Argyll and Bute Carers Network
A story by Argyll and Bute Carers Network
We provided grants directly to carers who live in Argyll and Bute. The funds were split between all 4 carers centres and 3 crossroads services within the are. Helensburgh got an extra share to provide respite service as they have no Crossroads.
What Argyll and Bute Carers Network did
Carers would contact Carers centres or Crossroads and staff would assist carers to complete the forms, this enabled staff to spend time and support the carers to make sure that they got the break they needed. We also assisted with respite to make sure the break was not spoiled by worrying about the cared for person.
Our decision panels were held in each locality to ensure that decisions could be made regularly and by people who may know the carers. We advertised in a variety of ways:- newsletter, press, leaflets, posters, partner agencies and word of mouth. It has enabled us to work more closely with our partners thus increasing communication and working relationships.
The carer was able to step away from the stresses and strains of caring for her husband and looking after their two young children, both under 5 years. She was able to rekindle relations with family and friends and recharge her batteries to return to UK to face her husband's illness/treatment. She said "I was able to relax and got help from family to look after my husband and children. I got some time off my duties and stresses." The award paid for their flights to and from Poland
Caring for sibling with autism takes up all free time and energy at home. Mum constantly worried that she had little time for her daughter and both were stressed and tired. Daughter, although loving her siblings felt, resentment at how little time was for her. Child with autism had become very clingy to Mum and time with father, no longer in the home, would help with bonding
The daughter has her own health problems and spends most of her free time taking the mother shopping, hairdresser, visits to GP etc, she is now at the point of exhaustion. We have helped mother with the tasks that daughter would usually do and given the daughter a well deserved break.
We organised a short respite break that was hindered by the people she cared for as they did not want to do without her. She stated that everyone commented on how well she looked when she came back from her short break. She loved it and is planning to have another break next year.