City & Hackney Carers Centre

Description

Who we are…

City & Hackney Carers Centre is an information and support service for unpaid carers.

An unpaid carer is defined as a person who is looking after a child or adult who is ill, disabled, has a mental illness or has substance misuse issues.

You can access this service if you, the carer, or the person being cared for, lives in Hackney or the City of London.

To have full access to all Carers Centre services the person being cared for must be and adult so 18 years old or older, however some services; counselling,  benefits advice, community projects are open to parents / carers no matter what the age of their child or young person. Young adult carer events are open to carers who are themselves aged 14 -25.

What we do…

• The City & Hackney Carers Centre can register you as a parent carer. This helps people planning local services understand how many people locally have a caring role and can plan services to help support them.

• Helps host and run Carers Rights days & Carers Week conference events

• Runs coaching workshops e.g. regarding employment inequalities for carers and information about how to reduce these.

• Grant funded projects for example in 2019 we had funding from Carers Trust  (up to £300 per eligible carer) to go towards costs associated with helping get carers back into employment/ volunteering.

• Host and maintain an events calendar of local activities and groups to encourage carers to have a break or connect with other people in the community 

The City & Hackney Carer's Centre also provides…

Information & Advice

Information & Advice on benefits and carers rights.

Advice surgeries and support with form filling currently run on Thursdays and Fridays.  

Appointments are required for this service and must be booked in advance.

Counselling

Volunteer counsellors, or trainee psychotherapists offer low cost counselling on a sliding scale based on income.

Carers wanting to use this service are asked to attend an intake assessment with a counselling coordinator before being allocated a counsellor.

Average cost is £5 per session but this can be negotiated based on carer income.

Counselling can be arranged Monday-Friday dependant on availability.

Contact the service to find out more.

Coaching

Coaching offers carers the chance to talk to someone about how they are feeling about their life as a carer, in the same way that counselling does.

However, coaching also provides carers with support to take action, make change, work towards goals and get through whatever life (and other people) are throwing at you.

Some people may choose to come to coaching after counselling when they feel ready to make practical changes.

Others may be drawn to coaching rather than counselling because they feel that it is more action-oriented.

Community based projects…  

Brocals

Multigenerational men’s befriending project.

Combines, one to one befriending, monthly group meet ups and quarterly trips further afield for a subsidised return ticket of approximately £15.

Connect Hackney fund this project and recipients must be 50 years old or older.

Many volunteers are younger and benefit from the social interaction and networking because of their involvement in this project.   

Web: www.brocals.org   

Carers Collective Hackney

Carers Collective Hackney is an arts collective for people who care.

It is a safe space for carers at risk of mental health issues and carers for people with dementia to connect through meet-ups and creative activities.

Carers aged 50 years old and older of all sizes, ethnicities, races and sexual orientations are invited to come together to collaborate on projects, form friendships and celebrate and inspire one another.

Weekly creative activities, networking and courses for the core offer of this project.

A staffed 'low stimulation' zone  offers a safe space for those with dementia or other sensory processing issues to be supported while their carers have a break and explore their creativity in a nearby room.

Volunteer 'Creative Collaborators' bring the creative spirit of the collective's activities to the home

Group shows of carers' work invite the wider public to view and appreciate the collectives work. These take place on Carers Rights Day and during Carers' Week.

Dementia Discussions

Dementia Discussions is a service open to anyone in City and Hackney for whom this topic is relevant.

CCG funded until Sept 2020 the service it delivered entirely online. It consists of three elements:

• Monthly live stream Question and Answer sessions with local experts on topics that matter to carers. These are recorded and uploaded to a YouTube channel so the advice shared is made more widely available.
• Carers Crisis toolkit - a practical tool that combines reflective activities, psycho-education and coping strategies to help manage more challenging aspects of caring for someone with dementia. Hard copies and online versions are available.
• Online Dementia Support Groups –  6 weeks of online support provided for I hour per week allowing carers to meet up online, work through a workbook and engage in peer support.
• Online carers helpline managed through weekly ‘digital drop-in sessions’ where carers can ask questions, get advice and more. 

Notes

Advocacy services are now provided by: The Advocacy Project