Welcome to the February TDS Newsletter!

Welcome Message from Sally Ferris, CEO

We’re also busy recruiting to three roles in TDS. If you have experience in HR, I.T, marketing, accountancy, or of local government and third sector management, AND if you have time and energy to spare, please get in touch with me or apply via our website: https://www.togetherdementiasupport.org/current-vacancies 

We also have two staff roles vacant – one for a Fundraising Manager and the other for an Operations Manager. Again, please have a look on the website and either apply yourself or encourage anyone who has the skill mix and the passion to make a difference through our work.

Have you, quietly, made a New Year’s resolution? If you’re a carer, I hope you’ve resolved to take more care of yourself, to treat yourself to a break, and to ask someone else to come and spend time with your relative.

For any of you, do you fancy a physical challenge – with good company? Further down you can read about the fundraising challenges we have – walking/running the Manchester 10k, swimming in Lake Windermere, Abseiling at Media City, or hiking in Derbyshire. We are also planning some social that will raise funds for TDS.

We have some better news about actual and possible income for TDS. In December we learned that we’ve gained a third grant from the National Lottery. The funding will be spread over three years and will fund 5 staff posts. We are so grateful to the Lottery, to Miranda Kaunang who helped Sally enormously with the application, and to all of you who buy Lottery tickets each week! Without the Lottery, the charity would have folded years ago.

The other good news is that we are now listed as a provider of daycare with Manchester City Council. This means that YOU can ask for your relative to have “daycare” when his/her needs are assessed by a Social Worker/Care Manager. If Adult Social Care agrees that your relative is eligible to have daycare arranged by them, they will then pay us the full cost of the place at a Friendship & Activity Group or Together At Home or Together Out & About and you will be charged by them.

We can’t be sure how this will work out for the charity as we might not have the staff capacity to meet the demand on services. However, we need to increase income from provision of services as there are fewer grants to fund our work.

Further down in the newsletter is an article about charges for social care services. We would hope that, if Adult Social Care agrees to fund TDS daycare, the amount you will have to pay will be less than paying us direct. If it isn’t, then please carry on paying us as you always have!

This week, Claire and I are going to look at a Dementia Hub that meets every week in Oldham. It’s supposed to be very popular and helpful to carers and people with dementia. If it’s a good model then Manchester might decide to run Dementia Hubs too. We’ll give you a report back.

And, especially, for carers, we have some Winter and Spring walks coming up, an evening meal for recently-bereaved carers, a new Carer Training course, a free meal at the Woodthorpe for north Manchester carers , and a creative half day workshop for all carers.

Coming up for Carers in February 2025

Coming up for Carers in March 2025

What do we offer carers?

At Together Dementia Support we try and support throughout your time as carers and beyond. We recognise that you are the expert in your loved one’s care and deserve the best support and guidance. We are dedicated to providing the support each individual needs, including emotional support, signposting and system navigation, social events and frequent opportunities to learn from other carers.

System navigation

We understand that at times navigating the system and all it’s different organisations can be overwhelming. We can support you in getting the assessments you and your loved ones have a right to, such as carers assessments and needs assessments with social care. We can also join you at those meetings to help advocate for what you both need and want. We have joined families at best interest meetings, to insure the carers needs, as well as your loved one’s, are also considered when it comes to decision making.

Individual Support

We try and keep in touch with carers through our WhatsApp groups, wellbeing reviews, home visits and phone calls, however we do not have a large staff team and encourage you to please get in touch with us through your named worker or calling the office on 0161 2267186 if you would like any individual support. We are very happy to come and chat to you at home or go out for a coffee or walk to offer that advice or be a listening ear.

Peer Support

We are so proud of the family feel TDS carers have created in the support you all offer each other via our WhatsApp groups, dementia cafes and other social events. See our calendar below with our upcoming events, such as our walks, trip to the smart suite and meal out.

Carer’s training

As can be seen on the calendar we have our next 4 week carer training course coming up in March, we will cover what dementia is and as it advances, benefits, legal issues and support for you to care. We also have a first aid course at the Kath Locke Centre and a manual handling course at our Wythenshawe dementia café.

Wednesday Walk & Talk

Now that the Pavilion Café is open again, we’re really hoping that some of you will come and join our cheerful group of strollers in Alexandra Park on Wednesday mornings. There are already some snowdrops to cheer you up and the daffodils won’t be far behind. Even if the weather isn’t good, there are always some fun activities to do over a cuppa in the café.

Jenni, pictured below, has been strolling for many years now. Perhaps it’s the Walk & Talk group that’s keeping her so healthy!

Please share your experiences of moving into a Care Home

Too many carers tell us that they went from a carer, to a visitor and were not ready, or happy with this change in roles.

Carers tell us that they want to be seen as an important part of the care team around the person with dementia. We want to make sure that true 'shared care' is a reality for all carers who wish to continue their caring role.

You can help us by completing this questionnaire which will take about 15 minutes. The questionnaire is open on Survey Monkey until12pm on the 10th February, 2025.

If you wish to join tide’s network, please click here TIDE - Together In Dementia Everyday - Join our network. You will be combining your voice with carers across the UK who want to improve the lives of all carers of people with dementia.

Thank you for your time and support.

Equipment adaptations that can help you in the bathroom

We know that some of you have been struggling to get adaptations done at home.

If you or your relative are struggling in being able to wash, bath or shower then you might be entitled to minor or major adaptations.

The first thing to do is to self-refer to Manchester’s Adult Social Care Contact Centre (0161 234 5001) as they may be able to arrange for grab rails to be fitted or a bath board to be sent out to you.

However, if you are a home owner, you might be able to get these things supplied via charity Manchester Care & Repair – and this may be the quicker option (0161 872 55). Remember that they also have a list of approved contractors who can give you a quote for building work.

The council department that assess for and oversee major adaptations is called MEAP (Manchester Equipment and Adaptations Partnership). However, you will be means-tested to see if you qualify for a grant to do this work. Even if you are eligible for a Disabled Facilities Grant, for a wet room, for instance, the MEAP website states

We really understand the stress that this long waiting time puts you under. You can, of course, complain to your local councillor but we’re all fully aware that all local councils are struggling with budget cuts and so it’s no surprise that there is such a long wait.

If you’re on our Carers WhatsApp group, you can share advice, ideas or compare your experience with others “Has this happened to you?”.

It might also help you to visit the Smart Suite - the showroom of MEAP, where you can see all the equipment that can be provided and how adaptations could help.

Paula has arranged a TDS Carers trip there on Thursday 13 March. Get in touch if you’d like to go.

Paying for non-residential care services

This is another complex subject, I’m afraid! But it may help some of you to see the details of how your loved one is assessed for homecare or daycare (see the MCC document below)

It’s not helpful that often, when the Care Needs assessment is done, you’re not told how much the services will cost – the financial assessment comes later. However, that’s because the assessment can be complicated with you supplying a lot of information. When you do tell the assessor about your relative’s savings and income, you should also tell them about all the ‘disability-related expenditure that your relative also has - incontinence products, special food, additional heating costs, transport etc.

However, the general rule is that, if your relative has savings over £23,250, they will be classed as a self-funder and have to pay in full for homecare or day care until their savings drop below that level. 

It’s really important that your relative has all the welfare benefits that he/she is entitled to as this will help offset these costs. The most important benefit that almost everyone with dementia is entitled to is Attendance Allowance (called PIP, if the person is under 65 years). 

TDS can arrange for you/your relative to have a complete benefits check and also assist you in claiming Attendance Allowance and the SMI Council Tax discount. Both of those welfare benefits are NOT means-tested but are granted because of the dementia and the particular living circumstances

eBay for TDS - you can help!

Our story so far

Since we began our eBay for TDS shop we have been making great strides. We now have over 70 items listed with more being added each day. If they all sell at the asked for price they would raise over £900. Last year we received £897.27 net after postage and fees had been deducted. We have also posted some of our items on Vinted which seems to do better for clothes.

How you can help?

Nearly all our items on the eBay shop are donated. The exceptions are our charity Christmas cards, calendars and key ring torches. If you have unwanted and unused Christmas presents or other gifts, or if you have good quality items that you no longer want or can use, why not donate them to us so we can add them to our eBay shop? Check us out to see the type of goods that we are currently offering:  https://charity.ebay.co.uk/charity/i/Together-Dementia-Support/325486

Which items are suitable?

Coats, dresses, good quality jewellery, handbags, and unused beauty products have all found buyers in the past. If you would take it to a charity shop, we can probably take it too. 

Which items are not suitable?

Broken, not working, or damaged items, incomplete jigsaw puzzles and games, clothes that are worn or torn are not accepted. Unfortunately books and DVDs do not seem to sell well though if there a number of DVDs or Boxed sets we could offer them as a bundle. We cannot sell food or alcohol but the latter could be donated to TDS for a raffle prize.

What to do next

If possible, take a photo of your item and email it to [email protected]  She can decide if your item is suitable for selling on line and the next steps that need to be taken.

Get involved with TDS Fundraising 2025

Bunny Hop 2025 

In the run up to Easter we are calling on Primary Schools to organise sponsored Bunny Hops for TDS. 

Hats off to All Saints Primary school in Newton Heath and St Mary's in Moss Side for raising nearly £2,000 last year. They did a lot of hopping!

We'll provide schools with bunny ears to keep, sponsorship forms, and a visit from the TDS team.

If you know a primary school that might want to get involved, please send us their details and we'll get in touch. 

Manchester Marathon Man - Su

We're delighted that Dave Seneviratne has chosen to run the 'flat and friendly' Manchester Marathon in support of TDS.

That's a whopping 50,000 steps. Dave is running in memory of his Mum, whom we remember with love. 

If you feel like cheering on Dave, we're sure he'd love the support on the day.

Manchester 10k - Sunday 18^th  May

Team TDS is taking on the Manchester 10k again and this time with 25 places. Whether you're a runner, walker or roller, we'd love to have you with us or cheering us on. Last year we had TDS members and carers in the team and hopefully that will happen again this year. Please spread the word to friends, family and colleagues who might fancy the challenge and want to raise funds for a great cause. Rumour has it that our wonderful CEO Sally Ferris has already signed up.

Great North Swim - Saturday 14^th  June, Lake Windermere

Open water swimmers are invited to join Team TDS as we take on the Great North Swim in England's biggest lake. We're looking for cold water addicts who can do a half mile or a mile in support of our essential work. Have a chat with me /Miranda to find out more [email protected] Return transport in the TDS minibus will be available. 

Trafford Centre Abseiling - Friday 27^th  June and Saturday 28^th  June 10am

If you can do heights and want to try out abseiling why not join our intrepid team. We're going back to the Trafford Palazzo tower and we have 10 places available on each day. A fantastic opportunity for an office team that likes a challenge. Young people aged 12 -18 are very welcome to join us on Saturday 28th. Registration opens soon and in the meantime email us to express interest [email protected] 

80s Night

Whether you're in your 80s, can remember the 80s or just like to dress up and dance, we have a fabulous night coming up in June.

Our friends at Manchester and Cheshire Construction are planning a wonderful evening and we'll have the date confirmed very soon. Be a Super Trouper and join us. Costumes optional!

Together We Are Strong

We were humbled by all the support TDS received in 2024. Alongside our big challenge events, there were stalls at fairs, cash collections, unexpected gifts, donations in memory, and beautiful crafts made for Christmas. 

Dementia takes so much from our loved ones, our families, our communities, and there's a risk of feeling quite powerless. Our fundraising volunteers, supporters and staff didn't let that happen. We thank you all. 

Here's to another great fundraising year together.