National Lottery Community Funding

- our success and new developments

Find out about our new

Café Connects

16

From 9am to 5pm weekdays call with any caring query or just to talk to someone in confidence about your caring situa�on or if you are feeling isolated.

On evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays call if you have an URGENT issue or EMERGENCY.

Tuesday 24th December 9am to 5pm Wednesday 25th December Bank Holiday Thursday 26th December Bank Holiday Friday 27th December 9am to 5pm Monday 30th December 9am to 5pm Tuesday 31st December 9am to 5pm Wednesday 1st January 2020 Bank Holiday Normal service resumes

How to contact us

Write to us at Bolton Carers Support, FREEPOST RSJT-KAJH-URRR, Thicke�ord Centre, Thicke�ord Road, Bolton, BL2 2LW (no stamp required)

Visit our website www.boltoncarers.org.uk

or email us info@boltoncarers.org.uk

National Lottery Community Funding

- our success and new developments

Find out about our new

Café Connects

2

Message from the Chair – our 25th anniversary year …...

Although we are s�ll several weeks away from the fes�ve period, I will not have another chance to review the last year here at Bolton Carers Support, and of course to send our best wishes to you all.

This last year has been fast moving and intense for the staff at Bolton Carers Support. We have spent a large part of the year gathering and recording

informa�on on the work we do so that we can clearly show how this has a posi�ve impact on the lives of the carers we are in touch with. This has also been important so that we can also let our funders and poten�al funders know how their support is so valuable and how further investment is needed.

We have worked closely with Bolton Community Voluntary Services (CVS), who have helped us in undertaking this work, and we thank them for their con�nued support. A number of our carers have also been involved in this consulta�on work and helped us to fact find and assess if we are mee�ng the needs of carers, and explaining how they have benefi�ed from their links with us. Thanks to all involved for their �me and honesty. We will of course take the learning from this detailed work and build upon it by con�nuing to evaluate and assess the impact of all the work we do.

Our growing team of volunteers are invaluable and support us in many areas of our work; it is very much appreciated. We have been successful in a�rac�ng further funding from the European Social Fund for a year to employ a Volunteer and Training Co-ordinator. Throughout this year, our biggest challenge was to secure funding to deliver our services. Thanks to con�nued funding from Eric Wright Charitable Trust, we have been able to focus our a�en�on on funding applica�ons. We have been successful in being awarded funding from a number of funders and have secured con�nued funding from Bolton Council and also the Na�onal Lo�ery Fund for a further three years. We have also been chosen as Marks and Spencer Bolton store’s ‘charity of the year’.

3

Although we have this reassurance, we do need to review and change, where needed, how we deliver services to ensure they can con�nue; we are asking for the views of all our carers on how best to do this. An example is around the increasing postage costs of pos�ng our newsle�er. So, where possible we are asking that if you can receive the newsle�er by email you let us know so we can make sure that we can email future copies to you. We of course know that this isn’t possible for everyone, so we will con�nue to post copies too. As you know this is Bolton Carers Support’s 25th anniversary year. We are very proud to work with our many partners throughout Bolton to improve the informa�on and support available to our carers. Thank you to all our partners. Our cra� group con�nues to grow and has been successful in being awarded a further £1000 from Bolton CVS this year. A great deal of hard work is undertaken on a weekly basis to produce beau�ful items, and also when items are then displayed to be sold. As Chair of trustees, I need to thank everyone, from funders (no ma�er how big or small), to fellow trustees, our volunteers, the staff team, and of course yourselves for your con�nued support. We have recently received a number of dona�ons from carers - thankyou. I think we have a brilliant team, but I must give a special men�on to our Chief Officer, who has worked �relessly to move us to where we are now. Her energy and enthusiasm leave me exhausted; but I could not have a be�er partner to work with in taking the organisa�on into the next 25 years. The fes�ve period can be a wonderful �me, but it can also be a very stressful �me. Look out for opening �mes over the holiday period. The trustees and staff team wish you all a peaceful �me and look forward to working with as many of you as possible in 2020. With best wishes,

Anne Oakes Chair of Bolton Carers Support

4

A note from Alison, Fundraising Development Officer…………..

Yet more good news to share, we’ve been awarded a pot of money from the European Social Fund Community Grants pot to employ a Volunteer and Training Co-ordinator who will work with carers who may be wishing to return to, or enter, employment and want to

take the first steps in preparing themselves for this. More details will be available soon.

Con�nuing with the good news, we are delighted to have been selected as the Bolton Town Centre store Marks and Spencer’s Charity of the Year. Their staff have kindly agreed to undertake fundraising ac�vi�es for us un�l summer next year. Watch out for us packing bags at their checkouts and running informa�on stands in store. If you would like to help with future bag packing, please get in touch for more details.

We’re all looking forward to 31st October and our AGM and Celebra�on event. I’m par�cularly excited to be reminded of the wonderful success of our Na�onal Lo�ery Health, Wealth and Wellbeing Project. Moreover, I can’t wait to see what a difference our Na�onal Lo�ery Community Fund #connectedand informed project makes over the next three years.

Our piggies are s�ll flying and we have raised in excess of £90 already. Special thanks to anybody who has bought a piggy or filled a piggy and returned it to us. A lovely lady called Shirley challenged herself to see how much money she could fit in her pig, she managed to squeeze a fantas�c dona�on of £10.80 in! I wonder if anybody can beat that? In our bid to secure

services to carers in Bolton for the next 25 years we now have badges for sale. Watch out for these at our events and on the recep�on desk here at the Thicke�ord Centre.

‘Going for Gold’ is s�ll the focus of my efforts and amidst trust and founda�on applica�ons I am also looking at real ways of ensuring we’re s�ll looking a�er Bolton’s carers in 2044. Expect to see more exci�ng developments over the next few months, including informa�on on how you may leave a las�ng gi� to Bolton Carers Support in your will and a partnership with the Bolton Hospice Lo�ery.

Alison

WE’RE GOING FOR GOLD

5

Bookings

Please note that we will ONLY take bookings

from 9am on Monday 11th November

01204 363056 Bookings must be made

by phone (no emails, messages or visits

accepted). While we advise you to book early to avoid disappointment you don’t need to ring at 9am prompt - places are generally available for a few days, depending on

the popularity of the ou�ng or course.

All events

You can book any of the events on pages 5 to 7

and 13 subject to availability.

All events MUST be pre-booked and priority is given to

carers who pay at the �me of booking.

Only one booking per household and former

carers of up to 12 months can book places.

Carers Christmas Lunch

Red Lion, 1 -3 Salford Road, Bolton BL5 1BJ

Thursday 19th December 12.30 to 3pm

Join us on the run up to Christmas - relax in the company of other carers at our fourth visit to The Red Lion at Over Hulton. Enjoy a lovely three course fes�ve lunch and let someone else do the washing up!

The menu choices will be posted/emailed out to you following you booking your place.

Please note : Transport and drinks are NOT included.

Jack and the Beanstalk Friday 29th November

6.30pm to 9.30pm (approx)

Thanks to Bolton Li�le Theatre, who are celebra�ng the fantas�c commitment shown by the unpaid carers of Bolton, by offering half-price �ckets to the first night of BLT’s annual pantomime - Jack and the Beanstalk. It’s a hilarious take on the well-known fairy story featuring a host of colourful characters, set to amuse one and all!

Please book your place as soon as possible. Tickets sold on a first come, first served basis.

Cost £7.50

Cost £5

6

Christmas Lunch Wednesday 11th December

12.30pm to 3.30pm

Join us at the Holiday Inn, Bolton, for a tasty fes�ve lunch in good company.

Entertainment will be provided

by DJ Charlie - music and games, with prizes.

MENU Roast bu�ered turkey breast, herb stuffing,

chipolata, roast potatoes, vegetable selec�on OR

Leek, mushroom and cranberry parcel with roast potatoes and vegetable selec�on

----------- Tradi�onal Christmas pudding, with a white sauce

----------- Tea or coffee & mince pies

(vegetarian op�on must be pre-ordered asap)

This is a Carer and Cared - For event

Please note there is limited parking at this venue.

7

Other Carers Activities

Christmas Cra�s

Mondays 2nd to 23rd December 10am to 12noon at Thicke�ord Centre

Back by popular demand, we are offering places at four Christmas cra� workshops. Join us at these ‘make and

take’ sessions where you can create fes�ve items to take home with you. Come along, learn new skills and meet like-minded carers.

Make sure to book your place!

Carers Choir

Monday evenings 5pm un�l 7pm - venue to be confirmed

Bolton Carer’s Choir is up and running but needs more members. Join us as we have a chat over a brew, and bash out something like a tune, all in the name of having a break and a good �me. No experience is necessary. Lead by the girls from Talespin theatre. Please ring to register your interest.

Friendship Group for Former Carers The next Former Carers mee�ng will be held at:

Cinnamon Café, All Souls, Astley St, Bolton BL1 8EY Tuesday 7th January 2020 at 1pm

This group is open to any former carer who is registered with Bolton Carers Support. Please contact Zoe to confirm your a�endance or find out more 01204 363056.

The Male Carers Group continues to thrive, with monthly meetings held over a pint or coffee, at the Elephant and Castle, Deansgate, Bolton from 12 noon, on the last Tuesday of

every month (not on in December). Ring Peter for a chat about the group 01204 363056.

8 9

9 8

Every morning when the third stair creaks, it reminds

I’m just glad I never did. Because I realise that’s home.Having Home Instead Senior Care help me around the house means I don’t have to go anywhere.

If, like Stanley, you would like to remain in your own home, we can help. Call 01204 565065 or email enquiries.bolton@homeinstead.co.ukwww.homeinstead.co.uk/bolton

PERSONAL CARE | MEMORY CARE | COMPANIONSHIP | MEALS AND NUTRITION

The best home to be in is your own

– Stanley T. Client

Every morning when the third stair creaks, it reminds

I’m just glad I never did. Because I realise that’s home.Having Home Instead Senior Care help me around the house means I don’t have to go anywhere.

If, like Stanley, you would like to remain in your own home, we can help. Call 01204 565065 or email enquiries.bolton@homeinstead.co.ukwww.homeinstead.co.uk/bolton

PERSONAL CARE | MEMORY CARE | COMPANIONSHIP | MEALS AND NUTRITION

The best home to be in is your own

– Stanley T. Client

8 9

9 8

Every morning when the third stair creaks, it reminds

I’m just glad I never did. Because I realise that’s home.Having Home Instead Senior Care help me around the house means I don’t have to go anywhere.

If, like Stanley, you would like to remain in your own home, we can help. Call 01204 565065 or email enquiries.bolton@homeinstead.co.ukwww.homeinstead.co.uk/bolton

PERSONAL CARE | MEMORY CARE | COMPANIONSHIP | MEALS AND NUTRITION

The best home to be in is your own

– Stanley T. Client

Every morning when the third stair creaks, it reminds

I’m just glad I never did. Because I realise that’s home.Having Home Instead Senior Care help me around the house means I don’t have to go anywhere.

If, like Stanley, you would like to remain in your own home, we can help. Call 01204 565065 or email enquiries.bolton@homeinstead.co.ukwww.homeinstead.co.uk/bolton

PERSONAL CARE | MEMORY CARE | COMPANIONSHIP | MEALS AND NUTRITION

The best home to be in is your own

– Stanley T. Client

10

Pension Credit - 2019/2020 Pension Credit is a tax free benefit for people on a low income who live in Great Britain and have reached the qualifying age. Pension Credit is awarded into two parts: Guaranteed Credit and Savings Credit.

The amount of Pension Credit you receive is dependent on your personal circumstances: whether you are single or a couple, if you have any disabili�es, housing costs or caring responsibili�es.

Guaranteed Credit: is a top up to your weekly income ensuring you have a guaranteed minimum amount if you have reached the Pension Credit qualifying age. From 15 May 2019, mixed-age couples where both have not reached State Re�rement age will no longer be able to make a new claim for Pension Credit and will be expected to claim Universal Credit instead.

For a couple the Minimum Guaranteed amount is £255.25

For a single person the Minimum Guaranteed amount is £167.25

You can find out the date you will reach the qualifying age if you were born a�er 5th March 1953 at www.gov.uk/calculate-state-pension The amount of Pension Credit you can receive is calculated on the amount of income you have coming in each week and how much your savings are. State Re�rement and Private Pensions, earnings and some benefits are classed as income. (NOTE: not all benefits are classed as income such as A�endance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment.) IF you have capital over £10,000 you will be treated as having £1 for every £500 over £10,000.

Savings Credit: You may qualify if you are over 65 and have savings or a second pension. Please be aware that due to changes in legisla�on this part of the Pension Credit will close to people reaching State Pension age on or a�er the 6th April 2016. How to apply: phone 0800 731 0469 to make a telephone number or to request a paper applica�on.

Elaine Holt Benefits Advice

Worker

Call the Carers Helpline 01204 363056 for advice by appointment with our Benefits Advice Worker - Elaine Holt.

11

If you would like any more informa�on regarding the Informa�on Points, Coffee Mornings, or Carers Cafes, please contact:

Zoe Hill, Outreach Worker on 01204 368042 or email zoe@boltoncarersupport.co.uk

Informa�on Points St James’ Parish Centre, Roscow Avenue Breightmet BL2 6HU - second Wednesday of the month 2-3pm.

Westhoughton Senior Solu�ons Informa�on Point – Sacred Heart Church, Lord Street, BL5 3SE - second Tuesday of the month 1.45pm – 3.15pm.

Coffee Morning Informa�on Points Trinity Methodist Church, Tonge Old Road, Bolton BL2 6BH - fourth Wednesday of the month 10am to 11am.

Cinnamon Café, All Souls, Astley St, Bolton BL1 8EY Third Wednesday of the month 1.30-3pm.

Kearsley Mount Methodist Church, Manchester Road, Kearsley, BL4 8QL - third Tuesday of the month 10am to 12 noon.

Costa Coffee @ Waterstones, Bolton Town Centre on the first Tuesday of the month 11am to 12 noon.

Tonge Moor – UCAN Centre, Tonge Moor Road, BL2 2LE - Coffee Morning Informa�on Point, every Monday 10am-11am.

Li�le Lever - Christ Church, Mytham Road, Li�le Lever, BL3 1JE - Coffee Morning Informa�on Point, this coffee morning runs weekly but on the third Wednesday of the month, from 10am – 12 noon, a member of Bolton Carers Support will be present.

Monthly Carers Cafes Westhoughton Carers Cafe - Wetherspoons (the Robert Shaw) – third Monday of the month 11am - 12noon.

If you are a carer and need to talk to somebody about your caring role or if you would like to meet people over a coffee, please come along to one of our Informa�on Points or Coffee Mornings. ALL WELCOME! (including the person you care for).

12

‘Whether it is improving local health and social care services today or helping to shape them for tomorrow,

we all have a responsibility to make sure that local voices are not only heard but influence local services for

now and the future’.

In Bolton, the ‘Locality Plan’ is being developed and delivered by a broad partnership of health and social care organisa�ons. The Bolton Plan is built around nine neighbourhoods, covering the resident popula�on of approximately 280,000. Health and social care ac�vity is being organised around the nine ‘neighbourhoods’ with 30,000 – 50,000 residents in each.

A large amount of work is being undertaken to build community knowledge about and interest in the transforma�on of services and crea�ng a conversa�on between people and service providers.

Our Chief Officer, George�e Kay, is involved in the Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise sector (VCSE) Neighbourhood Leadership Programme, which ensures that there is a broader range of voices and perspec�ves as part of the development of this local work.

Bolton Carers Support supports carers across Bolton, but as you can see in the neighbourhood map below we are beginning to highlight our local ac�vi�es in each of the neighbourhoods. This will con�nue to develop over �me.

13

You told us that you wanted to be able to meet up with other carers in your community, keep you

up to date of all the great ac�vi�es and groups that are happening in your neighbourhood, and

to access training and workshops closer to home.

So, welcome to our new ‘Carer’s Café Connect’ - bringing our services to you!

If you would like to register to a�end one of these events or for details of future Café Connect events, please contact Zoe or Peter on:

01204 363056

Our Launch event will be on Carers Rights Day, Thursday 21st November and is being held at the Cinnamon Café at All Souls Business Centre, Astley St, Bolton BL1 8EY on Thursday 21st November from 1pm to 3pm. Come along, have a chat and enjoy some light refreshments. Please ring 01204 363056 to book your place.

Carers Café Connects will also be at the following venues:

Wetherspoons Robert Shaw 34-40 Market St Westhoughton BL5 3AN Monday 18th November 2019, from 11am - 12.30pm Su�on Estate Community Centre Addington Rd, Bolton BL3 4QZ Friday 7th February 2020, from 11am – 1pm All Souls Business Centre Cinnamon Café Astley St, Bolton BL1 8EY Wednesday 22nd January 2020, from 1-3pm Wetherspoons Robert Shaw 34-40 Market St Westhoughton BL5 3AN Monday 20th January 2020, from 11am – 12pm Many more loca�ons are being planned…….

14

The last 5 years …. On 31st October we celebrated the end of our 5 year funding grant from the Na�onal Lo�ery Community Fund - and on the 1st November we were excited to start our new 3 year grant to keep our carers ‘Connected and Informed’!

We are very pleased and feel extremely proud that we have been able to support so many of our carers with the Na�onal Lo�ery funding over the last 5 years. Following our evalua�on of this project we want to share with you some of the key highlights of the work delivered by Elaine, Peter and Zoe who are funded by the Na�onal Lo�ery funding – and also manage to achieve all of this in part-�me working hours!

Events and ou�ngs: 3968 places at events taken up by carers 524 carers benefi�ed from these breaks (average of 7.5 per carer) Of the 524, 94 male carers (17.9%) and 430 female carers, with 192 (36.6%) being ‘younger carers’

Outreach work: 505 Informa�on Points/Carers Cafes held in 20 venues across Bolton 237 presenta�ons/talks to professionals, carers and community

group, holding stalls, raising the profile of BCS and iden�fying hidden carers

Benefits advice:

315 New Home Visits 144 Repeat Home Visits 212 Office appointments 69 Telephone appointments 276 people have received benefit advice through a�endance at Workshops, presenta�ons and GP Events.

Total Benefit gain has amounted to an amazing £800,394.41

With a 100 % success rate with A�endance Allowance applica�ons for the whole of the five years!

Our social accounts will be available on our website once published

15

Creative Crafters Group

Do you need �me out just for you and to relax? Then why not join us on

Tuesdays from 10am un�l 2pm at the Thicke�ord Centre

Over the fes�ve period, Ayleen and volunteers will be taking their cra�s on the road to various sales to raise money for us. For anyone

going to the Christmas Lunch at the Holiday Inn (page 6), they will be there - have a look at the lovely work they produce!

The next 3 years…. Building on the success of our 5 year project and learning from our beneficiaries, we are maintaining, enhancing and developing our services.

We will deliver con�nued benefits advice through one to one appointments, home visits and group workshop sessions.

We will co-ordinate regular ac�vi�es, ou�ngs and courses for carers, with a con�nued focus on tackling loneliness and social isola�on. We are

reviewing the financing of ac�vi�es and ou�ngs through carer contribu�ons and fundraising. Our courses will include a modular training programme designed to give carers confidence by helping them to recognise the value of the role they are undertaking.

Our outreach work will con�nue – see pages 11, 12 & 13 – but we will be integra�ng home visits for those who may struggle to take the first steps into a group situa�on, with the aim of making our services more

accessible to the hardest to reach people.

We would also like to thank all our volunteers who have helped us during the past five years of the Na�onal Lo�ery

project and con�nue to help us to deliver the next three years – we value your help and commitment .

16

From 9am to 5pm weekdays call with any caring query or just to talk to someone in confidence about your caring situa�on or if you are feeling isolated.

On evenings, weekends and Bank Holidays call if you have an URGENT issue or EMERGENCY.

Tuesday 24th December 9am to 5pm Wednesday 25th December Bank Holiday Thursday 26th December Bank Holiday Friday 27th December 9am to 5pm Monday 30th December 9am to 5pm Tuesday 31st December 9am to 5pm Wednesday 1st January 2020 Bank Holiday Normal service resumes

How to contact us

Write to us at Bolton Carers Support, FREEPOST RSJT-KAJH-URRR, Thicke�ord Centre, Thicke�ord Road, Bolton, BL2 2LW (no stamp required)

Visit our website www.boltoncarers.org.uk

or email us info@boltoncarers.org.uk