Thursday May 23 2013 – For four weeks from 10am until 1.00pm the Getting Carers Connected workshops at Hitchin Priory, Tilehouse Street, Hitchin.

Monday June 10 2013 - Launch of Carers Week activities for Crossroads Care and supported by local MP Oliver Heald.

To coincide with Carers Week and with the support of the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation, the Broadway Cinema will be showing a short film about the difference Crossroads Care Hertfordshire North can make to the lives of carers on Monday, June 10. 

This is a story told by carers about their journey and the practical and emotional support the charity provides. 

If you are a carer or are interested in finding out more, you are welcome to attend but need to reserve a space.  The event starts at 10am and there is no charge.  Refreshments will be available at La Concha after the show.

To find out more or to reserve a place at any of these events phone 01462 455578.

The Lounge barber shop in Letchworth GC presented a cheque for £300 to Ms Taylor.

She said: “we are very grateful to Dean and his partner Geraldine for their support.  This money will be used to help carers in the local area to get a well deserved break.”

The Crossroads Care Hertfordshire North Time Out event will be held on June 14 at North Herts College’s Indulge Restaurant in Willian Way, Hitchin. 

A film will be shown about the positive outcomes of the Getting Carers Connected Project – a Crossroads Care scheme encouraging carers to get online – and the impact it has on people’s lives. 

Hitchin MP Peter Lilley will also be popping along to join carers for coffee and cake.  The event runs from 10:30am until 12:30pm – to find out more or to reserve a place call 01462 455578.  All carers in the area are welcome.

Thanks to the support of Sammi and Peter Colvin, owners of La Concha Wine and Tapas Bar in Letchworth GC and funding from the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation, Crossroads Care are launching their latest Carer’s Café in Letchworth GC. 

The Cafes are available for Carers who are looking after someone at home and wish to meet new people and socialise over a cup of coffee.

“This is a really exciting development as we already have two successful Cafes in Comet Country – one in Stevenage and one in Hitchin – and we are very grateful for the support of La Concha and Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation” said Jo Wilkinson, Executive Assistant.  “Their help has enabled us to start this latest venture with our first Café in Letchworth GC opening on the 23^rd May.”

The group will meet on the fourth Thursday of every month from 10.00am until 11.45am at La Concha, Station Place, Letchworth Garden City, SG6 3AN.  Carers are welcome to come along and join us.  There is no need to book and it is free.  If you wish to find out more please call 01462 455578 or email info@hertfordshirecrossroads-north.org.uk

If you would like more information about the services of Crossroads Care visit our website www.crossroadshn.org.uk

Benny, the new mascot for Crossroads Care is the latest addition to the Crossroads Team and proved very popular on May 8^th in Stevenage town centre. 

The discount card is available to unpaid family carers living in Stevenage and can be used in a number of shops.

To find out more about the Carers’ Passport phone Carers in Herts on 01992 586969 or email contact@carersinherts.org.uk

Dean Mayes and Geraldine Travi, owners of The Lounge in Eastcheap, Letchworth GC, donated £300 to Crossroads Care Hertfordshire North.

The shop invited customers to celebrate its anniversary, with North East Hertfordshire MP Oliver Heald among those sitting in the chair to get a trim for charity.

Dean 27, has more than 12 years experience in hairdressing and barbering.  He said: “What a wonderful day we had.  It was the perfect way to celebrate the success of our first year.  Geraldine and I have worked so hard over the past 12 months and with the support of friends, family and our customers we are looking forward to many more years in Letchworth.”

Mr Heald said “It was great to have a trim in aid of Crossroads Care Hertfordshire North and I think it is wonderful that stylist Dean is giving his takings to Charity.  I know that many people have been helped by Crossroads Care and I applaud this initiative.” 

To find out more about the services offered by Crossroads Care Hertfordshire North please call 01462 455578 or email info@hertfordshirecrossroads-north.org.uk

16 carers got involved in two textile workshops led by textile artists Laura Bragg and Felicity Skelton.

Jo Wilkinson, executive assistant for CCHN said: “Some of the carers were already keen at handicraft and needlework and saw this as an opportunity to develop and learn new skills.  Others were novices but still rolled up their sleeves and soon became handy with a needle and thread or the sewing machine.”

Week one saw the carers learning how to produce batik – a type of Indonesian cloth – using brightly coloured material and hand painted images.  These were turned into items to take home and were sewn onto cushion covers that they also made themselves.

One carer said: “I just couldn’t believe that I started and finished a project in the time we had and I have a handmade and decorated cushion cover to keep that is all my own work!  They were lovely sessions really enjoyable.”

Lixi Chivas, Project Co-ordinator at Zinc Arts said: “We were delighted to return to Crossroads Care as part of our Hertfordshire Adult and Family Learning Service programme.  It’s always a pleasure supporting people to enjoy time out to learn something new, or revisit an old skill they thought they had forgotten.  And as the ideas flowed so did the conversation, bubbling with memories of sewing and needlework, from making wedding dresses to fishing nets to bloomers!”

If you are involved in a community group and would like to do something similar call Lixi at Zinc Arts on 01277 365626.

To find out more about the Carers’ Cafes run by Crossroads Care Hertfordshire North phone 01462 455578 or visit our website at www.Crossroadshn.org.uk

The sessions, run by the Comet’s Charity of the Year Crossroads Care, aim to alleviate the strains often felt by carers.

At a recent session, Elaine Wight from Counselling in Herts visited the group and ran a session.

She said: “Working with Crossroads and providing group and one-to-one support to carers has enabled me to learn more about the challenges faced by carers in their daily lives.  I thoroughly enjoy working with the group and admire the work that Crossroads do in the local community.  It is so pleasing when a one-off comment about loneliness turns a negative into a really positive outcome.  I am delighted to be part of the work that Crossroads do in making a difference.”

The group has also recently started up a monthly Sunday lunch club where carers can meet up and get out of the house for a couple of hours and enjoy lunch with friends. 

Jo Wilkinson, executive assistant for Crossroads Care said: “At a recent session one of them mentioned the loneliness she feels on a Sunday spending time on her own and thinking about what other people are doing – enjoying time out and having fun.  This led to a conversation about setting up a monthly Sunday lunch club.  One of the Crossroads’ volunteers gladly agreed to organise the outings and already a group of six carers are signed up to the idea.”

To find out more about the services offered by Crossroads Care or the Carers’ Cafe email info@hertfordshirecrossroads-north.org.uk

To find out more about the services offered by Elaine Wright visit www.counsellingherts.co.uk

Carers at the Hitchin carers’ cafe group, who meet at The Croft in Bancroft, attended a session led by Cate Mitcham, a dementia support worker from the Alzheimer’s Society.

Jo Wilkinson, executive assistant for Crossroads Care said: “Many of the carers are looking after a loved one living with dementia and they wanted to find out more about the different types of dementia, the early signs and problems, what to look out for, what to expect and how it affects individuals.”

Carers were told Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia caused by physical changes in the brain, which lead to problems with memory, thinking and actions. 

The support worker was able to answer questions and give tips and advice on how to approach issues and deal with concerns and sometimes difficult situations.

Cate said: “When you’re caring for someone with dementia, it can be all too easy to ignore your own needs and to forget that you matter too.  But it’s much easier to cope if you look after your own health and wellbeing, and there is lots of support available.  Contact Alzheimer’s Society if you want to find out about getting practical help to care for someone with dementia or just talk to someone who understands.”

Caroline Harding, a carer and volunteer for Crossroads said: “It was a very good session and extremely helpful being able to ask Cate questions.  She was brilliant and very informative.”

Crossroads Care works closely with the Alzheimer’s Society to support carers who are looking after a loved one suffering with one of the many types of dementia.

The carers’ cafe group meets at The Croft bar and restaurant in Bancroft, Hitchin on the first and third Thursday of every month. 

To find out more about the services offered by Crossroads Care or the carers’ cafe, email info@hertfordshirecrossroads-north.org.uk or visit www.crossroadshn.org.uk

To contact the local branch of Alzheimer’s Society call 01462 433999.