Carr Gomm

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Today, we are celebrating the incredible Jean, who, with the support of our Care at Home service, continues to live independently in her own home.

Jean says, "I couldn't fault any of the girls that come and visit me. They are all so nice and help me as best they can. I think they are doing a wonderful job. Excellent."

Jean's kind words about our team are the best reward we could ask for.
Jean, you're an inspiration, and it's always a pleasure to support you. 💜

Craigmillar Community Grows June 2024 Recap! 👇

🦌 Our Walking and Foraging Group saw a buck at Craigmillar Castle Park, picked Rose, Green Alkanet and Elderflower, searched for butterflies and met with Edinburgh Food Social to cook their foraged finds.

📚 We had our final book-making sessions with Susie Wilson – it's been a fantastic experience!

🍳 Our Cook Club made katsu chicken curry and tabbouleh at Sandys Community Centre. Get in touch if you would like to join us on Thursdays from 11 to 1:30 p.m.

🎨 If you want to get involved with creating a mural in Niddrie GP, we are looking for small drawings of birds, bees, trees, flowers, greenspaces and buildings in the area that mean something to you.

Craigmillar Community Grows is a Carr Gomm community development programme open to anyone in the local community.

To stay up to date with what we've been up to or to get involved, make sure you follow the group on Facebook 👉 https://bit.ly/4a0NAPQ

Nothing beats a good team meeting combined with a friendly blether!

A round of applause goes to Sheila (far right) for her recent achievement - successfully finishing her SVQ in Health and Social Care. Way to go👏!

There's still time to sign up for the Dundee Kiltwalk across North Fife, Dundee and Angus on Sunday, 11th August!

Get together with your friends, family, colleagues or even your furry friends and sign up for your choice of two routes: The Mighty Stride (20 miles) or The Wee Wander (4 miles).

Sign up here: https://thekiltwalk.co.uk/events/dundee

All money raised goes to our community projects and activities, which reduce social isolation and loneliness across Scotland. 💜

We were delighted to receive recent visits from CIF International delegates and members of Fundació Isocial as part of our International Collaborations Project.

The CIF delegates from Germany, Greece, and Sweden visited one of our frontline services and met with managers at our head office in Edinburgh to understand how social care in Scotland operates.

The iSocial group met with Operations Managers in SPACE to hear about our services in Edinburgh, our Digital Inclusion Project, and Community and Development Projects across Scotland.

These visits were a valuable opportunity to share how Carr Gomm provides social care, discuss innovative experiences in the social field, and learn about social care internationally. The visits fostered a collaborative environment, driving progressive learning to advance social care worldwide.

Visit our website to find out more about the visits and our International Collaborations Project:
https://www.carrgomm.org/about-us/staff-initiatives/international-collaborations

Last year Cara Davis, our fabulous Marketing and Communications Officer, took part in the Dundee Kiltwalk to fundraise for Carr Gomm.

“I was very excited to take part in The Kiltwalk for the first time. The Kiltwalk is not a race, it’s an event where people of all abilities come together to raise money for their chosen charity. Wearing tartan is optional but strongly encouraged! I was quite nervous to be walking alone but I quickly felt at ease. Everyone I met was incredibly supportive and it was brilliant to learn about the different causes people were fundraising for.”

Read more about her experience of the Dundee Kiltwalk here: www.carrgomm.org/caras-kiltwalk

Feeling inspired? There is still time to sign up for the Dundee Kiltwalk 2024, which will take place on the 11th of August.

Sign up to fundraise for Carr Gomm: https://thekiltwalk.co.uk/events/dundee

Dundee Kiltwalk: Cara's Experience Supporting the Big Carr Gomm Challenge - Carr Gomm Discover Cara's experience of tackling the Kiltwalk Mighty Stride, all in aid of the Big Carr Gomm Challenge.

🌊 Did You Know? 🌊

Our Seaboard Home-Based Respite Service in the Scottish Highlands not only provides exceptional support but also boasts some of the most stunning seaside views!

Do you have a favourite seaside spot? We'd love to hear about it! Post a picture in the comments below. 👇

📸 Photo Credit: Our amazing Operations Manager, Leanne!

Did you know that next week is Non-Binary Awareness Week? 💭

Last year, Wolfie shared their experience of being non-binary at Carr Gomm.

“Being part of Carr Gomm has been a huge part of me being able to accept and fully express my gender identity. Having so much warmth, love, and acceptance has made me more confident & less afraid to be who I am.”

Read the full blog here:

Non-Binary Awareness Week 2023 - Carr Gomm The week leading up to International Non-Binary People’s Day on the 14th July is Non-Binary Awareness Week.

Our Midlothian team recently hosted a fantastic Feel Good Focus Group in Loanhead to gather feedback from people we support and to explore different ways we can be active in our day-to-day lives. 💪

Ross from Health by Science led the group in chair squats and chatted with them about why movement is so important for our health.

Everyone was invited to take part in a range of fun activities - from hula hooping to jenga - and we had a delicious healthy lunch. 😋

Don’t forget! 📢

The general election is today! Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm.

You need photo ID to vote for an MP at a polling station.

Check out the full list of accepted ID ⬇️
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id?utm_source=partner_social&utm_medium=social_media&utm_campaign=voter_id_scot&utm_content=voter_id_home

Award winners 🎖️

We're proud to be part of the Edinburgh Community Link Worker Network, recipient of the award for Best Local Social Prescribing Team/Service.

Through working with people, Community Link Workers prevent people from becoming unwell, returning to their GP, or being hospitalised. They achieve this by addressing the root causes of their stress or distress, whether poor housing, debt, unemployment, or feelings of isolation. Carr Gomm has 3 Community Link Workers in 5 practices working with over 500 people!

Well done to every team in the Edinburgh Community Link Worker Network.

You’ll need to bring photo ID when voting for an MP on 4 July.

Swipe to see the most common forms of photo ID that will be accepted in Scotland 👉

Check out the full list of accepted ID 👇
https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/voting-and-elections/voter-id?utm_source=partner_social&utm_medium=social_media&utm_campaign=voter_id_scot&utm_content=voter_id_home

The general election is this Thursday, 4th July.

Your polling station should be on your polling card, but if you are unsure where you need to go to vote, check here 👇

Where Do I Vote? We build digital tools to support everyone’s participation in UK democracy.

Are you, or is someone you support, unsure on which party to vote for at the general election this Thursday, 4th of July?

Do you want to find out what the parties are saying about key issues?

Here are the links to all current available easy read manifestos:
🕊️ Liberal Democrats (https://bit.ly/4eCOZ2e)
🌍 Green Party (https://bit.ly/3XLWXzQ)
🌹 Labour Party (https://bit.ly/4eHocC2)
🏵️ Plaid Cymru (https://bit.ly/3KY4cx0)

Compare what parties are saying about key issues here: https://bit.ly/4bja6DQ

Craigmillar Community Grows May 2024 Recap! 👇

🦋 Our Walking and Foraging Group visited Craigmillar Castle Park, Holyrood Park, Craigmillar Castle (thank you, Historic Scotland!) and got a visit from Jan from the Butterfly Conservation group.

📖 Susie Wilson led our book-making group this month and led workshops in cyanotypes, Sumi Nagashi and printing and marbling

👨‍🍳Our Cook Club made stew, fork biscuits and fish cakes with homemade chilli sauce & salad at Sandys Community Centre

🌱'Seed and Blether' launched at Craigmillar Library on June 6th. Come along on the first Thursday of every month from 2pm to 3pm to chat about all things seeds and help replenish the seed boxes!

Craigmillar Community Grows is a Carr Gomm community development programme open to anyone in the local community.

To stay up to date with what we've been up to or to get involved, make sure you follow the group on Facebook 👉 https://bit.ly/4a0NAPQ

The General Election is happening next week, on Thursday 4th July.

Everyone has the right to make their voice heard in an election. If you are supporting someone to vote, has lots of resources which can help you have important, unbiased conversations about politics ahead of the election.

It might be helpful to sit down with the person you support or care for and chat through what the government does and what issues are important to them.

Resources:
⚙️ How the government works (https://bit.ly/3RqfXjs)
✅ What your vote does (https://bit.ly/3VE6Tdv)
💪 Your rights (https://bit.ly/3RkRCvB)
💬 What is an MP? (https://bit.ly/3yZnPSQ)
🗣️ What does the prime minister do? (https://bit.ly/4evefrc)
📝 Easy read guide to Scotland's main political parties (https://bit.ly/3VA5i8p)

Donna had an unforgettable adventure at the Edinburgh Zoo.

She was thrilled by the nesting penguins and amazed to see the towering giraffes up close.

It was a perfect day filled with sunshine, laughter, and incredible wildlife! 🐧🌞🦒

Voting by proxy, or a proxy vote, means that you let someone else vote on your behalf.

If you are supporting someone to vote, voting by proxy in the General Election on July 4th could be a good option to think about.

📆 The deadline to register for a proxy vote is Wednesday 26 June.
💻 You can apply online for a proxy vote: https://bit.ly/4enxYZR

Find out more about supporting someone to vote by proxy in 's guide: https://bit.ly/3yV76zT

🌟 Get Ready to Love Your Job in 2024! 🌟

We are recruiting now for Support Practitioners to join our established teams in the Scottish Borders.

As a Support Practitioner, you will support people with all aspects of daily living at home and in their communities. You will assist people with planning for their future and preventing the effects of social isolation and loneliness in their lives.

Our Service provides specialist support to people experiencing mental ill health. A consistent, well-trained staff team support people to live independently in their communities to achieve positive outcomes.

We support people throughout their recovery journey; overcoming challenges, celebrating achievements and empowering people to create a fulfilling life of their choosing.

This role is in the Scottish Borders, based mainly in Melrose and Galashiels. Staff are expected to work a variety of shifts on a rota that is produced at least 4 weeks in advance.

Most of the shifts are 8 hours in total and some examples of the shifts are 8.30am to 4.30pm, 9am to 5pm and 1pm to 9pm.

Staff are also expected to work some weekends and sleepover shifts are also part of the role (usually one per week or per fortnight, with an additional enhancement paid for sleepovers).

Find out more and apply online today 👇
www.carrgomm.org/jobs/support-practitioner-borders

To vote in the General Election on July 4th, you will need to bring either a photo ID or a Voter Authority Certificate to the polling station.

If you do not have a photo ID, you need a Voter Authority Certificate.

📆 The deadline to apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate is 5pm, Wednesday 26th June.

Find out more about Voter ID and how to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate in the easy-read guide https://bit.ly/3VEKVHa

Aayesha was so excited to hear that inclusive ice skating has returned to Murrayfield!

It has been over 6 years since Aayesha last visited, and she loved every minute of it.

At Carr Gomm, we love to hear about inclusive events and activities across Scotland. What is your favourite? Share it in the comments.

Voting by post means that the person you care for or support will receive a postal voting card in the post, which they must return by the deadline.

If you are supporting someone to vote, voting by post in the General Election on July 4th could be a good option to think about.

📆 The deadline to register for a postal vote is Wednesday, June 19th, 5pm.
💻 You can apply online for a postal vote: https://bit.ly/45oG4xi

Find out more about supporting someone to vote by post in 's guide: https://bit.ly/4aZBs1q

Can you believe it has already been ONE YEAR since the Carr Gomm Festival?!

Our 25th Birthday Festival took place on the 16th of June, 2023, bringing over 300 people together to celebrate the incredible milestone.

There was a whole host of fun and exciting entertainment, events, and things to do—Edward Reid commanded the stage and hosted Carr Gomm's Got Talent, Therapet created a relaxed vibe with their adorable dogs, the Carnival Games brought out people's competitive side, and so much more!

It was an incredible day in the glorious sunshine that brought people together from across Carr Gomm and left everyone with a huge smile on their faces!

Relive the fun, laughter and excellent entertainment on our website 👇

Carr Gomm Festival - 25th Birthday Celebration! - Carr Gomm The Carr Gomm Festival brought staff, people supported and their friends and family together for a day of fun and celebration!

If you are supporting someone to vote in the General Election on the 4th July, you can help the person you care for or support to register to vote online by completing a form on the government website.

Anybody with a learning disability and/or autism has the legal right to vote and should be supported to vote if they want to.

📆 The deadline to register to vote online is midnight, Tuesday 18th June
💻 Register to vote here: https://bit.ly/3VCavwx

has a range of brilliant resources around supporting someone to vote. Click the link to explore them: https://bit.ly/3z05hlv

In the last year in Argyll & Bute, Carr Gomm's Community Contacts has supported and advised 349 carers about SDS (self-directed support) for a person they care for, or about their rights as carers.

Millions of people across the UK care, unpaid, for a friend or family member who, due to illness, disability, a mental health condition or addiction cannot cope without their support.

Community Contacts is there for carers in Argyll & Bute and Highlands, helping to advocate for and empower unpaid carers and the people they support.

📢 Susan needed to have emergency surgery and could not manage her caring responsibilities for her son, Nathan when she came home. Community Contacts helped Susan speak up to the Local Authority to gain an SDS budget. She was then able to recruit personal assistants with Community Contacts’ help to support Nathan during her recovery.

🚂 Community Contacts helped Mary apply for a small direct payment to cover the costs of a trip to see family and to pay the travel costs for her cousin to stay with Mary’s daughter, Eilidh. Eilidh is physically disabled, and Mary provides all of her support. The short break enabled Mary to restore her energy and gave Eilidh some time to catch with her cousin.

📖 Community Contacts worked with Abbey to help her understand the responsibilities she planned to take on with a new direct payment. She wanted to recruit personal assistants for her young daughter and wanted to make sure she was following best practice. Community Contacts shared the PA Employer Handbook with her and guided her step by step.

Read more stories here: https://bit.ly/3z8S0Xz

Will you be supporting someone to vote in the General Election?

Shared Lives Plus Community and have put together a quick guide to supporting someone to vote in the General Election on July 4th.

"Government decisions affect every aspect of a disabled person's life. We, as support providers, have a responsibility to help them to use the resources and reasonable adjustments available to vote in the general election as equal members of society."

Download the guide here 👇 https://s42558.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/Quick-guide-supporting-someone-to-vote.pdf

Do you live in Niddrie? 🗺️

Come and make a drawing for a mural about health and wellbeing in Craigmillar & Niddrie for the Niddrie GP Service Waiting Room!

📆 Thursday 13th June, 2-3pm
📆 Thursday 20th June, 2-3pm
📆 Thursday 11th July, 2-3pm
📆 Thursday 18th July, 2-3pm

📍 Niddrie Medical Practice

Everyone is welcome to take part - all art materials will be provided. 🎨

If you want to get involved but can't make one of the dates, you can hand in a drawing representing a greenspace, allotment, woodland or health and wellbeing building in the area to the front desk at Niddrie Medical Practice.

A royally paw-some day at Broomage service! VIP visitors, Maggie and Rossi stole everyone's heart. Best day ever! 🐾💕