At the Carers’ Centre we provide a full programme of support to carers and young carers.
Our ability to do this is supported by donations we receive. All donations received are spent directly on carers and young carers. For young carers donations would contribute to group nights as well as trips and activities to places like the cinema, theme park and bowling.
For adult carers we can provide respite and short break opportunities, stress management and relaxation classes, support groups and activities such as coffee mornings when the carer can get away from the house for a short period of time and away from the stresses of being a carer.
Sometimes the range of services and supports available to carers can be bewildering. The carers centre can help you access information and advice relating to your caring role. For example:
- How do I access home care for the person I care for?
- What is a Carers assessment? What is a community care assessment?
- Are there any voluntary organisations in my area that could help?
- Am I entitled to respite?
- What should I do if I am not happy with the services?
The carers centre is able to provide help discovering the answers to these questions, and any more you may have.
Providing a caring role to a loved one can be very isolating and emotionally draining.
Staff at the carers centre are available to talk things through with you or simply provide a listening ear. It can often help talking to someone out with the family circle.
Knowing that you are not alone and that other carers can understand how you feel can also be of great comfort. The carers centre facilitates various groups where you can meet with other carers. At the groups, carers can access valuable information from each other, as well as from invited speakers from relevant organisations.
The carers centre also offers various social events throughout the year, giving carers an opportunity to have ‘time out’ from their caring role and socialise with people who understand their situation.
For details/times of groups, events etc please see Calendar of Events.
The carers centre offers a wide variation of training and information sessions to carers, to help answer questions or provide clarification on topics relating to caring.
- What is self directed support?
- How do I safely help my mother out of bed?
- What rights do I have as a carer?
- How will I manage to remain calm in a stressful situation?
Whether you want to find ways of coping with everyday stresses, increase confidence or access information, the carers centre can help.
- Would a short break service help you access our support groups or training sessions?
- Are there occasions when important appointments or occasions are in jeopardy because you cannot leave the person you care for on their own?
- Are you going through a particularly difficult phase due to your intense caring role?
The carers centre can organise a suitably trained care worker from an approved agency to be with the person you care for, ensuring their safety while you are out. This service, although time limited and on an ‘ad hoc’ basis, would be funded by the carers centre.
Carers Centre funding is limited but staff can work with you to find an alternative solution if required.
- Do you need help completing complicated benefit forms?
- Are you receiving all the benefits you are entitled to?
- Are there grants available to help?
Should you be getting a council tax reduction?
Staff at the centre can help you apply and complete various benefit or grant applications. They can also make appropriate referrals on your behalf to specific money advice/ welfare benefits professionals.
- Do you sometimes feel intimidated by professionals or procedures that you come into contact with in relation to your caring role?
- Would someone accompanying you to meeting, reviews etc make you feel more relaxed?
- Do you sometimes find it difficult to ‘take in’ everything that is said at meetings?
Staff at the carers centre can assist you in these matters, ensuring your views are heard and taken into account.
The Carers’ Centre also support the local Carers’ Forum, which is a group of carers from across East Renfrewshire who are interested in working with the East Renfrewshire Council, Health Board and other agencies to ensure that carers’ opinions about relevant issues are taken into account by managers, planners, elected members and other officers responsible for delivering carers’ services.
The Forum has met with local councillors and the MSP for Eastwood and has taken part in various meetings and consultations with Council staff.
It is important that the Forum accurately represents the views and opinions of carers and for this reason is always looking for more carers to get involved.
