IRU - Monday 3rd October 2022 | Healthwatch Stockport

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Extra Evening and Saturday Appointments at GP Practices are Launching in Stockport

Message from NHS Greater Manchester (Stockport Locality)

Extra evening and Saturday appointments at GP practices are launching in Stockport.

Appointments will now be available on weekdays from 6.30pm – 8pm, and Saturdays from 9am – 5pm. GP practices will be working together on a rota basis with other local practices in their local area, known as Primary Care Networks (PCNs), to offer the extra appointments.

From Saturday, 1 October, 2022, pre-booked appointments at GP practices will be made available outside of normal practice hours – including with GPs, nurses and healthcare assistants.

You can book these extra appointments as you usually would by contacting your practice or calling in. An appointment may be offered at your registered practice or at another practice nearby.

Anita Rolfe, Director of Health, Quality and Improvement/Deputy Place Lead, One Stockport Health and Care Partnership said:

“This is about giving people more flexibility and access to services.

“It can be difficult to work round other commitments, such as family and work demands so this is your opportunity to book an appointment at a time that is more convenient to you.

“Please help us, to help you, by getting your appointment booked as soon as possible.”

#LoveYourEyes

Message from Sarah Mollitt (Walthew House)

Local sensory loss charity Walthew House have launched their #LoveYourEyes initiative as part of World Sight Day on Thursday 13th October 2022.

This initiative aims to encourage individuals and their families to think about their eyes and how you can protect them and keep them healthy now and long into the future.

In Stockport today, there are an estimated 10,400 people living with sight loss.

We are hoping that local schools and the business community will join us to promote the importance of eye health, whilst at the same time raising vital funds for our charity.

We have produced some materials that can be used in the workplace, as well as a fundraising pack that includes ideas on how organisations and individuals can take part in sponsored events or dress-down days. You can access the materials on our website at www.walthewhouse.org.uk/loveyoureyes

Walthew House has been supporting people living with sight loss across Stockport for 140 years, and the charity relies on donations and fundraising so that we can keep helping around 400 local people each week.

To find out more, please contact Sarah on fundingmanager@walthewhouse.org.uk or call 0161 480 2612. Thank you.

Cost of living

Message from Polly Riggs (Stockport Council)

The rising cost of living is impacting many residents, but Stockport Council has a wide range of support options available. From help for families with school uniform costs and Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) clubs, to emergency support funds and help with foodbank referrals, all the support available is rounded up on the council website.

If you are struggling with a debt or arrears, the council’s debt advice team can work with you to come up with a plan to manage this. Request an appointment online. The welfare rights team can also help you with any queries over benefits. Get in touch using the Stockport Council website.

Spina Bifida Awareness Month - Danielle's Story

Message from Danielle Austin

This month is spina bifida awareness internationally and in the UK. The charity Shine are asking communities and including public sectors like schools to support Spina Bifida.

more information

It’d be great if you could get behind it in promoting Spina bifida awareness week.

It would seem spina bifida in itself is not a very well known special educational needs & disabilities condition, which is such a shame as we are out there.

On Sunday 2 October, a local school where I work are helping me to complete the virtue London Marathon. Unfortunately, due to pains on walking distances, I now use crutches to walk far, my work colleagues have volunteered to help me out on Sunday.

Make a donation

My campaign:

In early 2020, I was diagnosed with spina bifida occulta. On finding out about my diagnosis, I felt there wasn’t really any support or useful information supporting my injuries sustained to my back and my life problems. I therefore set up a social platform on Facebook and wrote to local MP and to other MPs and to charities. I collated information from other people with a spina bifida occulta diagnosis, the information I submitted to charities and health providers in 2021.

Over the years, I have seen support groups set up in the UK and USA for people with a spina bifida occulta diagnosis. I have found better reading information and the connection of Spina bifida occulta to Occult Spinal Dysraphism if there are neurological problems associated. I feel things are improving and I would like to play my part on now rising the profile of Spina Bifida and also Spina Bifida Occulta in my local area.

About

Spinal Dysraphism Occulta - when a spina bifida occulta is associated with neurological abnormalities, the condition is referred to as an occult spinal dysraphism. This results from a distortion of the spinal cord or roots by associated fibrous bands or masses beneath the intact dermis and epidermis.

Rescare - Befriending service

Message from Nicola Zielinski (Rescare)

“Everyone needs other people, but not everyone has someone”

Rescare’s befriending service for families with a learning disability and/or autism celebrates their volunteers and its befriending service operating for 1 year now.

We may be a small charity, but we have a huge heart and would love Stockport residents to get behind National Befriending Week coming up 1-7 November.

We thought you may like to learn more about the service and how you can request a befriender. So here is a link to our page with a downloadable referral form.

Rescare - Befriending service

Befriending Leaflet

Download (PDF 6.59 MB)

Arts and Mental Health Showcase

Message from Jo Flint (ARC)

Would you or someone you support like to improve their wellbeing through creativity?

Arc Centre and Gallery are hosting an Arts and Mental Health Showcase event, on World Mental Health Day. This is a free event for people to meet and chat to local groups offering creative activities to improve mental health and wellbeing, to find out what they have to offer and how you can get involved. There will also be mental health support and signposting organisations, ready to tell you about local groups and services offering support.

The event will be friendly and informal, come on your own or bring someone else along, stay for as long as you like and enjoy creative activities and refreshments. Please find further details and links below, bookings are encouraged but drop-in attendees are also welcome.

Date and time: Monday 10th October 11.00 - 14.30

Location: Arc Centre and Gallery, Hat Works, Wellington Mill, Stockport, SK3 OEU

Groups attending include: Heaton Norris Pavilion, Positive Arts, Offerton Community Art Group, Marbury Road Edible Garden, New Beginnings, Beacon Counselling, Stockport MIND, Open Door, Pure Innovations and Support Hub.

Details and bookings: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/415390071887

This event is part of Stockport Arts and Health Week, celebrating the borough’s widespread and inherent creativity and collaborative energy. Click here to see the series of free creative workshops, performances, networking, artist micro-commissions and professional development sessions, open to anyone or any group interested or already working in arts and health and those who want to attend a workshop for their own wellbeing.

A&HW Showcase

Download (PDF 558 KB)

Over 50's job searching and confidence building

Message from Chris Hughes (Stockport Homes)

We are running a support session for unemployed over-50’s in partnership with the Jobs Match Team – see attached flyer for details.

The amount of people over 50 looking for work is growing and they have their own particular challenges. This session looks at job-searching for the over 50’s and how to build your confidence.

Over 50s Job Searching and Confidence Building

Download (PDF 2.34 MB)

Women into work

Smart Works Greater Manchester are hosting an upcoming ‘Women into Work’ online CV Workshop via Zoom on Thursday 6th October 11am – 12pm, for unemployed women who could benefit from support in building or tailoring their CV. People can register here.

Learning through meditation and mindfulness

Libraries really are so much more than physical books! Our online services are ever-expanding, and during Libraries Week, on Friday 7th October, there is a special online health event hosted by Borrowbox. Log on from 10am – 11am to join Caitlin Cady, who will explore the theme of lifelong learning through meditation and mindfulness.

sign up here

Starting Point digital support

Message from Clara (DigiKnow at Starting Point)

Digital support drop in at Cheadle Library - Tuesday 4 October 2022 10:15 - 11:45 Come along to get help and digital support including: general PC use, setting up an email account, navigating the internet.

There is no need to book, just turn up.

Ex Forces living with autism

Message from Gavin Jones (Disability Stockport)

We have noticed an increase in ex forces men and women struggling with the benefits system, spiralling debts, low mood and depression, daily living, social exclusion/isolation, and finding/sustaining employment, who are either diagnosed or undiagnosed autistic.

Having identified a huge gap in service provision nationwide, to support ex forces men and women who are autistic, I’m now looking to develop a new programme within our ex forces ‘Live at Ease’ service, to value neurodiversity, promoting equality and inclusion, by providing an appropriate and tailored support service accommodating the difficulties experienced by adults with autism, to help them improve independent living, mental wellbeing, and quality of life.

Through our new autism support programme, we will help/support with;

Crisis stabilisation, Peer support, Diagnosis process flowing an AQ10 screening assessment, Social inclusion, Skills for Life training (we are working in partnership with Stockport Homes) Employment (we are working closely with the Poppy Factory)

Being autistic is nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about, it should be embraced, as some may say that people with autism are gifted with super powers, but in life there are many external environments/experiences which maybe that persons kryptonite, so we will guide them and support them through these.

At Disability Stockport we have over 40 years’ experience of supporting adults with autism, across the full spectrum, within Greater Manchester, as well as providing bespoke training to external private, public, and voluntary sector organisations/services.

If anyone who has served one day or more in the Armed Forces living within Cheshire or Greater Manchester, that have autism, think they may be autistic, or just want more information, then please get in touch with me.

Please share the 2 attached flyers with anyone and/or any networks.

We hope to secure funding soon to provide this new valuable and much needed service, starting with a twice monthly ‘Greater Manchester Autism Social Group’.

LaE GM Ex Forces Autism Awareness - Sept 2022

Download (PDF 319 KB)

LaE GM Ex Forces Autism Social Group - Aug 2022

Download (PDF 383 KB)

Stockport Arts and Health Week

Message from Stockport Council

Stockport Arts and Health Week runs from October 10th-14th,celebrating the borough’s widespread and inherent creativity and collaborative energy through workshops, performances, networking, artist micro-commissions and professional development sessions, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to create, connect, and feel better!

We are also launching stepping-stone funding for artists on October 10th, so please come along to our evening event that day or see the website after that date.

#StockportArtsandHealthWeek

Details and bookings:The webpage is hereand all bookable events are listed here. Please share ourpost on Facebook! Retweetus! Share related posts to Stories on Instagram! :)If you would like more content, images etc, please see here.

Arts and Crafts Session

Message from Ellie Uwin (Pure Innovations)

Please see and share poster attached. One our group members is running their own Arts and Craft session on the 11th October. Our group is aimed at reducing social isolation. A safe, warm place for new people to meet, have a free brew and relax.

Arts poster

Download (PDF 285 KB)

FREE Online Security tips workshop

Message from Kelly Uttley (Re:dish)

During ‘Get Online Week’ as part of next month’s ‘Digitober’ we are hosting a free security tips workshop in partnership with The Co-operative Bank. If you could please share this around your contacts and if possible, print and display in any places you feel would be appropriate.

Online banking event

Download (PDF 316 KB)

Forward LGBT+ Activities

Stockport Volunteer Hub drop-in

Stockport Volunteer Hub Drop-In is back in October!

Just come along to any of the libraries listed during the specified times and you'll be able to find out about the different types of volunteering available across Stockport.

No need to book, just drop in!

support@stockportvolunteerhub.org.uk

Stockport Volunteer Hub Drop-in - Library Tour

Download (PDF 239 KB)

[JOB] Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust

Recruit to Train mental health practitioner: Parent Infant Specialist

Grade NHS AfC: Band 6

Contract: Fixed term: 12 months (with view to permanent employment following the course at band 7- subject to successfully completing the course)

Hours: Part time - 30 hours per week

Site: Stopford House- CAMHS Stockport

Salary£33,706 - £40,588 pa pro rata p.a

Closing: 17/10/2022 23:59

More information

[JOB] Healtwatch Manchester

Message from Healthwatch Manchester

We are looking for a suitable, enthusiastic candidate who can lead on the organisation's information and communication activities and requirements.

Job title - Information & Communications Officer
Full time - 35 hours per week
Salary - £23,953pa

If you would like further information about the role and how to apply, please click here.

Please note that the deadline for completed applications is 5:00pm 21 October 2022.

[OPPORTUNITY] Skills For Life+ Safeguarding Training

Message for Chris Hughes (Stockport Homes)

We are running a free Safeguarding course in November – see attached flyer for details.

This course looks at the issues, policies and procedures involved in protecting vulnerable adults and children.

It’s a practical course with lots of discussions on the various topics and essential for anyone who works with the general public.

Anyone wanting more information or to book a place should contact us:

Tel: 0161 474 2862

Email: customer.training@stockporthomes.org

Visit: Skills for Life Plus (sk-y-light.org)

Priority will be given to Stockport Homes’ customers.

[OPPORTUNITY] Skills for Life+ Green fingers