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