What would you gain? Learning can be just about time for you, or about moving on.

City & Guilds has developed a completely new qualification to hep carers take steps into new opportunities. Go to www.learning-for-living.co.uk for further information.

From 1 April 2005, carers will have new rights, so Social Services will have to consider whether you want to learn, work or have leisure opportunities.

To get a break from caring, so that you can take up courses like these, ask the local authority for a Carers Assessment, and say that you need alternative care so you can take up a learning opportunity.

For more information on learning, try:

· Your local library

· The Learndirect helpline (0800 101 901) or www.learndirect.co.uk

· The Open University (01908 274066) or www.open.ac.uk

· WorkTrain (national jobs and learning website) www.worktrain.gov.uk

        0808 808 7777

My husband tries very hard to be normal, see friends and go out, but this is both physically and emotionally exhausting for him. I feel that if the sufferer were given the right help, then there would be no need of workshops and away days for carers, and there would be no need for Mr T to feel guilty about not being there 24/7.

Exeter Museum has installed a lift at its front entrance to improve access. Previously the only access for disabled visitors was at the back of the building. If you would like to visit, you can get more information from the museum on

           (01392) 66 58 58

or by visiting

        www.exeter.gov.uk

The Devon & Cornwall Constabulary and the Devon Fire and Rescue Service have issued useful help and advice in the form of a Questions and Answers leaflet. They also offer more detailed help and a Free Fire safety Assessment, plus a Free Smoke Alarm. Contact Care Direct on

      www.devfire.gov.uk

In spite of improvements made in recent years by South Devon Healthcare Trust, parking at Torbay Hospital still requires certain qualities of character - patience, stamina, steely determination - and useful equipment includes a flask of coffee and spikes on your car wheels!

The Trust is well aware of the difficulties visitors and staff experience, and are doing all they can to help alleviate the difficulties. The number of disabled parking bays has recently increased from 32 to 44. Most of them are to be found in the main car park (Car Park A), outside the Fracture Clinic and Hydrotherapy, outside the Maternity Clinic, outside the Oncology Unit (near Hengrave House), and near to TAIRU (the Reablement Unit)

The Trust understands the concerns  about there now not being spaces right by the hospital entrances, and the possibility of providing more dropping-off places is currently being discussed. Bear in mind that the location of disabled parking spaces is likely to change to accommodate building work. Whether or not you can find a disabled parking bay, you can park for free when you display a Blue Badge.

The site makes it easier for disabled people to find out about accommodation, attractions, beaches and other facilities accessible to them. If you don’t have access to the Internet, contact your local tourist office for up-to-date information.

     www.caravanable.co.uk

The Westcountry Energy Action Trust is holding several training days on this subject, for front line staff in the voluntary and statutory sectors. Dates and venues are:

Wed 12 January

Devon Energy Efficiency Advice Centre, Plymouth

Tues 15 February

Care Direct, Sowton, Exeter

Thurs 4 March

Oldway Mansion, Paignton.

For more information, and to book your place, ring (01752) 235180.

Do you care for an adult with a physical or sensory disability in Devon? Do you want to influence the direction of new services for disabled people and their carers? An opportunity has arisen for one or two carers to sit on the newly-formed...wait for it...‘Devon Strategic Partnership for People with Physical and Sensory Disabilities and Acquired Brain Injury’! Despite the long official-sounding title, this is a friendly group - open to listen to the views of carers and service users. You would receive support and expenses, and be accompanied by Justin Haden, SDCC’s Co-ordinator.

This Partnership is composed of senior ‘movers & shakers’ from the NHS and local authority, together with representatives from service users and the independent sector. Its role is to provide better, more accessible services for disabled people and their carers by working more effectively together. An example of the sort of development the Partnership will be driving, is the setting up of a new Disability Information Service for service users and their carers - something we’ve been wanting to see happen for many years. Developing the Joint Equipment Service may also come under its remit.

The Partnership meets once every 2 months (on the 4th Tuesday of alternate months) in an accessible venue near Exeter. For an informal, no-obligation chat about what is involved, please contact Justin on (01803) 294275.

Anyone interested in carers’ issues is invited to attend, and carers who have never been to one of our informal get-togethers before are particularly welcome. Please call Justin on (01803) 294275 to find out more.

  Tel: 01822 614641
  Mobile: 07966 597316
  Email: sue.white@devon.gov.uk

Telephone them on (01803) 862392 for more information and, of course, anything you tell them will be treated in the strictest confidence.

The Partnership meets once every 2 months (on the 4th Tuesday of alternate months) in an accessible venue near Exeter. For an informal, no-obligation chat about what is involved, please contact Justin on (01803) 294275.

Anyone interested in carers’ issues is invited to attend, and carers who have never been to one of our informal get-togethers before are particularly welcome. Please call Justin on (01803) 294275 to find out more, as we need to know numbers attending for the catering.

Three Carers Services Development Officers have been appointed to take forward the carers agenda in Devon: Phil Dyson, Sue White, and Lesley Willmott.

Phil, Sue and Lesley will each have a number of county-wide responsibilities and will also develop links with two Primary Care Trust localities each. By acting as links between county-wide projects and the localities, they will try to ensure that services join up across the whole area.

Sue White is responsible for linking with the two localities in South Devon  (Teignbridge and South Hams & West Devon). Her responsibilities include anything that relates to the Care Management Process (eg Helpdesk, Assessments). Sue’s contact details are:

  Tel: 01822 614641
  Mobile: 07966 597316
  Email: sue.white@devon.gov.uk

Would you like to learn more about what lives there? Join us on our day out for carers to the National Marine Aquarium on 9 March.

A coach will pick up at various points across Teignbridge (and bring you home too!). The day includes lunch, and alternative care can be arranged if required. Places are limited, so please fill in the form enclosed and return with a cheque for £4 made payable to 'South Devon Carers Consortium'. If a form is not enclosed, please call our office on (01803) 294275 to request one.

Yes, it’s nearly time once again for the very popular leisure events at the Redcliffe Hotel, Paignton. Relaxing and fun activities are on offer, as well as therapies like massage and reflexology. The dates to choose from this year are:

24 February or 11 March

You should find a booking form with this newsletter, and we need one to be completed for each person. If there is no form, then ring the SDCC office on (01803) 294275 to ask for one. Please make your cheque for £4 payable to “South Devon Carers Consortium”. Places are limited so apply early to be sure of yours!

The Torbay Carers Panel hosted 3 events across Torbay in the autumn, to inform carers about how the agencies for adults social services and health were integrating, and to find out how carers felt about this change. A report from these events has now been compiled. Copies will be mailed to all those who attended. If you couldn’t get to one of the events, but would like a copy, please call SDCC’s office on (01803 294275).