A Voice for Change
News & Events |
ANNOUNCEMENTS The North West Carers Consultancy has been successful in securing a second contract for consultation work from Skills For Care (North West Region) for the year 2009/2010. NEWS & EVENTS |
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New Photos from the CaPs Carers as Partners (in social work education) |
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A little word from a carers ( Diane Price )
“Autumn is lovely all the beautiful colours and when the sun shines and the skies
are clear and blue it feels so fresh cool and clear. Listening to the crunch as you
step on the dried leaves, likened to a bowl of crunchy cornflakes.
Watching the leaves tumble and blow in the breeze like feathers. Lying
spectacularly as a deep rich carpet on the ground. Rich colours, of russet browns,
greens and tinges of red. Leaves of all sizes and shape.
I like Autumn and yet it makes me feel sad.”
NEWS
Skills For Care (North West Region), have compiled the responses of the
Student Placement Consultation that representatives of the North West Carers
Consultancy were asked to contribute to. This formed one piece of our
consultation contract with Skills For Care, and I hope to have further feedback
in relation to other pieces of work that we have been involved with.
Thank you all – your opinions are being heard and listened to.
I have attached a PDF version for you to look at.
The National Black Carers & Carers Workers Network launches the Carers Panel
On the 21st July, the NBCCWN (National Black Carers & Carers Workers Network) launched the National BME Carers Panel in Birmingham. The first of its kind in the UK, the network will train and mentor 20 black and minority ethnic (BME) carers over the next two years to be national ambassadors and raise awareness of the hidden and sometimes discriminatory experiences they face across the country.
The National Black Carers and Carers Workers Network and The Afiya Trust conducted an in-depth survey last year with over 300 BME carers, voluntary and community organisations across the UK.
The report, Beyond We Care Too, Putting Black Carers in the Picture, showed that culturally relevant services are thin on the ground. Meals in hospital settings not accommodating religious and dietary needs, inadequate personal care such as assisting a woman to put on her sari or help with her hair and skincare for African and Caribbean people are just a few examples.
Last year, ten carers were invited to present at a conference held in March 2008. The conference was to launch the document “Beyond We Care Too, putting black carers in the picture”. Further funding saw this event repeated in three other cities across the country. Since then the carers panel has become an integral part of the NBCCWN. The NBCCWN is now looking for 20 new carers to join the panel. With funding through the Department of Health's carers strategy, the carers panel will highlight the cultural issues affecting BME carers nationally. Work will be done locally with practitioners and nationally with policymakers on how best to support BME carers and supply relevant information.
Knowledge of statutory services is also limited. As a result, there is an over-reliance on the voluntary and community sector for support, leading some commissioners to believe that BME carers don't require any statutory services. Part of the problem is with the term carer and some of the conditions associated with mental health such as depression or schizophrenia. Many BME people don't identify with or understand the term carer and, in certain languages, some mental health terms don't even exist.
new Chief Executive Officer of the Afiya Trust
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