Carer Support Service - News for Carers

ISSUE NO. 70
February 2006 / March 2006

Learning with Click-It

Click-It is an I.T. (Information Technology) project for people with little or no experience of I.T. Working with the Libraries and Community Learning Service we have combined Click-It with free taster sessions on various topics and have dates for you now running through February and March.

The carer sessions are available Tuesdays 1.00pm – 5.00pm and Thursdays 5.30pm – 8.30pm with other times available on a drop-in basis with no prior booking.

Pamper Yourself: Tuesday 21st February, 3.00pm – 5.00pm or Thursday 23rd February, 5.30pm – 7.30pm.

Get Healthy : Tuesday 7th March, 2.30pm – 4.30pm or Thursday 9th March, 5.30pm – 7.30pm.

Jewellery Making: Tuesday 14th March 2.00pm – 4.00pm or Tuesday 21st March 2.00pm – 4.00pm.

Spanish for Beginners : Tuesday 28th March 2.00pm – 4.00pm.

Bob, the I.T. Co-ordinator, will be on hand to support you. If you feel you want to improve your skills further, talk to Bob. Please telephone him to book your session on 01325 465258. All sessions run from 4 Beaumont Street, Houndgate, Darlington.

Boxing Day Bravery

Sean Lynas of Cummins Darlington braved the elements to take a dip in the sea to raise £1000 for carers! The dip in the sea at Seaham is an annual event for Cummins staff.

Do You Need a Break?

Could you take time out for a treat, a spoil at the hairdresser's salon, a day away or a holiday, with assistance towards the cost? If you consider yourself to be managing on a low income and have not had any time out for 3 years, please contact us and ask for an application pack.

Training

All carers are invited to come to a training session on Welfare Rights on Monday, 21st March 2006, 1.00pm – 3.00pm with Matthew Sigsworth, Manager, Welfare Rights Unit. This is an excellent opportunity to find out if you are receiving all the financial benefits to which you are entitled. For more details and to book your place telephone Tina at West Lodge on 01325 357533.

Charges for Services

Darlington Borough Council is changing the way that it charges for services and this will be good news for carers and disabled people in Darlington.

From April 2006, carers of those disabled people who can show their entitlement to Disability Living Allowance, Direct Payments, Blue Badge or Independent Living Fund will be entitled to receive free admission into the Civic Theatre, Dolphin Centre and Stressholme Golf Centre. A new swipe card technology should ensure that the arrangements are quick and easy for customers. Feedback from customers on the new arrangements are welcomed and will help the Council to decide whether to apply a similar approach to charging for other services that it provides in 2007. Please telephone Steve Thompson on 01325 347529.

Keep Warm, Keep Well!

Call the Keep Warm, Keep Well helpline on 0800 085 7000 for information and advice on keeping warm this winter, how to claim benefits and how to find out about energy efficiency grants.

Newsletter by E-mail?

Do you use e-mail? Would you like to receive this newsletter by e-mail instead of through the post? It would be one less envelope to drop through your letterbox! Send an e-mail to ken@darlingtondisability.org with details of your own e-mail address.

Changed your Phone Number?

If you have recently changed your phone number, have you told us? We may need to contact you to offer you such services as a Stressbuster session or a free Complimentary Therapy session. We would hate the thought of you missing out just because our information is out of date!

Diary Dates

Thurs 2nd Feb - Learning Disabilities Carers Group meeting, 10.00am – 12.00noon, Arts Centre, Darlington.

Fri 3rd Feb - Mental Health Carers Support Group, West Lodge. 2.30pm – 4.00pm. Speaker: Sandy Taylor, Chief Executive, Priority Services Trust.

Wed 8th Feb - Parkinson's Disease Society monthly meeting, Carmel Convent, Nunnery Lane, Darlington, 2.00pm – 4.00pm. Carers most welcome.

Mon 13th Feb - Stressbusters, Samaritans office, Woodlands Road, Darlington. 1.30pm – 3.00pm,

Wed 15th Feb - Working Carers Support Group, West Lodge. 7.00pm – 9.00pm.

Fri 3rd Mar - Mental Health Carers Support Group, West Lodge. 2.30pm – 4.00pm. Guest Speaker: Heather Zahou, "Healthy Eating". Samples to try.

Mon 13th Mar - Stressbusters, West Lodge, 1.30pm – 3.00pm.

Wed 15th Mar - Working Carers Support Group, West Lodge. 7.00pm – 9.00pm.

Tues 21st Mar - Welfare Rights Training, West Lodge, 1.00 – 3.00pm. See article for more information.

Fri 7th Apr - Mental Health Carers Support Group, West Lodge. 2.30pm – 4.00pm.

Mon 10th Apr - Stressbusters, West Lodge, 1.30pm – 3.00pm.

Wed 19th Apr - Working Carers Support Group, West Lodge. 7.00pm – 9.00pm.

Carers Darlington:

Tuesdays: Weekly Drop-in at Bradbury House, 10.00am– 12.00 noon

Fridays: Weekly Drop-in at Bradbury House, 12.00 noon – 2.00pm