Carers Week
Find out about what we're doing this Carers Week!
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This Carers Week and throughout the year we work to ensure unpaid family and friend carers are identified, informed, supported and heard. We help with ‘Putting Carers on the Map’ – the theme of this year’s Carers Week (10th – 16th June 2024). We do this by highlighting carers’ invaluable contributions with people who provide or commission services as well as politicians and ensuring carers’ views and experiences are heard by them.
During Carers Week we have planned a mix of events online and in venues around Hertfordshire for unpaid carers who provide care or help to someone close to them who is ill, elderly, disabled or has an addiction, to join in with. Among the activities we have planned are an online quiz, support groups, information stands and events, forest bathing and a Make and Take Spa session. Details of the activities are below.
If carers want to learn more about any events or are interested in joining in any, please contact us to book or register an interest. You can email us at contact@carersinherts.org.uk or call us 01992 58 69 69. Some events will be available to book online via the listing on our events page, otherwise please phone or email us.
We have also included details of events organised by Carers UK and organisations and individuals we work closely with.
Please also get in touch if you are planning any events for Carers Week that we can tell unpaid carers about – email comms@carersinherts.org.uk with details.
Carers Week is an annual campaign co-ordinated by national charity Carers UK, that aims to raise awareness of caring. You can find out more about Carers Week at www.carersweek.org and get materials to use for any event you are planning at www.carersweek.org/resources-and-downloads/
So far the events planned in Hertfordshire are listed below:
Please contact us in the usual ways to book your place on any of our events. Call 01992 58 69 69 or email contact@carersinherts.org.uk
Carers in Hertfordshire events
Monday 10th June 2024
Watford Carers Support Hub Meeting, 10.30am – 12.30pm: A chance for carers living in Watford and the surrounding area to socialise and support each other. This meeting someone from Hertfordshire County Council’s Money Advice Unit will be attending to talk about benefits. The meeting is held at Peace Hospice, Peace Drive, Watford, Herts, WD17 3PH. You can book to attend online via this link – Watford Hub.
Information Stand at Stevenage Library, 10.30am – 12.30pm: Drop by to find out about the support we provide unpaid carers or about how you can help us as a volunteer, with fundraising or donating your services or goods. At Stevenage Central Library, Southgate, Stevenage, Herts, SG1 1HD.
Make and Take Spa Session Online, 1pm – 2.15pm: Learn how to make four spa products from basic household ingredients in this online session from TimeOut4Me. You’ll make a hand scrub, lip scrub, honey and oat scrub, and coffee or strawberry face masque. Light meditation and mindfulness exercises are also included in the session. You will need to provide your own household ingredients and equipment. You can book online via this link – Spa Session.
Tuesday 11th June 2024
Information Event, 10.30am – 2.30pm: For carers who have a disability, sensory impairment or long-term health condition or look after someone who is disabled or has a chronic health condition. At the Focolare Centre for Unity, Welwyn Garden City
Berkhamsted Carers Support Hub Meeting, 11.15am – 12.45pm: A chance for carers living in the Berkhamstead area to socialise and support each other. This meeting someone from Hertfordshire County Council’s Money Advice Unit will be attending to talk about benefits. The meeting is held at The Vyne Theatre, Northbridge Road, Berkhamsted, Herts, HP4 1EH. You can book to attend this meeting online via this link – Berkhamsted Hub.
Face Yoga Online, 7pm – 7.45pm: This is a unique self-care class where you will take part in a combination of gentle breathing exercises and a self-face massage to release tension and stress on the face. You can book a place online via this link – Online Face Yoga.
Mental Health Carer Support Group Online, 7.30pm – 9pm. We provide this group in partnership with Hector’s House for carers who are supporting someone who is thinking about suicide or has tried to take their own life. You can book to attend this meeting online via this link – Mental Health Group.
Wednesday 12th June 2024
Hemel Hempstead Carers Support Hub Meeting, 10am – 11.45am: A chance for carers living in the Berkhamstead area to socialise and support each other. This meeting someone from Hertfordshire County Council’s Money Advice Unit will be attending to talk about benefits. The meeting is held at The South Hill Centre, Cemetery Hill, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, HP1 1JF. You can book online via this link – Hemel Hub.
Stand at the Big Step Out Walk, 10am – 4pm: We will have a stall at this event organised by Carers Stepping Out that plans walks for unpaid carers. There are three walks of various lengths that people can join in with. Tickets are £5 each and include a lunch. The event takes place at Hatfield House, Hatfield. to book or for more information email hallosteppingout@gmail.com or visit www.carerssteppingout.co.uk
Information Stand at Rickmansworth Library, 10.30am – 12.30pm: Drop by to find out about the support we provide unpaid carers or about how you can help us as a volunteer, with fundraising or donating your services or goods.
Sound Bath, 7pm – 8pm: Immerse yourself in sounds and vibrations and relax in this evening meditation event. The event takes place at Hormead Village Hall, Buntingford, and will be run by Golden Bliss. You can book a place online via this link – Sound Bath.
Evening Carers’ Group Online, 7pm – 8.30pm: Carers can join us for this extended meeting of the monthly evening group for carers. Senior representatives from Hertfordshire County Council and NHS services in the county will be answering carers’ questions. You can submit a question to contact@carersinherts.org.uk by Wednesday 5th June 2024. You can book to attend online via this link – Evening Carers’ Group.
Thursday 13th June 2024
Forest Bathing, 10am – 12.15pm: Forest Bathing is a practice that supports health and wellness through guided immersion in natural environments such as forests and woodlands. Lecturer and psychologist Stephen Pack will guide you through a sequence of ‘invitations’ that welcome you to slow your mind and body, and to connect with nature using your senses. A forest bathing experience involves a gentle walk through the environment and typically incorporates a sharing circle – an opportunity for participants to share what they are noticing, and to be listened to – sometimes people share through spoken word, movement or even silence. This event is the first of six sessions, running weekly on Thursdays until 25th July 2024, at The University of Hertfordshire’s Bayfordbury campus near Hertford. You can book online via this link – Forest Bathing Session 1.
Carers’ Reading Group on Zoom, 10.30am – 11.30am: Meet other carers, discuss a book and chat over a cuppa. The book this month is The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan. You can book to join the meeting even if you haven’t read the book. You can book a space on this event at this link.
Young Onset Dementia Group Meeting, 11am to 12.30pm. This meeting is for carers of someone with Young Onset or Early Onset Dementia (diagnosis before the age of 65). This is a chance for you to get together with other carers in similar situations. At Welwyn Garden City Library, Welwyn Garden City. You can book a place online via this link – Young Onset Dementia Meeting.
Navigating the Maze of Ageing Online Workshop, 11.30am – 12.30pm: A guide to helping someone you look after remain independent and have your questions about ageing- related issues answered. You can book a place online via this link – Ageing Workshop.
Online Quiz Night, 7.30pm – 9pm: Carers can test their knowledge in a fun quiz held on Zoom. You can book a space on this event at this link.
Friday 14th June 2024
Online Morning Carers’ Group, 10.30am – 11.30am on Zoom: Meet with other carers, share information, support each other and chat over a cuppa. You can book a space on this event at this link.
Cake Sale and Information at Barclays Bank, Unit 3 The Forum Centre, Stevenage Herts, SG1 1ES, 9.30am – 3pm. Barclays are supporting us and carers by hosting a cake sale.
Third party events
Fundraising Walk in Stevenage on Saturday 15th June 2023: Carer and supporter Norman is holding his 10th fundraising walk around the main lake at Fairlands Valley Park in Six Hills Way, Stevenage, and would welcome people to join him for some or all of the time he plans to walk. Money raised will go to our work supporting carers. Norman will be walking from 11am to 4pm. If you would like to take part or make a donation please contact Norman on 07884 336012. You can donate to the walk on JustGiving at this link – Norman’s fundraising walk.
Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (HPFT) is holding a coffee, cake and chat event for carers who look after someone experiencing a mental health condition. The drop-in event will take place at their offices at The Colonnades in Hatfield, on Monday 10th June 2024, 1pm – 4pm. There will be the chance to share experiences of mental health services or find out about support for you or the person you look after. We will be at the event to talk to carers about what we do. You can find out more or express your interest in attending by emailing hpft.carers@nhs.net
Turning Point Carers Coffee Morning in Stevenage, 11am – 1pm on Friday 14th June 2024. The event is mainly for carers of someone receiving a service from Turning Point, but other family and friend carers in Hertfordshire are welcome to attend. We will be attending to issue Carers’ Passports (discount and ID cards) to carers who don’t have one. Places are limited, so if you want to attend please call 01438 211185 to register an interest.
