Tag: VOCAL

Leading Scottish artist to head up Edinburgh & Lothian art initiative for unpaid carers

Scottish charity Art in Healthcare has appointed renowned artist Juliana Capes to run its Caring Spaces project, an innovative initiative which supports unpaid carers.

Juliana, a multi-disciplinary visual artist and filmmaker, has recently shown her work at the Edinburgh Art Festival, Alchemy Film Festival and CCA, Glasgow.

In this new role, she will lead the latest series of monthly online sessions which provide participants with some respite from their day-to-day caring responsibilities by offering them a safe and relaxed space to learn about and develop their passion for art while building peer support. 

Along with her strong artistic pedigree, Juliana brings direct experience to the role as a parent carer of two children with intellectual disabilities.

Caring Space is an innovative project which AiH has developed over several years with VOCAL (Voice of Carers across Lothian). This existing programme, delivered in Musselburgh, Dalkeith, Leith and online, brings carers together through monthly online art sessions and in-person visits to galleries.

Commenting on the new position, Juliana said: “It’s great to be appointed as the Caring Spaces artist for this latest project where I am connecting with other carers and support organisations.

“I’m delighted to bring my own experiences, both as an artist and as a parent carer of two children with additional support needs, to help the participants maximise the wonderful experience this programme has to offer.”

Jeanne Marie Lee, Carer Training Officer, VOCAL Edinburgh said: “Caring Spaces is one of our most popular courses.

“Our carers love the opportunity to get creative with new materials and techniques. With that in mind, it is incredibly exciting to have Juliana joining us in this programme to inspire and delight the group with her ideas.”

Iona McCann, Associate Director (Communities), Art in Healthcare said: “We are really excited to work with Juliana and see what she brings to the Caring Spaces programme.

“Working with someone with lived experience of caring was incredibly important to us as she has a deep understanding of the challenges unpaid carers face. As an organisation, we also want to learn on how we can best support unpaid carers within our team.”

Out of the Blue helps support Edinburgh’s unpaid carers through the arts

  • The Creative Carers programme returns to Out of the Blue this Autumn
  • Now in its second year, the Creative Carers programme of arts workshops supports over 40 people each year with a programme of free arts workshops
  • The programme is a collaboration between Out of the Blue and VOCAL (Voice of Carers Across Lothian)

This September sees the launch of the Creative Carers programme at Out of the Blue Drill Hall. First set up in 2022, Out of the Blue will be working with several resident arts organisations to deliver a series of free creative classes for unpaid carers. The classes will take place over two months this Autumn at Out of the Blue Drill Hall and Abbeymount Studios.

The project is being delivered in partnership with local charity VOCAL (Voice of Carers Across Lothian) to help reach unpaid carers.

According to VOCAL’s most recent carer survey, 79% report an impact on their mental wellbeing after beginning caring and 48% don’t believe they have a good balance between caring and other things in their life.

To help combat these challenges, the project aims to offer unpaid carers a number of creative and inspiring workshops that carers can enjoy to take time away from their caring role, try something new and connect with others.

The free creative workshops include aerial dance, pottery, dressmaking, jewellery, printmaking and drama. The workshops are open for beginners as well as those who have some prior experience. The workshops will take place at Out of the Blue Drill Hall at 32-36 Dalmeny St and at Abbeymount Studios at the top of Easter Road.

These are:

● Aerial skills with All or Nothing
● Pottery with Edinburgh Ceramics Workshop
● Jewellery with Precious Metals Workshop
● Dressmaking with Remode Collective
● Printmaking with Out of the Blueprint

The project has been funded through the Scottish Government’s Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund which aims to support community based initiatives that promote and develop good mental health and wellbeing within the adult population.

Feedback from 2022 suggests that carers enjoyed the chance to engage with other activities offered through the classes (which they would not have done otherwise) and enjoyed the social element.

Some also suggested that they didn’t have time to pursue their own hobbies so they valued the chance to be creative alongside others in a similar caring role.

Feedback from participants in 2022:

● “It helped to focus on the course for a couple of hours and put the everyday stresses to the back of my mind.”
● “Felt as if I could achieve something for myself and be creative for a change.”
● “Felt very positive and excited to be doing something so different.”
● “There was a level of companionship, not just the common situation of being carers but also a shared interest.”

Out of the Blue Project Manager, Johnny Gailey, says: “We’re absolutely delighted to be able to run the Creative Carers programme again this Autumn.

“The feedback from last year’s participants was really positive – carers really valued having time to themselves away from their caring responsibilities and the chance to be creative.

“There’s estimated to be over 80,000 unpaid carers in the Lothian area so hopefully individuals who find themselves in a caring role and who think they would benefit from the programme might find out about the free programme and get in touch to sign up.”

VOCAL’s Chief Executive, Rosemary McLoughlin said: “Many carers face barriers to taking a break from caring, which is why thinking creatively and offering flexible options to short breaks across the city is so important.

“Building on the success of last year’s programme, we hope this partnership with Out of the Blue will support carers to take a much-needed break and have a positive impact on their health and wellbeing.”

The Creative Carers project takes place at the Drill Hall and Abbeymount Studios from early October. If you’re an unpaid carer and are interested in taking part please visit the VOCAL WeeBreaks website where you’ll be able to find out more.

Stress management course for unpaid carers

VOCAL Edinburgh is offering a ‘Stress Management’ course at Pilton Community Health Project for any unpaid carers living in North Edinburgh.

Click on the post below and their link to register your interest. Please share with any unpaid carers you know.

Caring for someone and juggling multiple roles can be stressful.

VOCAL’s stress management course on Wednesday 21 June at Pilton Community Health Project can help you to develop techniques to plan for and manage symptoms:

http://ow.ly/JmUj50OvZmG

Local politicians to host Cost of Living events on Friday 18 November

On Friday 18 November @DeidreBrock & Ben MacPherson are hosting Cost of Living Help & Advice Events at @Leithcomcentre & @RoystonWardieCC.

As well as us & our teams, national & local organisations will be there to assist.

No appointment necessary.

Please spread the word.

#Leith

#Edinburgh

Unpaid carers to receive double additional payment

Tens of thousands of unpaid carers will receive a double payment of the Carer’s Allowance Supplement this winter under legislation passed unanimously by the Scottish Parliament last night.

Recognising the additional pressures unpaid carers face as a result of the pandemic, the December payment of the Carer’s Allowance Supplement will be doubled to £462.80, benefitting more than 91,000 people.

This extra investment, forecast to be £21 million, will be the second time the Scottish Government has doubled a Carer’s Allowance Supplement payment.

The Carer’s Allowance Supplement (Scotland) Bill will also give Ministers powers to provide eligible carers with additional financial support in future if the need arises.

Social Security Minister Ben Macpherson said: “We introduced the Carer’s Allowance Supplement in September 2018 to address the fact that Carer’s Allowance was the lowest of all working age benefits. The £230 payment is in addition to the Carers Allowance in recognition of the role carers play in society.

“In recognition of the additional pressures caused by the pandemic, tens of thousands of unpaid carers will now receive another additional payment of more than £230 through our Carer’s Allowance Supplement this winter. This additional payment means that this year carers in Scotland will get £694.20 more in support than carers in the rest of the UK.

“We also made a double payment last year, so over the past two years we have invested over £120 million from our own budget to support around 91,000 unpaid carers. The Carer’s Allowance Supplement is unique in the UK and is one of seven new benefits we have introduced.

“The Scottish Government will always consider if additional payments are needed in the future, bearing in mind the broad range of support we provide across society and taking account of our limited tax and borrowing powers.

Sebastian Fischer, Chief Executive of VOCAL, which supports and empowers unpaid carers in Edinburgh said:  “As we emerge from the pandemic, the Coronavirus Carers’ Allowance Supplement is a welcome measure and we are delighted that the Bill has passed. This will support carers who have faced, and continue to face, enormous challenges due to Covid-19.

“Unpaid carers have propped up the health and social care sector, and it is vital that they are recognised in ways that deliver real positive impact. We look forward to seeing further measures from our new government which value the role of carers as equal partners.”

Young People’s Mental Health: Peer support for parents

A new Peer Support group for parents caring for a young person (11-25years) experiencing mental health issues is available.

The group will be run as part of the new Parents Carewell Partnership meeting online, fortnightly on a Friday from 10-11am.

The group aims to –
• Provide parents/carers with a safe space to share their experiences and hear from other carers in similar situations
• Help improve wellbeing
• Support parents/carers with ways they can help their child
• Navigate complex systems such as social work assessments and welfare benefits
• Help parents/carers find out more about their rights as a carer

If you’d like to find out more or to wish to attend a session, email Megan, VOCAL’s Parent Carer Support Practitioner at mcopley@vocal.org.uk

The Carewell Partnerships are Edinburgh-wide initiatives which support carers

VOCAL’s Carer Survey now open

The Edinburgh and Midlothian 2021 Carer Survey is now open!

This survey will ask you about your current or past caring role, and taking a break from caring, work, money, and your health and wellbeing. It will also cover the support and services you have accessed. You don’t need to be registered with VOCAL to take part.

As a thank you for your time, you can enter a prize draw. There are two prizes up for grabs:

  • a one-week free holiday to VOCAL’s new carer cottage in Blair Atholl, plus £150 to spend
  • a £50 eVoucher for a retailer of your choice

All responses are anonymous and you can provide as much information as you feel comfortable with. Your support will help develop the future of carer support in Edinburgh  and Midlothian and we would really appreciate your time.

The survey will take approximately 20 minutes to complete and you can save your progress and come back at a later time. VOCAL’s Carer Support Teams in Edinburgh (0131 622 6666) and Midlothian (0131 663 6869) can also support you in completing the survey, simply call them for advice.

Have your say and complete the survey.

The survey will close on Friday 10 September and if you have any questions, please email social@vocal.org.uk

Have your say! https://wh1.snapsurveys.com/s.asp?k=162506936253

£250,000 recovery fund for Capital’s carers

The City of Edinburgh Council and VOCAL, Voice of Carers Across Lothian, have announced a new Carers Recovery Fund.

Recognising the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on unpaid carers, the City of Edinburgh Council has committed to an investment of £250,000 to support unpaid carers. VOCAL will serve as the lead partner, managing the delivery of the fund.

Prior to the pandemic, 65,084 people in Edinburgh had caring responsibilities, 13.7% of the population. For many their caring role increased massively and it is estimated that across Scotland nearly 400,000 additional citizens took on caring responsibilities.

Research released for Carers Week by the Carers Week charities found that 71% of unpaid carers in Scotland have not had any breaks from their caring role during the pandemic.

Of those who got a break, over a third (36%) used the time to complete practical tasks or housework, and almost a quarter (24%) to attend their own medical appointments.

Three quarters (77%) reported being exhausted as a result of caring during the pandemic.

More than a third (36%) said they feel unable to manage their unpaid caring role.

The Carers Recovery Fund is an important step towards further investment in carers as the largest providers of care in our communities. The Fund will be allocated as a one-off payment to individual carers, and can be used to support carer health and wellbeing, enable carers to take a short break and to improve the financial wellbeing of carers.

Cllr Joan Griffiths, Carers Champion for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “I’m so pleased we’re investing £250k in this Carers Recovery Fund in recognition of the extra challenges and additional pressures they have faced during the pandemic.

“Many carers have been unable to get a break from their role and have suffered a loss of support networks so this one off investment recognises the dedicated, unheralded and unpaid work they do.

“This funding is really important in the current climate especially for young carers who have been badly affected by not being able to meet their friends through lost school time. Anything we can do to support them is welcome news and we look forward to working with VOCAL on this project.

“The Carers Recovery Fund is part of a wider £21m package boosting our work for core ambitions of the Council – tackling poverty and inequality, boosting sustainability and enhancing wellbeing for everyone here in Edinburgh.”

Sebastian Fischer, Chief Executive of VOCAL said: “We look forward to working with the City of Edinburgh Council to administer the new Carers Recovery Fund for unpaid carers across the city.

“As the Carers Week report has shown, many carers have not been able to access a break due to the pandemic. Now, more than ever, the health and social care system relies on unpaid carers.

“It is vital that their right to regular breaks is recognised. This investment is a statement of intent and will have a positive impact on the lives of individual carers across different caring roles.”

Edinburgh charities unite to help local carers

EMMS International and VOCAL (Voice of Carers across Lothian) have announced an exciting new partnership to support Edinburgh families to access much-needed breaks from caring routines.

EMMS International is donating its Hawthorn Brae Fund to VOCAL to purchase a property to provide short breaks for unpaid carers and people with life-limiting conditions, and of limited means, living in Edinburgh.

Funding for the Hawthorn Brae breaks project originally came from Margaret Sanson (nee Laing), who left her house – Hawthorn Brae in Duddingston – in her will to the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society (later to become EMMS International).

After the house was donated it became a place of care and respite. After selling it in 1998, EMMS International used income from the fund to provide respite holidays for people with life limiting conditions living in Edinburgh.

By donating this fund to VOCAL, EMMS International will double the number of people benefiting and ensure carers and those they care for can enjoy a high-quality short break in Scotland. The donation enhances VOCAL’s existing short breaks offer to carers which includes support to create, fund and take regular short breaks.

Sebastian Fischer, Chief Executive of VOCAL said: “EMMS International and VOCAL share a vision to work globally and locally for better health and wellbeing for people with care needs and their carers. This is a great partnership to help those in greatest need and builds on the best of our traditions in Scotland.

“A big thank you to EMMS International for their generous investment which will provide more families with an opportunity to take time out, recharge their energy and support their physical and mental wellbeing.”

Dr Cathy Ratcliff, CEO of EMMS said: “We’re delighted to gift this historic Hawthorn Brae fund to VOCAL as we embark on a new partnership which will double the number of people who will benefit from much needed short breaks.”