Wolverhampton Carers
In collaboration with Wolverhampton City Council Carer Support Team, Omega is running regular support groups for Wolverhampton's unpaid care-givers, and hosts the Wolverhampton Carer Forums; enabling the City's unpaid carers to share important information, keep up to date, raise concerns and address issues.
- Carer support groups
- Mental health-specific carer support
- Autism-specific carer support
- Wolverhampton Carer Forums
- Chatterbox telephone befriending service
- Wolverhampton City Council Carer Support Team Bulletins
- City Carer Magazine
Carer support groups
We support a range of groups shaped by carers, each with its own identity. Most groups are suitable for all carers, regardless of who they care for; a group specifically for carers of people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders is also available. We encourage people to attend whichever group they feel most comfortable with. Groups provide a good opportunity to meet people, socialise, and share information, tips and advice. We can also help by signposting carers to specialist services. We respond to suggestions from carers when engaging guest speakers. Groups are usually hosted by two experienced support workers. Omega facilitators also regularly attend. New carers can always be assured of a friendly welcome.
Please contact Omega or Wolverhampton Carer Support Team to find out more, or simply come along to a group to see for yourself. We are particularly keen to attract hidden carers, including people looking after someone who do not readily recognise their caring role. We set out to build supportive relationships, boost confidence and encourage better decision-making. Carers will be given the opportunity to engage with the Wolverhampton Carer Forum. We'd be interested in hearing from you if you'd like to start a new group, for example, to address a particular need. We'd also like to hear from potential delivery partners who provide similar support in the Wolverhampton area, in order to coordinate the provision we offer. The Wolverhampton events page has details of upcoming groups.
Mental health-specific carer support
A support group with special consideration for carers of people with mental health conditions is held at the Zion City Tabernacle on Compton Road. Check the Wolverhampton events page for meeting dates. Omega is launching a mental health-specific forum for Wolverhampton carers to discuss issues affecting them and help shape the support they receive; if you would like to get involved, please fill in a questionnaire and return it to Omega via email or post.
See also: Mental health carer resources
Autism-specific carer support
A support group with special consideration for carers of people with Autistic Spectrum Disorders is held at Mencap Skills for Life: Glyn Bank, Lloyd Street. Check the Wolverhampton events page for meeting dates.
Wolverhampton Carer Forums
If you are involved in caring for someone and would like to help shape the support received by unpaid care-givers in Wolverhampton, you can get involved with the Forum, an opportunity for carers to come together and express opinions on topics which affect them. Initially constituted as 2 separate forums addressing the needs of carers looking after people with Learning Disabilities, and Physical & Sensory Disabilities, in September 2011 local carers elected to join forces to create a stronger collective voice. Whilst recognising and respecting individual needs - and continuing to address condition-specific issues – an all-embracing and truly representative Forum will bring all Wolverhampton carers together and enable them to gain a broader understanding of the City’s caring landscape.
If you enjoy working collaboratively and want to make a difference, you can speak to a forum member (listed below) or contact Omega for more information.
Forum members:
- Edward Bagley - Chairperson and Learning Disability Partnership Board Carer Representative
- Shirley Crook - Vice Chairperson
- Robert Cole - Treasurer
- Janet Wood - Secretary (ex officio)
- Patricia Bagley - Publicity / Press Officer and Long Term Impairment Partnership Board Carer Representative
- Margaret Bradshaw - Learning Disability Partnership Board Carer Representative
- Orioul Smallman - Long Term Impairment Partnership Board Carer Representative
Wolverhampton Carer Forum Fact Sheet
The organisation of the Wolverhampton Carer Forum
Summary of carer feedback collected at the Forum launch event, Britannia Hotel, 22nd February 2011
Chatterbox telephone befriending service
The Omega Chatterbox befriending Programme will secure the following principal changes; we shall:
- Find and maintain contact with some of the most isolated, carers, former carers and other socially isolated people in Wolverhampton and Shropshire
- Provide an opportunity for beneficiaries to enhance their social network
- Link beneficiaries to existing provision
- We shall achieve this by making monthly/fortnightly telephone contact, befriending, and supporting socially isolated beneficiaries
Beneficiaries will be:
- Made aware of existing provision
- Able to ask questions to which Omega staff will provide answers, receive important information
- Encouraged to engage with group and other activit
This will inevitably lead to improved health and well-being. The Project will deliver the following specific activities:
- The telephone service
- An outreach facility in terms of finding new beneficiaries and volunteers
- The provision of important person centred information
- The opportunity to participate in other activity
To register for Chatterbox support, or to find out how you can help us by promoting the service, contact us.
Wolverhampton City Council Carer Support Team Bulletins
City Carer Magazine
The magazine for unpaid carers in Wolverhampton
