Today is #InternationalVolunteerDay, a day to recognise just how important volunteering is and for us to say thank you to all those who volunteer already! At After Umbrage, we experience first hand the amazing impact that volunteers can have. Without our volunteers, we wouldn’t be able to reach or host many of the carers we support. So […]
Two top tips for #SelfCareWeek2017
Being in a good mood and feeling optimistic about the day ahead are wonderful feelings. It can help us face the daily challenges with good grace. Open a door for someone, call a relative who might be feeling lonely or give someone a genuine compliment – all great ways of boosting our wellbeing and our positive mood can influence […]
#WorldKindnessDay and The Power of Your Smile
Did you know it’s #WorldKindnessDay? The Power of Your Smile Last week we had a wonderful opportunity to meet a lady called Judy. Judy cares for her husband, who is at the early stages of dementia. She had come along to a drop in group organised by The Carers Trust Cambridge Peterborough and Norfolk. What a mouthful! […]
Enhancing the Wellbeing of Carers in Cambridge
Pictured from left to right: Rebecca Browne (CTCPN), Richard Cross (CTCPN), Tara Belcher (After Umbrage) and Tracy Wilkinson (After Umbrage) Heart warming and humbling are the words that came to mind when Tara Belcher, Founder of After Umbrage and Tracy Wilkinson, Head of Marketing Communications met the carers in Cambridge who dropped into the Carers […]
Three activities that reduce stress
Hallelujah! Today is National Stress Awareness Day which is a perfect excuse to share the notion that we have wonderful, powerful tools for boosting our wellbeing and reducing stress. You are probably doing many of them already without realising the neuroscience behind the benefits to your emotional health. Here’s the science bit in brief. Stress is […]
Denise, Michael, Theo and family. Their story.
We’ve had 68 visitors to our cottage in Bath since we opened the doors in 2015 to carers of loved ones with life limiting conditions. Denise and her family were some of our early guests. Theo is their wonderful son who has had 36 operations in his short, 10 year life. Here we chat to […]
A Break for Carers, Before Caring Breaks Their Relationships…
A recent study conducted for Julia’s House, has revealed some powerful statistics on the effects of caring on relationships. These statistics highlight just how important it is for carers to take a break. Caring is a full time role, and it’s all consuming – both physically and psychologically exhausting. The research found that 64% of divorced or separated parent […]
Hospice care can be everywhere. A wonderful message for Hospice Care Week
The world of social media is celebrating the wonderful work of hospices and their staff across the country this week as it is Hospice Care Week (from Monday 9th to 15th October). We love so many of the messages being shared this #HospiceCareWeek, but some stand out more than others. For instance, hospice care can […]
New research shows that 39% would like more support to manage care responsibilities at work
Carers are looking for flexible working arrangements and the ability to take unpaid leave to care for their loved ones, recent research undertaken by Simply Health/You Gov shows. And 50% of the 1,974 UK adults surveyed believe employees who are caring for an elderly relative should receive more support to remain in work, through carer […]
Adding our voice to World Alzheimers Month
According to recent articles about Alzheimers published during September, World Alzheimers Month, there is a belief that two out of every three people globally believe there is little or no understanding of dementia in their countries. It is this lack of knowledge that can lead to loneliness for carers of loved ones with the disease. […]