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The Sharing Caring Project
The Sharing Caring Project is part of Sheffield Mencap
& Gateway
The Sharing Caring Project currently supports family carers over
the age of 55 years. The project was funded in response to sustained
pressure from ageing carers, and research by the Sheffield Case
Register which revealed that most older carers were unsure about
how to plan for the future and what sort of options were available
to them and their relatives. The SCP works in partnership with
Sheffield Citizen Advocacy to ensure that the voices of both older
carers and the people they support are heard.
The project has produced a report of it initial findings:
‘Crisis Approaching! The Situation Facing Sheffield's Elderly
Carers Of People With Learning Disabilities'.
Responding to the needs identified within the report the Sharing
Caring Project has been instrumental in developing initiatives that
include:
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Older Carers Support Scheme (OCSS)
A scheme managed by Community Health Sheffield NHS Trust, developed
in partnership with Sharing Caring Project & Sheffield Social
Services. It offers regular contact to older carers and assists
them to access a range of additional preventative supports that
may be useful for them or the people they care for.
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Lifebooks
Winner of the Community Care Magazine Voluntary Sector Innovation
Award, the Lifebooks are completed and held by the person with
learning disabilities and people have the option of returning
a single page to Social Services in case of an emergency. 600
were distributed free to people living with carers over 55 in
Sheffield.
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Information Packs for Carers
The packs have been developed in partnership with Community
Health Sheffield and Sheffield Social Services. Besides outlining
services and resources available in Sheffield, this pack focuses
on issues specific to older carers around planning for the future.
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'Thinking Ahead' Video Pack
The video pack acts as a starting point for families and workers
to discuss possibilities for future accommodation and support.
The video outlines the planning processes, the links between
funding and assessment, and different types of accommodation.
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The project has recently developed
a partnership with the Asian Disability Project to support
the needs of older Asian family carers.
Contact:
Dalia Magrill (SCP Co-ordinator)
Sharing Caring Project
Norfolk Lodge
Park Grange Road
Sheffield S2 3Q1
Tel: 0114 275 8879
Email: sharingcaringproject@hotmail.com
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