Talking Cafes highlight You Can Care Week
CARERS of all kinds are in the spotlight during You Can Care Week – and Health Connections has highlighted the importance of conversation for those in a caring role.
Talking Cafes are hosted by the charity five days a week in various places around the island, encouraging islanders to talk to one another about anything that is on their mind.
Lead community connector Hannah Robilliard said that carers make up a large proportion of those who come to the sessions.
‘Caring can be very lonely and isolating. Husbands and wives are often a little bit reluctant to call themselves carers because accepting help is seen as a failure,’ she said.
Being a carer can be defined in many ways, including children caring for parents with disabilities, adults caring for ageing relatives or supporting someone with a severe illness.
‘It’s a whole spectrum. Our volunteers are able to start a conversation with a gentle approach so people feel like they can open up. We won’t approach them with “how are you?” or “do you need help?”, it’s just saying hello. Our mission is to reach the harder-to- reach people.’
In the UK, it is estimated that five million people are juggling caring responsibilities with work, equating to one in seven of the workforce.
Volunteer community connector Jenny Benjamin has experience of being a carer.
She said people will often come to the Talking Cafes to take a break from their caring responsibilities.
‘One lady came in and said it was the only break she can get all day. She was looking after a relative with dementia and she wasn’t getting any help, so coming here was her opportunity to have a break.
‘She didn’t know about any of the help available, so we helped her with that,’ she said.
More volunteers are always being sought out by the charity and a free two-hour training course is offered to anyone who would like to get involved.
The charity will soon be launching a Talking Cafe in association with Accent Language School to give people who do not speak English as a first language the opportunity to get involved in the community talking groups.
The locations and times of the Talking Cafes are listed on the website at healthconnections.gg.
n You Can Care Week runs from 21 to 27 February 2022.
