Unwanted fuel grants could help vulnerable

WILTSHIRE Community Foundation is asking pensioners who do not need their winter fuel payment to donate it to help prevent vulnerable people from dying in the cold weather.

The foundation is running its Surviving Winter campaign for the third year. Last year it raised £70,000 and supported 338 households in Wiltshire.

It asks pensioners who can afford to live comfortably to donate their Government winter fuel payment to the foundation, who will then distribute it to elderly and vulnerable people who need help to pay their fuel bills.

Full Article on Gazette & Herald

EVENT: Supporting family carers into employment in Wiltshire

A work event is being held at Devizes Town Hall on Friday 29^th November from 11am – 2:30pm to help support unpaid carers into employment.

The event, which is being hosted by Carer Support Wiltshire as part of Carers Rights Day 2013, will give carers the opportunity to meet with organisations who can provide them with useful information and advice about holding down a paid job alongside their caring role.

People available to talk to on the day will include the National Careers Service, Job Centre Plus health and disability advisors, Department for Work and Pensions, Wiltshire Citizens Advice, Wiltshire College and a local community-based UK online centre run by and for carers.

The main elements of the event will be information about carer-related benefits, one-to-one budgeting advice, CV writing skills, interview tips and the best ways to hunt for a job online.

Debbie Martindale, Events Coordinator at Carer Support Wiltshire, said: “There are over three million working carers in the UK and trying to juggle caring for a relative or friend with a job can be incredibly stressful and hard to manage.

“Carers Rights Day is the perfect time for us to inform carers of their rights in the workplace and give them the opportunity to meet with people who can give them guidance to cope with the pressures of work.”

Admission is free and refreshments will be available.

If you would like to find out more about the event, please contact Alison Crangle at Carer Support Wiltshire on 0800 181 4118 or email alison@carersinwiltshire.co.uk  

Dementia Carers Information Support Groups in Salisbury

This programme has been developed to provide information and support to carers of people living with dementia.
 
You are invited to join Alzheimer's Society for a series of six workshops covering issues that may arise for family members and friends of a person who has had a recent diagnosis of dementia.
 
The programme provides an opportunity for you to talk in a friendly and confidential environment about your experiences of caring and supporting the person with dementia and the impact it is having on you.

Topics covered:
1. Introduction to Dementia
2. Understanding Dementia
3. Welfare Rights
4. Support services available
5. Planning for the future
6. Nominated speakers & light buffet lunch

Starting fortnightly from:

Wednesday 15 January
10:30am - 12:30pm
Alzheimer's Society, 29A Brown Street, Salisbury SP1 2AS

For more details and to book a place contact Julia Burton on 01722 326236.

 

EVENTS: Would you like to be involved in developing a new joint mental health strategy for Wiltshire?

Wiltshire & Swindon Users Network will be holding Service User Workshops on:

Tuesday 19^th November 2013

10.15am – 12.30pm

Devizes Bowls Club

Long St,  Devizes, SN10 5BY

and

Monday 25^th November 2013

10.15am -12.30pm

Warminster Civic Centre

Sambourne Road, Warminster, BA12 8LB

It is really important that service users take part in this process. Please book your place today.

For more information or to book your place at one of the events, please call 01380  871800 or email assistant.wsun@btconnect.com

If you are unable to attend, you still have an opportunity to contribute by completing a questionnaire, please contact WSUN via the details above and they will send you one.