Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Carers Association
“As a carer I often feel quite isolated. This group has helped me in many ways and has been there to support me through the difficult times.” — Alison, Kensington & Chelsea Mental Health Carers Association
The Kensington & Chelsea Mental Health Carers Association works to support carers who supervise and look after individuals with mental health issues. This voluntary organisation focuses on providing personal support, training and events for carers who live locally to the Kensington and Chelsea borough.
Run by mental health carers, this is the only voluntary organisation of its type committed to providing a drop-in centre, support groups with professional speakers, and courses for other mental health carers. The group also offers ‘Well-being Saturdays’, which provide beneficial complimentary therapies for carers. Duly, the Kensington & Chelsea Mental Health Carers Association provides a service that fills the gap that statutory services cannot provide - weekend (as well as evening) support.
The charity recently obtained funding for the first ‘solution focused’ course which concentrates on skills training for carers. The course contains eight workshops which teach the skills utilised in ‘positive psychology’ and solution focused caring. It is designed to aid carers in overcoming the various challenging aspects of coping with relatives who have a mental health illness or disability. The project was created in order to recognise that mental health carers require different needs from other types of carers; therefore need specific support.
In the future, the Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Carers Association hope to set up and develop a solution focused carers network which will provide on-going psychological support for people who have completed their course. In addition, complementary care has been negotiated free of charge for carers through partnership work with the Munro Centre for complementary care. This will include pampering sessions, reiki, shiatsu and reflexology.
Created 8th January 2013
Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Carers Association benefits from Attend membership, which includes comprehensive charity insurance cover. For more information, or to join, please click here.
