April 2023

Putting a Spring Back in Your Step

Image: Sunny day in a wooded area, person's feet up above the ground - jumping.

It’s time to say, ‘Goodbye Winter, hello Spring!’

Many people feel that Spring is a time to get back outdoors and enjoy the fresh air. This can have a positive effect on your health and wellbeing, and in turn, make you more able to cope with stress and anxiety.

The trouble comes with actually taking that step outdoors. For those of us who have been shielding due to covid, looking after housebound loved ones or who feel isolated from the world outside, the idea of leaving the house can seem daunting.

If you are unable to leave the person you care for, it may be that family member or friend could help so you can get out for an hour or two. If there is no one who can help, maybe a sitting service would be worth considering. This is something we look at as part of a carer’s assessment.

If you are anxious about leaving the house or don’t like doing things on your own, there are lots of options to help build your confidence and meet new people, including:

Community Connectors – work with people (18 years +), providing 6-8 sessions, to aim towards a personal goal to reduce isolation/loneliness. They can help you meet new people, attend a social group, start a new hobby (or pick up an old one) or even use public transport. They get to know you and can support you to find out what would be most helpful. You can contact them directly by phone: 02392 841 762 or email: communityconnectors@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
Talking Change – has a team of therapists and researchers who specialise in the understanding and treatment of common mental health difficulties. If you’re struggling with low mood, anxiety, or with a physical condition such as chronic pain or fatigue, they provide talking therapies to help you cope and feel better. Their service is free and confidential. Talking Change is for anyone aged sixteen or over, who lives in Portsmouth and are registered with a GP in the city. You can self-refer by calling them on 0300 123 3934 or by completing this secure form online.
Portsmouth Carers Service – provides carers break sessions for unpaid/informal carers, caring in PO1-PO6. Carers can attend cookery sessions – learning new recipes and skills and taking the delicious food home, or wellbeing sessions – usually held at the community allotment and filled with fun activities. Carers can enjoy doing something different, taking a couple of hours break from their caring role and getting to know other carers. This is a great way of building confidence and making friends in a safe and comfortable environment. If you are interested in attending these sessions, please contact Portsmouth Carers Service. Call: 02392 851 864 or email: carerscentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Whatever you do, getting out and about in the fresh air is one of the best ways of improving your health and wellbeing. It can be a fantastic way to relieve stress and help you feel connected with the world and your local community. If you would like to discuss this further or to find out more about ways Portsmouth Carers Service can support you, contact us in whichever way best suits you.

Call: 02392 851 864

Email: carerscentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Meet the Team

Image: Gina with bunny ears. Cartoon flowers and butterflies. Text: GINA

Knowing who you’re talking to can help you feel more comfortable

First Name: Gina

What do you do at the Carers Centre?

As a development officer the main part my role is to raise awareness of our service and the support available for carers in Portsmouth, both with carers themselves and with health and social care and voluntary organisations in the city. I listen to carers, understand what support they need and work with carers and local organisations to look for opportunities to develop our service. Ensuring people who are caring for someone know where to find information and support and that what we offer is relevant and helpful.

I also support carers directly providing information, a listening ear or a carers assessment, which can help them to think about what will be helpful to them to feel supported when caring for someone.

What do you like about working at the Carers Centre? Meeting people – I really enjoy talking to people about their life experiences past and present. Everyone’s lives are so different and people who may think of themselves as having led a very ordinary life have sometimes lived through or experienced the most extraordinary things.

Name three of your character traits? Optimistic, inquisitive, and energetic.

What do you enjoy doing when you are not working? I enjoy going to the theatre and spending time with family the beach. We’re really lucky to have some great local theatres, large and small with the chance to see some fantastic plays and musicals. If the sun is out our family will be heading for the beach – we have also been spotted on Christmas morning having a quick dip!

Favourite quote? A Bette Davis quote from now a film called Now, Voyager “Don’t let’s ask for the moon. We have the stars”. This quote speaks to me of the spirit of my parents’ generation who grew up in the great depression and lived through the second world war, always making the best of things and appreciating the good things around us.

Cycling Without Age Portsmouth

Would you like to get out of the house and meet new people?

Loneliness is something that affects many and is caused by many things. Like national lockdowns, financial constraints or the loss of family. Cycling Without Age aims to alleviate social isolation by offering community members free trike rides in Portsmouth. Often this leads to meeting new people and making new friends!

Regular rider, Pessi, talks about what led to her to using Cycling Without Age:

“When my son passed away, I was home – completely bed ridden more or less for five years. Not eating, not sleeping. Then, when my husband died two years ago during COVID, I wasn’t able to have a proper funeral for him or see family. It was very distressing. It gets you out in the fresh year and the volunteers are great. We have some great chats and they take me to the cemetery to visit my husband and son, fetching and carrying the water and plants and bits I need. It’s helped a lot. I have made friends, and sometimes we go out on the bikes together. I think social prescribing can help people a lot. Especially people like me or don’t have good mobility and are living on their own.”

For more information you can visit their website: Cycling Without Age – The You Trust
Or call: 02392 065 504

Carers Cuppa and Catch Up

Join us at our carers coffee morning – we’re here for you!

Our monthly Carers Cuppa and Catch Up is a friendly drop-in coffee morning that carers can use either to take a break, sit down and relax or if they need to find support. A member of Portsmouth Carers Service team will be on hand to answer any questions you may have or just be a listening ear. We’ll have the kettle on and biscuits at the ready on these days/times:

Thursday 27^th April, 10.30am – 12pm
Monday 22^nd May, 1.30pm – 3pm
Tuesday 13^th June, 10.30am – 12pm

There is no need to book, please feel free to drop-in any time during the session. If you would like more information, you can contact us using the details below.

Call: 02392 851 864

Email: carerscentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Free Beryl Bike Vouchers

Image: Lady cycling on a Beryl bike in old Portsmouth by the harbour.

Would you like to take a break and go out for a bike ride?
You can try out one of the new Beryl Bikes seen around the city for free with a voucher issued by Portsmouth Carers Service.

Beryl is proud to support carers in Portsmouth by providing complimentary vouchers for carers to try out a Beryl Bike – enabling them to get out and about this spring.

You can find out more about about Beryl bikes on their website here: Portsmouth | Beryl

Please contact Portsmouth Carers Service to book or for more information.

Call: 02392 851 864
Email: carerscentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Join the Beryl Women’s Tour for Bike Happy!

Beryl understands that not everyone follows the same (bike) path. If it’s been a while since you rode or if you don’t feel comfortable riding on the road, then you’re probably going to feel a bit wobbly! Led by qualified Bikeability instructors, you and 5 other women will be shown how to enjoy riding on the road. Rest assured that each session is a judgement-free zone; hang back and focus or get super involved and ask us lots of questions. Their instructors are here to help you.

It’s free to attend. They’ll help you get familiar with Beryl bikes so that whenever you see them around you’ll know exactly what to do. In addition to this, you’ll receive 200 free minutes to redeem. Pop to the shops! Or whizz through traffic on your daily commute.

For more information, terms and conditions or to book your session visit the link below:
Group Rides Portsmouth Tickets, Multiple Dates | Eventbrite

Don’t Be Bored… Get On Board!

New Saturday drop-in break session for carers!

This 2-hour session held at Portsmouth Carers Centre once a month, from 11am to 1pm, will be an opportunity for carers to take a break from their caring role, meet other carers and enjoy a bit of brain stimulating fun. A delicious light lunch will also be available.

The next few sessions will be:

Saturday 15^th April
Saturday 13th May
Saturday 10th June

A member of Portsmouth Carers Service team will be there if you need a chat or carer’s assessment. These sessions do not need to be booked – but please let us know if you require an appointment with a member of the Carers Service team, this will need to be booked in advance.

To book an appointment with a member of Portsmouth Carers Service team, call: 02392 851864 or email: carerscentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Something just for the men…

Image: Mens red jacket back. Text: NEW MENS SOCIAL GROUP, EVERY WEDNESDAY, 11AM - 12.30PM, AT PAULSGROVE LIBRARY MARSDEN ROAD PO6 4LB.

A safe space for men to socialise and meet new people every week

New weekly social group for men, aged 18 and over.

The sessions are a great opportunity to meet new people in a safe space, take part in activities, open discussion topics, and participate in creative sessions including workshops on various health matters, board games and sports. For more information contact Sadhia.

Call: 07824122638 or 02392 841762
Email: IWT@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

FREE Workshops for Carers

Coop Estate Planning: Tax, Care and Toy Boys workshop

Includes topics such as:
• Protecting your family’s nest egg.
• Inheritance tax.
• Stopping ‘sideways disinheritance’.
• Lasting Powers of Attorney

The speaker will introduce the above issues and explain what steps can be taken to plan for the future.

This is a free event for unpaid/informal carers only, spaces are limited, so please book your place via the link below:
Coop Estate Planning: Tax, Care and Toy Boys Workshop Tickets, Tue 18 Apr 2023 at 10:45 | Eventbrite

Home Instead: Parkinson’s Workshop

Join us for a Parkinson’s workshop for carers with Home Instead Portsmouth.

Topics included:

What is Parkinson’s – understand Parkinson’s and its causes and symptoms.
Living with Parkinson’s and Supporting an individual – understand the diagnosis and treatments available.
Understand how best to support an individual with Parkinson’s.

This is a free event for unpaid/informal carers only, spaces are limited, so please book your place via the link below:
Home Instead: Parkinson’s Workshop Tickets, Tue 25 Apr 2023 at 11:00 | Eventbrite

Get Involved – Neuro-Digital Research

Do you care for someone who lives alone independently?

Kateryna, from The University of Portsmouth, is doing research for Healthcare Services. She would like to understand perceptions of virtual healthcare services so she can develop a suggested improvement strategy.

If you are interested in participating and would be happy giving your honest opinion in a 30-60 minute online/in-person interview, please email Kateryna: UP886845@myport.ac.uk

(All data will be kept anonymously)