Childcare voucher scheme: Plan 'will include parents who are carers'

The government says it wants to expand a new childcare tax credit scheme to include parents who stay at home because they are full-time carers.

A 12-week consultation on the scheme - first announced in March's Budget - is expected to start later.

Families with two working parents could claim up to £1,200 a year per child.

Full Article on BBC News

Course for carers of those with mental health illness

A COURSE for carers of people with mental illness is to be run in Salisbury.

The six-session evening course being run by national charity Rethink Mental Illness is designed to give family members and friends of those with mental health problems a better understanding of mental illness, the law and the mental health system as well as to advise them on how to look after themselves.

The course has limited places so booking is essential. To book or for more information contact Alison Drage on 07881 875847 or 01380 840200 or email trowbridgeandswgroup@rethink.org.

The Co-operative hits £2.5m milestone for charity of the year... Fun delivering funds for Young Carers

There are now an estimated 500,000 14-25 year-olds in the UK who care for loved ones who are ill, frail, disabled or have mental health or addiction problems and cannot cope without their support – a growing issue described as a "ticking time bomb".

Forming part of the Co-operative's commitment to Inspiring Young People, it aims to raise £5m for Carers Trust during 2013 and has seen colleagues cycle from Lands End to John O'Groats, tackle the three peaks challenge, abseil down Manchester's near 400ft CIS Tower, hold charity balls, organise coffee mornings and host a giant picnic - all raising much needed money to provide desperately needed breaks, information, advice, support and services for unpaid young adult carers facing the challenges of caring.

Full Article on Guardian Social Enterprise

EVENTS: Wiltshire Voices DVD

The Wiltshire Voices DVD is being made to highlight the issues facing carers in Wiltshire. We are hoping that the film should be ready by Christmas, but watch this space!

We are holding three meetings about the DVD in September as follows:

• Monday 9 September – Stanley Park sports ground, Stanley Lane, London Road, Chippenham. SN15 3RR
  
  
• Monday 16 September – CSW office – 15 New Street, Salisbury SP1 2PH
  
  
• Monday 23 September – Nursteed Centre, Nursteed Road, Devizes SN10 3AF

The purpose of these meetings is to discuss the issues further and help us decide exactly which issues should be addressed in the film. 

We will also be looking for carers who would like to actually be interviewed on film and get involved in the whole process.  

This film can then be used in many ways to help us raise awareness to all sorts of groups of people, health & social care professionals and community groups.

If you're interested in coming along to one of the meetings about the DVD; please contact Sue Crisfield at Carer Support Wiltshire on 0800 181 4118 or email SueC@carersinwiltshire.co.uk

Councils must protect access to social care to receive extra £2bn in funding

Councils will have to "protect access to social care" to get hold of £2bn in additional funding from the NHS designed to promote integrated care, the government has said.

In the spending review announcement in June, chancellor George Osborne said a £3.8bn "pooled budget" would be set up to fund integrated health and social care in 2015-16 to reduce hospital episodes for older and disabled people.

Of the £3.8bn, £1.8bn is pre-existing resources being spent across health and social care, but the other £2bn is new funding that will be transferred from the NHS into the pooled budget.

Full Article on Community Care

First of its kind 'The dementia guide' launched to help doctors provide support when people are diagnosed

A new booklet to help guide people with dementia and their carers through their journey with dementia is being launched today (29 July 2013) by Alzheimer's Society. 

The guide is the first of its kind to provide the information you need after a diagnosis of dementia. It offers advice to help people come to terms with their diagnosis and plan ahead and enable them to live well with the condition.

Full Article on Alzheimer's Society

Caring for my stroke victim husband Andrew Marr changed my life

We all have our terrors – cancer, a plane crash, being knocked off the bicycle by a speeding lorry. But so often it's the unexpected that gets you. I thought a stroke was something suffered by people who were either very old, or overweight, or heavy smokers. Yet back in January my husband, Andrew Marr, who is none of those – really, 53 is not old – suffered a very serious stroke. He went from being a super-energetic, fit, over-worker to a half-paralysed invalid. His life had totally changed, but of course, as many kind friends have pointed out, mine had too.

Six months on, after brilliant support from doctors, nurses and physiotherapists, he is back on his feet and returning to work. I have re-entered the political world, but with a different perspective on life. Since so many people have been asking me what it's like to have your life turned upside down by an unexpected illness, here are six random thoughts from my six months off.

Full Article on Guardian Commentisfree