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The Big Review April 2020 March 2021 Unpaid Carers making the world a better place through a pandemic A review is meant to be about an organisations achievements however everyone in Credu Powys WCD Young Carers and Gofalwyr Ceredigion Carers is in utter awe of the Young and Adult Carers that have continued to care for loved ones through a pandemic and have contributed to making our world a better place We all feel that the achievements of Credu are essentially the achievements of Young and Adult Carers We can never do justice to the incredible Young and Adult Carers in our communities we can merely hope some of the stories within give you a flavour This review is in three parts based on our three missions and includes a snippet of some of the work that has taken place across Ceredigion Conwy Denbighshire Powys and Wrexham

THE BIG REVIEW What s inside 4 16 Mission 1 Listen to and give enabling support to individual Young Adult Carers and families Mission 2 Carer Supportive Communities 28 Mission 3 Carers Voice and Influence 37 Appreciation and words from chair A Big thank you to our funders and supporters 2

Credu is here for Young Adult Carers and their families to enjoy a good quality of life as they define it Getting a good quality of life can be hugely challenging when serious ill health or disability impacts on one s family We work with Carers in a variety of different ways depending on what is most important to each person and we have three main missions LISTEN TO AND SUPPORT YOUNG ADULT CARERS AND FAMILIES We know Carers are experts in their own lives and although we might have lots of information at our fingertips we find that Carers value being listened to and having the space to work through challenges BUILD CARER SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITIES With Carers we build Carer awareness and support in communities schools services and build peer connections between Carers SUPPORT STRONG CARER VOICE AND INFLUENCE This can be having a voice as an individual as a family wanting support or it can be a collective voice making changes on a community county or national level Get in touch for a warm welcome Credu carers credu cymru Wcdyc info wcdyc org uk Ceredigion ceredigion credu cymru Website www credu cymru 3

Mission 1 We have been in contact with Listen to and give 5090 Carers and Young Carers enabling support giving direct individual to individual and peer group support to Young and Adult 1918 families Carers and families You don t have to do this all alone You don t need to do this all alone Francesca she said kindly I know how exhausted you are I know you can t even think of finding out who to talk to so I ll send you a link She was right this friend of mine I was so mentally and emotionally exhausted I d been looking after my 94 year old Mum and although she is not a demanding woman the constant state of alert I was in had taken its toll Getting Support A day or two later my friend let me know she d found a charity in Ceredigion Gofalwyr Ceredigion Carers and had spoken to them about the urgency of my situation Within a short amount of time I was chatting away with the effervescent and delightfully caring Tracey Patrick How wonderful to speak to someone who could give me emotional support a listening ear and the opportunity at her disposal to make a difference to my life What do I need What would help me most These are the things she elicited from me And I discovered that there is a wealth of support if only I had chosen to look for it And as my Mum and I have little in the way of financial resources we weren t going to have to pay for it either I could apply to access an emergency grant if needed Yes please And what I wanted to use it for surprised them completely My Mum was frequently so anxious and unwell that she didn t want me to leave the house for more than 15 minutes at a time 4

But for my mental and physical health needs this is nowhere near enough I had heard about rebounders A bit like small trampolines these are astonishingly good for our bodies as well as our minds I knew if I had a rebounder in my home I could still give myself the exercise I needed to keep me sane without having to leave the house My Mum thought they d never agree They did And it s worth its weight in gold I can bounce while watching TV or take time out from Mum because she knows I m just in the other room Getting Respite freedom sessions BUT walks outside are also vital fresh air for me and walks for my rescue dog So the very next thing which was arranged effortlessly my end was for a carers carer to come in once a week for three solid hours Mum was a little uncertain She easily gets exhausted if people come and chat with her I had to arrange for this woman to ensure she didn t allow this to happen now we love Sally who comes regularly for three deliriously wonderful hours of freedom I had no idea how much I usually rush when I go shopping I constantly monitor how long I ve been Taking the dog for a walk I m constantly rushing to get home to Mum You simply don t know the stress you re under until someone else takes it off your shoulders for a while You ll know exactly what I mean our minds are never away from home They are simply focused on the one we care for no matter what our eyes are looking at No conversation can be had away from home without a portion of our attention being somewhere else We start to look sideways fidget and generally rush to get away even though we know that exchange is like food for us carers No matter how much we love the one we care for it is a constant experience with moments of relaxation and moments of high stress I felt so supported to receive this Replacement Care Service The very first three hour freedom session I took made me understand what it feels like to dawdle to relax in to my walk to sit and enjoy my surroundings knowing Mum is in safe hands and I have absolutely nothing to worry about This story comes from Ceredigion where Credu works as part of Gofalwyr Ceredigion Carers a wonderful collaboration with Carers Trust Crossroads West Wales and Carers Trust Crossroads North Wales We have been commissioned by Ceredigion County Council Hywel Dda University Health Board Credu gives support in a range of ways and the Crossroads organisations provide replacement care 5

Making decisions between food and heating a little easier Emergency Funding Supported families to get through the COVID Winter During the Covid pandemic last winter some families were hit hard financially as well as caring more with less support than usual Thankfully we were able to ease this plight for 1 148 people with financial assistance for 950 families impacted by financial hardship Families needed help with basics like food and heating as well as digital technology to be able to access education and connect with others As always we listened to families and gave support as quickly as possible often within 24 hours It was a huge effort by volunteers outreach workers managers administration and finance staff Everyone pulled together to do what mattered when it mattered for Carers Just wanted to say a huge thank you for helping us get L a new Chromebook Not only is that going to make home schooling life easier but it will enable L to progress with her school work for now and the years ahead I was struggling with the household bills since having the children home due to Covid and it has really got me out of a sticky situation thank you The Tesco voucher thank you just does not cover what this means to me and my two girls Having the freezer has made such a massive difference We did one big shop reducing the amount of time we have to go shopping and spent time cooking some healthy meals so even when things are feeling overwhelming we can still have a healthy dinner In addition I m sure you can appreciate being able to stay on top of the washing and not having to go to the launderette has reduced so much stress 6

Thank you so so much One less thing to worry about Thank you so much I can put the heating on more as then the children won t be cold It will make a massive difference for me and the children Heating bill covered It s been so cold Thank you for the laptop school work has been a nightmare as my old laptop is now broken I had it for about 3 4 years and over time some keys came off and then in the last few months the keyboard has just stopped working I couldn t access the live lessons as my speaker also wouldn t work and I couldn t type today has been a lot easier as I have been able to access the live lessons and I have been able to contact teachers if needed I would like to thank you so much as it has made my life easier to do home schooling in these difficult times This will help me and my brother to fix things in the house we couldn t fix by ourselves with our situation We are incredibly grateful to the funding from Welsh Government via Carers Trust Wales as well as emergency donations from the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation The Neumark Foundation and The Waterloo Foundation that enabled us to do this However we know that families that have been impacted by illness and disability should not have to struggle financially at all Going forward we want to collaborate with other organisations to recommend economic models that better support families If you would like to get involved in this work please do get in touch 7

Person centred There are lots of organisations that do different things it would be support enables slightly so helpful if you could join up better over 2 000 people This was such good advice and with funding from the National Lottery Community Fund aged over 50 we joined up with Age Cymru Powys People across Powys have been saying Accessibility Powys Royal Voluntary Service Powys RVS and Powys Citizens Advice Connected Generation Project The Older People s Commissioner for Wales pictured left and project Participants share what the project means for them Watch the whole of our celebration of the amazing Connected Generation Project on youtu be tK50E3ksfx8 For a focus on the inspiring Rhoda Emlyn Jones Wales s leading light on person centred support youtu be MTi YFQXyKk For a focus on time with amazing Carer Hayley Mann and wonderful Community Companions youtu be acBoZrvR Ns For over three years we have been able to support 2 000 more people to Overcome personal challenges whether that be financial practical social or emotional Feel more connected and supported in their community Have a stronger voice and influence on what matters most to them 8

We were able to support more older people Hayley sums up what the project across a quarter of the landmass of has enabled Wales than ever before because we collaborated Age Cymru Powys Thankyou I ve found such positive Accessibility Powys and Credu gave empowering support in Credu direct support while Powys Citizens Credu s commitment to carers has Advice gave specialist advice and RVS been life changing Giving us a voice a linked people experiencing isolation platform a purpose to dare to look and loneliness with companions As is always the case everyone is different some people moved towards personal goals such as one lady who said I feel more fulfilled and have more purpose in life forward and believe again in ourselves a cuppa a chat a friendly ear some support positive direction a platform to services wonderful therapeutic sessions I no longer feel like I m a tick box problem I feel like Hayley again Others wanted to find ways of managing difficult lives as well as possible I know I can t cure this situation my aim is to keep it at the position it s in as long as possible she helped me to see what is and isn t possible as I m physically disabled she helped me to see as many options as possible The National Lottery Community Fund gave us the resources to transform our approach to support so that we don t just give information and advice but we are more able to give the space and time for people to work through the complex challenges and dilemmas in their lives more able to shine a light on the strengths of Carers and families and more able to connect carers with others and to have a voice and influence The Respite Project on pages 11 15 is a perfect example of what carers have achieved by having a stronger voice Funding from the Tudor Trust and the Rank Foundation has enabled us to extend further support to areas that we couldn t support as well Machynlleth and Ystradgynlais Over the last year we have supported 69 Carers and families in Ystradgynlais 79 Carers and families in Machynlleth with a range of challenges including financial hardship unmanageable caring roles and a range of practical and emotional challenges Of these 77 are enjoying better wellbeing 9 with the remaining 23 being listened to and beginning to work through options

The Rank Foundation and the National Lottery Community Fund supported by People and Work and Talwrn have enabled us to employ four people mainly Carers as interns to try out their ideas for the benefit of other Carers Amazing Interns expand opportunities for Carers Mandy a parent Carer feels passionately about support for families and has developed ideas around a Bubble Hub of support for families in and around Builth Wells as well as information resources and tips for families with children with disabilities and health conditions Mandy says that Credu believing in me has meant so much I really want to give back so more families get support they need Josh is a Carer who has been inspired by his niece who has disabilities to make outdoor activities available to everyone of all abilities Josh has been advising outdoor centres on inclusivity and is working towards creating an inclusive archery club along with a range of other outdoor activities Nick a Young Carer feels passionately about health and fitness and has promoted a range of health and fitness support for carers on and offline Carers in Powys will have seen the exercises Nick shared with us through the Carers Chat Magazine to keep us fitter in lockdown Eve joined us in the last year to help improve our communications and the Carers Chat magazine and work on our website Eve feels that she has found her tribe and nothing makes her happier than when she is creating something WITH carers 10

The Highway to Freedom Ceri is a Carer as well as being a passionate volunteer with Credu and managing Credu Machynlleth Siop a Hwb part time Listening to Ceri last year you could hear how much she loves her family and how passionate she is about her work but also how restricted her life can be in rural Wales without being able to drive You could also hear how getting any respite that was meaningful to her felt impossible but how being able to drive would open up a world of possibilities Credu gave some support towards her driving lessons and this is what she said I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone at Credu s Respite Project The funding I was given to try and gain my driving licence has literally changed my life For the 1st time I can do things for myself and for my family If it s pouring with rain I won t get soaked to the bone getting some milk and if one of the boys have an appointment I can take them and not have to rely on family and friends If things are getting to me and I can t cope I can jump in the family car and go to my favourite spot take in the beauty of where we live and have some me time All I can say from the bottom of my heart is the biggest thank you ever and to know what Credu does for carers is LIFE CHANGING 11

Not the usual respite but for me it was the respite I needed An interview with a Carer Who you care for My son who is 19 who has ASD ADHD and mental health issues What has been hard about the pandemic supporting him ensuring that I take care of my own mental health and wellbeing and also working in my job as a Youth Intervention worker supporting families and Young People During the first lockdown he wasn t stable on his medication and I honestly didn t think I would come out of lockdown with him These were desperate times for us both During the second lockdown he was struggling again after showing some improvement after the first He is usually in college doing bricklaying but this has stopped and he also had a part time job in a local pub and obviously due to lockdown this has also stopped He became socially isolated again and didn t have a goal to work towards As his Mum I could see him slipping into depression again and I know that neither of us could go back to how it was during the first lockdown What has helped support from Credu Firstly being recognised as a carer which prior to COVID I would never have done Having someone acknowledge my needs as a Carer In order for me to balance my own mental health and wellbeing and to support him to the best of my ability along with working every day I found during lockdown going for a bike ride every morning before he got out of bed really helped me deal with whatever the day threw at me whether it be work or helping keep my son safe and on a level At the beginning of lockdown I dusted my old bike down out of my garage and was away to go Some mornings I would ride down the Canal just enjoying the me time or do a circle of the town I d even got my son to come out with me some evenings too My bike gave up and literally fell apart as i d probably ridden it to death and far more than it was ever designed for as it was a teenagers bike I put it back in my garage and sat on the floor and literally cried as I felt a sense of panic come over me Credu were able to get me a new bike not the usual respite but for me it was the respite that I needed During the 2nd lockdown he started to slip into depression again and I knew that this time I had to reach out earlier as neither of us could go back to where we were in the 1st one Credu were able to fund a Security Guard Course for my son suddenly he had a sense of purpose and a drive and for the first time in a long time he could see a future This was the change for both of us he is now SIA licenced and is going to be a Security Guard at our local supermarket and his confidence and self esteem has increased But more importantly he is happy 12

What must happen next what do you think needs to happen to make sure carers are supported Listen to Carers one size doesn t always fit all Being able to think outside the box actually listening to their story and seeing what actually fits Prior to Covid I think that views on respite were quite rigid but now everyone has to think differently Early intervention can save money it stops things escalating If my son had deteriorated it would have cost services money to support him I may not have been able to work again this would have been at a cost to the families that I support and the Young People I work with It s like a pebble in the pond effect if we are not listened too things then start to ripple outwards and not just affect us as a family but the ripple effect would have reached much wider I d like to think that Covid has actually had some positive effects and our story is definitely one of them and one that without Credu s support could have turned out so differently 13

Respite Listen to Carers One size doesn t fit all Through attending Carers Matters events and sitting on strategic groups Young and Adult Carers have made the need for person centred respite abundantly clear Carers of all ages have helped Powys County Council commission an additional respite project which is based on listening and supporting carers to find ways of making caring manageable Some carers need traditional forms of respite where a loved one goes to a form of residential care for a few days Others want to be able to go away as a family in a way that is manageable Some Carers are finding a piece of equipment that helps their loved one also makes life much easier for themselves for example some parents have found that sensory equipment for a child with autism soothes and captivates their child which reduces the intensity of their caring role Young Carers have found respite in spending time with each other but we are also hearing that they want to spend time with their families in ways where their caring responsibilities are less some children with siblings with disabilities would like more time with their parents or where their parent is ill they want a break with their parent in a way that is manageable with some support Other young carers are finding that creating space in their lives helps them keep caring manageable such as some privacy and sanctuary at home or getting access to a hobby that they The key message is feel passionately about EVERYONE is different and listening without prejudgements is everything 14 A specialist bean bag means that Kiera and her dad can relax in the living room rather than only in rooms with a hoist and straps Before Kiera s dad had to sit for an hour a day with her in the bathroom to give her freedom of movement

Kiera has been having fun with her bean bag after having it funded by Credu The great thing about it is that because of the large size of it for the first time in years I can use it in the living room and use her hoist to put her into it and lift her out Since she has become too big to lift without a hoist we have been unable to have a cwtch as I cannot fit a bed that we can fit onto into her bedroom or the living room and these are the only places we have a hoist This bean bag means we can have some close contact in comfort for the first time in years without Kiera being stuck in her wheelchair or lying in her orthopaedic bed I can now hug my daughter comfortably which will strengthen our bond 15

Carers as well as Credu staff and volunteers adapted incredibly quickly as the pandemic developed Carers that are part of groups took to phoning each other regularly to check in on each other and give mutual support For other carers staff and volunteers called regularly to check in and talk through challenges Others of us learned to use online video conferencing platforms for the first time and this led to an explosion of groups for young and adult carers and skill sharing Mission 2 Carer Supportive Communities The Community of Carers grows stronger Funding from Welsh Government the Local Authority and Carers Trust Wales funds enabled Young and Adult carers to enjoy a greater diversity of opportunities to connect with others and get informal peer support as well as opportunities to nurture their wellbeing with outdoor forest schools support creative projects such as talking sketch book cooking challenges and holistic wellbeing sessions There were 3 or more sessions taking place every day through the Covid winter Carers tell us that they don t know how they would have got through this winter without the additional resources that the Welsh Government and Carers Trust provided It gave energy and hope during some of the most difficult times We were able to keep each other going and have some light in the dark days The variety of online sessions meant that there was something we could all connect with Young Carers Wellbeing Sessions A Young Carer Wellbeing and Personal Development programme based on the five ways to wellbeing has been delivered to Young Carers from Wrexham Conwy and Denbighshire The project enabled Young Carers to Build personal strategies to build and sustain their sense of wellbeing Build deeper connections with peers The Carers Singing Group in Ceredigion 13 different people have come to the group We share stories and have sung songs remembering the people we can t be with Sometimes one of us sings a song we love and the rest of us can join in or listen It s lovely to share some time together and see people enjoying themselves 16

Legendary Creative Writing Sessions As well as the sessions that were funded Carers began to bring their own skills and lead their own sessions One example of an amazing offer came from published author story teller and drama facilitator Steve Gladwin who is also a carer Steve generously shared his time every week to facilitate an online creative writing class for Carers These relaxed and friendly classes are also of the highest quality and have been hugely appreciated by Carers Chat and Write was my first experience of zoom teaching Taking a new approach which concentrated on the chat almost as much as the write has made me really look forward to this weekly creative meeting with friends where each group session is a fresh start with new stimulus and surprises for all of us Steve 17

Artist in residence unleashes creative talent among Young and Adult Carers Since I have started doing this I have felt like myself for the first time in years Yes that is exactly it you have hit the nail on the head this is exactly the difference this group makes for me too This is a little of a conversation between group members at one of the groups that Artist in Residence Blue MacAskill facilitated Starting in the winter of 2020 Blue set up three approaches to working Talking Sketch Book a fine art group for carers that enables a shared creative journey Art Room Hang Out a family art group with 12 year olds and 76 year olds and every age in between sharing their artistic journey and having lots of fun in the process 1 2 1 support for Carers that enables them to apply the principles of creativity to their own artistic journey as well as to their own lives This has been a profoundly important way of supporting people to shape a life that works for them way beyond the support that Blue gives The Carers I work with are AMAZING my job has been listening and shining a light on their incredible strengths and supporting them to get to a place where they give themselves space to be creative and to keep themselves well whilst having such busy lives as Carers This really isn t easy for Young or Adult Carers yet they have really pushed themselves and have done incredibly well 18

Both Carers of people on the Autistic Spectrum and people on the spectrum build a supportive community for each other In June 2020 Credu hosted a zoom session for Parent Carers All of the Carers were supporting people who were on the spectrum The gathering was enjoyed by all and we decided that we would hold sessions for Carers of people on the spectrum once a fortnight The group has grown in strength and is a place where people share tips and give such warmth of support Parents of older children have been supporting parents just starting their journey Partners of people on the spectrum found a space where they could connect to people who understood and get that much needed emotional support There has been frustration at a lack of relevant support for people on the spectrum yet the group found the support from each other so valuable They concluded we are the service so let s be that support for others We developed a peer support project with roles and training This group will be able to support themselves and also partner with the ASD assessment teams in Powys At the same time the people on the spectrum wanted to come together and support each other so with a little support they now meet up online regularly They are getting so much support from each other one participant said this has been a place where I can be truly me with people who just get it In both groups we have over 50 people who have attended over the year it really shows the power of being with others who are on a similar journey Carers Magazine by Carers for Carers Throughout the Covid Pandemic Young and Adult Carers formed a Carers Chat Magazine editorial team with Kevin and Eve from Credu They worked so hard to create something that built a sense of connection between the community of Carers celebrated Caring and gave a couple of hours respite with entertaining articles puzzles and exercises One Carer even said 19 This is amazing quality This could win prizes

Carers have carried on caring for their loved ones in the most challenging of times Carers have continued to care for loved ones through the pandemic even when they have been able to access very little support through lockdowns Although communities and care workers have done everything in their power to help and that help has been vital it has still been an incredibly challenging time Carers have cared for partners and parents with serious illnesses or disabilities Young Carers have looked after parents and siblings many having to isolate even more than other Children and Young People We asked Carers how they have been managing and coping during the pandemic many have struggled but have been finding wonderful ways to cope These are some examples The second lockdown has been harder due to weather but still very much trying to get fresh air every day this can be hard to motivate but usually get out for half an hour at least once a day Coping take deep breaths listen to classical music and find plenty to laugh about with my husband thankfully he has a wicked sense of humour and also in emails and phone calls to distant friends and relatives We are fortunate in having lovely views so can watch kites and listen to spring birdsong i feel for those who are not so fortunate Hi my name s Olivia but you may know me as Steven the Shark Here is my story During the first lockdown I went out and around my village Glan Conwy dressed up in a shark costume also known as Steven the shark dancing and playing music to cheer up residents young and old Everyone seems to love Steven the Shark every day I posted a message on the Facebook group I made for Steven the Shark so everyone knew what part of the village I d be going to each day so everyone gets a chance to see Steven Doing Steven the shark was the highlight of my day because I love knowing that I ve made someone smile Olivia had also made it to the Metro newspaper and North Wales Pioneer For Welsh heroes day I was nominated to go on BBC Wales news to talk about how I ve been cheering people up during lockdown 20

Gofal Y Gysylltu Care to Connect Ceredigion Communities Together with local people Anne Marie is learning how to foster We have been curious about what it takes for Carers to be able to say I live in a community that values respects and supports what I do as a carer The West Wales Partnership has invested in Credu Gofalwyr Ceredigion Carers and the amazing researcher Anne Marie Carty to work alongside communities to explore this question More opportunities for social contact and making friendships in the community More connection A greater sense of belonging Knowledge that there are people they could ask for help if they needed it in their community Knowledge that there are places where they can access information and advice within their community The project is underway with more and more happening as we come out of lockdown Carers supporting each other through the most difficult times Right at the beginning of the pandemic the Carers in Ystradgynlais rallied round and built on the support that they already gave They got lists of all the Carers that they knew and rang them every week to see if they needed anything Mary Morgan is one of these people She is still ringing people every week to see if they are ok and need anything She said it was something we did before look out for each other but we needed to do it more in COVID as people were lonely and couldn t get the things they needed Mary s help has been invaluable in supporting the Carers she rings and keeping the relationships alive Now restrictions have lifted Mary and other Carers are meeting at least once per week but they still enjoy their weekly phone call from Mary Mary says If you get stuck there is someone there who can help out and you can ask If I can t do it I will find someone who can and it is still nice to have a chat It works both ways I give support as much as I receive it 21

Volunteering to support Carers through the pandemic more than DOUBLED With rising needs due to the Covid pandemic we were starting to find it difficult to support all the Carers and Young Carers that so deserve it Thankfully with Emergency Funding from the WCVA we have been able to employ the amazing Sally Duckers as our volunteering co ordinator Passionate about person centred approaches Sally listens to every person who wants to volunteer with Credu and helps them contribute in a way that aligns with their passions and strengths Sally has created systems to recruit train and support volunteers in a way that works for each person Here is a pen portrait of some of our amazing volunteers Anwyn is passionate about including people with a range of abilities including people who are d Deaf She has set up a d Deaf Carers social group and is now organising a National Series of events for d Deaf Carers Anwyn has also started an inspirational series about famous people who are d Deaf disabled live with long term conditions www carers cymru reflectionsintime Owen has rang me every week since the pandemic he helps me feel less isolated and keeps me up to date with what is going on says a Carer from Ystradgynlais Owen cares for his lovely wife Carole whilst also supporting other Carers in his Community and throughout Powys through on and off line groups Owen also sits on a range of strategic boards and is a passionate and committed voice for Carers As well as Caring Chris is a key volunteer at the Credu Brecon Siop a Hwb bringing vast experiences knowledge and skill in Charity Retail to help support the enterprising Tammy our shop manager there to raise funds for Carers of all ages A parent Carer with a professional background Tamara has generously offered her time to support other parent carers of children on the spectrum This is crucial at all times but through the pandemic Tamara s support has been vital 22

Sophie is a crucial volunteer for WCD Young Carers supporting the WCD Forum training as a mentor supporting Young Carers activity groups and much more Sophie used to be a young carer and is now doing a degree in Youth and Community Studies so that she can devote her professional and volunteering time to supporting Young Carers Meiriona creates networks of support through taking community action such as a community garden project social gatherings for carers and a bowls club for people with disabilities as well as being a powerful voice for Carers on the Regional Partnership Board During lockdown Meiriona gave telephone support to other Carers in her community Felix is a young adult carer who is Volunteering in many ways both within her local area of Brecon supporting Young Carers activities and online supporting the Twitch stream and Minecraft Young Carers group Felix also hosts an LGBTQ chat group for YACs identifying within this group or questioning The group have got involved in creative writing workshops creating artwork and feed in their thoughts and perspectives to larger discussions within Credu You are fearless aren t you Sally said Haha nope I m terrified but better to face everything head on than not because you can miss so much Felix replied Sally at the Big Weekend talking to Sioned Camlin Credu Telephone Support Worker and Volunteer 23

A BIG Thank You to Lilian and our amazing team of volunteer counsellors Led by long standing volunteer Lilian our team of volunteer counsellors have given 272 counselling sessions over the year helping people deal with some of the deeper challenges of caring and the pandemic This team is quite invisible as the work is highly confidential However when Carers do feedback to us they say how incredibly helpful the counselling support has been One Carer for example said I m feeling empowered the counsellor is fantastic She s really helping me learn coping strategies and reasons behind my behaviour I really do thank you and the team I m OK now The team of volunteer counsellors is growing After 7 years Lillan has stood down from her leadership role but continued to support Carers as a counsellor an enormous gift of time and skill Lilian is hugely popular with Carers counsellors Credu staff and volunteers and has cultivated a brilliant counselling team We don t know how we can express our gratitude to her she is always so humble and says that her reward is the chance to support others Lilian trained as a counsellor in preparation for her retirement and is devoting much of her retirement to supporting Carers whom she admires and has the deepest respect for Becky Powys Team Leader says Lilian is thoughtful and kind in everything that she does she is authentic and knows herself which enables her to give others a warm safe space to be themselves She has helped me stay level balanced and to look after myself too Lilian continues to research and learn new things never assuming she knows everything even though she is so knowledgeable She is so humble She is an inspiration to me she has managed the service with such grace and ease I am in awe 24

Amazing Young Carers train to mentor other Young Carers 8 amazing Young Carers and Young Adult Carers from Wrexham Conwy Denbighshire and more recently Powys have come together to train to support other Young Carers in school and in the community They have undertaken rigorous training but have done so well and are doing everything in their power to provide the kind of support that they wish they had access to from peers when they were younger I just want to offer something back for all the support I received as a Young Carer said a few Peer mentors Huge well done to MY YOUNG CARER SKILL As a young carer I have developed many skills including resilience Knowing that no matter how hard life gets to never give up and keep on trying and you will succeed eventually I have also developed skills in taking care of people which will assist me in my professional development and university course and possible future work Emma from Credu WCD Peer Mentors YoungCarersActionDay Carers org YCAD 25 Sophie McCue Cameron Jones Seren Gough Amy Finn Ellie Hughes Alfie Jones Emma Jayne Walker Ayla Kennedy onwards and upwards If you would like support from another Young Carer of if you would like to train up we are organising more training and making it available for Young Carers in Powys too Just call 01597 823800 or email sally credu cymru

Carers of all ages wanted to have something to look forward to beyond lockdown and social isolation and so the idea of The Credu Big Weekend was born Young Carers Adult Carers spend months organising THE BIG WEEKEND Volunteers and staff started planning in November and pulled off a stunning celebration of caring in July 2021 The spirit of the event and the atmosphere was INCREDIBLE The sense of pulling together the good will and kindness was and is so special Carers volunteers staff and trustees all shared their skills and the range of workshops activities and spaces around the beautiful Broneirion site was something to behold It included circus skills climbing stone carving yoga football arts and crafts and so much more 26

Big Weekend Feedback What planning the Big Weekend over the cold Covid winter meant to Carers It has been an incredible process of connecting with so many other Carers across Powys Wanting to give something back to others Fun Stuff to look forward to that s not in front of a computer The opportunity to express my love and hobbies and share them with likeminded people It was an amazing experience for me because I felt I m belonging the first time in my life The incredibly beautiful creative collective power of caring people A chance to go back to doing what I love Being back in a community with a purpose and heart and all the good things Given hope and something to look forward to it s been amazing with the generous offers and exciting And on the Big Weekend the feedback itself was amazing This is amazing Everyone is so kind I feel like I can relax here and no one will judge me or my child everyone just understands Huge thank you to the WCVA Gwendoline and Margaret Davies Charity and Classic Electric Cars your generosity gave profound joy 27

Mission 3 Carers Voice and Influence Young and Adult Carers are Movers and Shakers Carers have a seat on the Regional Partnership Boards the boards that oversee health and social services in different regions of Wales In Powys this extends to the four main subgroups under the Regional Partnership Board and there is a specialist Carers Steering Group that oversees and commissions support for Carers There are now 6 Young and Adult Carers on the steering group alongside senior leaders in Social Services Health and Education Either a Young or an Adult Carer chairs the meeting and they have been involved in designing and commissioning the Carers Respite Project and the Awareness Raising Project You can see from pages 11 15 and 31 that both projects are having a huge impact on Carers lives Cllr Myfanwy Alexander the Portfolio Holder usually comes along to listen to Carers first hand and she said The Carers Steering Group is a highly valued productive forum allowing policy to be co created and sense checked with an inspiring group It is a privilege to learn from such a wealth of experience and it is often a lot of fun at the same time In addition to the above Young and Adult Carers have met with Welsh Government s Deputy Minister for Social Services Julie Morgan MS they helped choose the next Children s Commissioner for Wales and were on BBC Wales raising awareness of Young Carers through the pandemic They sit on lots of different boards and have attended meetings with Children in Wales Carers Trust Wales and Carers Wales Emily is one of 6 Young and Adult Carers who sit on the Regional Carers Steering Group She also skydived just before lockdown raising thousands for Young Carers and cancer research 28

Young Carer Supportive Schools The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation funded support for Young Carers in Schools has gone from strength to strength in building positive pro active partnership working Credu is producing a document called Beyond Basic to Good Practice which outlines the good practice measures that schools across the county have put in place This document will be shared with all Powys schools The role of Young Carer School Ambassadors is being rolled out across the county with some schools leading the way The ambassadors provide amazing support and raise awareness of Young Carers there is nothing as powerful as listening to Young Carers themselves speak about what it is to be a Young Carer and what they need from schools and peers to care for loved ones and succeed in learning The newly appointed Young Carers School Ambassadors have Notice Board photographs identifying themselves and ID Badges They are supporting Outreach Workers with School Assemblies and Form Group Activities and putting Young Carers issues on the school agenda by linking in with the School Council Members Their role will also involve speaking at local and regional events and representing Young Carers issues in their area on various Youth Forums The School Ambassador Roles were launched on Carers Rights Day Feedback from Young Carer School Ambassadors on their new roles raising awareness in their schools I think it s a good idea because it s like people that didn t think they are a young carer in school can see if they are one It helps me that I can understand other people s issues and see my own issues I feel honoured because I ve been chosen to represent young carers it s not just like being in a club or a fun group now It feels more of a job to help other young carers I wanted to be a School Ambassador because I wish there was something like this when I was in Year 7 I just came into school not being able to concentrate and not knowing who to talk to They will know there s someone there for them in school now It doesn t feel li ke a responsibility it feels like a pr ivilege 29

Young and Adu lt Carers give the highs a nd lows of caring https bit ly 2ZhScCj 30

Raising Awareness CREDU partnered with Powys Teaching Health Board and developed relationships at each Mass Vaccination Centre MVC to identify Carers This partnership has resulted in 990 information packs being distributed This has been further developed by partnering with PAVO to raise awareness in more local publications across Powys With funding from the Regional Partnership Board Credu along with Carers is raising awareness through the use of print digital and press media campaigns as well as rock up and pop up events across Powys The print campaign includes Carers Chat newsletters The CREDU digital platform continues to grow with 105 new followers in the last quarter 1 346 visits to the website and 987 subscriptions to our weekly email campaign The press media campaign involves five press outlets The Chronicle County Times The Community Magazine Ystradgynlais Out and About Builth and Llandrindod Wells and Local Beacon Brecon and Wye The awareness campaigns that CREDU runs have resulted in new Carers increasing by 49 and the number of new Carers supported 31 numbering 436

Carer Aware and Supportive Health Service CREDU is involved in the innovative programme Improving Cancer Journey ICJ in Powys which is funded by Macmillan Cancer Support CREDU is running a pilot project which is Cancer Care for Carers This service offers Carers who are supporting loved ones with a diagnosis of cancer the opportunity to get more holistic support CREDU has also been invited to co design the Powys School of Carers and Volunteers which is part of the Powys Academy of Health and Social Care Alongside a team of Carers they are facilitating research from June to October 2021 to establish how to create a school that is relevant strength based accessible and meets the learning and skills development aspirations of Carers of all ages in Powys Bronglais a Carer Friendly Hospital Hywel Dda University Health Board have invested in a Credu Carers officer based at Bronglais hospital This role both support NHS workers who are also Carers in their personal lives as well as supporting Carers of people who are in hospital and helping the hospital wards to recognise and value the Carers and family members of patients The feedback from both NHS staff who are carers and families of patients has been very positive I am a Carer and I joined the Staff Carers Peer Support Group and I found it really helpful it was wonderful to realise that I m not alone and that I can connect with others who understand who get it I felt better for it The project is going into its second year it offers a model to hospitals anywhere in the UK 32

Young Carers Transcend Hate Crime with beautiful Poetry Young Carers who have experienced Hate Crime collaborated with Dux who is a poet as well as an outreach worker and Poet Martin Daws in a Welsh Government funded project hosted by Arts Connection and Credu They produced beautiful poetry that both expresses the pain of hate as well as hope and the best of humanity Our words cannot do justice to them we can only urge you to listen to the poems Congratulations and a huge well done to Grace Felix Sam Ken Zhi Taylor and Lily Watch the live conversation with participants https fb watch 4VdYPYet m listen from 2 5 minutes into the video the sound is off at the beginning Listen to the podcast and poems https soundcloud com arts connection sets arts unite 33

WCD Young Carers Forum Young Carer in North Wales overcomes challenges in collaboration with other Young Carers Fayeth was shunned when shopping for the family during lockdown People thought she was being reckless They didn t understand that she is a Young Carer giving much needed help to her family Fayeth raised the need for a Young Carers ID card so that people would understand when someone is a young carer and realise that they have special responsibilities Fayeth got on the BBC News and other TV programmes The six councils across North Wales all worked together to co produce a Young Carers ID Card with the Young Carers Forum and Carers Trust Wales and Welsh Government funding Now Young Carers across North Wales can have a form of ID The Difference having the ID Card makes to me and others Since having the I Care card and being on BBC things have changed for me locally I have been allowed into shops and the staff s attitudes have changed as I explain what a Young Carer is Fayeth Amazing WCD Young Carers Forum makes a HUGE difference The WCD Young Carers Forum has worked tirelessly to design the card and collaborate with the Council and Wrexham Football club to launch it Bethan Jones explains that the support of Wrexham football club is a Massive Confidence boost for Young Carers https www youtube com watch v gxsv_lxaA7c These children are outstanding and deserve recognition The more awareness that can be raised the better Said Wrexham AFC manager Dean Keates after he met Young Carers along with amazing players and inspiring DLO Kerry Evans As well as helping to launch the ID card the generous club raised 8000 for Young Carers across North Wales Councillor Phil Wynn Wrexham Council s Lead Member for Education said Young Carers do an amazing job and take on so much responsibility each and everyone of them is a star player 34

As well as designing a new ID Card for Young Carers and launching it with Wrexham Football Club and the councils of North Wales the Forum has overseen the development of the Peer Mentor project and is developing an awareness raising campaign to make sure everyone understands who young carers are The amazing group of Young Carers meet regularly They have their own county forums and they are always open to new members Here is what forum members are saying We achieved the ID card making something that will benefit every young carer The forum for me has been so fun and I ve really enjoyed being involved in it and I ve loved meeting new people and when all the ideas have come to life and a reality its been amazing Josh Young Carer The forum was a new experience it brought individual minds together The people as a group have done things some people could never imagine we were all involved in the ID card process whether that be discussing it or representing Some people in the forums have met councils and health boards because of the forum Everyone in the forum has had an impact on something one way or another It has given me new opportunities to work with new people sharing opinions that usually aren t heard getting the chance to talk to important people getting a closer look at the things that go on behind the scenes and making memories I never thought I would have It has helped me realise that being part of something like that is fun and important and something I enjoy It is something anyone would be gifted to be part of because it is so different and full of creative minds It is us there are no limits to the opinions and people in the forum because you don t always know what to expect Ffion Young Carer 35 Now the Young Carers Forum are working creatively with others to promote the ID card across the region

Carers take to the air Amazing Carers from all over Ceredigion helped raise awareness and levels of influence in a series devoted to Caring on Radio Bronglais Carers even discussed the financial impact of caring with their local MP who has promised to campaign to increase financial support for Carers Here are some of the podcasts 1 Carers 101 Key themes definitions of Carers recurring challenges a day in the life of 2 Juggling Life and Unpaid Care Working raising kids health wellbeing identity 3 Caring During COVID 19 Lockdown restrictions changes to support Carers Rights isolation 4 Planning For The Future Jobs and aspirations facing facts lifestyle changes 5 Life After Care Adjustment grief loneliness isolation wellbeing new beginnings The main link to listen to them all is www mixcloud com GofalwyrCeredigionCarers 36

APPRECIATION AND WORDS FROM CHAIR It has been humbling and inspiring to witness the response of carers volunteers and staff to the unprecedented challenges of the past year Everybody s experience of the Pandemic has been different For many of us life has been difficult at different times and for different reasons We have had to cope with a rollercoaster of hope disappointment and uncertainty as our normal routines have been buffeted by changing infection rates regulations and emotions Faced with all of this complexity in the Credu community we have used three guiding principles to help us make the right choices to get us through the Pandemic in the best way we can They are 1 Listen to Carers 2 Stay within the law 3 Do what Carers staff and volunteers feel comfortable with Our guiding principles have served us well Through listening and sharing our thoughts and feelings we have worked to solve problems together Throughout the Pandemic people have been absolutely magnificent Time after time I have seen and heard carers volunteers and staff really helping and supporting each other I have witnessed people giving the best of themselves and doing wonderful things for their peers in ways that are warm considerate empathic appreciative open welcoming enthusiastic encouraging creative cooperative generous and above all kind I always knew that the carers volunteers and staff in the Credu family were awesome but I m not sure that I really understood how truly awesome they really are When we come together and pool all of that awesomeness then we have a real opportunity to create a better future for us and our communities Dr Owen Jones Chair Credu Board of Trustees 37

A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL FUNDERS AND SUPPORTERS The stories you have read in this Big Review are really just a tiny snippet of the incredible Young and Adult Carers stories throughout Wrexham Conwy Denbighshire Ceredigion and Powys This has been possible because of the generous donations grants and contracts from Betsi Cadwalader University Health Board Brecon and Machynlleth Charity Shop Shoppers Carers Trust CAVO Ceredigion County Council Ceredigion Care to Connect Children In Need Classic Electric Cars Conwy County Council Denbighshire County Council Esmee Fairbairn Foundation Gwendoline and Margaret Davies Charity Hywel Dda University Health Board Individual Donors Lions Clubs Local clubs and groups National Lottery Community Fund Neumark Foundation PAVO Powys County Council Powys Teaching Health Board Powys Regional Partnership Board A warm thank you to all Rank Foundation contributors for your support Reaching Wider Partnership Resolution Foundation Your support enhances lives Rotary Clubs beyond measure Steve Morgan Foundation Town Councils Tudor Trust University of South Wales Waterloo Foundation Welsh Council for Voluntary Action Welsh Government West Wales is Kind If you would like to get involved in Credu Wrexham County Council Gofalwyr Ceredigion Carers WCD Young Carers Wrexham Football Club whether you want some support or whether you want to volunteer influence or donate please do get in touch You will get a warm welcome HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED Credu carers credu cymru Wcdyc info wcdyc org uk Ceredigion ceredigion credu cymru Website www credu cymru 38

Credu Powys Gofalwyr Ceredigion Carers WCD Young Carers Income Grants including small contracts 992 494 Powys CC and PTHB Core Carers Contract 252 603 Wrexham Conwy Denbighshire CC and BCUHB Core Young Carers Support Contract 191 502 Ceredigion CC Core Carers Contract 147 000 Donations 22 258 Shop and hub surplus 13 593 Other 1 831 How we have spent our funding Direct outreach support online and telephone support 50 Carers Respite Groups Trips 27 Office Management Administration 14 Newletters Awareness Raising 8 Staff Training Travel 1 39

We have been in contact with 5 090 Carers and Young Carers giving direct We individual and peer supported 1 148 group support to people to get through a COVID emergency 1 918 families situation which included financial assistance for We listen to every 950 families impacted person as an expert by financial hardship in their own life and and digital design our support around what matters exclusion most to each family Volunteering doubled we now have over 111 volunteers What Credu does is LIFE CHANGING Ceri Herbert We held 1 248 peer support training and activity group sessions We held 4 002 person centred support sessions A further 135 families benefited from specialist bespoke respite in Powys that helped sustain their mental well being carry on caring and have a life outside of caring Powys Carers Service is a registered charity 40 in England and Wales number 1103712