From: Pamela Pinder <pamshouse@...>
Subject: [Carersforumuk] Psychiatric patients at risk of vitamin D deficiency
To: Carersforumuk@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, 30 September, 2008, 7:15 PM

Psychiatric patients at risk of vitamin D deficiency

http://www.nursingt imes.net/ clinicalnews/ 2008/09/psychiat ric_patients_ at_risk_of_ vitamin_d_ deficiency. html;jsessionid= 4DC6DF3198A1F495 9927183EF0E342B3 ?tmcsTrackingInf o=$pW1YE- AYMGKhn3yv_ 8ziowrS6lLhodTLu sZSGP1L8KB4V25Kj dCeWNsoTbaUGEri6 szDQs6LBaT$

• Published: 30 September 2008 15:17
• Author: Richard Staines
• More by this Author
• Last Updated: 30 September 2008 16:26
• Reader Responses  

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A study has warned that psychiatric patients are vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency.

This could in turn put them at risk of serious health problems, including osteoporosis, muscle pain, or weakness.

Researchers are calling for all psychiatric inpatients to be routinely screened for vitamin D deficiency.

The small-scale study involved 17 male patients in a low security psychiatric service and was carried out by researchers from St Bernard's Hospital in Middlesex.

Blood tests revealed that none of the patients had enough vitamin D. Two had a borderline deficiency and the other 15 deficiency.

Seven of the patients had such low vitamin D levels that tests were unable to produce an accurate reading.

Of the 17 inpatients, 10 were African or African-Caribbean, two were of mixed ethnicity, one was Vietnamese.

Researchers said that psychiatric inpatients may be vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency  because of a lack of exposure to sunlight, poor diet and physical health, the use of certain drugs and an over-representation of ethnic groups know to be at greater risk.

They recommend that mental health inpatients receive their recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals and adequate exposure to sunlight.

Psychiatric Bulletin (2008) 32:390-393

 

• Author: Richard Staines. Deputy news editor
• Nursing Times

Website: www.pamshouse. pwp.blueyonder. co.uk
Message board: http://health. groups.yahoo. com/group/ Carersforumuk/

 

There are four kinds of people in this world... past carers - carers - future carers ....and those who will need to be cared for



Of course you are right Mick, for most it goes without question that you would care for a family member. Can even make family members feel guilty for asking for financial help to do this, or should I say to enable them to do this. After all it's your own flesh and blood!

 

But what gets to me is, if a stranger took on this caring role they get paid more in a day than a family member receives in a week. Many family members loosing their homes and jobs. Just take for example foster carers taking more than one child in, many with mh difficulties. This warrants a sum of £180 - £200 per child per week! How come it warrants this much money when many families as a whole have to survive on what a foster carer gets for one child, they have to feed a family on?

 

These foster carers are sent on course upon course to help them in their caring role, there is someone there for them to consult with if they experience any difficulties,  yet family members do this without any training or support. The paid carers are onto a good money spinner, I know someone who is a foster carer, caring for up to 4 teenagers at a time, the financial reimbursement is enough to buy 2 villas in Spain, one of which was built from scratch.

 

Some families have more than one person with a mental illness to care for and even if you do care for more than one person and claim c/a they only receive one lot of c/a and none that I know have a couple of villa up their sleeve!

 

Pam

 

 

Website: www.pamshouse. pwp.blueyonder. co.uk
Message board: http://health. groups.yahoo. com/group/ Carersforumuk/

 

There are four kinds of people in this world... past carers - carers - future carers ....and those who will need to be cared for

----- Original Message -----

From: MICHAEL FUREY

To: Carersforumuk@ yahoogroups. com

Sent: Sunday, September 28, 2008 8:59 PM

Subject: [Carersforumuk] Carers Allowance

I seem to remember that the first time 'carer' became part of the language was when people were being discharged from long-stay psych units and moving into their own (often poor standard) accomodation. People with other disabilities were 'cared for' under the same scheme. Various people who volunteered to 'look after' them, either by taking them into their own homes or visiting on a regular basis, suddenly became known as 'carers'. These 'volunteers' were paid an allowance (Carer's Allowance?) by the government; I'm not sure if that was national or local. The standard of care was often questionable to say the least; there were allegations of some of these 'carers' exploiting people.   My son had been ill and back living with me for a while when a friend said one night, 'I guess that makes you a carer then.' I was gobstruck; I'd never thought of it like that. He'd come back to live with me because he needed help, that's all. I suspect that's how it is for most of us, no matter what the disability. The most common description of what we do is, 'looking after my ...' Has anybody ever thought of themselves as a potential carer before they had to do it? There's nothing new or particularly moral about what we're doing, is there? It's a simple human reaction to our own family members, friends or neighbours. There's a point for discussion: if it takes a village to rear a child, what does it take to care for someone in trouble? Mick

			The European Anti-Poverty Network: Fighting for a Social Europe Free of Poverty! EAPN FLASH
	EU 2010 Year against poverty and social exclusion: EAPN puts forward concrete proposals in order to ensure a lasting legacy capable of delivering a decent life for all  The EU 2010 Year for combating poverty and social exclusion must be a catalyst to step up a gear in the fight against poverty and to ensure a decent life for all. This is the main message that came out of the EAPN's General Assembly (25-27 September, Bulgaria), where more than 200 Social NGOs representatives from all over Europe agreed on a set of concrete actions at EU level which should support this message. “78 million people live in poverty in the EU, amongst whom 19 million are in employment. Despite these shameful figures and in the light of the current financial crisis, not enough is being done”, declared Ludo Horemans, the President of EAPN. “On the contrary, despite political declarations in many Member States and at EU level, the reality is that it has been more and more difficult to get serious political commitment and attention to the fight against poverty and social exclusion”. In this context, EAPN puts it straight: the upcoming EU 2010 Year for combating poverty and social exclusion must not be another shiny event but ensure a lasting legacy capable of delivering a decent life for all. “In order to do so, concrete actions are needed at EU level. These include the establishment of a Social Progress Pact to direct political attention to the need to put social cohesion and the fight against poverty at the top of the EU agenda and at the centre of the post Lisbon strategy”, said Fintan Farrell, the EAPN Director. “The EU must also ensure that all Member States make progress so that their Minimum income schemes are adequate for a dignified life”. For EAPN, the implementation and enhancement of existing EU anti discrimination legislation as well as the establishment of ambitious targets at EU and Member State levels to eradicate poverty in the EU by 2020 are also key. These ambitious measures should go along with the developing of a new EU Community Poverty and Social Inclusion programme capable of supporting the EU Inclusion Strategy, while at the same time ensuring that EU Structural Funds deliver on poverty and social inclusion objectives. The EAPN members are already working in solidarity with other actors, to identify what could be the legacy from the 2010 year at local, regional, national and EU level. EAPN will be vigilant to make sure that the EU 2010 Year doesn’t resume to nice empty words but does make a difference for the millions of Europeans living in poverty. /ENDS   See: “Ensuring a lasting legacy from 2010”: the EAPN 2008 General assembly final declaration For further information, please contact Audrey Gueudet (Communication & Press Officer) or Fintan Farrell (Director), tel. +32 2 226 58 50 - fax. +32 2 226 58 69 – E-mail: team@... – Website: www.eapn.eu     Click here to unsubscribe
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From: anoncarer <Ian.Griggs.1@...>
Subject: [Carersforumuk] Mental Health act Training
To: Carersforumuk@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 8:04 AM

Hi All,
Below is information on nationally available training for users and
carers on Mental Health Act amendments coming in to force this year.

Regards Ian

FREE Training Workshop for Voluntary Groups
The Mental Health Act is Changing!
Are You Ready?

NIMHE is running a series of one day training workshops focussing on
the changes introduced by the Mental Health Act 2007. These events are
specifically aimed at voluntary sector staff, service users and carers
- to provide them with knowledge and information about the changes to
the Mental Health Act.

Objectives:

To provide a basic understanding of the main changes to the Act,
including:
• The five Guiding Principles
• Appropriate treatment provision
• Supervised Community Treatment
• The Nearest Relative
• Independent Mental Health Advocacy

Date options:

• London 11th November 2008
• Cambridge 18th November 2008
• Exeter 20th November 2008
• Stoke-on-Trent 25th November 2008
• Leeds 27th November 2008

All run 9.30am – 3.30pm (lunch provided)

Attendees should have a basic awareness of the 1983 Act. Service users
and carers are directly involved in the planning and running of these
events.

Please return the booking form below to marketa.mimonova@ ldc.org.uk.
Places are limited. Preference will be given to voluntary sector
staff, service users and carers who have roles sharing mental health
information with others, and who want to share information with other
members of their group.
Places can only be requested using the booking form. You will receive
confirmation
by email, so please ensure that we have your correct email address.

http://mhact. csip.org. uk Tel 020 7307 2431 Fax 020 7307 2432

If you would like to attend one of these training days, please
complete and return the form using the contact details below. You
will receive communication from us by email, so please ensure that we
enter your correct email address.

First choice location

Second choice location (if any)

Name

Job title (if applicable)

Organisation (if applicable)

Address

Post code

Phone number
Mobile number
Email address

Please specify any access requirements or other needs below


Dietary requirements



Important! Places are strictly limited (45 per location). To help us
maximise the reach of the training, preference will be given to those
voluntary sector staff and service users/ carers who have roles
sharing mental health information, and who want to share information
with others. Please use the space below to tell us a little about how
you would use the training to help empower service users and/or carers:

From: anoncarer <Ian.Griggs.1@...>
Subject: [Carersforumuk] Mental Health act Training
To: Carersforumuk@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2008, 8:04 AM

Hi All,
Below is information on nationally available training for users and
carers on Mental Health Act amendments coming in to force this year.

Regards Ian

FREE Training Workshop for Voluntary Groups
The Mental Health Act is Changing!
Are You Ready?

NIMHE is running a series of one day training workshops focussing on
the changes introduced by the Mental Health Act 2007. These events are
specifically aimed at voluntary sector staff, service users and carers
- to provide them with knowledge and information about the changes to
the Mental Health Act.

Objectives:

To provide a basic understanding of the main changes to the Act,
including:
• The five Guiding Principles
• Appropriate treatment provision
• Supervised Community Treatment
• The Nearest Relative
• Independent Mental Health Advocacy

Date options:

• London 11th November 2008
• Cambridge 18th November 2008
• Exeter 20th November 2008
• Stoke-on-Trent 25th November 2008
• Leeds 27th November 2008

All run 9.30am – 3.30pm (lunch provided)

Attendees should have a basic awareness of the 1983 Act. Service users
and carers are directly involved in the planning and running of these
events.

Please return the booking form below to marketa.mimonova@ ldc.org.uk.
Places are limited. Preference will be given to voluntary sector
staff, service users and carers who have roles sharing mental health
information with others, and who want to share information with other
members of their group.
Places can only be requested using the booking form. You will receive
confirmation
by email, so please ensure that we have your correct email address.

http://mhact. csip.org. uk Tel 020 7307 2431 Fax 020 7307 2432

If you would like to attend one of these training days, please
complete and return the form using the contact details below. You
will receive communication from us by email, so please ensure that we
enter your correct email address.

First choice location

Second choice location (if any)

Name

Job title (if applicable)

Organisation (if applicable)

Address

Post code

Phone number
Mobile number
Email address

Please specify any access requirements or other needs below


Dietary requirements



Important! Places are strictly limited (45 per location). To help us
maximise the reach of the training, preference will be given to those
voluntary sector staff and service users/ carers who have roles
sharing mental health information, and who want to share information
with others. Please use the space below to tell us a little about how
you would use the training to help empower service users and/or carers:

Bulletin Contents - 29 September 2008 High Peak Handy Van is Here to Help Launch of LEADER Funding will Help Develop Rural Economy DDEP Grants Woodland and Hedge Laying Course DCC Training for Youth Groups Writing a Tender for Children & Young Adult Services Action For Sick Children Conference NCVO Strategy and Impact Website Social Enterprise Development Worker Vacancy at Age Concern Vacancy: Director of Funding & Community Engagement An Employer's Guide to Mediation Change to Conflicts of Interest Under Company Law NCVO Job Shop Framing the Compact Debate Changes in Online Information on Charities Social Enterprise Seen as Worthy but Inefficient Community Investment for Social Benefit A Guide to the UK PR and Lobbying Industry Cracking the Sector Code Charity Awards Magazines Design and Print Successful Fundraising - 8th October, NCVO, London High Peak Handy Van is Here to Help High Peak now has its own dedicated handy van service making it safer for older and vulnerable people to live in their own homes. This service offers householders fire risk assessments, security checks, energy efficiency advice and practical household tasks. All handy van staff will be checked by the Criminal Records Bureau and the scheme has funding initially for two years. It will be free to people aged over 60 and those who have been referred because they are vulnerable or at risk. To ensure as many people as possible have a chance to use the handy van services, households will be restricted to two visits per year. Whilst the County Council will oversee the Handy Van’s operation, agencies in each area in partnership with the district and borough councils, will run them on a day to day basis. If you need the Handy Van services contact the Buxton Volunteer Centre on 01298 23970 or drop into the centre on the Market place, next door to Sainsburys. Launch of LEADER Funding will Help Develop Rural Economy £1.9m funding provided by the European Union and Defra is now available until 2013 to help develop the Rural Economy.   Micro-enterprises and land based businesses within the Peak District Rural Action Zone (RAZ), covering large parts of Derbyshire Dales, Staffordshire Moorlands and High Peak, will be able to apply for funding to help them diversify their interests and become more sustainable thanks to the launch of Derby and Derbyshire Economic Partnership’s (DDEP) new LEADER funding. LEADER will be co-ordinated by the Local Action Group (LAG), which comprises 15 public, private and voluntary sector representatives, all with local knowledge and expertise.  Over the next few months, the focus will be on helping the land-based sector to diversify into non-agricultural activities, particularly within the food and drink, creative industry and environmental sectors.  Eligible projects will have a value of at least £7,000 and could include applications for funding towards the cost of feasibility studies, market research, start-up capital and revenue costs, product development and refurbishment projects.  Alongside this, LEADER funding will support the creation and development of micro-enterprises and social enterprises. For further information about the LEADER project and grant eligibility, visit www.DDEP.co.uk.  Alternatively e-mail Amanda.Brown@.... DDEP Grants DDEP currently has Invitations to Apply for Grant Funding for both revenue and capital projects.  These cover both DDEP’s main programme and the remaining allocation available to the Peak District Rural Action Zone (RAZ) up to March 2011. Whilst the priorities identified are relevant to the RAZ, projects will be prioritised which demonstrate clear fit with the specific actions in the RAZ Action Plan 2008-11 ( available on the website) and address gaps in current provision. Emphasis will be placed on developing rural-market town linkages and activity in Market Towns. Woodland and Hedge Laying Course Time is running out to apply for a place on a College of the Peak’s new Woodland Management course – and its autumn hedge laying courses. The Woodland Management course runs from Friday 10 October to Sunday 12 October and costs just £165 for three days.  The course will show you how to coppice, make charcoal, turn wood on a pole lathe and make willow hurdles. There’s a choice of two hedge laying courses – a two day taster course for just £110, on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October or a five day accredited course from October 27 to 31, costing £250.  The qualification will allow you to go out and work as a qualified hedge layer. For further information and an application form contact: Vanessa Swetman, College of the Peak, Manor Barn, Over Haddon, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1JE, or telephone 01629 815749 or visit the website at: www.collegeofthepeak.org.uk.  DCC Training for Youth Groups DCC provides FREE training for groups/organisations that are working with or supporting children and young people. Writing a Tender for Children & Young Adult Services 4 Nov 2008 - 10am-1pm   at Bakewell Agricultural Centre     Tips on putting together a tender Heard from a successful tenderer Contact details of where to go for help Speakers: Naomi Compton – Head of Service, Partnership & Commissioning Sandra Pink – Derbyshire CAN Sue Howard – Manager, Volunteer Centre Buxton £20 with lunch Booking Form: www.highpeakcvs.org.uk/events/WritingSuccesfulTender-BookingForm-Nov08.doc Action For Sick Children Conference Friday 10 October 2008 9.30 - 4.00pm at University of Warwick Scarman House The conference will be relevant to all those interested in the standards of health services for children and young people in their own area. More - www.highpeakcvs.org.uk/events/ActionSickChildrenConference-Oct2008.doc NCVO Strategy and Impact Website This new website aims to help you to: know where you are going and how well you are doing; grow by achieving even more for your users or cause; show your successes and communicate your plans. Fairly basic but some useful stuff tucked away (although one or two missing links and it's slightly messy when browsing using our standard font size). www.strategy-impact.org.uk Social Enterprise Development Worker Vacancy at Age Concern 37 hours pw  £28,000 pa (two year project) based in Heanor To lead the development of a strategic partnership between Derbyshire County Council and Age Concern Derby and Derbyshire to support the creation of a thriving social enterprise sector delivering practical independent living services to vulnerable adults. This exciting work will involve strategic development, innovative work with existing and emerging social enterprises and ultimately to improve the quality of life for vulnerable adults. For a job application pack please contact: Age Concern Derby and Derbyshire, 29A Market Place, Heanor, Derbyshire DE 75 7EG Tel: 01773 768240 Email: administration@... Closing date 20th October Vacancy: Director of Funding & Community Engagement at Regeneration East Midlands in Nottingham Salary £30,000 - £35,000 Full details at - www.regenerationem.co.uk/content/view/374/2/ Closing Date: Wednesday 15th October An Employer's Guide to Mediation 'Mediation: An Employer's Guide' is a new publication from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and Acas which champions mediation as an effective way of organisations avoiding ending up at employment tribunals.  It draws on a comprehensive survey of CIPD members and case studies (which included Salisbury Cathedral as a small/medium-sized charity).  Acas news item at www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=2103 or download (pdf, 486KB) from www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=1364 Change to Conflicts of Interest Under Company Law From Sandy Adirondack's Legal update: Under provisions of the Companies Act 2006 coming into effect on 1st October, there are statutory duties to avoid conflict of interest, not accept benefits from third parties and declare an interest in transactions with the company.  Certain potential conflicts of interest would need to be approved by company members or the board of directors, which could include for instance a local authority councillor on the board of a local organisation.  For companies in particular also subject to charity law, the implications are still a little unclear, but for preliminary information see www.sandy-a.co.uk/managing.htm#codir-conflict NCVO Job Shop www.ncvo-jobshop.org.uk is the first point of call for anyone looking for a job in the voluntary or social enterprise sectors.  It provides a cost-effective recruitment solution for voluntary organisations, and NCVO members save 10% on advertising rates.  To find out more visit www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/recruitment Framing the Compact Debate Compact Voice, the body charged with representing the voluntary and community sector in England on the agreement with government, has produced a pack to support participation in the debate on the Compact.  'Framing the debate on the future of the Compact' is in pdf, 76KB, at www.compactvoice.org.uk/module_images/Framing%20the%20Debate2.pdf and an online questionnaire is at www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/compactquestionnaire  Respond by 10th November. The Commission for the Compact's discussion document (pdf, 47kb) is at www.thecompact.org.uk/shared_asp_files/GFSR.asp?NodeID=101783  It has also just published research findings, 'The State of Independence: A research study into independence and the Compact'.  This finds that while The Compact has created an environment which encourages and supports central government departments to respect the independence of the third sector, there are still challenges ahead.  News item. Changes in Online Information on Charities With the threshold for submitting annual accounts to the Charity Commission changing shortly to £25,000, the online database GuideStar UK has announced that it will continue to capture and display information from all Trustee Annual Reports and Financial Statements it receives, regardless of size.  A simple method will be provided to voluntarily submit accounts electronically.  Plaza Publishing news alert item www.charityfinance.co.uk/home/content.php?id=2221 Plaza Publishing also reports that the new format official online register of charities expected this autumn will have colour-coded highlighting of charities that file their accounts late.  www.charityfinance.co.uk/home/content.php?id=2220 Social Enterprise Seen as Worthy but Inefficient Research into current levels of understanding and awareness of social enterprise, carried out for the Office of the Third Sector, has revealed a high level of confusion.  In those surveyed, when asked to pick out social businesses from a list of candidates the largest number chose Comic Relief or Childline, rather than the likes of Eden Project or Big Issue.  And the sector is seen as vague, woolly, worthy, small and inefficient.  See Social Enterprise magazine news item, www.socialenterpriselive.com or the OTS short summary which has a link to a presentation (PowerPoint style) of the findings. Community Investment for Social Benefit A publication for Co-operatives UK written by consultant Jim Brown 'Community Investment – using Industrial and Provident Society legislation' gives an overview and practical guide for activists, advisors and professionals on the use of community share issues.  As the first paragraph says, communities investing capital in business ventures serving a social or community purpose is not a new phenomenon, but the Fairtrade movement saw the start of the modern use of IPS legislation.  See www.cooperatives-uk.coop/live/welcome.asp?id=2397 or download the publication (pdf, 2.6MB) direct. A Guide to the UK PR and Lobbying Industry A new booklet provides a snapshot of the PR and lobbying industry in the UK, documenting the tactics used by leading firms on such issues as nuclear power, science, food and local government.  A section looks at the dangers of companies trying to co-opt voluntary groups – see Third Sector news item at www.thirdsector.co.uk/Article/846348/ (registration required).  Published by Spinwatch, which monitors such activity, more information at www.spinwatch.org or download 'Spinning the Wheel' (pdf, 470KB) from www.spinwatch.org/images/spinning%20the%20wheels.pdf Cracking the Sector Code Voluntary Arts Network has a new Briefings sheet on 'Voluntary and community sector jargon', explaining some of the most common terms and acronyms used.  Pdf, 171KB, www.voluntaryarts.org/uploaded/map7823.pdf Charity Awards Social Change Awards from Directory of Social Change.  Individuals and organisations other than charities can also enter – Everyday Impact Award, the Influencer Award, Investing in Social Change Award and the Public Body Award.  Nominations by 17th October, www.socialchangeawards.org.uk Magazines NCVO's bi-monthly members magazine VS is now Engage, with more pages and related web content.  www.beengaged.org Design and Print Russell Press, started by the Bertrand Russell Peace Foundation in the 1960s, specialises in printing services for the not-for-profit sector.  www.russellpress.com Successful Fundraising - 8th October, NCVO, London In these uncertain economic times, this one day conference will provide you with practical advice to help maximise your organisation's fundraising potential. For more information go to www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/fundraising08 eNews Bulletin from High Peak CVS Visit highpeakcvs.org.uk/enews for past bulletins Contact High Peak CVS to subscribe / unsubscribe or to send in news items for the eNews Bulletin

From: Pamela Pinder <pamshouse@...>
Subject: Re: [Carersforumuk] Re: Fw: E-Petition - Carers Allowance
To: Carersforumuk@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, 29 September, 2008, 6:51 PM

I think the petition has only been launched this week Rob. So it has at least another 7 weeks to go!

 

Pam

 

Website: www.pamshouse. pwp.blueyonder. co.uk
Message board: http://health. groups.yahoo. com/group/ Carersforumuk/

 

There are four kinds of people in this world... past carers - carers - future carers ....and those who will need to be cared for

----- Original Message -----

From: aim highpeak

To: Carersforumuk@ yahoogroups. com

Sent: Monday, September 29, 2008 4:23 AM

Subject: Re: [Carersforumuk] Re: Fw: E-Petition - Carers Allowance

I guess not either, and perhaps won't be on this E-Petition as only 85 names are on it (as I type) and it expires (Deadline to sign by) on 14th November 2008.   www.aimhighpeak. com         --- On Sun, 9/28/08, mac pic <macpic91@googlemail .com> wrote: From: mac pic <macpic91@googlemail .com> Subject: Re: [Carersforumuk] Re: Fw: E-Petition - Carers Allowance To: Carersforumuk@ yahoogroups. com Date: Sunday, September 28, 2008, 6:51 PM NO 2008/9/28 Rob <aimhighpeak@ yahoo.com> Has any one of these E-Petitions actually changed anything, other than highlight the subject of the Petition itself ? --- In Carersforumuk@ yahoogroups. com, "Pamela Pinder" <pamshouse@.. .> wrote: > > > > > > > The following is an email sent to you by an administrator of "National > > Carers Forum - Campaigning for Carers Rights". If this message is spam, > > contains abusive or other comments you find offensive please contact the > > webmaster of the board at the following address: > > > > admin@... > > > > Include this full email (particularly the headers). > > > > Message sent to you follows: > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ > > > > Petition created by one of our CarerWatch colleagues, please sign and > > spread the word. > > > > Paula xx > > > > > > > > http://petitions. pm.gov.uk/ caringiswork/ > > > > We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to withdraw the > > proposal to transfer carers on carers allowance and income > > support to job seekers allowance and to recognise carers' > > valuable social input by keeping carer benefits separate from > > the rest of the benefit system. > > > > In the Welfare Green Paper No One Written Off: Reforming > > Welfare to Reward Responsibility the Government proposes to > > transfer working age carers on Carers Allowance and Income > > Support to Job seekers Allowance. Carers are amongst the most > > responsible members of society. Without their contribution our > > NHS and social care systems would collapse. Transferring carers > > to job seekers allowance , a benefit that suggests carers are > > not working, are not contributing to society and are available > > for work is an insult and a contradiction of the government's > > claim to 'recognise' carers' 'immense contribution' to society > > (estimated to be worth £87 billion a year). Carers' valuable > > social input should be recognised by keeping carer benefits > > separate from the rest of the benefit system. > > >

From: mac pic <macpic91@...>
Subject: Re: [Carersforumuk] Carers Allowance
To: Carersforumuk@yahoogroups.com
Date: Monday, 29 September, 2008, 12:19 AM

Quite right Mick, there is very little recognition of what Carers do on a regular basis for long hours and with no pay in many instances.

I think that the government cynically take advantage of this because they know that people will always look after their loved ones and relatives.

I was shocked when i researched the oft quoted 2001 census figures, I found that there were (in 2001) over 4,000 Carers aged 90 or over who did more than 50 hours per week actually caring for someone.

Any society that actively condones this type of blatant exploitation must have something wrong with it, eg a government that believes its more important to compensate well off investors who put their money into unwise investments than it is to look after their sick and injured.

ian

2008/9/28 MICHAEL FUREY <thefurey@btopenworl d.com>

I seem to remember that the first time 'carer' became part of the language was when people were being discharged from long-stay psych units and moving into their own (often poor standard) accomodation. People with other disabilities were 'cared for' under the same scheme. Various people who volunteered to 'look after' them, either by taking them into their own homes or visiting on a regular basis, suddenly became known as 'carers'. These 'volunteers' were paid an allowance (Carer's Allowance?) by the government; I'm not sure if that was national or local. The standard of care was often questionable to say the least; there were allegations of some of these 'carers' exploiting people.   My son had been ill and back living with me for a while when a friend said one night, 'I guess that makes you a carer then.' I was gobstruck; I'd never thought of it like that. He'd come back to live with me because he needed help, that's all. I suspect that's how it is for most of us, no matter what the disability. The most common description of what we do is, 'looking after my ...' Has anybody ever thought of themselves as a potential carer before they had to do it? There's nothing new or particularly moral about what we're doing, is there? It's a simple human reaction to our own family members, friends or neighbours. There's a point for discussion: if it takes a village to rear a child, what does it take to care for someone in trouble? Mick

From: mac pic <macpic91@...>
Subject: Re: [Carersforumuk] Re: Fw: E-Petition - Carers Allowance
To: Carersforumuk@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, September 28, 2008, 6:51 PM

NO

2008/9/28 Rob <aimhighpeak@ yahoo.com>

Has any one of these E-Petitions actually changed anything, other
than highlight the subject of the Petition itself ?

--- In Carersforumuk@ yahoogroups. com, "Pamela Pinder" <pamshouse@.. .>
wrote:

>
>
>
> >
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> > Carers Forum - Campaigning for Carers Rights". If this message is
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> > Include this full email (particularly the headers).
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> > Message sent to you follows:
> > ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~
> >
> > Petition created by one of our CarerWatch colleagues, please sign
and
> > spread the word.
> >
> > Paula xx
> >
> >
> >
> > http://petitions. pm.gov.uk/ caringiswork/
> >
> > We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to withdraw the
> > proposal to transfer carers on carers allowance and income
> > support to job seekers allowance and to recognise carers'
> > valuable social input by keeping carer benefits separate from
> > the rest of the benefit system.
> >
> > In the Welfare Green Paper No One Written Off: Reforming
> > Welfare to Reward Responsibility the Government proposes to
> > transfer working age carers on Carers Allowance and Income
> > Support to Job seekers Allowance. Carers are amongst the most
> > responsible members of society. Without their contribution our
> > NHS and social care systems would collapse. Transferring carers
> > to job seekers allowance , a benefit that suggests carers are
> > not working, are not contributing to society and are available
> > for work is an insult and a contradiction of the government's
> > claim to 'recognise' carers' 'immense contribution' to society
> > (estimated to be worth £87 billion a year). Carers' valuable
> > social input should be recognised by keeping carer benefits
> > separate from the rest of the benefit system.
> >
>