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All Together NOW!
SHOPMOBILITY
n ALTRINCHAM . Tel 0161 929 1714 n ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE. Tel 0161 339 9500 n BARROW. Tel 01229 434039 n BIRKENHEAD. Tel 0151 647 6162 n BLACKBURN AND DARWEN. Tel 01254 690566 or 07757 502217 n BLACKPOOL. Tel 01253 349427 n BOLTON. Tel 01204 392946 n CARLISLE. Tel 01228 631564 n CHESTER. Tel 01244 312626 n CHORLEY. Tel 01257 260 888 n COLWYN BAY. Tel 01492 533822 n CREWE. Tel 01270 580 031 n ELLESMERE PORT. Tel 0151 355 1420 n KENDAL. Tel 01539 740 933 n LEIGH, Wigan. Tel 01942 777 985 n LIVERPOOL. Tel 0151 707 0877 n MANCHESTER Trafford Centre. Tel 0161 747 2684 n MANCHESTER Arndale Centre. Tel 0161 839 4060 n NELSON. Tel 01282 692 502 n NORTHWICH, Vale Royal Tel 01606 288820 n OSWESTRY. Tel 01691 656882 n PENRITH. Tel 01768 895 438 n PRESTON. Tel 01772 204 667 n RHYL. Tel 01745 350665 n ROCHDALE. Tel 01706 865 986 n RUNCORN, Halton Lea Tel 01928 710144 n SHREWSBURY. Tel 01743 236900 SKELMERSDALE. Tel 01695 550066 n ST HELENS. Tel 01744 613 388 n STOCKPORT. Tel 0161 666 1100 n WARRINGTON. Tel 01925 240064 n WARRINGTON. Birchwood Tel 01925 822 411 WIDNES: 0151 511 8833 n WIGAN. Tel 01942 776 070 n WINSFORD Tel 01606 557550 n WREXHAM. Tel 01978 312390 MIDLANDS n BIRMINGHAM. Snow Hill Railway Station. Tel 0121 236 8980. Level 2, Centre Car Park, Bullring. Tel 0121 616 2942 n STAFFORD. Tel 01785 619456 n STOKE ON TRENT. Tel 01782 233333 n SUTTON COLDFIELD. Tel 0121 355 1112 n TAMWORTH. Tel, 01827
APRIL/MAY 2022
www.alltogethernow.org.uk
Blue badge prosecutions halved during pandemic
THE numbers of badge parking prosecutions have been halved. Department for Transport figures show prosecutions for fraud and misuse of the permits has fallen by 49%. Only 698 prosecutions took place between April 1, 2020 and March 31, 2021, compared with 1,429 in 20019-20. The number of Blue Badge holders has also decreased by 92,000, with a total of 2.35m badge holders in England on March 31, 2021. Between 1 April 2020 and March 31, 2021, 824,000 Blue Badges were issued
by local authorities – 142,000 fewer than the previous year and a fall of 14.7%. A DfT spokesperson said: “The drop in
prosecuted badges may relate to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on citizen behaviour, local authority enforcement practices, and availability of resources.” Heidi Turner, at the Disabled Motoring UK charity, said: “We appreciate the pandemic caused problems with prosecutions. “However, we hope the numbers will rise again and that local authorities will make a renewed commitment to policing the scheme so it remains fit for purpose.”
HELPLINES
n Personal Budgets Helpline Tel. 0330 995 0404 Opening hours: 9.30am-1.30pm, Tues and Thurs personalbudgets@disabilityright suk.org n Disabled Students Helpline Tel. 0330 995 0414 Opening hours: 11am-1pm on Tues and Thurs students@disabilityrightsuk.org n Scope’s Disabilty Information and Advice Line (DIAL) Freephone 0808 800 3333
Karen’s floating – on air
IN CONTROL: Karen Bucknall preparing for the 2022 Commonwealth Games
I
T’S AMAZING how dealing with some of life’s toughest challenges can suddenly lead to new opportunities.
Last year, sociology student Karen Bucknall was battling bowel cancer – even completing her studies while having chemotherapy. Now, she is preparing to report on the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham as she trains to become a sports journalist. Karen said: “The support I had at
Coventry University was absolutely brilliant. “ I was determined to complete my degree in memory of the friends and family who I’ve sadly lost to cancer, and to make my university and lecturers proud.” However, despite enjoying her sociology course, Karen’s career path and professional passion turned towards media after she joined her university’s radio station – Phoenix Radio. She had her own show and won a top newcomers award with ITV Central.
“Student radio was absolutely amazing. I loved every minute and it actually helped take my mind off the cancer and the treatment I was undergoing. “It helped to shape who I am today and it kickstarted what is now a passion and a really exciting career for me.” Alongside her passion for media and journalism, Karen is also determined to help others who are battling with cancer. “I want to use my experiences to help others,” she said.
HELP AT THE END OF A PHONE
n ANGLESEY: TARAN Tel 01407 721933 n BLACKPOOL Disability Information and Support. Tel 01253 472 202. Textphone 01253 476 450 n CHESHIRE CIL Tel 01606 331853 n CHESTER Dial House Tel 01244 345655 n DENBIGHSHIRE Tel 01745 354445 n ELLESMERE PORT DICE Tel 0151 355 1420
n HALTON Disability Service Tel 01928 717222 n KNOWSLEY DISABILITY CONCERN. 0151 480 4090 n LANCASTER DISC Tel 01524 34411 n LIVERPOOL Association of Disabled People. 0151 263 8366. Text 0151 260 4076. n ACSIL (Amputees and Carers), Tel, 0151 261 1166 n THE BRAIN CHARITY Tel 0151 298 2999
n MANCHESTER (GTR) Coalition of Disabled People Tel 0161-273 5154 n MOLD Flintshire Disability Tel 01352 755546 n NELSON: Pendle Pakistan Welfare Association. Tel 01282 603 616 n PRESTON DISC: Tel 01772 558 863. Text 01772 204 787 n RHYL Tel 01745 350665 n STOCKPORT: Disability
Stockport. 0161 480 7248 n WARRINGTON Disability Partnership. 01925 240064 n WIRRAL WIRED Tel 0151 670 1500 n WEST LANCS HELPLINE Freefone 0800 220676 n ST HELENS DASH Tel 01744 453053 MIDLANDS n BIRMINGHAM Disability Resource Centre Tel 0121 789 7365
n Disabled People’s Network Solihull Tel 0121 788 1544 n STOKE: Disability Solutions Tel 01782 683800 n WOLVERHAMPTON Elder and Disabled Group Tel 01902 448552 n WEST MIDS Amputee
Group. 07891 794733; 07585 958322; 07557 228154
