Honiton Carers Support Group met at the Methodist Church on Wednesday, September 8, to hear details of forthcoming social gatherings and activities.

Carers have been invited to an arts and crafts session on Wednesday, September 22 at The Old Rectory, Awliscombe, hosted by Gillian from Coastal Craft Collective. She'll be holding a tile making class from 2pm until 4.30pm, and anyone who has not yet added their name to the list should contact the group's chair, Winnie Cameron.

On Wednesday, October 13 there's a practical first aid session at the Methodist Church hosted by Joe from Devon Carers, from 1.45pm until 4pm. This is also for carers only.

For carers and their cared-for people, there are social meetings at Coombe Garden Centre on Wednesday, September 15, and then every other week. These will now take place from 3pm until 4.30pm and will be held indoors with tables of six, four and two people. People should not move from table to table.

Chair Winnie Cameron mentioned the act currently going through Parliament on the cost of care and the proposed cap of £86,000 – this is very much in the news, and details can also be found on the Department for Health and Social Care's website.

Winnie also mentioned that she had been in contact with the Department of Work and Pensions to obtain an Attendance Allowance application form, when it was explained that if you phoned in for a form, the allowance was backdated to the date of the phone call, whereas if you applied online it was paid from the completion/acceptance date.

Winnie introduced the speaker for the session, Sarah-Lou Glover from the Mental Health Support Network, who gave a very interesting talk about Healthy Minds, and the support they offer for carers and families with mental health problems. The organisation was outlined in great details supplemented by literature on a display board.

Winnie thanked Sarah-Lou for her interesting talk and presented her with a floral table decoration made by Stella Ford.

For further details of Honiton Carers Support Group please contact Winnie Cameron on 07974636926 or email [email protected]