Wandsworth Care Alliance

Share and Care Homeshare: Creating Connections for Independent Living

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Caroline Cooke, director of community interest company, Share and Care Homeshare (www.shareandcare.co.uk) and Dementia Friends Ambassador

Share and Care Homeshare matches younger people (the average age of a Sharer is 39) who need an affordable place to live, with older people (the average age of a Householder is 84) who need some extra support to remain living independently in their own home. Costing just £165 per month, the Sharer offers the Householder 10-15 hours of support each week in a mix of practical help and company, plus the reassurance that comes from a regular presence and someone living in the home.

It can be a lifeline across generations, and people living with dementia are among those most likely to benefit from an arrangement. Other drivers to Homeshare include anxiety, loneliness, reduced mobility, poor eyesight and a host of others.

Matching connections

There are several reasons that Homeshare works so well; people are carefully paired to create strong connections – such as placing an elderly medical professor with dementia with a medical student – and taking into consideration common interests. It isn’t necessarily about a Sharer having specific experience; it’s about matching Sharers with the right manner, empathy, reliability and patience. Safeguarding is of huge importance too; all Sharers are fully-vetted, and Share and Care Homeshare remains in on-going contact for the duration of each arrangement.

Homeshare is incredibly flexible, sitting well alongside other support services; Householders often have visits from Carers alongside their Sharer. Equally, it works well for individuals and couples. For instance, a married couple where the wife has dementia; having a Sharer enables her husband to balance his time caring for his wife alongside a little respite time for himself when he can arrange to meet up with his friends for social events, with the reassurance of knowing there is a Sharer is at home. In some instances, if there in an additional spare bedroom, a Householder may have two Sharers (at no extra cost), so they benefit from additional support.

Thriving independently

In recent years, the number of people living in Homeshare arrangements has significantly risen. One of the reasons is that some people may not need – or be ready for, or be able to afford – residential or full-time live -in care. The kind of support a Sharer offers is reassuring to someone older; whether it be preparing an evening dinner a few times a week, picking up shopping, carrying heavier items, or simply as a companion to chat with and the reassurance of someone else living in the home. These can all help the frustration and anxiety that can come with getting older.  Sharers can also be great at providing a gentle nudge for people’s daily routines, or trigger reminders to take medicine or remember social commitments.

Having a Sharer in the home offers a greater capacity for independent living, reducing the risk of falls, improving wellbeing by reducing social isolation and loneliness, and increasing engagement in life.  Genuine, strong friendships are built and both parties become like family to each other. Importantly too is the impact on families who may live too far away to provide instant support. With Homeshare comes peace-of-mind that parents or loved ones are not alone.

Free Seated Exercise Classes

We have been running our Seated Exercise Classes over Zoom, at 11am on Wednesday mornings, for a few years now. Led by an experienced personal trainer,  the classes are about 30 minutes. People can sign up either through the link on our website, or by sending us an email.  

Dementia Information Sessions

Caroline Cooke is a Dementia Friends Ambassador and has been trained by the Alzheimer’s Society to deliver dementia information sessions, either in person or on-line. The sessions are interactive and informative and last about 1 hour; please contact Caroline if you would be interested in arranging a session.

Founded in 2006, and based in Putney, Share and Care Homeshare is a Community Interest Company (CIC), and is the largest and most experienced homeshare provider in the UK.

Tel: 020 3865 3398

Email: info@shareandcare.co.uk

Website: www.shareandcare.co.uk

Breastfeeding Friendly Network

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The Scheme
The BFN’s Breastfeeding friendly scheme is an initiative to make venues more comfortable for lactating Moms and their precious little ones. In order to do so, you only need to provide them with a seat/chair/sofa in any comfortable corner where the Moms can feed their young ones in a relaxed fashion.

It would really help if your venue’s team is welcoming towards all breastfeeding families and support a woman’s right to feed their young one without facing any shame or judgement. It is also important that Moms are not expected to feed their babies inside or near a toilet or diaper changing room. It is optional but would be very kind for your team to offer drinking water and some privacy to a breastfeeding mother upon request. The privacy can come in the form of a secluded area/room or use of curtains or a simple plastic divider etc.

If you agree to participate in the scheme, you must:

Ensure all employees/volunteers (as appropriate for your organisation) are aware of the scheme and have read the ‘Information for staff and volunteers’ document provided as part of the pack

Display the breastfeeding friendly posters, certificate of commitment and stickers (optional) in your premises (if appropriate)

Ensure all staff are aware of the law in relation to mothers feeding in public and that they know a mother must never be asked to stop feeding her baby in a place she is legally entitled to be. 

How to sign up:

Simply send an email to wandsworth@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk OR richmond@breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk (depending on the borough in which your business is located) with the following details and the scheme is absolutely free of cost for you to join: 

  • Names of all the centres under your care
  • Addresses of all the centres under your care
  • Contact name for each centre
  • Contact email for each centre
  • How did you find out about breastfeeding friendly scheme
  • Are you interested in each centre being featured on BFN’s breastfeeding friendly venue locator map?

What will you receive on signing up?
A Wandsworth/Richmond borough specific welcome pack with 2 display stickers, an information booklet, a poster and a certificate of commitment. If you are interested, you will also be featured on BFN’s venue locator map.

Unlock free training & workforce development opportunities for your staff in 2025

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We want to introduce you to Roberto from Need 2 Succeed. His organisation is delivering a programme on behalf, the South West London VCSE Alliance, which is about VCSE organisations across SWL utilising the unspent NHS levy to pay for training/workforce development opportunities for any of your existing members of staff through apprenticeships.

There are lots of relevant courses that your staff could take advantage of (and completely covered by the donation, anything from master’s degree level to Level 2 or 3 courses). Roberto can guide you on how to receive the donation, choose the right courses and enrol employees on a one to one basis after the workshop on the 26th February. The online workshop is taking place on Wednesday 26th February, from 11am – 1pm.

Given how tight budgets are at present, we thought it might be a great way to be able to offer training and a progression pathway to employees. You can attend the workshop and Need 2 Succeed can also provide one to one support after that. 

Book your space here.

If you’d like more information before the workshop please contact Roberto from Need 2 Succeed at roberto@need2succeed.co.uk.

The National Budget – VCS response

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The Chancellor’s autumn budget statement announced changes that will all impact employers, including Voluntary Sector Organisations (VSOs) with paid staff.
 
The proposed National Insurance Increase along with the London Living Wage increase could have a significant impact on VSOs’ ability to deliver on existing contracts. Many VSOs receive the majority of their funding from The South West London ICB (NHS) and Wandsworth Council. VSOs play an invaluable role in preventing residents’ social, financial, medical and mental health issues from escalating and dramatically reduce the demand on NHS services. The consequences of these announced changes could therefore be catastrophic for the vulnerable residents that VSOs support.

WCA, as part of the South West London Voluntary Sector Alliance, addressed these concerns collectively as a written Call to Action to senior staff of the South West London ICB and Wandsworth Council.
 

Read our letter to the council and the responses from both the Council and the ICB below:

SWL VCSE – Impact of increase in National Insurance
Impact of National Insurance Increase on South West London VCSE Organisations

If you are a VSO with paid staff funded by either the Council or ICB, please do reach out to your commissioning officer to discuss how this may impact you. And as always, please do reach out to us at WCA if you would like to discuss this further with us  admin@wandcareall.org.uk.

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week 2025: Help encourage others you know to get screened!

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This is a week long campaign that raises awareness about cervical cancer screening and prevention on 21-28th January 2025.

Cervical Cancer Prevention Week is an important time to raise awareness about the life-saving benefits of regular cervical screening. Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer, and early detection through screening can significantly reduce the risk of developing it.

Why Cervical Screening is important?

Cervical screening, commonly known as a smear test, is designed to detect abnormal cells in the cervix that could develop into cancer if left untreated. It is a crucial preventive measure that can catch potential issues early and ensure timely intervention. Here are some key reasons why cervical screening is essential:

  • Early detection: Screening can identify changes in cervical cells before they become cancerous, making treatment more effective.
  • HPV detection: The test also checks for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a major cause of cervical cancer.
  • Prevention: Removing abnormal cells early can prevent cervical cancer from developing in the first place.
  • Painless and quick: The test is straightforward, usually taking only a few minutes, and can be lifesaving. It may cause discomfort, but the process is less than 5 minutes long. To discover more about what happens at the appointment click here.

Tips to encourage more people to get screened:

Despite the benefits, many people delay or avoid cervical screening due to fear, embarrassment, or lack of awareness. Here are some ways to encourage more participation:

  1. Raise awareness: Share information through social media, community events, and workplace wellness programs to educate people about the importance of screening.
  2. Address common concerns: Providing reassurance about the procedure’s simplicity and effectiveness can help ease fears and misconceptions.
  3. Make appointments accessible: Encouraging healthcare providers to offer flexible hours and online booking can make it easier for people to attend.
  4. Normalise conversations: Open discussions about cervical health with friends, family, and healthcare professionals can help reduce stigma.
  5. Encourage support networks: Remind people that they can bring a friend or family member for support during their appointment.
  6. Promote free or low-cost options: Ensure people are aware of available services through public health programs.


Wandsworth Care Alliance, a charity that delivers Healthwatch Wandsworth worked with IVAR to find out what the barriers are in Wandsworth for Women and specifically South Asian Women. Researched showed Wandsworth was the lowest with Cervical Screening uptakes in England. Read more about our project and findings here.

They found Women were reluctant as it’s a taboo topic, language barriers and they didn’t know what to expect in the appointment.

Taboo topic

Cervical screening is often considered an embarrassing topic to talk about. We should encourage having early conversations to show it’s a normal thing to talk about.

Language
Did you know you can ask your GP for an interpreter to be present at your appointment or to have a doctor or nurse who is able to speak to you in your language?

To find out more about cervical screening in your language click here.

Cervical Cancer screening is a vital in preventing Cancer and saving lives. During Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, let’s work together to raise awareness and encourage more people to prioritise their health by getting screened. If you’re due for your screening, book your appointment today and remind others to do the same. Your health matters!

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