Community Section
Related Pages
Carers support groups
Local organisations icon
Local support groups for carers

Other websites

Contacts and Maps

Maps and travel information
Maps and Travel | Contact
Home: Community: Care and support: Carers

Expert Patients Programme: Looking after me - free course for unpaid carers

David Macdonald - February 2012
gatewaytocare@kirklees.gov.uk


Looking after me course dates

  • LAM Huddersfield at Gateway to Care starts Monday 20th February 2012 until Monday 2nd April 2012. (Every Monday from 10:00-12:30)
  • LAM Dewsbury at Dewsbury Health Centre starts Friday 13th April until Friday 25th May 2012 (Time tbc)
  • LAM Urdu at Dewsbury Health Centre starts Friday 13th April until Friday 25th May 2012 (Time tbc)

To attend this course carers must confirm their places.

If you would like to attend a course or would like further information please contact Farah Haq at gatewaytocare@kirklees.gov.uk or by phone at 01484 414933.

About the looking after me programme

Learners expert patients programme
Would you like to:
  • reduce your stress levels?
  • meet new friends?
  • share your caring experiences?
  • boost your confidence?
  • look after your own health needs?

Looking after Me is a course for adults who care for someone living with a long-term health condition or disability. It is about carers making time to look after their own health needs and aims to help them to take more control of their situation and make a difference to their life.

Presented in an informal group setting, of up to 15 carers, it consists of 7 weekly sessions, which last for approximately 3 hours. We continuously run the course through out the year in both South and North Kirklees. Once carers have completed the course they are able to join a support group which runs on a monthly basis.

These are just some of the things carers who have completed the course have said they like about the course:
  • Meeting other people in the same situation
  • It was a place to off-load
  • I felt it was a break from my caring role
  • I do not feel as alone in this caring role
  • I liked coming here - physically enjoyed being here
  • The person I care for has noticed a big difference in me
  • I now try problem solving rather than ignore problems. I make action plans and problems do not seem to be such big mountains to face. I always approach every situation as: “now how would we deal with that in the group”
  • I look at problems differently now - now work it out in bite size chunks
  • The course is also like an information centre - I have learnt a lot
  • I feel I have gained recognition as a carer
  • The feeling of being valued
  • The right to have some fun
  • I don’t feel as pressurised now and since being on the course I am not stressed like I was before
  • I have learnt to think a lot more positively about myself and other people. I just do things now
  • The tutors were excellent and the way they delivered enabled us to take part with ease
  • We had a chance to laugh and smile
  • I really enjoyed the course, I feel more able to open up and also to relax

Find out more about the Looking after Me programme

If you would are interested in finding out more about the Looking ater Me Course, or attending our next programme, please contact Farah Haq at Kirklees Council Carers Gateway on 01484 414933, email gatewaytocare@kirklees.gov.uk, or complete the relevant section on the booking form (PDF) and post to Carers Gateway, 1st Floor, 30 Market Street, Huddersfield, HD1 2HG.
top

A to Z of the website