Public reports pack PDF 6 MB - East Lindsey District Council

Skegness Area Committee21.03.2011that could be accessed freely to help carers manage their personalsituation and possibly avoid a crisis.Mr. John Wood, Carer, continued the presentation by informing Membersthat carers could be taken for granted, sometimes by those they cared forbut also by the community at large. This situation meant that manycarers struggled to cope, especially those young carers who were atschool and studying for exams, for example. Mr Wood informed Membersthat the existence of the Partnership had helped many people and therewas now improved access to assessments of home situations and supportfollow-ups by the Lincolnshire Carers’ Team. The Carers’ EmergencyResponse Scheme was also very well received and was accessible to allcarers 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Members also noted that awebsite was being developed and was due to be launched very soon,which would provide information to carers and public alike.Public awareness of the role of the carer was raised by attendance at suchMeetings as the Skegness Area Committee and other organisations.However, Members’ noted that carers depended on the support from theCounty Council and the District Council to make their needs known to thecommunity at large, especially the 440 registered young carers in thedistrict.Members were informed awareness was essential when young carers werefaced with the hospitalisation of the person they were caring for, as thenormal situation was that they were considered to be minors andtherefore not privy to information on the progress of their relative. Youngcarers considered this to be very upsetting and frustrating when oftenthey were the only close relatives the patient had.The Communications Officer advised Ms. Oliver about the CarersEnterprise and also support from the Royal British Legion and agreed topass on information regarding these organisations following the Meeting.He also invited her to include information in the October edition of theEast Lindsey Messenger Magazine where the partnership could be widelypromoted to East Lindsey residents. It was also agreed that leaflets aboutthe partnership would be distributed at all Customer Service Centres andon market stalls. An ELDC representative, also a Town Councillor followedup and added that perhaps information could be included in the SkegnessTown Council newsletter.The Chairman made reference to the Councillor Community Initiative Fundin terms of funding and the Corporate Support Officer agreed to e-maildetails of this scheme to Ms. Oliver following the Meeting.Councillor P. Leivers, as Carers’ Champion took the opportunity to informMembers about recent events the partnership had organised and alsofuture plans for Carers Week.The Chairman thanked Ms. Oliver and Mr. Wood for their presentation andattendance at the Meeting, following which they left the Meeting.SAC 3Page 179