Session 1

The examples of Jade, Janet and Dean show how we have different roles in life. In fact we all have many roles in which we use a variety of skills and abilities. Encourage the group to think about their own skills and abilities. This can be done as a group activity or as a prompt for online discussion.

You could use magazines or the internet for text and images that illustrate carers’ roles and responsibilities and compile them into a collage or montage. You could also do this activity online as a wiki, which can be added to and edited by all the members of the group to form a picture of their various roles and responsibilities.

Ask the learners the following questions, which can be discussed in a group:

• Do you have roles and responsibilities that are similar to those of Jade, Janet or Dean?
• Carers often describe juggling and balancing a number of different roles. Is that an experience you’re familiar with?
• Have you got goals you’d like to achieve?