Page 20 - link magazine

20 The virtual Link Magazine now online @ www.swindonlink.com

SURVIVORS New employment legislation gives carers
SWINDON improved rights from April
Surporting Adult Male Employers need to be ready for new legislation which will give carers the right to flexible working, says
Survivors of Sexual Abuse Chief Executive of Swindon Carers, Mutsai Hove Bird.
and/or Rape Still settling into her new role, of the need to sup- crease support for
Need to talk Mutsai, right, has been busy work- port carers and to people when they
in confidence? ing with employers and consider- enable them to pro- stop being carers,
Pick up the phone.... ing how best to support carers in vide conditions because the cared for
the light of the Work and Families
person goes into a
which help carers
0845 430 9371 Act which comes into force in remain in work,” residential setting or
...and speak to someone who April. The intention is to help carers said Mutsai. dies. “It is easy to
understands how you feel juggle work and family life by giv- She took up her lose confidence
ing them the same right as parents post in October, on when out of the
We offer counselling, group
support, telephone help and a with young children who ask for the retirement of work environment
female partner support group flexible working hours. Gillian Barber. “I’m for some time. We
“We would like to work with delighted to have the aim to support them
www.survivorsswindon.com
employers to increase awareness privilege of leading to build on their
Swindon Carers’ Centre. I’m pas- skills and make realistic plans for
sionate about people being enabled the future.”
Does your existing agent have a to live their lives as they’d like as For details of all the services of-
Landlords!! laid back attitude? Why not try us? much as possible.” fered by Swindon Carers’ Centre,
She said that Swindon is in a call 531133.
We are an independent family owned and run unique position, with high priority www.carers.org
estate agency offering over 40 years of combined given to carers by the health and •Swindon Carers’ Centre have
property experience in Wootton Bassett, Purton,
Lyneham, Swindon and surrounding villages. social care services. However, there published a new Self Help Direc-
are still large numbers of people tory with information on cancer
• Only 9% pcm for our Full Property Management
service. who don’t see themselves as carers support groups, eating disorder
• Competitive one off fee for our Introduction Only and the challenge is to reach them. recovery, mobility, positive living
service. Mutsai would also like to in- and HIV/AIDS.
• Further discounts on multiple properties &
recommendations.
Young mums defy stereotype
• Advertising through the web & local publications
• No costs until a tenant has been housed All parents want the best for their children and the teenage mothers
• 7 days a week viewings in Toothill taking part in a project to help them develop their futures
are no exception.
www.alanhawkins.co.uk 01793 855222 Fiona Prinzi is a tu-
tor with the aBc2 (and
Baby comes to)
project working with
16 to 18 year olds who
are pregnant or have
babies.
The aim is to help
young women, who
are not employed or
studying, to make
plans to develop their
skills and talents,
whilst learning how
to be mothers as well.
Fiona works one to
one with the mums
Fiona with Claire Browner and Amara, April Osborne
for 12 weeks, spend-
ing two hours a week and Harvey Slipper, Lucy Rowe and Sebastian
with them, either in their home or induction at the Link Centre gym
out in the community. Together and we’re going back for more ses-
they identify a learning need which sions.”
they focus on to help rebuild con- Lucy Rowe was keen to work
fidence. with computers until she became
Fiona has been impressed by the pregnant. Fiona is helping her start
participants’ positive approach. an IT course and she’s also joined
“They want to be independent and a baby massage course.
be empowered young women. Although April Osborne started
They don’t want to live on ben- a training course on leaving school
efits. They want to do the best for she left because of morning sick-
their children and they’re compe- ness. She has been learning to cook
tent young mums.” with Fiona. “I hardly did any cook-
Some of the mums she has ing before because I didn’t know
worked with have gone on to get what to do; I always went round to
part-time jobs and most others sign my mum’s with my baby to eat.”
up for further training at the end of As well as cooking skills, April
the course. has gained AQA credits in home
Claire Browner has been economics, maths and literacy.
focussing on health and fitness. Fiona is employed by the chari-
“Fiona came with me to do the table trust Include/CfBT.

1 March 07 20 16/2/07, 9:49 am