Wishing you and your family
joy, peace and rest
over the festive period
Richmond Carers Centre opening times over the holidays
Our office will be closed from Tuesday 24th December 2024 to Monday 2nd January 2025.
Thank you
Everyone at Richmond Carers Centre would like to thank you for your involvement and support over the past year. Your contributions in 2024 enabled us to deliver:
- 978 carer support sessions
- 2927 break activities
- 578 new carer registrations
- 23% of registered carers are young carers aged under 18
Our staff will be celebrating the festive season by taking a well earned break so we are all rested and re-energised to better serve unpaid carers in 2025.
Remember to check your Inbox on 3rd January 2025 to learn about the rich offer of activities and workshops being organised for February and March.
As the big day draws closer, many shops, businesses and support services will be closing their doors for the festive break. However, this does not mean carers will be left without support if they need it.
Support and activities available over the festive break
If you require urgent assistance during this period you can contact
Richmond Council First Contact Team
Telephone 020 8891 7971
SMS 07903 738043
Email adultsocialservices@richmond.gov.uk
Kingston Council Social Care Team
Telephone 020 8547 5005 or out of hours 020 8770 5000
Email adult.safeguarding@kingston.gov.uk
Website https://www.kingston.gov.uk/adult-social-care
Achieving for Children Richmond and Kingston
Richmond Single Point of Access (SPA) 020 8547 5008
Out of hours Duty Social Worker 020 8770 5000
For emergencies outside of office hours contact
Adults Emergency Duty Team at Richmond Council
Telephone on 020 8744 2442 or Minicom 18001 020 8744 9414
Services available for anyone needing additional support over the Christmas period
Samaritans
Samaritans make sure there’s always someone there for anyone who needs someone.
Telephone 116 123 (Free from any phone at any time – 24/7)
Email jo@samaritans.org (Response time is 24 hours)
Website: https://www.samaritans.org/
24/7 National Domestic Abuse Helpline
Telephone 0808 200 0297
Mental Health Resources
Shout 85283
Shout 85258 is a free, confidential, 24/7 text-messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope.To start a conversation, simply text the word ‘SHOUT’.
Text 85258
Kingston and Richmond Mental Health Team
Telephone 0800 028 8000
West London Mental Health Trust
Hounslow Single Point of Access (SPA) 0800 328 4444
Christmas Holiday Resources 2024
Our friends at Ruils have put together their annual listing of resources and activities that will be available for Richmond clients and anyone needing additional support over the Christmas holiday.
If you need anything during this period, please get in touch with Adult or Child Social Services or the other organisations listed in the resource that will be operating over the Christmas period.
Click here to download the resource.
Carers can claim foodbank vouchers
There is no denying, Christmas can be an expensive time of the year. Richmond Carers Centre is delighted to be a network partner of the Richmond Foodbank scheme. We are authorised to distribute Foodbank vouchers to any carer who is struggling to pay for food during the current cost of living crisis.
The scheme will continue to run throughout the year. The only condition is that carers must be registered with us. We can provide vouchers either electronically or by post.
NB. If you are a person/family in need but you are not registered with Richmond Carers Centre, you can still apply for Foodbank vouchers through another agency (e.g. Twickenham Job centre, Citizens Advice Richmond, children’s centres and health visitors). Find out more about food support available in the borough on the Richmond Council website.
Email support@richmondcarers.org or call 020 8867 2380 to claim your vouchers today.
See maps and details for the 4 distribution Centres in Richmond Borough where Vouchers can be redeemed on their Christmas opening days.
CAN YOU HELP?
The Richmond Foodbank scheme want to make sure that no one in our local community has to go hungry, but they need your help to make this happen. Your gift of financial support, time, business partnership and food can make a real difference. Visit https://richmond.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/ to offer your support.
BLOG: The 12 Tips of Christmas for Carers
We recognise that the holiday season can be challenging for some carers so we have prepared a blog post with our top tips to help carers to ensure the festive season goes as smoothly as possible.
Click here to read our blog: The 12 Tips of Christmas for carers
Is it an emergency? Call NHS 111 first
If you’ve got a medical problem that you think might be urgent, please call 111 first. NHS 111 is open 24/7, every day of the year, and offers expert advice and support. If you need an urgent appointment with a healthcare professional, they can set this up for you. And if you do need to be seen in Accident & Emergency departments, they can often arrange an arrival time for you so that you don’t have to wait as long as turning up unannounced.
Click here for NHS 111 and to find out what they can offer.
If you’re in a mental health crisis you can call 111 and select option 2 for urgent support, and if you or someone you care for is receiving palliative care you can call 111 and pick option 3 for palliative care advice.
As usual – if something is life-threatening ring 999. Their services will be severely over-stretched during the holidays so please save this for only genuinely serious emergencies.
Warm Spaces in Richmond
Richmond Council are working with local partners to provide access to a network of Warm Spaces, where Richmond residents can come together to stay warm.
They have created a directory to publicise all the places available to Richmond residents across all sectors, so that anyone who is in need knows where they can go to stay warm, enjoy a little company and some hot refreshments. Some venues will also offer activities and access to other services.
Please do note that the inclusion of a venue as a Warm Space is not a recommendation or endorsement by the Council.
Find your nearest Warm Space ➡️ https://crowd.in/SZPWQy