Warwickshire News Mine

The presentation took place at the town’s Guideposts Community Café on Church Street.

This week (11 – 17 June) is national Carers Week, an annual event that promotes and highlights the important role of carers in society.

Five Nuneaton carers and care workers – Chris Grimley, Jo Hancox, Barbara Marriott, Mary Quinn and Adrian Sabin - received their certificates from Mayor, Councillor Bill Shephard, for completing a three-day course in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), an intensive counselling therapy that is commonly used with alcoholics and their families.

The training, which was completed by a total of five carers and ten care workers, was provided through the Meriden Project, an initiative funded by Warwickshire County Council’s Drug and Alcohol Action Team (DAAT).

A Health Focus day was also held at the Guideposts Café today as part of a full programme of events organised by the Guideposts Trust to highlight Carers Week.  The Drug and Alcohol Action Team were available during the event to advise carers.

The Guideposts Trust provides a free, confidential carer support service in North Warwickshire, Nuneaton, Bedworth and Rugby.

Lorna Ferguson, Alcohol Joint Commissioning Manager for Warwickshire County Council’s Drug and Alcohol Action Team said: “Cognitive Behavioural Therapy is a proven way of working to repatriate families and keep families together, where one family member has had to assume control following misuse of alcohol or drugs by a partner or relative.

“The Meriden Project is trailblazing work for us and we hope that this focus during national Carers Week will promote the important work that carers do and let carers know about the support and services available to them.”

Desiree Lambert, Manager of the Guideposts Trust Carer Support Service at Nuneaton, said: “Carers of those with drug and alcohol problems have a hard time getting recognition, getting services or even a carer assessment. 

“It is time that their needs were recognised by the statutory services and I am hoping that the health event will give them the opportunity to seek the help and support they deserve.”

The Guideposts Trust’s Carer Support Service is funded by Warwickshire County Council’s Adult Health and Community Services directorate.  The County Council has awarded £5,000 to the Guideposts specifically to promote the role of alcohol and drug caring and to link individuals to carers services and resources.

Link to WCC