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Free Holidays at Pontin’s!
Carers of East Lothian has again been allocated 12 free holiday places at Pontin’s, Blackpool during Carers
Week, Monday 12th to Friday 16th June 2006. In the past this initiative has proved
to be a marvellous opportunity for carers to get a break from the pressures of their caring situation. The offer is open to
carers going by themselves and those travelling with family/companion(s). This
year again, in the interests of fairness, our head office has decided that all applicants must not have had a holiday in the
past year or be planning a holiday this year. However we would encourage as many
carers as possible to apply as we do not count a weekend away, for example, as a holiday!
If you would like more information, or would like an application form, please contact us as soon as possible as we
must have all completed applications by Friday 17th March. |
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Trip to Botanic Garden
We have arranged a day out for carers to Edinburgh Botanic Garden on Tuesday 25th
April. This will be a marvellous opportunity to see the gardens in their
spring bloom as well as catching up with friends “old” and “new”.
We have organised coach travel there and back from various points in East Lothian.
Please contact us by Tuesday 18th April at the latest to book your place.
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Carers Open Forum – new Social Work teams
We will be holding our next Open Forum meeting in early May. The meeting will hear about the new Access Team and Complex Care Team that East Lothian
Council are setting up for Adult Community Care services, to help people get a more responsive service. This promises to be an important change, and we are delighted that Jeff Morgan and Rod McKenzie,
head of the new teams, will be coming along to explain how they will work and answer your questions. We are still agreeing the date with the Social Work Department, so if you would like to come along please
give us a call now and we will confirm the date and venue with you shortly. |
Care 21: The Future of Unpaid Care in Scotland
The report "Care 21: The Future of Unpaid Care in Scotland" was launched on 30th September 2005 by Lewis Macdonald,
Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care. The report directly reflects the
views of carers, with over 5,000 carers taking part in surveys and many also taking part in interviews, focus and stakeholder
groups. The report projects a bold vision for carers in Scotland - based on a strong framework of rights - where the contribution of carers
to society is fully recognised and where carers are fully included in a society which provides them with adequate support. We want to ensure that the vision of Care 21 becomes a reality and all of its 22 recommendations
are implemented. To help this happen the national carer organisations have produced
a petition which will be presented to the Scottish Executive. You can sign the
petition either online at www.carerscotland.org or using the printed version enclosed which should be returned to us (FREEPOST
SCO2413, Musselburgh, EH21 0BR). |
Partners in Advocacy
Partners in Advocacy have opened a new advocacy service for people with
learning disabilities in East Lothian. With
funding from East Lothian Council, they have been able to employ a part-time co-ordinator and some sessional advocates. The advocates will stand alongside people with learning disabilities and support them
to put across their views and wishes. They try to make sure that other people
listen and act upon what they have heard. But advocates understand that there
are other people who care for the person and they aim to have constructive relationships with family members and other carers. If you think that it would be helpful for you or someone you know, you can contact
Lorna Wynn (co-ordinator) on 0131 478 7723 or 7724. |
Learning for Living
Following the success of their initial Scottish pilot scheme, City and
Guilds are now offering 100 places for unpaid carers on a Scotland-wide distance learning scheme starting this spring. Learning for Living is the first flexible e-learning programme of its kind
in the UK and Europe. It builds on the experiences carers have gained and provides them with the knowledge, skills and confidence
they might need to get back to work or go on to further training, for their careers or personal aspirations. It also leads to the optional qualification ‘Certificate in Personal Development and Learning for
Unpaid Carers’. The success of the pilot was phenomenal and carers found
the course to be an extremely positive experience. The course will be delivered
via distance learning with the help of an online tutor to give help and support and there will be discussion forums available
so carers do not feel isolated. The course will be supported and subsidised by
the Scottish Executive. Carers can register by telephoning City and Guilds on
(0141) 341 5737 or by emailing: carers@cityandguilds.com. There will be a free
‘information and taster session’ in Edinburgh
on 17th March. |
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Scotland-Wide Free Bus Travel
From 1st April the Scottish Executive is introducing a new Entitlement
Card providing Scotland-wide free bus travel for elderly and qualifying disabled people.
This card replaces the existing local Concessionary Travel Permit. Please
contact East Lothian Council on (01620) 827827. |
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