Issue 24 - September 2012 (PDF) - Chipping Norton Times

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24 Carers UK working with and for carers Carers UK are aware that, despite changes in support and legislation, many of the issues raised in 2011 as being key problems for carers are still paramount today - • caring taking over wellbeing— isolation, exhaustion, and it impacts on your own health • impact on working and finances (lower income) • wanting the best for the person you love – a key driver. • Determination to get things done—feisty: ‘I can’t give up at the first hurdle’ • Being recognised as a carer and getting support • People going the extra mile – ‘I don’t want other people to go through what I did; I want a better deal for them.’ Carers UK are keen to work with local organisations and are pioneering this with Social Services, Age UK Oxfordshire, NHS and carers— to ’refresh’ the Carers Strategy and support carers in employment. The Carers UK Employers for Carers scheme involves blue chip companies such as Sainsbury’s, British Gas, and BT and are working to join up the national scheme with local initiatives. Carers UK campaigns on a very wide range of issues important to carers and small but important steps forward have been achieved - the right to assessment, carers allowance, pension rights, flexible working rights and the Equality Act. Sharon Coleman and her son went to the European Court to bring about this latter change. There are some newer issues to address: • the growing demand for social care • increasing numbers of older people and carers (the number of carers is predicted to increase to 9m by 2037) is a huge issue affecting us all - as big an issue as climate change, though it attracts much less high profile interest • ‘sandwich carers’ - parents of a disabled child who also care for a parent • distance carers • changes to Care and Welfare Reform creating a ‘perfect storm’ for some families. Carers UK are pressing the Government on all these issues. The Self Directed Support Forum Do you organise care for yourself or a loved one and either pay for it yourself or get a Direct Payment from social services? Have you had any problems or concerns with the quality of the care that you received? Have you done anything about it? Is there enough help and support around to help you deal with it? The Carers Grant Scheme Contact Carers Ofordshire on 0845 050 7666, Out of hours duty team 0800 833408 The Carers Grant is designed to support the health and wellbeing of carers, helping them have a 'life outside caring’. The one-off direct payment of up to £350 can be used for activities or equipment not available from Oxfordshire County Council or the NHS, such as:- childcare or extra help at home; driving lessons; counselling; massage and wellbeing services; gym membership; IT equipment; training and recreational classes; help with transport costs; a short break ….amongst other things. To be eligible, the carer and cared for person must be aged 18 or over, and the carer must be providing unpaid and substantial care for 10 hours or over a week on a regular basis. The carer must not have had a grant in the previous 12 months (Life of Your Own, GP Carers Breaks or Leisure and Learning). Look online for information, to apply for a Carers Grant and find out about the GP Carers Break - www.carersoxfordshire.org.uk Contact Carers Oxfordshire on 0845 050 7666 or email carersoxfordshire@oxfordshire.gov.uk If you are a newly bereaved carer or the carer of someone who has recently gone into residential care, we would like to hear from you. We know that this can be a very difficult and distressing time for carers and we would like to ask for your views and ideas about how we can help at this time. carersinfo@ageukoxfordshire.org.uk or telephone 01235 424 715. If the above sounds familiar, or is something of concern to you, we would love to hear from you. The Self Directed Support (SDS) Forum is a group of users and carers who discuss and challenge the County Council on how self directed support is working for users and carers. SDS have heard from a number of people that they are concerned that if things go wrong with the care they’ve organised, they wont know what to do, or have sufficient support to sort it out. The next meeting is on 11 September, 1-2.30pm, at County Hall, Oxford, Alan Sinclair (Lead Commissioner - Older People) and Lucy Butler (Deputy Director, Adult Social Care) will be there to listen to people’s comments and concerns. The SDS Forum is keen to recruit new members who would also like to be involved in discussions that they will be having. If you would like to attend this meeting, or send in your comments, or If you know anyone who would be interested in being part of the Forum, or are unable to come but would like to tell us about their experience, please contact Michelle Evans on 01235 520440 or email michelle@oxoncarersforum.org.uk
West Oxfordshire District Council has become a shareholder in a new Community Interest Company that allows homeowners and businesses to cut energy bills and reduce their carbon footprint. WODC has agreed to become a founding member of a new social enterprise that will see it become a Green Deal provider - the Government's new flagship scheme set to revolutionise the energy efficiency of the nation's housing stock. Householders will be able to install energy saving measures such as insulation and new boilers with no upfront costs because the resulting savings on their monthly energy bills will finance a loan to pay for the measures. The initiative replaces all current national energy efficiency schemes and will be rolled out this October. Signing up to this new venture follows the Council's recent achievements to become an environmental leader by reducing its carbon footprint by over 15 per cent in the past three years. Under the Green Deal homeowners can have an assessment of their property which identifies measures that will help reduce energy waste. The homeowner can then take this to a provider who will supply them with a comprehensive quote, including how much improvements will cost to install, how much the bill payer will be expected to save and how long the repayment will take. The assessment will also make sure that the savings are equal or superior to the cost of installing the measures. Cotswolds AONB Rural Skills Autumn/Winter Events Tel: 01451 862000 www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk 2012 Cotswolds dry-stone walling & hedgelaying competitions - REGISTER NOW! Registration is now open for the Cotswolds AONB's annual dry-stone walling and hedgelaying competitions. Entering these competitions is a great way to put your skills to the test and to see some of the country's finest dry-stone wallers or hedgelayers in action. 2012/13 autumn/winter programme announced! The Autumn & Winter programme of rural skills courses is now available. So whether you fancy trying your hand at the age old art of hedgelaying, delving into the life of a blacksmith or making your very own wooden chair we have a course for you. Lime mortar & blacksmithing courses in September - PLACES STILL AVAILABLE! Learn how to repair a Cotswold stone buildings or try a day in the life of a blacksmith this September! Get to the heart of rural skills this autumn/winter Green Deal struck for residents www.westoxon.gov.uk Cllr David Harvey, Cabinet Member for Environment, said: "By becoming a shareholder, this will allow the Council to ensure that residents are given a reliable effective service, rather than have to rely on external organisations over which it has no control or influence." --- § --- Free electric blanket testing to help you stay safe With Autumn on our doorsteps residents in West Oxfordshire are being encouraged to plan ahead and think about safety by signing up to get their electric blankets tested for free. Residents need to book in advance to attend testing sessions being held by WODC in conjunction with the County Council's Trading Standards and Fire and Rescue Service. The sessions will take place on: • Friday 12 October in Witney • Friday 26 October in Chipping Norton Last year, 204 electric blankets were tested at sessions in West Oxfordshire and nearly a third (62 blankets, 30%) were found to be unsafe. Faulty blankets are a common cause of fires and the best advice for anyone with a blanket that is more than 10 years old, or showing signs of wear, is to get a new one. Bookings for electric blanket testing can be made online www.westoxon.gov.uk/blankettesting or by calling 01993 861060. The Cotswolds Conservation Board is delighted to have teamed up with Somerset based conservation group 'The Heartwood Project' this autumn/winter to provide a range of exciting green wood work and woodland craft courses. From spoon carving to chair making, these practical, hands-on courses are great if you're looking to learn a new skill or simply want to try something a little bit different. Over 70 people trained in dry-stone walling in 2012...so far The Cotswolds Conservation Board has provided dry-stone walling training for over 70 people so far this year, restoring approximately 65m of existing walls in the process. 25
Page 1 and 2: CHIPPING NORTON TIMES Issue 24 Sept
Page 3 and 4: CHIPPING NORTON TIMES From the Edit
Page 7 and 8: STOW ON THE WOLD TAXI SERVICE 6 SEA
Page 9 and 10: LINDY ALLFREY - Portrait Artist, St
Page 11 and 12: With over 10 years experience the R
Page 13 and 14: conservation is important, and some
Page 15 and 16: COTSWOLD BOOKSTORE 20 High Street,
Page 18 and 19: 18 Paying Too Much Tax? Contact Rob
Page 20: 20 BOURTON ON THE WATER THE ROYAL B
Page 23: OXFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL Support
Page 30: 30 Rural Cinema - September The Pla
Page 35 and 36: Increasing fuel prices push volunte
Page 38 and 39: 38 StoW SKIPS QUAlItY SERVICE • C
Page 42 and 43: 42 Home-Start Needs Your Help Being
Page 45 and 46: Cotswolds Health and Fitness Club
Page 47 and 48: MORETON-IN-MARSH BOWLS CLUB Report
Page 49 and 50: Olympic Glow MORETON RANGERS FOOTBA
Page 52 and 53: Chadlington Flower Club Julie Thomp
Page 54 and 55: 54 Rotary Club of Chipping Norton C

Issue 24 - September 2012 (PDF) - Chipping Norton Times

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