Scotland's 4th Carers Parliament, Carena Event...

Hi guys, what a week and it's not over yet!

Carers Parliament...
Carers from all over Scotland made their way to Edinburgh for the 4th Carers Parliament. Two Carers from each of the 73 Scottish Parliamentary constituencies attend to make sure as many Carer voices are heard as possible and this year, members of the Welsh Assembly attended too. They want to set-up their own Carers Parliament in Wales so yet again here in Scotland, with our forward thinking and ethos of working together, we have influenced and hopefully helped Carers elsewhere too - I do hope so!
What a great day it was!
Our First Minister was there

Not only to thank Carers for their contribution in our society but to inform on policy and update on the new Carers Bill currently before Parliament. It's good Carers have such a high profile forum, it's taken a long time but now Carers are involved in shaping policy and really helping change things for the better and long may it continue!

Carena...
Remember the community website I was involved with?
Well, it's going from strength to strength! Today they had a great exhibition and showcase event over 150 stalls, people, groups and organisations, offering a range of information and supports available all over North Ayrshire and it was busy, busy, busy! I wasn't working at a stall today as Coo wanted to go along and check things out for himself so we mingled, picked up some freebies and learned a thing or two!

Carena is not only a website, it's all over facebook and just about anywhere people need some information on services and community supports, offering info on anything from community events to job opportunities and more! It really is a great community resource especially for Carers or anyone who uses social services here in North Ayrshire so...go Carena!

It's been busy time but fun too and I've learned something new too - you know what they say...every day's a school day! lol
Hope you're doing ok where you are.
(((hugs)))
Maz x 

Carers and the Commonwealth Games...

Hi guys, I've had some news. Good news...in fact...great news!

It's been a really busy and successful period recently for our local Carers!
First there was the launch of CareNA our local community portal, that went on to win the COSLA Gold Award!
Next, 'The Three Towns Carers' won the Provost Civic Award for a Community Group - wee recap here...

So just what has happened now?

Four members of our Group (The Three Towns Carers), have been selected as Queens Relay Baton-bearers for this years Commonwealth Games in Glasgow - We'll bear the Queen's Baton (for a wee while!) as it travels on it's journey throughout North Ayrshire!

Quote: The Glasgow 2014 Queen's Baton Relay will travel 190,000 km in 288 days and...four Carers from our wee group will be there doing their bit too!
Now, just how cool is that?
...we're tickled pink at the prospect!

There are lots of Carers out there, who still need help, support and friendship. We entered these events to raise the profile of 'Carers' in general and our wee group too and hopefully find some of those hidden Carers in our area.

I'm so excited about this latest development - can you tell? lol
I'll update as more news comes our way!
(((hugs)))
Maz x

We won...twice!

Hi guys, it's been a golden week this week!

CareNA...
Brilliant news - our community portal did win the COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities), Gold Award!

I'm so glad it won!
It's a brilliant resource for Carers and disabled people in our area and as it grows and populates it will only get bigger and better so...job's a good un!


In other news...

The North Ayrshire Provost Civic Awards...
Remember I blogged about my wee Carer group - The Three Towns Carers being up for the Provost Civic Pride Award? Well...we won! Just how cool is that! Sometimes Carers hard work and dedication to a loved one, is forgotten but this time we were remembered!

Here we are with the other winners...

Check out Liz and I on the bottom right, in our posh frocks and by sheer chance, we were colour co-ordinated too! lol

It was a wonderful evening,  a real happy experience and best of all the Carers won!
We're getting a cake for our next meeting so all our Carers can celebrate over a wee cuppa!

After the big night out and posh frock wearing, it was back to reality pretty quick - Coo was really poorly and the seizures were coming thick and fast.
The highs and lows of caring, it sure is a bit of a roller coaster ride! One minute posh frocks and out for dinner with the Provost and the next...jammies, seizures and struggles - we coped and we live to fight another day!

so...all-in-all, it was a bit of a bumpy weekend but...what a great week! Sure was fun!
Stay strong guys!
(((hugs)))
Maz x

Update: Coo's foot, Carers Scotland, CareNA & SDS Event...

Hi guys, what a week...again!
Coo's foot...
It's been a bit quieter here this week, Coo's foot is still broken - no surprises there! 
The problem is, he can't rest it properly, each time he has a seizure all the limb jerking just makes things worse and with 10-15 seizures a day that's a real tough break - pardon the pun! The hospital did say it'd take four to six weeks to heal so I guess it's just going to be a slow process and on the whole we're coping ok so things could be worse!

SDS...
Thanks to our SDS (Self Directed Support), even with Coo poorly, I still managed to get out to my meeting this week. It's kinda rare now, that I need to cancel things - what a change from the 'flying by the seat of my pants' lifestyle that used to be the norm!  I'm glad that's changed, it was always so very stressful trying to organise care just to get out and I sure don't miss that!
Carers Scotland...
Anyways, I made it up to Glasgow as planned and it was an interesting meeting too. The government are evaluating the Carer organisations they give funding to and that's fair enough but it was good they asked 'Carers' who are involved and benefit from these charities, what they do, how they've helped and just what they're really like!

Care and Support North Ayrshire...

Tonight's the night for the community portal & website that along with my local authority, I was involved in setting up!
Here's a wee link...CareNA
Will they win? I hope so!
It's a great resource for Carers and the wider community too so fingers crossed!

SDS Event...
I'm taking another few days quietly with Coo for now as next week I'm really busy! I've a wee meeting with Three Towns Carers and our Carer Champion Councillor Steel, on Monday and I'm out training and contributing to a two day event on SDS later in the week.

I think it's important to keep active, involved and to share good practice where I can.
All-in-all it should be an interesting week!
As my granny always said ' it's a good life if you don't weary' so...
Here's to not wearying!
(((hugs)))
Maz x

COSLA first then GoMA fun...

Hi guys, it's been a busy few days!

I went to COSLA with the others to do a presentation and a question and answer session on CareNA . Thankfully it all went great so fingers crossed we win that Gold Award...and we should as the CareNA website is a brilliant resource for Carers and Service-users, I'm so pleased with how it all turned out!

Once all the work stuff was over, it was time for a wee respite break with Coo so....GoMA  (Gallery of Modern Art) Glasgow, here we come!

We decided not to rush, take our time getting up to the city. We'd chosen to go on Thursday, the GoMA is quieter then and it's late opening night too - no pressure and no need to rush!
We checked into a wee place in the city centre around lunchtime, grabbed a quick bit to eat and hit the Gallery - Wow! What a place!

It's really a kinda crazy-cool place and it's totally brilliant too - we loved it!

From the wonderful twinkly lights all around this building to the unusual and thought provoking exhibits it holds, this sure is one classy place to visit - we had  an awesome time!

Highlight for me...
There's a brilliant selection of  Niki de Saint-Phalle artworks.

Her Arts kinda funky and colourful and right up my street. I don't think Coo was as impressed but I loved them all!
Here I am enjoying them - maybe a little too much! lol


It was a lovely wee time-out for us both! I'm so very grateful for the SDS (Self Directed Support), funding that makes wee breaks like this one happen!
A few days away, a wee bit of culture and a wee time out, sure make everything that little bit easier.

We're back home and happy!
Don't stress about SDS when it comes your way, as it surely will! Think about the possibilities - it's brought lot's of new opportunities and support our way that's for sure!
Happy days!
(((hugs)))
Maz x

A really busy week, awards and awards...

Hi guys, what a busy-bumble-bee-week I've had!

Award 1...

I got filmed today in support of CareNA
Do you remember I posted about a new community portal I'd been working on with my Local Authority? There's details here...

It's up for an award and a COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) award at that!

I'm really pleased CareNA has been highlighted as it's a great resource, especially for Carers! It's really a-one-stop-information-shop with all the information you need, from Personalisation, SDS (Self Directed Support) and help in a crisis, to community groups and events in our area!

CareNA is already making life that wee bit easier for our local Carers and I'm so happy I had the chance to help shape this vital community resource!

Award 2 - The Provost Civic Awards...
I blogged here about my wee 3 Towns Carer Group being nominated for the Provost Civic Awards, we're nominated in the Community Group section and I have news - we're in the final!

The 3 Towns Carers are a wee band of local Carers who manage to support one another and navigate a way through the minefield that is caring. The key strength really, is the support and love freely shared with one another through all the stages caring brings.
From the shell-shock at the beginning, when everything's raw and new, through all the trials and triumphs of finding services and support, to the sadness and trauma when caring comes to an end.
We are just there for one another.
It truly is a real caring family!

I guess you could say...it's been a busy and successful week!
 My granny always said it's a good life if you don't weary so  here's to not wearying!
Keep strong guys,
(((hugs)))
Maz x