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Carer Stories

Our Support Group Project

Abstract green waveFeedback from our carers is essential for all the work we do here at the Carers Centre. If we didn’t speak to carers about what they like and don’t like about our services, we wouldn’t know the best way of shaping and creating services in the future. From phone calls with carers to giving out feedback forms during breaks, we listen to carers in everything we do.

A key way we get feedback about our services from carers is through our Annual Survey, which asks carers about their engagement with our service and if there’s anything they would change. Last year some carers wanted more regular contact with us, to gain a personal service. To address this, we’re reinstating our befriending service, which comes into force this month.

This shows our determination to include carer views in everything we do, and use their feedback to create better services for the future.

Our new project is no different.

At the Carers Centre, we currently have five support groups on offer, but we’re looking to expand this to help even more carers. We’re holding interviews in March to discuss what support groups carers want and how they should be organised. In the meantime, we’ve made an online questionnaire asking our carers for their views on support groups which can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GLP9WH7. If you’re a carer with something to say then I need your help!

If you’re a carer and would like more information or want to get involved in the project, please contact BANES Carers Centre on 01761 431388 or email holly.turrell@banescarerscentre.org.uk. 

Carer Stories

Surrinder Treks the Himalayas

My name is Surrinder and I am a parent carer for my daughter Nina who is on the autistic spectrum. I have always loved travel; it is so exciting seeing new places, people and being enriched by them.

I am going to be doing the Dalai Lama Trek in October 2015 in aid of the RUH Cancer Care Campaign.

This is something I have always wanted to do and one day in April as I was out walking the poster outside the main entrance to the RUH caught my eye. I had not been feeling very well and all of a sudden I found myself thinking how much I wanted to do this challenge for me. Once I had sent the email requesting more information I was very much on that road. I signed up end of April and have been doing my training walks for the 67km trek as well as fundraising.

I was born in Northern India and I recall my father saying from our house in India we could see the Himalayas, so it is an opportunity to connect with a part of my heritage. It is a challenge on so many levels for me. It is the first time I will be travelling completely on my own and camping for 5 days with only basic provisions. No toilets or showers!

It is time for me to find that adventurous creative part of me that has been lying dormant for a while.

This is my story and if it helps someone else to go out there and do something that they have always wanted to do but haven’t , then go and do it now. Life is for living and sometimes being a carer can become all consuming.  It is easy to lose sight of one’s own needs. Self care is important if you are to continue to give your loved one the support they need.