South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 06/06/2013

This year the theme for Carers Week is Prepared to Care? Every day at least 6,000 people in the UK start caring, and becoming a carer can impact significantly on a person’s life – it takes time, energy, can leave you isolated and can be costly. The campaign is coordinated by the Carers’ Support Centre and recognises and celebrates the contribution made by an estimated 27,000 unpaid carers in the South Gloucestershire to the people they care for.

Cllr Ian Boulton, Chair of South Gloucestershire Council, has recently accepted an invitation to become the district’s new Carers Champion. He will be marking the launch of his new role during Carers Week with a visit to the Music Train on Wednesday 13 June where ‘Sing Your Cares Away’, a choir of carers from South Gloucestershire, will be performing.

Carers Week events include:

Tuesday 11 June

Paul’s Place pamper day

Paul’s Place, Serridge Lane, Coalpit Heath BS36 2TT

10am to 3pm

Paul’s Place, a charity day centre for physically disabled adults, will be celebrating Carers Week with a pamper day for carers of people who use the facility. The afternoon will include a buffet lunch and a range of relaxing and rejuvenating pamper sessions including Indian head massages and manicures. Places must be booked, please contact Paul’s Place on 01454 777236 or email info@paulsplace.org.uk.

Tuesday 11 June

Stress and mood management workshop

The Park Centre, High Street, Kingswood BS15 4AR

6pm to 8pm

This free stress and mood management workshop is for carers of people who use Avon & Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP). The course introduces Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as a method of effectively reducing difficult emotions such as anxiety, depression and anger. For more information and to book a place please visit www.lift.awp.nhs.uk/bristolandsglos/.

Tuesday 11 June

Cream tea and crafts

Olveston Parish Hall, Upper Tockington Rd, Tockington BS32 4LQ

2pm to 4pm

Thornbury Carers’ Support Group celebrates Carers Week with an afternoon of tea and cakes, plus a chance to try some relaxing crafts. This event is open to all carers who live in South Gloucestershire, to book a place please contact Delia Robins on 01454 412986 or email deliarobins967@btinternet.com.

Wednesday 12 June

Music Train

Avon Valley Railway, Bitton Station, Bath Road, Bitton BS30 6HD

4.30pm to 7pm

The fun begins with a singing workshop on the station’s platform at 4.30pm, before boarding the Music Train where South Gloucestershire’s carers choir ‘Sing Your Cares Away’ will give their first public performance. This event also sees Cllr Ian Boulton, Chairman of South Gloucestershire Council, adopt the role of Carers Champion. Attendance is free for carers, to book a place please contact Liz Gray on 01173 827284 or email lizgray4@hotmail.co.uk.

Thursday 13 June

Creative writing workshops

Winterbourne Library, Flaxpits Lane, Winterbourne BS36 1LA

10am to 12.30pm (Rhythm and Sound)

1.30pm to 4pm (Paint Pictures with Words)

Editor and teacher of creative writing Sonya Moore will be holding a day of creative writing workshops to celebrate Carers Week. The workshops have been organised by South Gloucestershire Council and are free to all carers in the district. There are limited places available, please book your place in advance by contacting Mo on 07584 167612 or Sonya on 07968 169575 or alternatively email mo.d@hotmail.co.uk or sonyamind@yahoo.co.uk.

There are many more activities taking place for carers across South Gloucestershire during the week, and carers’ support groups meet regularly through the year. In South Gloucestershire, there are around 20 carer groups directly supported by the council offering a place to meet others in a similar situation and have a break from the day-to-day responsibilities of caring.

Please contact Sue Jaques on 01454 868267 for more information or to join a group. Alternatively visit www.southglos.gov.uk/carers.