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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:
It's that time of year again when we celebrate the amazing support and love that you provide to a family member, friend or neighbour as an unpaid carer. From 10 - 16 June 2024 we are supporting Carers Week and this year's theme is 'Putting carers on the map'.
There is a whole host of different activities and events across the week, across the city. There are several events being held where you can meet lots of different organisations, have a chat and gain some information and advice. If this is not for you, maybe some mindfulness colouring or flower arranging maybe more your thing. All the details are below, so please do take a look. You can also keep an eye out if you are in town as Coventry City Council will be showing their support to carers in the city by turning Greyfriars Green, Whittle Arch and Christchurch Spire blue. It’s well worth taking a look.
We have also shared information about our Stakeholders' group and how to get involved as well as important details about some drop in sessions that we will be holding at Central Library to share information about the recommissioning of Carers services in the city. Please do come along and have chat with us.
Take care and we hope that you enjoy reading this month's bulletin.
 We’d really like to hear from anyone accessing carers support services or home support services in Coventry, to help us shape how we deliver support in the future.
- Carers Support Services
- Long Term Home Support Services
We will be at Central Library on:
- 6 June – 12noon - 2pm
- 18 June – 9:30am - 11.30am
- 19 June – 9:30am -11.30am
If you can’t attend a session but would like to be provide any feedback please email us.
Join us and together we can help support carers!
We're delighted to confirm that we will be kicking off our Carers' Week activities on Sunday 9 June with a walk around the breath taking Packington Estate.
The specific route is to be confirmed, but we are hoping to complete a 4 mile walk and want you to join us! Whatever your reason, whoever you walk for, please come along and join in. Feel free to come alone, bring the family, or even a furry friend!
Every step taken will help support carers in Coventry and Warwickshire so your support is much appreciated, not only by us but carers and those they care for too. We can't wait to see you all, ready and raring to go!
Please email the team to register your interest. More information on route and meeting point will be revealed in the near future.
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Carers Trust Heart of England invite you to join them to put carers on the map at their event at Coventry Building Society Arena, Business Lounge on Monday 10 June 2024 from 4pm - 7:30pm.
Celebrate all our Young and Adult Carers across Coventry and Warwickshire.
- Have fun in our games zone
- Meet our community partners and find out what local support is available to you and your family.
- Get creative with arts and crafts
- Chat to our adult wellbeing team regarding support and transition for young adult carers 18 - 25 years
- Our friends at Ladybug Lodge will be providing a safe SEN sensory space for families to access during the event.
Free parking at Coventry Building Society Arena and refreshments provided.
To register your place contact 07428 670 040.
Empowering young carers and young adult carers, building fair futures and putting our young carers on the map!
Join Carers Trust for a Mindful Colouring Workshop on Tuesday 11 June from 12:30pm - 1:30pm at Central Library, West Orchards Way, Coventry CV1 1FY.
Take some time out and join us for a relaxing session of mindfulness and colouring.
For more information please email or call 024 7663 2972, option 1.
 Carer Information Fair
Do you know what help is available to you as an unpaid carer?
Join us and our partners as we host an information day on all areas of caring: from legal and financial to your own health and wellbeing, we're here for you.
The fair is taking place at Broad Street Rugby Club, 105 Rugby Road, Binley Woods, Coventry CV3 2AY on Wednesday 12 June from 10:30am to 2:30pm.
If you are a current partner of ours or have information that would be helpful for unpaid carers, contact us by emailing the team or, give them a call on 024 7663 2972 option 1.
Carers Trust Heart of England are delighted to announce that we will once again be hosting our annual Carer Awards Ceremony on Thursday 13 June at Warwick School.
This year's Carer Awards will be that little bit more special as we celebrate our 50th anniversary. The Carer Awards will mark the beginning of these celebrations which will go on throughout the year, with so many fantastic memories and milestones to reflect upon!
The Carer Awards Ceremony will take place during Carers' Week (10-16 June), an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don’t see themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.
This year’s theme is ‘Putting Carers on the Map.’ We are asking everyone to help us raise awareness of carers and to thank them for the invaluable role they carry out.
The Carer Awards is an opportunity for the local community to come together to celebrate the selfless work of not only carers but also the businesses, educational organisations and fundraisers that have gone above and beyond to help support carers and those they care for.
We are excited to reveal the winners in next month's bulletin and share photo's of the event.
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Meeting
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Date
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Time
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Mental Health Care and Share
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Tuesday 4 June 2024
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10:30am – 12:30pm
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Grief, Loss and Change with Dr Liz Sparke
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Wednesday 5 June 2024
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10am – 12noon
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Working Carers Group
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Thursday 6 June 2024
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5:30pm – 6:30pm
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All age Carer Information evening
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Monday 10 June 2024
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4pm – 7:30pm
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Mindfulness Colouring Workshop
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Tuesday 11 June 2024
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12:30pm – 1:30pm
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Carers Information Fair
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Wednesday 12 June 2024
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10am – 2pm
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Flower Arranging
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Thursday 13 June 2024
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10am – 12noon
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Milan Group
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Friday 14 June 2024
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11am – 12:45pm
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Grief, Loss and Change with Dr Liz Sparke
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Wednesday 19 June 2024
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10am – 12noon
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Change and Bereavement Support Group
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Thursday 20 June 2024
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11am – 12noon
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Grief, Loss and Change with Dr Liz Sparke
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Wednesday 26 June 2024
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10am – 12noon
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Walking and Social Group
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Thursday 27 June 2024
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12noon – 2pm
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To attend a session, it is important that you are registered with Carers Trust Heart of England. Most of our groups are based in Coventry City Centre and the location will be confirmed when booking.
For more information please email the team, 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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Henley Green Grub Hub
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Henley Green Community Centre, CV2 1HQ
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Wednesday 5 June 2024
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10am – 12 noon
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Canley Social Supermarket
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Canley Community Centre, CV4 8FT
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Friday 7 June 2024
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11:30am – 1pm
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Willenhall Primary Care Centre 1
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Remembrance Road, CV3 3DG
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Monday 17 June 2024
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9am – 12noon
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Henley Green Grub Hub
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Henley Green Community Centre CV2 1HQ
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Wednesday 19 June 2024
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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 24 June 2024
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9:30am – 1pm
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Willenhall Primary Care Centre 1
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Remembrance Road, CV3 3DG
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Friday 28 June 2024
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10am – 12noon
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For more information please email the team, give them a call on 024 7663 2972 option 1.
It's been a busy month for our young carers!
We celebrated Mental Health Awareness Week and launched our Wellbeing Wednesday group. We invited young carers to come along and relax in a quiet space. During the group we explored ways to support our own wellbeing, listening to music was a very popular choice with those who attended. Young carers took home a wellbeing journal to use and fill with lots of positive self care that they can use at home and bring along to the group.
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We also held peer support groups across the city, and got creative with textiles. Our support groups are a great way for young carers to enjoy some respite from their caring role and meet new friends.
Some of our Young Adult Carers attended an action packed residential trip to Scarborough with Coventry University exploring higher education and learning what university life might look like for them as part of the CU Care program. There was even enough time for some fun and games on the beach!
They will continue to attend exciting masterclasses in the following months on campus, exploring everything from Engineering to Law.
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We are really looking forward to our scavenger hunt in the fresh air at Memorial Park during the half-term holidays and a first aid awareness day at Coventry University is also taking place that week.
Next month we are celebrating our young carers during Carers Week and are hosting a special celebration at Coventry Building Society Arena on 10 June.
 Activities for 5 – 10-year-olds:
- Thursday 20 June – Woodside Family Hub - Quiz Night (4:30pm - 6pm)
Activities for 11 – 17-year-olds:
- Monday 17 June – Woodside Hub – Quiz Night (4:30pm – 6pm)
All age activities:
- Wednesday 5 June – Wellbeing Wednesday – Coundon Library (5pm – 6:30pm)
- Wednesday 19 June – Mosaic Family Hub -Youth Club (4pm - 5:30pm)
- Monday 24 June – Sky Blue Multi Sports – Bluecoat School (5pm – 6pm)
- Thursday 27 June– Sky Blue Multi Sports – Bluecoat School (5pm – 6pm)
Extra Celebrations:
- Monday 10 June – Carers Celebration Event – All age- family welcome – Coventry Building Society Arena – (4pm – 7:30pm)
- Friday 28 June – Young Carers Festival 2024
Please discuss with your child/children which activities they would like to attend and call on 07428 670 040 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.
 Adult Social Care Stakeholder Group is welcoming new members!
The group is open to anyone who has recent experience of Adult Social Care, anyone caring who has had experience of Adult Social Care and any voluntary organisations that wish to be involved.
We cover a number of topics:
- Using experience to influence change
- Upcoming developments in Adult Social Care
- Policy documents
- Social care reforms and what that means in practice.
If you’d like to have a friendly chat about the group, to find out and how you can get involved then contact us by email.
The group will ordinarily meet bi-monthly for two hours. Meetings will take place no earlier than 10:30am and will be held either virtually or in the city centre in an accessible venue.
The next meeting is being held virtually on Tuesday 18 June from 10:30am – 12:30pm. We look forward to welcoming you.
Change Grow Live (CGL) offer two groups per week for Family, Friends and Carers of those who use drugs and/or alcohol. You do not have to have a family member in treatment with CGL to attend.
Both groups take place at CGL Lamb Street, Coventry, CV1 4AE.
Wednesdays, 1-3pm – SMART for Family and Friends:
Our SMART for Family and Friends Support group is great way to get support from others experiencing a similar problem. The group programme is designed to help you achieve a healthy, positive and balanced lifestyle while supporting your Loved One. We use the SMART recovery tools which can help you deal with challenging situations and difficult feelings.
Booking is not required, please feel free to turn up.
Saturdays,11.30am – “To Love An Addict” Peer Support Group
"To Love An Addict" family group, aims to provide a safe & confidential place, to ‘offload’ using talking as a therapy to create an effective & therapeutic benefit, to all those affected by someone's drug or alcohol misuse. The group provides a place to feel heard and valued. We use peer support and find that speaking to like-minded people, who are going through similar experiences, is always so powerful.
Booking is required, and can be done by contacting Poonam Parmer on: 0790 946 4875
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Upgrade your Go CV account if you are registered with Carers Trust Heart of England.
Did you know, if you or someone you know is an unpaid carer, you can register for a free Go CV card and be entitled to Go CV+ the highest level of discount for Coventry residents on partner events, activities and attractions? You can find all the latest discounts and offers on the Go CV app.
All you need to do is register with the Carers Trust Heart of England who will provide you with a letter to confirm you are a carer then ensure your Go CV account is upgraded with your status to get Go CV+ level of discount. You can then easily upload a copy of your carer’s letter.
 Reminiscence Sessions:
Memory boxes from Coventry Museums.
Last Thursday of every month from 1pm - 2pm at Tile Hill Library, Jardine Crescent, Tile Hill, Coventry CV4 9PL
Book your space at the library desk or call 024 7678 6785.
Join us for a cup of tea and biscuit, in this friendly and conversational session where you will meet staff from the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum and Coventry Transport museum to explore reminiscence boxes that contain original and replica artefacts from the museum's collections.
Share your stories and memories with the group, if you wish to, or simply explore the objects and enjoy experiencing items form Coventry's history.
At the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, they have a programme called Awaken the Arts: These do need to be arranged in advance, but are suitable for groups to book, or for individuals. They don't charge for these, but so welcome donations where possible.
Adult Social Care safeguarding posters have been translated into the 6 main languages used in Coventry.
- Polish
- Punjabi
- Urdu
- Arabic
- Romanian
- Tigrinya
Our Safeguarding Information is also available in Arabic.
Please do take a look.
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 Alzheimer's Society invite you to their information/advice session in a relaxed setting for people affected by Dementia.
This group is for carers and those with a diagnosis of Dementia and 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
Where: Community Dementia Partnership Hub, Everdon Road, Coventry, CV6 4DT (Dave Willetts room)
- Thursday 20 June from 10:30am - 12noon
- Thursday 18 July from 10:30am - 12noon
- Thursday 15 August from 10:30am - 12noon
- Thursday 19 September from 10:30am - 12noon
- Thursday 17 October from 10:30am - 12noon
- Thursday 21 November from 10:30am - 12noon
- Thursday 19 December from 10:30am - 12noon
Drop ins welcome and refreshments available. Contact 024 7665 2602 or send us an email.
A new Reading Well for dementia scheme is launching to support people living with dementia, their carers and family members, including children. The scheme offers quality-assured, evidence-based reading recommendations, and was launched on 13 May 2024 at the start of Dementia Action Week, in public libraries across England and Wales.
Reading Well for dementia promotes understanding and helps to break down stigma around dementia. Some of the recommended books provide information and advice; there are also personal stories and children’s fiction. Reading Well books are free to borrow from your local library, and many of the titles are also available to access digitally as e-books and audiobooks.
Reading Well has been developed by The Reading Agency in partnership with Libraries Connected and the Society of Chief Librarians Cymru, and is delivered with public libraries. It is funded by Arts Council England and Welsh Government.
Reading Well for dementia titles are available in Coventry libraries now.
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The ShopMobility service is provided by Mobility Pathways on behalf of Coventry City Council.
It is a service that provides powered and un-powered wheelchairs and mobility scooters for people who have either permanent or temporary limited mobility; allowing them greater independence to use the pedestrianised shopping areas within Coventry city centre.
Mobility Pathways also operates a sales outlet for mobility and daily living aids. Only a small amount of stock is available for sale on the premises, however, items can be ordered for delivery. Information on the range of products available can be obtained from our staff.
- Membership is free of charge.
- The equipment is also free to use.
- We do have a donations box on-site and would appreciate a small donation each time you use the equipment if you can afford to do so.
- Our on-site staff will give you instructions and show you how to use the equipment.
- You will be asked to complete a form to confirm that you have read and understood the terms and conditions of use including the relevant safety information.
How to register
Before using our mobility scooters and equipment for the first time, you will need to register with us as a member. For further information about membership please take a look at their website.
Location
The ShopMobility unit is located on the ground floor of Salt Lane Car Park, directly behind the Upper Precinct.
Parking
Disabled parking spaces are available in Salt Lane Car Park. Car parking is free for Blue Badge holders.
For your information there is also a Changing Places Toilet at the new venue.
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The Recovery and Wellbeing Academy offer over 80 free courses, online and in person through out Coventry and Warwickshire, to improve wellbeing. They are open to all adults living in Coventry or Warwickshire, no referral required, just visit the website Enrolment - Recovery and Wellbeing and scroll through the calendar to book on.
- Bereavement - 6 June 2024
- Writing for wellbeing - 7 June 2024
- Introduction to Mindfulness - 18 June 2024
- Coping with caring - 27 June 2024
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Anyone in Coventry and the surrounding areas can get free, expert advice on all their energy needs thanks to Coventry City Council’s partner, Act on Energy.
As well as advice on:
- billing (are they too high; do you get confused by them?),
- metering (is your meter working correctly and are you on the right tariff)
- energy efficiency (is it better to bulk cook in an oven or use a slow cooker
- Our advisors can help with the growing problem of damp and mould, which can be a significant health issue, particularly for those with compromised immune systems.
We can also talk you through what free grants are available to help with old and inefficient heating systems, insulating your property and even new boilers or gas servicing.
And as we approach the summer, this is an ideal time to get your home warm and efficient before the winter.
Keeping Coventry Warm is a specifically funded programme to help people who have a long term diagnosed health condition or disability which is affected by living in a cold home.
Funding is available for a range of measures including wall insultation, gas central heating and help with broken boilers. Financial circumstances are considered but it’s worth giving us a call to see how we can help. We even have an outreach officer who can make home visits for those most in need.
Not all of the schemes have the same criteria so please do call for more information on 0800 988 2881 or check out our new website
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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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