• Manchester Buddhist Centre
• Qi Gong
• Meditation
• Exercise Classes
• Holistic Therapies
• Craft Activities
• Games Sessions
• Pamper Sessions
• Theatre Breaks
• Woodland Walks

• MCF Forum Meetings
• Support Clubs
• Central Manchester Carer Support Group
• Drugs & Alcohol Carer Support Group
• Wythenshawe Carer Support Group
• Training Courses

The Manchester Buddhist Centre have been running Retreat Weekend for Carers for the past 6 years. Originally they took place at Unstone Grange which is situated just outside Chesterfield in Derbyshire. Nowadays they are held at the Haybergill Centre

in Appleby in Cumbria. The weekends are two noight breaks, usually departing Manchester on Friday afternoon and returning on Sunday afternoon. Whilst on a retreat weekend a carer can access relaxation workshops such as shiatsu, meditation and yoga during the day and partake in fun commual activities in the evening.

These weekends are a fantastice experince and something that all carers shouls try. They are very relaxing and provide carers with the perfect setting in which to recharge their batteries. The team that facilitate the weekend are all memebrs of the Buddhist Centre sand are all committed to providing the ideal setting for carers to enjoy themselves. All the food and refreshments are vegatarian and prepared by the team using fresh and local produce.

The next retreat weekend at the Haybergill Centre wil take place on Friday 16 May 2008 til Sunday 18th May 2008.

For further information please contact

Arthaketu on 0161-834-9232 or arthaketu@manchesterbuddhistcentre.org.uk

Qi Gong

Gentle Chinese Exercise & Relaxation
At the Manchester Buddhist Centre

Qi Gong can be translated as:
"Working with Life's Energy and Breathing Exercises"

Qi Gong is not strenuous and is beneficial to people of all ages. It involves harmonious and wholesome health exercises which are designed to rejuvenate the body and increase energy and positivity in terms of:

• Increasing Concentration
• Developing Posture & Muscle Tone & Improving Balance
• Promoting Good Health by Calming Stress & Anxiety
• Alleviating High Blood Pressure & Other Ailments
• Improving Bodily Awareness

Sessions to take place on alternate Wednesday's from 1.30pm till 3pm and confirmed dates are 30/01/08, 13/2/08, 27/2/08 & 12/3/08.

All carers are welcome to drop in and participate.

£2.50 snack vouchers are available for all carers to use at the Earth Cafe following the session.

Contact the Sattvadhika at the Bodywise Centre at the Buddhist Centre on 0161 834 9232 for more information.

Manchester Buddhist Centre (Bodywise)
16-20 Turner Street
Manchester
M4 1DZ

Carers learn how to calm the mind through breathing exercises, and to deal with difficulties through positive emotions. There is also a Toolbox on how to meditate at home!

These courses run on Wednesday evenings 7.15pm to 9.45pm.

For details of when the next course is due to start contact the Manchester Buddhist Centre on 0161 834 9232.

The clubs have been set up as a partnership between the Active Therapy Team (SMUHT) and Manchester Carers Forum with the aim of supporting Carers and the Cared for.

Carers can attend either of these clubs either on their own or with the person they look after and enjoy the activities on offer.

We have a variety of activities throughout the morning:-

Holistic Therapies - Aromatherapy, Massage, Facials, Reflexology, Indian Head Massage etc.

Craft Activities - Hand made greeting cards, dried flower arranging, servage (napkin craft), bookmarks and gifts.

Exercise Classes - Classes are tailored to suit the capabilities of the client and are suitable for both the able bodied and those that are less able.

Games - Dominoes, cards, board games etc.

The groups are a chance to meet new people and exchange ideas and experiences. Carers can have a break for a couple of hours knowing that their dependant (if they are with them is fully occupied. The group is very friendly and supportive and if you are coming on your own you can be sure of a warm welcome.

The CARES Club - is held every Thursday at the rehab Room, Occupational Therapy Department, Withington Hospital between 10am to 12 pm and is for people with all conditions and their carers.

The STAR Club - is held every Friday at the Therapy Centre, Withington between 10am to 1pm and is for people suffering from strokes and their carers.

If you are interested in these groups or if you would like aditional information please contact Rick Mitchinson at the MCF Office on 0161 629 9859.

These are the most popular event that we organise because they are so valuable to Carers in terms of relaxation. The Pamper Days take place all over the city and any carer can attend. The therapists offer a wide range of treatments including Beauty Therapy Treatments, Reflexology, Aromatherapy and Indian Head Massages which carers of both sexes find appealing and rewarding.

For further details email Rick Mitchinson at Manchester Carers Forum or telephone him on 0161 629 9859.

Educational activities

This is a geographically segmented Carer Support Group.  The Central Manchester Support Group meet at the Windrush Millennium Centre on the second Monday of every month 12.30pm - 2.30pm.  Activities include carer discussions, pamper sessions, indian head massage and yoga, craft making and flower arranging, dominoes, card and board games.

For further details email Nathaniel O'Brien at Manchester Carers Forum or telephone him on 0161 629 9859.

Is your friend or relatives drug use causing you problems.

Manchester Carers Forum along with Manchester Drugs Service, Glentop House and the Care Management Team

have successfully set up a support group for carers who are caring for people with drug problems. The group offers support from others, advice and information, and cafe and refreshments. This group runs on the second monday of each month. Recent dates are 14/01/08, 11/02/08, 10/03/08.

For further details email Rick Mitchinson at Manchester Carers Forum or telephone him on 0161 629 9859.

Our monthly forum meetings take place on the first Monday of every month at the Manchester Carers Centre, Beswick Row, and Manchester City Centre. These forum meetings usually take place between 12pm and 2pm and a finger buffet is provided to start every meeting off. During these meetings, as well as a speaker (usually from health or social care) Carers have the opportunity to discuss any caring related issues that they want to talk about and listen to the experiences of others who have had similar day-to-day struggles.

Telephone Manchester Carers Forum on 0161 629 9859 or email us for more information.

Wythenshawe Carers Support Group

This is a newly initiated carer support group primarily targeting carers residing in the South Manchester PCT areas.  These are monthly held meetings involving carers discussions, a yoga session and various education and leisure activites.  The meetings are held at The Wythenshawe Forum from 12.00pm - 2.00pm including a free finger buffet. Forthcoming dates are as follows; Tuesday 8th January   Tuesday 12th February   Tuesday 11th March   Tuesday 8th April

Manchester Carers Forum offered afull day training course that covered the following areas:

1) The legal framework, chronology, background and rights
2) Major legislation dates most relevant to carers rights and services
    · 1986 Disabled Persons (Services, Consultation and Representation) Act
    · 1989 Children Act
    · 1995 Carers (Recognition and Services) Act
    · 1996 Education Act
    · 2000 Carers and Disabled Children Act
3) Making sense of how the different legislation 'fits' together and relates to carers
4) Central Government's plans for Carers
5) Challenging decisions, what to do when things go wrong. Securing rights and services for Carers and those cared for.

This included examples from practice, and useful tips.

The session examined how one piece of legislation impinges on another, and how confusing this can be for people trying to understand how the whole thing is supposed to fit together. Necessarily this also touched on other legislation not shown above, and also brought in other aspects like the Citizens and Patients Charters and Disability Discrimination Act and finally Human Rights legislation.

If you would like to express an interest in other courses similar to this please contact the office on 0161 629 9859.

Learning for Living - the online programme for unpaid carers
Manchester City Council, The Manchester Carers' Forum, Crossroads and Manchester Adult Education Service have partnered with City & Guilds to offer Learning for Living - the first flexible e-learning programme of its kind in Manchester which leads to the nationally recognised qualification:   ‘ Certificate in Personal Development and Learning for Unpaid Carers'.   It builds on the experiences carers have gained and provides them with the knowledge, skills and confidence they might need to get back to work or go on to further training. The good news is that course is FREE. How will Learning for Living benefit carers? Helps recognise existing skills and experience Improves your confidence and increases your independence and realisation    that there is a life after caring. Research from carers who have undertaken the course testify that the course has steered them a positive direction towards planning their future whether into further education or new employment. Click here for more information