It’s been another challenging year for carers but it hasn’t stopped the vibrancy and inspiration that has fuelled meetings and events from Carers’ Week, June, World Mental Health Day, October, Carers’ Rights Day and the SLaM (South London & Maudsley Foundation Trust) Family and Carer Listening event in November.
Congratulations to Matthew McKenzie FRSA BEM, facilitator of Southwark & Lambeth carer forum & author of “A Caring Mind”, pictured at SLaM’s Family and Carer Listening event – one of a number of carers’ champions recognised that day. Matthew is pictured with Gabrielle Richards, MBE, FRCOT Chief of Allied Health Professions and Inclusion and MC at the event, and Dave Barnard, committee Chair.
Chief of Allied Health Professions and Inclusion and MC at the event.
We will be bringing you more from that event in the new year. Meanwhile, you can read here about the Mental Health Act Reform bill, which was on the agenda.
https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2024/november/mental-health-bill-considered-by-lords
Council’s Carers Awards
Congratulations to those who were awarded at the Lambeth Carers Awards at Lambeth Assembly Hall in September, recognising the significant contribution of the borough’s carers, professionals and organisations. The awards are part of the council’s commitment to ‘making visibility, recognition, identification and awareness of carers one our seven priorities for supporting Lambeth carers outlined in the new Carers Strategy 2024-29’.
Pictured with the Mayor of Lambeth, Councillor John-Paul Ennis, the team from Carers Hub Lambeth, joint winners of the Community Organisation of the Year with Carers4Carers. The Hub’s Karen Ibrahim, Service Coordinator – Mental Health Carers received a Special Recognition award.
Also pictured with the Mayor is Deniece Campbell (parent carer of an autistic, learning disabled young adult who has been providing free independent advice and support to carers of all ages, alongside volunteering locally for 15 years) who received three awards –
Carer Volunteer of the year
Parent Carer of the year and
Neurodiversity Carer of the year
“After being recognised by my peers, community leaders and councillors it was an unexpected surprise, truly humbling,” says Deniece. “I felt valued as an unpaid carer because usually the priority is all about the person we care for.
“I would like to thank Carers Hub Lambeth, Lambeth Together, Age-Friendly Lambeth and Lambeth Council for putting unpaid carers on the map as part of Lambeth Carers Collaborative Strategy.”
Mental Health Support
Read Matthew’s McKenzie’s latest blog, Surviving the Holidays as a Carer
Karen Hooper