Puppet Reg takes power play lead

A POWERFUL play to help carers understand how they can help people who lack the capacity to make decisions for themselves was launched at Oldham Library yesterday.

“The Generation Gap” — available on DVD — is a hard-hitting production developed by Oldham Theatre Workshop and Oldham Council’s work-force development service.

It aims to help carers understand the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how it may affect people’s lives.

The project has been funded with £20,000 from the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE).

Bids for SCIE grants were invited in the region of £10,000 but the project was considered under the exceptional category and was awarded double that amount.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 affects not only people who lack the capacity to make some decisions for themselves, but also the millions of carers and health and social-care staff across the country.

“The Generation Gap” looks at the difficult emotional issues that people affected by the Act often experience, and is touching, funny and hard-hitting.

It tells the story of 86-year-old Reg — played by a puppet — who feels at odds with his life.

His world is one of coping without his wife, a failing memory and thoughts of an imminent death. His grandson, Charlie, has a different life. His world is a fast-paced world of internet shopping and travel.

Reg and Charlie care about each other, but can they ever understand each other’s worlds?

Paul Greenwood, regional link for the care services improvement partnership, said: “It is paramount that the rights of individuals who may lack capacity are protected, and for all of us to be assured that our rights are enshrined in law if we became vulnerable due to illness or disability.

“‘The Generation Gap’ gives us an opportunity to discuss the issues we face in health and social care on a daily basis.

“Charlie and his family, friends and carers help us to make sense of the fears and concerns we all have around the issue of capacity and our rights.”