February 2024

Spending time with people, talking and making positive connections is something we all need and massively benefit from

We frequently talk about the benefits of looking after your wellbeing. Being more active and mindfulness are the most commonly mentioned ways to improve your wellbeing. However, one of the most powerful methods is connecting with others.

Caring can leave you feeling isolated and lonely, making it especially important to focus on making connections with other people – friends, family, neighbours and maybe even new friends or acquaintances.

Every connection counts:

• Make time to catch up by phone, find somewhere comfy and make a cuppa, give yourself time to have a proper chat with an old friend.
• Use a smartphone, tablet or computer to video call your grandchildren and enjoy the latest rendition of their favourite song.
• Chat to your neighbour over the garden fence – maybe they have some lovely flowers or have had an abundance of tomatoes that you have the perfect recipe for.
• Pop into a drop-in session at Portsmouth Carers Centre – let someone else make you a cuppa and chat to other carers in a safe, non-judgemental environment. You might like to join in with an activity (like guided relaxation) or just enjoy some time out of the house and have someone different to talk to.
• Book a place on a Carers Break Session – maybe you enjoy cooking and would like to learn a new recipe, or perhaps you love nature and an afternoon at the community allotment sounds relaxing. You might also be tempted by the new sessions like Crochet or Creative Writing. Whatever you choose, there will be other carers to share the experience with, get to know and maybe become friends.
• Try out a new café or community centre, like SPARK Community Space – which is an amazing, inclusive place filled with lovely volunteers. They operate a pay what you can afford system. There is lots going on and you will always find a friendly face and a nice slice of cake!
• Join a local group – whether it’s a book club or a new exercise class, maybe a peer support group (see Carers & Cake and South Asian Carers below) – you’ll find other people with similar interests or situations, and you may be surprised how much this connects people.

This is just a few examples of connections you could make. No matter how small/brief the connection – it still counts and will help improve you physical health, boost mental and emotional well-being, including increasing your self-esteem and reducing depression and anxiety.

Fully accessible centre with public transport links on the doorstep

Portsmouth Carers Service team is based at Portsmouth Carers Centre. The building is in the heart of the city and easily accessible by foot, bike, car or public transport. There is access for wheelchairs/pushchairs and an accessible toilet on site. If you would like details of how to find us please visit the Portsmouth Carers Centre page on our website.

If you have any questions or special requirements, please contact us ahead of your visit so we can help make sure you are comfortable, and that we have staff on hand to assist if required.

Call: 02392 851 864 or email: carerscentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Caring for a Veteran? How Can Veterans Outreach Support Help?

VOS supports veterans from the UK Armed Forces and Merchant Navy along with their spouses, partners and carers throughout Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight, Gosport, Fareham, and more widely, Hampshire and the south of England.

VOS provides:

• access to welfare support, whether it be from PIP to housing and more.
• organises activities, events and social groups to promote camaraderie, community and fun.
• supports members via cognitive, behavioural and emotional wellbeing therapies and treatments.

Drop-In Portsmouth

The VOS Drop-In takes place on the first Wednesday of every month from 1400 to 1700 (new registrations welcome to arrive from 1330) in the Royal Maritime Club, Queen Street, Portsmouth.

There is plenty of on-street parking, a nearby car park and bus routes to get to the RMC. Please contact beforehand if you need to chat about transport options.

What happens on arrival:

• 1330 onwards – new registrations.  You will be met at the entrance and helped through this process. We have to ask a few general questions, take some permissions from you but this is all done in a sensitive way. There are quiet spaces available if you need. Everywhere is wheelchair accessible and therapy dogs on leads are welcome.
• 1400 – 1700 all welcome. We will meet, greet and support you to access what you need. We have many delivery partners available to support you, quiet areas, clinical triage and a social space with a brew and friendly volunteers to chat to.

If you are caring for someone who has served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy please contact to find out more about the support available to you.

Call: 02392 731 767 or email: admin@vosuk.org

Caring for a Veteran who is affected by Dementia?

This service is for veterans who have dementia that live in the community. This includes anyone who has served in the British armed forces. Veterans are expected to attend with a carer. They aim to reduce social isolation, raise self-esteem & empower ex-service personnel through their activities.

Meeting at the Deaf Centre Arundel St, Portsmouth PO1 1LX on the 4th Thursday of each month 1.30-3.30pm. They provide activity groups for veterans with dementia and their carers, a group where like-minded people can get together and share their experiences in a relaxed and supportive environment.  They offer lots of opportunity to reminisce around service life, with sessions tailored around those that attend the group.

If you would like to attend, please call the Admiral Nurse Service on: 023 8202 5787

For further information, please call Cliff Cropley on: 07458 134672

Are you wondering what’s next? Or how to move forward?

Being a carer can become a huge part of your life, impacting every aspect and for many people the other parts of their life take a back seat. When that caring role ends, either due to recovery, a move to residential care or a bereavement, the change can be unexpected and incredibly challenging.

The Moving Forward sessions hosted by Portsmouth Carers Service, have been designed with information from PCC Independence and Wellbeing Team, Rowans Living Well Centre and Bereavement Care. These sessions will help you take the next step and think about your life after caring. Supporting you to find out more about social, education or volunteering opportunities which may be of interest to you as you adjust to life after caring. There will also be information about ways to help rebuild your confidence and social connections, and where to find support in bereavement.

If you are wondering how to move forward and want to explore life after caring, please join us at:

Spark Community Space, Unit 12, The Pompey Centre, Fratton Way, PO4 8SL

• Wednesday 13^th March 11:30-13:00
• Wednesday 25^th September 11:30-13:00

Call: 02392 851 864 or email: carerscentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk for more information.

A message from Keith McKnight – Parent Carer and Parent Lead

‘Dear all,

My name is Keith McKnight and I am a parent of a 34-year-old son who is autistic and has severe learning disabilities.

A couple of years ago I was invited to attend a PBS (positive behavioural support) course run by PCC. Whilst I was sceptical at first, I decided to attend and as the course ran on I was starting to get many lightbulb moments with what I was learning as a parent.

As with all carers who have challenges to face it became obvious to me that with the knowledge I was gaining on PBS the future was becoming brighter. My approach to dealing with the problems that we all recognise in our lives became more focussed I was able to see how the service providers think and how I could be part of that.

It taught me that we as carers are actually the true experts in the care of our loved ones. It also showed me that as carers we have a very strong voice.

I now feel that I can approach issues without conflict, knowing my views are important to the life of my son. As we all know in the past it was always a challenge to be heard and get things done. This is now behind me, and I am glad I attended this course to enable me to see that path I now tread.

As I stated earlier this course was run by pcc under the guidance of Lawrence Patterson, Jenna Symansky and Penny Vanderplank, whom many of you will have worked with before.

We had a pbs conference last year which was well-attended and another is booked for around October this year. I would strongly recommend that as carers you explore this – you will absolutely learn from it.

So, in conclusion please use the attached flyer to reach out. As a parent lead I am glad I did.

I wish you all a great 2024 and I am grateful to Gina Mula for the chance to share my experience with you.’

PUH NHS Trust: Patient Family and Carers Collaborative

The Patient Family and Carer Collaborative has members with very varied backgrounds and interests. The overall aim of the Collaborative is to improve patient, family and carer experience and involvement and is supported by the Patient Experience Team at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust. We meet every six weeks at Cosham Baptist Church. These are hybrid meetings both face to face and on MS Teams as we realise that many carers are not able to attend in person. Below outlines some of the initiatives and sub-groups that the members are involved in. These include:

• The development of a Dementia Strategy and a new Dementia lead and Admiral Nurse have recently been appointed.
• A new Carers Strategy is due to be completed in the next few months.
• New Emergency Department Build Group.
• The Medicine Board.
• The Sustainability and Green Plan Strategy Board.
• The Engagement group which is hoping to deliver Health Fairs in the Community so that we can have a closer relationship with the people who use our services.

We have recently set up a Health Literacy group with the hope of empowering patients in a ‘It’s ok to ask’ campaign.

Our Food Group is involved in improving the service to patients, but also in supporting and developing the provision of food to parents and carers.

We are a very enthusiastic group and would welcome more members. If you are interested, please contact the Chairman, Gill Bailey.

Email: gill11@btinternet.com  or call: 07850213461

Call for the UK Government to develop a new National Carers Strategy

Do you support the call for a new National Carers Strategy? The APPG on Carers has launched a survey to gather views from unpaid carers and organisations who represent them on what a future strategy should aim to achieve. Click here to have your say: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/5SX9K7K

Complete the Portsmouth SEND Local Offer young person’s survey

We have launched a survey that invites young people aged 13-25 with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) to share feedback on the services and support available in the city.

If a child or young person is unable to complete the survey online, paper versions are available which you can request through: eandsc@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Please share this information with those you know. The responses will be used to improve and shape services for young people with SEND.

The survey is open until Saturday 30 March 2024.

Complete survey: www.portsmouthlocaloffer.org/survey