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This newsletter contains the latest news and messages from Coventry City Council and information about local community groups and partners who are offering local support.
In this issue:
This month saw us celebrating Carers' Rights Day on Thursday 23 November, with the theme of Your rights: today, tomorrow and in the future. Carers' Rights Day looks to empower carers to access information and support as well as being able to challenge things when their rights are not being met. Carers Trust Heart of England held several different events across the city, helping to identify unpaid carers as well as their continued support for registered carers. The activities ranged from drop ins and flower arranging, to support for working unpaid carers. Coventry City Council also showed their support for all the amazing support that unpaid carers provide by turning several areas of the city blue. Thank you!
You will find up to date information about flu and Covid19 vaccinations and details about a walk in session at Coventry Transport Museum where you can receive your Covid vaccine without booking. Please make use of these vaccinations to take care of you and your loved ones.
We have included information about a new walking group that is starting in December and if you are feeling creative why not join the Christmas card workshop. You can also read further details of all other groups that are being provided by organisations across the city.
We hope you find this month's bulletin helpful. Take care.
Carers Trust Heart of England held several different events across the city to celebrate Carers' Rights Day and highlight the support that is on offer to unpaid carers in Coventry.
Anna and Lisa held a drop-in information session at Coventry Central Library between 11am and 2pm. They had a busy few hours and spoke to 28 individual people, three of whom were already registered with the service but wanted to talk about their current situations. It was great to interact with individuals that were not aware that there is specific support available to them in their caring role and to spread the word about the work that Carers Trust Heart of England do to support all age carers across Coventry and Warwickshire.
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Sanna and Alex facilitated a lovely flower arranging session on 23 November, held at the Central Methodist Hall. It was a well-attended session with nine carers. They created a beautiful bouquet of flowers, consisting of greenery, oranges and pink tones. It was quite a challenging one to make as previous sessions have involved making something in a pot or sticking stalks into a sponge, however this one had to be all held together by hand! They had some new faces there and some carers have already booked on to a future session as they enjoyed this one so much.
Everyone clubbed together and helped one another out, especially as they only had one free hand at a time!
Libby from Carers Trust Heart of England teamed up with the patient experience team at UHCW to organise a pop-up event to spread awareness about the support they provide to unpaid carers. Four people from the team and Marion Thatcher, the Patient Insight and Involvement co-ordinator for UHCW were in the main reception area informing people on the role in the community. They provided leaflets and information on the organisation. As well as this, Marion took Libby to a few wards to introduce herself as the new Hospital Liaison Officer for Carers Trust. They put a pack together for these wards including information on their groups and a poster introducing Libby to put in their staff rooms. This means that staff at the hospital can contact her about specific advice and support.
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On the run up to Carers' Rights Day, our young carers helped to make a video about their rights. They also enjoyed a fun session making and decorating cakes and talking about their caring roles and how it effects them, even management joined in.
We finished off the day enjoying some respite at The Belgrade Theatre watching a panto.
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 On Friday 24 November 2023, Cllr Linda Bigham paid a visit to the Milan Carers Group. The Milan group is ran by Carers Trust Heart of England for carers from South Asian backgrounds.
Carers groups are incredibly important as they provide valuable respite for carers to spend time for themselves away from their caring role and to be surrounded by people with shared experiences.
On this day, the Milan Group had a flower arranging session and made wreaths in the colours of Diwali, which Carer’s Trust recently celebrated with a very well attended event for carers who celebrate Diwali.
The timing of this event not only coincided with the recent Diwali celebrations, but also ‘Carers Rights Day’ which recognises the rights of people who provide valuable unpaid care to people with care and support needs.
It's important to get your seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccinations if you're at higher risk of getting seriously ill from these illnesses.
For some people, flu or COVID-19 can be very dangerous and even life-threatening. The flu and COVID-19 vaccines reduce the risk of serious illness in colder months. People are urged to come forward for their jabs as soon as they are invited to by NHS England.
If you are a paid or unpaid carer, you can get vaccinated this Autumn. Protect yourself and the person you care for. Book your flu and Covid-19 vaccinations now.
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 Don't miss your Covid vaccination.
Are you over 65? Do you have a health condition?
Walk-in appointments are available for those who are eligible for the Covid-19 booster vaccine. Any questions? You're welcome to chat with our nurses.
No booking required.
When: Saturday 2 December 2023 from 10am to 4pm
Where: Coventry Transport Museum, Millennium Place, Hales Street, Coventry CV1 1JD
Changing the experience of pain
Come and join us and explore ways to change the experience of pain through meditation, compassion and simple methods that can help reduce the impact of pain.
The session takes place on:
Thursday 7 December 2023 from 10:30am - 12:30pm at Central Methodist Hall, Warwick Lane, Coventry CV1 2HA
For more information please email the team, give them a call on 024 7663 2972 option 1.
Carers get together
Carer coffee morning ran by Willenhall Primary Care Centre 1 and supported by Carers Trust Heart of England. Activities include:
- Sharing experiences
- Brain and body activity
- Creativity
- Hear from guest speakers
- Health advice
- Chat and laugh with others
For more information please email the team, give them a call on 024 7663 2972 option 1.
 St Peter's Church support groups
Milan Carers Group
Join us at our monthly South Asian carers group where you can take some time out, meet other carers, socialise, and enjoy some delicious refreshment! The next session take place on:
Drop-in sessions
Come along and ask any questions and gain information or signposting from our wellbeing team. The next sessions take place on:
- Friday 1 and 8 December 2023
Both the group and drop in will take place at St Peter’s Church, Charles Street, Hillfields, Coventry CV1 5NP
To book please email the team, give them a call on 024 7663 2972 option 1.
 Join Carers Trust for their Christmas card workshop on Friday 8 December 2023 from 10:30am - 12noon at St Peter's Centre, Charles Street, Coventry CV1 5NP
For more information please email the team or give them a call on 024 7663 2972 option 1.
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Meeting
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Date
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Time
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Online Mental Health Care and Share
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Monday 4 December 2023
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1:30pm – 3pm
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Mental Health Care and Share
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Tuesday 5 December 2023
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10:30am – 12:30pm
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Flower Arranging
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Wednesday 6 December 2023
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10am – 12noon
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Yoga and Relaxation
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Wednesday 6 December 2023
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11am – 12noon
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Carers Tea @ 3
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Wednesday 6 December 2023
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3pm – 4pm
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Dr Liz Sparkes – Changing experiences of pain
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Thursday 7 December 2023
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10:30am – 12:30pm
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Sleep Course
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Thursday 7 December 2023
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6pm – 7pm
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Working Carers Group
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Thursday 7 December 2023
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6pm – 7pm
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Christmas Card Workshop
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Friday 8 December 2023
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10:30am – 12noon
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Yoga and Relaxation
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Wednesday 13 December 2023
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11am – 12noon
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Carers Tea @ 3
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Wednesday 13 December 2023
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3pm – 4pm
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Laughter Club
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Thursday 14 December 2023
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11am – 12noon
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Flower Arranging
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Thursday 14 December 2023
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11am – 1pm
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Emotional Resilience
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Thursday 14 December 2023
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12noon – 1:30pm
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Sleep Course
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Thursday 14 December 2023
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6pm – 7pm
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Yoga and Relaxation
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Wednesday 20 December 2023
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11am – 12noon
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Carers Tea @ 3
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Wednesday 20 December 2023
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3pm – 4pm
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Sleep Course
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Thursday 21 December 2023
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6pm – 7pm
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Milan South Asian Group
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Friday 15 December 2023
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11am – 1pm
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For more information please email the team or give them a call on 024 7663 2972 option 1
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Meeting
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Where
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Date
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Time
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St Peter’s Church
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Charles Street CV1 5NP
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Friday 1 & 8 December 2023
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11am – 1pm
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Willenhall Primary Care Centre 1
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Remembrance Road CV3 3DG
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Friday 1 December 2023
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11am – 12noon
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Canley Social Supermarket
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Canley Community Centre CV4 8FT
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Friday 1 December 2023
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11:30am – 1pm
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Caludon Centre
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Room 11, Clifford Bridge Road CV2 2TE
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Thursday 7 December 2023
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10am – 6pm
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Henley Green Grub Hub
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Henley Green Community Centre CV2 1HQ
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Wednesday 13 December 2023
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10am – 12 noon
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Broad Street Hall
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Broad Street Meeting Hall, 126 Broad Street CV6 5BG
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Monday 18 December 2023
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9:30am – 1pm
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For more information please email the team or give them a call on 024 7663 2972 option 1
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October and November have been incredibly busy months for young carers! From exciting quiz nights, spooky escape rooms and a trip to the pantomime! |
As part of our commitment to supporting the mental health of young carers, we organised a special mental health session focusing on self-care and how we manage stress. We invited young carers to make posters to promote the importance of talking about how they feel and explored techniques shared by the young carers who attended.
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We have partnered with Sky Blues in the Community to organise some thrilling physical activities for our young carers. The sessions focus on promoting the importance of physical well-being and provide a fun and engaging experience for the young people who attended. We are grateful to Sky Blues in the Community for their support and dedication to our registered young carers.
We were thrilled at the opportunity to take some young carers along to Aston Martin for their family day. During the day, our young carers had the chance to explore the world of luxury cars and witness the innovation and craftsmanship that goes into creating these iconic cars. The day was filled with fun and excitement and we are thankful that Aston Martin opened their doors to us for such an incredible experience
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Our young carers recently celebrated Diwali, also known as the Festival of Light. Young carers sampled delicious sweet and savoury traditional foods and even made their own sweet delights to enjoy.
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December is sure to be another busy month filled with exciting trips and celebrations for everyone to enjoy.
Please take a look at what is coming up in December.
 Activities for 5 – 10-year-olds:
- Sunday 3 December – Christmas Party @David Lloyds (2pm-4pm)
- Saturday 16 December - Christmas movies and munchies (11am – 3pm)
- Thursday 21 December – Christmas crafts @Woodside Family Hub (4:30pm - 6pm)
- Thursday 28 December – Online catch up (11am)
Activities for 11 – 17-year-olds:
- Monday 18 December – Christmas crafts @Woodside Family Hub (4:30pm – 6pm)
- Thursday 28 December - Online catch up (1pm)
Activities for 8 – 16-year-olds:
- Tuesday 5 December – Wizard of Oz – Planet Ice show (7pm)
All Age Activities:
- Sunday 9 December – Cinderballer Family Panto with Fridays
- Monday 11 December – Moat Family Hub (4pm – 5:30pm)
- Monday 14 December – Moat Family Hub (4pm – 5:30pm)
Young Adult Carers:
- Friday 15 December – Christmas Social (6:30pm)
Please discuss with your child/children which activities they would like to attend and call Kelly on 07428 670040, to express your interest. A confirmation message will be sent out if your child has been allocated a place.
Please note, some activities will be taking place at different venues and there are limited spaces at some of the events. So book early.
A pensioner cost of living payment of £300 per household will be paid as a top up to those eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment during November and December. If you were born before 25 September 1957 and receive the Winter Fuel Payment, you will automatically receive the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment at the same time.
You do not need to apply or contact anyone to receive this Cost of Living Payment alongside your Winter Fuel Payment. If you’re eligible, you will be sent a letter telling you how much your payment will be.
However, while most eligible pensioners will receive the Winter Fuel Payment automatically, a small number of people may need to make a claim for it. You can check if you need to do this. If your claim is successful, you’ll then be eligible for the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment.
Pension Credit is also available to support the most vulnerable pensioners. You can check the eligibility of yourself or a loved one on the Government website. You can still qualify for the £300 Cost of Living Payment if you make a successful backdated Pension Credit application by 10 December 2023.
You can find out more about the range of government support with the cost of living, including Pension Credit and cold weather payments on the Government's website.
Information/advice in a relaxed setting for people affected by dementia
Your local Dementia Café provides a safe and supportive place for you to:
▪ discuss your own dementia diagnosis, or someone else's, and think about what it means for the future,
▪ get answers from health and social care professionals and other voluntary organisations
▪ meet and learn from other people in similar situations
Drop-ins welcome
The next session takes place on 16 December 6pm - 8pm
Where to find us: - Queen's Road Baptist Church Grosvenor Road Coventry CV1 3FE
Please contact your local office to book a place.
Contact 024 7665 2602 or email for more information.
Refreshments included.
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Do you care for someone with dementia? Get support from someone who understands
Join our peer support group in Coventry.
Our peer support group offers a safe place to talk about how dementia affects your life. You will also receive helpful information to take away with you.
Where to find us: - St. Barbara's Church Hall, 2 Rochester Road, Coventry CV5 6AG
Our peer support runs: - First Wednesday of every month from 10.30am to 12.00noon.
The next session is being held on Wednesday 6 December.
Please contact your local office to book a place.
Contact 024 7665 2602 or email for more information.
Refreshments included.
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People can become confused for a variety of reasons. Confusion may be temporary or it may be long standing, but either way it can be very frightening. In hospitals we try to reduce this fear and anxiety as much as possible. There are a number of things we can do to help:
- Confused patients need reassurance and there is no one better than family or friends to help with this, so we encourage relatives and friends to visit when the patient benefits from it the most.
- Confused people often need help with food and drink and there are several ways we can help. We have a ‘Dietary Information Form’ that they ask you to complete which will help them to provide the best diet within their chosen food types
- Communication with some confused people can be difficult and nursing staff need to know as much as possible about that person in order to best meet their needs. We ask friends and relatives to complete a ‘Getting to Know Me’ form which the ward staff can give you and we would encourage you to add any other information you may feel is useful for us to know. These forms will be kept at the bedside for staff to access as necessary.
What you should know
Sky blue pillowcases
You may notice that some people will have a sky blue pillowcase on their bed. This is a way for staff to identify which patients need a little extra help because of confusion or communication difficulties.
Activities
Stimulation is important to many patients whilst they are in hospital and to help with this we have an activities organiser, as well as help from volunteers. Your input will be very much appreciated.
For additional support:
Alzheimer’s Society
Providing information and support to people with dementia and their carers/families. Call 0333 150 3456
Coventry and Rugby Admiral Nurses - Providing support for carers, please call 02477 710980 or email the team.
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As a carer it’s important to know the signs and symptoms of a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI).
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) together with NHS England (NHSE), are running a joint campaign to raise awareness of UTI prevention, symptom recognition and treatment including advice on how and when to seek help.
This campaign is targeted at:
- Older adults (65 years +) who are at higher risk of the impacts of urinary tract infections
- Paid and unpaid carers
What should you do if you think someone you care for has a UTI?
Contact a healthcare professional, this could be the local GP, a senior nurse, the community pharmacist, walk-in centre or NHS 111 service if you think someone you care for may have a UTI.
For further information about UTI prevention and treatment please see the NHS website.
 The Coventry Caribbean Association presents:
Tunes on Tuesday
Disco primarily for people that need support to get out and live their best lives! Come and enjoy a disco in a safe space, meet people socially and have fun!
Join them at:
The Caribbean Centre, 159 Spon Street, Coventry CV1 3BB every Tuesday from 11am - 2:30pm (£5 but free for carers/support workers)
Entrance is wheelchair accessible. Toilets are not wheelchair accessible at this time
For more details you can drop them an email or Whatsapp 07447 648 514
We know that many people are worried about their energy bills as we head into the colder months.
That’s why it’s crucial to make sure your home is as energy efficient as possible to help reduce bills – and that you’re getting all the help available to manage your bills. Coventry City Council has partnered with energy advice experts Act on Energy to help anyone in the area with their energy needs. Simply call 0800 988 2881 and speak to a friendly advisor to make sure you are receiving all the help and support available.
There are lots of schemes available and not all of them have the same application criteria, so please do call to find out more.
A generous donation from Coventry Building Society means that Act on Energy can help residents who are struggling with their ongoing energy bills or debt through the Coventry Energy Fund.
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 help towards servicing any broken boilers and heating systems.
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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.
Applicants should be owner occupiers or living in a private rented property. Funding can include:
• External wall insulation
• Cavity wall insulation
• First time gas central heating
• Broken boiler replacement
• Inefficient gas boiler
• Loft insulation
• Upgrade or repair of electric storage heaters
Measures are income related but there is scope for wide ranging help so please do call to see if Act on Energy can help. Call for free on 0800 988 2881 or visit the Act On Energy website.
Applications forms for both schemes are now live on the Act on Energy website
and if you don’t have mains gas for your home heating, and an income of less than £31,000, you may be eligible for a Home Upgrade Grant. The grant can provide fully funded energy efficiency improvements to poorly insulated homes within Coventry.
For more details call Act on Energy for free on 0800 988 2881.
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New report highlights the state of health and social care
Performance numbers and the media highlight the issues the NHS faces – but they only tell part of the story. Healthwatch’s new report brings to light the public’s perspective on the state of health and social care.
The public’s perspective: The state of health and social care draws on the experiences of over 65,000 people Healthwatch heard from between October 2022 and September 2023, combined with external data. It helps readers stand back from the headlines and look at what it’s really like to use health and social care services in 2023.
In each section of the report there is a snapshot of the positives and negatives, and they have highlighted where issues disproportionately affect some groups more than others. The full report can be found on Healthwatch's website.
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As part of a national plan to improve access to diagnostic tests like scans and x-rays, Coventry is getting a new Community Diagnostic Centre. This will be built within the Paybody building which is close to the City of Coventry Health Centre and will be finished in 2025.
Healthwatch Coventry has been working to make sure that local people have a say over the design. They held a discussion group where local people heard about the plans and talked about what the design should be like, such as signage and how to make it welcoming and user-friendly.
Healthwatch Coventry will continue to work with them as the centre moves into the build phase. Read the report of what people would like to see from the centre which Healthwatch have shared with the project managers.
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Coventry Libraries are part of a pilot scheme to bring readers a new and unique way of choosing book titles. 'Ask for a Book' is a new service for anyone who would like to receive reading suggestions. The pilot will run for two years, in the hope that it will be rolled out nationally.
If you are looking for something different to read and would like some recommendations, or you know someone who needs help getting started with reading, Ask for a Book is a great way to receive suggested books from a trusted source and it now has a new, easier to use website!
With ASK you have the options to choose books by 'cover design' 'theme' or 'family' which can then be collected from your local library.
Why not give it a go and share with friends and family?
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Fighting Fake News
The webpage has now been updated with a range of resources including games and quizzes to help tackle misinformation and encourage critical thinking skills. This is particularly vital with the increase in artificial intelligence making the spread of disinformation much faster.
Have a go at trying to see if you can spot the real from the fake… do you know if an image/video was created by AI?
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You can also keep up to date with what is happening across the city at our libraries by looking at their website. Activities range from chess sessions, film club, fitness and craft activities and a whole range of other fun things to take part in.
Would you like to know more about adult carers and young carers?
If so we have two courses that are available to help increase your knowledge. Both courses are free and you can access them in your own time. Please take a look and we hope you find them helpful:
It’s simple! Just add your email address in the top right hand corner and click GO!
You can also sign up or view previous bulletins from our Carers' website.
If you have any comments or wish to contribute something to the next bulletin, please let us know by contacting us at carers@coventry.gov.uk.
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