Welcome back to another blog post from Carer activist, author and Cygnet Carer Ambassador Matthew Mckenzie.
Over the years I have been working hard to promote and engage with unpaid carers at Cygnet along with the other Cygnet Carer Ambassador Leslie, Julian and Christine. It was due time to have a relaxing break or at least a stroll around London. With Cygnet carer Lead Laura Sheridan helping to record the day, our group explored around the city
We were on our way to Cygnet’s Annual Social Work Awards 2024 hosted over at Cygnet Churchill hospital over in Lambeth.
This was going to be an excellent and inspiring event, but before we attended, we aimed to take some photos and continue to explore London.
It was not long before we arrived at Churchhill Lambeth hospital. The staff welcomed us as we talked to the social workers up for awards and we also chatted to lord Kamlesh Patel OBE about the importance of unpaid carers.
As the awards got underway, I noticed a good line of speakers who presented the about the importance of Social work and specific campaigns. This included Lord Kamlesh Patel who opened the award ceremony. The set up for the event was hybrid with online and onsite attendees from across different cygnet hospitals.
We also heard from Cygnet Deputy Director of nursing Jo-Ann McAuliffe. Next to speak was Cygnet strategic lead for mental health & prisons Christina Cheney. Christina spoke about the state of the nation when it comes to mental health and social work.
We then heard from Paula Tappenden who is Cygnets Head of Social Work and Safeguarding. Paula spoke about the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation and her mission to make a difference in ending human trafficking and how Cygnet Social workers could support.
After Lunch and socialising. We got to view the Cygnet Social Work Award ceremony for the following categories
Social Work Assistant of the Year
Social Worker of the year
Leadership in Social work
Well done for all who were nominated and also the winners. All who took part set an example to social workers at the organisation.
After the award ceremony I spoke as a Cygnet Carer network ambassador on the importance of engaging with carers especially using the “Triangle of Care” method and empowerment of lived experience
We had lots of audience engagement, plus support from my fellow Cygnet Carer ambassadors giving their view of carer acknowledgement and empowerment.
Up next to speak was Chloe Cooper-Brown who is Cygnet’s Head of Social Work and Safeguarding Lead on sharing the Risk with discharges and joint working with the Police. Last to speak before our group headed off was hearing from Euan Atkinson who presented on his lived experience at Cygnet.
Socialising day out
Our group of Cygnet carer network ambassadors continued to have a day out as we headed to Waterloo and examined some street art and talked relax at some cafes at Waterloo.
It is important that Cygnet not only help heal the community, but empower the community as we spoke to carer activist Ionie on how Cygnet can help carers continue their networking and reach more carers in the community. I will look forward to interviewing Ionie off my carer activist video series later on.
Welcome back to another blog post from carer activist Matthew McKenzie. I am involved in quite a few things to raise awareness of unpaid mental health carers. One of them is Carers Trusts Triangle of Care Framework.
Triangle of Care is a framework developed to improve collaboration between mental health services, service users (patients), and carers. It was created by the Carers Trust in the UK, focusing on involving carers (family members or friends who support individuals with mental health issues) in care and treatment decisions, while ensuring they receive the support and recognition they need.
We have many mental health trusts who are members of the Triangle of Care. One of them is Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust or AWP for short.
Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) is the lead provider of healthcare for people with serious mental illness, learning disabilities and autism across Bath and North East Somerset (BaNES), Swindon and Wiltshire, and Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
With support from Laura Sheridan who leads on carers at Cygnet. We both attended and supported the event at the mental health partnership trust. I took the time to explore the wonderful area of Bristol. Everyone I met was welcoming and friendly.
AWP have taken up the challenge to implement the Triangle of care and listen to carers. One of the best ways to listen to carers is through engagement and celebration events.
So on Thursday 3rd of October Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust (AWP) ran their #LetsHearCarers event. The event was held over at Somerdale Pavilion, Keynsham.
The day started off with a welcome from Sarah Jones, Director of Nursing and Quality at AWP.
We then got to hear from Ayesha Ahmed-Mendoza on the Black2Nature campaign to enable minorty ethnic children to have better access to nature camps. Next I was impressed with the presentation from Elaine Bennett regarding experiences of deaf carers.
Then we had the panel of carers giving their experiences of involvement at the NHS trust. I personally feel involvement of carers shaping services is a powerful way of allowing carers to have their say.
After the break, we got to hear from Debbie Hustings who is the new Triangle of Care lead for Carers Trust. Debbie used to be the former NHS England carers lead for London and has a wealth of experience when it comes to unpaid carers. Debbie presented on carers rights as she presented with her carers hat on. Next there was a comedy session from Angie Betcher who is a comedian at Bristol university, she is also skilled as a poet as well as a comedy performer.
Next was Lunch and workshops to cater for the wellbeing of carers who attended.
Have lunch I was up to read out 2 poems. One of the poems you can see from Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust’s video of the carer event below.
After more performances and networking with carers, I headed home. I would like to thank Avon and Whiltshire for the excellent event they put on for the community. Everything was planned brilliantly and I did not hear any grumbling from carers. I look forward to more events in future.
Welcome to another blog post off my carer and mental health website.
Caring for a loved one is a profoundly rewarding experience, but it can also be an incredibly challenging journey. The role often comes with feelings of isolation and overwhelming responsibility.
Fortunately, networking with fellow caregivers can make a significant difference in the lives of unpaid carers. Connectivity fosters emotional support, practical advice, resource sharing, community building, resilience, and even advocacy. In this article, we’ll explore the importance of networking for unpaid carers and how it can enrich their caregiving journey.
Video Version
To watch a brief video of the blog please view the video below
Emotional Support: You Are Not Alone
One of the most significant benefits of networking is emotional support. Caring for a loved one can often feel isolating, and the weight of responsibilities can be heavy. Connecting with other caregivers who truly understand your experiences can lighten this emotional load. Sharing your stories, challenges, and triumphs with those who “get it” provides comfort and a sense of belonging. Knowing you are not alone in this journey can significantly improve mental health and resilience.
Access to Practical Advice
Networking allows carers to exchange invaluable tips and strategies. Each caregiving situation is unique, but many challenges are universal. Experienced carers can offer practical advice on managing specific conditions, navigating healthcare systems, or handling day-to-day tasks. This shared knowledge acts as a collective wisdom pool, making the caregiving process more manageable for everyone involved.
Resource Sharing
In addition to practical advice, networking facilitates the sharing of resources. Information about local services, support groups, and community resources can be invaluable. Imagine having a treasure map that leads you to various forms of support tailored for carers—this is what resource sharing can achieve. These exchanges can lead to discovering programs, grants, respite care options, and other services that ease the caregiving burden.
Community Building
Establishing connections with other caregivers fosters a sense of community and belonging. In many ways, caregiving can be a lonely journey, but community building changes this narrative. Community groups provide a space where carers can interact and engage in meaningful conversations. For example, caregiver groups run locally can offer a support system where members can share experiences, support each other, and even socialize. Such communities act as pillars of strength for carers, reinforcing that they are part of a larger, caring network.
Enhancing Resilience Through Shared Strategies
Resilience is a necessary trait for carers. The demands of caregiving require constant adaptation and emotional strength. By networking, carers can learn effective coping strategies from one another. These shared strategies can empower carers, building their resilience and enhancing their ability to provide care. Learning from others’ experiences offers new insights and techniques, reinforcing the carer’s own skills and capacities.
Boosting Advocacy and Awareness
When caregivers come together, their collective voice becomes stronger. Networking can boost advocacy and awareness of the issues that matter most to carers. Advocacy can lead to policy changes, more resources, and greater recognition of the challenges faced by carers. Whether it’s campaigning for more support services or raising awareness about the realities of caregiving, a united front can make a substantial impact.
Amplifying Voices
Together, caregivers can amplify their voices to influence change. Advocacy efforts become more effective when carers unite. These collective efforts can bring about policy changes, increased funding for caregiving resources, and greater public awareness of the importance of supporting unpaid carers. By networking and working together, carers can drive systemic changes that benefit the entire caregiving community.
Tips for Building a Caregiving Network
Join or Form Caregiver Support Groups
Consider joining or forming caregiver support groups in your local community or online. These groups create a space for regular interactions, exchanges of advice, and mutual support. You might want to check out the carer forums I run off my website.
Attend Workshops and Conferences
Workshops, seminars, and conferences are excellent opportunities to meet other carers and professionals in the field. These events often provide both educational content and networking opportunities.
Utilize Social Media
Social media platforms can also serve as networking tools. Joining caregiver groups on platforms like Facebook or participating in Twitter chats can connect you with a broad community of caregivers worldwide.
Engage with Local Nonprofits and Organizations
Local nonprofits and organizations often have resources and networks specifically designed for carers. Engage with these entities to tap into their resources and support networks.
Leverage Online Forums
Online forums and communities, such as Reddit or specialized caregiving forums, allow for the exchange of advice, experiences, and support. These platforms can be especially beneficial for those who may not have access to local groups. I even utilise Whatsapp to provide a network for carers to connect.
Reach Out to Healthcare Providers
Healthcare providers often have connections to support groups and resources for carers. Don’t hesitate to ask your loved one’s doctor or nurse for referrals to local or online caregiver networks.
Create Personal Connection Lists
Keep a list of contacts that you can reach out to for different types of support. This can include other carers, healthcare professionals, and service providers. A well-maintained list can be a quick reference for resources and advice when needed.
Conclusion
Networking for unpaid carers is more than just a beneficial activity—it’s a necessary lifeline. Emotional support, practical advice, resource sharing, community building, resilience, and advocacy are some of the many advantages that come from connecting with fellow carers. By fostering these connections, carers can significantly enrich their caregiving experience and improve their well-being and the quality of care they provide. Remember, you are not alone in this journey. Reach out, connect, and together, we can create a supportive and empowered caregiving community. Take care!
Welcome back to another blog poster from Matthew McKenzie, carer activist and a member of the Macmillan Cancer Community Network. I chair the National Cancer carer forum aimed at those caring for someone living with cancer.
if you struggle with caring for someone with cancer. As carers, we never want to see our loved ones struggle. But caring for someone with cancer can be incredibly frightening. It’s hard to be strong for them if you’re struggling too. That’s why it’s so important to identify yourself as a carer.
Feel free to watch the short carer awareness video I made below.
By registering at your doctor’s surgery, a carer centre, or a Macmillan Cancer Support group, you can access the support you need. Get the help you deserve. Remember, you’re not alone in this. By identifying yourself as a carer, you’re opening the door to resources, advice, and a community that understands what you’re going through.
You can also register for my online group, that runs the last Wednesday of the month.
Welcome back to a brief update of a carers event planned by carer Nadia Taylor (Chair of Carers Network) and myself with support from Cygnet and West London Health Trust. The event was held at Cygnet Harrow, over Harrow on the Hill. The event was called “West London Carers Event” and the theme focused on Carers Rights, carer engagement and carer stories.
As carers of those using or have used mental health services, we feel it is important to have our voices heard. As a cygnet network carer ambassador, I was delighted to have the chance to connect with carers and provide carer awareness to staff who worked at the hospital.
The event was prepared by Afifa Ghouri who is Cygnet’s Senior social worker. She provided a lot of support to the speakers and ushered the audience to learn from various topics.
I have been running a carer group with Afifa for the hospital. We want to reach out to families and carers whose loved ones use the services of Cygnet Harrow hospital.
It was not long we were up on stage to open the event.
We were joined by Dr Azmathulla Khan who is the Medical Director at Cygnet Harrow. It is important to have support of mental health professionals.
First to present was Gillian Kelly who I have known many years for my involvement at West London Health trust. Gillian supported the event, which was carer led and spoke about her story and the vision West London health trust has for unpaid carers.
Where after a few speeches, we then moved on to our first session of the event where Nadia talked about the important of Carer’s Rights and how the charity Carers Network supports carers.
Nadia is a Carer and also an activist and campaigns for unpaid Carers’ rights and recognition, as well as for the provision of the minimum living wage for unpaid carers. Nadia Taylor is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of Carers Network, supporting unpaid Carers in the London Boroughs of Hammersmith & Fulham, Kensington & Chelsea and Westminster.
Harrow Carers were up next also talking about carer’s rights, but also added how they support carers for the borough of Harrow.
If you remember, they did an excellent community event for Carer recognition awards, which I helped judge. You can see the video below.
It was great to see so many staff from Harrow carers support the event, even the CEO of Harrow Carers dropped by to observe the event and network.
From the images below, Simon Joshua presented on Carers rights.
We hope to see some partnership working with the carers centres in future. We then moved to lunch to network with other attendees.
We got to hear about what people thought of the event so far. It was great to get feedback as we plan to do more events i future. After Lunch we heard from Dr Rosalind Duhs who spoke to us about her Carers Journey regarding dementia. Although her talk was fairly short, I learned a lot from her.
Dr Rosalnd has Strong support from family, the Carers’ Network, Alzheimer’s Society Admiral Nurses, and the NHS have enabled her to do the best that she can for him. She a member of the Dementia Lived Experience Steering Group, Imperial College Care Research & Technology Centre.
We then had Giftie who spoke about her caring journey although she is not from the area, we welcomed giftie as she share the impact of her story. Giftie was also kind to read 2 poems out of my book. I could not do a better job. One of the poems Giftie read was called “Whats going on?” where the poem can be viewed below
Next up to speak was Malcolm Moore on the topic of carer mental wellbeing. Malcolm is an independent producer, consultant and trainer. Since unexpectedly becoming an unpaid family carer 12 years ago, he co-produced and co-facilitated the West London NHS Trust’s ‘Carer Awareness’ training for NHS staff and continues to sit on their Carers Council Board. Malcolm is a former spokesman for the Working for Carers programme led by the Carers Trust.
Malcolm gave an excellent lesson on the effects of caring regarding carer mental health. It is important carers are aware of the mental health and seek support when needed.
The event was closed by Laura who is cygnet’s carers lead. Laura explained about the work Cygnet is doing to engage with carers.
All in all, as carers who want to be heard, we are thankful for the support of Cygnet and West London health trust in helping to give carers a voice. We look forward to using our carers voice to connect with other carers.
Welcome back to a quick update from Carer activist, author and poet Matthew McKenzie. This update is from an event I performed at which was held over the Chestnut Community centre over at Haringey. The event was a spoken word event, which was part of Haringey Service User and Carer Forum.
A quick note is you can actually download poems and listen to songs if you scroll to the end of my update of the spoken word event.
The Haringey Service User and Carer Forum aims to provide a place for past and present service users and carers to learn about new developments and to provide feedback on services.
The forum provides an opportunity for people to discuss their experiences and to share views with staff so that their ideas can help to influence the way services operate. This meeting is organised by Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust.
Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust provides integrated mental health services in Barnet, Enfield and Haringey, and also provides community health services in Enfield. They look after people’s mental and physical health in hospitals or in the community, and provide a range of mental health services for young people and adults.
So for the 8th of July, I attended the spoken word event hosted by Martin Weegmann who is a Clinical Psychologist & Group Analyst at the mental health trust. We were joined by many who also performed, songs, spoken word, poetry and art.
Some of the art presented at the event, I managed to take some pictures. This was in order to help promote the work by Nicola Newman
You can view more of Nicola’s art at her Instagram page.
I was joined by Jo Lambert who does poetry to help express mental wellbeing, mental health experiences and also carer experiences. Jo and myself have a poetry circle to help promote carer awareness. You can watch our performance off my YouTube Channel.
We also heard excellent poems, songs and spoken word performed by others at the event. Obviously I could not record them, but I spoke to a few who loved to have their work shared off my blog site.
A number of songs were performed by Victoria Lamb who has her songs hosted off her soundcloud page, which is linked below.
I enjoyed being part of this excellent group that has a focus of community empowerment.
I often try attend the SU forum when I can as Barnet Enfield and Haringey Mental Health NHS Trust are supportive of my work engaging with carers. I look forward to the next spoken word event.
You can also check out many of the poetry from those with lived experience from the following book which can be viewed below.
Thanks for checking in. I have exciting news for carers from an ethnic background. Wandsworth Carers are running their Bridging Minds forum on the 19th of July from 3 pm, which will take place at Balham Library Hall, 16 Ramsden Road, London, SW12 8QY
BAME forum will be Facilitated by the Community Empowerment Network, Wandsworth Carer’s Centre, NHS Wandsworth Talking Therapies
The forum will focus on discussions around race, ethnicity, and culture in relation to mental health. The forum will feature culturally specific foods, and all Carers who sign up and attend will receive a £30 supermarket voucher as a token of our appreciation for their time and input.
I will certainly be attending this exciting forum and hope ethnic carers who support those with mental illness from the borough of Wandsworth can drop by.
To book please email either Lindsey.cross@soundminds.co.uk or panashe@wandsworthcarers.org.uk
Welcome back to my carer site aimed at those caring for someone unpaid. As a reminder I run several online carer groups, one of them covers the boroughs of Southwark and Lambeth.
News just in for the London Borough of Southwark, that we have our Feel Good Festival for the summer.
The Camberwell Feel Good Festival returns for Summer 2024 with two Saturday festival events, packed full of fun and engaging health and wellbeing activities, free food and music, and vital support services for all ages.
After the fantastic success of last year’s Feel Good Festival, which attracted more than 1000 visitors, SE5 Forum invites everyone to this summer’s festival of wellness, community connection and joy.
I will also be at the festival to promote wellbeing for unpaid carers and also providing information from charities include Carers UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Parkinsons UK, Age UK, Samaritans and Southwark Carers.
The Feel Good Festival hosts two free health and wellbeing events for the Camberwell community: on Camberwell Green on 6 July and in Ruskin Park on 13 July as well as a community picnic in Myatt’s Fields Park on 27 July.
There will be lots to see and participate at the Feel Good Festival.
During Carers week 2024, I attended and supported a number of Carer events. This blog post is about the event held at Sutton Carers who do a lot for unpaid and young carers for the borough of Sutton.
Sutton Carers provides the following and more for unpaid carers in the borough
Support groups Information and Advice Wellbeing advice Specialist carer support for dementia carers Specialist carer support for end of life carers Specialist carer support for Mental health carers Parent carer support Money advice
Sutton Carers even has a blog section off their website, I have noticed they are often busy campaigning for carers during awareness events. I would like to thank Sutton Carers for including my video for Mental Health Awareness Week 2024
For carers week 2024, Sutton Carers held a carers day at their centre over at Benhill House located at 12-14 Benhill Avenue in Sutton.
Sutton Carers have a range of advice and information on support services aimed at carers, which you can see below
I spoke to a number of staff about the activities provided and was introduced to quite a few rooms. Most importantly I spoke to a number of carers to listen about their caring role, although most felt relaxed and were happy to forget about their worries.
After reading up on a few services, I took the opportunity for a free health check.
I was given the all clear, but I see the importance of having a health check because all too easily, carers can neglect their own health needs because they might concentrate on providing care for the ‘cared for’. Sometimes the stress of caring can also lead to physical health issues, so its worth getting a free health check if you are a carer.
Carers week 2024 is drawing to a close. There were a few carer centre events that I attended in order to support and raise awareness of unpaid carers. One of the events was from the Ealing Carers Partnership event.
Ealing Carers Partnership is a new service supporting adult unpaid carers in the Borough of Ealing by providing Wellbeing activities and respite care. The service is funded by Ealing Council.
It was with great pleasure to be invited to support Ealing Carers Partnership and help raise awareness for the borough of Ealing.
London Borough of Ealing
Ealing Carers Partnership is a collaboration between Harlington Care, Carer’s Trust Hillingdon and Ealing and Hounslow Community Voluntary Service. As mentioned from the poster above, Ealing Carers Partnership provided 2 carer events.
I supported the event at Sycamore Lodge with my Carers Stall.
We had a number of other stalls at the Carers event. The stall next to me was the diabetes awareness stall. My late mother suffered with diabetes, so the stall meant a lot to me. I must thank Diabetes UK for handing out a lot of leaflets for me to promote.
We also had a stall from Dementia Concern. Dementia Concern has been providing support services for people with dementia and their carers in the London Borough of Ealing since 1982.
Dementia concern is a unique charity with specialist expertise. They have developed our knowledge over many years by working closely with local partners, GP surgeries and wider health organisations, such as the West London NHS Trust.
The direct services offered are:
Dementia link workers supporting acute health needs Information and advice through dementia advisers Weekend social clubs at two venues Community support service for people with dementia living alone Dementia cafés for patients and their carers Activities for carers
Another stall I visited was the Ealing Special Educational Needs and Disability Information and Advice Support Service (SENDIASS) which offers free, confidential, accurate and impartial advice and support to families living in Ealing with a child up to the age of 25 who has special educational needs or a disability (SEND).
We also had a stall from the Ealing Community Partners. ECP is led by West London NHS Trust, and all services in ECP are delivered under the direction of West London NHS Trust.
This stall was the Care coordination service which aims to keeps patients with complex health and care needs well at home.
Energy and payment support services
There were also stalls providing information to help tackle the cost of living. One stall was from the National energy action.
National Energy Action is the national charity working to end fuel poverty in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Find out more about the challenge we face, the difference we make, and the difference you can make.
The other energy support stall was from Green Doctor.
Green Doctor offer free, impartial advice to help people take control of your bills, save energy where possible in the home, and access other services and initiatives available. They can provide different kinds of support, whether that’s advice on paying off debt with energy or water companies, or spotting other concerns for a referral to other services.
Other stalls present at event
During the event, we all were invited to speak about our stalls. I spoke on providing information from Carers UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, Parkinsons UK and other carer support information
Ealing carers partnership event allowed me to read a carer awareness poem from my book. I also presented the carers centre with my poetry book and signed it for them.
All in all the event turned out very well. My carer stall was very busy with visiting carers asking advice and information.
A Caring Mind 