Richmond Carers Centre
OverviewRichmond Carers Centre manages the Carers Hub Service Contract, providing a gateway to direct support, information and access to services for unpaid carers in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
We are a local charity that provides support to unpaid adult and young carers. We offer free and confidential advice, information and support to any carer living in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. We also try to help carers who live in other parts of the country, or even abroad, who supports someone living in Richmond Borough. |
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In addition to these services Richmond Carers Centre also provides a full carers activities programme, carers learning and workshops programme, complementary therapies, counselling, signposting and referrals to other organisations, quarterly information updates and assistance with completing funding applications.
Programme for carers
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Activities for Carers - January, February and March 2025 Kew Gardens Trip This monthly trip offers the opportunity to explore and enjoy the delights of Kew Gardens. In winter, there are lots of sheltered spaces to enjoy, such as the famous Palm House, the Temperate House and the Princess of Wales Conservatory. We meet promptly to enter the gardens as a group. Our February visit will include entrance to the annual Orchids exhibition. 10.30am to finish Tuesdays 7th January, 4th February and 4th March Venue: Kew Gardens Coffee Mornings Join us for a hot drink and friendly conversation with fellow carers. 10.30am-12noon Wednesdays 8th January, 5th February and 5th March Venue: Twickenham Green Art Club Our art sessions explore a range of art mediums with the opportunity to enjoy refreshments and connect with other carers in a relaxed environment. February’s activity will focus on canvas painting using acrylic paints. In March, we will be working with wood to create hanging signs for home decor. Materials will be provided and carers can take their artwork home after the session. 11am-1pm Thursdays 9th January, 6th February and 6th March Venue: Twickenham Green Ham House We are pleased to offer monthly visits to Ham House, one of the grandest Stuart houses in England. As well as the historic house and gardens, the estate includes a café and bookshop. Our volunteer will be at the café from 11am, should you wish to purchase refreshments before exploring the estate. 11am-1pm (12noon entry to the house) Friday 10th January and 7th March Venue: Ham House Macrame Bracelet Making for Young Adult Carers and Parent Carers Join us for a wonderful introduction to the addictive craft of macrame. During the class you will learn how to tie square knots and make a sliding clasp, techniques you’ll be able to use again in other macrame projects. This workshop is suitable for all levels, as no prior experience of macrame is required. Please note this session is for young adult carers aged 17-25 and carers for young people under 25 years of age only. 11am-12.30pm Wednesday 22nd January 2025 Venue: Twickenham Green Pilates Pilates is a low impact exercise that helps to improve your body’s strength and balance while using breathing techniques to control your movement. Our sessions are suitable for any ability and no previous experience is needed. The tutor will adapt the exercises to accommodate any injuries or physical restrictions. As a New Year’s treat, a light breakfast will be provided at the first session. (NB. This is a 6-week course, you should aim to attend at least 4 of the 6 sessions) 10.30-11.45am Wednesdays 29th January, 5th and 12th February 2025 Venue: Eel Pie Island Coffee Morning for Parent Carers Come along and enjoy some refreshments whilst meeting other parent carers. Please note that this activity is for carers of young people under the age of 25 only. 10.30am-12noon Tuesday 11th February Venue: Marble Hill Bingo Social Evening Come along to our Social Evening to meet other carers and enjoy drinks and nibbles over a game of bingo. 6-8pm Wednesday 12th February Venue: Twickenham Green Lunch Social Join us for a delicious 2-course lunch and a chance to chat with other carers. As this activity has been part-funded by the NHS Winter Engagement Fund, there will be a short discussion about the NHS App and winter wellness prior to the meal. We will be holding two lunches; please specify your preferred date when registering your interest. 12noon-3pm Thursday 13th February or Tuesday 25th February Venue: Richmond or Teddington Stroll Dance Class Start the week with a fun and friendly dance class led by an experienced instructor. Strolling is an easy, low-impact line dance, set to 1950’s rock and roll. You will get a chance to chat with other carers before the instructor, Colin, leads you through a gentle warm-up, an hour of Strolling, and a gentle cool-down. All are welcome. No experience required. 10am-12noon Monday 24th February Venue: Twickenham Board Game Evening for Young Adult Carers Join us for a fun evening of nibbles and gaming with other young adult carers. Please note that this activity is for young adult carers aged between 18-25 years old. 6-8pm Wednesday 26th February Venue: Twickenham Green Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) at Richmond Theatre Come along for an evening at the theatre. Men, money and microphones will be fought over in this irreverent but affectionate adaptation where the stakes couldn’t be higher when it comes to romance. This multi-award-winning comedy production features a string of pop classics including Young Hearts Run Free, Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow and You’re So Vain. 7.30pm to finish Thursday 27th February Venue: Richmond Theatre Craft Session for Young Adult Carers and Parent Carers In this session we will use dried flowers to decorate a tealight holder. Materials will be provided, and carers can take their artwork home after the session. Please note this session is for young adult carers aged 17-25 and carers for young people under 25 years of age only. 11am-1pm Tuesday 11th March Venue: Twickenham Green Lush Bath Bomb Making Join us for a bath bomb making activity, with skincare tips and advice with Lush. At the end of the session, you will have a handmade product to take home. 11am-1pm Wednesday 12th March Venue: Twickenham Green Creative Writing Writing can be a great way to express yourself and release some tension. In this relaxed session, we will share our inspirations and have a go at writing our own short piece or poem. No experience necessary. Just come along, enjoy some refreshments, and have some fun. 5.30-7pm Wednesday 26th March Venue: Twickenham Green |
Workshops for carers - January, February and March 2025 Welfare Benefits Clinic for carers aged 66+ – Age UK Richmond In these appointments, a Welfare Benefits Advisor from Age UK will help you to understand what pension age benefits you may be entitled to and how to apply. Each appointment is 20 minutes long and will be completely confidential. Please note that these appointments are only for carers aged 66+ or for those caring for somebody aged 66+. 10am, 10.30am and 11am Tuesday 21st January 2025 Venue: Twickenham Green Dementia Carers Information and Support Session – online via Zoom When someone is diagnosed with dementia, their partner and family often have a lot of questions. This Carers Information and Support Session aims to give a space for family members, carers and friends to find out more about what dementia is, how dementia affects people and your needs as a carer. These sessions are just for carers, family members and friends of people newly diagnosed with dementia so that you have space to talk and learn freely and ask the questions you want to ask. Sessions are one off/stand-alone – you are welcome to attend more than one session, but the topics covered at each will be the same. The sessions are run jointly by a Clinical Psychologist from Richmond Memory Service and a Carers Support Worker from Richmond Carers Centre. 1-3pm Thursday 13th March Venue: Online via Zoom Funeral Clinic – Poppy’s Funerals The best time to talk to a funeral director is before you need one. Wondering what you need to do when someone dies? What funeral options are there? Or how you can keep costs down? Ask anything – Natalie from Poppy’s Funerals will be here to answer your questions and give information and advice. These confidential 1:1 appointments are 20 minutes long. 10am, 10.30am or 11am Tuesday 11th February Venue: Twickenham Green Cookery Class – from Cooking Up In this session you will learn to make a delicious, low-cost, healthy meal in the company of other carers. Experienced volunteers from Cooking Up will be on hand to help. By the end of the session, you will have prepared a freezable meal for four to take home. 11am-12.30pm Thursday 20th February Venue: Whitton Mindfulness – The Breath In this introduction to Mindfulness and the breath, you will learn about mindfulness and experience a simple mindfulness practice. There will be a focus on awareness of our sensory experience, especially through the breath. We will also touch on how focussing on the sensations of the breath can help us to disengage from unhelpful trains of thought. 11am-12noon Thursday 27th February Venue: Twickenham Green Mindfulness – Calming and Grounding In this introduction to Mindfulness for calming and grounding, you will learn about mindfulness and experience a simple mindfulness practice. You will understand how to use mindfulness of the breath and other grounding practices to ease tension, recognise resistance to difficulty or pain, and develop kindness and acceptance. 11am-12noon Wednesday 19th March Venue: Twickenham Green Dementia Coaching and Counselling – Empátia Specialist Dementia Coaching This session uses dementia education and therapeutic group support to help carers nurture and sustain resilience. Resilience helps to reduce the risk of physical and mental health illnesses often experienced by family carers of people with dementia, can delay care home admission, and produce a better quality of life and relationship. Facilitated by a Dementia Specialist Nurse, you will learn about communication and behaviour in dementia and have the opportunity to share and learn from others including emotional strengths, practical support, and planning. 11am-1pm Thursday 27th March Venue: Twickenham Green |
