The Carer’s Grant is to increase again on 1 April, from £60 million to £185 million nationally. Councils have been advised that the objective of the grant is to:

1) develop carers’ services in response to local needs

2) develop the carers’ assessment and the single assessment process

3) focus on the needs of carers

4) provide breaks for carers

5) provide breaks services for disabled children and their families

6) support children and young carers by having a break from caring

7) fund administration relating to carers’ strategies and consultation with carers

8) agree a plan to ensure the grant is spent on locally agreed priorities

It is the Government’s intention that councils will respond imaginatively to requests for diversity in service provision to carers. Further information on this grant can be obtained by clicking on www.carers.gov.uk/grantguidance0304.htm

The significant increase in this year’s allocation to carers means that Devon will receive a total grant of £2,353,529 and Torbay will receive £550,949. The Government has said that the grant will remain at this level until the end of March 2008. Social Services are currently consulting with carers forums/panels about how to spend this increase. For further information about how you can have your say, call Justin Haden at SDCC on (01803) 294275. 

The survey will only take a few minutes  to  complete,  and copies can be obtained from the South Devon Carers  Consortium office by calling  (01803) 294275

Need to get something off your chest? Got some helpful advice to pass on?

Please write and let us know! 

Call Alexandra Pickford on (01803) 409993 for a prior consultation.

The annual celebration of carers is to be held at Exeter Cathedral on Monday 13 June, and Westbank League of Friends are asking carers to write a short poem using the theme of this year’s Carers Week, ‘Work, Rest and Play’. The winning entry will have the poem in the order of service, with your name to it. You will be able to read your poem at the service (or a representative will read it for you). A prize of £20 will be given to the carer of the winning entry after the celebration.

s.barton@westbankfriends.org

by 30 April 2005. 

...to the Ivybridge and District branch of Carers UK. On 1st April, they are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their formation.

You can get these booklets by telephoning Social Services’ general office on (01392) 382946.

 If you want to know more, please call Sarah on (01752) 872326. 

by 30 April.

Devon County Council has produced two booklets (‘Help with Bathing and Showering’ is number 50, and ‘Do You Need Help with Meals?’ is number 55) which give useful information and contact details.

You can get these booklets by telephoning Social Services’ general office on (01392) 382946. 

National Carers Week this year is week beginning on 13 June. If you have a question for a senior officer from Health, Social Services, an Acute Trust or Care Home, concerning your caring role, or if you would like to nominate someone for Carer of the Year, please telephone or write to  Sonia Barton (see details left) by 6 May. Carers nominated must give their permission. You can also nominate a GP practice or pharmacy for GP Practice/Pharmacy of 2005 award.

KingsCare League of Friends, based at Kingsteignton Medical Practice, has an LDV Convoy minibus that is available for hire (including driver) for groups in the Newton Abbot area. They have received funding from The Clare Milne Trust and The Gemini Radio Charitable Trust to complete the adaptations needed to make the bus fully wheelchair accessible. 

At the time of going to press,  this work is being undertaken and, by the time you read this the minibus will be able to carry 2 people in wheelchairs together with other passengers. They are also working on a series of trips out during the Spring and Summer for local residents. Last year's trips included afternoon drives across Dartmoor including a cream tea, shopping trips to Clarke's Village, visits to National Trust properties and boat trips from Exmouth.

For a list of this year's trips, or to get details about how to hire the bus, call Maggie Bonnell,  KingsCare Co-ordinator, on (01626) 883310

Carers One-to-One Link (COOL) and South Devon Carers Consortium invite all carers to a coffee morning, tea afternoon, or beer evening  at a local venue near you.

Thanks to a donation from the parish of St Mary and St George in Totnes, we are able to organise local informal events for carers, especially those in  isolated or rural areas who may find it difficult to meet and make new friends locally.

Dates and venues will appear in parish newsletters, on church

notice boards, in this newsletter and in ‘COOLnews’.

 You can help us too...!

We need you to find or recommend venues in your own villages or towns in the Teignbridge area. It could be your local pub, village hall or tea-room. We already have plans for Bovey Tracey, Dawlish and Ipplepen.

 For more information, or if you would like to help to have a get-together in your own community, please contact Claudia Benzies on (01803) 712669 or Justin Haden on (01803) 294275. 

The stories of some of Torbay’s unsung heroes were celebrated in the first-ever Torbay Carers’ Blue Shield Awards ceremony in March.

There were over 20 nominations and 8 awards were given - all to people who are not just carers themselves, but who have also helped other carers in different ways. The adjudicating panel was  independent  of  the  Primary Care Trust, Torbay Social Services and the Torbay Carers Panel.

Harry Cayton, the Government’s Patients’ Czar, said “It is the small tasks of humanity all these individuals perform that build into an amazing resource. It really is the heart of what  good social care and good heath care is all about”.

We must never, ever lose that sense of humanity and the importance of individual relationships”

Joe Owen, Chair of Torbay Carers Panel, said “There is the intention to hold another ceremony in 2007, but this depends on funds being available. I feel it would be a pity if this was not repeated as I was of the opinion, from the people I talked to, that everyone found it to be most enjoyable and a celebration”.

Congratulations!

The Torbay & District branch of Carers UK meet on the first Saturday of the month, at 2.30pm, at ‘Rosegarth’, 1 Tor Church Rd, Torquay. Meetings are open to carers, ex-carers and anyone else interested. Speakers talk on a range of topics throughout they year. There are occasional outings and social afternoons. The branch also have a welfare officer to help with any problems experienced by members. A twice-yearly newsletter is distributed to members and other interested parties. 

Carers in Torbay now have access to a pioneering telephone support service. ‘Signposts for Carers’ is partly  a help-desk, where people can call with a question and get an answer straight away, and a telephone based service called ‘Simple Steps’. This offers an agreed telephone appointment with an advisor who will call to give people structured information on caring, at a time and pace that suits them. 

‘Signposts for Carers’ is open from Monday to Thursday (9 to 4.30) and Fridays (9 to 1), and is open to all Torbay Council area residents. Out of hours messages will be taken.      (01803) 66 66 20 

Torbay Partnership Committee has produced several packs of information for parents about what future possibilities there might be for young people with disabilities.

 If you would like to see a pack, you may view it at either the Disability Information Service (Torbay) or at any of the Torbay Council’s Connections offices in Paignton, Torquay or Brixham. Staff will be happy to photocopy a section or leaflet for you.

 Disability Information Service:

tel (01803) 552175 

Join our small, informal and friendly class to find out how to:

· Improve your confidence                 

· Obtain information from the Internet

· Learn new computer skills

 When?    Friday 29 April 2005   

What time?   2 to 4 pm

Where?    Brixham Community College ICT Studio

How long?  2 hours per session   

How much?   FREE for carers