Great afternoon at The Old Quay House in Hayle, thanks to Trevor and Margaret for supporting and hosting this lovely afternoon.
Great to see so many carers enjoying a delicious meal.
Watch this space for our next event in 2022.
Bernie and Jenny
Author: Promas
Merry Christmas from Promas
Bernie and Jenny and all the team would like to wish all carers and their families a safe and peaceful Christmas and New Year with hopes for a better 2021.
We look forward to seeing you all again soon,
Take care and Merry Christmas.
COVID 19 Survey
Ava Mason works for Kings College London.
She is working on a study focusing on the needs of informal caregivers during the COVID 19 pandemic. If you have a bit of time, she would be grateful if you could complete the below survey.
Find attached the link to the survey here –
https://kcliop.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2bFquevHV5up8PP
The link first directs you to an information sheet that expresses: the purpose of the study, the ethical clearance reference number, what will happen if you take part in the survey, risks and benefits of the study, and what will happen with the results.
*These carers must be 18+yrs and have been in their informal caregiving role for at least 3 months prior to the survey.
Adult Carers Strategy and service model
Back in 2019 Cornwall Council asked you about many aspects of your life as a carer and about your caring role, including what support you would need to be able to fulfil your caring role. The feedback gathered through those activities has shaped the draft carers strategy Cornwall Cares for Carers and our new model proposal.
Now they would like to seek your views about the draft carers strategy Cornwall Cares for Carers and the new service model which we are proposing from carers ideas to be implemented from 1 July 2021.
Many carers told them that they either don’t access support or are not sure how to access it. To ensure more carers can access the right support for them, they are proposing a three-level service model:
1-Help for you to self-manage your caring role with clear information and signposting, helpline managed by skilled staff, connecting peer support available in your community
2-Enhanced support when you need it- wellbeing and welfare support including access to benefits and other welfare entitlements, help with completing forms, carers training and grants
3-Formal review to meet your eligible needs, develop a holistic support plan and to identify what additional needs you may have
For more details about the project and to view the Draft Carers Strategy Cornwall Cares for Carers please go to www.cornwall.gov.uk/adultcarers.
To complete the survey please click on this link.
The survey will close on Friday 14 August.
If you cannot access the survey online please email: [email protected] or call 0800 5878191.
Promas National Success
Cornwall’s Promas CIC has taken the country by storm
A Cornwall-based Community Interest Company, famed for its award-winning free courses supporting unpaid carers, has successfully rolled out its online training to over 20 regions across the UK.
Promas Online was established in November 2018, and since then, the team have had licenses taken up by authorities and organisations across the country; from Wigan to Worcester, from Sterling to Sussex, from Bristol to Blackpool.
The venture offers online training and support to help unpaid carers deal with the challenges they face. UK Carers Week is 8-14 June, so perfect timing for the project to become a national success.
Bernie DeLord, Director and Co-Founder or Promas CIC says, ‘Our courses can change carers lives.
Whether its managing stress, finding coping strategies, understanding dementia, caring for yourself or caring for someone with mental ill health to name but a few.
‘Our award-winning courses have been so successful in Cornwall and Plymouth that we are now offering them online to ensure that all carers can access the training, regardless of where they live or
the physical and time limits that their caring role might place upon them.’
The success had come about partly due to the current self-isolating and social distancing climate that we find ourselves in. Where people would have otherwise attended face-to-face courses, they now have the opportunity to take part in the training online.
One unpaid carer said, ‘The website is easy to navigate and the content has prompted me to see what changes I have made and what I need to focus on. With Covid-19 it has been a blessing to have the courses as I am shielding so it is good to get support. Thank you to you both for all the good work you do.’
Another carer commented, ‘I started these at the end of April. To be honest I was sceptical at first but have been surprised by how good they are. I like the voice overs and the quizzes, it has made me think about how I am managing and pointed out things I need to do more of for myself. The courses have helped me feel better and I have found them very supportive. This is the first online course I have done and I am getting so much from them.’
A new Helpline
As well as the online courses, Promas CIC have also launched a new helpline & advice service for unpaid carers in Cornwall. Between 10am-4pm (Monday to Friday), their team are manning the phones to talk and help carers with any challenges or issues they are facing.
Both ventures are being funded by The Triangle Trust, a grant making charity established in 1949 by Sir Harry Jephcott.
For more information visit promas.co.uk or promasonline.co.uk.
New Promas Online website launches
Following weeks of hard work, we’re pleased to announce that Promas Online (version 2) is now live. Our award-winning courses have been so successful that we are offering them online to ensure that all carers can access the training, regardless of where they live or the physical and time limits that their caring role might place upon them.
Caring for someone can be tough, and carers don’t often get the support they need. We’re trying to change this.
With the social distancing currently in force, there’s no better time to get online and learn more about the caring role.
Visit www.promasonline.co.uk today.
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If you are carer in Cornwall you can get a free license to take part in the courses – simply contact us by email [email protected], or phone 07775 756454 and we will send across your access information.
If you are carer from outside of Cornwall, the first 3 courses are completely free. And the bundle for courses 4-7 is only £45.
We are also offering 10 free licenses to any organisation that supports carers across the UK. For more information about how to obtain this package just get in touch using the details above.
Coronavirus
Promas CIC under advice from the Government, NHS England and Public Health will be suspending all face to face training on a temporary basis. We will review this every month in line with Government and NHS advice and manage accordingly.
We recognise that carers and the cared for are a vulnerable group and want to do everything possible to keep all parties safe and to prevent the spread of the virus. Currently the best way to do this is to suspend face to face training until 13th April then review monthly.
The training dates that will be postponed will be rescheduled for later in the year.
Please feel free to email us or call us for more information. Our online service will have completed all updates by the end of March, so we can offer you the online courses to do from home.
Contact us for details.
Coronavirus: What to do if you have symptoms
Stay at home for 7 days if you have either:
- a high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
- a new, continuous cough – this means you’ve started coughing repeatedly
This will help to protect others in your community while you are infectious.
Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
You do not need to contact NHS 111 to tell them you’re staying at home.
Further information can be found in these resources:
Public Health England’s guidance for a range of sectors
What to do if you’re asked to self-isolate
Coronavirus (COVID-19): latest information and advice
Common questions
NHS advice on reducing risk
Take part in the research from Carers UK on what life is like for you as a carer
The State of Caring Survey is the UK’s most comprehensive research into the lives and experience of carers, and last year it was completed by over 8000 carers, which we used to press for change.
Running this survey every year helps us map experiences over time and get a full picture of what caring is like now, and how it is changing or staying the same. We include some of the same questions each year to track and compare responses, but we also focus on different areas to explore other issues for carers in more depth.
Happy New Year
Happy new year to all our carers. Please check out our exciting new courses 2020.
Merry Christmas from Promas
We wish all our staff, volunteers, carers and supporters a merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
