2017 - Summer newsletter with MH and Dementia Supplement

Summer 2017

Also inside:  News from our Chief Executive  New “Working for Carers” Project  Forthcoming Support Groups  Vote for KCN in Tesco  Mental Health News  Carers Week 2017  AGM date  Our latest award

News from the Young Carers’ Project

More chances to vote for KCN!

Social Activities and Outings

Don’t forget to put our AGM in you diary!

Wednesday 4th October 7.00pm to 9.00pm

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Kingston Carers’ Network

www.kingstoncarers.org.uk

News from the Chief Executive KCN Membership We are looking for carers and other stakeholders to become members of KCN. This would involve attending the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 4th October between 7pm and 9pm to formalise this membership. Members will be invited to vote at the AGM and to formally approve the appointment of trustees. If you would like to know more about becoming a member of KCN, please contact Jo or Kate on 020 3031 2751 or email ceo@kingstoncarers.org.uk .

People’s Projects You may have seen us on the ITV London News in March competing for the public vote for our ‘Fit for Caring’ programme. Sadly, we lost out by a mere 40 votes and despite a lot of effort encouraging people to vote, we missed out on £50,000. Thanks to everyone who voted for us and thanks to all the young and adult carers who participated in the film.

Annual Survey We would be extremely grateful if you could complete the enclosed Annual Carers’ Survey to tell us what you think about KCN and carers’ support in Kingston. It’s free to return and you will be entered in to a prize draw and two people will win £25 worth of Marks and Spencer vouchers.

Ever thought about volunteering?

We are looking for a friendly volunteer to facilitate our monthly Carers Support Group. The group runs on the third Wednesday of every month, 10.00am to 11.30am at Merritt Medical Centre, Chessington. It is a small and supportive group for all carers.

If you’re a chatty, approachable person who would like to give something back, please get in touch. Call 020 3375 8226. or email volunteering@kingstoncarers.org.uk.

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News from the Young Carers’ Project We have been busier than ever here at Young Carers’ Project! We had 53 new referrals in the last quarter alone taking the number of young people registered with us to 540. Easter Holidays were chock-a-block full of activities with 184 Young Carers enjoying at least one outing. We had a great expedition to the Science Museum, wrote and then performed a song in Kingston, hopped around on trampolines at Airhop and somehow we even found the time to make Easter Eggs!

As well as delivering activities, lunch clubs, youth clubs and drop-ins, we love going out into the community to talk about what we do. We delivered an assembly to 380 pupils at Southborough High School, ran teacher training sessions for the staff at Grand Avenue and talked to numerous community groups including students during Kingston University Health Week. We also enjoyed having some of our young carers in the office on work experience If you think you know someone who may be a young carer, please do get in touch and remember to follow us on twitter @YCPKingston

Diane, Liz, Nicola, Alice and Kat Young Carers’ Project 020 3031 2754 or youngcarers1@kingstoncarers.org.uk

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Kingston Carers’ Network

www.kingstoncarers.org.uk

Call out for votes for KCN to bag a share of bag charge fund!

KCN are bidding to bag a massive cash boost from the Tesco Bags of Help initiative.

Tesco teamed up with Groundwork to launch its community funding scheme, which sees grants of £4,000, £2,000 and £1,000 – all raised from the 5p bag levy – being awarded to local community projects.

Three groups in every Tesco region have been shortlisted to receive the cash award and shoppers are being invited to head along to Tesco stores to vote for who they think should take away the top grant.

Kingston Carers’ Network is one of the groups on the shortlist.

Voting is open in stores throughout May and June. Customers will cast their vote using a token given to them at the check-out in store each time they shop.

Tesco’s Bags of Help project has already delivered over £28.5 million to more than 4,000 projects up and down the UK. Every other month, when votes are collected, three groups in each of Tesco’s regions will be awarded funding.

Lindsey Crompton, Head of Community at Tesco, said: “We are absolutely delighted to open the voting for May and June.

There are some fantastic projects on the shortlists and we can’t wait to see them come to life in hundreds of communities.”

Voice of Carers We have tried very hard to relaunch the forum but there has been little interest in this. If you have any ideas for how to engage carers in sharing their views, please contact Kate on 020 3031 2752 or ceo@kingstoncarers.org.uk

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Summer 2017

We are moving!

KCN has finally found suitable new premises in Tolworth and we will be moving from Noble Centre within the next few months. There is some refurbishment work needed to make the accommodation suitable but we are hopeful that this won’t take too long. We will keep carers informed of the date of our relocation but our telephone numbers will stay the same. We are excited about the move and believe that the location will make our service accessible for more carers in the borough, being well-served by public transport and with parking nearby.

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

Carers of Adults with Asperger's Syndrome or Autism Spectrum Disorder 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

Mental Health Carers Group Tolworth Hospital, 6.00pm to 7.15pm Second Tuesday of each month

Parents and Carers of Children and Young People with Additional Needs Tolworth Children’s Centre, School Lane, Surbiton, 9.15am to 11.15pm One Monday a month — call 020 3375 8227 for dates

Save the date for the AGM Wednesday 4th October 7.00pm to 9.00pm Location TBC

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Kingston Carers’ Network

www.kingstoncarers.org.uk

Wellbeing Workshops and Social Activities My name is Lyndsey and I am covering the role of Wellbeing Coordinator while Vanessa is on maternity leave.

It’s my job to provide a packed programme of activities, workshops and outings to enable you to recharge your batteries and have a break from your caring role.

The past few months have certainly been busy! We stepped back in time with a trip to Chiltern Open Air Museum, toured the Poppy Factory in Richmond and laughed ourselves silly at Laughter Yoga. We also launched our new B.Y.O.C. (bring your own crafts) coffee mornings where we share tea, cake and crafting tips!

We’ve got plenty of exciting workshops and socials on offer this summer.

Special highlights include; a ‘Talk and Draw’ session at the National Gallery, a day trip to Brighton and a behind the scenes tour of The Old Vic theatre. If you’re thinking about getting back into work, look out for details of our new ‘Working for Carers’ project.

To book your place on any of our activities, give me a call on 020 3375 8226 or email wellbeing@kingstoncarers.org.uk. Remember to book early to avoid disappointment.

I look forward to seeing you soon.

B.Y.O.C. (Bring Your Own Crafts) Coffee Morning Our monthly coffee mornings are a chance to take a break, meet new people and make progress on your latest project.

When? Monthly, 10:00am – 12:00pm, (23rd June, 21st July, 18th August, 15th September) Where? The Noble Centre, 109a Blagdon Road, KT3 4BD £FREE – tea, coffee and cake will be provided

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Summer 2017

To book a place on any of our workshops, clubs or activities, contact Lyndsey on wellbeing@kingstoncarers.org.uk or call 020 3375 8226 Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. To celebrate Carers Week, we have a packed diary of workshops and outings: Tuesday 13th June Denbies Vineyard Train Tour Join us for a wonderful outdoor train tour of Denbies Vineyard. This 50-minute tour will take us at a leisurely pace to some of the most beautiful viewing points in the vineyard.

Departing from the KCN office at 10.15am and returning for approximately 1.00pm, £5 (including transport and tour) Book NOW!

Wednesday 14th June Wellbeing Workshop Special On Wednesday we will have two workshops with lunch in between; you may join us for all or part of the day (please specify when booking).

Workshop #1: Homeopathy for Sleep Tired of feeling tired? This workshop will explore natural, homeopathic remedies to improve quality of sleep and tackle sleep issues. You’ll leave with plenty of information and remedies that you can safely try at home.

11.00am to 1.00pm followed by lunch, Noble Centre, 109a Blagdon Road, KT3 4BD, £FREE, Book NOW!

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Kingston Carers’ Network

www.kingstoncarers.org.uk

Wednesday 14th June Workshop #2: Carers’ Rights Talk Do you know your rights? It’s important not to overlook your needs as a carer – making time for yourself is crucial to your health and wellbeing and also benefits the person you care for. Our own David Still (Adult Carers’ Support Manager) will be discussing carers’ rights, highlighting the support that is available to you, and answering your questions.

2.00pm to 3.00pm (lunch available from 1.00pm), Noble Centre, 109a Blagdon Road, KT3 4BD, £FREE, Book NOW! Thursday 15th June Art Class – Shading Skills A chance to discover your inner Picasso! Join us for a 2-hour ‘shading skills’ art workshop with local artist Lucy McAdam-Freud. Suitable for all abilities.

10.00am to 12.00pm, £5 The United Reformed Church, Eden Street, KT1 1HZ, £5, Book NOW!

Friday 16th June ‘Bring a dish’ Garden Party We’ll be topping off Carers’ Week this year with a celebratory ‘bring a dish’ lunch at the beautiful Canbury Gardens Pavilion. Come along and share good food with friends. You are very welcome to bring the person you care for; simply let us know when you make your booking 1.00pm to 3.00pm, Canbury Pavilion, Lower Ham Road, KT2 5AW, £FREE, Book NOW! Please bring a dish to share

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Summer 2017

Booking for Social Events taking place from July onwards opens on Monday 12th June

July Craft Club – Lino Printing Tote Bags Tea, coffee and biscuits provided.

Friday 7th July, 10.00am to12.00pm, Noble Centre, 109a Blagdon Road, KT3 4BD, £3 (including materials, tuition and refreshments) Talk & Draw at the National Gallery Attention art lovers! Join us for a relaxed talk & draw session at the National Gallery. A specialist member of Gallery staff will help us interpret a painting from the Gallery’s collection by engaging in mindfulness exercises and a basic creative activity (no previous experience required!). We will then enjoy a sandwich lunch at the Gallery – all free of charge.

Friday 7th July, 10.30am to 1.30pm including lunch, The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, £FREE

Day Trip to Brighton Our seaside trip this year will be to Brighton seafront.

Whether you fancy shopping in The Lanes, promenading along the pier or fish and chips on the beach - Brighton has it all! You are welcome to bring a +1, just let us know when you book.

Wednesday 19th July, coach departing from New Malden at 10.00am – leaving Brighton at 4.00pm, £5

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Kingston Carers’ Network

www.kingstoncarers.org.uk

August Craft Club – Pictorial Felting Learn to create a picture using felt fibres.

Friday 4th August , 10.00am to12.00pm, Noble Centre, 109a Blagdon Road, KT3 4BD, £3 (including materials, tuition and refreshments) Summer at Kew Come and see the beauty of Kew Botanical Gardens in full bloom. Kew is London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage site and its collection of living plants is the largest and most diverse in the world.

Thursday 10th August, departing from Noble Centre at 10:30am, departing from Kew at 3:30pm, £3 (including transport and entry)

Yoga for Beginners Heard about Yoga but not sure if it’s your thing? This beginners’ workshop is the perfect introduction to this ancient practice. Yoga is a form of exercise that uses postures, movements and breathing to increase strength and flexibility and boost physical and mental wellbeing.

Wednesday 23rd August, 10.30am to 11.30am, Noble Centre, 109a Blagdon Road, KT3 4BD, £FREE

Transport for most of our social events is from the Noble Centre. If getting to the Noble Centre is difficult for you and you would like to attend one of our social events, we are happy, where possible, to arrange pick-up and drop-off points near you. Contact Lyndsey on wellbeing@kingstoncarers.org.uk or call 020 3375 8226

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Summer 2017

September Craft Club – Fun with Bondaweb Part 1 You’ll be surprised what you can create with Bondaweb and some scrap fabric!

Friday 1st September , 10.00am to 12.00pm, Noble Centre, 109a Blagdon Road, KT3 4BD, £3 (including materials, tuition and refreshments) Behind-the-Scenes of The Old Vic Theatre Explore behind-the-scenes of The Old Vic and discover nearly 200 years of theatrical history. Acting legends from Laurence Olivier to Judi Dench have performed on its stage. Join us as we walk in their footsteps, learn about The Old Vic’s fascinating past and see the theatre in a new light.

Tuesday 12th September, 10.45am to 12.15pm, The Old Vic, Waterloo, SE1 8NB, £5 Dementia Carers – Carer Information and Support Programme The ‘Carer Information and Support Programme’ is aimed at people who are caring for someone in the early stages of dementia. Trained staff from the Alzheimer’s Society will deliver a series of sessions which will provide you with the opportunity to share your experiences in a friendly and confidential environment, with people who truly understand. The programme will increase your knowledge about dementia, provide you with practical information on coping with dementia day-to-day and enable you to plan for the person you care for, now and in the future.

Wednesdays: 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th September, 10.30am to 1.00pm, followed by lunch, Noble Centre, £FREE

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Kingston Carers’ Network

www.kingstoncarers.org.uk

Weekly Wellbeing Classes Venues subject to changes during school holidays.

Please contact Lyndsey for details All classes are £3. There is no need to book – simply turn up and give it a go!

Zumba Gold: Tuesdays, 12:00pm-1:00pm, Tolworth United Reformed Church, Elgar Avenue, Surbiton, KT5 9JR Stretch and Strengthen: Thursdays, 3:00pm – 4:00pm, King Charles Centre, Hollyfield Road, Surbiton, KT5 9AL Meditation: Fridays, 1:00pm – 2:00pm, Noble Centre, Blagdon Road, KT3 4BD Circuit Fitness with Chris: Saturdays, 11:00am – 12:00pm, The Star Centre, King Charles Crescent, Surbiton, KT5 8SU New class coming soon. See page 14 for details.

KCN

Did you know that you can now book all of our activities online?

Visit www.kingstoncarers.org.uk/wellbeing-project/ activities to book. You can still book by contacting Lyndsey on 020 3375 8226 or wellbeing@kingstoncarers.org.uk or by sending a letter to “Kingston Carers’ Network, FREEPOST RSET-JATX-UEAS, New Malden, KT3 4BD”.

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Summer 2017

New: Working for Carers Project Thinking about getting back into work?

Whether it’s full-time work, part-time work or self -employment you’re considering, the Working for Carers Project will enable you to make steps towards your goals. You’ll be given an experienced and dedicated employment advisor who will support you, one-to-one, through your own bespoke employment training programme.

The Project’s advisors are experienced at supporting carers into employment.

To be eligible for the Project, you must be: a carer, age 25 or over and unemployed/economically inactive.

Appointments will take place at our office in New Malden.

If you would like to find out more, contact Lyndsey at: wellbeing@kingstoncarers.org.uk or 020 3375 8226

Be Smart About Your Health Are you struggling to book a GP appointment or order a repeat prescription online?

Why not book a one-to-one training session with Philippa Leary from Superhighways to help you get on top of searching for information and registering for services? Doing things online saves you time to spend on other things.

If you would like to find out more, contact Lyndsey at: wellbeing@kingstoncarers.org.uk or 020 3375 8226

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Kingston Carers’ Network

www.kingstoncarers.org.uk

Award winning!

Huge congratulations are in order after KCN’s volunteering project was awarded Volunteering Organisation of the Year by Union of Kingston Students. Lyndsey de Valmency-King, Volunteer Co-ordinator, was presented with the award at the Union of Kingston Students Volunteering Awards 2017 ceremony held at the Rose Theatre. KCN were rewarded for their dedication to supporting volunteers and ensuring their experiences are enjoyable and rewarding.

If you are interested in volunteering with KCN, please see our advert on page 2.

Well done Lyndsey for co-ordinating such a fantastic project!

Pilates - coming soon KCN and Don’t Tone Alone are working together to introduce pilates to the weekly wellbeing class programme.

Pilates aims to strengthen the body in an even way, with particular emphasis on core strength to improve general fitness and wellbeing. Pilates is a low-impact form of exercise and the sessions will be suitable for all ages and abilities.

We are in the process of finalising the details but to register your interest, please contact Lyndsey on wellbeing@kingstoncarers.org.uk or 020 3375 8226.

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Summer 2017

Thank you to our donors As a local, independent charity, donations and support from our community really make a difference. These valuable donations enable us to continue to improve the lives of carers in Kingston. One carer told us “I truly do not know if I would have remained healthy mentally or physically without the Carers’ Network and Young Carers.”

We receive donations for a variety of uses but a common one is to pay for respite activities to ensure young carers enjoy a life outside of their caring responsibilities.

We would like to say a big thank you to the following generous donors: Surbiton Farmers Market Burhill Golf Club Kingston Inner Wheel Kingstonian Football Club Kingston Rotary Club Malden Golf Club - Ladies Team New Malden Inner Wheel Worcester Park Women’s Institute (pictured below)

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Kingston Carers’ Network

www.kingstoncarers.org.uk

The Kingston Eco-op is a charity based in Kingston upon Thames offering supported learning, employment skills and social activities for adults (18+yrs) living in Kingston and neighbouring boroughs with learning disabilities and/or mental health issues.

Clients can be at risk of social isolation, often lacking confidence and with low self-esteem. We provide holistic support to give them the tools and networks needed to improve their well-being.

We believe in a society that treats all types of people fairly, positively and with respect.

Social Activities Clients develop mutual support skills and networks through a range of social activities. Often activities are client led and include elements of learning. We have also run group trips including seaside visits, Thames cruise and a Kew Gardens photography trip. We have an annual Christmas lunch outing attended by clients, volunteers and staff.

Health and Wellbeing We help clients to build on knowledge around keeping healthy and exercising. Through a local partnership with YMCA clients are able to access creative movement sessions with a professional ballet company.

Ballet Boyz.

Learning Clients have the opportunity to build knowledge and learn new things.

We currently offer learning courses in topics including English, IT, Art and Photography in partnership with Richmond Adult Community College (RACC).

Employment Skills We offer the opportunity to build employment skills whilst working on a range of projects for local groups. This includes assembling poppies for the British Legion, and delivering snackboxes to local offices to experience a working environment where interaction takes place with peers, staff and the wider public.

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The Alzheimer’s Society in Kingston provides a range of support services for people with dementia, their families and carers.

Our Dementia Adviser service supports people living with Dementia in Kingston from the point of diagnosis onwards.

Our Dementia Support Worker provides practical and emotional support to people caring for a family member, friend or partner with dementia; Our Support Group for Carers is held on the first Tuesday of each month and provides the opportunity for carers to share practical information, advice and personal experiences with others who understand what they are going through.

We also offer our Carers Information and Support Programme (CriSP) which is a series of workshops looking at information and support on topics such as: What is Dementia, Support and Care for someone with Dementia, Legal and Money matters and Planning for the Future.

Please contact us for further details of our next workshop.

Singing for the Brain is held every Friday for people in the early to moderate stages of dementia and their carers.

For information on our future sessions or any of our services, please get in touch. We’re here to help.

Alzheimer’s Society Kingston Woodroffe House Tolworth Hospital Red Lion Road Surbiton KT6 7QU Tel. 0203 513 5147.

Dementia Connect, the easy way to find support near you. alzheimers.org.uk/dementiaconnect

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Kingston Carers’ Network

www.kingstoncarers.org.uk

iCope Online

iCope Online is an interactive online therapy programme which has a catalogue of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy treatment modules, self-help tools and diaries to help tackle difficult feelings of anxiety, depression and stress. We have modules for topics such as Panic, Depression, Work Stress and Relaxation.

Once you have an account you can download the Minddistrict app which allows you to access the programme anytime, anywhere, on any device that has an internet connection e.g. computer, smartphone, tablet. iCope Online is therefore an ideal option for people who may have difficulty attending regular appointments away from home e.g. full-time workers, parents, carers. It provides a flexible way for you to access support.

Each session can be done independently (pure self-help) or with the feedback of a therapist (guided self-help) and even after you have completed treatment you will have access to the programme for an entire year. This allows you the opportunity to recap the sessions which can help maintain progress and prevent setbacks. The pure self-help option can be a particularly good first step before receiving any formal therapy. It is also a stand-alone treatment in its own right that can be accessed with minimal waiting time.

How to access iCope Online

If you are interested in this type of treatment, please visit kingstonicopeonline.minddistrict.co.uk/screening where you can start a self test. This will help us to better understand how you are doing. Once you have completed this we can let you know what support may be best for you.

You can find out more about this service at kingston.icope.nhs.uk Kingston Mencap run a monthly group for carers who have a family member with a learning disability.

We hold meetings on the first Wednesday of the month with speakers and information sharing.

We alternate the meet up time and start at 1.30pm one month and the next at 7.30pm so everyone has the opportunity to attend.

Mary Macan and Gill Wood facilitate both meetings and everyone is welcome.

Our next evening meeting will be held at 1.30pm on Wednesday 7th June at Kingston Mencap’s new HQ at Searchlight, Kingston Road, New Malden KT3 3RX For more information contact Gill Wood 0208540 1399 gillcwood@blueyonder.co.uk

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Kingston Carers’ Network

www.kingstoncarers.org.uk

Complementary Therapies and Beauty Treatments Time for You Therapies Fridays, 10.00am to 3.00pm £12 for 30 minutes, £16 for 45 minutes, £20 for 1 hour Therapies include Reiki, Aromatherapy Massage, Holistic Massage, Bach Flower Remedies, Arm and Hand Massage Complementary Therapies with Mitsuko Mondays, 10.00am to 2.00pm Alternate Wednesdays, 1.00pm to 3.30pm and alternate Thursdays, 10.00am to 12.30pm Aromatherapy Body Massage, 1 hour (including consultation) £20 Facial Massage. 1 hour, £20 Reflexology, 45 minutes, £15 Indian Head Massage, 30 minutes, £12 Hairdressing with Kelly Second Monday of each month, 10.00am to 3.00pm £5 per haircut Healing Touch Massage with Roman Alternate Wednesdays, 1.00pm to 3.30pm and alternate Thursdays, 10.00am to 12.30pm £12 for 30 minutes, £20 for 1 hour Therapies include full body massage, deep tissue massage, natural lift face massage and back, neck and shoulder massage.

For more information or to book an appointment, please contact Jo on admin@kingstoncarers.org.uk or 020 3031 2751

Focus on: New Recovery Cafés South West London and St George’s Mental Health NHS Trust have commissioned two Recovery Cafés for South West London residents from Merton, Sutton, Wandsworth, Kingston or Richmond who are struggling to cope with their mental health and need some additional support when other services are closed. One of the cafés is run by Hestia from 966 Garratt Lane, Tooting (recoverycafe@hestia.org or 07794 394 920) and the other is The Sunshine Café at 296a Kingston Road, Wimbledon Chase (info@sunshinerecoverycafe.org or 07908 436 617) run by CDARS (Community Drug & Alcohol Services).

What are the cafés for and how could they help?: The aim of the Recovery Cafés is to provide a safe, inclusive and welcoming space for people who might be struggling to cope, which helps them to reduce immediate anxiety and crisis, and to safety plan, utilising strengths, skills, resilience and coping mechanisms to prevent repeated use of crisis services. If people are unsure about whether they need support around their mental health or they may be at risk, they can contact or visit the cafés.

The cafés will be able to offer: A safe, welcoming space and a listening ear; Activities and interventions to support people to work out the most effective way forward; Support to develop someone’s own plan for the following day and longer term plans which might involve contact with statutory services; Access to computers to enable people to make contact with Mental Health professionals, their friends and family or access online mental health support forums, training packages or service directories.

They know that individuals are the expert in their mental health and will be there to offer support, to listen to them and to engage them in social activities with other people so that they can benefit from the companionship, information, advice and support that the cafes can offer. They will not tell people what they need to do and will work with them to identify what works for them in terms of their wellbeing.

Hestia’s café will be also offering a home cooked meal to all users of the café at minimum cost, however people could be roped into preparing, cooking, serving or clearing up after the meal with staff, volunteers and peer users of the service. They’re not expecting anyone to be a gourmet chef but believe

that working and cooking together can be really beneficial for general wellbeing. The Sunshine Café will also provide food and drink.

Who do the cafés help?: The cafés are open to people if they are an adult (18 years +) from the South West London Boroughs of Merton, Sutton, Wandsworth, Kingston or Richmond, and are experiencing difficulties with their mental health and feel that they are unable to cope. This includes if they are very anxious or worried about something but don’t have the social or professional support networks, either in general or available in the evenings or weekends, to support them. Each café will be able to support 25 customers at any one time. There is no fee to access the recovery cafés but people will be asked for a contribution towards any food they would like to eat whilst at the cafés.

The cafés are open every weekday between 6:00pm and 11:00pm and between 12:00 noon and 11:00pm at weekends and on Bank Holidays.

They are open 365 days a year.

Please note: The cafés do not provide accommodation and are not designed to support young people under 18 years old or those under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Carers of People with Dementia Sherwood Grange is a local residential and dementia care home that offers free talks and seminars aimed at carers and professionals. The next few events are: Dementia Friends, Thursday 18th May, 2pm -3pm (In the cinema room); Parkinson’s Awareness, Monday 22nd May, 11am-12:30pm (In the cinema room); Open Day & Sherwood Grange 1st Birthday Celebration, Friday 16th June, 1pm-4:30pm, Mad Hatters tea party in the garden, gift stalls in the cinema room & cake cutting at 2:30pm. RVSP to dean.trodd@careuk.com. All events are held at Sherwood Grange Care Home, 1a Robin Hood Lane, Kingston Vale, London, SW15 3PU. Dementia Friendly Screenings in Greenwich in June & July: ‘Seven Brides For Seven Brothers’ on 26th June and ‘On the Town’ on 31st July both from 10:30am to 1pm. Join Arts4Dementia for free tea, coffee and biscuits and a chance to socialise for 30 minutes before the films. The films will start at the time stated. Tickets are £4 with an accompanying carer going free. These screenings are enhanced to suit the needs of people living with dementia: the lights are left on low, there are no

adverts or trailers and the audience is allowed to move around – or sing along to any musical numbers! – should they wish to. Location: Greenwich Picturehouse,180 Greenwich High Road, London SE10 8NN. Contact: Oscar Tebbutt. Telephone: 07508822349. Email: oscar@picturehouses.co.uk.

Transport Facilities: Buses, Underground, Rail, Parking nearby, Disabled parking.

The University of York is conducting a ground breaking research project looking at the support carers get in different areas of England and how this affects them. If you care for someone with dementia and live in Kingston upon Thames, they would be very interested to hear about your experiences.

Background to the research: Family carers are the most valuable resources in dementia care, yet very little is known about how best to support them.

Different areas of the country offer different types and levels of service. The researchers want to understand more about the support that carers get in different areas and how this affects them.

They’re running a survey of carers of people with dementia, asking what services they get and how they feel (in terms of their health, quality of life and so on). The findings of the survey will be fed back to the government and published widely so that the people who plan and provide services for people affected by dementia have better evidence about how to support them.

How can you help?: If you are a current carer of someone with dementia and you live in Kingston upon Thames please consider completing the questionnaire, either online at https://york.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_4VFj3HqCLhRytdb or on paper (please contact kate.gridley@york.ac.uk for a paper copy of the questionnaire).

What do they mean by current carers?: they are defining this as carers of people still living at home (i.e. their home or yours, or supported housing, but not residential care or a nursing home). For more information or to find out more about how you can get involved in this research please contact kate.gridley@york.ac.uk or call Kate on 01904 321988/ 07812 438446.

Carers of People with Mental Health Issues 'Prevalence of Pathogenic Antibodies in Psychosis' - This study is testing for antibodies that may be involved in causing psychosis. The researchers are recruiting people with psychosis symptoms aged 18-70 to take part in clinical trials in various locations in London. Should someone you support be

interested in participating, the organisers, who are based at Oxford University and in London, can be contacted by email at rebecca.pollard@psych.ox.ac.uk.

Amy Johnson is a PhD student at Northumbria University, who is currently running a study aiming to create a model for an online intervention for carers of people with severe mental illness. She aims to recruit adult carers of people with a severe mental illness (schizophrenia, psychosis, severe depression, bipolar disorder or a personality disorder) and is looking to recruit those who do and those who do not use online support. Participants will be asked to complete health questionnaires at two time points, a weekly diary for 6 weeks and will be invited to attend an interview. Questionnaires will be sent to participants through the post and interviews will be available by phone or Skype. A Carer Brief is available which provides more information about the study if you would like this emailed or posted to you). This project has been approved by Northumbria University Ethics Committee. Amy is also sharing information about this study on social media (such as Facebook and Twitter). If you have any questions or would like more information about this, please email her at amy.johnson@northumbria.ac.uk or her supervisor at john2.taylor@northumbria.ac.uk.

Caring for someone with a mental health problem isn't always easy. Especially when it comes to money.

If you have experience of supporting someone with a mental health problem, and want to use your experience to help improve the system, you can sign up to Money and Mental Health's Research Community. By joining the community and sharing your experiences, you can help them break the link between mental health problems and financial difficulty, and have your say on what needs to change.

Money and Mental Health are a research charity, set up by Martin Lewis of Money Saving Expert. They conduct research, develop practical policy solutions and work in partnership with both those providing services and those using them to find what really works. With over 2,000 members, the community is invited to take part in surveys, questionnaires or discussions – either online or in person. Signing up puts you under no obligation to take part in particular activities, they’ll send you information about opportunities to get involved and you can pick what works for you. If you would like to learn more and get your voice heard, you can sign up by visiting: www.moneyandmentalhealth.org/community.

Beat are excited to announce that their online support groups will now run every day! They've created four new groups which provide unique support for those suffering from anorexia, bulimia, binge eating disorder and emotional overeating, and fathers. Each group has its own bird name, adopting symbols

of freedom, transition and hope. Swan is for those with anorexia, Sandpiper is for fathers supporting a child with an eating disorder whilst Blue Jay supports mothers. Dove is for adults, Nightingale is for support with emotional overeating, Kingfisher is for those with bulimia and Phoenix is for under 18s.

The new online groups will help to meet the needs of those who are struggling to find relevant peer support close to home and will benefit from connecting online to release some of the anxiety they’re carrying alone. For more information, visit https://www.b-eat.co.uk/support-services/online-supportgroups.

Check out EUFAMI’s 'Caring for Two' publication about looking after yourself whilst caring for someone with a mental illness by visiting http://eufami.org/2017/04/04/caring-for-two-brochure/ or clicking on the image below.

Check out EUFAMI’s 'Caring for Two' publication about looking after yourself whilst caring for someone with a mental illness by visiting http://eufami.org/2017/04/04/carin g-for-two-brochure/ or clicking on the image.

PRISM is an Innovative Medicines Innitiative (IMI) funded project that aims to find new treatments for the three most common brain disorders in Europe: Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and major depression. It does so by looking at a symptom these three diseases have in common – social withdrawal – and investigating whether there are biological markers for this symptom which new drugs could target to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. At the April project consortium meeting in London, EUFAMI presented the results of the member focus group session they organised to draw out the family perspective on social withdrawal in persons living with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Amongst various signals, participants listed lack of self-care (clothing, hair), lack of communication, immobility, such as getting out of bed, and lack of activities particularly outside of the house, resulting in a limited number of friends and often no partner. A striking result indicated by family members was their own struggle with social isolation. Comments included, “I was afraid that we bothered the neighbours.”; “We stopped going to family gatherings.”; “During the crisis, we didn’t speak to anyone about the topic other than the doctor.”. Social withdrawal feeds stigma, which impacts

not just patients but entire families. Tackling social withdrawal therefore has enormous potential for positive impact. Committed to supporting families affected by mental illness, the PRISM project is helping EUFAMI to ensure that their views are represented in policy, practice and research. For more information about the project, visit http://prism-project.eu/wpcontent/uploads/2017/04/PRISM_Flyer_Download.pdf.

Carers4PD is a voluntary service dedicated to providing information, support and advocacy for carers of people diagnosed with a Personality Disorder. It is staffed by volunteer carers who have a great deal of experience in caring for people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Further information is available by contacting info@carers4pd.co.uk.

Information on websites about BPD (borderline personality disorder), mental health and caring can be found at http://bpdcarerstogether.weebly.com/websites.html

Carers of People with Substance Misuse Issues In partnership with Sheffield Hallam University and funded by Alcohol Research UK, Adfam have launched the Families Living with Addiction and Recovery survey. This is the first nationwide survey which will document the lives of family members of people in addiction and recovery from alcohol and other drugs. Anyone who considers themselves a family member, friend or loved one of a person who uses or is in recovery from alcohol and other drugs is encouraged to complete the survey. It takes about 30 minutes and is completely anonymous.

This is a very exciting piece of research and will be an invaluable snapshot of how families are affected by a loved one’s substance use. Click the following link to take part https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/LTKX65N?utm_source=Adfam+Contact+Li st&utm_campaign=5973a85d9fEMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_05_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1cfd9be 142-5973a85d9f-43618909. A hard copy of the survey with a prepaid, selfaddressed envelope can be posted to you if preferred. If you have any questions about the research or want a hard copy, please email Catrin Andersson at Sheffield Hallam at c.andersson@shu.ac.uk.

The BEAD project is a partnership between Adfam and Cruse Bereavement Care, funded by the Big Lottery, which provides practical and emotional support and information for anyone bereaved through a loved one’s drug or alcohol use. Bereavement through a loved one's drug or alcohol use is a devastating, challenging and often isolating experience. Their peer support volunteers have had an immense impact improving the emotional wellbeing of a number of individuals bereaved in this way, and this website provides a wealth of information and resources to those unsure where to turn or what to do in such a difficult situation. The website’s features include: Outlining where and how to access appropriate support; Helping people through the grieving process by looking at the emotions one might be experiencing and how to overcome them; Providing practical help with the things one will have to deal with a result of their loss; Displaying stories and personal experiences; Linking to useful resources and relevant organisations. The site was designed and developed in close partnership with one of Adfam's peer support volunteers who understood the needs of people accessing this service. You can view the website at https://www.beadproject.org.uk/.

Adfam have re-launched their popular “Journeys” series – eight guides for different groups of family members affected by substance use. All are available for free at http://www.adfam.org.uk/families/Publications_for_family_use.

Alzheimer’s Society Kingston holds a carer support group on the 1st Tuesday of each month at the Noble Centre, 109a Blagdon Road, New Malden KT3 4BD from 10:30am to 12:30pm. 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 adults 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: 13th June, 11th July, 8th August, 12th September.

Support is provided to carers on Lilacs ward and the Acacia Unit by Kingston Mental Health Carers’ Forum (KMHCF). For more information please contact 07983 063 578 or email info@kmhcf.org.uk.

ASCA runs a weekly facilitated group for anyone caring for someone with an addiction every Tuesday from 6pm-7:30pm at 233 Lower Mortlake Road, Richmond TW9 2LL. Each group lasts 90 minutes and is strictly confidential. Donations £5. NB: this group is NOT run as a drop in, new members are accepted only following an initial assessment. For more details contact 020 8940 1160.

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.

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. (It is recommended to attend about six meetings before deciding whether Al-Anon is for you.)

Home Instead run a Memory Café in New Malden for people with memory loss and their carers every 2nd Wednesday of the month from 2pm-4pm at the Coffee Bar in the Methodist Church, 49 High Street, New Malden KT3 4BY. Teas and coffees provided but donations welcomed.

The London BPD Carers’ Group is for those caring for people living with borderline personality disorder. It provides mutual support and meets on the third Thursday of each month between 5:30pm and 7:30pm in Vauxhall.

The group does NOT run as a drop in. Contact Marisa Broadhurst on 07955 097121 or email londonbpdcarers@rethink.org for more information.

Home Instead run a Memory Café for people with memory loss and their carers every 1st and 3rd Friday of the month from 2pm-4pm at the Rose Theatre, 24-26 High Street, Kingston KT1 1HL. Staywell runs a Dementia Saturday Club on the 2nd Saturday of the month from 11am to 2pm at Raleigh House in New Malden with a light lunch served at 12 noon. It provides an opportunity to socialise in a supportive environment as well as access to specialist information and advice. Cost £5.

To find out more, contact 020 8949 4244.

The Kingston Bipolar UK Group is still currently on hold so is NOT running. You can check for updates at https://www.bipolaruk.org/find-asupport-group or call 0333 323 3885: nearest groups are in Sutton or Twickenham.