Lomond House in Helensburgh serves as both the administrative and operation base for the Charity and provides the ‘hub’ for the delivery of a wide range of free services to unpaid carers, including:
SERVICE AREA FOR HELENSBURGH & LOMOND CARERS CENTRE
- a drop-in facility, which is available from Tuesday – Friday each week;
- an information and advice service providing relevant information on a variety of topics (e.g. benefits, carers’ rights, local services etc), and signposting to other agencies for additional or more specific assistance;
- informal advocacy for carers in helping to secure their rights and entitlements from statutory bodies;
- a one to one support service offering a listening ear and emotional support from staff trained in appropriate listening skills;
- a Friendship Support Group, which is run in partnership with Alzheimer Scotland for carers who provide care for someone with dementia;
- a Parent Carer Support Group for carers who provide care for young people;
- a Carers and Ex-carers Coffee Morning and Drop-in;
- a stress management service utilising a range of holistic therapies to help carers to deal with stressful situations that they may encounter;
- a counselling and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) service;
- training programmes designed to meet a wide range of carers’ needs;
- a walking group;
- a social programme of accessible social activities and opportunities for carers to gain informal support and share experiences while taking a break from their caring roles;
- short breaks for to give carers some relief from caring for a few days;
- limited respite for carers who wish to attend any Centre organised activities or to attend local training courses, and
- quarterly Newsletters sent to all carers, as well as other publications with information and advice.
Whilst most of the services are provided by the staff and volunteers of the Charity, qualified sessional therapists are contracted to provide holistic therapies on a weekly basis and carers are referred to a professional counselling/CBT service when this is considered appropriate