In response to a question often asked by family carers- ‘What’s next for me?’ our information, education and workshops team have developed an exciting new programme of workshops.
The ‘What’s Next For Me’ workshops will help family carers whose caring role has recently changed, and those who may be no longer be caring recognise the amazing and valuable skills they have acquired during their time as family carer. As you consider ‘what’s next for me’ we will help you understand how your skills are sought after, and transferrable into learning, volunteering and employment opportunities.
The team will focus on practical things like cv writing, job search techniques and volunteering but importantly if you still have a caring role, we will be looking at carers legislation in the work place and how practical challenges can be overcome.
Each session will focus on the family carers attending and is all about creating the time and space for you to think about yourself, with support from our team. There will be guest speakers attending the sessions, and we are really grateful that our partners and colleagues will be supporting us.
Sarah Potter, Mental Health & Wellbeing Service Manager explains how the project came about. ‘At various points in their caring journey, family carers often ask, ‘what’s next for me?’ whether this be to widen their social networks or having to rethink their employment or retirement plans. This may be when their caring role ceases, changes or when they are considering how they can do something for themselves and get a ‘bit of themselves back’.
We wanted people to recognise the skills these people have and how these are valued in other environments. We also understand that sometimes a caring role can impact someone’s confidence, and it can be really hard to even start to think about doing something different or consider what other skills someone might want to learn or develop.’
The workshop sessions will run in Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and Lowestoft and we are really grateful to Suffolk Community Foundation through the Apollo Fund for supporting their development.
Please note that these sessions should not be confused with anything that the Department of Work and Pensions requests, and their procedures should be followed separately, but these workshops could help demonstrate efforts to improve employment-seeking activity.
