For most people, flu and COVID-19 are unpleasant. But for some, particularly people with certain health conditions, older people and pregnant women, they can be very dangerous and even life-threatening.  

In winter, flu and COVID-19 spread more easily as we spend more time indoors with other people.

Vaccines are our best and safest protection against flu and COVID-19 viruses. Over the last few years, winter vaccines have kept tens of thousands of people out of hospital and helped to save countless lives

Getting the flu and COVID-19 vaccines as soon as possible are two of the most important things you can do to keep yourself and others around you safe and get ‘winter strong’ before winter arrives.  

Having your winter vaccines will reduce your risk of serious illness. If you have been vaccinated you are more likely to have milder symptoms and recover more quickly if you catch flu or COVID-19.

As well as protecting you and the people around you, vaccination also protects the NHS over winter by reducing the number of people that are likely to get seriously ill from catching a virus and needing to go to hospital.

NHS eligibility for both vaccines

People who are eligible to get both vaccines through the NHS include:

• everyone aged 65 and above,
• pregnant women,
• care home residents,
• people aged 6 months old or above with certain health conditions,
• frontline health and care staff,
• unpaid carers and household contacts of those at higher risk.  

If eligible, you are encouraged to come forward as soon as you can. This is to give you the best possible protection, particularly due to the risk of the new variant (BA.2.86). It is important to top up your protection, even if you have had a vaccine or been ill with flu or COVID-19 before, as immunity fades over time and these viruses change each year.  

If you are eligible you can book your COVID-19 vaccine on the NHS App or by visiting the website. Those who can’t get online can also make a booking at one of the same sites by calling 119 for free. Most people will receive both vaccines at a GP practice or a local pharmacy. Where possible, you will also be offered the flu vaccine at the same appointment. We encourage you to take up this offer to get protected against both viruses in just a few minutes. If this is not possible, it is better to get each vaccine as soon as you can rather than waiting.

Pregnant women  are eligible at any stage of pregnancy and may also be able to get the flu and COVID-19 vaccines through their local maternity service.  

Eligibility for the flu vaccine

People eligible for the flu vaccine through the NHS include:

• anyone eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine
• people who receive a carer's allowance, or are the main carer for an older or disabled person who may be at risk if you get sick
• people who live with someone who is more likely to get a severe infection due to a weakened immune system
• most children including all aged 2 and 3 years old and school aged children from reception to year 11

Adult flu vaccinations can be booked now through your GP practice or local pharmacy, and some people may be offered their vaccinations directly by a local NHS service.

Read the latest information about both vaccines and how to book by visiting the website. 

Protect yourself this winter. Get your flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. Get winter strong. 

A generous donation from Coventry Building Society means that even more people can be helped with their energy needs this winter.

The £100,000 donation to the Coventry Energy Fund – on top of the same amount given earlier this year, will help residents who are struggling with their ongoing energy bills or debt.

The eligibility criteria is:

• Open to those living in the City of Coventry
• Have a combined, gross household income of less than £31,000 per year
• Have no household savings
• Have a household member living with a vulnerability.

The vulnerability category is quite broad so it’s worth checking the details on the website to see if you are eligible.

If successful, you may be awarded financial help with current energy and water bills, debts and also help towards servicing any broken boilers and heating systems.

Act on Energy also administers the Keeping Coventry Warm scheme on behalf of the City Council. Funding is available for those who have a long term, diagnosed health condition or disability that is made worse by living in a cold or damp home.

Applications forms are now live on the Act on Energy website – or phone 0800 988 2881 for more info

At the Black History Month event, we celebrated historic figures, scientists, inventors and more. We spoke about different things that were created over the centuries by black people and also discussed what black history is and what it means to the Carers. 

We then went on to have a reading from a book by renowned author and carer activist Matthew Mackenzie. The book is called 'A Caring Mind' and it is about Matthews journey as an unpaid carer and also about caring for somebody presenting with mental health issues. The carers seemed to enjoy this reading and have each taken a copy of the book that was gifted from us to them. 

We enjoyed a delicious authentic Caribbean lunch, which consisted of jerk chicken, rice & peas, Mac n Cheese, fried plantain and coleslaw. 

We then went on to have a quiz about black history, which was fun and engaging. The carers won prizes and said that they enjoyed the quiz and that they had gained further knowledge about black history. 

Join us at Willenhall Primary Care Centre, Coventry CV3 3DG on Tuesday 14 November 2023 from 11am - 12noon to hear more about care.

Come along and learn all about:

• Care fees and care homes
• The thresholds before you have to pay for care
• Why your home could be used to pay for this
• Lasting Powers of Attorney
• Ways you can provide for your loved ones once you have passed away

For more information please email the team or give them a call on 02476 632972 option 1.

Are you supporting someone with a diagnosis of Dementia or concerned about someone’s memory?

The key benefits of the information sessions:

• Enabling carers to have increased knowledge of
• Providing carers with practical information that they can use in coping with living with dementia day-to-day.
• Help carers to feel better informed and less
• Empowering carers to access support services and financial benefits and entitlements.
• Enabling carers to plan with and for the person they care for, now and in the future.

The information sessions run on the 1st Wednesday of every month at:

St Barbara’s Church 22 Rochester Road Coventry CV5 6AG

The next session takes place on Wednesday 1 November from 10.30am to 11.45am 

They are also hosting a Carer Information session on Friday 17 November from 11am - 12:30pm at the Community Dementia Partnership Hub, Everdon Road Coventry CV6 4FB. The topic will be "Understanding Dementia".

Please contact your local office to book a place.

Contact 024 7665 2602 or email for more information.

Refreshments included.

The Recovery and Wellbeing Academy offer over 80 free courses for anyone living in Coventry or Warwickshire and 18 years old or over.

• Coping with Caring - Thursday 16 November 23
• Stress Awareness - Thursday 7 December 23
• Self-Compassion - Friday 15 December 23

The courses support with many different areas of wellbeing, but some specific courses have been detailed as most relevant to carers, however, you’re welcome to view the full selection – and book on – through their website Enrolment - Recovery and Wellbeing

Discover New Worlds with Coventry Libraries and Information Service - Digital Offer

Our online services provide easy access to a large collection of trusted knowledge and entertainment resources.

Explore digital reading with our extensive eBook and audiobook collection, covering everything from bestsellers to children's literature.

Stay informed with a wide range of digital magazines and newspapers spanning various interests.

Engage in lifelong learning through free online courses, from driving theory tests to family history research and coding.

Access a world of knowledge with online databases, including academic journals and historical records.

Visit Coventry libraries website for more information.

Jane Jesmond will be talking about her new novel A Quiet Contagion, which is set in Coventry and based on the 1957 Coventry polio epidemic. There will be a Q&A and an opportunity to get copies of the book signed and dedicated.

The event takes place on:

Thursday 9th November

2:30pm - 3:30pm Coventry Central Library, Smithford Way, CV11FY

You can book in person at the library, via our email or by calling the library on 02476 832314.

Relate Coventry has received Home Office funding from West Midlands  Police and Crime Commissioners to expand the work of the Choose2Change Project.

The project helps men and women who want to change the way they behave in their relationships and offers support to their partner. We provide excellent opportunities for those who have engaged in harm to address their behaviour and be supported without feeling judged, enabling them to change and have happier intimate and family relationships.

Choose2Change was established by Relate North Wales in 2007 and has supported multiple families throughout England and Wales, contributing to the development of Respectful Relationships, Safer Families and Stronger Communities. Those who have been supported by Choose2Change say:

“I feel like C2C has really helped to change the dynamic in the family in a positive way“

“I like that I can get to learn skills to manage situations that could potentially lead to conflict.”

“It’s good to be able to talk with other men in similar situations.”

Wife: “My partner is due to finish the programme in two weeks, and he has been coming home positive and more confident to share his thoughts and frustrations.”

Choose to Change also work with Coventry Haven and Panahghar who provide an Integrated Support Service for victims, they are offered support while their partners are on the programme to enhance their safety and have access to a variety of other services, thereby enhancing the lives of the whole family.

The service is open to anyone over the age of 18 years and living in Coventry. If you want to find out more or refer yourself please contact us by email or call us on 024 7622 5863.