Newsletters 2005: Issue 10 October 2005
Contents of this page: Message from the Chief Executive | Annual General Meeting | If you did not receive this newsletter by email... | Help with small problems | Carers to get free flu jab | NHS – A Winter Guide | Loss of independence | South Cambridgeshire Forum of Disabled People - Sawston Branch | Cambridge Forum of Disabled People | Parent Partnership Service -‘Visiting a new school’ | Giving Carers a Break - Carers Grant | Transport Forum | Here-n-Now drop-in | Canine Partners | Charity Flowers Direct | A Message from a Volunteer | Public consultation on changes to local mental health services
Message from the Chief Executive
We apologise for the lengthy delay since our last Newsletter. Many of you will know that we have moved downstairs to fully accessible offices and we can now see clients here by appointment.
The move caused us – and a lot of you – tremendous problems because our telephones did not work properly for several months. We are sorry there are those of you who were getting constant engaged tones and thought we were trying to ignore you – it really wasn’t the case – from this end everything seemed OK. We thought you were all busy with Christmas and then the sales.
It wasn’t until someone rang me and said
“Please ask Gerri to stop gossiping, I’ve been trying to phone her all day”
and she hadn’t had a single call, that we realised something was amiss. Weeks of engineers replacing different bits and giving different instructions later, we seem to be back on track.
Apart from that – and numerous problems trying to get tradesmen to give estimates for our small (to them, but big to us) jobs – it is wonderful to have space to move around and to know that our wheelchair users can get out if there is an emergency.
We’ve also been getting a bit of disability experience. Alison broke her ankle, Gerri her thigh, Peter an elbow and some ribs, quickly followed by a leg, and finally I broke my arm – we think it is now safe to visit !
Annual General Meeting
Members please note than our Annual General Meeting will take place on
4 November, 2005 at The Hester Adrian Centre, Hawthorn Way, Cambridge.
Registration and coffee/tea from 10.15 am.
We hope to have the following speakers:
- David Howarth MP – Early experiences as an MP .
- Sue Lowe (Government Office East),
- Claire Bruin (Assistant Director Adult Disability Services)
- Andy Cogan (Chief Executive of COVER) will speak about funding.
This will be followed by Question Time, followed by our AGM and Lunch
After lunch, Professor Alan Barrell (Papworth Trust & Health Enterprise East) will speak about Entrepreneurialism in the Voluntary and Community Sector (with time for questions). We hope to finish at approximately 3pm.
If the Charities Commission approve, we intend to place the following Motion before members. That:
Directions Plus changes the name of its area of benefit from: ‘in the city of Cambridge, and the districts of South Cambridgeshire, East Cambridgeshire and Fenland’ to ‘Cambridgeshire’.
This would not affect the places in which we work - DIAL Peterborough and DISH (Huntingdonshire) will continue to serve their own areas - it would just save us having to say or write so many words, for example on our logo.
If you did not receive this newsletter by email...
The cost of posting newsletters is growing rapidly as our mailing list increases.
If you did not receive this newsletter by email and have an email address, please email it to us, even if you think we already have it. This is because some of our records were lost when we moved our computers.
Help with small problems
We have a contact who will help people to set-up computers, add upgrades and make small repairs both computers and wheelchairs. Contact us for details.
Carers to get free flu jab
According to new Department of Health guidelines, carers are now entitled to free flu jabs.
Launching the 2005 influenza immunisation campaign, the Chief Medical Officer has said that amongst the new groups recommended to receive flu immunisation are
“People who are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill.”
Carers UK has been campaigning for many years to get free flu jabs for carers and welcomes this decision. Whilst GPs in some areas have responded to local campaigns by carers’ groups and been happy to give carers free flu jabs, carers were not on the ‘official’ list of priority cases. Many carers wrote to Carers UK saying they had been refused the jab. Being protected from flu is vital for many carers because they cannot afford to be ill, if someone is relying on them.
Find out more about flu jabs on the Department of Health’s website: www.dh.gov.uk
NHS – A Winter Guide
The NHS have produced a useful booklet ‘Keep Warm Keep Well’. It contains lots of useful help and advice for the winter months. We are enclosing a copy of this booklet with every Newsletter.
Loss of independence
This may be about:
- moving to a care setting, possibly after losing a partner or relation,
- not settling in on arrival.
Are you angry, sad, deeply unhappy? Or are you a relative who feels guilty – and possibly a bit relieved – about such a move? Would you like a completely independent person to talk it through with?
We can put you in touch with an experienced (CRB checked and references taken up) lady. She is not a long-term befriender, but is happy to give short-term help.
Ring: 01223 569 603 and ask for Lovedy.
South Cambridgeshire Forum of Disabled People - Sawston Branch
Contact: Gerri Bird, E-mail: gerri_directionsplus@yahoo.co.uk; Other contact details
Gerri Bird has set up a forum in Sawston with the help of local residents. The forum, which meets once a month, has been running since February 05. If you have a disability, are a carer or an older person and are interested in joining, please contact Gerri.
One of the things the forum is involved with is campaigning for better access in all areas.
Cambridge Forum of Disabled People
Campaigning for equality of opportunity for people in Cambridge.
Contact: Gerri Bird E-mail: thecfdp@yahoo.co.uk; Other contact details
The Forum will be celebrating the International Day of Disabled People by holding their AGM on 3 December from 12.00 – 3.00 at The Corn Exchange. This will include entertainment by well known comedian Laurence Clark. Refreshments will be served. Please let Gerri know if you need transport – this can be arranged free of charge.
If you are interested in joining the Cambridge Forum, please contact Gerri.
Parent Partnership Service - ‘Visiting a new school’
A very useful leaflet has been produced by the Parent Partnership Service – ‘Visiting a new school’, which is a checklist for parents or carers of children with special educational needs. It is a guide of things to remember/information you may need/questions to ask etc. when visiting a new school.
To obtain a copy of this leaflet – phone:
- Parent Partnership Service on 01223 718 154 or 01223 717 400 E-mail: Sharon.Camilletti@cambridgeshire.gov.uk
Giving Carers a Break - Carers Grant
An extra £60m has been made available by the Government to fund breaks for carers. A fund of £185m will be distributed to councils across the country in 2005/6 for the Carers Grant, which is used to provide support for England’s estimated 5 million carers.
Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK said
“The Carers Grant has made a significant contribution to recognising the crucial role carers’ play and the contribution they make. This money will go some way to ensure that the potential benefits of the recent Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act are realised.”
The Health Minister also announced that the grant will continue at the new higher level until at least 2008. He said
“Carers say that being able to take breaks from caring is the most effective way to support them and enable them to continue caring.”
Transport Forum
COPE have organised a Transport Forum at Cherry Hinton Village Centre, Colville Road from 3 – 5 p.m. on 26 October 2005.
If this would be of interest to you, contact Rhona on 01223 364 303 for details. It is free to COPE members.
Here-n-Now drop-in
The above drop-in runs on Thursdays between 5 to 7 pm, at the Youth Wing, Meadows Community Centre. They offer activities and a place for young people to meet in a friendly atmosphere, for young people up to the age of 25 years, and specifically for people with learning difficulties. They currently have spaces for new members – please visit to see the facilities they can offer.
For further information please contact:
- Bev Woolmer,
Newton Cucumber Youth Wing,
Meadows Community Centre,
St Catherine's Road,
Cambridge
CB4 3XJ; E-mail:
bev.woolmer@cambridge.gov.uk
Canine Partners
Canine Partners is a charity that aims to transform the lives of people with disabilities enabling them to lead more independent lives by providing them with highly trained assistance dogs. Their dogs can dramatically improve quality of life, opening doors to a more independent life and greater employability.
They created the Puppy Education System so that their dogs can work with people with a wide range of physical disabilities. This enables them to rapidly adapt to changes in a person’s condition and gives them the ability to readily work with someone else if necessary. On completion of their training, a dog (Canine Partner) can respond to over one hundred commands including operating a pedestrian crossing or lift button, unloading the washing machine, picking selected items off supermarket shelves and carrying out a range of emergency response procedures.
Contact:
- Canine Partners, Mill Lane, Heyshott, Midhurst, West Sussex GU29 0ED; Tel: 08456 580 480; Fax: 08456 580 481; Email: info@caninepartners.co.uk; Website: www.caninepartners.co.uk; Registered Charity No. 803680
Buy flowers from Charity Flowers Direct
A Message from a Volunteer
Hello Everyone,
My name is Alison Kerr. I began volunteering at Directions Plus (now Disability Cambridgeshire) on 19th November 2004 – initially only on a Friday, but I enjoy the company of everyone in the office so much, that I asked if I could help out on a Wednesday as well. My role is answering the Advice Line telephone and taking messages, as well as inputting information on computer. I am also the treasurer of the Cambridge Forum of Disabled People management committee.
You maybe interested to learn that my autobiography, Four Wheels For Two Legs was published on 10th December 2004. It can be purchased directly through my publisher’s website, at www.trafford.com/robots/04-0511.html. You can also purchase it through www.amazon.co.uk.
I feel I must make you aware that since completing my book – I have reverted back to my maiden name, following the breakdown of my marriage. A great deal has happened in my life since then – but one thing is certain - I’m now a much stronger person, and also extremely happy. Very best wishes to you all, Alison
Public consultation on changes to local mental health services
Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire Primary Care Trusts met in September with regard to the proposed changes to the local mental health services, brought about by the overspend of the Primary Care Trusts. This will result in cuts to services and the views of service users and their families would be appreciated.