A national week celebrating the hard work and dedication of carers is being supported by Newcastle City Council.
National Carers Week runs until Sunday, 24 June and the theme is ‘In Sickness and in Health’.
This national campaign calls for greater support for unpaid carers to help them continue in their caring role without facing ill health, stress or financial worry, so the city council has organised an event to help carers get the best out of their health.
If you look after a relative or friend who couldn’t manage without your help then this week is for you and the city council and its partners have arranged Ways to Wellbeing on Thursday, 21 June from 10am at Eldon Leisure.
This free event will give carers the opportunity to find out the benefits of recognising your caring role and why it’s important to let people know you look after someone.
Some of the services available at this event including getting your blood pressure and cholesterol checked, learn how singing and music benefit health, find out how yoga is a great stress buster with a 30 minute taster sessions from 11am and 1pm.
You can pick up a free copy of the Carewell handbook which comes with CD designed to promote restful sleep, learn basic first aid tips from the British Red Cross and register for their free Emergency Contact Scheme
There are also complimentary therapy sessions and you can pick up a voucher to enjoy a free session at one of the city’s many leisure centres.
You don’t need to book a place, but spaces will be limited for the yoga and complimentary therapies. These will be offered on a first come first served basis so for more information or if you need support to attend the event please phone Kathryn Chard on 0191 277 7452 or email kathryn.chard@newcastle.gov.uk.
Other events supported by the city council include a day trip to Crook Hall and Gardens on Wednesday, 20 June. Tickets at £6 and for more information or to book a place phone Carers Centre Newcastle.
The Ravenswood Singers will be hosting a fundraising event for Carers Centre Newcastle on Thursday, 21 June at Brunswick Methodist Church (behind Fenwick’s). Tickets are £7 per person.
For more information about these events or to book a place phone Carers Centre Newcastle on 0191 260 3030.
As part of the British Red Cross Emergency Contact Scheme all carers are asked to set out a back up plan which means they will be able to provide access to round the clock emergency support for the person you care for in the event you are unable to provide care.
You may already have a plan in the event you’re unable to provide care, for example with a neighbour or relative and this scheme is about making sure that plan is written down and kept securely.
The plan nominates a replacement carer, however if no one is available the Red Cross can send out two volunteers to make sure the person you care for is kept safe in the short term 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
This service is free and for more information phone 07713 385 268 or email HSCNorthEast_Cumbria@redcross.org.uk. The Carewell handbook and CD can be downloaded from www.carewelluk.org.
Page last updated: 19 June, 2012
