Lots of Useful Information from Birmingham Carers Centre- including an article from Opening Doors for Carers.

1. OCTOBER
2011
Monthly
130 Colmore Row
Birmingham
B3 3AP
(opposite the Council House)
Helpline: 0121 675 8000
Update Reception: 0121 675 8170
Carers ‘Information Sessions’
tion 1 1 to 1
Infor ma
with
&
Advice & Group
e Session
Guidanc Coffee Peer S s
akers uppor
G uest Spe & t
Chats
Dates (6:30-8pm) Dates (11am-1pm)
point of conversation during the sessions
Note: The ‘themes’ are not the only
‘Enterprise Hub’ ‘Birmingham Carers Centre’
and carers can attend with any
discussion topics they wish.
Wed—21st September 2011 Wed—7th September 2011
Theme: ‘General’ Theme: ‘Community Hub’
Day time Opportunities
Wed—19th October 2011 Wed—5th October 2011
Theme: ‘General’ Theme: ‘Children & Young People’
and ‘Personal Assistants’ (P.A.’s)
Wed—16th November 2011 Wed—2nd November 2011
Theme: ‘General’ Theme: ‘Transition’
Wed—14th December 2011 Wed—7th December 2011
Theme: ‘General’ Theme: ‘Housing, Care and Support’
Enterprise Hub For more information please
Bottetourt Road call Paul or Lynne
Weoley Castle on 0121 442 2944
B29 5TE
CASE STUDY
Birmingham Carers Centre can offer you advice and information on issues affecting you,
as a carer. Please drop in or ring our advisors on 0121 675 8000 between 10am and
4.45pm if you need any help or assistance.
Could this be you?
A client contacted the centre for assistance with Day Care provision for a relative from
Birmingham City Council’s Adults and Communities Department. The carer had been paying for
“day care” for their child for nearly 2 years. This was at great cost to the main carer, both
financially and emotionally. After many assessments and re-assessments, which also took a lot of
effort, they were still unable to gain the extra provision that they so badly needed. At this point
they contacted the Carers Centre. After writing a lot of letters and making telephone calls on their
behalf, the family have finally been awarded the extra care provision they needed and are
extremely happy with this outcome.
Email: helpline@birminghamcarerscentre.org.uk

2. How Can ReCOM Help You?
At ReCOM we have built our have never used a computer before and
training around volunteers who help learning to use a computer often breaks down
people start to use the computers the isolation that many experience. Learners
in their own homes. Clients include carers, tell us they appreciate the personalised
people with disabilities and elderly people approach.
who find it difficult to get out of their ReCOM also provides low-cost
homes to learn new skills. By refurbished computers to individuals
learning to use a computer it helps and families with disabilities and low
people maintain control of their own incomes. ReCOM relies on donated
shopping and banking, keeping in goods to make this happen.
touch with families or friends, exploring We are happy to talk through any questions
hobbies and interests, among many other you may have on 0121 765 5282 or email us
areas. Those we help are often people who at info@recom.org.uk.
Are You Finding Your Stairs a Struggle?
As we all get older we all get a little less agile. rewarding activities such as playing with their
For some of us it is more of a problem than for grandchildren, going for a short walk or
others and our impaired mobility can really enjoying some light gardening.’
impact on our enjoyment of life. Stannah offers Age Concern
Patrick Stannah of Stannah Stairlifts says, Birmingham service users a 12%
‘Nobody likes the thought of leaving their own discount and will make a donation
home and our stairlifts help people stay for every stairlift sold under this scheme.
independent in their own home for longer. For more information please Age Concern
Installing a stairlift can re-energise people and Birmingham on 0121 262 3020 or Stannah on
lets them devote their energies to more 0800 715346 and quote ref 135.
Opening Doors for Carers
Opening Doors for Carers, part of Birmingham and Solihull Crossroads, provides
professional information, advice and guidance on learning and work opportunities, whilst
understanding your carer commitments. This is a unique service for Carers in Birmingham.
If you are thinking about returning to learning or work (paid or voluntary), please
give us a call on 0121 675 1376 - we would love to hear from you, or call into The
Carers Centre, 130 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 3AP on 0121 675 8000 and ask
to speak to one of the Opening Doors Team. Alternatively, you can email
info@openingdoorsforcarers.org.uk
Handsworth Carers Project
Handsworth Carers will be providing a drop in service for a variety of services
including Welfare Rights advice, assistance with grant applications and form filling in
a variety of languages for the community. Starting from the 19 th September 2011 at
Handsworth Carers Project, 113 Lozells Street, Birmingham B19 2AP, tel. 0121 554 9360.
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After a huge response from carers who attended last year,
Handsworth Carers Group would like to invite all carers to
BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS COACH TRIP on Saturday 22nd October 2011
Cost: Carers/OAP £18.00, Additional Family £20.00, Children £15.00 12 years and
under. Free complimentary refreshments will be served on the coach for all carers.
Please book your seats early to avoid disappointment, deposits of £5.00 min required to secure
your seat and final payments will be due by the 2 nd week of October 2011
If you require further information please contact Elona Williams from Handsworth Carers
Project on 0121 554-9360 (Office Hours) or 07833602086. If she is unavailable, please leave
a message and she will get back to you.
Email: Elona_williams@birmingham.gov.uk

3. Birmingham Carers Centre is happy to announce Calling All Knitters!!!
TRIP TO BIRMINGHAM MUSEUM The Birmingham Carers
on 19th October 2011 to an event Centre Volunteers are setting
where experts will be available to tell up their own knitting circle.
you about any item you might bring in. They want to knit baby
We will leave from the centre at clothes for premature babies at
12.45pm (the event commences at 1.00pm) and Birmingham Children’s Hospital, so if
will run to 3.00pm. There is no charge for the you want to get involved and meet
trip. new friends please come along on the
To express an interest in the trip please contact first Wednesday of the month 1-3pm.
Mark Portlock on 0121 675 8170. And if you can’t knit and
you would like to learn,
Our Advice & Information Officers will be holding an someone will be able to
help you.
ADVICE SESSIONS
We are also looking for donations of
at following locations: wool, especially baby wool for this
* Amelia Allen at The Al- Shafa Medical Centre, project – any donations will be
Little Oaks Road, Aston gratefully received.
on Friday 7th October 9.00am-10.30am TRIP TO ASTON HALL
(then every first Friday of the month) Aston Hall is a magnificent
17th century red-brick
* Deborah Vatansever at Kingstanding Community mansion situated in a public
Practice, Warren Farm Health Centre, Warren park on the north side of Birmingham.
Please tear here
Farm Road, Kingstanding The house still retains many early
on Wednesday 12th October 9.00am-12.00pm seventeenth century decorative features
in stone, plaster and wood.
This is an opportunity for people that live
locally and cannot get into the Carers Price: £4.00pp to be paid in advance
Centre to come along to see our Advisors (incl. guided tour, tea/coffee & transport
for help with benefits, form filling or any other from Birmingham Carers Centre - meet
issues affecting you as a carer that they may be at Centre for 11.00am to leave,
able to speak with you about. expected return approx. 2.30pm).
Drop in or call the helpline to book an appointment BOOKINGS WILL ONLY BE TAKEN
FROM MONDAY 10TH OCTOBER 2011
0121 675 8000.
Pls note that in Aston Hall there are
One of our carers, Jean, approximately 80 stairs and some
uneven surfaces. Wheelchair users are
suggested we include an welcome but wheelchair access is to
i n f o r ma t i o n s e c t i o n o n ground floor only.
Birmingham Shopmobility in our Call 0121 675 8170 to register your
Newsletter as she has received
interest.
a lot of queries about this and
thinks this might be of use to many carers.
Birmingham Shopmobility is a service to help anyone with mobility difficulties, be it
temporary or more permanent, and who wish to visit the lively and attractive city centre of
Birmingham, for any of a Shop Mobility reasons; to conduct Bullring Shopmobility
Birmingham number of different
business, enjoy its many visitor and cultural attractions, or to shop The Shopmobility Centre
in the wide variety of retail outlets, shops, leisure and business Level 2
services. Birmingham Shopmobility can do this by providing a hire Centre Car Park
loan of an electric powered scooter, an electric wheelchair or a Bullring
manual wheelchair, to ease your walking difficulty. They also sell Birmingham B5 4BU
RADAR Keys that can be used to enter the Accessible Toilets Tel: 0121 616 2942
operated under the RADAR Scheme.

4. Forthcoming events / activities at the Carers Centre
OCTOBER 2011
th
Tuesday 4 October Indian Head Massage
10.30am – 12.30pm (fully booked, ring to be put on reserve list)
Wednesday 5th October Yoga Session
11.00am – 1.00pm (booking essential, it’s recommended to bring your own mat)
Wednesday 5th October
Knitting Circle
1.00pm – 3.00pm
Wednesday 12th October
Tai Chi
11.00am – 1.00pm
Thursday 13th October Solicitors Surgery
10.00am – 1.30pm (booking essential)
Wednesday 19th October Yoga Session
11.00am – 1.00pm (booking essential, it’s recommended to bring your own mat)
Thursday 20th October
Card Making Session
11.00am – 1.00pm
Friday 21st October
Chess Club
11.00am – 1.00pm
Tuesday 25th October
Arts & Crafts
11.00am – 1.00pm
Wednesday 26th October
Extend exercises, breathing and laughing therapy
11.00am – 1.00pm
NOVEMBER 2011
Wednesday 2nd November
Knitting Circle
Please tear here
1.00pm – 3.00pm
Tuesday 8th November Indian Head Massage
10.30am – 12.30pm (fully booked, ring to be put on reserve list)
Wednesday 9th November Yoga Session
11.00am – 1.00pm (booking essential, it’s recommended to bring your own mat)
Wednesday 16th November
Tai Chi
11.00am – 1.00pm
Thursday 17th November Solicitors Surgery
10.00am – 1.30pm (booking essential)
Thursday 17th November
Card Making Session
11.00am – 1.00pm
Thursday 17th November
Competition Corner
2.00pm – 3.30pm
Friday 18th November
Chess Club
11.00am – 1.00pm
Tuesday 29th November
Arts & Crafts
11.00am – 1.00pm
Wednesday 30th November
Extend exercises, breathing and laughing therapy
11.00am – 1.00pm
Coffee Morning Support Group
Coffee Morning Support Groups are run by the Carers Centre staff and give
Carers the opportunity to chat about any problems they are experiencing.
Coffee Mornings are held on Mondays 11.00am - 1.00pm
We are looking for volunteers to help us with our
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER MAIL OUT
on Thursday 27th October from 10am. Come along, meet with fellow volunteers, have a laugh
and a joke as you help us with this valuable task. Lunch is provided for all that take part!