Westminster Carers Service

The Time Bank got off to a great start this year. Not only did we secure Big Lottery funding for the next 5 years and make front page news,  thanks to a grant from The Portman Estate, we were also able to arrange support, training and some fantastic events for members so far in 2013.

For a full report on Time Bank members events since January, download the latest copy of the Time Bank Spring Newsletter Thanks to our funding we are also able to offer Time Bank members a weekend break holiday in August. Accommodation is in a traditional farmhouse in the beautiful Somerset countryside. The Newsletter has details of how you can book your place.

This was the picture that created front page news in the Wood & Vale newspaper. Carers  took up the  challenge to prepare and cook a fabulous three course lunch. The menu and instruction came from Thea Wakeling, chef at Trullo in Islington; one of London’s best Italian restaurants.  From left Judith Hackett, Project consultant, Phydellis Rochester, carer, Alison Katerji, Director of Westminster Carers Service, Viola Etienne, Time Bank Coordinator, Pauline Batti, carer, Thea Wakeling, chef from Trullo, Joanne De Roche, carer and Mary Russell, carer. Photo Polly Hancock/Wood & Vale Archant London.

The event is the first in the Carers Time Bank’s Each One Teach One training events where the Time Bank invites professionals to pass on their skills to carers and for carers to pass on their skills to each other. Our thanks to the Lord Mayor, Councillor Angela Harvey for allowing Westminster Carers Time Bank the use of the kitchens and dining room of the Lord Mayor’s Parlour in City Hall and our thanks to Thea Wakeling for the wonderful menu and instruction.

Carers learnt how to extract the choke from Violetta artichokes and  how to filet fish. Thea also  gave carers some top cookery and kitchen safety tips.  One carer said ‘Its been amazing everything I’ve learnt today is new’ and another carers said ‘I’m definitely going to try cooking this at home’. Carers and staff then sat down to eat the delicious lunch they had prepared of a starter of Marinated Artichoke Hearts with Mozzarella on Crostinis, followed by Mackerel fillets with Braised Fennel and Salsa Verde finished off with a mouth-watering delicious dessert of Chocolate Tart. If you want to try out the recipes for yourself download the Each One Teach One Recipe Cards and enjoy.

Great news for the Carers Time Bank; we have secured funding from the Big Lottery Fund. Thanks to this grant the Carers Time Bank will be able to continue supporting carers in Westminster with activities, training, social and recreation events. If you are a carer in Westminster and you’re not yet a member – what’s taking you so long? It’s free to join so check out the Time Bank events for spring 2013 and see what’s in store and watch this space for the announcement of our big April launch event.

Contct us for more information or check out the Time Bank page on the website

Westminster City Save Card

If you are a Westminster resident you can get discounts for a range of health, fitness, sport and leisure activities by registering for your City Save Card.

Go to  http://citysave.westminster.gov.uk/ and register now and take advantage of the discounts on offer: free entry to Westminster Abbey, discounts on swimming, walking tours, exercise classes , spa treatments,  leisure centres.; carers can treat themselves to a healthier 2013.

Time Bank members have a fantastic lineup of events for January, February and March to look forward to. Our first event of the year is an invitation to visit the Wallace Collection, our own national museum right here in Westminster, followed by afternoon tea in the conservatory restaurant. In February members can attend the ‘Save a Life’ First Aid course that will include a special component addressing some of the conditions carers  encounter. In March in our ‘Each one Teach One’ cookery session, carers have the chance to teach each other how to cook their favourite recipes supervised by a professional chef. Members who attend also get to lunch on the meals they create in the session.

If you’d like your favourite recipe included in our Carers Cook Book send it to Viola soon.

You can download the Time Bank Spring Events information leaflet or contact Viola for more information.

December has been a good month for the Carers Time Bank. Three charitable trusts have recognised the good work being done by the time bank and made generous donations to help us to continue our support for carers in Westminster. We would like to thank:

The Portman Foundation, the Anton Jurgens Charitable Trust and Inman Charity Trustees Limited for their generous support. Also a big thank you to all those who have supported the Carers Time Bank since its launch in 2011 and we wish you all the Season’s Greetings