welcome to the new year newsletter · signal for windsor, ascot & maidenhead carers new year...

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SIGNAL for Windsor, Ascot & Maidenhead Carers NEW YEAR 2019

Welcome to the New Year Newsletter

SIGNAL provides information, advice and support to adult unpaid

carers who live in the Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead area.

The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead gives SIGNAL the

money to run the service.

To be an adult unpaid carer you must:

Be over the age of 18

Provide a friend or family member with help and support because

of their illness or disability

Not get paid for providing this help

What is help and support?

This could be help to do shopping, housework, providing transport or

even just visiting a person and having a chat.

It is important you know about people and groups that can help you

stay healthy and happy when you are a carer.

Support for young carers (people under 18) and parent carers of

disabled children are supported by other services. If you need to

contact them SIGNAL can provide you with their telephone numbers.

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Carers Forum

The Carers Forum (previously Network) met for the first time in December

2018.

Lots of ideas of topics and people to come and talk to the forum

Ideas to help the forum run smoothly

People shared their experiences of local health and social care services

Only one professional came to the forum. He was from the Optalis Dementia team

We agreed the next meeting will be held in the Maidenhead area. We will send you an invitation nearer the time.

Social Events

People have told us how much they enjoy our social events. They also like that they can bring a

guest. This can be the person they care for or someone else.

The last event was on Carers Rights day and had a 70s theme.

These events are free but some people do not turn up after saying they will come. We may need

to ask people to pay a deposit which they get back on the day.

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Local services to support people living with

dementia, their families and their carers

Singing for the Brain / Movement for the Mind (alternate weeks) Contact: Annabel Kirby, 01628 626331 Wednesdays, 10.30am – 12 noon at Salvation Army, East Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1PJ 2nd January – 10th April (closed 20th February) Dementia Support Worker (East Berkshire) 01628 626331 [email protected]

Want to be a dementia friend? SIGNAL can arrange sessions for individuals and groups. Please contact us at the SIGNAL office for more information.

Schedule of weekly activities in East Berkshire including badminton and bowling. There is a referral form available on the website www.ypwd.info

Provide activities such as Singing for Pleasure, lunch clubs and drop in sessions where you can get information and advice. To find out more about this local organisation you can visit their website, which also has a diary displaying all their activities and events, at: https://www.alzheimersdementiasupport.co.uk/ or you can telephone them. 07516 165647 (Terri) or 07516 165665 (Nancy)

Provide support for carers, respite and outreach (although there is often a waiting list). There is an online enquiry form. www.ascotareaalzheimers.co.uk

Dementia Advisory Service

The Dementia Adviser provides advice and support for people with dementia, as well as their

carers, family and friends.

[email protected] 01628 683715

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.ypwd.info/

https://www.alzheimersdementiasupport.co.uk/

http://www.ascotareaalzheimers.co.uk/


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Young Carers Awareness Day

Young Carers Awareness day is held every year. In 2019 it is on the 31st

January. The theme for 2019 is mental health and wellbeing.

If there are children and young people in your family who help you to care

for someone there are services to help support them.

[email protected] 01628 626991

www.kooth.com (there are online sessions and a helpline)

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

On the 25 May 2018, the law about how we collect, store and use

your personal information changed.

Because we have changed the information we collect and because

we need to have proof you gave us the information we had to ask

you to fill in a new form.

If you have received this newsletter from SIGNAL thank you for

returning your form.

If you have received this newsletter from somebody else, please visit

our website to sign up.

https://www.signal4carers.org.uk/

https://www.signal4carers.org.uk/

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Support Groups

If you are involved in a group, please let us have the details so we can add them to the list.

Age Concern Windsor

Time: 10am – 12 noon

Dates/When: 3rd Thursday of the month

Where: The Spencer Denny Centre, Park Corner, Windsor, SL4 4EB

Contact: 01753 860685 [email protected]

For those helping out / caring for someone over the age of 55

Ascot Area Alzheimer’s (Triple A) Carers Lunch

Time: 12 noon – 2.30pm

Dates/When: Last Monday of the month

Where: Carnation Hall, 29 Chavey Down Road, Winkfield Row, Bracknell, RG42 7PU

Contact: 01344 486349 or 01344 621491

Autism Berkshire

Time: 10.00am – 12 noon

Dates/When: Tuesdays (during school term time)

Where: Windsor Youth & Community Centre, Alma Road, Windsor, SL4 3HD

Contact: 01189 594 594 [email protected]

For parents and carers of children and young people with autism

Alzheimers Dementia Support - Mates with Plates

A monthly men-only lunch club. Carers are hosted in another part of the venue.

Time: 12.30pm start

Dates/When: 3rd Wednesday of every month

Where: Toby Carvery, Stafferton Lodge, Braywick Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1BN

Contact: 07516 165647 (Terri) or 07516 165665 (Nancy)



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Support Groups (continued)

Alzheimers Dementia Support – Former Carers Lunch

Time: 12.30pm start

Dates/When: 1st Wednesday of every month

Where: Toby Carvery, Stafferton Lodge, Braywick Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1BN

Contact: 07516 165647 (Terri) or 07516 165665 (Nancy)

For both of these lunches the organisers ask for a voluntary contribution of £12 per person -

which covers the carvery meal, ice-cream and a non-alcoholic drink.

Ascot / Sunningdale Carers Support Group

Time: 10.30am-12 noon

Dates/When: Second Tuesday of the month

Where: Recreation Hall, The Pavillion, Broomhall Lane, Sunningdale, SL5 0QS

Asian Ladies Support Group


Dates/When: First Friday of the month (subject to room availability)

Where: Desborough Rooms, Town Hall, Maidenhead SL6 1RF

Contact: Please call Nighat Ellahi on 07736 885 174 or email

[email protected] to confirm

Datchet Carers Support Group


Dates/When: Third Wednesday of the month (Please note: no meeting in January 2019)

Where: Day Centre, Horton Road (beside Datchet Hall), Allen Way, Datchet, SL3 9HR

Maidenhead Carers Support Group

Time: 1.00pm – 3.00pm

Dates/When: Third Wednesday of the month

Where: Highview, 6 North Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1PL

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Support Groups (continued)

Mental Health Service User and Carer Forum for Windsor, Ascot & Maidenhead

Time: 2.15pm – 3.45pm

Dates/When: Last Wednesday of the month

Where: St. Joseph’s Church, 36 Cookham Road, Maidenhead, SL6 7EG

Contact: 01628 640200 (Family & Carer Co-ordinator)

No need to refer yourself, just drop by and join the forum group. Teas/coffees available with a

warm and welcoming atmosphere.

RENDEZVOUS at Elizabeth House

A meeting place for people with dementia and their carers. A warm friendly welcome awaits all

visitors. A cup of tea, chat, some activities, useful information, advice literature and

signposting available. Separate from the normal Elizabeth House activities. Sponsored and

financed by Holy Trinity Church but open to all.

Time: 3.00pm – 5.00pm

Dates/When: Thursday afternoons

Where: Elizabeth House, Station Road, Cookham, Maidenhead, SL6 9BS

Contact: Catie Sharples – 07709 524 384

Windsor Carers Support Group

Time: 10.30am-12.30pm

Dates/When: Second Monday of the month

Where: Dedworth Green Baptist Church Hall, Smiths Lane, Windsor, SL4 5PE

Online forums or ‘virtual’ support groups can also help you meet other carers and share and

learn from each other’s experiences. Just remember to stay safe online.

Carers UK Forum: http://www.carersuk.org/forum

http://www.carersuk.org/forum

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Local consultations

The local authority (RBWM) has a page on their website where you can find out information on consultations about local services and issues.

These consultations could be run by RBWM about their services or by

other organisations such as the current one that Heathrow airport are doing.

On this page you can also find out the results of surveys and

consultations they have done before. You can also find out about petitions local people have started and

find out how to start your own. People can start a petition about things they really care about and get

the council to consider them by asking other people to sign the petition and support them.

https://www3.rbwm.gov.uk/info/200126/consultation_and_feedback

Community Outreach

Our mobile information bus has a private office and a lift.

You can find us at:

Sunningdale Parish Council on the 2nd Tuesday of the month 9.30am – 4pm.

Moss End Garden Village, Warfield on the 4th Friday of the month 9.30am – 4pm.

https://www3.rbwm.gov.uk/info/200126/consultation_and_feedback

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SWIFT service

The SWIFT Service is run by Crossroads Care. It helps carers get a break (respite) from caring. This can even be overnight. This is a FREE service; it is paid for by the local authority (RBWM) A care support worker will come to your home to sit with and look

after the person you care for. You have to be referred to the service. SIGNAL are now able to make this referral for you. If you would like to find out more about the service or would like us

to refer you, please contact the SIGNAL office on 01628 947974 or send us an email: [email protected]

We will need you to agree that we can pass on your contact

information and some basic personal information The project has funding until the end of March. RBWM will then

make a decision if they are going to fund this in the future.


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Let’s talk about………

January was Love your liver awareness month. The liver is the largest gland and solid organ in the body. It holds about 13% (about one pint) of your blood supply at any

given time. It has over 500 functions including: Breaking down food to make energy Helping to fight infections Cleaning the blood of drugs and other bad things Making bile Making and controlling the levels of important things in

your blood like hormones Storing important vitamins for your body to use when

needed Liver disease is on the increase in the UK. Liver disease can have no symptoms until it is too late to treat. One in five of us is at risk of liver disease. Liver disease is the 5th largest cause of death and affects the

health and wellbeing of thousands of people every day.

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Let’s talk about…….. (continued)

There are many causes of liver disease but there are 3 main risks

that you need to protect your liver from: Alcohol Non-alcohol related fatty liver disease Viral hepatitis

For more information about how your liver work and how to protect it, please visit the website of the British Liver Trust

www.britishlivertrust.org.uk

The website also provides information, advice and support for those with liver problems and diseases.

Training

Working with iHasco, we can now provide the following training online or at our offices.

Assessing Mental Capacity

Moving and Handling People

Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults

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Training (continued)

We work with the British Red Cross to provide First Aid training

for carers.

The next session is on Wednesday 6th March, 10.30am-12.30pm

at our offices in Bracknell. This training is free to all those

registered with SIGNAL4Carers WAM. Please let us know if you

have any access needs or need transport.

If you are interested in any of the training sessions, please contact the SIGNAL office

on 01344 266 088

Adult and community learning: The Royal Borough, in partnership with Slough Borough Council, provides many

different courses for pleasure, well-being and personal development at locations in

the two areas. You can find more information at:

https://www3.rbwm.gov.uk/info/200115/education_and_learning/742/ community_learning_and_skills_service_class

Carers Week 2019 Carers Week this year is the 10th – 16th June. We are looking for organisations and groups that

meet during this week who would be willing to help us promote Carers Week.

We are also looking for volunteers who can help us raise awareness of carers in the

community for a couple of hours in this week.

Interested? Please contact the office to find out more.

https://www3.rbwm.gov.uk/info/200115/education_and_learning/742/community_learning_and_skills_service_class

https://www3.rbwm.gov.uk/info/200115/education_and_learning/742/community_learning_and_skills_service_class

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New Sunday Lunch Club

Age Concern Windsor have started a new group. It is held at their Spencer Denny Centre in Windsor. It is for people who help or care for someone over 55 years old. Details:

3rd Thursday of the month, 10am – 12 noon

The person you care for is welcome to visit the centre while you are

at the group. It is free to attend and refreshments are provided.

Contact them on 01753 860685 for more information.

Healthwatch Windsor, Ascot & Maidenhead (WAM)

Carers often have a lot of valuable experience

navigating the local health and social care system. If

you, or the person you care for, have any feedback

– good or bad – on services please let Healthwatch

WAM know.

The feedback helps staff represent the views of the

public at meetings about current local services and

services being planned for the future.

Healthwatch WAM are also looking for local

volunteers for “Enter and View” visits; opportunities

to visit and observe services and talk to patients and

clients.

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Grants for Carer Breaks from SIGNAL

SIGNAL has funding from Berkshire Community Foundation to help carers get a break from caring. This could be an actual break (holiday) or a regular activity or something else. The choice is yours. The maximum amount of money each carer can apply for is £300. The easiest way to apply is to telephone us and answer a few questions or we can send you out an application form. The closing date to apply is September 2019. Other help you may be able to get Is there a piece of equipment that would help the person you care

for or help you to care for them?

Are you in financial need?

SIGNAL can now search the NCVO database of funders (people who give

money) who make grants to individuals

SIGNAL can also help you with the paperwork if you apply to a funder.

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Community Activities & Events There are a number of websites you can visit to find out about groups and activities in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and other useful information. If you do not have internet access please contact the SIGNAL office and we can look for you. RBWM Community Information

Connecting you to information on local groups and activities. Headings include Children and Youth, Music and Singing and Social Clubs.

RBWM Public Health

Information around health and well-being and promotion of local groups and initiatives.

Get Involved WAM

The local community and voluntary sector umbrella organisation who have details of local volunteering opportunities.

What’s on in Windsor and Maidenhead

Information about events including a date search option.

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Useful contacts

Access to Services, Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead / Optalis – 01628 683744

Emergency Out of Hours – 01344 786543

NHS Out of Hours call 111

SIGNAL Contacts

01628 947 974

[email protected]

www.signal4carers.org.uk

The Space, 20/21 Market Street, Bracknell,

Berkshire, RG12 1JG

http://www.facebook.com

/signal4WAMcarers

@SignalWAM

http://www.facebook.com/signal4WAMcarers

http://www.facebook.com/signal4WAMcarers

welcome to the new year newsletter · signal for windsor, ascot & maidenhead carers new year...

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