February 2025

Making 2025 a More Positive Year

Why do we always focus on what we can’t do and let it weigh us down?

As we are heading towards spring, hopefully the weather will improve, and the coughs and colds will fade away. It can be difficult to focus on the positives in our lives, especially when you are juggling many responsibilities (caring, family, work, health, friends, house, etc).

Instead of thinking of the things you can’t do for whatever reason, why not think of the things YOU CAN do? This issue is packed full of opportunities – opportunities for you to find something YOU CAN do. You may need a bit of support to get there, but that’s what we are here for: to help you get a break and aim towards better mental health, improved wellbeing and fulfilled goals.

YOU CAN still have a life alongside your caring role, YOU CAN have your own identity, YOU CAN have your own dreams.

Your challenge – if you choose YOU CAN accept it – is to find something in the articles below that YOU CAN do, YOU CAN achieve or YOU CAN attend.

If you would like support to find something YOU CAN do, call Portsmouth Carers Service on: 02392 851864 or email: carerscentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

FREE Victorious Festival Tickets

We have extended the entry deadline to 28^th February 2025

Carers registered with Portsmouth Carers Service have the opportunity to receive a free pair of day tickets to Victorious Festival 2025.

We have 5 pairs of tickets available for each day: 22/23/24 August 2025.

You can register your interest by contacting Portsmouth Carers Service by 28th February 2025. If you have already registered your interest, you do not need to do so again.

Tel: 02392 851 864

Email: carerscentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Carers Create: Book Project

About the Project: Carers – It’s all about you

Carers are invited to participate in creative writing, artistic and craft activities to form a body of work which will represent a creative picture of carers in Portsmouth and the surrounding areas. We hope this will enable carers to express how they feel, explore their life experience, how the see the world through involvement with creative activities. We will use these artistic creations to produce a book celebrating carers which will be used to improve awareness and understanding of carers lives and enable both people who are caring to identify themselves and those who provide services to better recognise and understand carers and ensure they are supported in the best way possible.

How to get involved:

You can create something at home. Bring your creation, poem, story or other creative writing along to one of our creative cuppa sessions or contact the Carers Service to arrange a submission.
Carer Support Groups – if your group would like to create or write a collective or individual pieces to include in the book, please contact Portsmouth Carers Service to discuss how to arrange a submission.
You can join one of our creative sessions below. They are open to all unpaid carers/parent carers/young adult carers living in Portsmouth or the surrounding area.

For more information, please contact Portsmouth Carers Service on: 02392 851864.

Evening Information Session

Coop Estate Planning: LPA’s, Inheritance Planning and Wills

Join us on Thursday 20^th March for a Carers Estate Planning Workshop from 6.30pm to 7.30pm at Portsmouth Carers Centre, PO4 0AD.

This Information session is provided by Co – op Legal and Estate Planning service and will cover topics such as Lasting Power of Attorney, Wills and Inheritance. You will learn how to plan ahead to avoid complicated inheritance situations for your family in the case of divorce, separation or new partners.

You can book your ticket via: Eventbrite or by calling Portsmouth Carers Service on: 02392 851864

Solent Recovery College Courses

Caring for yourself is vital to be able to continue caring for your loved ones

Solent Recovery College offers you the opportunity to learn how to improve your own mental health (or to support someone improve their mental health), you can learn about recovery and feel inspired to take control of your life.

With both online and in – person courses available, you can learn practical skills for living with on – going symptoms and learn how to get the best from mental health services in a safe and confidential space.

You can find out more about Solent Recovery College by visiting their website: Solent Recovery College – Mental Health and Wellbeing classroom courses and training in Portsmouth

You can view their current timetable here: Winter – Spring Timetable

Get Involved: Make a Difference

You can help shape support and services for unpaid carers in Portsmouth

As a service we have contact with hundreds of carers every year. To ensure we deliver the best possible service to every carer – we need your feedback. Good, bad and everything in between – we need to hear your thoughts and feelings about your experience with our service, the support you received and whether there is anything we can do to improve in the future.

There are many ways you can provide feedback:

Via our website feedback form: Feedback – Portsmouth Carers Service
Via our website Carers Survey: Carer’s Feedback Survey – Portsmouth Carers Service
Calling and asking to leave feedback: 02392 851654.
Emailing: carerscentre@portsmouthcc.gov.uk
In – person by dropping into Portsmouth Carers Centre, PO4 0AD.
Via Facebook: Facebook: Portsmouth Carers Centre

Via Instagram: Instagram: Portsmouth Carers Centre

Carers Breaks, Events and more…

We have so much going on over the next couple of months. Please check the schedule below to see if you need to book a space or whether you can just turn up. We always hold a waiting list for bookable sessions, so don’t worry if you need to cancel – we will find someone to take your place.

For the CAREFREE: Daytime Disco – Tickets cost £5 each. This covers the disco and buffet at Sherlocks Bar in Southsea (subsidised by Portsmouth Carers Service). The bar will be open so you can purchase your own drinks. Please pop into Portsmouth Carers Centre reception to purchase your ticket – cash only. You must be an unpaid carer who is/has registered with our service.

Date/Time	Session Name	Type	Location
Tues 11^th FEB 10am – 11am	Carers Wellbeing Within: an hour of relaxation and mindfulness. Session starts promptly at 10am. EVERY TUES	No Booking Necessary	Carers Centre
Tues 11^th FEB 12pm – 1.30pm	Carers and Cake: with SEND Butterflies South Coast. Join us for coffee, chat, and cake. 2ND TUES OF THE MONTH	Drop – In: Just Turn Up	Carers Centre
Thurs 13^th FEB 10am – 12pm	Caribbean Doubles – with Neena	Cookery: Please Book	Carers Centre
Thurs 13^th FEB 1pm – 4pm	Carers Create Book Project – come and make a creative piece to contribute to our Carers Create Book Project – all abilities! Painting, Collage, Rock Art, and Creative Writing.	Creative: Please Book	Carers Centre
Fri 14^th FEB 11am – 1pm	Something Special for Valentine’s – with Will	Cookery: Please Book	Carers Centre
Mon 17^th FEB 10am – 12pm	Ratatouille and Soda Bread – with Lin	Cookery: Please Book	Carers Centre
Tues 18^th FEB 10am – 11am	Wellbeing Within: an hour of relaxation and mindfulness. Session starts promptly at 10am. EVERY TUE	No Booking Necessary	Carers Centre
Thurs 20^thFEB 11am – 1pm	Lasagne – with Anna Vegetarian option available, please request when booking.	Cookery: Please Book	Carers Centre
Fri 21^st FEB 9.30am – 12.30pm	Carers Create Book Project – come and make a creative piece to contribute to our Carers Create Book Project – all abilities! Painting, Collage, Rock Art, and Creative Writing.	Creative: Please Book	Carers Centre
Mon 24^th FEB 12pm – 2pm	Soup and Natter at the Allotment – with Lin	Wellbeing: Please Book	Milton Allotment
Tues 25^th FEB 10am – 11am	Wellbeing Within: an hour of relaxation and mindfulness. Session starts promptly at 10am. EVERY TUES	No Booking Necessary	Carers Centre
Tues 25^th FEB 1pm – 2.30pm	Creative Writing with Laura. All abilities welcome. You can bring your own project to work on or join in the activities	Creative: Please Book	Carers Centre
Fri 28^th FEB 11am – 1pm	Chocolate Eclairs – with Will	Cookery: Please Book	Carers Centre
Tues 4^th MAR 10am – 11am	Wellbeing Within: an hour of relaxation and mindfulness. Session starts promptly at 10am. EVERY TUES	No Booking Necessary	Carers Centre
Tues 4^th MAR 12.30pm – 3.30pm	Carers Create Book Project – come and make a creative piece to contribute to our Carers Create Book Project – all abilities! Painting, Collage, Rock Art, and Creative Writing.	Creative: Please Book	Carers Centre
Tues 4^th MAR 5.30pm – 7.30pm	Pancake Making and Bingo with Jayne and Will: make a sweet or savoury pancake then enjoy a game of Bingo	Wellbeing: Please Book	Carers Centre
Thurs 6^th MAR 11am – 1pm	Bean Burgers and a Winter Slaw with Anna	Cookery: Please Book	Carers Centre
Mon 10^th MAR 10am – 12pm	Seasonal Kale and Potato Soup, and Garlic Bread with Lin	Cookery: Please Book	Carers Centre
Tues 11^th MAR 10am – 11am	Wellbeing Within: an hour of relaxation and mindfulness. Session starts promptly at 10am. EVERY TUES	No Booking Necessary	Carers Centre
Tues 11^th MAR 12pm – 2pm	Carers and Cake: with SEND Butterflies South Coast. Join us for coffee, chat, and cake. 2ND TUES OF THE MONTH	Drop – in	Carers Centre
Fri 14^th MAR 11am – 1pm	Allotment Antics with Anna: Fun, chatter, and activities.	Wellbeing: Please Book	Milton Allotment
Fri 14^th MAR 10am – 11.30am	Seated Exercise with Will: 1 hour of exercise, 30 mins tea/chat.	Wellbeing: Please Book	Carers Centre
Mon 17^th MAR 10am – 12pm	St Patricks Day with Lin: Irish Stew with Pearl Barley.	Cookery: Please Book	Carers Centre
Tues 18^th MAR 10am – 11am	Wellbeing Within: an hour of relaxation and mindfulness. Session starts promptly at 10am. EVERY TUES	No Booking Necessary	Carers Centre
Wed 19^th MAR 10am – 1pm	Carers Create Book Project – come and make a creative piece to contribute to our Carers Create Book Project – all abilities! Painting, Collage, Rock Art, and Creative Writing.	Creative: Please Book	Carers Centre
Thurs 20^th MAR 11am – 1pm	Spicy chicken Jambalaya with Anna	Cookery: Please Book	Carers Centre
Thurs 20^th MAR 6.30pm – 7.30pm	COOP ESTATE PLANNING: LPA’s, Inheritance Planning and Wills Information Session for carers.	Information: Please Book	Carers Centre
Fri 21^stMAR 1pm – 3pm	Creative Cuppa and Catch – up: Join Laura for a catch – up with a creative twist. Pop in for a cuppa, chat and crafts.	Drop – in	Carers Centre
Mon 24^th MAR 12pm – 2pm	Wellbeing at the Allotment with Lin: a light lunch and seed sowing.	Wellbeing: Please Book	Milton Allotment
Tues 25^th MAR 10am – 11am	Wellbeing Within: an hour of relaxation and mindfulness. Session starts promptly at 10am. EVERY TUES	No Booking Necessary	Carers Centre
Tues 25^th MAR 1pm – 2.30pm	Creative Writing with Laura: All abilities welcome. You can bring your own project to work on or join in the activities	Creative: Please Book	Carers Centre
Thurs 27^th MAR 12pm – 2pm	CAREFREE Daytime Disco: £5 ticket includes disco and buffet	Special: Please Book	Sherlocks Bar
Fri 28^th MAR 11am – 1pm	Chocolate Eclairs with Will – So popular we had to do them again!	Cookery: Please Book	Carers Centre
Mon 31^st MAR 10am – 12pm	Berry Bursting Muffins with Lin	Cookery: Please Book	Carers Centre

Please call: 02392 851864 or email: carers.breaks@portsmoutcc.gov.uk to request a place.