ILA Scotland - it pays to learn

Lots of carers would like to be able to do something enjoyable and constructive with the limited free time that they have. With the local colleges and community schools class programmes beginning soon it's worth thinking about applying for an Independent Learning account. ILA Scotland is a Scottish Government scheme that helps you pay for learning that you can do at a time, place, pace and in a way to suit you. It’s for people who have an income of £22,000 a year or less, or who are on benefits.
If you are 16 or over and living in Scotland, you could get up to £500 towards the cost of learning with a learner account from ILA Scotland.
There are two types of account available:

£200 accounts – If you are interested in learning something new or brushing up your skills. There is a wide range of courses available so why not have a look at our Course Search to get an idea of what’s available in your area. To find out more click here.

£500 accounts – If you are studying a part-time higher education or professional qualification course such as a Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) or a Degree. You must be studying 40 Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) credits or more an academic year. To find out more click here.

You can only have one type of account open at any time so it’s important that you choose carefully. If you need any further information to help you decide on the right account for you just call our friendly helpline advisers on 0808 100 1090.

If you already know what you want to do, simply click Apply now to request your application pack.

This information is taken from the ILA Scotland website which can be found here.

Poem - From Where I’m Standing

At the Carers Meeting Point Lunch at the end of July the speaker, Karen Gibb, read a poem for us that had been written by Elspeth Murray for the "Beyond The Tipping Point" conference of the Long Term Condition “Collaborative 14th May 2009. The Poem was inspired by C.S. Lewis's observation of a sunbeam "Looking along the beam and looking at the beam are very different experiences”. She uses her poem to point out the difference it can make to people if they are included and involved in the treatment and management of their condition.

Carers attending the meeting asked if they could have a copy of the poem so here it is.

From Where I’m Standing

In emergency admissions
In the outpatient department
At the here-we-go-again clinic
In yet another waiting room…
From where I’m standing
There’s nothing worse than being treated as an illness
From where I’m standing
There’s nothing worse than being shunted around
From where I’m standing
There’s nothing worse than it all flaring up again
From where I’m standing
There’s nothing worse than not knowing whether to laugh or to cry
Except dealing with people who
Act like they never laugh or cry.

A man walks into a toolshed,
Shuts the door. Sees a sunbeam.
Dust floats in the brightness –
Eddies into the darkness.

He observes the sunbeam.
Shape, density, intensity.
Contemplates it objectively,
dispassionately...

But as he takes a step forward
Into that sunbeam,
Inhales the sunlit tool shed smell,
And feels the warmth on his face,
He sees something else,
Not the beam, not the darkness, not the tools
But, framed in the odd-shaped gap above the door,
Green leaves on the branches of a tree
And, millions of miles beyond them, the sun.

Looking at the beam and
Looking along the beam are
Very different experiences.

Before you take the speck out of your brother’s eye
Let the beam shine into your own eye.


From where I’m lying
It’s good to be listened to
From where I’m sitting
It’s good to be in control
From where I’m standing
It’s good to be given a choice

When I’m shaking
It’s good to be sharing stories
When I’m hurting
It’s good to get more of what I need
When I’m weeping
It’s good to speak on the phone
To the one I call my guardian angel
When I’m dying
It’s good to be with the ones who care the most.

From where I’m standing,
Here in the beam
It all seems perfectly clear.

Elspeth Murray

Thanks to Karen Gibb for bringing the Poem to our attention.

Breast Cancer - Sticking with the Treatment

Unfortunately, breast cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK and almost 46,000 new cases are diagnosed every year. The good news is that due to improved detection and new treatments, the number of women beating breast cancer is increasing each year. However, breast cancer patients often have to take anti-cancer drugs for up to five years. Research at the Univesity of Dundee has been undertaken to shed light on the reason for taking these drugs for so long. You can find out more about this from local scientist Colin McCowan in a free public lecture to be held at the Sensation science centre in Dundee. It promises to be an informative talk that will provoke lots questions from the audience!

Everyone is welcome to this free event at the Sensation’s award-winning Infusion Cafe, Greenmarket, Dundee for a 6pm start on Wednesday September 9th 2009.

Doors open at 5:30pm, so get there early in order to get yourself a seat and a nice cup of hot tea or coffee and a snack.

Calling Fife Social Work Department!

WE’RE LOOKING OUT FOR CARERS ARE YOU LOOKING OUT FOR THEM TOO?

In Social care you encounter carers every day in the work you do. If you would like to
· develop your awareness of the issues that carers face and have the opportunity to hear about some of these issues first hand from carers.
· increase your knowledge and understanding of policy (local and national) and legislation relating to carers.
· develop your knowledge of support organizations available to carers.
You can do so by attending a “Partners in Care” workshop at Fife Carers Centre. Workshops are available on:
(Times include Lunch)
Friday 6 November 2009 10.00 am – 1.30pm
Thursday 12 November 2009 12.30pm – 4pm
Tuesday 17 November 2009 10.00 am – 1.30pm
Tuesday 16 February 2010 12.30pm – 4pm
Friday 19 February 2010 10.00 am – 1.30pm
Tuesday 23 February 2010 12.30pm – 4pm
If you work for Fife Council Social Work department or in some way that brings you into contact with unpaid carers you can book a place at one of the workshops by contacting:

Lesley or Irene at Fife Carers Centre
On 01592 642999
Or
lesley@fifecarers.co.uk

No one expects to become a carer - but 3 in 5 of us will be one at sometime in our lives.
There are around 42,000 people who are carers in Fife - and most of them don’t know there is help available for them.