Happy New Year!

We hope you have all had a good Christmas and a good start to 2015!
Thank you to all Carers who were able to join us for the Christmas festivities. A variety of short
breaks took place, including trips to The Living North Christmas Fair and Heighley Gate Garden
Centre, the Xmas forums, and a meal out for the parent carer group. To end the year around 90
carers joined us at The Sea Hotel where we were entertained with a Christmas Sing Along, and
enjoyed a three course meal. It was a lovely afternoon and great to see everybody enjoying
themselves.

Our Tuesday Craft Group proudly presents their knitted nativity characters!
Well done ladies, your efforts created a lovely Christmas display.

Carers Association in South Tyneside, 1 Beach Road, South Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE33 2QA

Telephone: 0191 4543346, Fax: 0191 4545987, email: castadultteam@yahoo.co.uk

Registered Charity No. 1071774

We are thrilled to report that The Young Carers Project was awarded funding for the next
three years from the Big Lottery Fund. This will enable the service to continue. The
project provides respite for children aged 5-18+ who care for a loved one. We have
weekly clubs which run Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday which are age appropriate, as
well as a variety of activities during school holidays. We also have School Awareness
workers who go into schools to identify new young carers and hold drop in sessions. Our
Family Support Worker supports families by providing information, one to one support
and ensuring that their needs are being met. If you would like further information,
contact Young Carers on 0191 454 3346 or email info@southtynesideyoungcarers.org.uk
Our AGM took place in December. Graham Wilkin, Strategic Lead for Health and Social Care
Integration delivered a presentation on the key components of the new Care Act which represents
the most significant reform of care and support in more than 60 years. The Act will put a limit on the
amount anyone will have to pay towards the costs of their care, and ensures people and their carers
are in control of their care and support. Central to the Act is the concept of wellbeing. First and
foremost, Councils will have a duty to consider the physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of the
individual needing care. They will also have a new duty to provide preventative services to maintain
peoples health and will be required to follow the minimum eligibility threshold which has been set
for all Local Authorities to follow as opposed to Councils deciding upon the criteria themselves. To
find out more about Care Act 2014, you can look up website:
www.gov.uk/government/speeches/care-bill-becomes-care-act-2014 or call us at CAST. In addition,
you can also request a copy of CAST annual report by giving us a call, telephone 0191 454 3346.

Boost for carers from rise in allowance threshold

The government announced that from April 2015, the earnings threshold for Carers Allowance will
be raised to 110 a week. This is a rise of 8 on the previous limit of 102. The change means that
more people will have the opportunity to work part-time and still be eligible for the full 61.35 a
week Carers Allowance.
It is recognised that being out of the labour market place for a long period can have a negative
impact on individuals. Many carers would like to combine some paid work with their caring duties
wherever possible to achieve greater financial independence and remain actively involved in
employment. Our local jobcentre would like to gauge if this applies to many South Tyneside Carers,
as with enough interest, there may be an opportunity to apply for funding for Work Preparation
Support. Please use the reply slip if you would like to find out more.

Caring with Confidence

CAST will be offering "Caring with Confidence" sessions again

starting this February. This course is particularly beneficial for newly registered Carers, though any
Carer is welcome to attend. The programme consists of 6 sessions focusing on carers` needs at
different stages of the caring role. It provides carers with the knowledge and practical techniques
needed for coping, time management, communicating effectively, meeting the day-to-day demands
of the role whilst also making sure carers take care of themselves. The sessions will be held here at
The Carers Centre commencing Thursday 5th February 1.30-3.30pm, followed by 12th and 26th
February, 5th, 19th and 26th March, all 1.30-3.30pm. Sessions are very friendly and informal,
previous carers have expressed that they found the course to be very relaxed and informative, while
enjoying the opportunity to share ideas with other carers.

South Tyneside Local Engagement Boards are meetings open to the public where
the latest developments in Health and Social care are discussed. A light lunch or tea is always
provided, so why not try to go along to one in your area? Dates for 2015 are:
Thursday 12th February 1.00 3.30pm at Jarrow CA, Cambrian Street, Jarrow, NE32 3QN
Light lunch from 12.30pm
Thursday 14th May 1.00 3.30pm at Living Waters, St Judes Terrace, Laygate, South Shields, NE33 5PB
Light lunch from 12.30pm
Thursday 9th July 6.00 7.30pm at Jarrow CA, Cambrian Street, Jarrow, NE32 3QN
Light tea from 5.30pm
Thursday 24th September 1.00 3.30pm at Living Waters, St Judes Terrace, Laygate, South Shields, NE33 5PB
Light lunch from 12.30pm
Thursday 26th November 1.00 3.30pm at Jarrow CA, Cambrian Street, Jarrow, NE32 3QN
Light lunch from 12.30pm
If you would like to attend please contact Jenna Easton on 0191 2831903 or email jenna.easton@sotw.nhs.uk

The South Tyneside Health and Wellbeing Board are legally required to carry out a Pharmaceutical
Needs Assessment (PNA) every 3 years and one is due this April 2015. Members of the public are
encouraged to complete a survey to help give an understanding of the way people use pharmacies
and identify future needs for pharmacy services. To complete the survey you can link directly to
the questionnaire: http://surveys.southtyneside.info/pharmacy/using_your_local_pharmacy.htm
We can also supply you with the survey questionnaire here at CAST

Carer forums are a great place to meet with other carers, find out
new information and keep links with the staff at CAST. For those carers living in the area of
Hebburn, a new "drop in" is being offered at The Glen Medical Group. Carers are invited to come
along between 10am-12 noon (dates as in table above) for an informal coffee morning.
Not all male carers are able to attend our Male Carer trips out and about, therefore, we will be
starting a Male Carers Drop-In at Beach Road which will be held on the last Wednesday of the month
from 1-3pm. This will be an informal setting; we have a pool table, cards and dominoes, and
refreshments will be provided. The dates are: 25 February, 25 March, 29 April, 27 May, 24 June, 29
July, 26 August, 30 September and 28 October. If youre interested in attending our first drop in,
please tick our reply slip or give Linda a call on 0191 454 3346. We look forward to seeing you then!
Just to remind that our ten pin bowling sessions have re-started and are enjoyed by all who attend.
If you have not joined so far, why not give it a try? We meet at The Dunes, South Shields Seafront,
on a Wednesday morning around 9.50am and play two games. The next bowling sessions will be
on 11th February, 18th March, 22nd April, 20th May, 17th June and 15th July. To enable me to
book the correct amount of lanes, please could everyone (including our regulars) confirm their
attendance before each session, thank you. Should anyone have any queries regarding the ten pin
bowling just give me, Valerie, a ring on 0191 4543346.
In addition, our regular Arts and Crafts group meets on a Tuesday between
10am - 12 noon and our drop-in Coffee Morning meets on a Thursday between
10am - 12noon. All Carers are welcome to attend.
Best wishes for 2015, Valerie

My Life My Decision Project

Most people, when asked, have strong wishes about what preferences they would have around
end-of-life care and treatment but only 4% have communicated these wishes legally. We all have a
right to refuse treatment and to direct the nature of our care support. But there may be times we
are unable to express those wishes or lose capacity to make decisions. Through Advance Decisions
and Lasting Power of Attorney Health and Welfare, there is now a legal opportunity to refuse
treatment and direct our care and treatment when we can no longer communicate them ourselves.
Age UK South Tyneside, under the umbrella of Compassion in Dying and funded by the Big Lottery,
now provides a service to support people to understand their rights and choices around these issues.
The service can provide opportunity for group discussions or training. Individuals can access 1:1
support as a one-off discussion or ongoing throughout all aspects of the process. For more
information contact Sharon Morgan, Project Coordinator at Age UK South Tyneside, 29, Beach Road,
South Shields on 0191 4566903.
The Patient Transport Service for non-emergency hospital appointments and treatment
previously arranged by the GP practice is now being handled by call centre ERS Medical. Patients
with a medical need, and who require free Patient Transport, can telephone their booking on
0191 3017687, Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. The call handler will ask a series of questions regarding
the patient to determine if there is a medical need for transport. Once eligibility is confirmed, ERS
will complete the booking.
It has proven a difficulty for Carers to identify respite provision for their loved ones as many local care
homes are often at full capacity. Throughout 2014, there were ongoing efforts to find pre- bookable
respite for Carers to plan breaks in advance. Three South Tyneside Residential Care Homes have agreed
to make provision for pre-bookable respite. The care homes are:
Willowdene Nursing and Residential Home, Victoria Road East, Hebburn
St Thomas Residential Care Home, Belgrave Terrace, South Shields
The White House Residential and Nursing Care Home, Monkton Village, Jarrow
To access respite via Social Care, the person being cared for will need to have an assessment, you can
telephone the Initial Contact Team on 0845 1304959 to find the eligibility criteria and arrange assessment
if applicable.

Many of us are quick to make resolutions at the turn of a New Year,

but good intentions often fall by the wayside as day to day routines take up our time. There are lots
of courses currently being offered in South Tyneside to help people improve confidence and gain
healthier lifestyles if you`re able to put aside a couple of hours each week. Bliss=Ability are offering
a FREE Self Care Skills Training Course at 34-36 New Green Street, South Shields starting Wednesday
18th February, 1.00-2.30pm for 6 weeks. Telephone 0191 4271666.
Maybe you could spare a couple of hours to Volunteer for our Befriending Service? Contact Maria
Ingram, telephone 0191 4543346 or email castsittingservice@yahoo.co.uk
To find out about other Caring related courses please telephone Adult Carers Project on
0191 4543346 or email castadultteam@yahoo.co.uk