming up where we can get together again, so it’s
time to get your diaries out and pencil some dates in!
Cornwall Carers: your next carer meeting
will take place on the morning of Wednesday
8th June. In line with our aim to move our
venues around the county, this time we will
be at Bodmin Rugby Club – literally a stone’s
throw from the A30. More details will be given
nearer the time but if you have any ideas for
topics you would like aired or suggestions for
guest speakers, please do pipe up and let Janice
Brown or Jan Beardsall in the Cornwall office
know. Lunch will be provided.
RSVP [email protected]
Torbay carers: your up-coming meetings are
Thursday 6th October and then
Wednesday 22nd March 2017.
RSVP [email protected]
Plymouth carers: your meetings will take place
on Thursday 7th July and then Thursday 5th
January 2017.
RSVP [email protected]
All Torbay and Plymouth meetings will be held in
the afternoon, times and venues to be finalised.
Agenda items for Torbay and Plymouth to Jo
Devon Carers: your next carer meeting takes
Billings in the Devon office please.
place on Tuesday 5th July at the Old Heathcoat We look forward to seeing as many of you at
School Community Centre, Tiverton. This is
these meetings as possible.
a new venue for us so if you would like to take a
Please do let us know if you’re coming so we
look at it before the day their website address is
can order enough lunch and refreshments. RSVP
www.heathcoatcommunitycentre.org.uk. There on the email given or contact your local Service
will be tea, biscuits and chat from 10am, finishing Admin team on:
with lunch around 1pm.
Agenda items to Anne Bilham in the Devon
Cornwall: 01209 891888
office please.
Devon: 01626 360170
RSVP [email protected]
And please see the back page for
details of when the All Scheme Meeting
and Shared Lives Week will be taking
place this year!
Inside: your chance to WIN !!!
See page 2 for your chance to win this fantastic Canon
Pixma printer (worth £50!) in our photo competition.
Prize kindly donated by
St Thomas Stationers, Exeter
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“The difference Shared Lives makes”
Photo competition 2016
We want more people to know why Shared Lives works so well and one of the best
ways to do that is in pictures. To help build up our photo library we’re running
a competition with some fabulous prizes. We hope to use the pictures in future
Shared Lives South West publicity so it is important that everyone in the photo
agrees that it can be used in this way - that’s why the entry form asks for consent.
We are looking for interesting angles, great facial expressions and a real story
behind the picture.
WIN!!! The winner will receive a fantastic Canon colour printer worth £50 kindly
donated by St Thomas Stationers of Exeter (www.sts-exeter.co.uk/) as well as a
framed print of their picture. There will also be up to five runner-up prizes of £25
of Argos vouchers each. FAME!!! The winning photo will be featured on the front
cover of the next Shared Lives South West Annual Review.
Photo Competition 2016: Rules
1. The theme of the competition is “Outcomes: the difference Shared Lives
makes”.
2. The photo must have been taken by or feature a Shared Lives carer or
someone who uses Shared Lives services.
3. The photo must have been taken between 1st April 2016 and 29th August
2016.
4. The closing date for entries is 1st September 2016.
5. The photo needs to be a high quality JPG (5MB upwards) OR a very highquality print. Prints will be scanned and returned.
6. All the people in the photo must be willing for the photo to be submitted
and subsequently used in Shared Lives South West publications and leaflets.
7. Each entry must be accompanied by an entry form. Forms are available
from the Devon or Cornwall offices.
8. The maximum number of entries per person is 3.
9. The winner will receive a prize of a fantastic COLOUR PRINTER worth £50
kindly donated by St Thomas Stationers as well a framed print of their
picture. There will also be up to five runner-up prizes of £25 of Argos
vouchers each.
10.The judge’s decision is final.
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WIN THIS FABULOUS
COLOUR PRINTER!!
Winning entries from the 2014 competition
Left: Anna and Lin enjoy a
day out
Below:
Simon and Troy at the
market
Tim’s beekeeping
Kenny and Laura at a show
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Ann at Grease!
ACTION FOR SHARED LIVES TEAM TRAINING DAY
Tuesday 31st May
10am to 2pm
Trethorne Leisure Park
Kennards House, Launceston, Cornwall PL15 8QE
Telephone: 01566 86324
WHAT WILL WE DO?
Learn skills for being an active member of the
Action For Shared Lives Team
Contact Sally Smith Shared Lives Coordinator
01626360170
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NEWS AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
News from Torbay!
I would like to say thank you to everyone who came to our
last Torbay gathering and participated in the traffic light
system of what they would like Shared Lives South West to
Stop, Start and Keep. We will be bringing these ideas back
to the next group.
We had some good suggestions for carer meetings and
more informal get togethers. If anyone would like to be
involved in the informal get together (which will be carers
only), please contact the Devon office and we can give you
the details of Brenda Scaysbrook, who is organising this.
If anyone has any details of local events, please let us know
so we can include them in the bulletin.
Alternatively, if you have any ideas or suggestions about what you would like us to discuss at
future meetings please feel free to let me know.
Dates for the next few carers meetings have been set so please make a note of them in your diary.
It is nice to see so many people turning up to socialise and participate in the ongoing development
of Shared Lives in Torbay!
Jo Billings, Team Manager (Mid)
Caring for People with Psychosis and Schizophrenia - FREE Online Course
Starts 6th June!
Psychosis conditions, including schizophrenia,
are treatable mental health problems that
can affect anyone although very few people
talk about the conditions and their impact on
families and carers.
This two-week course will explore some of the
key issues and questions relevant to a carer who
is supporting a person with psychosis such as:
• Why is schizophrenia described as psychosis?
• How can we best understand psychosis and
its key symptoms such as hearing voices?
• What are the links between cannabis use and developing psychosis?
• Can psychosis affect physical health?
• How do medications in psychosis work and what effects can they have?
• In what ways are siblings of people with psychosis affected?
• How can psychosis affect a carer’s health and their relationships?
This free online course will provide opportunities to share your views and experiences with carers
from around the world. To join the course please visit www.futurelearn.com and search for
‘Caring for People with Psychosis and Schizophrenia’.
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TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Mental Capacity Act Training
The Mental Capacity Act is a fantastically useful tool that helps to protect the rights of people
who use services and helps people who provide those services to make clear, objective and legal
decisions. The Act came in in 2005, and there have been many changes since then. In order to
continue to provide the best care we can to the people who use our services, and to keep up to
date with legislation and CQC requirements, Mental Capacity Act training is now becoming a
mandatory requirement for all Shared Lives carers.
Our one-day course will help you to understand the Mental Capacity Act and the need for Mental
Capacity assessments, as well as looking at Best Interests and your Duty of Care in the context of
your role as professional carer.
Devon
Friday 8th July
Cornwall
10.30am - 3.30pm
Tuesday 24th May
10.30am - 3.30pm
Friday 8th July
10.30am -3.30pm
Tuesday 28th June
10.30am - 3.30pm
Tuesday 23rd August 10.30am - 3.30pm
Tuesday 23rd August
10.30am - 3.30pm
Tuesday 25th October
10.30am - 3.30pm
Weds 3rd November
10.30am - 3.30pm
Please sign up for a course over the next year.
The Cornwall sessions will be held in both East and West Cornwall. To find out your nearest session
please contact the Cornwall Service Admin team.
To book a place please contact your local Service Admin team either on the phone numbers shown
below or by email:
Devon - Anne ([email protected])
Cornwall - Claire ([email protected]) or Jan ([email protected])
Training: keep your skills and knowledge up-to-date!
Cornwall
Course Title
Communication
Human Rights & Person Centred Approaches
Devon
Course Title
Human Rights & Person Centred Approaches
Communication
Date
Thursday 16 June
Thursday 7 July
Times
10.00am - 3.00pm
9.30am - 4.00pm
Date
Thursday 21 July
Tuesday 9 August
Times
10.30am - 3.30pm
10.30am - 3.30pm
Contact your local Service Admin team on
CORNWALL 01209 891888
DEVON 01626 882565
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NEWS AND UPDATES
Prescriptions: Mind the Fine!
There have been a few instances recently where people have been fined due to a carer ticking the
wrong box on the back of a prescription form.
Ticking the wrong box can mean a fine of OVER
£100 - plus the prescription fee on top!
There are two main reasons why someone using
a Shared Lives service would be exempt from the
charge.
1. The person is aged 60 or over: in this
case tick box C
2. The person using the service receives Income
Support or income related Employment Support
Allowance: in this case tick box H
If you are in any doubt or have any queries about
which box to tick please contact a member of the
Funding and Benefits team on 01626 882560.
Short Break Carers Required!
We would really like to recruit carers who could offer
short breaks (respite) to people with dementia. Do you
know anyone who has experience in this area who may
be interested in becoming a carer with Shared Lives
South West? If so, please encourage them to apply!
We know that the best way we can recruit new people is
through you, our carers.
Remember, if you recommend someone who is
successfully approved you will receive £100!
GOLDEN TICKET WINNER!
Congratulations to Jason Housden in Barnstaple
for winning the Golden Ticket in March.
Remember to check your bulletins and newsletters to see
if you’re our next winner!
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NEWS AND UPDATES
Service Admin update
Jude Binks, temporary Service Administrator in Devon (Claire Waring’s maternity cover), has left
Shared Lives. We wish her all of the best for the future.
Ellie Knight-Rolfe is filling this post and started with Shared Lives on Tuesday 10 May. If you have
any queries for the Devon Service Admin team they can be contacted on 01626 370170.
Make Your Voice Heard!
Are you particularly happy about an aspect of Shared
Lives South West? Is there something you have found
tricky about being a carer with Shared Lives South
West? Do you just want more opportunities for carers
to get together? Well, it’s time to speak up!
The Carer Consultation Groups meet regularly to
discuss issues that have an impact on ALL carers. If
you have anything you would like the group to discuss
on your behalf please do contact one of the CCG
members. The names, numbers and locations of
CCG members across Devon and Cornwall are shown
below.
The next Devon CCG will take place on Monday 6th
June (this is rescheduled from 23rd May).
The Cornwall CCG met on Tuesday 10th May and
details of what was discussed will be available in the next bulletin. The next Cornwall CCG
meeting will take place on Tuesday 9th July.
These groups exist to represent YOU so please contact them if you want a subject discussed.
Cornwall CCG members
Graham Jarett, Lostwithiel
Dawn Jago, Redruth Sarah Lewis, Penzance Karen McClaskey, Penzance
Tracy Muskett, Bodmin
Susie Sowell, Camborne Carole & Pete Thomas, Redruth
Janet Urban, Padstow
Devon CCG members
01208 873305
01209 211299
01736 811001
01736 811289
01208 72017
01209 711641
01209 698295
Jonathan Haines, Torquay
Roger & Liz Helyar, Exeter
Suzanne Kane, Brixham
Sarah Malcolm, Paignton
Caroline O’Sullivan, Crediton
Sarah Ridley, Cullompton
Brenda Scaysbrook, Torquay
Lesley Waller, Exmouth
Pam Wood, Plymouth
Nick Higgins, East Devon
Michelle Beasor, Exmouth
01841 521104
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01803 212439
01392 477770
01803 883156
01803 698554
01363 82838
01823 681590
01803 400910
01395 266119
01752 667088
01395 568074
01395 282929
YOUR NEWS STORIES
Many congratulations to Esme
Carstone who recently celebrated
her 101st birthday in style!
Esme lives with Sarah, Ron and
Betty in Paignton. They would like
to thank everyone who came along
to Esme’s party.
We hope you all had a good time!
(above) Esme getting ready to blow
out the candle on her lovely cake
(left) Sue and Betty having fun at
Esme’s party!
FREE Mobility Equipment!
In addition to arranging birthday parties, Sarah has contacted
us to say that she has some spare mobility equipment which is
available free to a good home!
-
A walker with brakes, seat and bag
-
A swivel seat for the bath.
If you would like more information or to arrange collection of
either of these items, please call Sarah on 01803 698554.
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YOUR NEWS STORIES
A BIG thank you to Cornwall carer Pauline Richards
who has retired after many years supporting service
users.
Pauline has been with Shared Lives South West
right from the start in 2005, having previously run a
registered care home for many years. Latterly she was
a member of the Carers Consultation Group – which
benefited from her considerable experience - and has
always been a “regular” at Carer Meetings over the
years.
Cheers Pauline!
Pauline, along with her late service user Carla, has
also been one of our “publicity faces” helping to sell
the Shared Lives message. We wish Pauline and her
husband Alan all the best for the future and hope
they enjoy their holidays.
Pauline won’t lose touch completely with Shared
Lives as she has agreed to continue to offer support
care – you can’t escape that easily Pauline!
Lesley Saunders,
Shared Lives Coordinator
And it’s good bye from me, too..
I just want to say “thank you” to all of you for sharing your
wonderful stories and pictures with me over the last two
years.
I feel incredibly lucky to have had the chance to be your
Communications Officer and to learn so much about Shared
Lives (and life in general) from all of you: my time here has
been an absolute pleasure.
Thank you so much.
SLSW stall
Sue (right) staffing the
Sally Smith
Sue Harding, Communications Officer
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YOUR NEWS STORIES
It’s Springtime for Jenny!
Thanks to Jenny Barnett for sending us another great article, this time
about a day out this Spring!
Hello Everyone,
Jenny from Greyfriars writing again after a few months of not bothering to get my fingers working
on this computer.
No doubt many of our Torbay Shared Lives
providers were aware that we had a nice informal
meeting at the Living Coast on the 17th March,
and what a gorgeous day it was. Whilst my carer,
Richard, went to get a ticket in the Living Coast car
park, I sat in the car and looked at the sun sparkling
on the sea. For a few seconds I allowed myself to
dream that I was about to board one of the lovely
big yachts I had seen in the inner harbour and
was going for an hours yacht trip on this fantastic
looking water. It was only a dream so back to reality
and passing people who had taken advantage of the
great sunny day and were sitting at tables on the
balcony drinking their lunchtime cuppa’s.
Richard pushed me into the meeting room where I enjoyed a nice cuppa myself and I’m pleased
to say it was good to see several people there, many of whom were new faces. There was a lot of
chat, discussions and introductions at this meeting but I’m afraid seeing the sea lapping against
the rocks at the rear of the Imperial Hotel again I momentarily went back to my previous dream!
When the meeting was over we made our way slowly back to the car taking advantage of this
glorious day and, as the café was closed and the balcony empty, we looked over the rails at the
sea. Before returning home, Richard drove along the front and down Kings Drive so that I could
see all the beautiful daffodils and, across the road from these, several ducks on the waters edge.
What a picture the daffs were too!
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YOUR NEWS STORIES
You might remember that at Christmas
2014 we had two 8 week old puppies. I
have put pictures of them in the newsletter as
they have grown over various months. Well, here
is the latest! They are fully grown now and they
love it when they can sit out doors. They are
small but can make
a lot of noise barking when someone comes
to the door.
They are very loving and playful, Jack (the
dark one) is always getting
on the chair beside me and
kissing me, so does Teddy at
least two or three times a day!
Jack
a
nd Te
Bye for now and keep
smiling,
Jenny Barnett (Greyfriars)
ddy b
askin
g in t
he su
nshin
e!
Funky Llama is back!
For all you party animals out there, you will be pleased to read that plans are in place for the
2016 Funky Llama festival! It is due to take place between 12.30pm - 10.30pm on Saturday 11
June on Plymouth Hoe.
But before the big day itself, there is going to be a festival warm up gig on Monday 23 May
between 7.00pm - 10.00pm at Varsity Nightclub, Derrys Cross, Plymouth.
If you would like to attend either the warm up gig or the festival itself, please contact the Theatre Royal Plymouth on 01752 230378 or visit the website
www.theatreroyal.com/take-part/adults-and-communities/funky-llama
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USEFUL INFORMATION
On Your Marks, Get Set...... GO!!!!
Special Olympics
Cornwall
Clubs, Sessions and Contacts
Special Olympics Cornwall is a club for children and
adults who have a learning disability, plus their
families, friends and carers to come along and take
part in various sports
For further information on
Special Olympics Cornwall
please contact:
[email protected]
07837 311539
Special Olympics Cornwall is offering a wide range of sports to get stuck into. These
include badminton, boccia, basketball, archery, tennis, cricket, football, new age
curling, bowls, swimming, golf and sailing. These activities take place in a variety of
locations across Cornwall.
For further information please contact [email protected] or call 07837
311539.
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USEFUL INFORMATION
Big Park Day
The Big Park Day, run by the Cornwall Health Promotion
Service will take place on Friday 20th May in Boscawen
Park. The Big Park Day is a fun event for people with
learning disabilities and autism.
For further information please contact the Health
Promotion Service on 01209 313419.
£
If you don’t want to camp, why not come for the day! Fantastic value
at only £10 per person per day, carers FREE!
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USEFUL INFORMATION
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USEFUL INFORMATION
Every Tuesday
10am- 2pm
Babbacombe Corrinthians Sailing Club - Torquay
Call Si on
07703963358 or
Laura on
07535132931 for
more information
Every Tuesday we learn new skills to become more independent in the community.
We talk about healthy living, keeping safe in the community, keeping safe online,
money matters and many more things.
Its free to join and a chance to be more independent and make new friends!
Also run by the Opportunity Hub in Torquay...
Time Banking
Tuesday 17th May, 11.00am - 12.00pm
Jenny from the Community Development Trust will be holding a session on time banking. You will
learn what time banking is, how to get involved, what you could give and what you could get back
from your local community.
To book a place on this event (or to see what other courses are being run) please call Laura on
07535 132931.
blue light
e
h
t
e
v
a
S ate!
d
day 2016
The most popular and well attended event of the year is back...
For the eighth consecutive year!
wednesday 6th july 2016
the royal cornwall show ground
wadebridge
More details to follow!
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USEFUL INFORMATION
Cornwall People First Victim Service
On 4th February Cornwall People First
Victim Service hosted ‘Safer & Stronger
Together’, an event to improve people’s
experiences of the Criminal Justice
System. It was a fantastic day and
brilliantly attended. They are planning
another event for professionals in
the Criminal Justice System to raise
awareness of victims of crime with
learning disabilities. They will use the feedback from their Safer & Stronger Together conference
to educate the professionals about people with learning disabilities and how things could be
improved.
For more information about the Cornwall People First Victim Service telephone 07811 263845,
email [email protected] or visit the website:
www.cornwallpeoplefirst.com/people-speak-up-about-the-criminal-justice-system/
WCA Stars
Fun and friendly dance class for people
with additional needs and disabilities aged
13yrs+
Make new friends, get moving, dance!
Ju
st
£4
Join us on Fridays at 5-6pm at
West Coast Academy
Cornwall's only Cheerleading Academy
Treleigh Industrial Estate, Redruth
TR16 4AX
For more information or bookings
Tel: 01209 204224
Email: [email protected]
Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/WestCoastCheerleading
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CARER RECOMMENDATION!
Many thanks to carer Carol Griffiths
for recommending the WCA Stars
dance class this month.
If you have any suggestions about
good clubs or activities
that you think people who
use our service and /or our
carers may enjoy, please
contact Emily
([email protected]).
Thank you!
USEFUL INFORMATION
West Cornwall Diabetes
This is new !
A support group for Type 1 and Type 2
diabetics, their partners and carers.
Come along and meet a variety of speakers,
take part, meet others and swap ideas. We all
have something to learn from each other.
Free tea and coffee
Where ?
Camborne Centenary Chapel, Wesley
Street, Camborne TR14 8HS. Near Tesco.
When ?
Tuesday April 5th. Tuesday May 3rd and
Tuesday 7th June at 7.30 pm
We look forward to seeing you (18+ only)
Further information from Spencer on 01209 610369
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USEFUL INFORMATION
www.dementiapl12.uk
[email protected]
01752 848348
DEMENTIA VOICE CAFE
A DROP IN CAFE FOR THOSE AFFECTED BY DEMENTIA
WHEN: EVERY TUESDAY FROM 10.00 AM TO 2.00 PM
WHERE:
4 FORE STREET (THE COMMUNITY MARKET)
Come along and have a chat over a cup of Tea or Coffee
and a slice of cake.
Information will be available at the cafe regarding the various
services and activities that take place in the area.
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USEFUL INFORMATION
Save the Dates!
Before you put those diaries
away, wait! There’s a lot coming
up!
All Scheme meeting:
19 October 2016
Our annual All Scheme meeting
has been booked for October. The
venue is yet to be confirmed but
once it is booked we will share
the details with you.
Shared Lives Week:
15 -23 October 2016
Across the UK, Shared Lives
schemes, and groups of Shared
Lives carers will be coming together to promote Shared Lives, raise awareness of the approach
and make sure that people who could benefit from Shared Lives learn about how it could be an
option for them.
As soon as Shared Lives South West knows more about planned activities or events during this
week we will let you know. In the meantime, if you can think of an event you would like to see to
promote the work of Shared Lives South West during Shared Lives Week, or if you’d like to get
involved, please feel free to get in touch.
Newsletters and Bulletins: interruption to service
We apologise that the usual bulletin/newsletter schedule is going to be disrupted for
a short time whilst we recruit a new Communications Officer. But please don’t stop
sending us your news! Normal service will resume later this summer.
Thank you for sharing your pictures and stories: they are always interesting and
inspiring - as well as lots of fun!
If you have any questions or comments about this bulletin, or any stories you’d like to
share via the newsletter, please do get in touch - we love to hear from you.
Telephone: 01626 360170 / 01209 891888
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sharedlivessouthwest
Twitter: @sharedlivessw
Shared Lives South West Suite 3, Zealley House, Greenhill Way, Kingsteignton, TQ12 3SB
Registered Charity 1104699 www.sharedlivessw.org.uk/
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