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Mood Management Course (added 27.1.12)
Free course for people living with mild to moderate anxiety and/or depression. The course is based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which helps you understand how thoughts affect your moods and how to recognise and challenge unhelpful thinking patterns. For more details or to book a course speak to your GP or the Time to Talk staff on 01903 703540

Know Stress Course (added 27.1.12)
Community workshops held at venues in Worthing, Adur and Arun, for people who are troubled with mild to moderate feelings of stress and anxiety. The course, consisting of three workshops, will help you learn what is happening to you and discover ways to manage your stress. For more details or to register your interest phone the Time to Talk staff on 01903 703547

AskDes - buy and sell secondhand disability equipment (added 18.1.12)
People in West Sussex will be able to continue buying and selling second hand disability equipment thanks to ICIS. The service, called AskDes, was previously run by the charity Voice for Disability which has sadly had to close. AskDes enables people to sell or give away disability equipment that is no longer needed and to buy second hand equipment such as a walker, mobility scooter and many aids for daily living. The cost of advertising equipment is free for anything under £100 and only £10 for items that cost more. The advertisements are published on the AskDes website for one year. To advertise your item go to www.icis-info4life.org.uk and click on the AskDES button. For help with buying or selling and for more information phone ICIS on 01903 859929.

Saga Respite for Carers Trust - rewarding those who care for others (added 20.1.12)
The aim of Saga Respite for Carers Trust is to give carers a break, by providing hundreds of free holidays a year for carers and their companions. Read more at: www.saga.co.uk

Carers Direct to host live Twitter Q&A sessions in January
Carers Direct, the national information service for carers, are hosting live twitter Q&A sessions every Monday in January from 5-7pm where carers can chat with them to discuss any questions or comments they may have. Two of their advisors, Gemma and Katy, will be on hand to answer any questions. Follow Carers Direct at @carersdirect, and ask any questions for the sessions using #carersQA. If anyone can’t make the sessions, you can still post your questions which will be answered during the next live session.

Moving film highlights the work of the Specialist Day Services in West Sussex (added 18.1.12)
A heart-warming film showing how West Sussex County Council Specialist Day Services helps people with complex social care needs has just been released. The services are provided for people with a physical, sensory or memory impairment, or with an acquired brain injury including dementia, who meet the County Council’s eligibility criteria for adult social care. The film features staff and volunteers who run the services, along with the customers and their carers who use them. It also tells the story of people who have been helped to become more independent within their own community. The film can be found online at: www.westsussex.gov.uk

Council tax reduction for people with certain conditions in the Chichester area (added 3.1.12)
If you have any form of mental illness or dementia and are claiming Attendance Allowance, you may be entitled to up to 25% discount on your council tax. Chichester District Council (CDC) is offering this discount scheme. For an application form contact CDC on 01243 785166. Contact your local District or Borough Council to see if they offer similar concessions.

Blue Badge holders - changes to the scheme from 1st January 2012 (added 23.12.11)
From 1st January 2012, the maximum fee a local council can charge for a Blue Badge will increase from £2 to £10. The design of the Blue Badge will change to aid enforcement and make it harder to tamper with, copy or forge; you will be able to apply for a badge online through www.direct.gov.uk. You will still be able to apply directly to your local council for a Blue Badge and you may be asked to undergo a mobility assessment.

Money Advice from Age UK
Age UK West Sussex has launched a free, confidential, face-to-face financial guidance service offering independent and jargon-free information on all matters relating to personal finance. This service is delivered by trained staff providing information around: Personal budgeting, Savings and investments, Insurance, Credit and borrowing, Retirement planning, Taxation and Benefits. Appointments are available in Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Crawley, Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill. To find out more and how it can help people make the right informed financial decisions, email john.pitman@ageukwestsussex.org.uk or phone 01903 731800. For more details visit www.ageukwestsussex.org.uk

Shiatsu for carers - free sessions (added 7.11.11)
Shiatsu (translation: ‘finger pressure’) is a form of Japanese physiotherapy which has been likened to ‘acupuncture without the needles’. This subtle form of energy therapy can be used to improve the body’s range of joint motion, flexibility, relaxation, mood, sleep and muscular tightness and tension. Each treatment lasts for about 30 minutes and is provided free of charge, but donations are welcome. Any money raised will be donated to support West Worthing Baptist Church. Carers are welcome to attend on 28th January between 9.30am and 3pm at West Worthing Baptist Church, 45 South Street, Worthing BN14 7LU. There is no need to book a session - just drop in. For more details or contact Clive on Mob: 07910 714324 or email: macshiatsu@gmail.com

Stay Safe at Home this Winter (added 7.11.11)
Now that winter is upon us, the nights are drawing in and the weather is getting colder. This is traditionally the time of year that throws up additional hazards which lead to an increased risk of a fire in the home. As part of West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service's continuing commitment to keeping it's residents safe read the attached West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service winter safety advice winter safety advice on general winter safety within the home.

Informal Family Carers, West Sussex County Council (added 1.11.11)
Lisa Carter, based in the Family Resource Team over 10's, part of Children and Young People's Services in West Sussex, is part of a new service for family carers. Informal family carers include grandparents, aunts/uncles and older siblings who are raising a child or young person because the birth parent is unable or unavailable to do so. It is a countywide service for families with a 0-18 year old in their care. The aim is to support and strengthen informal arrangements which are those made by the family themselves rather than the courts or social services. For more information contact Lisa on 01243 642650.

Personal Health Budgets for carers across Crawley, Horsham and Mid Sussex
Are you caring for someone with early stage dementia? Do you ever think about your own health and wellbeing? A Personal Health Budget may hellp support you. A budget can be used for therapies, relaxation, leisure or learning activities, practical help or having more free time. Each carer is able to choose what is best for their own health and wellbeing; there is no financial assessment for funding and support. If you do not already have any carer funding, are registered with a GP in Crawley, Horsham or Mid Sussex and would like to be considered for a Personal Health Budget contact the Carers Support Service North and Mid Sussex, Tel: 01293 657040, Email: info@carerssupport.org.uk or visit www.carerssupport.org.uk

Top 15 iPhone Apps for people of all ages with disabilities (added 3.10.11)
Although many iPhone developers spend their time working on apps that entertain and amuse, there are many apps that are specifically for disabled people ranging from an App that helps children communicate via pictures, to those that help keep track of the medication you take to those that help you manage your diabetes. For more information go to www.silvercross.com

Carers - thinking about returning to work? (added 26.8.11)
Butlins and Jobcentre Plus are joining together to hold an information event for carers who are thinking of returning to work. Read more on the Employment page.

A Parent & Family Guide to Special Needs in West Sussex (added 4.7.11)
This guide contains chapters on major issues parents have to address including diagnosis, benefits & money management, statementing and education, health & social care, social & leisure activities, etc. It also contains a directory of over 400 local and national organisations and a jargon buster. Read more on the Useful books pages.

In Case of Emergency contacts (added 25.7.08)
We all carry our mobile phones with names & numbers stored in its memory, but if we were to be involved in an accident or were taken ill, the emergency services attending us would have our mobile phone but wouldn't know who to call. Hence the 'ICE' (In Case of Emergency) campaign from South East Coast Ambulance Service. ICE is a method of contact during emergency situations. All you need to do is store the number of a contact person/s who should be contacted during emergency under the name ICE. In an emergency situation, Emergency Service personnel and hospital staff would be able to quickly contact the right person by simply dialling the number stored as ICE. For more than one contact name simply enter ICE1, ICE2, ICE3 etc.




If you would like to add an item to our noticeboard, please email us at col@icis-info4life.org.uk