NEWS

Linda Jackson, Lynn Gallacher and Shirley Barratt at Holyrood House at Her Majesty The Queen's Royal Garden Party in July 2017.

News

Keep up to date with all the latest news and updates here.

Borders Carers Centre Annual Review

The Way Forward - report

Please see the report of our Carers Conference – The Way Forward. We hope that in this report we have captured the flavour of the day and have accurately reflected your thoughts and views. The report will be shared widely with decision makers within health and social care to ensure that your voices as carers are heard. Next step will be to hold a follow up event to look in more detail at some of the key priorities and to work together to find solutions.
Thank you to all of you who attended.

See report here

Connecting With You

The British Red Cross recently launched a new service aimed at offering support to anyone experiencing issues associated with loneliness. The service, called ‘Connecting with You’, may be especially suitable for people on the highest risk list (previously shielding list) who call the National Assistance Helpline or Local Authority helplines.

‘Connecting With You’ is available to all people aged 18 or over in Scotland and be accessed online at www.mygov.scot/loneliness or by phone on 07709502127 (Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm).

Support offered is dependant individual needs and local availability but could include:
· Weekly phone calls
· online support
· in-person meetings
· support getting into new or old hobbies and interests
· help meeting new people, or getting back in touch with people

Parent Carers Legal Support

A new website has just been launched by a group of legal professionals to help parent carers to understand and navigate their way through the guardianship process.
For more information, you can access the website here: https://pcls.org.uk

Struggling to pay your heating and electricity bills?

For information, advice and help visit changeworks.org.uk
Changeworks Resources for Life Ltd is a company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland No. SC103904 and
a Scottish Charity SC015144

Carers Opinion

We recently surveyed carers (both with online access and without) to gather their thoughts on a post-pandemic world.

We'd like to say thank you to all of you who got involved, and also for the comments.

Some of the feedback:

"I'd be lost without your service"
"I think the service is excellent and much appreciated by me"
"I was very grateful for the regular calls I received, good to know I had a positive link with someone"
"Thank you so much for your continued support. The carers in the Borders are blooming lucky to have such a committed team of people looking after them. Keep up the good work. We really appreciate you."
"Brilliant service and always helpful and helped families hugely with funding and also support"
"The folks have been there when I’ve needed them and have been extremely helpful"
"Borders Carers have been one of the few people who have kept in regular contact on the phone . It was lovely to have someone to talk too and find out information"
"The support I have received over the last couple of months has been excellent"
"Can’t be bettered"
"I'm very grateful for the support received, thank you."
"Amazing service and staff!"
"Can’t thank you enough for the help we have received"
"The folks have been there when I’ve needed them and have been extremely helpful"

Thank you

TV ad campaign launched

A new, countrywide campaign for carers - Carers' Wellbeing Campaign - has been launched in partnership with NHS Inform and the Scottish Government with at https://www.nhsinform.scot/caring. Click here to see the TV ad

If you are based in the Scottish Borders, please contact us for help and support. If you are based anywhere else in Scotland, and would like to know how to access support:

Online - Care Information Scotland where you can take part in a webchat
Phone - Contact Care Information Scotland by phone on 0800 011 3200 - lines are open Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm

Jane McCarry (Isa from TV's Still Game) is the Ambassador for the project, and you can see her announcement on our Facebook page, as well as a video from Jill, a parent carer from Edinburgh who explains just how much difference simply asking for help can make.

Planning to fly with a disability?

In partnership with the UK Civil Aviation Authority Queen Elizabeth's Foundation for disabled people have produced a film that gives wheelchair users, especially powered wheelchair users, information and insights about travelling by air and the support available. See full information here.

The Borders Carers Centre, Brewerybrig, Low Buckholmside, Galashiels TD1 1RT 01896 752431