MeTime sessions for carers
Our MeTime online sessions are designed to inform you of your rights and to support your wellbeing.
Sessions vary from practical advice on carers' rights and caring to a set of holistic wellbeing sessions that range from confidence-building to creative opportunities like crafting.
Sessions are open to anyone across the UK.
Please be aware these sessions are run by Carers Wales and information sessions are based on Welsh legislation.
Below you will find details of the sessions coming up. To sign up, click the link and fill out a short registration form. We look forward to welcoming you to our friendly and supportive sessions!
April
Monday 7 April, 1-2pm: Balancing work and care? What you need to know
Do you balance paid employment and unpaid care? Find out about your rights including the Carer's Leave Act and what support you can request from your workplace.
Monday 7 April, 2-3pm: Book Club
Come along to our informal and relaxed Book Club session! The session is a chance for carers to get together and take some time for themselves, have a chat with like-minded people and share the escapism of getting lost in a good book. If it is your first session, just bring your favourite book, we'd love to hear a bit about why it's your favourite.
Tuesday 8 April, 11-12pm: Self Employment with Social Firms Wales
Meet staff from Social Firms Wales who will explore ideas for self-employment opportunities that could potentially be developed alongside your caring responsibilities. Learn about how Self-Employment can bring in an extra income whilst boosting your sense of identity, confidence and skills.
Social Firms Wales will also give you the basics on the steps you need to take to become self-employed, the key things to consider and some of the pro’s and con’s of being your own boss.
The session will be delivered by Jan Barwell, Enterprise Development Advisor at Social Firms Wales.
Wednesday 9 April, 1.30-2.30pm: Neurographic art workshop
Have a go at neurographic art with Rowenna of Wild Art Wales. Neurographic art is a form of creation that recreates the outer from the inner using lines, shapes and colour in a mindful state. You will need paper, a black pen, a variety of lids and some colouring materials, ideally pencils but watercolours will do.
Rowenna is an arts in health practitioner with over 20 years experience in leading creative workshops for individuals of all ages and abilities to engage with their environment and improve their wellbeing. Join us in these relaxed online workshops, have a chat or sit back and enjoy getting crafty. We’ll send you a blank postcard to decorate. This is an informal session, we look forward to seeing you!
Monday 28 April, 1pm-2pm: Warm Wales - Healthy Homes and Healthy People
Warm Wales are committed to Healthy Homes and Healthy People. Join this session to find out how carers in Wales can have Warmer, Safer, Healthier Homes. Warm Wales aims to tackle fuel poverty, reduce avoidable health inequalities, and improve well -being. They have an easy-to-use self-referral system and a friendly and supportive team ready to offer help and advice.
Wednesday 30 April, 11am-12pm: Fine liner drawing workshop
Have a go at creating art with fine-liner pens, try out professional drawing techniques used by artists with Lucilla and work on creating your own artwork on a postcard. Learn how to create depth and shading with just black and white. Join us in these relaxed online workshops, have a chat or sit back and enjoy getting crafty. We’ll send you materials and a blank postcard to decorate. This is an informal session, we look forward to seeing you!
May
Thursday 8 May, 1.30- 2.30pm: Tangles art workshop
Have a go at Tangles art with Rowenna of Wild Art Wales. Tangles is an art technique that offers a space to be peaceful and mindful. In this session, you will learn how to create the crescent moon tangle which gives you a foundation to then go on to use the observations of your surroundings to inspire your patterns. You will need paper and a pencil or pen.
Rowenna is an arts in health practitioner with over 20 years experience in leading creative workshops for individuals of all ages and abilities to engage with their environment and improve their wellbeing.
Join us in these relaxed online workshops, have a chat or sit back and enjoy getting crafty. We’ll send you a blank postcard to decorate. This is an informal session, we look forward to seeing you!
Monday 12 May, 2-3pm: Book Club
Take some time for yourself and connect with fellow carers at our friendly Book Club sessions. This is a space to unwind, chat with like-minded people, and enjoy the joy of getting lost in a good book.
New to the group? No problem! Feel free to come along, listen in, and share your favourite reads whenever you're ready. Whether you’re an avid reader or just looking for a bit of escapism, we’d love to have you with us.
Come along and be part of the conversation!
Monday 19 May, 11am-12pm: Wellbeing for unpaid carers - simple tips to lift your mood
Join us to enhance your wellbeing! Nia Constant, our Information and Advice Officer, will share helpful tips on how to boost your positivity and take care of yourself as an unpaid carer.
Thursday 22 May, 2-3pm: How to Deal with Change
As circumstances change, you may be looking to return to the world of work, or perhaps you find that you have more time on your hands for pursuing hobbies or rebuilding a social life. This session will explore how we deal with change, what gets in the way, and techniques to overcome some of these hurdles. It will provide some useful techniques to rediscover what might bring us joy, and to dare to dream about living our lives in tune with our true values and beliefs.
Wednesday 28 May, 12-12:45pm: Find Calm and Restore Balance
Join this session for a 45-minute guided relaxation designed to support your well-being.
- Positive Reflections: Share what’s been good to help foster a shift in mindset and resilience.
- Mindfulness Practice: Calm your mind and reconnect with the present.
- Guided Relaxation: Let go of stress and find peace.
Relax, restore, and discover a clearer mind and a more relaxed body.
June
Monday 2 June, 2-3pm: Book Club
Take some time for yourself and connect with fellow carers at our friendly Book Club sessions. This is a space to unwind, chat with like-minded people, and enjoy the joy of getting lost in a good book.
New to the group? No problem! Feel free to come along, listen in, and share your favourite reads whenever you're ready. Whether you’re an avid reader or just looking for a bit of escapism, we’d love to have you with us.
Come along and be part of the conversation!
Monday 9 June, 11am – 12pm: Oil Pastels Workshop
Experiment with oil pastels and have fun creating artwork whilst learning various techniques in a relaxed setting. Artist Lucilla will lead this session, suitable for beginners or experienced artists. Join us in these relaxed online workshops, have a chat or sit back and enjoy getting crafty. We’ll send you materials and a blank postcard to decorate. This is an informal session; we look forward to seeing you!
Tuesday 10 June, 11am – 12:30pm: Power of Attorney with Damian Lines
Damian Lines TEP is the Managing Partner at Rubin Lewis O’Brien Solicitors based in Cwmbran South Wales. During this session he will share what you will need to know about setting up a Power of Attorney for loved ones.
Thursday 12 June, 1-2pm: Dwr Cymru
Are you a carer or being cared for by someone? Did you know that you may be eligible for a cheaper water bill, and other free support services from Welsh Water. Join Jody on the call to learn something new and get the help that you may be missing out on.
Monday 16 June, 11am-12pm: Mind Body Mood
This interactive session will offer ideas and techniques to improve your mood by understanding the power of the mind to change the way we feel, the way we move, and the way we behave.
We will cover how basic NLP words and phrases can help or hinder the way we feel and why certain words and thoughts can have a greater effect than others. We will also look at how changing posture and movement can impact our thoughts and ultimately our moods, giving participants a range of ways to feel calmer, stronger, more resilient and more in control again.
July
Monday 7 July, 2-3pm: Book Club
Take some time for yourself and connect with fellow carers at our friendly Book Club sessions. This is a space to unwind, chat with like-minded people, and enjoy the joy of getting lost in a good book.
New to the group? No problem! Feel free to come along, listen in, and share your favourite reads whenever you're ready. Whether you’re an avid reader or just looking for a bit of escapism, we’d love to have you with us.
Come along and be part of the conversation!
Tuesday 8 July, 12-1pm: Stretch and Relax
A chair-based stretch and relax session with Carol. This session will gently release tension from the body, particularly shoulders, head and neck. Along with easy breathing exercises to lead into relation.
What you’ll need: a chair to sit on and a if you have them to hand, a tie, belt or scarf – these will add to the stretch
Thursday 10 July, 1-2pm: Managing Guilt as a Carer
During this session, you can discover ways to gain clarity and empower yourself as a carer to look after you, boosting your health and wellbeing.
- Anticipatory grief – why caring is so difficult
- Positive and negative emotions, and the ‘Helper’s High’
- Carer’s guilt – why so many of us suffer this negative emotion and what we can do about it
- Great research on Caregivers and telomeres, by a Nobel prize-winner
- Ensuring carers take regular breaks
- Creating a ‘Me time’ list, to factor in ways to boost carers’ wellbeing.
Tuesday 15 July 1-2pm: Creative Writing for Wellbeing
Cardiff author Rachel and Creative Producer Chantal will guide you through gentle writing prompts as a way to connect with and explore our relationship to creative writing. The workshop is designed to encourage reflection, mindfulness and creativity.