MENTAL HEALTH CARERS TOWN HALL MEETING - 21st July 2009 19:00-21:00

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The meeting of this month addresses 'Respite' that is so necessary for carers. Being a carer makes taking holidays or small breaks more complicated. This presentation will explore what help is available to organise a holiday, how to apply for funding from organisations and social services, how to request a community care assessment for the cared for and a carers assessment for the carer, where to find care while being away or how to arrange a joint holiday with the person the carer is looking after.
The meeting is taking place on Tuesday 21st July 2009 from 19:00-21:00 at Committee Room 2, Kensington Town Hall, London W8 7NX. For more information contact: Monique on 0789 454 2241

THE ROYAL BOROUGH GARDEN PARTY 2009 at The Royal Hospital Chelsea

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Trustees of the Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Carers Association, Mayoress and Mayor of RBKC.
From left to right: Ms Janet Forbes, Committee Member, Ms Monique Klang-Voves, Chair, The Mayoress of RBKC Mrs Timothy Coleridge, The Mayor of the Royal Borough Cllr. Timothy Coleridge, Ms Linda Eaton, Secretary.
Representatives of the K&C Mental Health Carers Association were invited by the new Mayor of RBKC, the Hon.Cllr. Timothy Coleridge to this year's Royal Borough Garden Party, which was held in the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea on Sunday 7th June 2007.

In the morning the Trustees attended the Solemn Matins of the Annual Civic Service held at St. Mary Abbots, Kensington Parish Church, led by the Vicar of St. Mary Abbots, Reverend Gillean Craig. The inspiring Sermon was performed by the Revd. Rob Gillion, the Mayor's Chaplain and Rector of Holy Trinity, Sloane Street in the presence of Sir Malcolm Rifkind, MP for Kensington & Chelsea. This was followed by lunch at Benihana, Chelsea, from where they proceeded to the Royal Hospital grounds. There was an unique opportunity to visit the Chapel and Dining Room of the Chelsea Pensioners in this magnificent Christopher Wren Building, which is normally closed to the public. High tea was served to the tune of the Chelsea Pensioners Military Band and all had a glorious time to meet and mingle, take photographs and network with councellors, dignitaries and other voluntary organisations.

NEWSFLASH : NEW LEGAL DROP-IN SERVICE

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THANK YOU WAITROSE

Glitter Text Maker

The Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Carers Association was chosed by the Waitrose flagship store at Westfield's new glam shopping centre at Shepherds Bush as a charity of the month in November 2008. We greatfully received the monthly donation of the Community Matters programme and a donation of food vouchers for our AGM.

DO YOU NEED A CARER ADVOCATE? - A new service from KCMHCA

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CARER ADVOCACY SERVICE LAUNCH - CARERS WEEK 9th June 2008 14:00-17:00 Kensington Town Hall

The Mayor of the Royal Borough, Councillor the Hon. Joanna Gardner and host Cllr. Pat Mason opened the launch of the Carer Advocacy Service of the Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Carers Association at the beginning of Carers Week 2008 in Committee Room 1, Kensington Town Hall. Photography by Darren Bell.
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Host, Cllr. Pat Mason and some of the Carer Advocates. From left to right: Bill Hare, Sophie Anger, Janet Forbes, Leonora Mansell, Cllr. Pat Mason, Linda Eaton, William Lawford, Monique Klang-Voves, Chair KCMHCA. Photography by Darren Bell.Host, Cllr. Pat Mason with Celebrity Guests. From left to right: Pastor Ade Omooba, I Care Project, Coherent and Cohesive Voice, CVG, Monique Klang-Voves, Chair KCMHCA, Jeffrey Daniel, Cllr. Pat Mason, Myluv, Sumaia. Photography by Darren Bell.

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ABBEY COMMUNITY CENTRE WESTMINSTER - CARERS UK CONFERENCE

The K&C Mental Health Carers Association was represented by Kitty Larkin and on the panel of speakers by Monique Klang-Voves, who were campaigning for carers rights, addressing Benefits Minister Ann Maguire.

HAVE SOME TIME TO KILL...?

KCMHCA ACHIEVES PQASSO QUALITY STANDARD

Councillor Fiona Buxton (Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Adult Social Care, Public Health and Environmental Health, RBKC) congratulates committee members of the Kensington & Chelsea Mental Health Carers Association on their achievement of PQASSO.
More than 40 representatives of local organisations came to Kensington Town Hall to find out about various quality systems, and also to celebrate the achievement of 25 local organisations that have recently achieved PQASSO. Cllr Buxton praised KCSC for the support they have given to local organisations to help them to achieve the standard. KCSC is a Council for Voluntary Service. For more information click on the link headline above. www.kcsc.org.uk

BMH UK BRIEFING ON 2006 MENTAL HEALTH BILL, HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday 1st May 2007

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KCMHCA supported a briefing of BMH UK on the impact the 2006 Mental Health Bill will have on African Caribbean communities who are currently subject to excessive use of the current Mental Health Act. Read more on above link. The meeting was hosted and chaired by Sarah Tether MP for Brent East. Matilda MacAttram, director of the human rights campaigns group Black Mental Health UK in association with the 1990 Trust and the African Caribbean Evangelical Alliance informed MP's on what changes need to made to the Bill in order to address the widespread discimination within mental health services which health campaigners say has destroyed a generation of Black Britons. The expert panel of speakers included:- Sarah Teather - MP, Pedro Okorro-chair of African Caribbean Evangelical Alliance and solicitor, Chinyere Inyama-Mental Health Review Tribunal president and mental health lawyer, Prof. Suman Fernando-consultant psychiatrist and lecturer, member of the National BME Mental Health Alliance, Pastor Ade Omooba-founder of Coherent and Cohesive, Andy Bell - chair of the Mental Health Alliance, Matilada MacAttram, director of Black Mental Health UK, Monique Klang-Voves, Chair of KCMHCA (Kensington & Chelsea Mental Health Carers Association.
BMH UK CAMPAIGN ALERT- LOBBY YOUR MP TO STOP THE RACIST MENTAL HEALTH BILL
Sarah Tether MP has issued an EDM (Early Day Motion). Please lobby your MP to sign. Click on the headline (link) above and circulate as widely as possible.
The 2006 Mental Health Bill will be debated by MP's in the House of Commons on the 18th and 19th June 2007. If this Bill is not stopped it will not only worsen the racism within mental health services but will also infringe on our civil liberties and human rights. This Bill will also pose a significant threat to Christian freedom as the Government has removed exclusions within this law to stop anyone being detained and treated against their will on the grounds of religious, political or cultural beliefs.
More Info: www.blackmentalhealth.org.uk

K&C MH CARER RECEIVES MAYOR'S AWARD 2007

On the 26th February 2007, RBKC Mayor, Cllr. Tim Ahern presented the award to Monique Klang-Voves for her voluntary work and role as founder & chair of the K&C Mental Health Carers Association. Mental health carers celebrated after the ceremony at a reception in the Mayor's Parlour.

'ATTEND' RECEPTION AT THE KINGS FUND IN THE PRESENCE OF HRH THE DUKE OF YORK

Monique Klang-Voves represented the K&C Mental Health Carers Association at an evening reception at the Kings Fund on the 6th of February 2007 hosted by our umrella organisation 'Attend'. We were honoured by the presence of HRH the Duke of York, Patron of our organisation, who took great interest in familiarising himself with the work of the various charity organisations and it's volunteers. There was an impressive exhibition of photographs and descriptions of the work 'Attend' charities deliver nationwide. The K&C MH Carers Association exhibit was raising the profile of mental health carers.

STOP SMOKING SERVICE

Start 2007 with a new year resolution to commit to quit smoking. The K&C Mental Health Carers Association are now offering a stop smoking service in the wake of the non smoking ban in all hospitals and NHS premises, which is coming into effect on the 1st of January 2007. You may self refer or use the PCT approved referral form from the hospitals for one to one support. We help in-patients, service users, carers, all staff including nurses, doctors and managers as well as any members of our community to reach this goal with ease. The course consists of 6 weekly sessions with motivational support, information, breath carbon monoxide tests and free prescriptions of NRT (Nicotine Replacement Treatment). There are six different types of nicotine products available to alleviate withdrawal symptoms. Patches, chewing gums, inhalators, lozenges, nasal sprays & microtabs. Our advisors are CRB vettet counsellors. Hypnotherapy also available on request. For more information or referrals please call Monique on: 0208 960 3873

10 DOWNING STREET RECEPTION

The Prime Minister Mr.Tony Blair discussed with interest the work of the Kensington & Chelsea Mental Health Carers Association with founder and chairman Monique Klang-Voves.

The Prime Minister welcomed volunteers to a special reception in Downing Street on the 12th December 2006 to say thank you to frontline workers and those who volunteer their time and energy to worthwhile projects. Monique Klang-Voves, chair of the K&C Mental Health Carers Association received an invitation from the Prime Minister and Mrs. Blair. Four members of organisations of ATTEND were chosen.(see picture). Preceeding the reception at Downing Street, Baroness Emerton had invited Monique and the other members to tea at the House of Lords, which was followed by a tour through this magnificent building.

HOUSE OF COMMONS RECEPTION

Catherine Larkin, mh carer, comittee member KCMHCA spoke movingly to MP's about her caring history and mental health carers needs on the frontline.

Mental health carers from the K&C Mental Health Carers Association and Anne McGuire MP, the minister in charge of carers benefits discuss the new benefits at the launch of Carers Rights Day on the 7th December 2006. An All Party Carers Committee has been established for carers to meet their MP's and bring issues to their attention.
Picture (from left to right): Maya Chewaluza, mh carer, KCMHCA, Monique Klang-Voves, mh carer, chair KCMHCA, Anne McGuire MP, Catherine Larkin, mh carer, committe member KCMHCA.

CARERS RIGHTS DAY GETS UNDERWAY

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Carers and politicians came together to launch Carers Rights Day with a special reception at the House of Commons hosted by Barbara Keeley MP and introduced by Hywel Francis MP. Catherine Larkin, mh carer of the K&C Mental Health Carers Association delivered a moving speech.

IN THE KNOW

Mental health carer Catherine Larkin (KCMHCA) and London Minister Jim Fitzpatrick MP discussing the importance of information for carers and the Carers UK guide "In The Know", obtainable from www.carersuk.org

CARERS RIGHTS DAY 8th DECEMBER 2006 - K&C Mental Health Carers meet London Minister at DTI

Mental health carers from the Kensington & Chelsea Mental Health Carers Association met London Minister Jim Fitzpatrick MP at the Department for Trade and Industry to raise awareness of mental health carers issues and promoting the campaign of Carers UK.
Picture (from left to right) Monique Kang-Voves, (Chair K&C MH Carers Association, mh carer), Catherine Larkin (Committee Member KCMHCA, mh carer), London Minister Jim Fitzpatrick MP, Jennifer Carey (Secretary KCMHCA, mh carer), Fazilat Golbayani-Davani (Committee Member KCMHCA, mh carer)

SOLUTION FOCUSED CARING & POSITIVE PSYCHOLOGY SUPERVISION GROUP MEETING DATES FROM 19:00-21:00

The long awaited Psychology Supervision Group for mental health carers has commenced since THURSDAY 14TH DECEMBER 2006 from 7pm - 9pm at the Seminar Room of the Psychology Department at the South Kensington & Chelsea Mental Health Centre, 1 Nightingale Place, London SW10 9NG, next to Chelsea Westminster Hospital.
Dr Andre Geel, clinical psychologist, will facilitate the sessions.
This supervision group will benefit persons who have completed the Positive Psychology and Solution Focused Caring Course and have a basic knowledge of all the psychological tools available from their previous training. This group aims to give ongoing support to carers who can discuss their individual cases and finetune their approaches. However newcomers are welcome to taste the approach and join in preparation to the next full training course.
The group will meet every second Thursday of each month throughout 2008/09.
The dates are as follows from 7.00pm-9.00pm :
21st August 2008
11th September 2008
9th October 2008
13th November 2008
11th December 2008
10th January 2009
12th February 2009
12th March 2009

A basic course will commence again for new carers in the near future. An university accredited advanced course will also be offered to those who have completed the basic course. Commencement dates will be advertised in the new year.
For more information contact Monique on 0208 960 3873.

SETTING UP YOUR PETITION

Giving the ordinary person a voice. For a free, userfriendly service to set up your own petition click on the link on the right "Setting Up Petitions" and start collecting signatures straight away.

DO YOU NEED HUMAN RIGHTS ADVICE ?

Are you concerned about bullying, intimidation or harassment in the Mental Health System or in the public ? Information and queries on Human Rights issues can be obtained and communicated by clicking on the link of LIBERTY, an independent Human Rights organisation, in the column on your right. Please note that any remedies for human rights offenses are subject to a one year limitation from occurance of the incident !

DO YOU NEED A MENTAL HEALTH LAWYER ?

A comprehensive list of mental health lawyers in London and nationwide can be downloaded from the Mental Health Lawyers Association by clicking on their link on the right side column

www.kcmhcarer.blogspot.com

PLEASE NOTE THE NEW LINK AND WEB ADDRESS FOR DIRECT ACCESS TO THE NEWSLETTER.

www.kcmhcarer.blogspot.com

NEW OFFICE CANALSIDE HOUSE - Enhancing Health and Social Care. Locally.

More help and services are now available for K&C mental health carers from the K&C MH Carers Association's new office at CANALSIDE HOUSE Office 2, 383 Ladbroke Grove, London W10 5AA. Tel/Fax: 0208 960 3873 or 0207 352 0252. E-mail: kcmhcarers@aol.com website:www.kcmhcarer.blogspot.com
New drop-in centre for mental health carers. Stop Smoking Service. One to one motivational support & FREE NRT prescriptions. Formal Carer Advocacy, individual support sessions, group activities, training, events, pampering days, respite, volunteer opportunities. Every Thursday and Saturday from 1pm - 5pm. All other times by appointment only.