|
| |
| |
Previous Articles -
March 2008
disabledsouthwest.co.uk |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
 Welcome
to the
South West Lakes Trust
Conservation and leisure working together
Established in April 2000, South West Lakes Trust is the South
West's largest conservation and recreation charity. It was created
to encourage, promote and enhance sustainable recreation, access,
nature conservation and education on and around over 50 inland
waters in the South West for the benefit of all.
At the
lakes of the South West you have an unrivalled choice of water based
activities, angling, relaxation and wildlife, walking and cycling.
The Lakes are places where you can learn to sail, spend a day trout
angling or exploring the vast number of footpaths the area has to
offer.
 Disabled
Access and Facilities ...
As each site run by the
Trust is different, so too are the amenities, access and facilities
available to the disabled visitor. The Trust website has detailed
descriptions of each site and information on what is available -
www.swlakestrust.org.uk
For the 'waterbabies' amongst you -
Wimbleball, Roadford and Siblyback all have Wheelyboats for hire at
£20 per half day or £30 for a whole day.These boats are ideal for
larger groups and for people with restricted moblity to get on the
water. Stithians nr. Falmouth has adapted sailing boats for the more
adventurous of you. They are having an Open Day on the 25th. May for
those who would like to try out the boats. More information from
01209 860301
For 'twitchers' , Porth and Wimbleball
lake have hides that are wheelchair accessible.
The Trust can also organise group
visits for Clubs or organisations or even come to you with a
presentation on the Lakes. Contact them through the website
www.swlakestrust.org.uk |
|
|
|
| |
|
Good news for fundraisers ...
well, fundraisers like myself that is ... I have finally found a way
of contributing to my favourite charities whilst sitting down with a
cup of coffee and that ever present packet of chocolate biscuits.
No
wheeling myself around athletic tracks, no jumping out of aeroplanes
.... just the waggling of a finger on my PC mouse !!!
What am I
talking about ? ...
Everyclick
Everyclick is a search engine with a
difference. It works just like any other major search engine but the
difference with Everyclick is that you can raise money for your
favourite charity.
What’s
more, you can choose which charity you would like to support from
over 170,000 UK charities.
108,799 people have already helped raise over £419,509.74 for
charity just by searching the web. There are no sign up fees or
hidden charges, it's free giving. Revenue is generated by their
advertisers.
Become a fundraiser so you can support your favourite charity. You
can join as an individual or as a company, school or college.
Help raise more using our "Spread the word" section. Any registered
UK charity can benefit, the amount each charity receives only
dependant upon how many people choose to support them.
- Everyclick gives 50%
of its revenue to charity every month
- Everyclick.com is a
social enterprise, registered in the UK as a private limited
company.
- Everyclick aims to
empower the 38 million people who search the web, and 30 million
who give to charity, with a new no-hassle fundraising opportunity.
- Everyclick
search results are syndicated from
www.ask.com.
- When you search the
web with Everyclick.com you can support any one of 170,000 UK
charities ranging from the largest, such as Save the Children, to
small local charities including schools and churches.
- Everyclick has a
wide range of corporate users including Cadbury Trebor Bassett,
MTV and Axa.
- In 2007
Everyclick.com was named as Hottest New Start-Up at the Imperative
Digital Awards and co-founder, Polly Gowers, was voted
Entrepreneur of the Year at the Women in Ethical Business Awards.
- Read their latest
press release below ...
EVERYCLICK.COM
GENERATES OVER £400,000 FOR CHARITY
Everyclick.com, the search
engine that gives half its revenue to charity, today announced
reaching two major milestones – the site now has over 100,000
registered users, who together have helped fundraise a phenomenal
£400,000 for charities of their choice, simply by searching the
Internet. To celebrate these fantastic achievements,
Everyclick.com will give £100 to every
10,000th new user’s charity, until it reaches 200,000 users.
The
£400,000
raised is being distributed to a wide range of charities of all
sizes and beneficiaries, including: £2,676.82 to Hope and Aid Direct
– helping deliver two truck loads of humanitarian aid to Kosovo;
£269.86 to Global Tiger Patrol – aiding their efforts to preserve
the world’s remaining tigers; and, £1,394.02 to Demelza Hospice Care
for Children – helping care for over 400 life-limited children and
their families by providing hospice at home care.
Everyclick.com not only
attracts individual users; over 6,200 groups are fundraising
collectively for causes they care about. This includes 1,600
companies and over 600 schools – all of whom are able to track their
own fundraising efforts via live group fundraising totals, updated
every three minutes.
Polly Gowers, CEO and
founder of Everyclick.com, says: “Reaching the £400,000 fundraising
mark is a fantastic achievement by all our supporters. As way of
thanking our users and giving charities extra incentive to get their
supporters using Everyclick.com we will be giving £100 to every
10,000th new registered user’s, until we have reached
200,000 users.
“We are thrilled to
welcome our 100,000th registered user to the site, who
signed up to support the RSPB. Our community is widening as more
people are realising the difference they can make to the causes they
care about, simply by switching their search engine.”
The site works like any other search engine, allowing users to
search for information, news and images but users can specify which
of the UK’s 167,000 charities they would like to support through
their searches. I typed in Camelford into their search bar and was
amazed at the number of local groups that were listed. I'm sure it
will be the same for you in your area ... there will even be groups
that you didn't know existed that you could help.
For the
full information and to look for a local or national charity go to
...
www.everyclick.com
|
|
|
|
| |
|
What the
DPS does and its aims
The
Society is a Registered National Charity, founded in 1968, when a group
of enthusiastic photographers in Richmond invited a group of severely
disabled ex-servicemen from the Royal Star and Garter Home to join their
meetings and share their interest.
Since
then the society has grown steadily, we now have members from all over
the UK, and the Society is run by a group of dedicated unpaid
volunteers. The membership now comes from all walks of life and areas of
the country and represents a large and diverse range of photographic
abilities.
Most of
the Committee and helpers have physical disabilities and so can readily
appreciate the challenges and diversity of solutions each disabled
photographer needs.
We can
offer advice or help with modifications and can advise on or supply
supports so that you can use cameras and take photographs.
We offer Technical
Support and help for Disabled Photographers........you just have to ask.
We act as a source of
information on all aspects of photography for people with disabilities.
Our aim
is to promote photography for people with disabilities, or their carers,
or groups or anyone with an interest in helping the disabled.
We
collect and modify photographic equipment which we loan to members, such
as camera supports, all we ask is that members remember to renew their
annual subscription to the society.
We have regular themed
photo competitions and take part in monthly and annual nationwide
leagues.
There is
a quarterly magazine "In Focus" for members, in which we publish the
results of competitions along with copies of the images. It also
contains various articles written by members with tips and tricks to
help overcome the way various disabilities can impede photography.
There is also an audio
version of the magazine available for visually impaired members.
We also
have an annual Exhibition and Competition open to all members. There are
several classes to enter, depending upon your ability and any previous
success.
Members can also submit
work to be judged for Photographic distinctions.
In
addition, we have an Annual photographic holiday, we organise studio
sessions and occasionally special days at venues all over the country.
We are planning to hold tutorials and seminars, plus, we also stage a
very successful Annual Photographic Exhibition.
There are three levels of
membership for the DPS
Full membership - Open to
anybody with a disability - £7.50 per year
Group
membership - For any group which either includes or may include persons
with disabilities (for example a school, day centre, hospital group or
similar organisation) - £20 per year
Friends
membership - For other individuals with or without an interest in
photography and wishing to help or support the DPS. - £11 per
year
DPS members can
also apply to join the
Royal Photographic Society
at a reduced membership rate of
£35 per year
The DPS holds a print
and slide competition each year which is open to all DPS members and is
divided into various classes of content and photographic ability as
well as the previous achievement of the entrants.
Judging is by an independent external judge and normally takes place in
late summer.
Following the judging the winners of awards are notified and the
entries are exhibited at a public venue.
As a registered
charity the DPS is entirely reliant upon the donations of equipment and
funds that we receive from the public and of course our sponsors
Olympus.
Photographic equipment that is donated is loaned to members who need it,
with any adaptations, where required.
 The
Disabled Photographers’ Society
P.O. Box 130
Richmond
Surrey TW10 6XQ
Shirley Britton FDPS ARPS
01454
317754
enquiries@disabledphotographers.co.uk
www.disabledphotographers.co.uk |
| |
|
|
| |
|
You are NOT alone
Cornwall-wide aphasia campaign spreads the word
A
campaign has been launched across Cornwall to track down up to 1,000 people
who are believed to have a communication disability called aphasia.
Aphasia occurs
when the communication centre of the brain is damaged, usually by stroke or
head injury. People with aphasia can struggle to speak, read, write or use
numbers.
Some people may
not be able to speak at all, while others will be able to use a few words.
Some people are very articulate, but have trouble understanding what is said
to them.
Today in
Cornwall there are more than 5,000 people who have survived a stroke, of
whom 1,200 are likely to be disabled by aphasia.
However, only
200 people with aphasia are known to health and social care professionals.
Access to
Life, a Cornish project
set up by a national charity Connect – The Communication
Disability Network, has launched the You are NOT alone…get connected
campaign to find people in Cornwall living with aphasia.
Spokesman for the campaign Eddie
Scott said: “We want to raise public awareness of this invisible
disability throughout Cornwall. In some of these people, aphasia may not
even be recognised as a long-term disability.
“GPs, family
members or carers may wrongly assume lack of speech or inability to
understand speech is just a side-effect of stroke or worse, categorise
someone as senile. Many people simply don’t know that what they have is
called aphasia, so how can they access support for it?”
Eddie, who has
aphasia himself, will be heading into the Cornish community together with a
group of other people with aphasia to share their stories.
The volunteers
will be speaking at community groups and clubs about how aphasia affects
them day-to-day, how they were diagnosed and how they have worked to
overcome the disability.
Each speaker
will ask group members to help find people with aphasia living in their
communities. They will distribute easy-to-read material to pass on to
friends and family. They will offer people with aphasia the opportunity to
make new friends, to try out new opportunities and to find out about aphasia
and what is available to them.
The You are
NOT alone…get connected campaign will form the basis of research to
obtain accurate information about the numbers and experiences of people with
aphasia in Cornwall.
The campaign
will culminate in a major conference on stroke and aphasia aimed at
management, health and social care professionals, the voluntary sector,
politicians and business leaders.
• Do you know
someone who may be isolated and living with aphasia? Please encourage them
to get in contact with Access to Life:
Connect (The Access to
Life Project)
Unit 8, Old Cowlins Mill
Penhallick
Carn Brea
Redruth TR15 3YR
katemitchell@ukconnect.org |
| |
|
|
| |
|
Thrive
is a national charity, founded in 1978, that makes use of gardening to
change the lives of disabled people.
Gardening is a wonderfully
flexible medium through which an individual can accomplish many things. Some
may be immediately apparent, such as rebuilding strength after an accident
or an illness, or providing a purposeful activity which helps people to cope
with a difficult period in their life. Some may be less obvious such as
helping to improve literacy through a simple task such as labelling a plant
or reading a seed packet. There are some disabled people who simply want to
enjoy gardening but need practical advice and skills to get started or to
progress.
Thrive’s activities are varied
but all focus on championing the benefits of gardening to individuals and
organisations, as well as teaching techniques and practical applications so
that anyone with a disability can take part and enjoy this activity.
Underpinning Thrive’s work is a research programme which provides evidence,
improves understanding and supports the development of appropriate skills.
www.carryongardening.org.uk is Thrive's award-winning easier gardening
website, designed for older and disabled gardeners. Visitors will find
information on accessible design and planting and an extensive database of
tools tested and rated independently on ease of use. Contact details for
tool suppliers and manufacturers are listed, with suggested online and
catalogue shopping resources to make purchasing easier. Carry on Gardening’s
popular forum allows like-minded gardeners to share experiences and find
solutions.
www.growandlearn.org is a web-based learning resource, funded by the New
Opportunities Fund, which uses gardening and horticulture as a backdrop. It
is designed to encourage the acquisition of IT skills, and to develop
numeracy and literacy skills. It uses the latest multi-media techniques to
support the experience of students in simulated gardening tasks such as
sowing seeds.
People who are blind or partially sighted
Thrive has been working with blind and
partially sighted gardeners for over thirty years and is able to draw on a
wealth of experience, and tried-and-trusted techniques for gardening with
low vision.
Thrive
has written a more detailed book,
Getting on with
Gardening,
which brings together techniques that have been developed specifically for
visually impaired gardeners.
·
Volume 1 covers all the
techniques someone would need to get started
·
Volume 2 explores more
experienced gardening techniques.
The two
volumes are available in large print, on Daisy CD, in Braille, on audio CD
and on tape. These publications are available from our online publications
shop or by calling on 0118 988 5688.
Thrive Membership
Thrive
Members have a professional
interest in using gardening and horticulture to benefit disabled and
disadvantaged people. Members include social and therapeutic horticultural
practitioners, occupational therapists, teachers, care managers as well as
the many professionals working in horticulture, social care or health
positions.
www.thrive.org.uk
|
| |
|
|
| |
CORNWALL ACCESS PASS
The Self Advocacy Bodmin Forum, which is made up of adults with a
Learning Disability encourages people to speak up for themselves.
At a forum last year, the group were discussing how it was difficult
for them to use public transport in Cornwall. The group were
frustrated at the difficulties they had using public transport. Some
of the group said that it was difficult to be understood by the bus
drivers. It was decided that they could make this better by making
communication between them and the drivers easier. This was going to
be a challenge and it was agreed that to make this possible the
group needed to find someone who could help with making
communication better.
After numerous telephone conversations with many different people
and organisations the group finally spoke to Sally Lewis from the
East Cornwall Rural Transport Partnership. Sally offered to help and
a small working group from the forum arranged to meet with her.
After consultation with more forum members it was felt that it would
be a good idea to have cards to help to communicate with the bus
drivers. Sally explained to the working group about a scheme in
Devon which was similar to this.
Cornwall People First and the Rural Transport Partnership started to
work on the Cornwall Access Pass. The two organisations asked for
some money from the Learning Disability Development Fund to see this
project happen. The money was secured and finally the work on the
Cornwall Access Pass could truly start. Sally spoke to the 26 bus
companies and Cornwall County Council to see if they would support a
scheme in Cornwall.
The
Cornwall Access Pass is a small yellow wallet with several plastic
pockets in which people with communication difficulties can insert
cards with pictorial or written messages on.
For
example “Return Fare Please”, "Please can you let me know when I get
to my stop?” and “Please be patient with me”.
The group realized that it would be necessary to produce an easy
read booklet to go with the Access Pass. Members of the Bodmin Forum
were willing to have their photographs taken to be put in the
booklet. This would accompany the wallet to help with the use of it.
East Cornwall Rural Transport Partnership arranged for the Access
Pass to be made. The booklets were printed by Deltor, a company in
Cornwall.
On January 24th. 2007 at the Bodmin Forum, the Cornwall People First
- Cornwall Access Pass was launched.
The Cornwall Access Pass can also be used on trains, at leisure
centres and local job centres. If proven successful there are plans
to expand the pass so it can help people communicate effectively in
an even wider range of social situations.
The Cornwall Access pass was such a simple idea that has made a huge
difference to people, giving them the confidence and
  ability
to use services and facilities independently.
To find out
more about the scheme contact:
 Cornwall People First
The Lescudjack Centre - Penmere Close - Penzance - TR18 3PE
Tel: 01736 334857
email -
cornwallpeoplefirst@hotmail.co.uk
Do readers have
anything similar running in their areas ? ...
Let us know !!! ...
The Ed. |
|
|
|
| |
|
Fancy a weekend away ... but want
something different ?
 ..... could
provide the solution
If your planning a weekend or short break
in the UK then they offer an amazing variety of choices, from lively
activity holidays & entertainment breaks to cultural experiences &
relaxing spa breaks. All at stunning Hotels and exclusively for
adults. The packages are on a half board basis and include nightly
entertainment. And what's more, they are disabled friendly.
However ... you need to
do a bit of research. As each Hotel is converted from an old
'country house', they have their individual modifications, just like
we all have our individual needs, so you need to check them out
before you start planning to 'get away'.
Luckily, Steve, the
very helpful guy at the Warners Internet Team is 'very on the ball'
and has emailed me a detailed description of each venue which you
can access by clicking
HERE
My advice is to choose
a Hotel that suits your personal needs, then go to the website and
check out the different breaks on offer. Also on the website are
details of the latest online offers available and you can get an
instant quote.
A couple of 'clicks' and you should
have all the information you need.
Personally , I would go for the 'relaxing spa break' with the
'personal butler' add on ... and yes ... that is a hint !
Happy Holidays ...
The Ed. xxx |
|
|
|
| |
Are you a Nippi ?
or more of a Trippi
kind of dude !! 
Whatever your individual needs
Nippi Vechicles
Ltd in Staffordshire
can provide...
... And with a style that is in your Editor's humble opinion ... is heads
above the rest of the field.
And the good news is that they are available through
I'm not going to
give you a load of technical details, it's all available on their website
but here's the basics.
The NIPPI, originally conceived in 1983 is a three wheeled scooter, designed
to allow wheelchair bound people to drive independently. It brings
independence without assistance. Visit friends, commute to work or go
shopping when you want. It can be driven from your own wheelchair without
need for costly conversion. For those who are more able, a seat can be
fitted and it comes in a hard top version too.
Stylish and modern the TRIPPI MAX
provides a stable ride suitable for the more able bodied amongst us. And
here's where the arguments would start in our house. The abled one ( he who
can't pass a mirror without gazing fondly into it ) has already intimated
that he wouldn't mind riding around the village on it. If he thinks it
'rocks', who are we to argue. It can be driven on a provisional license.
For more information
on both trikes go to their website
www.nippi.co.uk
or if you are telling
internet-less friends about it, they can call the very friendly team on
01283 520 620
Their company statement
is "affordable transport for the independent individual" and we think that
'affordable' and 'individual' is just what we need.
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
 It’s
What You Can Do That Counts
Get Involved at
Calvert Trust Exmoor
 Calvert
Trust Exmoor offers residential outdoor adventure for people with
disability. It’s the perfect place to get active, whatever the
disability. Climbing, abseiling, kayaking, zipwire, riding,
archery, canoeing, sailing, horse riding, carriage driving,
orienteering and challenge courses – it’s all here.
The
inclusiveness, encouragement and specialist equipment give visitors
the best chance to find out exactly what they can do. We
help guests to challenge their disability through outdoor
adventure. Quite literally:
“To
see James who’s now wheelchair-dependent out of his chair and ‘walk’
the wall was amazing.”
 Our
indoor and outdoor climbing walls have a range of different climbs
to suit varying abilities. If a guest can’t leave their wheelchair,
we abseil them in their chair!
We have a large
indoor riding school and outdoor arena. We also offer carriage
riding for those unable to leave their chairs. As is typical here,
adaptive equipment allows everyone to have a go. We have hoists
not only in our accommodation but on the jetty, in the riding
school, swimming pool and hot tub.
After the day’s
activities, guests relax in the accessible hydro pool and enjoy the
steam room and jacuzzi. The bar and the sensory room are
favourites, too.
All of our
accommodation is accessible and high quality, the food is
home-cooked and excellent.
At Calvert
Trust Exmoor things previously thought impossible are made possible.
Why not visit us and find out for yourself?
|
|
|
|
|
