Spring 2015

Spring 2015

Also inside:  News from our Chief Executive  Forthcoming Support Groups

News from the Young Carers’ Project

 Carers Assessments  Service Contribution Consultation

Could you be a mentor?

 Help during a power cut  Parking at Kingston Hospital  Mental Health News

Social Activities and Outings

Kingston Carers’ Network are consulting with carers to help inform local health and social care services.

If you are a carer aged between 18 and 65, we are very keen to hear about your experience of local services and your caring role.

You will receive a £20 gift voucher for your time.

Call Jo on 020 3031 2751 for more information.

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News from the Chief Executive KCN welcomes the NHS’s new Principles to support adult and young carers. This new resource is aimed at improving the way health commissioners and GPs identify and support carers. The NHS recognises that 84% of carers (2013 State of Caring Survey) said that caring had a negative impact on health. Unsurprisingly, early identification of carers can improve their health and wellbeing. However, only 7% of carers were identified by their GP as having a caring role. The key principles of the NHS commitment are: 1.

Think carer, think family; make every contact count

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Support what works for carers, share and learn from others

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Right care, right time, right place for carers

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Measure what matters to carers

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Support for carers depends on partnership working

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Leadership for carers at all levels

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Train staff to identify and support carers

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Prioritise carers’ health and wellbeing

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Invest in carers to sustain and save

10. Support carers to access local services KCN are hopeful that Kingston Clinical Commissioning Group will embrace these principles and think carer when commissioning health services. KCN is working with six GP practices to help support practices to identify more carers and to refer them to our outreach advice surgeries within their practices. Our ambition is to provide this service to all GPs to help improve the identification and support provided to all carers in the borough. We should not underestimate the importance of keeping carers well and supported.

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Carers’ Assessments You have probably heard in the media that the Care Act is bringing in new rights for carers, as well as changes for people with care needs. The new legislation gives carers the same recognition, respect and parity of esteem as those they support. Carers will have the right to an assessment where the carer appears to have a need for support.

Previously, a carer needed to be providing a substantial amount of care on a regular basis to be eligible for a Carer’s Assessment.

New assessments must also have regard to the needs of the whole family. Parent carers of disabled children and young carers have similar rights to an assessment under the new Children and Families Act. It is anticipated that the changes in the law may increase the number of carers requesting an assessment of their needs. From April 2015, Kingston Carers’ Network will be working with the local authority to conduct Carers’ Assessments for adults caring for another adult. There are no plans for KCN to carry out any joint assessments or Carers’ Assessments for carers of children under the age of 18.

Health Watch are delivering a number of presentations on the changes and carers are being encouraged to come along to a session. See details on page 4.

The Voice of Carers in Kingston Date and time to be agreed but it will be held sometime in June Noble Centre, 109a Blagdon Road, New Malden KT3 4BD We know that not all carers can or want to come along to meetings, but we are keen for as many carers to be a part of the forum as possible. If you have an issue to raise or comment to make, but cannot attend the meetings, please let us know and we will share your views at the next meeting.

For more information or to have your say, contact Kate on 020 3031 2752.

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News from the Young Carers’ Project We had our busiest Christmas ever with the holiday period jam-packed full of brilliant activities. We had a roast dinner and a magician at the party for our 12+ young carers and a pantomime written especially for us at the under 12s party! We also made five visits to Hampton Court ice rink, had a lovely Bring a Dish family day at Barnfield Youth Centre and lots more! The work never stops though and as soon as Christmas was over we kicked off the New Year by getting stuck in to planning for February half term!

We love the activities which provide a much-needed break for lots of our young carers but it’s equally important for us to support young carers in other ways; for example, Kat (our Schools’ Link Worker) has been busy in some of our local schools. Her project is all about raising awareness of young carers in schools and helping staff at school to identify children and young people who are helping to look after somebody at home. For more info about the support Kat provides please do get in touch!

From November to January we received a whopping 48 referrals which means we’ve had 161 referrals since this time last year and we are now supporting over 400 young carers in the borough. If you know of anyone who is between the ages of 5-18 years, who cares

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for a family member and who would benefit from our support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch for information about how to refer them to the Young Carers’ Project.

We’ve got plenty more to look forward to in the coming months with the Easter holidays fast approaching.

Don’t forget that we’re on Twitter; follow us for plenty of updates and info @YCPKingston

Diane, Liz, Chrissy, Kat and Andora Young Carers’ Project 020 3031 2754 youngcarers1@kingstoncarers.org.uk

News from the Outreach Project As well as working in GP surgeries to support carers, KCN now has a regular presence in Kingston Hospital. We are working with Keats (Acute Stroke) and Kennet (Elderly) Wards, providing advice, advocacy and information to carers who are visiting their loved-ones on the wards. Our aim is to improve carer involvement in the discharge planning process so that carers and patients feel confident about leaving hospital. We are in Kingston hospital every Monday morning and Tuesday afternoon. This new service has proved to be very successful, with a growing number of carers engaging with the service. We are planning to extend the service to other hospital wards, so watch this space for more news.

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Andora, from the Young Carers’ Project, is still taking referrals for the Parental Mental Health project where children and young people aged 818 can access information and advice, support and advocacy around their worries about a parent with mental ill health.

If you know of anyone who would benefit from this programme, please call or email Andora 020 3031 2756 or youngcarers4@kingstoncarers.org.uk

KCN Support Groups Carers’ Support Group Merritt Medical Centre, Chessington, 10.00am to 11.30am Third Wednesday of each month

Carers of Adults with Asperger's Syndrome Noble Centre, New Malden, 10.00am to 12.00pm First Wednesday of each month

Parents and Carers of Children and Young People with ADHD Noble Centre, New Malden, 10.00am to 12.00pm Second Friday of each month

Parents and Carers of Children with Mental Health Problems Tolworth Children’s Centre, 9.15am to 11.15am Last Monday of each month (date will change during school holidays)

Mental Health Carers Group Tolworth Hospital, 6.00pm to 7.15pm Second Tuesday of each month For more information on any of the support groups, please contact the office on 020 3031 2757 or admin@kingstoncarers.org.uk

Could you help us help carers?

To help us in this work with carers, we are looking to strengthen the KCN Trustee Board with new volunteer members.

We particularly welcome applications from individuals with skills and experience in Fundraising, Finance, Business Development, and HR – but the key thing is your ability to bring energy and empathy for caring to the work of the Board.

If you are interested, please email your name and postal address to volunteering@kingstoncarers.org.uk for an application pack or call Lyndsey on 020 3375 8226

Service contributions consultation RBK are currently undertaking a consultation on whether the amount of income taken into account as part of the calculation of client contributions towards the cost of non residential Social Care should be increased from 75% to 100%.

The proposal is to increase the amount of income taken into account when working out people’s contribution from three quarters (75%) of their ‘net income’, after allowing for cost of living and other personal allowances, to 100% of their income. So, for example, if a person's net income was £4.00, they would pay £4.00 towards the cost of their care rather than £3 under the current system. People who currently receive their services free of charge will not be affected.

The council would like to hear your thoughts on the proposal and you can have your say by visiting www.kingstonconsult.objective.co.uk. If you do not have access to the internet, you can share your views by post. Please send your comments to Service Contributions Consultation, Adult Social Care Financial Team, Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, Guildhall 2, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1EU. The consultation has been extended to 10th May and will include some additional consultation meetings.

Young Carers’ Mentoring Project Volunteers needed Could you spare 4 hours a month to improve the life of a young carer?

We have identified a number of young carers who are at risk of harmful/excessive caring and are in need of additional support. The aim of the mentoring project is to provide oneto-one support for these young carers, to support them to raise their aspirations and attainment and to help them build a positive sense of identity outside of the caring role.

As a Young Carer Mentor you will be matched with a young carer who you will meet with once a fortnight, for 2 hours, over a period of 6-12 months.

You will plan fun activities with the young carer and help them set and work towards their goals.

Training will be provided, covering the role of a mentor, listening skills and safeguarding procedures. All out-of-pocket expenses will be reimbursed.

This is a great opportunity to develop new skills whilst giving something back.

The next training events will take place on the 23rd and 30th April in the evening. For more information please contact Lyndsey at volunteering@kingstoncarers.org.uk or 020 3375 8226.

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Goodbye from Beth I hope you like the look of the trips ahead this Spring/Summer! Sadly, I will not be there to share them with you. As some of you know, I previously trained as a dramatherapist before coming to work as the Wellbeing Coordinator at Kingston Carers Network. When not planning our outings, I have been practicing as a therapist for children and young people. I am now moving on to do this full-time.

As it is unlikely that I will be able to say goodbye to each of you individually, I would like to use this space to do so. I am leaving with fond memories of all the trips and events that we have enjoyed together. But most of all, I will remember the strength, resilience and humour of the carers I have encountered. I wish Kingston Carers’ Network and all of you all the very best for the future.

I know I speak for all of the KCN team when I say that we are very sorry to say goodbye to Beth. She has been a wonderful addition to the team and we have had fantastic feedback about the wellbeing trips and activities she has run - the Abba tribute at the Christmas party was a big hit! If you, or someone you know, think you might be interested in applying for the job of Carers Wellbeing Coordinator visit www.kingstoncarers.org and select “About” followed by “Job Opportunities” or email admin@kingstoncarers.org.uk for an application pack. I am sure you will join us in wishing Beth all the very best in her new job.

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Parking at Kingston Hospital There have been a number of teething problems following the introduction of the camera-controlled parking system at Kingston Hospital. The new system allows payments via cash, credit card, mobile phone, and an app as well as the option to pay on exit. The main issue has been around the use of blue badges as users were required to register their details in order to avoid receiving a fine. Unfortunately, not all blue badge holders were aware of the requirements. As a result, the information signage will be significantly improved and make it clear that it is a camera controlled site.

The car parking team have been working hard to register all patients and visitors using a blue badge, to ensure that they do not receive a ticket. The clinic, ward, A&E and main reception can register blue badge details when you are on site and this can also be done in advance or within 24 hours of parking on site by calling 020 8934 2003 or emailing carparking@kingstonhospital.nhs.uk. If you, or someone you know, has received a Penalty Charge and are a Blue Badge Holder, they should contact the car parking team using the information above. If you would like more information, visit www.kingstonhospital.nhs.uk/find-us.aspx

Help during a power cut UK Power Networks is the electricity distribution network operator covering your area and The Priority Service Register is a free service they provide to vulnerable people who may need extra support during a power cut. This includes households with residents who are elderly, disabled, chronically ill, visually impaired or blind, individuals who have a hearing impairment or are deaf or those that rely on medical equipment.

During a power cut, households who’ve signed up to the Priority Service Register will receive a priority number to call, regular text message or phone updates and, in emergencies, extra support including British Red Cross intervention if necessary. Registered households will also receive a welcome pack with useful advice about preparing for a power cut.

Carers can apply online at www.ukpowernetworks/priority, by emailing psr@ukpowernetworks.co.uk or they can call the Freephone number 0800 31 63 105 (0333 32 32 105 from a mobile).

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Mental Health consultation The five south west London CCGs and NHS England held a public consultation between September and December 2014 about inpatient services, and some specialised services, provided by South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust. The consultation sought views on the future use of facilities at Springfield Hospital in Tooting, Tolworth Hospital in Kingston and Queen Mary's Hospital in Roehampton.

The decision making bodies received the draft independent report on Friday 23 January 2015. They considered this report alongside all the clinical and financial evidence, responses to the consultation and feedback from councillors, MPs, service users, staff and stakeholders. They will make their final decision at the public Board meetings of each Clinical Commissioning Group, which will be held between 26 February and 17 March 2015.

The full report with the recommendations for the CCGs and the final version of the independent report will be published online mid February 2015.

Most of the existing mental health inpatient facilities in south west London are old, not suitable for modernisation, not designed for today's mental health care and very expensive to maintain. They do not provide a good, supportive environment for patients and carers. They also make it harder for frontline staff to deliver high quality care.

The proposed changes to mental health inpatient services aim to improve the quality of clinical care and the experience for service users and carers, bringing local services in line with current guidance and best practice. You can read about the consultation online at www.kingstonccg.nhs.uk.

Board meeting dates: Wandsworth CCG Board meeting

Wednesday 11 March 2015

Richmond CCG Board meeting

Tuesday 17 March 2015

The consultation was led by five NHS clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in south west London - NHS Kingston, NHS Merton, NHS Richmond, NHS Sutton and NHS Wandsworth alongside NHS England and South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust.

The proposals were developed through discussion between the Trust, patients, carers, local organisations with an interest in mental health, and with NHS commissioners who decide how NHS money should be spent.

The consultation lasted for 12 weeks between 29 September 2014 and 21 December 2014.

The consultation also heard from interested parties and service users through a series of dedicated public meetings and a webinar.

Taken from: http://www.swlstg-tr.nhs.uk/news-and-media/news/next-steps-for-mental-health-consultation-in-south-west-london/

Carers of people with Mental Health Issues Involvement opportunity for people who use Trust services and their carers - South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust is developing an online service which will allow the people who use its services to make appointments, order repeat

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prescriptions and generally take more control of their care and treatment. On Monday 9 March 2015, from 9:30am, suppliers of the technology required to develop the service will be presenting their systems to the Trust and they would like the people who use their services and their carers, to get involved in the selection process. If you would like to attend the session, or to be involved further in the project, please contact susana.sasportes@swlstg-tr.nhs.uk.

Taken from: http://www.swlstg-tr.nhs.uk/news-and-media/news/involvement-opportunity/

FREE Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training - Mental health problems can affect anyone at any time of their life. Early intervention can help slow down (or stop) these problems as well as promote faster recovery. However most of us don’t often spot the signs that others – or even we - are struggling until very late. An MHFA course will teach you to recognise early signs of mental health problems and give you the confidence, knowledge and skills you need to help yourself and others more effectively. Participants will receive a certificate of attendance from MHFA England upon successful completion of the 2-day course. The next training dates are: 23rd and 24th March 2015. For more information or to book your FREE place, please contact the Public Health Team by emailing PHPS@kingston.gov.uk or by writing to Public Health Team, 2nd Floor, Guildhall 1, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1EU. This course is for those in contact/ working with adults living with or at risk of mental health problems. There is a separate course running for anyone in contact/working with young people – please contact the Public Health Team for details.

Patients now have two new ways to feedback to the Trust, as South West London and St George's Mental Health NHS Trust (SWLSTG) highlights the Patient Friends and Family Test and Patient Opinion as the latest ways patients can submit views.

The Patient Friends and Family Test survey is available on the Trust's existing Real Time Feedback (RTF) inpatient kiosks and completed by inpatients at their point of discharge as part of the Trust's overall discharge process. It has also been added to the on-line RTF survey and piloted on the seven community kiosks. This will enable community service users to feedback when discharged and also at key points such as their care review or transfer between teams.

Patient Opinion is an online platform where anyone can share their views on healthcare services - good or bad. Over 800 positive comments have been submitted through the SWLSTG Patient Feedback channels so far this year. The Trust has been using the comments submitted to learn and help improve and build services.

All comments - positive and negative - are read and responded to, and learning points are discussed at monthly Learning Group meetings with senior staff including the Head of Quality Governance, the Patient Safety Manager and the Safeguarding Lead. The comments are also discussed weekly at local Patient Experience Team meetings.

With the support of the Health Innovation Network South London the Trust has also been working to implement Patient Opinion in dementia care settings.

David Bradley, Chief Executive of the Trust said: "Patients are the best judges of the quality of care they receive so we are urging service users and their families to have their say. Our Trust is striving to be the very best place to work and to receive care and support. In order to do this we need feedback on what we're doing right and where we're

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going wrong.

It was pleasing that we have had positive reviews and that the Care Quality Commission gave us a very positive report after their inspection earlier this year, but service users have a unique perspective and we want to learn from their experiences, good and bad."

Patients and carers can feedback to the Trust through Patient Opinion (www.patientopinion.org.uk/services/rqy), the Friends and Family Test (www.nhs.uk/ nhsengland/aboutnhsservices/pages/nhs-friends-and-family-test.aspx), Real Time Feedback - through kiosks and tablets available in all wards, and through the dedicated Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) line: 020 3513 6150 which is open from 9am5pm Monday to Friday.

Taken from: http://www.swlstg-tr.nhs.uk/news-and-media/news/two-new-ways-patients-can-feedback-tothe-trust/

Emergence is a service user-led organisation supporting anyone affected by personality disorder including service users, carers, family and friends and professionals.

They have released a free booklet about personality disorder called “Meeting the challenge - Making a difference”. Although intended for mental health practitioners, it is written in an accessible style, so that those with a lived experience of personality disorder or their families and friends, may also find it helpful. It can be downloaded from the website at http://www.emergenceplus.org.uk/news-from-emergence/507-meeting-the-challengemaking-a-difference-a-new-personality-disorder-practitioner-guide.html.

Beat have recently extended their Helpline opening hours - improving access to information and support wherever people are based. Beat’s helplines are for anyone needing support and information relating to an eating disorder, including sufferers, carers and professionals. The new Helpline hours are: Monday and Wednesday, 12pm to 8:30pm - Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 12pm to 5pm and the Helpline numbers are: Youth (people 25 years and under) 0845 634 7650 and Adult (people aged1 8 years and over) 0845 634 1414. Their one-to-one service is now open to all ages as follows: Monday and Wednesday, 5:30pm to 8:30pm, Thursday and Friday, 12pm to 5pm.

Carers of people with Substance Misuse Issues Adfam is the national organisation working to improve support for families affected by drug and alcohol use. It is looking to consult people aged 65 or over who care for or support a loved one due to drug or alcohol use. This, for example, could be a partner or children with a substance use issue or grandchildren whose parents can’t care for them because of their drug or alcohol use. The feedback will be used to shape a programme of peer support for this group of carers over the next three years. Two options are available for people fitting this bill: A workshop in London on 19 March from 10.30am-3.00pm (all travel expenses covered) and an online consultation (available at https://www.carers.org/ forums/viewtopic.php?f=3&p=109584#p109584). If you are interested in becoming involved or would like to speak to someone further about the project, please contact Oliver Standing at o.standing@adfam.org.uk or call on 020 7553 7640.

Street Drug Trends Survey 2014 - DrugScope - This report details the findings from a ‘snapshot survey’ of the current UK drug scene. A number of new trends were discovered:

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firstly, some areas reported increased purity of cocaine, ecstasy and heroin, due to falling wholesale prices and increased competition within an expanded drug market. An upsurge in use of the prescription drugs pregabalin and gabapentin, mainly among the country’s opiate users and prison population, was also reported, with links to a number of fatalities and hospital admissions. A rise in use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) was reported in virtually every area: most concerning was the rapid rise of use in synthetic cannabinoids by opiate users, homeless people, socially excluded teenagers and the prison population, resulting in a number of health emergencies. With earlier indications that there was a sharp rise in drug-related deaths in 2013, survey findings indicated little hope of this improving in the immediate future, although some areas noted that greater access to naloxone had prevented overdoses becoming fatal. Additional trends recorded were the rise in ‘chemsex’ amongst gay men; cannabis cultivation being adopted as the major business of white, criminal gangs in Liverpool and Glasgow; and the continued overall decline in the use of ‘traditional’ drugs, albeit with recent spikes in cocaine, ecstasy and ketamine use. The full article can be read at http://www.drugscope.org.uk/Documents/ PDF/Publications/DownAStonyRoadDrugTrendsSurvey2014.pdf.

Carers of people with Dementia NEW Memory Café at Kingston Hospital - Every other Tuesday Afternoon, 2pm-4pm at Kingston Hospital, back of the restaurant, Kingston Surgical Centre. A Memory Café offers people with dementia and carers the chance to socialise and share information. Tea, Coffee, Cakes, Games, Music, Dance, Art and Crafts. For more information email claire.wright@kingstonhospital.nhs.uk.or call 020 8934 2800.

‘Pictures to Share’ books are now on the Reading Well Books on Prescription list for Dementia, announced in January 2015. This means that virtually every library in England now has the books available for people to borrow, and everyone can now access them for free. This will be a huge boost to those carers who are struggling to find high quality and effective resources to use with those with mid to later stage dementia. The Reading Well Books on Prescription dementia scheme provides accredited reading and book based support for those with dementia and their carers. All the books on the list have been selected by dementia healthcare experts as well as people with dementia and their carers. So if your relative or friend with dementia hasn’t yet tried any of the Pictures to Share books, make sure you visit your local library and borrow some for them to have a look at. You may be surprised by the results. The Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme is delivered by the Reading Agency in partnership with the Society of Chief Librarians with funding from the Arts Council England. The scheme is endorsed by leading health partners and delivered by public libraries.

Kingston Hospital is launching its new ‘Hospital to Home Scheme’ which will help ease the transition between hospital and going home for vulnerable patients, including those with dementia. Hospital to Home volunteers will help reduce the fear and anxiety that many patients feel when they are discharged and will offer

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emotional and practical support in hospital by running errands, accompany patients on the journey home and help them get settled in, and will keep in touch through telephone befriending services. Volunteers will provide assistance for up to six weeks and will help service users to identify and access local services that they need. The hospital is looking for volunteers who are interested in all or any parts of the hospital to home role and who can choose to be either based on a ward or to volunteer from home. Training and support will be given. To find out more about this position or other volunteer roles visit the website www.kingstonhospital.nhs.uk. To apply online: Visit http://kingston.volunteercommunity.uk/.

By email, telephone or in person: Volunteering Office, Davies Wood House Annex or contact Richard Coxon, Volunteer Service Manager on 020 8934 3620 or email volunteering@kingstonhospital.nhs.uk

What’s On To find out more about the Recovery College, drop in to the End of Term Open Day/ Sign Up Day in the Acacia Unit Waiting Area at Tolworth Hospital on Thursday 26th March 2015 at any time between 11am to 2pm.

Amy Woodgate Day Centre and residential home hold Coffee Mornings for relatives, friends and carers of people with dementia on the 1st Monday of the month from 10:30am to 12 noon at Amy Woodgate, Nigel Fisher Way, Chessington KT9 2SN. The next dates are 2nd March, (6th April: Easter Monday/NO coffee morning), (4th May: May Day Bank Holiday/NO coffee morning), 1st June. For more information, call George Tong 020 8274 4057 or Claire Windsor 020 8274 4050.

Kingston Bipolar UK Group is open to carers and meets every 2nd Monday of the month from 7:30pm-9pm at Quaker Centre Kingston, Fairfield East, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2PT The next meetings are: 9th March, 13th April, 11th May, 8th June.

Al-Anon hold meetings for anyone who feels that their lives have been deeply affected by another person's drinking every Tuesday from 8pm to 9:30pm at the Methodist Church Hall, Avenue Road, Fairfield South, Kingston upon Thames KT1 2UJ. (Al-Anon recommend people attend about six meetings before deciding whether Al-Anon is for them.)

Kingston Wellbeing Service offers a facilitated mutual aid group for parents, carers and significant others of people receiving treatment from them every Tuesday 10am to 11am on a drop in basis at Surbiton Health Centre. NB: The group is available only to carers of people being supported by the Wellbeing Service.

Noble Centre, Monday 24th November to Friday 28th November from 9 am to 5 pm

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Alzheimer’s Society Kingston holds a carer support group on the 1 Tuesday of each month at the Noble Centre, 109a Blagdon Road, New Malden KT3 4BD between 10:30am and 12:30pm. The next meeting dates are: 3rd March, 7th April, 5th May, 2nd June. Places are limited so please contact them on 020 3513 5147 or kingstonoffice@alzheimers.org.uk for more information.

‘South Place’ Mental Health Carers’ Support Group welcomes all relatives and carers of people with mental health problems. It meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month, at Tolworth Hospital, Hughes Room B, Red Lion Road, Tolworth KT6 7QU. Meetings are from 6:00pm-7:15pm but may be extended to 7:45pm when there are guest speakers. Light refreshments are provided. The next meeting dates are: 9th March, 14th April, 11th May, 9th June.

NEW bi-weekly Memory Café at Kingston Hospital for people with memory loss and their carers on alternate Tuesday afternoons, 2pm-4pm at Kingston Hospital, back of the restaurant, Kingston Surgical Centre. The next dates are: 3rd March & 17th March, 14th April & 28th April, 12th May & 26th May, 9th June & 23rd June.

For more information call 020 8934 2800 or email claire.wright@kingstonhospital.nhs.uk ASCA runs a support group for carers of people who misuse drugs or alcohol every Wednesday from 6pm-7:30pm at 96 Ditton Road, Surbiton, KT6 6RH. For more details contact Donald on 020 8339 9899.

Support is provided on Lilacs ward to carers by Kingston Mental Health Carers’ Forum (KMHCF) on the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 6pm-7pm; 11th March, 8th April, 13th May, 10th June. For more information contact 07983 063 578 or email info@kmhcf.org.uk.

Home Instead run a bi-weekly Memory Café for people with memory loss and their carers every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month with a choice of two sessions available on each day, either from 10am-12noon or 2pm-4pm at the Rose Theatre, 24-26 High Street, Kingston KT1 1HL. The next dates are: 6th March & 20th March, (3rd April: Good Friday/NO Café) - 17th April, 1st May & 15th May, 5th June & 19th June.

Staywell (formerly Age Concern Kingston) runs a Dementia Saturday Club on the 2nd Saturday of the month from 11am to 2pm at the Raleigh House Centre in New Malden offering a social space for clients and carers, a lunch (£5 per person) and specifically designed activities (e.g. reminiscence group, outings, therapeutic memory group). To find out more, contact 020 8942 8256.

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Social Activities and Outings The Sociable

The Sociable Book Club for Carers If you like reading and chatting, this book club, run by carers, for carers is ideal for you!

for Carers

The club meets on the 1st Thursday of the month from 10.30 to 11.30 at the Noble Centre, 109a Blagdon Road.

Adult Education Taster Week 13th—17th April We will be running a taster week with a variety of health & wellbeing and creative classes for carers in partnership with Kingston Adult Education. Details of times and classes to follow. Register your interest by contacting the office.

Current Adult Education Classes Our Zumba, Meditation and Stretch classes are still running at Newent House, Surbiton.

Zumba: Thursday 12pm to 1pm February 26th - March 26th Meditation: Friday 9.30 - 10.30am, 27th February - 27th March Stretch: Friday 11.00am to 12.00pm, 27th February - 27th March Classes cost £3. Please ring the office for further details.

Monthly Craft Group First Friday of the Month, 10.00am to 12.00pm Come along and enjoy being creative in our monthly craft sessions at the Noble Centre. There is a charge of £3 and all materials and tea, coffee and biscuits supplied. Please note the March group will run on the 20th of March

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Kew Gardens: Spring Spectacular Spring is in full bloom and there is nowhere more fitting to savour the spectacle than Kew Gardens.

Discover new corners you’ve never seen before as you ride on the Kew Explorer train.

Tuesday 21st April, 10.00am to 3.00pm £5 includes transport & entry. Meeting at Noble Centre

The Sculpture Park This sculpture exhibition is possibly the most extensive display of sculpture in the world. Set within an enchanting arboretum and wildlife inhabited water garden, it is the perfect haven.

Friday 22nd May, 10.00am to 2.30pm £5 includes transport and subsidised entry

British Wildlife Centre The British Wildlife Centre is the best place to see and learn all about Britain’s own wonderful wildlife, with over 40 different species living in large natural enclosures. We will have the centre to ourselves with our own private tour guide. Don’t forget your camera!

Monday 22nd June, 1.30pm to 5.00pm £10 includes transport and subsidised entry

KCN

Did you know that you can now book any of the activities from pages 18-19 online? Visit www.kingstoncarers.org.uk/wellbeing-project/ activities to book. You can still book calling Beth on 020 3725 3048 or by sending a letter to “Kingston Carers’ Network, FREEPOST RSET-JATX-UEAS, New Malden, KT3 4BD.”

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Kingston Carers’ Network

www.kingstoncarers.org.uk

020 3031 2757

Spring 2015

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Kingston Carers’ Network

www.kingstoncarers.org.uk

020 3031 2757

Spring 2015

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Calling all Walkers:

We hope that many of you, whether or not you are a Carer will join us with members of your family and friends or colleagues and try to raise funds for your local Carers Centre.

The work of millions of Carers will be highlighted during a circular walk along the River Thames and past some of London’s iconic bridges on 30 May 2015. The walk will start Southwark Cathedral at 10.00am. This event has been organised by ‘Carers Thames Walk’ to raise the profile and celebrate the work of not only some three quarter of a million Carers who live in London but also almost seven million Carers in the UK. Any one can participate in the event to support this worthy cause. By being sponsored by their relatives, friends and colleagues worthwhile sums of money can be raised for their local Carers Centres and organisations which are used to help Carers. In previous years approximately £55,000 has been raised and which has been used for many schemes to support Carers. such as providing short breaks and much needed equipment.

For more information, or to register for the walk, you can visit: Or contact:

www.carersthameswalk.org.uk Colin Shurrock (Chairman); Tel: 0117 973 8329; Email: colinshurrock@btinternet.com Peter Tihanyi (Deputy Chairman); Tel: 020 84449647; Email: ptihanyi@btinternet.com Baj Mathur; Tel 020 8845 4426; E mail: BajMathur@aol.com

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Kingston Carers’ Network

www.kingstoncarers.org.uk

Complementary Therapies and Beauty Treatments Holistic Therapies with Marina Alternate Mondays, 10.00am to 4.00pm Fridays, 10.00am to 1.00pm £12 for 30 minutes, £20 for 1 hour Therapies include anti-ageing facial therapy, holistic eye therapy, foot and ankle therapy, holistic bowel massage, massage therapy Reflexology and Indian Head Massage with Mitsuko Alternate Wednesdays, 1.00pm to 3.30pm and alternate Thursdays, 10.00am to 12.30pm Reflexology: £15 for 50 minutes Indian Head Massage: £12 for 30 minutes Reflexology is a therapy that treats the feet in order to balance the whole body. Indian Head Massage releases stress that has accumulated in the tissues, muscles and joints of the head, face, neck and shoulders to bring the energy of the whole body back into balance.

Hairdressing by Gina One Wednesday a month, 10.00am to 2.00pm Free of Charge BodyTalk BodyTalk is a safe, effective and non invasive energy therapy which stimulates the body’s innate ability to balance and heal itself on all levels.

Please book direct with Mary: 020 8241 2501 For more information or to book an appointment, please contact Jo on admin@kingstoncarers.org.uk or 020 3031 2751