Sandwell is a vibrant and diverse community. Based on the 2021 Census, around one in four people living here were […]
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Being an unpaid Carer often means learning as you go, without formal training or a clear role description. Many Carers pick up knowledge over time, through their own experiences, from other Carers, and from professionals. We have gathered useful information, advice, and opportunities to help you feel more confident in your caring role, while also building skills that may support future paid employment.
First Aid Training for Carers
Would you know how to respond in a first aid emergency?
Access a free online course here Online first aid skills | British Red Cross
You can learn five skills in five minutes with these basic videos here. First aid videos | Learn first aid | British Red Cross
If you are part of a Carer support group or community group, you can request a free face to face workshop here. First aid workshop for adults | British Red Cross
Caring for Someone Living with Dementia
This abridged dementia resource provides an overview of guidance and information for anyone supporting people with dementia.
FutureLearn offers free short online Understanding Dementia courses including a three-week Dementia Care course. The Dementia Care: Staying Connected and Living Well course is designed for Carers to help you keep in touch with others, manage stress at home and defuse difficult situations.
You can access a raft of information from Dementia Carers Count as well as tips on how to manage your own wellbeing.
We don’t have any planned dates for the training as yet but I have attached the dates of our monthly coffee mornings for the what’s on section of the website.
BUDS – Better Understanding of Dementia in Sandwell has a family support service supporting Carers of people living with dementia. They offer dementia awareness training and have guest speakers on a variety of subjects including, incontinence, dental hygiene and legal matters throughout the year. When the dates are released, they will be added to our What’s On page.
Carers of children with Special Educational Needs and disabilities (SEND)
Sandwell Family Hubs offers to support for all families with children aged 0 to 19 (or 25 with SEND), take a look at their programmes.
Autism West Midlands has information sheets on diagnosis, development, education and family life.
Supporting Someone with their Mental Health
Learn about your own and your loved one’s mental health.
The Recovery College provides a range of online and face-to-face courses for people who have lived experience of challenges with their own mental health along with Carers and healthcare professionals. You do not need any formal qualifications or experience to attend the college. All of the courses are free of charge and open to anyone, aged 18 and over with the aim of increasing your knowledge and skills to look after yourself or a loved one. There are courses on:
Free Online Suicide Prevention Training
Zero Suicide Alliance (ZSA) offers a range of FREE online training courses to teach you the skills and confidence to have a potentially life-saving conversation with someone you are worried about.
ZSA training is also available in British Sign Language (BSL). Find out more about the Online Suicide Prevention Training.
Broad-based Learning
Ideal for All, based in Sandwell, is a user-led charity and social enterprise working to make life better for disabled, elderly and vulnerable people and their carers. Ideal for All provides services that achieve improvements in mental and physical health and wellbeing, reduced isolation, improved knowledge, skills and opportunities, employability, and increased independence. Here is more information about their training opportunities.
A variety of courses are on offer from Sandwell College, (including some free courses), Cradley Heath Campus and Fircroft College.
Sandwell Adult and Family Learning Service has courses on family learning, health and wellbeing and even arts and crafts. Take a look at their full range of courses.
Support to use the Internet, Gain New Skills and Increase Confidence
Age UK Sandwell runs Digital Skills Sessions: Computing and Tech for Over 50’s. Learn how to get the best from your mobile phone, laptop or tablet, which are tailored to your needs, and supported by the group.
St Albans Community Association is working in partnership with Sandwell Community Information & Participation Service (SCIPS) on a new project that’s aimed at getting more people digitally connected. This project is for adults aged 55+ who live in Sandwell enabling you to borrow an internet ready tablet and access one-to-one lessons in your own home. If you already have a computer or other internet ready device, sessions can be provided for you using these. Sessions are based on what you would like to learn such as how to shop online, playing games or how to keep in touch with family and friends.
Digital Inclusion, a partnership between Sandwell Adult and Family Learning and Sandwell Council, offers digital and employability courses. The programme reaches diverse groups of residents across the community to develop the skills they need for life and work. Take a look at the courses available.
Learn My Way is the Good Things Foundation’s free online platform that helps people gain basic digital skills and build confidence in using the internet.
Sandwell charity Brushstrokes Community Project also offers support with digital skills.
