Rethink Mental Illness Manchester Group

In just two days, on Tuesday 14th, we're holding a special Wellbeing and Fundraising event at Manchester Carers Centre. We've gots lots of stall holders with information on their services, a fantastic raffle, a bring and buy sale (so don't forget to bring something), tasty nibbles and lots of taster sessions including confidence booster sessions and mini massages. Come along any time between 11.30 and 4.30. Hope to see you there!

Here are some photos from our Celebration of Self Help event. We have the wonderful ladies from the Wai Yin Chinese Women Society Tai Chi group, us getting the all-important cake stand ready, and the lovely Lindsey Cree and her daughter! In a moment I'll post all the self-help ideas you can see on the blue sticky wall at the back of the room.

Caring with Confidence have launched a survey for carers and organisations that aims to eventually build a helpful directory for carers in the North West and help improve learning and care training opportunities for unpaid carers. Fill out the survey .

If you feel that you'd like to be prepared in case you are unlucky enough to get swine flu this year, you might be interested in this information I've received from Manchester City Council... Carers can plan for an emergency as part of a Carer's Needs Assessment. In the assessment, they can discuss how they would like the person that they care for to be looked after if they become ill or their situation changes and there is also the option to have an emergency sitting service available as back-up. The assessment is simply a discussion about their needs as a carer and, as well as planning for an emergency, it gives carers the chance to find out about other services that could help them in their caring role. To request a Carer's Needs Assessment, carers can simply call Manchester's Contact Service on 0161 255 8250. Carers should also find themselves a flu-friend or flu-friends who understand their caring role and, as well as being able to assist the carer, may be a...