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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 BLACKBURNAND 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 MANCHESTERArndale 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

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 betweenApril 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 1April 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%.

ADfT 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. ”

IN CONTROL: Karen Bucknall preparing for the 2022 Commonwealth Games

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

andAdvice Line (DIAL) Freephone 0808 800 3333

Karen’s floating – on air

IT’SAMAZING 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 LIVERPOOLAssociation of Disabled People. 0151 2638366.Text0151260 4076. n ACSIL(Amputeesand Carers),Tel,01512611166 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 RHYLTel 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 MIDSAmputee Group. 07891 794733; 07585 958322; 07557 228154

RaveRavereviewsreviews forforTVTVdramadrama

THE BBC’s ground-breaking drama on the disability campaigning and love story between Barbara Lisicki andAlan Holdsworth received almost universal praise.

The Telegraph, The Times, The Independent, and The Guardian all published glowing reviews of When Barbara MetAlan.

The hour-long drama tells the story through the eyes of Barbara Lisicki (Ruth Madeley) andAlan Holdsworth (Arthur Hughes), two disabled cabaret performers who met at a gig in 1989 and would go on to become the driving force behind DAN - the DirectAction Network.

The drama is one of a series of powerful BBC programmes featuring inspirational disabled people, which included Mat Fraser’s Crip Tales, Being Frank –The Frank Gardner Story, Katie Price’s Harvey and Me, Cerrie Burnell’s Silenced: The Hidden Story of Disabled Britain and Paddy and Christine McGuinness: Our Family andAutism n You can watch the film on BBC iPlayer.

Sarah’sstarroleSarah’sstarrole

ACTOR and campaigner Sarah Gordy – star of BBC TV’s

TheAWord – has landed

another major role.

The 45-year-old has appeared in everything from Upstairs Downstairs to Call the Midwife, and has now become the latest patron of the Down’s SyndromeAssociation.

Afierce campaigner, she has been hailed as a role model for challenging attitudes towards people with learning disabilities in her performances – something she hopes to bring to her role as patron.

Sarah, who is also a model and dancer, said of her appointment: “I like to think I make parents more optimistic about the future of their children and we know that the Down’s SyndromeAssociation is always there for them.

“I love my ‘mini me’s’ and want my darling little ones to be all they can be. ”

Sarah’s role as Sally Harper in the BBC’s Call the Midwife sparked controversy, as she played a woman with Down’s syndrome who became pregnant by a man with cerebral palsy while they were kept in an institution.

Her performance at the National Theatre in Jellyfish saw her character Kelly confront dating, sex, marriage and pregnancy – all themes rarely explored by disabled characters in mainstream theatre.

More recently, Sarah has played Katie in hit BBC drama TheA-Word. The show’s success has resulted in a spin-off, Ralph and Katie, currently in production and following the two characters who have Down’s syndrome as they navigate married life.

In 2018, the ground-breaking star became the first woman with Down’s syndrome to be

honoured with an MBE, for services to the arts and people with disabilities, and the first to receive an honorary degree from a UK university. Sarah joins the likes of film star Dame Judi Dench, former motor racing champion Damon Hill, Emma Barton, Peter Davison and fitness guru Derrick Evans as patrons of the charity. DSAchief executive Carol Boys said: “We are absolutely delighted to have Sarah on board as a patron. What she has done to highlight the abilities of people who have Down’s syndrome in the arts is absolutely amazing!

“Sarah is a strong, independent and passionate woman who is a champion not only for the rights of people who have learning disabilities but also for those of all women. ”

The DSA’s aim is to enable people who have Down’s syndrome to live full and rewarding lives.

VISUAL PROBLEMS

n ACCRINGTON

Tel 01254 233332 n BARROW Tel 01229 820698 n BIRMINGHAMAction for

Blind Tel 0121 665 4200 n BLACKBURN

Tel 0125 554143 n BLACKPOOL: N-Vision

Tel 01253 362696 n BURY Tel 0161 763 7014 n BURNLEY

Tel 01282 438507 n CARLISLE:Action for Blind People Tel 01228 595121 n CHESHIRE & N WALES:

Vision Support. Tel 01244 381515 n CUMBRIA(West)

Tel 01946 592474 n CUMBRIA(Sth Lakeland)

Tel 01539 726613 n GUIDE DOGS

Tel 0118 983 5555 n HENSHAW’S 0161872 234 or 0151 708 7055 n LIVERPOOL: Bradbury

Fields.Tel 0151 221 0888:

Action for Bind

Tel 0151 298 3222 n MANCHESTER:Action for

Blind Tel 0161 787 9252 n PRESTON:Action for Blind People Tel 01772 320550 n OLDHAM Tel 0161682 8019 n ROSSENDALE

Tel 01706 873256 n SIGHTLINE (North West)

Tel 0800 587 2252 n WIGAN Tel 01942 242891 n WIRRALTel 0151 652 8877

HEARING ISSUES

n BIRMINGHAM Institute for

Deaf Tel 0121 246 6101 n CHESHIRE Deaf Society

Tel 01606 47831 n CUMBRIADeaf Society

Tel 01228 606434 n LANCASHIRE (EAST)

Deaf Society

Tel 01282 839180 n MANCHESTER Deaf Centre. Tel 0161 273 3415

Genie Networks.

Tel 0161 941 4549.

Text 18001 0161 941 4549 n MERSEYSIDE Society for

Deaf Tel 0151 228 0888 n SOUTHPORT Centre for the Deaf Tel 01704 537001 n ST HELENS: Deafness

Resource Centre

Tel 01744 23887 n WOLVERHAMPTON Centre for Deaf Tel 01902

HELP AT THE END OF A PHONE

CARERS’ CENTRES

n ACCRINGTON Tel 01254 387 444 n BLACKBURN with DARWEN Tel 01254 688 www.bwdcarers.org n BLACKPOOL Blackpool Borough Council, Tel 01253 477 716 nCUMBRIA Carlisle. Tel 01228 542 156 Penrith. Tel 01768 890 280 Barrow-in-Furness. Tel 01229 822 822 Kendal. Tel 01539 732 927 Whitehaven, Tel 01946 592 223 n CHESHIRE & WARRINGTON Helpline:0300 102 0008 n KNOWSLEY Tel 0151 549 1412 n LANCASTER Tel 01524 66475 nLIVERPOOL Tel 0151 705 2307 n MANCHESTER Tel 0161 835 2995 n MORECAMBE Tel 01524 833456 n PRESTON Tel 01772 200173 n RUNCORN Tel 01928 580182 n WIDNES Tel 0151 257 9673 n SALFORD Tel 0161 833 0217 n SEFTON Tel 0151 288 6060 n ST HELENS Tel 01744 675 615 n STOCKPORT Tel 0161 442 0442 n WARRINGTON (WIRED) Tel 01925 633 492 n WEST LANCS Tel 01695 711243 n WIGAN & LEIGH Tel 01942 705959 / 486923

MIDLANDS

n BIRMINGHAM Tel 0121 675 8000 n SOLIHULL Tel 0121 788 1143 n WALSALL Tel 01922 610 810

NORTH WALES

n ANGLESEY Tel 01248 722828 n BANGOR Tel 01248 370 797 n CONWY Tel 01492 533714 n DENBIGHSHIRE: NEWCIS, Tel: 0845 603 3187 nDOLGELLAU Tel 01341 421167 n FLINTSHIRE: NEWCIS, Tel: 01352 751436 n WREXHAM CARERS SERVICE