Around six million people in the U.K, an estimated 85,000 of whom are in Leicestershire, are providing a substantial amount of care to family members, friends or neighbours who are unable to fully care for themselves because they are elderly, sick, disabled or have a learning disability.

These people are CARERS yet they do not always recognise themselves by this title. They are simply individuals, of any age adult or child, looking after their loved ones.

The Carers Development Project is aimed at identifying and addressing local carers’ needs by working in partnership with carers and service providers from the Statutory and Voluntary sector.

Carers can access the following support from the carers support team. More details are available in our carers’ leaflet, which you can see here. Our latest carers’ newsletter is here.

Advice, Information, Sign posting: “Information is held on a vast array of services, support groups and other information to sign post you to other agencies/services that may be of benefit to you. A carers information pack is available on request with information to support you in your caring role. Please contact 0116 272 7669 for your copy to be posted out to you.

Working with other agencies: “The carers’ project team work with staff from other statutory and voluntary sector agencies to raise awareness of carers and their needs and issues. These agencies and in particular local GPs can also inform carers of the services we can provide.

Carers Forums: - The Carers Forums offer an opportunity to meet with other carers in a safe and friendly environment where every opinion is valued whilst also giving an opportunity to learn about other aspects of caring and improving your quality of life. The Forum also allows a platform for carers to have their voice heard with service providers and agencies invited to attend the meetings at regular intervals.

The Forum meetings are held on a quarterly basis in March, June, September and December.

The next Carers’ Forum takes place on Wednesday 10th March 2010 from 10.00am to 1.00pm at The Pavilion, Sportsfield Lane, Huncote, LE9 3BN. Speakers will cover the topics of Tracing Your Family Tree and Using Libraries For PC Access.

Further forums for 2010 are scheduled for 9th June, 8th September and 8th December.

There are several groups for carers that meet regularly. The groups aim to allow carers the opportunity to get together, socialise and have some ‘me time’. The groups meet at various times of the day or evening.

Carers’ drop ins:

A new monthly evening drop in for carers will be starting in the New Year. On the third Monday of each month, carers can ‘drop in’ to the Pavilion, Sportsfield Lane, Huncote and speak with a member of the Carers’ support team, between 7.00 and 8.30 pm. Copies of the carers’ pack will be available for you as well as information on other services available from Community Action Blaby District. Dates for the next 2 meetings are Monday 18th January 2010 and Monday 15th February 2010. We hope that this will allow working carers an opportunity to come and gain support in their caring role.

A monthly daytime drop in for carers also runs on the first Thursday of each month between 10.00am and 12.00 noon at The Pavilion, Sportsfield Lane, Huncote. Come along and enjoy a hot drink and a chat in friendly surroundings. The next drop in is on Thursday 3rd December and we look forward to seeing new and ‘old’ faces.

A monthly carers’ group for those who care for someone with mental health difficulties runs from 10.30am to 12.00 on the first Monday of each month at The Pavilion, Sportsfield Lane, Huncote. Information will be available and the opportunity to chat with other carers and staff from CABD. The next meeting is on Monday 7th December 2009 and we look forward to seeing you there.

For information on any of the above events or to find out more about all the carers’ groups please contact Sandra at Community Action Blaby District on 0116 272 7669 or email carers@cabd.org.uk

Aims to provide carers of adults experiencing mental health difficulties some free respite from their caring role with the knowledge that the person they care for is safe and supported.
Carers can contact Sandra Stocks on 0116 272 7669 for further information.

This new grant is intended to support carers of adults (aged 18 years and over) by enabling them to take ‘real time off’ from caring, to reduce the impact of caring on their health and well-being and, support them to continue in their caring role.  This may include arranging for additional service for the cared for person that would not be arranged as a social care community care service i.e. a Carers’ service.

Carers can apply for an annual total up to £250 subject to eligibility and the grant can be used for a variety of purposes: Short Breaks – this could include sitting services, befriending support for the cared for person, day/week-end break (with or without the cared for person) or other carers’ services – this could include costs for labour for doing physical work in and around the home in circumstances where the carer is doing all the caring for the cared for person; training related to the caring role; gym membership; driving lessons; home appliances; assistive technology.  

For further information carers should contact Sandra Stocks on 0116 272 7669.