Changing
Lives Project
Changing Lives is our leisure, learning and employment
project aimed at supporting carers to achieve their own aspirations
for learning and work outside their caring role.
There are thousands of carers in the area, many with much
potential, but after many years of caring, they may lack confidence
and feel their skills are out of date. Changing Lives helps
carers to combine personal development, leisure interests,
training and employment with their caring role.
If you find it difficult to put yourself first and going
back to work or pursuing your own interests seems an impossible
step, Changing Lives can support you at your own pace through
the entire process, helping you to build your confidence and
make new opportunities available and accessible.
Changing Lives runs a variety of courses that are fun and
motivating, running at times and places that suit carers.
From computer skills and interview techniques to confidence
building and individual interests, the project has helped
hundreds of carers across North Yorkshire gain new skills,
regain their sense of self and even stay in, or get back to,
work.
 CASE
STUDY
One carer who has been helped by the project
in Harrogate has been a carer for fifteen years.
She says "I was a PA before I became
a carer but I had lost confidence. Changing Lives has given
me a big boost. I've got part time employment now and I'm
even on a college course.I'm less stressed because I'm doing
things for me as well. I've even lost weight and joined a
gym! I enjoy caring for my daughter more now I also have time
out."
You
can also take advantage of our Nextstep and Skills Coaching
Service
Who is Changing Lives for?
- Carers who are juggling paid work with their caring responsibilities
- Carers who have had to give up work or reduce their hours
due to their caring role
- Carers who feel they cannot work (i.e. because of lack
of provision for the person they care for, loss of confidence,
low or out-dated skills or physical barriers such as transport).
If you are not in our geographical area, please contact
us and we will direct you to your local
service.
Working with employers
The Changing Lives team work to raise awareness with employers
about carers issues, both with a view to retaining employees
who are combining caring and working roles and to attract
a potential pool of employees who are carers. There are several
pieces of employment law/legislation relating to carers and
their rights. We help employers to establish appropriate policies
and procedures to take these into account.
We also work with local training providers to encourage courses
which accommodate carers' needs and help to remove identified
barriers.
CASE
STUDY
The Skipton Building Society has worked with the
Carers' Resource and together we have achieved some notable
successes.
"I have found the team at Carers'
Resource to be extremely focussed and professional and it
is clear that they provide invaluable support to a significant
group of people who may at times be undervalued and not properly
recognised. From an employer's point of view, being in a relationship
with Carers' Resource has opened up a new source of potential
recruits and also given a reference point for support to those
existing employees within the Society who have caring responsibilities."
Chris Worts, Head of Human Resources and Training.
 |
Learning
to care is part of the job Alyson’s
elderly father-in-law is given a poor prognosis around
the same time Alyson starts working at the Carers’
Resource. She learns about her rights as a carer on
the job, but this doesn’t necessarily make it
any easier… Click
to view |
If you would like more information on how to support
carers in the workplace, please contact us on 01423 500555.
 
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