Category Archives: charities

Jane Holmes: Who cares for the carers?

November 12, 2012   Carers, charities, disability

What happens when the carer becomes ill?

By Jane Holmes
November 12, 2012

Jane Holmes is chief executive of Wokingham-based charity Building for the Future which provides support and activities for disabled children.

She set up the charity after her daughter Kitty was born with severe cerebral palsy.

Yesterday, I was talking to a single mum of a disabled adult about respite provision.

My friend, whose beautiful young adult daughter has the developmental age of a baby, has found herself having to fight to get the help they need.

Of course she’s been through this once, when her daughter was a child, but the whole process starts anew at age eighteen.

What would you do if your adult child needed more care than the average baby? Just imagine it for a moment. And let’s not be complacent … all of our kids are just one car crash away ..

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£5.4 million volunteering fund to benefit charities

November 9, 2012   Carers, charities, disability, DOH
November 9, 2012

Health and Social Care charities are to benefit from an injection of £5.4 million to support local health and care programmes, Care and Support Minister Norman Lamb announced today.

Through the Health and Social Care Volunteering Fund, 13 organisations bid for funding and were chosen for outstanding achievement.  They have been awarded money which will help to support projects in local communities.  Some of these organisations are:

  • StreetGames – supports young disadvantaged women who need support to develop a healthy and more active lifestyle.
  • Breast Cancer Care –supports people coming to the end of treatment for breast cancer and will encourage them to become physically active in a supportive environment.
  • The Carers’ Resource – supports carers and those in need of care and support.  Working with and through volunteers it will prevent low level mental health issues and improve the health, wellbeing and quality of life for carers and those in need.
  • Signhealth – will train and support Deaf sign-language volunteers who will work to improve the quality of Deaf patients’ experience of health and care services; and gain skills, knowledge and experience in the process.
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Pensioners set up lunch clubs after new council charges imposed

October 30, 2012   Carers, charities, Older care

PENSIONERS have formed their own lunch clubs which helps carers

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Isle of Thanet Gazette

Minnis Day Centre in Birchington is the sole remaining publicly run centre in Thanet. Some people have stopped attending after being hit by charges of up to £45 per day.

  1. TUCK IN: New lunch club members enjoyed a value for money meal

    TUCK IN: New lunch club members enjoyed a value for money meal

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Carer Barry Hardy, 85, set up a club because he cannot afford the new charges to take his wife Kay to the centre.

Following talks between users and KCC, Mr Hardy decided to organise a club to give carers and pensioners a place to gather that did not break the bank.

Mr Hardy said: “We couldn’t believe it when we saw the bill. For £30 a day, a hotel could provide breakfast, lunch and dinner so it’s hard to see where the money would go.

“It gives the carers a break as they know their loved ones will be looked after.

“For those that live alone, they can enjoy a home-cooked meal and some company.”

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