Photo by Neil Meddemmen
We run training events and health days to suit all types of carers. They are available, free of charge, to any carer who lives or works in Camden, or cares for someone who does.
The training schedule for January to March 2012 is now available. You can download a copy by clicking here. Along with the schedule you will find a booking form for you to complete and send back, either by email attachment or by post to our Freepost address. It is advisable to book early to secure a place. In addition there is a covering letter backed by a short description of each of the training days or events which are offered, to help you to decide. Please click here for those.
Once you have ticked all the days you wish to attend on the main form, as a reminder to yourself, please also tick the boxes on the reverse of this letter which you should then keep. You will be informed of the venue for each event you have booked on to approximately one week prior to the day, or start of a course. (Please see the foot of the page for more information on our booking policy.)
The spring Dementia Carers' training course ('Understanding Dementia') runs from 2nd February to 29th March. It is a five-part course — for more information please contact Jill Pay or Deborah Knight on 020 7428 8950. You can download a booking form by clicking here.
In conjunction with Creative Health Lab and the Calthorpe Project, CCC is organising Gardening and Healthy Cooking classes for carers on Wednesdays from 1.30pm — 3.30pm, for 12 weeks from 1st February. Click here for a booking form.
Also with Creative Health Lab we are running Yoga and Relaxation classes, six sessions on Thursdays from 10am — 12, starting 15th March. Click here for a booking form.
Other types of training events we run are:
- Health and Wellbeing — including gentle exercise, relaxation techniques, stress management and our very popular Cook and Eat days.
- Getting the Most From days — ranging from The Caring Relationship to Carers Rights to Carers Assessments.
- Specialist courses for carers of people with mental health problems and also dementia carers.
- Three-part It's All About Me — for a Change courses, where carers can learn how to restore & maintain balance in their lives, re-discover who they really are and plan for the future.
- Hands-on health days, such as Back and Joint Care, First Aid and Managing Emergencies and Equipment Management.
- Creative Writing and Art and Craft sessions — explore your creative side in words or with paint and collage.
Most training events and courses are held on weekdays, but we do recognise that some carers have to juggle caring with paid work, so we also run others in the early evening and occasionally on Saturdays.
Free refreshments are provided at all our carer's events (lunch for all-day and light supper for evenings ) and we can reimburse the cost of sitters if needed. In cases of particular hardship we can also reimburse costs of public transport.
Booking policy: We took a decision not to advertise venues on the publicity we send out because we want carers to book their places in advance — but be assured that all the venues we use are easily reached by public transport from every part of the borough.
Advance booking is necessary because, for a number of practical reasons, we need to know how many people will be attending, so that we:
- can cater for the correct number — in terms of refreshments and materials, and
- do not overfill courses, which can lessen carers' experience of the training.
And we need to know the names of carers attending so that we can let people know if:
- there should be a late change of venue, or
- the training is cancelled for any reason.
For further information please contact Jill Pay, Carers Training Co-ordinator,
Camden Carers Centre, 293-299 Kentish Town Rd, London NW5 2TJ, 020 7428 8954
Tai Chi for Carers
Carers can often find themselves with aching muscles and joints. Tai Chi is a form of gentle exercise which is an excellent way of relaxing, easing away some of those aches and improving your balance, posture and mobility.
There are free Tai Chi classes for carers each week on Mondays from 11.00 – 1.00 at Charlie Ratchford Resource Centre, Belmont Street, NW1. The classes are very informal — you don’t have to know anything about Tai Chi and you don’t have to be able to attend every session. Wear loose clothing and just come along and join in.
For more information please telephone the Charlie Ratchford Centre on 020 7485 2968.