We hope that your Christmas and New Year will see you safe and well with the people you want to be with. However we know that sometimes things don't go the way you'd like. Every year Fife Adult Support and Protection Team publish a booklet of contact details of organisations to help if you need it over Christmas and New Year. Here is this year's publication
https://www.fife.gov.uk/.../Safe_well_2021_interactive.pdf

ScotSpirit Voucher Scheme is part of the Scottish tourism recovery funds.
The ScotSpirit Holiday Voucher Scheme (SSHVS) is focused on supporting individuals and families who have been particularly adversely affected by the impact of the pandemic, while at the same time providing financial support to the Scottish tourism sector.
The Scheme is funded by Scottish Government and forms part of the Scottish tourism pandemic recovery programme. It will be delivered by Charity Partners, Family Holiday Association, Shared Care Scotland, and the Carer Centre Network.
Due to pandemic restrictions, we know that many unpaid carers have been left without access to their normal support services. Many will have struggled due to extended periods of isolation and the lack of any meaningful breaks. For this reason, it has been decided that unpaid carers will be one of the key target groups.
The Scheme will enable unpaid carers to enjoy a 2-3-night subsidised overnight break or day out in Scotland. The scheme offers a contribution towards an overnight stay in a bed and breakfast, camping/ holiday park, guest house, hotel or hostel or day visit activities in Scotland.
Carer Centre’s across Scotland have been invited to operate the Scheme locally.
The Scheme will open for applications from 20 September 2021. Breaks can taken up to 31st December 2022.
“Who can apply?”
To apply, you must be an unpaid carer registered with a local support organisation, such as a Carers Centre, or be referred by a health professional in Scotland.
An unpaid carer is someone who provides support to family members, friends, or neighbours who would be unable to manage an independent life without their help due to physical or mental ill-health, frailty, substance misuse, life limiting or long-term conditions.
Each Carers Centre will have their own criteria for how they prioritise applications to ensure this support reaches as many carers as possible, and particularly those more adversely affected due to their caring circumstances over the pandemic.
If your application is unsuccessful to the ScotSpirit Voucher Scheme, your local Carer Centre will be able to advise on other ways they can assist you to access a break from caring.
If you have already received a break through the ScotSpirit Holiday Voucher Scheme, you will not be eligible to apply again.
“I am a young carer, can I apply?”
Yes, you can – the Scheme is open to carers of all ages. Please visit the website at the bottom of this leaflet to find out the organisation in your local area that is accepting applications for the Scheme. If the lead applicant is a young carer who is under 16 years old, a parent or guardian must support the application and agree to accept the Scheme Terms and Conditions.

“Is there any cost to me?”
The Scheme will generally cover an overnight stay for two people staying 2-3 nights with an accommodation provider. If breakfast is included in the rate, and arranged at time of booking, this can also be included.
The Scheme does not include additional meals, travel, or any other incidental expenses you may require for your break.
Similarly, for day trip to a visitor attraction, the cost of entry to the attraction is covered by the Scheme (up to a maximum value) but does not include travel, meals, or other incidental expenses.
Please discuss with your Carers Centre if the extra costs might prevent you from taking up a break so they can explore funding options.
“Do I need to book the break myself?”
No. The Carers Centre will manage the booking and confirmation process for you and will provide you with all the necessary booking information.
“Who am I allowed to take with me on the break?”
You can take a companion(s) of your choice on the overnight break or day trip. If you are a young carer under the age of 16, a responsible adult must accompany you on the break. There is a maximum value the Scheme can contribute, and this would generally cover the costs of two people for a 2-3 night overnight stay.
“I want to bring the person I care for, so we would need wheelchair access. Will there be accessible businesses taking part?”
You should include information about your accessibility requirements in your application form so that suitable accommodation or venues can be sourced. Businesses participating in the Scheme are asked to provide a weblink to their Accessibility Guide if they have one. This information can be shared with you at the break planning stage.
“I would require replacement care for the person I care for to be able to take up a break. Is this covered?”
This is not covered under the Scheme. If you need advice on replacement care, please discuss this with the Carers Centre and they can talk to you about what options might be available.
“The accommodation breaks are 2-3 nights. What if I wanted to stay for one night, or for more than 3 nights?”
If you would like to extend your stay over three nights this needs to be a separate booking with the business, once your ScotSpirit break has been confirmed. The 24-cancellation policy has been specifically designed for the ScotSpirit Scheme. Any additional nights booked would revert to the business’s standard cancellation terms and conditions.
The Scheme has been designed to provide breaks for 2 or 3 nights. One-night breaks may be available, but this will be at the discretion of the business.
“Do I need to take the break within my own local authority area?”
No, you can take your break with any participating business in Scotland, subject to their availability.

If you would like to find out more about how you can access a break through the ScotSpirit Holiday Voucher Scheme visit: Website: www.sharedcarescotland.org.uk/scotspirit-holiday-voucher-scheme/ Email: scotspirit@sharedcarescotland.com

​Child Disability Payment will open for applications across Scotland from 22 November 2021.

You do not need to apply if your child already gets Disability Living Allowance for children.

From mid October children aged 16 or over who get Disability Living Allowance for children will have their award transferred to Social Security Scotland in phases. Clients aged up to 15-years-old will have their award transferred from spring 2022.

Payments will continue to be made at the same rates and on the same payment cycle.

For more info, visit: mygov.scot/child-disability-payment

Flu season is coming and we want to make sure everyone stays as well as possible in the coming winter.  Find out more about the flu vaccination programme here ​https://www.gov.scot/news/free-flu-vaccine-for-more-people/

Now that we're all allowed out and about again what about joining one of our walk and talk groups? It's a great way to meet others, get fresh air and a tiny bit of exercise in a socially distanced kind of way! If you are a carer and would like to join us take a look at the options below
LEVENMOUTH - If you fancy a walk and natter in the Levenmouth area join Bogusia and Debs on Monday 23rd August and every fortnight after that for a walk along from Leven prom to the caravan park and back. Meet them in the Beach Coffee House cafe on Leven prom at 10am - call Bogusia on 07736 918209 for more information
GLENROTHES - Sharon will be going a for a stroll round one of the Riverside Park routes and would like you to join her! She will be setting off on Wednesday 25th August at 1pm and fortnightly thereafter. For more information call Sharon on 07736 918218
KIRKCALDY - Sylwia and the befriending carers walking group meet fortnightly and would love to have you along. Call Sylwia on 07736 909692
DUNFERMLINE - Sylwia and the befriending carers walking group meet fortnightly (on the week they don't meet in Kirkcaldy!) and would love to have you along. Call Sylwia on 07736 909692
WEST FIFE - Carol, Janet and Cindy have a group who meet on a Tuesday in various locations in the West Fife area. The walks will take place from 11:30-1:00 with a 45-60 minute walk and time for a cuppa after. Here is the schedule for the next few meet ups
24/08/21- Lochore Meadows
07/09/21- Limekilns
21/09/21- Townhill Loch
05/10/21- destination TBC
There are three Carer Support Workers who will be co-working the walks, Cindy, Carol and Janet. If someone is interested in joining the group, they need to contact either:
Cindy on 07849846496 cindy.souter@fifecarers.co.uk
Carol on 07736918211 carol.reddick@fifecarers.co.uk
Janet on 07736918213 janet.love@fifecarers.co.uk
NORTH EAST FIFE - Claire will be meeting monthly to walk in the St Andrews Area and would love to hear from any carers who would like to join her. You can contact Claire on 07736 918219

Three of our Carer Support Workers, Carol, Cindy, and Janet have had a get together and I'm really happy to pass on some information to you about the West Fife Carers Walking Group.  The group is up and we are ready to take off. The walking group will meet fortnightly on a Tuesday from 11:30-1:00. To start, we will be doing about 1 hour of walking and then time after for a chance to have a cuppa and a chat.  Please see below the walks we have come up with over the next two months, but we are always glad to hear of any suggestions you may have for the group. For each walk, we will have two walk leaders, so you don’t have to worry about if you are a fast walker or more leisurely, we will be able to have different paced walks on the day.
On the first day that you come along, you will need to fill out a Walkers Registration Form and we will need the telephone number of an Emergency Contact in case something happens while we are walking, so please make sure you bring the contact details along with you.
You are welcome to come to any of the walks and we will send you a reminder email the day before to let you know where we are meeting up and send you a copy of the risk assessment. If you are planning to come along, if you could let us know so we can keep an eye out for you.  The purpose of the group is to provide a space for carers to relax a bit and get away from their caring role so, we would ask that members please do not bring along any children, the person you care for, or any dogs. If you have any questions please feel free to contact either Cindy, Carol or Janet.
For the cuppa afterwards, just now if you want to bring your own drink/snack that is fine. Some places we go will have a place to purchase something and if you chose to buy something instead of bringing your own, that is entirely up to you.
Here is our walk schedule-
27, July 11:30-1:00  CULROSS with Carol and Janet
10, August 11:30-1:00  DUNFERMLINE GLEN with Cindy and Carol
24, August 11:30-1:00  LOCH ORE MEADOWS with Janet and Cindy
07, September 11:30-1:00  LIMEKILNS with Carol and Janet
21, September 11:30-1:00 TOWNHILL LOCH with Cindy and Carol
05, October 11:30-1:00 DESTINATION TBA with Janet and Cindy
If you would like to speak to any of us, or let us know you will be attending one of the walks, please contact us by phone or email:
Cindy Souter- Carer Support Worker- City of Dunfermline Locality  07849 846496  cindy.souter@fifecarers.co.uk
Carol Reddick- Carer Support Worker- West Fife Locality 07736 918211 carol.reddick@fifecarers.co.uk
Janet Love- Carer Support Worker- Cowdenbeath Locality 07736 918213 janet.love@fifecarers.co.uk
You can also contact the Carers Centre on 01592 205472.
Hope to see you soon!!!

Thank you to those of you who took part in our Carer's Blanket project. My collegue Martina Forsyth asked carers to knot or crochet a square that represented something about their caring relationship.  We had a couple of people who volunteered their services as crocheters so that carers who wanted to be part of the story but couldn't crochet could still be represented.  Although it was a relatively small number took part the resulting blanket was fab!  It was brought together by Martina and I'm sure you'll agree that they all made a great job of it!  

HAPPY VOLUNTEERS WEEK TO OUR FANTASTIC VOLUNTEERS AT THE FIFE CARERS CENTRE!
Our volunteers offer befriending to adult carers in Fife who are isolated or just in need of extra company and listening ear.
We want to thank our volunteers for their commitment and wonderful work they are doing to support carers.
When we asked them what they got out of it our volunteers told us:
• Volunteering for me is ‘to be or not to be’
• Experience from voluntary work is essential, everyone should try it
• Sharing experience and meeting new fantastic people is great
• Keeping in touch with other volunteers, being part of a team saved me
• Looking forward to meeting all in person soon
• Just fun