Carer Support Service - News for Carers

Issue No. 103

December 2011/February 2012

Carers Rights Day

This year’s theme for Carer’s Rights Day is ‘Money Matters.’ Often carers can’t work due to their caring role or face other financial difficulties. In light of this we have invited a guest speaker from the Citizens Advice Bureau to this year’s event to talk about benefits and money concerns.

The event will be held at Bondgate Methodist Church on Friday 2nd December between 1 and 4pm. There will be a range of stands from various organisations including Advocacy and Jewellery making. We hope to make this a fun day and will be offering refreshments throughout the event. You do not have to book a place, just turn up on the day. Do hope you can come along.

Health & Well-being Day

Friday 9th December 2011, at The Aston Hotel, near Aycliffe Village, DL1 3NL (At the junction of A1M and A167)
A Free day which consists of 4 therapists giving talks and demonstrations of their relevant therapy.
There will also be a Free delicious 2 course meal. Free transport to and from the event is available if required.
Places are limited so be quick and call the Carers Support Service on 01325 357533 to book a place.

Do You Have Caring Responsibilities? What can Jobcentre Plus do for you?

Jobcentre Plus provides a comprehensive range of specialist support which could help you to prepare for and achieve employment - an individual package of support, tailored to meet your specific needs.

A Personal Adviser will provide information on ‘In Work’ benefits, replacement care options, financial incentives, training and job search, plus much more. Carers wishing to combine paid work with their caring responsibilities could also benefit by contacting Jobcentre Plus to find out what the best options are for them. Your Personal Adviser will support you every step of the way.

Some options or financial incentives are dependant on benefits and eligibility criteria. Please contact your local Jobcentre Plus for more information.

Fuel Costs Rocket! He-at, Affordable energy, warm homes and healthy lives

You will no doubt be aware of recent energy price rises from five of the “Big Six” energy companies (Scottish Power, British Gas, Scottish & Southern, npower and E.ON) announcing increases of between 10% and 19%. Other companies are likely to follow suit.
Can you afford a price rise?
One solution is maybe a Fixed Tariff which lets you lock into a fixed price for a set period. Of course, it's the price you pay for units of energy that is fixed, not the actual amount you pay, which still depends on how much gas and electricity you use. Whilst fixed tariffs are being snapped up quickly, there are still some available to fix until 2014 or 2015, with some households benefiting from an immediate cost saving, but availability is limited so you need to act quickly.

If a fixed tariff isn’t for you there are various other cost-saving tariffs on the market, with online tariffs offering reduced rates.

For more details on this or any other fuel and energy related matters please feel free to contact me, Susan Neill, Affordable Warmth Advisor, Age UK, 1 Beaumont Street, Darlington. DL1 5SZ. Tel. 01325 357345

State Pension Reform

The Department of Work and Pensions has completed a consultation on reforming the State Pension, which outlined options for reform and are designed to simplify the state pension.

These options include proposal to merge the two existing state pension structures (the basic and state second Pensions) and setting a flat-rate pension above the level of the Pension Credit minimum guarantee, currently £140 a week, for those who have a full contributions record.

Carers UK welcomed proposals to simplify the pensions system, but expressed continuing concerns about implications of raising the State Pension age, particularly for women. Carers UK is asking the Government for clarity on what the proposals would mean for a carer with very limited or broken National Insurance contributions records as a result of responsibilities. In addition, low take-up of Carers’ credit, designed to protect the State Pension of Carers who have given up work to care, points to the need to do more to improve carer’ access to pension support and advise.
Carers UK full response to the consultation is available at www.carersuk.org/professionals/resources.

Have your say

Darlington Borough Council would welcome your views on the draft Carers’ Strategy and Implementation Plan and draft Young Carers’ Action Plan for 2011 –14, both of which will be available on the Council website shortly - www.darlington.gov.uk
The Plans set out how the Council, Health Service and voluntary sector agencies plan to continue to work together to provide support to carers and young carers in Darlington. For further information, please contact Lisa Holdsworth on 01325 346490.

Christmas Quiz- just for fun

1. Which of these names does not belong to one of Santa’s reindeers?

a) Comet
b) Prancer
c) Blitzen
d) Klaxon

2. At Christmas, it is traditional to exchange kisses beneath a sprig of which plant?

a) Ivy
b) Yew
c) Holly
d) Mistletoe

3. In the Ukraine, what does it mean if you find a spider web in the house on Christmas Morning?

a) Good luck
b) Misfortune will strike in the coming year
c) The winter will be unusually cold
d) Your house needs cleaning

4. Which of the following names does not belong to one of the Three Kings?

a) Casper
b) Balthazer
c) Teleost
d) Melchior

5. Which well-known author of fantasy fiction also created a book called The Father Christmas Letters?

a) Lewis Carroll
b) J.R.R. Tolkien
c) E. Nesbit
d) C.S. Lewis

6. One of the most loved Christmas books is A Christmas Carol. Who wrote it?

a) Mark Twain
b) Charles Dickens
c) Hans Christian Andersen
d) Thomas M. Sawyer

Free NHS Advocacy Service – How it can help you?

Unhappy with your NHS treatment or care? Want to make a complaint but you’re not sure where to start? This is where the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service (ICAS) can help.
Delivered in your area by a well established charity, the Carers Federation. ICAS is a free, independent and confidential advocacy service.
What kinds of complaints does ICAS help with? A complaint can be about any aspect of a NHS funded treatment or care. Typically, this can involve access to medication, access to treatment, attitude of NHS staff, poor communication, waiting times, lack of information, failure to diagnose a condition
Why complain? Most NHS complaints are about finding out why things have gone wrong and having mistakes acknowledged. Some people just want to hear the word ‘sorry’. Importantly, too, complainants want their experiences to act as a catalyst for positive change, so that others can benefit.
Where to find out more. If you are interested in finding out more about ICAS and how it can help you or someone you know, please contact your local office on 0808 802 3000.

Classic Christmas Pudding

Makes two 1.2 litre/ 2pint puds. Prep 20 mins. Cook 8 hours, plus 1 hour cooking on the day

Ingredients for the pudding
50g Blanched almonds
2 Large Bramley cooking apples
200g box candied peel (in large pieces) or all citron if you can find it
1 Whole nutmeg (you’ll use three quarters of it)
1kg Raisins
140g Plain flour
100g Soft fresh white breadcrumbs
100g Light muscovado sugar, crumbled if it looks lumpy
3 Large eggs
2 tbsp Brandy or cognac, plus extra to flame
250g packet butter, taken straight from fridge

1. Get everything prepared, Chop the almonds coarsely. Peel, core and chop the apples. Sharpen your knife and chop the candied peel. (You can chop the almond and apples in a food processor, but the peel must be done by hand). Grate three quarters of the nutmeg. Mix all the ingredients for the pudding, except the butter, in a large bowl.

2. Holding the butter in its wrapper, grate a quarter of it into the bowl, and then stir everything together. Repeat until all the butter is grated, then stir for 3-4 minutes- mixture is ready when it subsides slightly after each stir. Ask the family to stir too and get everyone to make a wish.

3. Generously butter two 1.2 litre/ 2 pint bowls and put a disc of greaseproof paper in the bottom of each. Pack in the pudding mixture. Cover with a double layer of greaseproof paper of baking parchment, pleating it to allow for expansion, then tie with string (keep the paper in place with a rubber band while tying). Trim off any excess paper.

4. Now stand each bowl on a large sheet of foil and bring the edges up over the top, then put another sheet of foil over the top and bring it down underneath to make a double package (this makes the puddings watertight). Tie with more string and make a handle for easy lifting in and out of the pan.

5. Boil or oven steam the puddings for 8 hours, topping up with water as necessary. Remove from the pans and leave to cook overnight. When cold, discard the messy wrappings and re-wrap in spanking new greaseproof or baking parchment, foil and string. Store in a cool dry place until Christmas.

6. On Christmas Day, boil or oven steam for 1 hour. Unwrap and turn out. To flame, warm 3-4 tbsp brandy in a small pan, pour it over the pudding and set light to it.

Christmas Quiz Answers

1. Klaxon
2. Mistletoe
3. Good luck
4. Teleost
5. J.R.R. Tolkien
6. Charles Dickens

Diary Dates

The Dementia & Mental Health Group are held at the Evolution offices, Church Row (next to Boot & Shoe).

Circle of Friends group will be held at Seasons Coffee Shop (down Post House Wynd)

Male Carers’ Group is held upstairs at William Stead on Crown Street (a lift is available if required).

Thursday 1st December: Dementia Carers’ Support Group. 1.30 - 3.00pm
Tuesday 6th December: Mental Health Carers’ Support Group 12.30 - 2.30pm. Christmas lunch at Bannatynes (please ring us to book your place £10.00 deposit)
Wednesday 14th December: Male Carers’ Group 4.00 - 5.30pm. Christmas meal at William Stead (please ring us to book your place £3.00 deposit).
Thursday 15th December: Circle of Friends, 12.30 - 2.30. Christmas lunch at Café 85 (please ring us to book your place, £5.00 deposit).

2012

Thursday 5th January: Dementia Carers’ Support Group. 1.30 - 3.00pm
Wednesday 18th January: Male Carers Group. 6.00 - 7.00pm
Thursday 19th January: Circle of Friends group. 10.30am - 12.00 noon
Thursday 26th January: Mental Health Carers’ Support Group 1.30 - 3.00pm

Thursday 2nd February: Dementia Carers’ Support Group. 1.30 - 3.00pm
Wednesday 15th February: Male Carers Group. 6.00 - 7.00pm
Thursday 16th February: Circle of Friends Group. 10.30 - 12.00pm
Thursday 23rd February: Mental Health Carers’ Support Group 1.30 - 3.00pm

Thursday 1st March: Dementia Carers’ Support Group. 1.30 - 3.00pm

Please Note:

Carers’ Support Service is closed from 23rd December and re-open 3rd January.

Social Services are closed 26th and 27th December and also 2nd January. Emergency Duty Team can be contacted on 08702 402 994.

Carers UK Darlington drop-ins are closed from 21st December re-open 3rd January 2012

Carers Darlington:

Tuesdays & Fridays - Carers’ Drop-in at Age UK, Tuesdays 10.00am - 12noon, Fridays 12noon - 2.00pm