Connecting Carers Café #dundeewestend

The Connecting Carers Café for carers in the West End restarts at Blackness Library on Monday 2nd September - 10.30am - 12.30pm.

The café meets every second week after that but runs a drop-in between if you need support or a chat.

For more info, please call Virginia of Dundee Carers Centre on 07515 067075.

Dundee Carers' Centre at Sinderins Community Hub #dundeewestend

Dundee Carers Centre and Dundee Citizens Advice Bureau – Information Session

Dundee Carers Centre and Dundee Citizens' Advice Bureau is holding an information session next Wednesday - 22nd November - at the C-Gate Centre, 134 Seagate.

Lauren from CAB Dundee will be giving a short presentation on the available financial support to unpaid carers and their families and how they can access it. There will be time afterwards for some questions.

There will be refreshments from 12 noon with the session starting at 12.30pm.

To book your place please call Dundee 200422.

Connecting Carers Café #dundeewestend

All unpaid carers welcome at the West End Connecting Carers Café!

Details below :

Carers of Dundee – events information

If you are an unpaid carer in Dundee, the Carers of Dundee events page gives all the latest local and national events for unpaid carers across the city.

This is an excellent resource for local people and can be accessed at www.carersofdundee.org/events

Carers of Dundee

In early 2016, work began on a campaign which was intended to raise awareness of carers in Dundee. Funding for this came through The Carers Partnership and the planning group for the campaign consisted of staff from local statutory and voluntary agencies and carers of various ages. This work was led by Dundee Carers Centre.

Dundee Carers Centre is based at 134 Seagate and runs a large programme for carers in Dundee - support, events, courses and activities to support carers in their caring role.

Activities take place right across the city, including our own area, and you can see details of upcoming events at www.carersofdundee.org/events

West End and Lochee Family Fun! #dundeewestend

Forthcoming events from West End Carers #dundeewestend

Connecting Carers Café #dundeewestend

The next Connecting Carers Café for the West End and Lochee is this Thursday morning at the Friary in Tullideph Road from 10.15am.

All carers welcome!

Connecting Carers Café #dundeewestend

The second Connecting Carers Café for the West End and Lochee is this Thursday morning at the Friary in Tullideph Road.

Feedback from the October café that Fraser attended was that the starting time was a bit early for some carers to attend. 

Therefore the start time has been amended from 9.30am to 10.15am and now offering the carers soup and a roll.

All carers welcome!

West End Dementia Cafe

The Dundee Carers' Centre West End Dementia Cafe takes place next Thursday at Logie & St John's (Cross) Church - all welcome.

Fraser called into the inaugural cafe last month and it was a really enjoyable event for all!

Forthcoming events from West End Carers #dundeewestend

 

Update from West End Carers #dundeewestend

Dundee Carers’ Centre #dundeewestend

Dundee Carers’ Centre has a page for West End  that is useful.

It covers the work the centre undertakes in the West End, the partnership organisations the centre works with in our area and its work with schools.

You can read this here.

Young Carers Shopping e-card

Dundee Carers Centre has developed an electronic shopping card for young carers who have responsibilities for shopping and/or picking up medication for family members. The card entitles young carers to access supermarkets and pharmacies during protected times.

The launch, the first of its kind for young carers in Scotland, has already attracted interested from other carer organisations, with some hoping to create their own versions.

So far, we have issued 20 e-cards to young carers and continue to take referrals.

If you are a young carer and have a responsibility for shopping and/or collecting medication on behalf of someone you care for, please contact Dundee Carers Centre on 200422 or email centre@dundeecarerscentre.org.uk.

Busy Tuesday ...

This morning, I was very pleased to attend and do the welcome and introductions at Jericho House's Open Day for partner organisations working in the alcohol and drug fields.

It was an impressive showcase for the vital work that Jericho House undertakes and to listen to the personal journeys the service users told.    I have served on the Jericho House Support Group that assists the work of the house.

You can read more about Jericho House in Dundee here.

I also attended the official opening of C Gate, the new home for the Dundee Carers' Centre (spookily enough, situated in the Seagate!)

There was a great turnout to the opening - the photo below is of Fraser Patrick, Chair of the Carers' Centre's Board, addressing the audience.

This evening, I attended the May meeting of West End Community Council where there were very positive discussions on a number of local issues including supporting our local shops and parking issues locally.

Time 4 U - lets carers have a break from caring

The Time 4 U service provides carers with the chance to have a break from caring.    If you look after or support a person aged 65 and over, this service may be able to help.

Time 4 U is being piloted on a trial basis in Dundee and is funded by the Scottish Government's Older People's Change Fund.    

The Dundee Carers Centre operates the service and they are working together with social work services and other providers to ensure that carers are supported to get meaningful breaks.

Further information from Dundee Carers Centre on 200422.

UPBEET Project

Dundee Carers' Centre's Young Carers' Project has highlighted that young adult carers often have limited access to opportunities that others take for granted.    Caring responsibilities can have a negative effect on their lives, including poor school attendance and attainment at school, in future education or in the work place.    Poor social contact and negative health effects are also common and at times young adult carers can feel down or on their own.

Therefore, their UPBEET project can help young adult carers aged 15-30 years access confidential information and support in areas including personal development, raising confidence and self esteem, entitlement to benefits and CV/interview skills, as well as accessing flexible opportunities to combine education, training, or employment with their caring role.

For further information :

Young Carers' Project, Dundee Carers' Centre, First Floor, Argyll House, West Marketgait, Dundee DD1 1QP

Telephone :  200422

enquiries@youngcarers.co.uk

Time 4 U - lets carers have a break from caring

The Time 4 U service provides carers with the chance to have a break from caring. If you look after or support a person aged 65 and over, this service may be able to help.

Time 4 U is being piloted on a trial basis in Dundee and is funded by the Scottish Government's Older People's Change Fund. The Dundee Carers Centre operates the service and they are working together with social work services and other providers to ensure that carers are supported to get meaningful breaks.

Further information is available from the Dundee Carers Centre on 200422.

Last couple of days ...

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending the official opening of the Dundee Carers Centre new offices in Argyll House, West Marketgait.  

Later, after a meeting with the Communities Officer for the West End on the new West End Local Community Plan 2012-14, I attended the latest Community Spirit Action Group meeting, the residents' group covering Cleghorn, Ancrum, Polepark, Pentland, Tullideph and surrounding areas. 

There was an excellent presentation from Ian Treanor of the Dundee Energy Efficiency Advice Project.   Ian's presentation covered insulation, income maximisation and the price of fuel/fuel social tariffs.

We also discussed numerous local issues including road safety on Ancrum Drive, an issue I have raised with the City Council.

Today, I was interviewed on STV news, in support of a very worthwhile project by the West End Boys' Amateur Boxing Club that will see a boxing statue commemorating the legacy of Dick McTaggart on Dundee Law.

This evening, after my weekly surgery at Blackness Primary School, I attended the AGM of Dundee West Transition Town Group, now to be known as Dundee Transition Town.  There was a really useful discussion about the structure of the group moving forward, urban food production and other matters.