IRU Thursday 16th November 2023
Welcome to this week's Information Round-up!
Here's the latest IRU, filled with news, information, events and more. We hope you enjoy this week's edition.
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Healthwatch News and Updates
This week we've published a number of articles, news and blogs from us and from Healthwatch England. Please visit our website for more Healthwatch updates.
Get ready to join the mental health conversation Stockport! News from the Stockport Mental Health and Wellbeing Partnership.
Are you passionate about improving mental health and wellbeing in Stockport? Do you have lived experience of mental health issues? If it’s yes to both, please read on to discover a new and exciting opportunity!
The newly established Stockport Mental Health and Wellbeing Partnership (MHWP) is seeking a Co-Chair to help drive and lead the partnership.
Stockport’s MHWP reports directly to the One Stockport Health & Care Board. The Partnership has been established to enable collective decisions on the delivery of the agreed ambitions and priorities of the Stockport Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy including delivery of Greater Manchester (GM) or national mental health programmes across the borough.
As Co-Chair you’ll work alongside the Director of Adult Social Care to improve the mental wellbeing of the Stockport community and the lives of people experiencing mental health challenges, whilst ensuring their voices are at the heart of all decision-making. You’ll have a strong knowledge of the area and local mental health support and will champion the work of the MHWP sustaining strong partnerships in everything you do.
How to apply?
The Lived Experience Co-Chair role is a voluntary vacancy, and we welcome applications from anyone who feels they’re a good fit. Visit the dedicated page on the Healthwatch Stockport website for full details including the background, role description and application form.
Send your completed application form to info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk by Monday 27 November.
For any questions, please get in touch with us at info@healthwatchstockport.co.uk
Stockport Community Information Network Updates
Message from Lizzie Austin, Pure Innovations
Please see the updates below, sent from the Stockport Community Information Network:
Reminder for bereaved parents to check eligibility for financial support
The Government extended eligibility for Bereavement Support Payment (BSP) and Widowed Parent’s Allowance (WPA) to cohabiting parents with dependent children in February 2023. These benefits were previously only available to bereaved parents who were married or in a civil partnership. Bereaved parents who lost their partner between 09 April 2001 and 08 February 2023 may be eligible for a backdated government payment even if they no longer have dependent children.
The amount you earn, and how often you are paid your wages, can affect your Universal Credit.
GM Home Energy Improvements - YOUR HOME BETTER & GMCA Retrofit Portal
Energy Company Obligation (ECO): provides grants to fund energy-efficient upgrades to homes reducing emissions, electricity and energy bills. These grants pay for new heating systems like boilers, loft or cavity wall installation and other measures designed primarily to increase energy efficiency and reduce fuel poverty and energy cost – this scheme supports low income or vulnerable households by funding upgrades to their homes.
Your Home Better: an independent, low-cost service commissioned by Greater Manchester Combined Authority that can help you improve the energy efficiency of your home. It supports homeowners in the Greater Manchester area to make their home better by improving comfort and reducing energy bills and carbon emissions associated with home energy use and heating – this scheme gives residents who are able to pay for their own upgrades advice and links them up with installers.
Share your feedback on the new Carers' Strategy
Details from Sarah Newsam, Strategy for Change
Stockport partners are developing a Carers Strategy - a forward-looking plan that identifies priorities for improvement. The strategy will become the focus of work to improve recognition of and support for carers in Stockport in the next 3-5 years, so it's an important plan that'll help guide services across the NHS and adult social care as well as charities, the education sector, employers and other local services.
It's also hoped the strategy will lead to better local coordination across services and influence change that will benefit local carers. This is your chance to give your views on what the priorities for improvement should be.
Since September, conversations have been happening with Stockport carers. This survey is testing with a bigger group of carers whether the ideas so far are the right things for this new plan to focus on. The survey questions explain each priority and the ideas for improvement and will ask you to comment on or rate how much you agree.
The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete and it will remain open until Monday 27 November 2023.
Please note: you can also complete this survey for a carer who does not have access to a computer or who may not be online. Your responses will be entirely anonymous and will go straight to an independent person called Sarah Newsam, who is leading the consultation with carers. Thank you for your time!
Help to improve dementia care for Urdu speakers
Please find below a research opportunity from Nadine Mirza, a PhD student at the University of Manchester. Please share this with your wider networks and email nadine.mirza@manchester.ac.uk for further information.
We need to speak to South Asian people who care for an Urdu speaker, diagnosed with dementia at a Northwest memory clinic or memory service in the last 5 years. We need to hear about their experiences at the memory clinic, any problems, and what could have been better.
Everyone will take part in 1 or 2 interviews, which will last one hours each either in person, by phone or via Zoom/Teams. The interview(s) can be in Urdu or English.
Participants will also be compensated for their time.
Who is doing the study:
Nadine Mirza, a PhD student at the University of Manchester, interested in improving British South Asian access to memory clinics.
If you have any questions or want to take part:
Email: nadine.mirza@manchester.ac.uk
Telephone: 0773 239 5882
The closing date is Thursday 21 December, though they're keen to hear from people before.
Please also find the Patient Information Sheet and promo literature in English and Urdu, as well as the links for the audio/video flyers:
Get involved in Carers' Rights Day
Message from Julia Hewer, Signpost for Carers.
Signpost’s for Carers' Carers Rights day event is taking place at the Heaton's Centre on Thursday 23rd November.
Please circulate to anyone with an unpaid caring responsibility. The day has a focus on cost of living support, but there will be plenty of friendly faces, chances to get involved and free refreshments (although donations are always welcomed).
Any questions, contact Briony or Rebecca (Briony@signpostforcarers.org.uk/ Rebecca@signpostforcarers.org.uk)
Join ARC's 'Creative Mums' Programme
Message from Lucie Fitzpatrick, Arts for Recovery in the Community (Arc)
We're looking for new mums in Stockport who are experiencing low mood, anxiety or isolation for Arc's perinatal programme 'Creative Mums', which takes place weekly. The programme uses creativity and art-making to help mums to relax, build confidence, increase wellbeing, get to know each other and offer peer support.
Mums can refer themselves or be referred by a doctor or health professional.
Find out more via Facebook, X (formally Twitter)
Please contact Ellen at referrals@arc-centre.org
0161 474 1462
Stockport Community Events and Activities over the coming weeks
Details sent by Charlee Fitzgerald, Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
There are a number of community groups, events and activities happening across the borough. Additionally if you want to host a Christmas community event, there is funding available from Town of Culture and Forever Manchester.
Town of Culture: Click here
Forever Manchester: Click here
Please see the details and/or attachments and continue to share with others.
Book launches from local authors
Message from Michelle Shine, Stockport Libraries
We're extremely lucky to have a host of talented local authors in Stockport. Sophie Claire is launching her new book “This Christmas in Paris.” Bryce Main is launching his new book 'A Time for Dying', largely set in Stockport. (Look for a famous landmark on the cover!).
Click on the attachments for details. Book your spot on Eventbrite or just drop in and join us for some great entertainment in your local Libraries.
Football Volunteer Required for SPARC
Details from David Richards, SPARC - Stockport Progress And Recovery Centre
A vacancy has emerged for a football volunteer at SPARC. You would join David to facilitate our football group every Friday, 2:00pm till 4:00pm.
The volunteer would have to:
- Be over 18 years old
- Be available on Fridays
- Go through the DBS system
- Be supportive, friendly, empathic, understand mental health and be able to play and support a football group
Who is SPARC?
SPARC run groups and activities for people experiencing mental health problems; our referral criterion is people aged between 18 – 64 years old at the time of referral, live with in Stockport Borough (SK1-SK8) and are currently accessing or have accessed Adult Secondary Mental Health Services in the past. As you can imagine our client group have complex and multiple issues/needs.
To get involved, email David at info@sparc4me.org.uk
