News from Action for Carers - upcoming events

The latest news, events and updates from Action for Carers Surrey View this email in your browser Events for you from Action for Carers...



Below you’ll find some news and updates from ourselves, and other organisations that we hope you will find interesting. You’ll also find our events from this Saturday 1st November until Friday 21st November. November 20th is Carers Rights Day and a there’s a reminder of what’s happening on and around the Day below.

If you have any questions or concerns, please get in touch, our team are here to support you. Please call us on 0303 040 1234, (text on 07723 486730), or drop us a line at CarerSupport@actionforcarers.org.uk.

Carers Rights Week
Carers Rights Day is on Thursday 20th November with events and activities which aim to ensure you know your rights and how to access them.

Here's what's on. Please join one of our events and make sure your rights are being met. 

• Tuesday 18th November, 7-8.30pm:  An evening online session on Carers Assessments. This session has a panel of experts, including representatives from Surrey County Council, Surrey Welfare Rights Unit and Giving Carers a Voice, to explore Carer Assessments, particularly what the assessment involves, what support Adult Social Care can offer; likely outcomes, including access to financial benefits and other help; and looking at the support available including Carer Wellbeing Breaks. 
• Thursday 20th November, 10-12.30: An online session with national carers rights expert, Professor Luke Clements, including Q&A opportunity. This session is in two parts with a break in the middle. You can attend one or both. The first part looks at rights in general for all carers, the second part focuses on assessment and support of disabled children and their parents. You can email questions to be asked - click here to submit a question. 
• Saturday 22nd November, from 10am-2pm: A Carers Rights Fair at the Hive, Park Barn Drive, Guildford GU2 8EN. You'll get practical information and advice from organisations including ourselves, Admiral Nurses, The Hunter Centre,  Energy Manager, BRAAIN, Family Information Service and More. Just drop in.

Quizzes across Surrey
Our Hubs in Cranleigh, Woking, Godalming, Shepperton, Epsom, Horley, Merstham and Farnham will be running 'Rights Quizzes’ with SCC Carer Practice Advisers, to help you understand your rights fully. There will be a prize of a gift voucher to the winners at these! There’s also an online quiz, also with a prize. Find the Quizzes on our events pages.

You may also see us at one of our Hospital Stands that week. We’re also running an event on rights for professionals to help them increase their understanding.  Carers Rights 2025

How's your sleep?
We’ve a new event this month – a session on understanding and improving sleep, both for you and the person you care for. Presented by Senior Occupational Therapist, Helen McNamara a sleep specialist, she will talk about what is ‘normal’ sleep, why sleep goes wrong, and will give recommendations on how to improve sleep, including a brief look at medications. Online Wednesday 12th November 1-2pm. Sign up here.

Surrey carer shortlisted for award
Congratulations to Janice Clark, a former carer from Guildford who has worked tirelessly for many years representing the interests of carers. She formally looked after her mother, who had had a stroke, beginning her caring role in the 1980s. Janice was in fact Action for Carer’s first ever Chief Executive! She has been shortlisted for an award in Carers UK’s first ever awards. More here. Best of luck Janice!

Benefits help changes
Unfortunately our Benefits Service – which was a team of two Amanda and Drew – supporting carers with benefits, including their applications – has come to an end. We had limited funding for this service, for a set period, which has now ended. We are very grateful – as are many of you – for all Amanda and Drew have done.

Moving forward, our Carer Support Advisers, and Helpline team understand benefits and can explain what’s available and what you should apply for. However, they won’t be able to give detailed information, not fill forms – carers should approach their local Citizens Advice for this support. There are also additional guides and checkers available – read more on our website.

Classical concert – G Live
If you are a fan of classical music and in the Guildford area, we have kindly been offered limited free tickets to attend a sea-focused performance by Guildford Choral and Bournemouth Symphony orchestra at G Live on Saturday 1st November, 7.30pm. Called ‘Behold, the Sea!’ music will include Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture and Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony.

To request tickets, please complete this form by midnight Thursday 30th – you can request up to 4 tickets. Tickets are limited, and will be allocated first come first served. If you have been successful, we will email you to let you know on Friday 31st and you will be able to pick up your tickets at the G Live ticket desk on Saturday evening before the performance.

Apply for free Behold, The Sea tickets

Vaccinations update
A reminder about vaccinations. Carers are entitled to get the Flub jab, it’s free to all Surrey carers and you can get it from your GP or local pharmacy. You can also book on the NHS website, or by calling 119 (NHS Vaccine Bookings). More here. It’s also COVID season, however, this year carers are not entitled to this vaccination, and will only qualify on age, if over 75, and a few other different criteria. Details here.

Carers finances – and impact on UK economy
Two key reports were released at the end of last month, related to carers financial situations and ability to work. A report from Carer’s UK, from their State of Caring work, reveals just how badly carers are coping financially, and makes a number of strong recommendations. And the UK’s other national carer charity, Carer’s Trust has published an extensive report looking at the loss of carers being unable to work to the UK economy. The total lost labour of unpaid carers is worth up to £47.7bn a year – equivalent to 1.7% of the UK’s entire GDP. More on both here.

Care Cost Indicator tool - for self-funders
There's a new tool to help people self-funding to understand the long-term costs of care locally. Surrey has a lot of people who arrange and pay for care (for themselves or a loved one), and because of their assets, do not receive funding from Surrey. Many people are unaware of the true cost of care, and can make ill-informed decisions. The council want to help people plan better and this tool presents a sliding scale of care costs over weeks, months and years, plus further sources of support and information.  Care Cost Indicator Tool for Self-Funders First Community launches new self-referral and information library webpage

First Community has launched a new webpage to make it easier for patients, families, and carers to access healthcare services and health information. Through it you can self-refer directly to services like speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, audiology, and dietitian support, without needing to go through a GP. It also includes a health information library on topics such as managing joint pain or accessing rehabilitation services.

Community Hubs in Surrey
We have our own Hubs, but there are many other types of Hubs across the county, in local communities, offering a variety of support. Firstly, there are 94 ‘Warm Welcome venues’ opening across Surrey from 1st November, offering support and respite, with free activities, hot drinks and in some instances food and fuel vouchers. Some venues will also be providing items such as electric blankets and clothing. Energy and Debt advice will also be on offer at some. 

Two modern Library Hubs have opened in Staines and Weybridge. These provide community spaces for all, providing a mix of public services, support, events and activities all under one roof. They’ve been designed with the local community needs in mind. Alongside service provision there’s social spaces for residents to meet and connect with others, or to simply sit and relax. There are also areas available for community led activities to be run by community organisations and individuals.

Events from others

Credit and Borrowing: carer information session

The Money Charity have a free event online at 10am on Wednesday 5th November. Targeted at carers, the events focuses on credit and borrowing. If you're worried about debt, want to know more about your credit score, or have other borrowing related concerns, please sign up here.

Understanding wills, inheritance tax and lasting powers of attorney: Dorking

The Brigitte Trust, in partnership with Downs Solicitors, is holding a free event to help people make informed decisions about their health and financial affairs. Speakers will share advice on topics such as lasting powers of attorney, wills, and inheritance tax.

• Date: Wednesday 19th November
• Time: 9.30am (10am start) until 12pm
• Where: Burford Bridge Hotel, Box Hill, Dorking RH5 6BX

For further information, or to book a place, please email Mandy East mandy.east@brigittetrust.com or Sarah Pattenden 07469 932192 or 01306881816.

Planning for future care: Leatherhead

Care UK has organised an event on future planning. Taking place at its Milner House on Wednesday 19th November at 2.3pm, speakers are Katherine Carroll from Peacock and Co Solicitors; Ashely Jordan from One Stop Organisers; and Clare Edwards, Independent Eldercare consultant. They will cover topics such as wills and power of attorney, preparing to move into care and navigating your options. Milner House, Ermyn Way, Leatherhead, KT22 8TX. To register, email rachel.laurence@careuk.com Community Assess and Support Day plans: East Molesey 
Surrey Downs Health & Care is working with local community partners to support people in living longer, healthier lives. CASDs are local, one-stop events that bring health and wellbeing services together in one welcoming space. The day includes convenient appointments for podiatry, musculoskeletal (MSK) care, and diabetes support (by invitation only), alongside a wide range of community care and wellbeing partners.

In addition to clinical services, the event features local organisations offering lifestyle advice, social support, and information about activities and services available in the community. There is no need to book and everyone is welcome.

• When: Thursday 20 November from 8.30am to 3.30pm
• Where: Imber Court, Ember Lane, East Molesey KT8 0BT

Research Opportunities Helping you help them move: learn Moving and Handling techniques: Woking

Tuesday 11th November, 10.30pm

Join us for this session to help you move the person you care for effectively - keeping you safe (especially your back) as well as the person you care for.

Feedback your views 💻

Wednesday 5th November, 7.30pm

Give your views on being a carer in Surrey, and the support you need from Action for Carers. What works and what could we do better?

Benefits Q&A💻

Tuesday 11th November, 12pm

Please join our last Q&A session with our benefits adviser Amanda for advice on benefit entitlements and support applying.

Face-to-face carer support groups coming up...

Cranleigh, Monday 3rd November, 10.30am
Woking, Monday 3rd November, 10.30am
Epsom, Wednesday 5th November, 10.30am
Horley, Wednesday 5th November, 10.30am
Shepperton, Wednesday 5th November, 10.30am
Banstead, Tuesday 11th November, 10.30am
Addlestone, Wednesday 12th November, 10.30am
Caterham, Thursday 13th November, 10.30am
Hersham, Thursday 13th November, 10.30am
Leatherhead, Friday 14th November, 10.30am
Woking, Monday 17th November, 10.30am
Godalming, Tuesday 18th November, 10.30am
Epsom, Wednesday 19th November, 10.30am
Shepperton, Wednesday 19th November, 10.30am
Merstham, Thursday 20th November, 10.30am

Join us for a chance to chat to other carers and meet our staff, sharing tips, ideas and support. These groups are for all carers, whoever you're caring for. 

“I’ve got more ideas of how to manage future issues we might face and I have a reduced sense of stress.”

Find out more View all our events
Call us on 0303 040 1234, text (only) on 07723 486730
email us via CarerSupport@actionforcarers.org.uk
or have a look at our website www.actionforcarers.org.uk Copyright © Action for Carers Surrey 2025. All rights reserved.

No longer want to receive event updates from us?
You can unsubscribe from this list.