Atn issue53

This is more than just a newspaper – it is the key that opens a thousand doors

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— SIR BERT MASSIE, BRITAIN’S LEADING DISABILITY CAMPAIGNER

SIR ELTON’S PARALYMPIC CONCERT

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WIN! WIN! WIN! FEBRUARY-MARCH, 2014

FLEETWOOD MAC TRIBUTE TICKETS UP FOR GRABS

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WINGWALKER

Indian summer

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TOM, , IS AT IT AGAIN

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opening doors . . . broadening minds

p18-19 TAKE ME HOME!

All Together NOW!

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What’s inside NEWS

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FAMILIES

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THE MORGAN FOUNDATION

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GETTING ON

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UNITED UTILITIES

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MERSEYTRAVEL

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SOUNDNG OFF: Sir Bert Massie

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MOTORZONE TRIBUTES

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INDEPENDENT LIVING

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HEALTHZONE

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SKILLZONE

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HOROSCOPES

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GARDENING

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THEATRE GUIDE

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PUZZLEZONE

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CONTACT BOARD

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SPORTZONE

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n All Together NOW! is a registered charity set up to provide a tip top news service for anyone whose life is affected by disability, long-term health condtions or age. n The charity – the only one of its kind in the UK – relies entirely on support from its sponsors, advertisers, subscriptions and donations. n If YOU can help, please contact us on

0151 230 0307

Goverment acts on mental health NEWS

February/March 2014

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CTION has been promised to help the one in four people who will experience mental health problems – and bring an end to the stigma that

people face on a daily basis.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg declared: “All too often, attitudes to mental health are stuck in the dark ages; full of stigma and stereotypes.

“It’s time for us to bring mental health out of the shadows and to give people with mental health conditions the support they need and deserve.

“We are calling for action – across the NHS, the mental health sector and wider society – to champion change, to transform outdated attitudes and practices, and to improve the lives of people with mental health problems.

“We recognise we’ve got a mountain to climb. But we’re working hard to ensure that the needs of those with mental health problems are considered not just in the NHS, but also across our public sector: with better support in education, employment, the justice sector, housing and elsewhere.

“Ultimately, it’s going to take all of us working together to achieve the change in attitudes that we need, to create an environment

‘We must bring this stigma to an end’ together where it’s okay to talk about mental health.”

Desite improvements in recent years, there is a long way to go to make mental health as important as physical health and drive out unacceptable practices and prejudices that still exist.

Mr Clegg said those practices included long waiting times, people being transferred long distances to get a bed, facedown restraint being used too often, and children being cared for on adult wards then facing a cliff-edge of support when they turn 18.

“People with severe mental illness also face shorter life expectancy – this shows that more needs to be done to help those with mental health problems stay physically healthy as well,” added the Deputy Prime Minister.

“The document, Closing the Gap: Priorities for Essential

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Change in Mental Health, outlines 25 areas for health and care services to take action which will make a difference to the lives of people with mental health conditions.

“These changes will mean that the system is fairer for people with mental health problems. The document aims to encourage the NHS to take mental health as seriously as physical health.”

From April, patients needing treatment fo a mental health problem will be able to choose where they get their care in the same way someone needing a hip or knee replacement has had a right to choose which hospital to have their operation at since 2008. The choice will not be limited to an NHS provider.

And £43 million will be invested in pilots on better housing for people with mental health problems or learning disabilities.

Architects and builders will work with mental health experts and charities to bid for projects next year with the aim of new homes beginning to be built by 2017.

n The cost of mental illness is not just counted in the NHS - it also costs the economy over £105 billion every year.

Depression and anxiety alone cost £16.4 billion through NHS treatment and lost earnings.

Editor: Tom Dowling email: news@alltogethernow.org.uk

Advertising/sponsorship Chris Groves email: sales@alltogethernow.org.uk IT Support: Ken Almond Website: Pharos Design

NEXT EDITION: Tuesday 8 April, 2014 All Together NOW! is published by All Together Now! Ltd, The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP Registered Charity No.1106387 Company No. 5096931

n EX-PREMIERSHIP footballer and BBC Radio 5 pundit Danny Mills has received an ‘Outstanding Ambassador’ award from Shine, the charity that helps people affected by spina bifida. n Danny became the charity’s patron after losing his son, Archie, to spina bifida and hydrocephalus 11 years ago.

“It is a fantastic honour to be recognised, but it mustn’t be forgotten that so many others do an amazing job fundraising.” n Shine: Tel. 01733 555988.

HALF OF All Together TogetherNOW! NOW! READERS DO NOT SEE ANY OTHER NEWSPAPER — THE MURRAY CONSULTANCY

Support changes hit deaf workers WORKERS who have hearing impairments are being penalised by the Government Access to Work scheme.

That’s the warning from charities representing deaf people.

Action on Hearing Loss (formerly RNID) and other organisations say that with deaf people already four times more likely to be unemployed, the change in policy will restrict their access to communication support and increase costs for employers that could force people with hearing loss out of work.

Early reports suggest these new measures could cost employers an extra £10,000 per deaf member of staff.

Currently, Access to Work provides deaf employees with up to 30 hours communication support per week.

However, the scheme is moving deaf people to employ full-time salaried communication support, rather than freelance support, restricting the range of help deaf people need and the flexibility they rely on.

Paul Breckell, chief executive of Action on Hearing Loss, said: ‘It’s totally unrealistic for the 3.7 million deaf workers in the UK to recruit a full-time communication support worker.

“The type of support someone needs might vary from day to day and there are real problems in terms of the number of qualified professionals available – from little more than 1,000 British Sign Language interpreters to just 25 speech-to-text reporters.

“These unworkable changes will transfer additional, unsustainable costs to employers.”

David Buxton, chief executive of the British Deaf Association, said: “We are very concerned that deaf and hard of hearing Access to Work users were not properly consulted about the new 30 hours a week rule.” n Action on Hearing Loss Information Line 0808 808 0123 (freephone) or 0808 808 9000 (textphone)

TAKE ME HOME!

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

February/March 2014

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All Together NOW! is a big hitting charity newspaper with a circulation in excess of 100,000 copies. It doesn’t have the deep pockets of larger newspaper groups but delivers a well designed, well written, authoritative newspaper — Judges, O2 Media Awards

We’re going places!

All Together NOW!

3

The show with all the answers ONE of the biggest disability healthcare shows in the UK is heading to Manchester.

Taking place at Manchester Central on February 14-15, the IIC Show is aimed at the 1.8 million disabled people in the North West and industry professionals, trade specialists.

There will also be a wide range of health, education and neurological seminars plus demonstrations of how best to help people who have fallen or who need support when moving about in their homes.

With up to 250 exhibitors, a family fun inclusive activity area, an adaptive sports zone and a mobility car showroom, the IIC Show is definitely worth a visit. n www.iicshow.com (See centre pages)

Why we love this paper

— but we need to upgrade our delivery service . . .

W

E WILL go to the ends of the world to get copies of All Together NOW! to you.

Last year our volunteer drivers clocked up a whopping 25,000 miles – the circumference of the earth – to get more than HALF A MILLION papers into more than 500 venues across the region.

Without fail, and for four days every week, come rain, snow, or hail, our fantastic drivers spend four days delivering almost 10,000 copies to supermarkets, hospitals and other outlets.

It’s a remarkable feat. But now, after eight years of pounding the highways,

the wear and tear on their cars – and on themselves(!) – is beginning to take its toll, as subtlely expressed by one volunteer who had a bit of fun with this picture he took while holidaying in India.

Of course, trying to raise sufficient funds for a new delivery van (and for two new part-time drivers) is going to be tough for the All Together Now charity, especially in these economic times, but it’s something that’s now becoming vital.

We’ve already had some early success, too – John Moores Foundation (£4,000) and the Albert Hunt Trust (£1,000) – have generously

set things in motion.

I’ll keep you updated about our progress.

Meanwhile, I hope you like this action-packed issue. It’s been great fun putting together all the pages.

Please do keep sending us your articles.

Thanks, too, to all our partners and advertisers – we couldn’t exist without your fantastic support We’ll be back in spring – the week after the Grand National, to be precise.

Hopefully, all the horse will return safely – and maybe we’ll all be just a little bit richer!

TOM DOWLING, editor

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“I PICK up my copy of All Together NOW! at the Countess of Chester Hospital. I take extra copies for members of the pensioners’ club I help to run. It is such an inspirational paper. Thank you.”

Mrs Jean Barnes, Thornton Drive, Upton, Chester “I LOVE All Together NOW! I have got all my friends in the line dancing club reading it as well.”

Mrs J Birchall, Childwall Court, Ellesmere Port.

Autism help days A NORTH West children’s charity is hosting a series of free drop-in sessions to help parents and carers of children with autism spectrum conditions.

The sessions, being run by the Together Trust, will be hosted by Sue Allison, an experienced speech and language therapist working at the charity’s Inscape House School for young people with autism.

The sessions take place at the charity’s headquarters in Schools Hill, Cheadle on March 11 and March 25. n Place are limited. Call 0161 283 4766 www.togethertrust.org.uk

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Wingwalker Tom, 93 NEWS

Bus wheelchair spaces: appeal court to decide THE courts are finally set to provide a clear and definitive ruling on disabled people’s right to access wheelchair spaces on buses.

Two county court cases which saw disabled people take action under the Equality Act against bus companies will now be heard together at the court of appeal, probably in the summer.

The first of the cases saw a judge rule that Arriva North East’s “first come, first served” policy on the wheelchair space on their buses did not breach the Equality Act. Four months later, a second judge, this time at Leeds county court, ruled that wheelchair-users should have priority over other bus-users in wheelchair spaces, and that First Group’s own “first come, first served” policy had breached the act.

Now a senior judge has ruled that both cases should be heard together by the court of appeal.

Book your space NOW! THE COUNTDOWN has started for DAD – the North West’s annual Disability Awareness Day, which takes pace at Walton Hall Gardens, near Warrington, on Sunday July 13.

Dave Thompson, chair of Warrington Disability Partnership, said: “DAD just gets better and better every year – with almost 30,000 people from all over the North West, and beyond, attending the event.

“We are always inundated with requests from organisations to have a stall. Last year there were more than 250! My advice this year is to book your space as early as you can as they are getting snapped up very quickly.” n Contact 01925 240064.

Carriages not on track MORE than half of rail carriages are still not fully accessible to disabled people, according to a new Government report.

It comes three months after MPs on the transport select committee warned that access to transport for disabled people was “unacceptably poor” and that improvements planned by the Government were being “watered down or abandoned”.

During the last year, the number of fully accessible rail carriages has increased by about 200 to more than 7,800 (about 46%).

All rail carriages have to be fully accessible by January 2020.

The report also reveals that, as of March 2013, an estimated 58% of the 78,000 taxis in England and Wales were wheelchair accessible, although in London this was 100%.

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OU’RE never too old to dream. And you’re never too old to turn those dreams into reality!

So says Tom Lackey, 93, who is set for his 31st wing walk, this time across the Straits of Gibraltar.

Tom’s already set nine world records and experienced every aerobatic stunt possible either stood on the wing or at the pilot’s controls.

Not bad for someone who only got the ‘flying’ bug when he was 80 – just one week after Tom’s wife Isabel died.

During Isabel’s successful career in the RAF, she had joked that he would never be able to fly a plane.

Tom went on to complete the majority of his CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) pilot training, but, due to his age, he was not allowed to fly single-handedly.

Not that that has stopped him from pursuing his other aerial pursuits – and raising more than £1 million for charity

along the way.

Last autumn he was featured on BBC TV after his most daring wing walk to date, across the Irish Sea from Castle Kennedy in Scotland to the City of Derry airport in Ireland. He flew for 81 minutes strapped to a vintage Boeing Stearman biplane.

Tom, from Shirley, West Midlands, said: “It still makes me smile when I remember my wife joking that I would never be capable of piloting a plane or performing stunts in the air.

“Whenever I fly I carry a photograph of Isabel and will be doing the same when I tackle my next challenge.

“Wing walking is pretty gruelling in terms of the wind buffeting you so high up at speeds of around 80mph.

“I do hope my next wing walking endeavour delivers as many donations as possible for Cancer Research.

Once I’ve landed, I’ll begin planning the next.”

Britain’s high streets become no-go areas

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RITAIN’S outdated high streets are frequently off-limits to young disabled people because of staff attitudes, broken equipment, blocked shopping aisles and inaccessible entrances.

A survey by the Trailblazers group of young disabled campaigners found that twothirds of respondents said physical access always or regularly affected where they decided to go on the high street.

More than two-thirds had been unable to access parts of a shop, restaurant or cafe because of broken or faulty equipment, while there were several reports of accessible changing rooms being used as storerooms.

Two in five felt they were restricted to shopping online because of poor access in their local town centre.

But three-quarters of those surveyed said they believed new technology and other developments, such as wireless payment and social media, had improved access for disabled people.

Trailblazer David Gillon said he believed councils needed to be given a duty to

ACTION MAN: Tom on his TGA ‘Superlight’ mobility scooter. “It’s great,” he says.

“Without it I would not be able to visit my local boating lake where I regularly row to keep fit for my wing walk challenges”

“actively enforce” access in their local area.

He said: “We’ve had the Disability Discrimination Act and the Equality Act since 1995. That’s 18 years, and it’s been going on for generations. It’s about time we started enforcing access, and not simply hoping people will change.”

Fleur Perry said: “So many shops and cafes on the high street are difficult to get around, and there are some I simply won’t go into purely because of the layout.

“I can only think that retailers are losing sales opportunities – if I can’t get to the products, I’m not going to buy them.”

Tanvi Vyas, Trailblazers project manager, said: “Being able to use banks, post offices, shops or cafes is a necessity of everyday life.

“However, we continue to hear from many young disabled people who are unable to physically access premises, encounter unhelpful staff and find accessible facilities being misused – discouraging many from paying a return visit.

“There are plenty of simple measures that service-providers can take. Displaying clear access information on websites, offering to

carry a disabled customer’s items, or investing in a portable ramp costing as little as £60, can make all the difference to a disabled shopper’s high street experience.”

The Trailblazer findings were backed up by another report from the online disability equipment store Really Useful Stuff, RUS director Mary-Anne Rankin, said: “Stories of loops being in place but not working, accessible counters being provided but not open, ramps and electronic doors being in place but aisles crammed with merchandise were familiar comments.”

Online shopping is also causing problems for disabled people, say technology charity AbilityNet, with many websites still inaccessible to those who use assistive technology.

Robin Christopherson, AbilityNet’s Head of Digital Inclusion, said: “Retailers who ignore the needs of disabled people risk missing out on a market which represents spending power of some £120 billion every year.”

It is illegal to bar disabled visitors from accessing goods and TAKE ME HOME! services online.

340,000 people – two-thirds of All Together NOW! readers – DON’T read any other disability or health publication — The Murray Consultancy

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February/March 2014

All Together NOW!

NEWS TRENCH HORROR: Thousands of soldiers suffered blindness in WW1

New light on blindness

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back of the brain. In the majority of cases injury to the back of the brain will result in partial blindness affecting not just one, but both eyes. This resultant blindness is debilitating.

The findings could lead to new technology to “The phenomenon of blindsight is known to support the rehabilitation of people who have occur in some patients, and we understand lost their sight through conditions such as a the information that is being taken in from the stroke. eye is processed in other areas of the brain in The research shows incidence of blindsight these cases. – where a seemingly blind person is able to “Our research confirms that blindsight is detect something in their visual field – is much actually far more common in patients who more common than previously understood.

In what is believed to be the most systematic have lost sight following a brain injury than previously understood.� and comprehensive study of the visual This work adds weight to an argument that phenomenon to date, 70% of patients tested begun following examination of veterans of were shown to have blindsight.

WW1 who were left blind following brain Professor Arash Sahraie, from the University injuries. of Aberdeen’s School of Psychology, who led Professor Sahraie continued:“Two camps of the study, said the findings could lead to better scientists developed. Some believed blindness diagnosis of patients who could benefit from following brain injury was absolute and sight rehabilitation. irreversible and09:57 others maintained that you PREP55C14-AllTogetherNow-262x165-Oct_Layout 1 24/09/2013 Page 1 He said: “Vision is processed mainly in the

CIENTISTS have shed new light on a 100-year-old argument into whether blindness is certain to follow a brain injury.

could never claim to have a person who is absolutely blind as the result of a brain injury, and that some visual ability always remains. “Our findings go some way to supporting the latter view, providing evidence that more patients than previously acknowledged could have intact visual abilities if tested extensively, using sensitive techniques.�

The technique developed through Professor Sahraie’s research uses pupil response as a predictor of blindsight, and could be used in the development of future diagnostic tests.

He said: “Our study showed that if you measure the size of the pupil to the nearest micrometre there are systematic fluctuations in cases where the patient has blindsight. “We hope now to develop our findings into a 10-minute test that uses this pupil response predictor to confirm blindsight, and the best cases for sight rehabilitation.�

The research was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Park gives me the help and support I need to stay focussed on planning the most expensive time of the year.

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Sir Elton’s summer gig for GB athletes SIR Elton John will be giving a live solo performance in the summer to help young Olympic and Paralympic hopefuls.

Organisers SportsAid are hoping the concert, on Saturday June 28 at historic Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire, will raise ÂŁ500,000 for a new athlete fund.

Sir Elton, pictured, said: “I thought the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were incredible and I was very moved by the ‘inspire a generation’ motto that accompanied it. “The Games really brought home to me the sacrifices and enormous challenges that young people face to reach the highest level in sport – and from such an early age, too.�

Welcoming the news, British sporting legend Sir Steve Redgrave said: “This is just amazing. To have a global superstar like Sir Elton John backing the next generation of athletes is incredible.�

“Thanks to Park, I don’t have to worry about how I’ll pay for Christmas�

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All Together NOW!

February/March 2014

NEWS

www.alltogethernow.org.uk TAKE ME HOME!

Lottery Fund targets independent living DISABLED people will be at the heart of a new £5 million, lottery-funded programme to research the state of independent living and come up with practical improvements to disabled people’s lives across the UK. The Big Lottery Fund launched the new programme days after Disabled People Against Cuts used an emergency meeting in Parliament to release a new report on the crisis in independent living.

BLF – which gives out two-fifths of the money raised by the National Lottery to good causes – is looking for a single organisation to lead the programme.

Peter Ainsworth, chair of the Fund, said: “There is a well-established link between disability, poverty and social exclusion, and this programme will review the existing knowledge and gain new insights into specific issues that are affecting opportunities for disabled people.

“We will then come up with practical ideas on how to address the issues.”

Why I love this paper WHAT a great paper! I am a support worker with the Making Space charity, working with adults who have mental health problems. I do hope you get the Mental Health Zone up and running because there is a real need for this in the community.

Joanne Connor (email))

‘Invisible’ patients HOSPITAL patients with learning disabilities face longer waits and mismanaged treatment due to a failure to understand them by nursing staff, says a new report.

It is estimated that one in 50 people in England have some form of learning disability such as Down’s syndrome.

Dr Irene Tuffrey-Wijne, senior research fellow in nursing at St George’s, University of London and Kingston University, said: “People with learning disabilities are largely invisible within the hospitals, which means that their additional needs are not recognised or understood by staff.

“Our study found many examples where the safety of people with learning disabilities was at risk.”

Dr Tuffrey-Wijne, a co-author of the study who works at the Faculty of Health, Social Care and Education, a partnership between the two universities, added: “The most common safety issues were delays and omissions of care and treatment.”

The study found that the main barrier to better and safer care was a lack of effective flagging systems, leading to a failure to identify patients with learning disabilities in the first place.

INDIAN SUMMER: “Visiting somewhere like India may seem a bit of a step into the unknown but I cannot recommend it enough.”

— Helen Dolphin, director of policy and campaigns at Disabled Motoring UK

New horizons O

RGANISING package holidays to India for people with mobility issues has always been a challenge.

Until now ...

Midlands-based Enable Holidays say their new Golden Triangle tour of northern India has been tailor-made for the more adventurous disabled holidaymaker.

Lynne Kirby, Enable’s founder and managing director, said they there’s a growing demand for more exciting and adventurous destinations.

“We are constantly looking for opportunities to satisfy our customers’ desires for something different and captivating.

“We have been working in conjunction with the Indian Tourist Board on the Golden

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Triangle Tour, which we’re delighted to be able to offer to our customers.”

One of the first to sample the tour was Helen Dolphin, who contracted meningococcal septicaemia 16 years ago aged 22, which led to the amputation of her hands and legs.

During the 11-day trip, Helen visited Delhi, the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Jaipur and Sikandra.

“My trip was absolutely amazing,” said Helen, who is director of policy and campaigns at Disabled Motoring UK. “The people could not have been friendlier or more helpful and it seems that India is one of the most accessible places I’ve ever visited – not just because they have ramps but because wherever I wanted to go there was someone there ready to help.

“Visiting somewhere like India may seem a bit of a step into the unknown but I cannot recommend it enough.”

Lynne arranged for Helen to fly to India with Virgin Atlantic while Travel World Experiences (TWX) provided all of the ground arrangements including transfers to and from the airport and sightseeing tours.

The airline’s Passenger Disability Adviser Geraldine Lundy, said: “We are so glad Helen enjoyed her experience in India and hope it inspires many more disabled people to travel.

“Virgin Atlantic has a team of staff dedicated to looking after passengers with accessibility needs and we encourage anyone that needs help to contact us in advance of their flight so we can make their journey as easy and comfortable as possible.”

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February/March 2014

Pop go the myths . . .

All Together NOW!

NEWS

Can YOU give a child a home?

MUSIC LESSON: Professor George McKay

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HE first major study of the relationship between popular music and disability has been written by an academic from the University of Salford.

Shakin’ All Over: Popular Music and Disability, by Professor George McKay, aims to dispel the perception that musicians must meet certain aesthetic ideals to succeed in the business.

Professor McKay looks at well-known artists such as Blockheads frontman Ian Dury, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and Steve Harley, all of whom are childhood polio survivors who have made an extraordinary mark on the music scene.

He discusses how disability influenced the careers of artists across a broad range of genres, including the Sex Pistols’ Johnny Rotten, Ian Curtis of Joy Division, The Who’s Pete Townshend, along with soul

music’s Stevie Wonder.

Professor McKay also explores how soul legends Teddy Pendergrass and Curtis Mayfield coped with becoming physically disabled as a result of accidents, while continuing to make music.

Another of the book’s most poignant stories is that of 1980s pop singer Kata Kolbert, whose demo tapes were rejected when the record companies found out she used a wheelchair.

Author of many books on alternative cultures, festivals, and music from jazz to punk and rave, Professor McKay became interested in the history of disability in music 35 years ago when he saw Ian Dury perform. He began to wonder how many disabled artists have made a significant impact in popular music.

“Dury walked on stage uncertainly, his body looked curious,” said Professor McKay. “We knew he was disabled because of childhood polio, but I don’t think we were

prepared for the impact of his presence, his attitude, let alone his uncompromising songs about disability.

“The moment we begin to look for, or discuss, disability – whether in popular music or elsewhere in culture and society – we find it everywhere.”

A CALL has gone out for more foster carers and adoptive parents.

Liverpool City Councillor Jane Corbett said: “Providing a home for a young person who cannot live with their own parents is one of the best things you can do.

“You’ll find it won’t just be their life you change for the better, but your own.

“The council’s current foster carers and adoptive parents are all ordinary people living ordinary lives and they come from all sections of the community.

“They want to see children grow and develop and they are willing to adapt their lives to give them the time that they need.”

“Foster carers receive a generous allowance for the looked after children in your care and a payment for your time and skills.

“As an adoptive parent you will be looking to be a ‘forever family’ for a child or children. You will take on all of the legal rights and responsibilities that you would expect if you had had the child yourself. n To foster, call 0151 515 0000 or visit at: www.fosteringforliverpool.co.uk n To adopt, call 0151 233 3700 or visit at www.liverpool.gov.uk/adoption

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FAMILIES

All Together NOW!

8

TAKE ME HOME!

February/March 2014

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Parents get their own champions M

ORE than 1,800 champions are to help parents cope with big changes to the special educational needs process.

A new £30 million fund has been set up to recruit and train ‘independent supporters’ – drawn from independent voluntary, community and private organisations – to help the families of children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) through the new process.

Edward Timpson, minister for children and families, said: “Our fund will allow families to access help and support from fully-trained champions across the country.

“I know how much they value any support in helping them access the services their children need.

“Independent supporters will be able to spend one-to-one time with families giving them the independent help and advice they need to progress through the new SEN assessment and education, health and care planning process.

“This will ensure that every child and young person with SEN can take full advantage of our reforms.

“Where there is disagreement, independent supporters will also make sure councils understand what families want, and help families to challenge decision making so children with SEN receive the support they really need.

“The Council for Disabled Children (CDC) will ensure that a range of organisations provide this totally independent help, overseeing the recruitment and training of the supporters

– about 12 per area – in time for the implementation of our comprehensive SEN reforms.”

“We look forward to working with a wide range of private, voluntary a community sector partners as we develop proposals further.”

Clare Gent, development manager at Action for Children’s Service, said: “Independent supporters are a lifeline for disabled children, ensuring they receive the best possible support from health, education and social care services.

“This injection of funding, and the national plan that sits behind it, will enable more children to have a better life.

“However, this programme must be sustainable – children and families will not benefit if this announcement only leads to a short-term change.”

A NEW kind of musical instrument is ensuring that no-one ever needs to feel left out again.

Soft and squeezable, the Skoog plugs into a PC or laptop. By touching, pressing, squashing, twisting or tapping its five colour-coded sides, users can ‘play’ a wide range of instruments.

Skoogmusic, the assistive music technology company, is working with Lancashire Music Service to put at least two Skoogs into every special education needs school in the county.

“With a Skoog in the classroom, anyone can be in the band,” said Dr Benjamin Schogler, co-inventor of the Skoog. n Tel. 0131 554 2838. n www.skoogmusic.com

ForoKnsotweslery

f

Could you provide short term care to a child with disabilities?

Short term foster carers are desperately needed to provide respite care in Knowsley.

Call 0151 443 3958 or visit www.knowsley.gov.uk and search ‘fostering’ www.facebook.com/FosterforKnowsley

The most

rewardin g job you’ll ever do.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

February/March 2014

All Together NOW!

How we can help . . .

H

ERE at the Morgan Foundation we want to help organisations who share our philosophy – Making a

Difference.

Over the past decade we have helped hundreds of organisations across the region, committing over £10 million.

This year we will be giving away a whopping £1.5 MILLION to good causes.

Created in 2001 by

businessman Steve Morgan OBE, founder and chairman of Redrow plc, chairman of the Bridgemere Group of Companies and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, the Morgan Foundation supports charities across North Wales, Merseyside, West Cheshire and North Shropshire.

Our aim is to provide funding for small to medium-sized organisations who are addressing specific needs in these regions.

Tee up time for children W

ORKING with children and families is at the heart of everything we do here at The Morgan Foundation – so we are linking up with a charity with the exact same values for our bi-annual fundraising day.

We are particularly keen to support those who have already begun to make an impact, but need a helping hand to expand their work and increase their effectiveness.

We focus our help mainly on those who work directly with children and families but we recognise that many wider issues may also affect their welfare, so we are interested in any project which contributes to the quality of life in our region.

MOLLY BRENNAN in her buggy

KIAN WESTWOOD and his family at Molineux

Right equipment, right time

Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children is a national charity which works extensively with families across our areas of provision, offering a THREE-year-old Molly Brennan spent nine months in TEN-year-old Kian Westwood loves his range of practical support services – all accessed through a helpline Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, receiving constant specialist wheelchair – because it means staffed by disability-experienced nurses. ventilation due to her complex needs – she has Down’s he can watch his beloved Wolves football Proceeds from The syndrome and chronic lung disease. team at Molineux stadium in comfort.

Morgan Foundation The only offer of respite from the wards was a little Mum Nichola said: “Kian’s body Charity Golf Day and park at the back of the hospital. But without a specialist Gala Dinner in Cheshire functions don’t operate, which means he buggy to accommodate her emergency equipment, on May 16 will help to doesn’t know how to sit up straight. He Molly was unable to join her friends. fund essential specialist equipment for children specifically in the North tends to slide down in a chair or buggy, Mum Claire, from Chester, said: “Fortunately for us, Wales, Merseyside, West Cheshire, North Shropshire and strangling himself on the safety straps he Molly’s occupational therapist told us about this Wolverhampton areas. needs to stop him falling out. This amazing £2,000 buggy which was used by other This could include wheelchairs and walkers to help with mobility, wheelchair – provided by Newlife – offers ventilated children.

She also told us about Newlife specialist beds so children can sleep in safety, and communication aids better support, improving his posture. It Foundation. She applied on our behalf and a few days so they can tell their parents when they are hungry or in pain. means he can look around and see what later we had the buggy – and Molly had a life.

It We know that 100 per cent of the money awarded to Newlife will be is going on more easily.” changed everything for her.” spent providing vital equipment.

Newlife operates a successful recycling your county, go to: only maintain the current level of provision, particular, the Just Can’t Wait scheme, www.newlifecharity.co.uk and click on the and retail social enterprise business, which aims to get vital equipment to but expand services to meet increasing County Appeal map on the home page. working with leading UK and European high families within 72 hours, are services demand. As local authority budget cuts street retailers and manufacturers. This Morgan Foundation chairman Steve which the Morgan Foundation has continue to bite, we anticipate that even turns unwanted goods into essential support Morgan said: “Newlife has demonstrated identified as crucial to these families. more families will be forced to turn to for disabled and terminally ill children, an entrepreneurial and business-like They are exactly what we wish to charities like ours for help.” funding core nurse-led services. approach to addressing the daily support.” n To find out about the charity’s Since 2005 the charity has funded £10 difficulties which families with a disabled services, call the Newlife Nurse Helpline Newlife CEO Sheila Brown added: million of Equipment Grants for more than child face. on freephone 0800 902 0095 or go to “Support like this from The Morgan 6,700 children all around the UK. To find out “The practical help which it offers via www.newlifecharity.co.uk Foundation is key to Newlife’s ability to not how many grants Newlife has awarded in the provision of equipment and, in

www.morganfoundation.co.uk Tel. 01829 782800

9

GETTING ON . . .

10

All Together NOW!

WISE WINNIE . . . helps to solve some of the problems faced by older people

My holiday nightmare

Q

My daughter’s mother-in-law managed to infiltrate our annual holiday last year and this year she is trying to do the same.

We do not get on particularly well, largely because she spoils the children rotten.

She boasts about how well behaved they are as if it was because of her influence, which is maddening. She resorts to bribing them when she cannot win any other way.

She also completely disregards my daughter’s wishes and buys them whatever they ask for, even big things like unsuitable clothes and shoes that damage the feet. Naturally, they love this!

She has never pitched in and given real help in the bringing up of the children, such as meeting them from school.

How do we tell her she is not welcome on the holiday? I am sorry for her in some ways because I sense she is quite lonely.

A

The only way you can consider her going with you on holiday is to draw up strict guidelines and speak to her honestly.

Tell her the holiday will only run smoothly if she follows your family’s example when it comes to handling the children. Their good behaviour is due to the fact that you all agree in principle to how they are brought up.

She must make an effort to observe how the children are expected to behave and follow suit.

She must agree not to buy them major items like clothes without asking your opinion and abiding by it. It’s up to her.

Because she probably is lonely she subconsciously tries to gain their favour by giving them everything they ask for.

Gradually it may dawn on her that genuine loving relationships can only be built up on a basis of mutual respect.

I hope something is learned on this holiday.

February/March 2014

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Life is fragile, handle with care . . .

Sex and the over seventies . . .

SO it seems that despite what younger generations may have previously thought, people even in their 70s still like a bit of hanky-panky..

For the first time, the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, which interviewed over 15,000 adults over two years, focused on the sex life of older people up to the age of 74.

And first in line to welcome the report is Family Planning Association, which says that all too often our focus with regards

to sexual health tends to be around young people.

“The survey confirms what FPA has been hearing about for a long time from many of the people who we speak with - sex does not stop when you turn 50,” said Natika H Halil, FPA’s director of health and wellbeing.

“And yet we have no nationally collated indicators which cover the sexual health of anyone over the age of 24.

“This new data is extremely valuable and highlights that older age groups are not finding

appropriate services available for their needs.

“This is a genuine problem – very few older men and women actually feel able to seek help from professionals about their sexual health.

“We must better ensure that discussions about sex continue to be progressive, integrated into our conversations about health in general, and no longer the preserve of young people, with far too many older people shying away from this important aspect of their wellbeing.”

60-somethings the healthiest

M

ANY sixty-something workers are healthier and fitter than colleagues in their thirties.

Despite being twice their age, the workers aged 60plus have a lower health risk.

That’s according to the first Britain’s Healthiest Company Report – the biggest UK employee health study of nearly 10,000 people.

The results are based on PruHealth’s unique Vitality Age calculator which estimates years of life lost or gained by the presence or absence of certain clinical and lifestyle risk factors.

According to the report, the biggest contributing factors for an older Vitality Age are a lack of physical activity and being overweight.

PruHealth’s Dr Katie Tryon said: “Those in their thirties and forties, who should be at the prime of life, are letting their health suffer – perhaps prioritising a stressful job, or having to manage the pressures of new parenthood or both.

“Our research has highlighted that those in their 60s are closer, in terms of their health risk age difference, to those in their 20s.

“Perhaps, believing youth to no longer be on their

side, they are more conscientious when it comes to life choices. However, no matter what age, this should be the case for everyone.”

The average Vitality (health) Age of those in their 60s is 3.9 years older than their actual age, which is closer in line to those in their 20s (whose average Vitality Age is 3.8 years older than their actual age).

Those in their 30s and 40s have a higher Vitality Age difference, at 4.26 and 4.3 years respectively. An older Vitality Age, due to poor lifestyle choices such as smoking and little exercise, is costing people years off their lives, making them unhealthy and old before their time.

Out of the 10,000 UK employees who took part in the survey, 59% do not do enough physical activity.

Even more disturbing, one in seven (15%) workers admits doing no exercise, and this is costing them 7.4 years off their life.

Dr Tryon added: “The results are quite stark. Those who live an unhealthy life will live a shorter life.

“Doing regular exercise is paramount but this doesn’t mean you need to run a marathon. It can be as easy as getting off the bus a stop early or taking the stairs rather than the escalator.”

SENIOR MOMENTS . . . with FRANK HARRIS

MONEY MATTERS

Cashing in abroad PLANNING a holiday abroad? Then make sure you plan your finances!

A lot of our money can be wasted by buying at the wrong place or by the wrong method.

If you plan having cash, DO NOT buy at the airport these are always the worst rates.

Try high street rates from M&S, Thos.Cook and the Travel Exchange bureaus.

Then go online via moneysavingexpert.com link to rates, to see if a better rate can be obtained, possibly delivered to your door.

Don’t pay by credit card as it will certainly be classed as a cash withdrawal and you will be paying fees on top.

Debit cards are usually OK. Also, I have noticed recently that some pawnbrokers are selling currency, and their rates were marginally better than most of the other shops.

Debenhams also has a currency counter, and you can order online and print out a voucher, but your rate will be the day’s rate, on collection, not the rate when you printed the voucher if different.

You will also obtain a slightly better rate with a Debenhams card. I used this method recently as it was the best rate for dollars and Euros, and I received a £5 voucher to be used that day in store.

When abroad, do use your plastic but be aware that you could be charged about 3% conversion charge. Always pay in local currency as, if you take the sterling option, you will normally find you have lost out.

Some cards do not make a charge and give good rates, e.g. Post Office, Halifax Clarity, but again do not take money from a machine with these cards because it is expensive.

Remember to always pay off your credit card in full, if at all possible.

Finally, if you want to fix a rate, without having the “cash”, you could use a prepay card loaded with currency at the rate on the day you buy.

Unused money is carried forward, not returned, but in some cases they are useful and safer to carry than cash.

Gordon Viner FCA CTA gordonviner@aol.com

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

February/March 2014

All Together NOW!

11

Help is at hand to pay your water bill Don’t suffer in silence - that’s the message from United Utilities to customers who may be struggling to pay their water bill. “If you’re going through a tough financial patch and finding it hard to make your payments, please get in touch with us on 0845 746 2034. We’re easy to talk to and we have a range of support schemes depending on your financial situation,� says income manager Iain Pilling.

For customers in severe financial difficulties, United Utilities offers a scheme whereby it will support customers to help pay off their debt if they commit to regular payments.

Says Iain: “Our Arrears Allowance scheme is for customers who are really struggling to pay off their debt. For the first six months we will match payments pound for pound. Then, for payments made after the first six months, we will match every ÂŁ1 paid with a ÂŁ1 allowance, helping to clear the debt much more quickly.â€?

To discuss our Arrears Allowance further, please call us on 0845 746 2034.

For customers in receipt of Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment & Support Allowance or Pension Credit, the Department for Work and Pensions manages a scheme to help customers who have arrears on their water bill to pay direct from their benefits. “The issue for many customers in financial difficulty is budgeting to pay off their arrears, and the Water Direct scheme ensures this is included in the regular payment.�

If you wish to discuss Water Direct, please contact us on 0845 746 2034.

Financial support is also available to those customers who have a water meter installed but face particular hardship because they use a lot of water for essential purposes. “Our WaterSure scheme helps customers who receive certain benefits and need to use a lot of water because they have a large

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family or specific medical condition,� said Iain. “Customers who are accepted onto our WaterSure scheme have their water charges capped in line with the average household bill amount, giving the customer peace of mind that they won’t have to pay more than this amount each year.�

For a WaterSure application pack, telephone our automated leaflet request line on 0845 303 7711 or visit our website: unitedutilities.com/watersure.

United Utilities can also set up a flexible Direct Debit arrangement so that customers can pay their bills quarterly, monthly or even weekly. “Direct Debit can help our customers to budget their repayments and you also get a ÂŁ5 reduction on your annual water bill so it is really worth considering,â€? said Iain.

Switching to Direct Debit is easy – phone us on 0845 746 2222 and we’ll do the rest.

We offer a range of free services to help customers who: q BSF PMEFS q IBWF B EJTBCJMJUZ q IBWF B TFSJPVT JMMOFTT q IBWF TJHIU IFBSJOH PS MFBSOJOH EJGÄ DVMUJFT Our services include: q QFSTPOBM OPUJÄ DBUJPO PG XBUFS TIVU PGGT q MBSHF QSJOU #SBJMMF BOE UBMLJOH CJMMT

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We also offer a free password scheme for all our customers.

To find out more call 0845 746 1100.

If you have hearing or speech difficulties and use a textphone, please dial 18001 followed by the number you require.

01/14/SD/6026

Tell us what you think of our services All Together NOW!

12

February/March 2014

MERSEYTRAVEL

M

ERSEYTRAVEL always believes in putting customers first – and your views on transport and related services are very important to us.

We encourage all sections of the community to share their experiences with our own Customer Comments team, whether it a compliment, suggestion or just a simple comment.

We also work with the bus and train operators to give customers feedback about their services.

Your comments are collected and your views help us to improve existing or new areas of work.

For instance, we have worked with bus operators to re-route services to provide better transport access for certain under-

served communities, and with our own Community Support Officers to improve staff presence where there have been regular reports of anti-social behaviour on public transport.

We replace missing timetables at bus stops, repair damaged bus shelters and consider suggestions about where to put new bus stops or shelters. n We welcome your views in person at any of our Travel Centres or at our Customer Forums (visit Merseytravel’s website for more details). n You can also comment by email, via our website, by phone or in person. n Email: comments@merseytravel.gov.uk n www.merseytravel.gov.uk

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

We make the going easier

A

RE YOU about to start – or have you recently started – work and need help with your travel arrangements?

Merseytravel’s Transport Solutions Team may be able to help you with a range of schemes to help with travel needs.

Depending on your situation and location, the team can provide journey planning advice, travel tickets, or even bikes and scooters!

Thanks to one such scheme, the Bike for Work scheme, a group of young apprentices from Regenda Community Wellbeing in Liverpool are getting on their bikes.

The apprentices live and work in Anfield and Everton, working on projects to enhance quality of life in the area.

The scheme has provided them with 10 bikes, equipment and training.

Cllr Marlene Quinn, Merseytravel’s deputy chair, said: “The Bike for Work scheme is a real boost in our efforts to help people get to and from work, which in turn helps them to remain in employment.” n For all schemes, except the Bike for Work scheme, applicants must live or work in particular areas of Merseyside. n For further information email ryan.oakes@merseytravel.gov.uk or phone 0151 330 1301.

We care about the accessibility of our buildings, vehicles and information. All of our staff are trained to be courteous and considerate, particularly when our customers have special requirements.

Merseytravel is making sure that Public Transport on Merseyside is easy for everyone to use

Whether it be automatic door openers in our head office, availability of textphones for main points of contact, or producing timetables in large print, we want to make public transport easier for everyone to use.

Among our services and facilities are: U Àii V ViÃà >ÀÞ ÌÀ>Ûi v À ÛiÀ {n]äää «i « iÊ with disabilities U `iÀ ] Ü y À] >VViÃà L i LÕÃiÃ Ü V >ÀiÊ developed in partnership with our local authorities and bus companies U v À >Ì > Û>À iÌÞ v v À >Ìà V Õ` } Ì iÊ iÀÃiÞÌÀ>Ûi VViÃÃ Õ `i q V Ì> } >VViÃÃÊ ÊÊÊ`iÌ> ÃÊv ÀÊ> ÊLÕÃÊ> `ÊÀ> ÊÃÌ>Ì ÃÊ Ê iÀÃiÞà `i Textphone users can dial 18001 then 0871 200 22 33 for a text relay assisted call

0871 200 22 33 Calls costs 10p per minute from land lines, mobiles may vary

Looking for a career?

IF YOU are looking for work within the transport sector but you’re not sure what skills and experience you need, Merseytravel’s Employment and Skills team may be able to help.

The team offers careers advice, working with colleges and learning providers to help people gain the skills and qualifications they need to kick start their careers and, subject to certain conditions, may even be able to fund a training course. n email stephen.woods@mersey travel.gov.uk or phone 0151 330 1123.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

SOUNDING OFF! February/March 2014

All Together NOW!

13

with Sir BERT MASSIE

TAKE ME HOME!

Information is King CAMPAIGNER: Ann Darnbrough

T

HE death of Ann Darnborough deprives disabled people of the energy and contribution of a remarkable woman.

I worked with Ann during the 1980s and 1990s when I was working for the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR), now Disability Rights UK. Ann was one of the many people who realised that there was little point in goods or services being available if disabled people knew nothing about them.

She witnessed the development of the Internet in the 1990s but understood the difficulty people have in knowing which information they can rely on – and which is heavily influenced by the desire of companies to sell goods or services.

What was needed was comprehensive and clear information that was accurate and could be trusted – something which Ann and her husband, Derek Kinrade, addressed with their series of books and directories, and through the National Information Forum.

It’s a fact that the majority of disabled people acquire their disability later in life,

‘

People and organisations underestimate the value of good, reliable information

typically in their 50s onwards. Such people are unlikely to have the background knowledge of disability issues that people who became disabled during childhood will have acquired.

Some might think that these days all information is available via technology and words on paper are no longer important. I believe that nothing could be further from the truth.

A significant number of the same people do not have access to computers.Those who do soon discover that it is difficult to find a particular tree of information when it is located in a huge forest.

Information needs to be filtered and presented in a form that people can understand and which is interesting.

Information also needs to be trustworthy.

I regularly receive a wide range of publications but they don’t provide me with

local information about events and developments in the North West of England that are relevant to disabled people.

One of the many strengths of All Together NOW! is that its editorial team check the accuracy of anything that is to appear on its pages. From the huge amount of information it receives every week only the most relevant to its readers is eventually printed.

This newspaper knows that some of its readers are new to the world of disability and other readers have no connection but have open minds and enjoy a glimpse into an aspect of life with which they are unfamiliar.

Ann Darnborough was a huge supporter of All Together NOW! because she saw it as continuing her mission of getting information to disabled people. Without such information it is impossible to make full use of all the services and facilities that are available.

Unfortunately, information is still frequently discounted as being unimportant.

During my career I have been responsible for a number of organisations which provided information and advice to disabled people. Before information can be given it needs to be acquired and analysed. This costs money.

I found that raising money for information services was difficult because individuals and organisations were more interested in funding equipment or specific projects which had a higher profile.

Time and again I had to explain that before disabled people could request equipment or services they needed to know what was available.

Everything starts with information.

There is a danger today that newspapers such as All Together NOW! can have their mission underestimated: that the information it contains is just information.

It is much more than that.

It is the key that opens a thousand doors.

Do insurance companies discriminate?

I

NSURANCE companies strongly objected to being included in the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

They argued that insurance companies did not discriminate against disabled people but carefully measured risks and priced premiums accordingly. They pointed out that it is the nature of insurance that there will be discrimination against people who pose a greater risk and must therefore pay a higher premium or be refused cover at all.

This comfortable position was difficult to reconcile with the fact that many disabled motorists had their premiums loaded even though there was no data that they posed a greater risk. If people wanted to drive, the

law required them to have insurance and the insurance companies could take advantage of this. One of the effects of the Disability Discrimination Act (now included in the Equality Act 2010) is that disabled people can require insurance companies to provide evidence to justify higher premiums.

Pre-existing conditions A growing concern is travel insurance. A significant number of disabled or elderly people find it impossible to get cover, or if they do, it comes with significant exclusions, particularly relating to existing impairments.

It is understandable that an insurance company might need to exclude a pre-existing disability because it

would be unreasonable for them to be expected to insure a house for fire damage if it was already burning.

However, many disabilities are static and there is no reason why people with such impairments should be penalised. Equally, people who have or have had cancer might find insurance companies refuse to insure them at all and this could stop them having a week in the sun.

I strongly suspect that such insurance companies are not correctly analysing the risk but simply refusing to take a risk at all. Political parties are already suggesting that we need better competition in the electric and gas industry and in banking. Perhaps it is time to include the insurance industry to this list of industries that fail to provide adequate levels of service at a sensible price.

14

All Together NOW!

TAKE ME HOME!

WE CAN HELP YOU REACH

450,000 NEW CUSTOMERS 0151 230 0307

February/March 2014

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Brrrrr . . . it could still happen

WE’VE been lucky so far to have escaped any snowfalls. But be prepared – there’s still time for a sudden whiteout!

Amazingly, half of all drivers in the UK do not check their vehicles or carry de-icer with them when they travel in severe weather.

Research from the Highways Agency shows that 45% of drivers do not make any vehicle checks and 28% do not take any of the items in the suggested emergency kit.

Fifty-three per cent do not even carry de-icer.

Simon Sheldon-Wilson, Highways Agency Traffic Management Director, says: “We are well-prepared for ice and snow. We have over 500 salt spreading vehicles, ploughs and snow blowers, and 270,000 tonnes of salt already in stock.

“Using detailed weather forecasts, we treat the road network before road temperatures fall below freezing – often at night in preparation for peak traffic periods.

“But that doesn’t mean people should drive as they normally would. They still need to take care, as they would during any kind of adverse weather, and plan ahead.”

Check your vehicle – fuel and fluid levels, electrics and tyres – before setting out.

Be prepared with an emergency kit in your vehicle, including ice-scraper, de-icer, warm clothes and blankets, torch, boots, first aid kit, jump leads, a spade, a road atlas and sunglasses (for the winter glare).

Remember that even when roads have been treated with salt, ice can still form, particularly on bends or under overhanging trees.

An automatic choice M

OTABILITY has unveiled its new 2014 price list for more than 2,000 cars – including around 450 vehicles with no advance payment, and 600 automatic models, with more than 50 at no advance payment.

This includes the spacious and practical Nissan Note 1.2 Acenta with cruise control and air conditioning.

Among other automatics available are the stylish Skoda Yeti 1.2 S at £195 AP, and the Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec Navigator P/Shift with quickclear heated windscreen available at £95 AP. Anyone who receives the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance, the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility

Component of Personal Independence Payment, War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement or Armed Forces Independence Payment can exchange their weekly payment to lease a new car through the Motability Scheme.

Insurance, servicing, RAC breakdown assistance and replacement tyres are included in the cost of the lease.

Many popular models are available to lease, including the Ford Fiesta 1.5TDCi Zetec available at no AP. Other cars on the list include the Volkswagen Golf 1.2 S with air conditioning and an electronic parking brake at £199 AP, and the British classic, MINI Countryman 1.6 Cooper with DAB digital radio at £99 AP. Disabled motorists looking

for a greener option can choose from more than 1,000 cars with CO2 emission levels of 120g/km or less, such as the Seat Leon 1.6TDI SE Technology Pack with Sat Nav and DAB digital radio, available at no AP. Other low emission choices include the Mitsubishi Mirage 1.2 3 automatic, with rear parking sensors and remote keyless entry available from £199 AP, and the economical Peugeot 2008 1.6e-HDi Active, with cruise control, from £249 AP. For families or those needing extra space, the Citroen C4 Picasso 1.6HDi VTR has plenty of room and is available to lease for £145 AP. n Freephone 0800 093 1000 n www.motability.co.uk

15

16

All Together NOW!

TRIBUTES

February/March 2014

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Celebs team up for Sir Bobby’s charity CELEBRITIES and some of the world’s top sports stars helped raise £350,000 in memory of the much-loved football manager Sir Bobby Robson.

Sir Bobby, pictured, died of cancer in 2009. His Breakthrough online charity auction raised made £150,000 more for cancer services that it did in 2011.

Bill Nighy, Amanda Holden, Piers Morgan, Lorraine Kelly, Imelda May and many others donated more than 300 money-can’tbuy experiences and items.

Lunch with actor Bill Nighy and VIP tickets to Britain’s Got Talent with Amanda Holden were amongst some of the most sought after items, finishing on £4,000 and £3,450 respectively.

Among other items were a meet and greet and tour around Lorraine Kelly’s studio, which pulled in £900, and VIP tickets to an ITV Piers Morgan’s Life Stories recording, with Green Room Access, which was snapped up with a winning bid of £740. n www.sirbobbysbreakthrough.com

Why I love this paper “I read All Together NOW! from cover to cover and then pass it on to others. My daughter-in-law is a wheelchair user and there is so much information in it to make life more comfortable for her.

“She loves me to reading it out to her, we pass many a happy hour doing that! Keep up the good work.”

Oliver Garratty, Upper Mann Street, Liverpool

Access the future PROFESSIONAL bodies that represent architects, town planners, surveyors, engineers and facilities managers have promised to improve accessibility for the country’s 12 million disabled people.

It is hoped that nearly one-third of all built environment professionals will be proficient in inclusive design by 2024.

A recent survey found that disabled people have the most difficulties with access in shops, hospitals and bars and restaurants.

Mike Penning, Minister for Disabled People, said: "Disabled people should be able to have the same access to buildings and sporting stadiums as everyone else.

I want to see architects and planners of the future put accessibility at the heart of their designs.”

LEFT, Eileen Green and, above, Ann Darnbrough

Two women who spent their lives helping others

True champions

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WO WOMEN who campaigned tirelessly for better services for disabled people – and were huge supporters of All Together NOW! – have died.

Eileen Green, who set up the Crosbybased charity, Sightline North West, and Ann Darnbrough, who co-founded the National Information Forum with her husband, Derek Kinrade, both died in December.

Eileen was much loved by thousands of people across the North West, always speaking up for the vulnerable and especially for those who are visually impaired.

Twenty years ago Eileen’s own vision began to fade. Then in 2000 she was diagnosed with macular degeneration, an eye condition that can result in total sight loss.

However, she refused to sit down and feel sorry for herself. Instead, she not only faced up bravely to the new daily challenges but, feeling lonely and afraid herself, she thought about how many other people in the same situation must be experiencing similar emotions.

It led to her setting up Sightline Vision Northwest – a telephone helpline that she operated alone in her spare room.

The charity now has a team of visually impaired volunteers who man the helpline seven evenings a week, supporting people from Merseyside, North Wales and Cheshire.

Two years ago Eileen received the Margaret Yarwood Woman of the Year award from the Soroptimist International of Crosby.

Club president Sandy Taylor said of her work: “Eileen is a total inspiration and has made a real difference to so many people who need someone to talk to – someone who understands their problems and fears.”

Last year she helped the charity win a £190,000 Big Lottery grant.

Maureen Catton, who took over Eileen’s duties as the charity’s coordinator late autumn, said the team were absolutely shocked and devastated. “Eileen was such an inspiration to all those who came into contact with her.

“Last year was such a difficult one for her.

In August she lost both her mother and brother, but she always had the time to listen to other people’s worries and fears.

“Sightline North West is Eileen’s legacy and, just as she would have wanted, we will all be carrying on, doing the work that meant so much to her – supporting those people who have just been told they are losing their sight.”

Eileen was married to Ron and has a daughter, Julie, and granddaughter, Emma.

ANN DARNBROUGH spent most of her life fighting social injustice, constantly speaking up for the underdog, and continually challenging bureaucracy.

“Information is now a commodity in such ample supply that many of us feel overwhelmed by it,” she said in an interview with All Together NOW! “We know what it is to experience information overload. But it is a revolution that has passed many people by.

“Alongside information affluence we have information poverty, and the paradox is that those who are information poor are frequently those who need information most!”

Ann continued: “That’s why I was so delighted when the Liverpool ECHO started the I Can Do That! disability page all those years ago (1983) – and when it developed into the paper, All Together NOW!

“It was a real breakthrough to have this kind of news, presented so positively, in a mainstream newspaper. People in deep hardship generally lack the skills and the initiative to seek out information, and any inquisitiveness they may have is often blunted by their crushing disadvantage.

“Their isolation is further compounded by the fact that those who have the information tend to wait to be asked for it.”

Outside her disability work, Ann was an enthusiastic supporter of charities including Liberty, Dignity in Dying, the British Humanist Association, CND, Prisoners Abroad, Amnesty International, the Movement for the Abolition of War and Free Tibet. But since the early 70s her main passion was improving ways of getting information to underprivileged people.

In 1972 she was appointed deputy general secretary of the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and went on to produce what became a bible for so many disability organisations, the Directory for Disabled People.

Then in 1981 she and her husband, Derek Kinrade – and others sharing the same commitment – formed the National Information Forum to encourage UK organisations to come up with innovative ways of disseminating news and information to disabled and disadvantaged people. She received an OBE for her work in 2002.

The NIF became Ann and Derek’s main focus, but two years ago, as Ann’s health began to deteriorate, they decided to call it a day and passed on half the charity’s reserves, totalling £26,000 to the All Together NOW! charity.

Ann died peacefully on December 17. She was 83. Derek, her son, Philip and his wife, Julie, were at her bedside.

INFORMATION IS KING – p13

INDEPENDENT LIVING

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February/March 2014

All Together NOW!

Are you sitting comfortably?

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NEW and affordable pressurerelieving cushion – made from a smart material developed at the University of Bolton – could be just the first in a whole range of new disability products.

The team behind the revolutionary cushion has been given £500,000 to develop new products using their unique textile.

The inspiration for the Airospring cushion came from retired engineer Bryan McArdle, from Golborne, near Wigan, whose wife, Sheila, died after developing a pressure sore while in hospital.

Sheila suffered a brain injury in 1989 and was unable to walk.

Bryan said: “My wife never had any serious wounds in the 18 years I was her carer.

That’s why I spent seven years learning as much as possible about the subject.

“I’m now taking an active part on the Advanced Wound Care group, involving Leeds, York and Sheffield Universities. A fiveyear research project by this group has established that virtually all pressure-relief aids used at the moment are not very effective.

“The design and technology applied to the Bolton cushions has the potential to change this for the better.”

Until Sheila went into hospital she had been advised to use a lambs’ wool cushion as it was a natural fibre that was breathable.

But Bryan’s engineering background gave him the confidence to pursue superior products, and a chance meeting with Bolton University Professor Subhash Anand, who had developed medical textiles products for over 30 years, led to the Airospring cushion.

Prof Anand said: “There are a number of

EASING THE PRESSURE: Prof Subhash Anand and Charles Wood, MD of Baltex cushions on the market, but key attributes you would want in any material you sit on for long periods, are to be fully supportive, through distributing the pressure over a larger area of the person’s bottom and so reducing the overall pressure at any point.

“Foam doesn’t provide support like our Airospring system, which is also fully-machine washable and moisture-wicking, making it easy-care. Without a breathable cushion next to the body, supporting the wheelchair user properly, people can suffer pressure sores.”

The new cushion is available in two thicknesses – one for people who sit for long periods (£29.99), like drivers and office workers, and a thicker variety for wheelchair users (£69.99).

The £500,000 grant was provided by the Technology Strategy Board. The unique textile, XD Spacer Fabric, is made at Baltex Technical Textiles in Derbyshire. n Airospring Medical: Tel. 0115 932 2403, www.airospring.com

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INDEPENDENT LIVING

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February/March 2014

All Together NOW!

INDEPENDENT LIVING

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INDEPENDENT LIVING All Together NOW!

February/March 2014

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Are YOU properly insured?

Your guide to greater freedom . . .

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O YOU encounter problems taking your mobility scooter on the bus or train?

Well, there’s now an online database of suitable models that can be carried on most networks.

Stephen Smith, from the Confederation of Passenger Transport, said: “We welcome the publication of this research.

“It will provide a useful aid to the CPT ‘Code of Practice’ for

using mobility scooters on low floor buses.”

David Mapp, from the Association of Train Operating Companies, said: “Operators welcome the new database which will help disabled people to take advantage of the rail network by providing greater clarity on which scooters can be taken on trains.” n The database can be found at: www.rica.org.uk/content/sco oters-and-poweredwheelchairs

Check if you can take your scooter on the bus YOU CAN take your scooter on the bus if all of the following apply: n Your local bus company is running a scooter permit scheme. n Your scooter is a Class 2 type (for pavement use) and has maximum dimensions of 600mm wide and 1000mm long, and a turning radius of no more than 1200mm. n The bus company has assessed you.

Permit schemes have been developed across

the UK by the Confederation for Passenger Transport (CPT), and in the capital by Transport for London.

If your bus company has signed up to the CPT scheme, they’ll be issuing credit-card sized permits that can be shown to the driver to confirm that you’re allowed to travel with your scooter.

Once you’ve been given a permit, you should be able to use it with any other bus operator that is running the scheme.

The current list of bus companies with permit schemes comprise: Arriva; Blackpool Transport Services; Bluestar; Centrebus; Country Bus; Firstgroup; Ipswich Buses; Metrobus; Nottingham City Transport; National Express; Prentice Coaches; Quality Line; Reading Transport; Safeguard; Southern Vectis; Stagecoach; Thamesdown Transport; Transdev Blazefield; Transport for London; Trentbarton; Western Greyhound; Wilts and Dorset Yellow Buses.

SWITCH ON and get yourself insured. That’s the message being sent to scooter users across the country.

An accident could lead to huge financial problems – especially if you injure a pedestrian as recent court cases have highlighted.

“Scooter insurance is not a legal requirement but it should be,” says Jason Tate, managing director of the Help-My-Mobility website which has launched an online petition to make it compulsory.

“In these cost-conscious times, it’s often things like non-mandatory insurance that gets cut from the household budget, but it could not be more vital.

Compulsory insurance would save hundreds of people a great deal of stress and anguish each year.” n The petition is backed by TGA Mobility, makers of some of the UK’s leading scooters. http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk /petitions/51330

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

February/March 2014

All Together NOW!

TAKE ME HOME!

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LMOST HALF A MILLION people are now learning about health issues in All Together NOW! Your FREE multi award-winning charity paper is available in more than 50 hospitals and health centres across the region. And the feedback is tremendous!

‘ ‘ ‘ We are very impressed with how All Together NOW! is getting our health messages to people across the region. The paper is having a tremendously positive impact on people’s wellbeing, especially those affected by disability and age.

James Brown, Head of

PERFECT TONIC THE COMBINATION of good news, useful information and fun articles & competitions is absolutely ideal for patients waiting for their appointments, staff on their breaks and visitors waiting to collect their relatives.

All Together NOW! is a very effective way of communicating our messages. Every copy of every issue is quickly snapped up, which just shows how popular the paper is.

I am sure All Together NOW! will continue to go from strength to strength.

Joe Paxton, Media & Communications Manager, Wythenshawe Hospital

THIS newspaper is just brilliant – the best ever tonic to help disabled people and anyone affected by ill health.

It’s bringing together so many people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds – and it’s FREE! I’ve been a big fan since the first issue rolled off the presses back in 2005 and have to say that every issue gets better and better. The paper deserves every one of the many awards it has received.”

Bob Bryant, Halton CCG

We’d love to work with YOUR NHS Trust . . . call 0151 230 0307

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MEDICAL NOTES Top praise for staff at N-West hospital EXCEPTIONAL care at a North West hospital has won lavish praise from the patient watchdog.

Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust “strives to be the best in the country and to deliver care which is safe, clean and personal every time,” said a report from the Care Quality Commission.

“We found it is an extremely well-run trust, with a strong and stable leadership which was embedded at all levels within the trust, across all wards, consistently and without fail,” said Professor Sir Mike Richards, chief inspector of hospitals.

“Staff were encouraged to be innovative in improving the quality of care. They were able to tell us how quality was given a high priority and that patient care was personalised.

“The trust showed an openness and commitment to continuous improvement, with patient safety at the top of its priorities.”

Examples of good practice at Salford included the bereavement service, the electronic patient records system and the trust’s system for being transparent about staffing levels.

Inspectors also praised the “exceptional leadership qualities at all levels across all staff groups”.

New award scheme THE staff at a specialist neurological hospital are to be rewarded for coming up with bright ideas.

The best schemes will have £5,000 set aside to bring them to life, thanks to a new award.

It is hoped the award will lead to improvements in patient care at The Walton Centre in Liverpool Hospital governor Louise Ferguson announced the Roy Ferguson Compassionate Care Award as a tribute to her husband.

A bespoke artwork is being created which will be presented to the winner once a year on Roy’s birthday in April.

Louise, of Knutsford, Cheshire, said: “I always wanted to do something in Roy’s memory and when I got involved in the research at the hospital I knew it was meant to be.

“It’s wonderful that something good is going to come from our loss.”

Raring for action BRITAIN’S three million people affected by rare diseases are to get better help.

The Government’s new UK Rare Diseases Strategy aims to find effective treatments and therapies and build better understanding of uncommon conditions.

There are already more than 5,000 rare diseases identified and the total is steadily rising as new genetic discoveries explain previously unexplained disease patterns.

Alastair Kent, chair of Rare Disease UK which helped shaped the strategy, said:“Now at least patients can have a clear expectation of what the NHS aspires to provide for them, wherever they live in the UK.”

NHS to come clean on accidents Sunshine IT’S an expression that may never have become common knowledge without the numerous failings in hospital care in recent times.

A “never event” is a medical failure so serious that it should never happen due to the high risk of harm and the serious breach of hospital procedures.

New figures show that between April and September last year 102 hospital trusts experienced a never event.

They included 37 instances of surgeons operating on the wrong part of the body, and 70

incidents of foreign objects being left inside a patient.

In response to public concern, the NHS has announced it will now reveal the number of such medical errors every three months.

And from April, information will be renewed every month, for the benefit of both healthcare professionals and for public disclosure.

A spokeswoman for medical negligence solicitors, Asons, based in Lancashire, said: “Although the numbers are relatively low when compared

to the number of patients being cared for, it still stands that measures are put in place to prevent them from happening, which must have been breached for the incident to take place.

“All incidents of never events are avoidable, and they unnecessarily put patients at risk “ Many of the clients we have worked with, who are bringing forward medical negligence claims, have also suffered from the physiological effects of such mistakes.”

Brainwave A

REVOLUTIONARY technique allows neurosurgeons to find a safe pathway through the brain to tumours.

Tractography scans can reveal tiny open paths between nerve fibres, which even MRI scans and other imaging techniques cannot achieve.

The radiology scan – developed by neurosurgeons in the United States – uses water, with no needles, dyes or chemicals needed.

“The brain can be mapped by tracking the movement of its water molecules,” said neurosurgeon Clark Chen, based in San Diego.

“Water molecules in brain nerves move in an oriented manner. However, outside the nerves, the molecules move randomly. Neurosurgeons can use these distinct properties to locate important connections and to guide where surgery should occur or not.

“Every centimetre of brain tissue contains millions of neural connections. With tractography, we can visualise the most important of these connections to avoid injury. In doing so, we preserve the quality of life for our patients with brain cancer.”

Anthony Chetti is one of the beneficiaries of tractography-guided brain surgery. He developed a tumour in the region of the brain called the occipital lobe, the portion responsible for processing visual information.

“Anytime that you are told that you can potentially lose your vision, you are scared,” said Anthony, a San Diego school teacher. “But when Dr Chen shared the tractography images with me and showed me how he was going to avoid injury to the connection between my eye and the occipital lobe, I was reassured.”

Anthony’s tumor was completely removed without any damage to his vision.

STUB IT OUT: Neil Fitzmaurice stars in the new video

Stars back campaign TV stars are urging parents to stop smoking when travelling in cars with their children.

A new online film, starring Neil Fitzmaurice – best known for roles in Peep Show and Phoenix Nights – and Hollyoaks actress Jazmine Franks, highlights that many young people are too frightened to speak up about their parents or other adults smoking in a car.

The video, from North-West based Tobacco Free Futures and the British Lung Foundation, is part of a wider campaign calling for legislation to make all cars carrying children smoke-free.

The issue is due to be voted on as the Children and Families Bill passes its way through Parliament.

Jazmine said: “I’m sure a lot of people think as long as the window is open the smoke is not doing any harm to other passengers in the car, especially children.

“But it’s not safe and it isn’t fair that children have to breathe it in.”

Matthew Ashton, Cheshire and Merseyside lead for public health, said: “Hundreds of children suffering the effects of second-hand smoke are admitted to Cheshire and Merseyside hospitals every year with complications such as bronchitis, asthma and reduced lung function.”

really works wonders HEADACHES, joint pain and depression are just some of the conditions that could be helped by exposing more of our bodies to sunlight.

Three quarters of people who say they suffer from regular headaches are getting less than two hours sunlight each day, a new survey has found.

It’s a similar story for joint pain and bone condition sufferers, plus people with mental health problems like depression, seasonal affective disorder and insomnia.

People’s lack of vitamin D knowledge was also exposed, with nine out of 10 mums saying they were never told to supplement, even though pregnant women have long been considered to be at-risk of vitamin D deficiency.

More than half of the 500plus UK adults surveyed say they don’t know how much vitamin D is sourced from sunlight, while over half of parents never give their children vitamin D supplements, even though under-fives are another atrisk group.

Andrew Thomas, head of health company BetterYou, said:“It’s only in recent years that the link between Vitamin D deficiency and a host of health problems is being properly understood and these results seem to show that poor sun exposure – and lack of knowledge and supplementation – could be playing a major role in the severity of the conditions.” n MEANWHILE, an Australian study has found that sunbathing is more effective than vitamin D in combating fatigue and depression among people with multiple sclerosis.

The two-year study, involving 198 patients with MS, revealed that those who spent longer in the sun suffered less from fatigue and depression. In contrast, it could not be established that the level of vitamin D had any influence.

Almost half a million people are reading these pages

Strictly for funlovers

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

February/March 2014

Get ready to rock and roll!

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OLL UP, roll up – and get your wheels shining – for a very special Strictly Wheelchair Dancing event.

As part of the celebrations for International Wheelchair Day – Saturday March 1 – Liverpool Community Health Trust want to hear from any adult users of its wheelchair service who like the idea of giving their wheels a spin with a salsa or a samba . . . or maybe even a bit of rock and roll!

Wheelchair dancing is catching on fast and here’s YOUR chance to give it a go!

Christine McGhee, Clinical Operations Manager at Liverpool Wheelchair Service, said: “We support around 10,500 adults and children from our local communities across Liverpool who are wheelchair users. This event is a fun way for us to get together and celebrate the difference that having a wheelchair makes to people’s everyday lives.

“It’s also an opportunity for us to inspire wheelchair users about the importance of staying active, despite their mobility issues.

“We really want to highlight to all our service users that although they may be in a wheelchair, there is still plenty they can do to look after their

health and stay fit.”

The event will be led by Manchester-based charity, Strictly Wheelchair Dancing, who run dance sessions for all ages and abilities.

There will also be a wheelchair skills session and a series of health information stalls offering advice on healthy living from a range of other community health services provided by Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust.

The team will also be offering short ‘on-the-spot’ wheelchair cushion checks to help ensure that people’s pressure cushions are correctly adjusted to support them, in order to minimise the risk of pressure ulcers developing.

The Strictly Wheelchair Dancing event takes place at Greenbank Sports Academy, Greenbank Lane, Liverpool from 3pm-5.30pm and is open to all adult wheelchair service users, as well as their family or carers.

International Wheelchair Day aims to raise greater awareness of issues of accessibility for people with mobility issues, as well as celebrate the difference that having a wheelchair has made to the lives of so many people around the world. n To book a free space, please call: 0151 296 7733.

Spaces will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.

All Together NOW!

Your invitation to a Valentine’s Day ‘bake off’ ADULTS and their families who are benefiting from wheelchairs and other equipment from Liverpool’s Community Equipment Service are being invited to a free Valentine’s Day ‘Bake Off’ event – with free coffee, cakes and some expert advice.

TOP WHEELCHAIR dancers Paula Morton and Gary Lyness are hoping that Wheelchair Dancesport will soon become a Paralympic sport.

They’re even dreaming of samba-ing their way to Rio in 2016!

Paula and Gary, who performed on ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent programme and have been dancing all over the world, are members of Manchester’s Strictly Wheelchair Dancing group, who are staging the Strictly Wheelchair Dancing event at The Lifehouse on International Wheelchair Day on March 1. n Email: strictlywheelchairdancing@gmail.com n www.strictlywheelchairdancing.co.uk

Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust want to hear people’s views about the services they run at The Lifehouse Centre on Summers Road, Brunswick Business Park.

Christine McGhee, manager, said: “This is a fantastic chance to meet and chat to our friendly team in a relaxed and informal environment, and to let us know what more we can do to improve our services for people with mobility issues.

“It’s also a chance for us to listen to our those who use our services.”

The following services are provided at Lifehouse: n Liverpool Wheelchair Service n Liverpool and Sefton’s Community Equipment Services n The Manual Handling Team n Community Equipment Nurse Specialists n Medical Devices Team.

A market stall area will also be set up to provide information about the wide range of support available for people with mobility issues.

The event runs from 10am to 2pm on Friday February 14. n Anyone who is unable to attend the event on the day, can also still have their say on how services can be improved by emailing their views to: coffeeandcake@liverpoolch.nhs.uk

Diversity at its best LIVERPOOL Community Health is the only NHS Trust in the North West to be named in the UK’s top 100 gay-friendly employers list.

The Stonewall Top 100 Employer List assesses organisations on equality practices and on how well they engage with their lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGBT) staff and customers.

LCH came 66th in Stonewall’s 2014 list – up from 86th in last year’s rankings.

Bernie Cuthel, chief executive of Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust, said: “We are very proud to be one of the few NHS Trusts in the country to feature on the list year on year, and this year’s placement demonstrates that the Trust is continuing to improve.”

Frank Davidson, Equality and Diversity Advisor at LCH, said: “This reflects the many support systems that we have in place for our staff, as well as the excellent range of health support we provide to LGB communities through specialist services such as Armistead.”

n Frank Davidson and colleagues Tina Davies Taylor and Paul White

To find out more, visit . . .

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www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Family get-togethers might be lifesavers PEOPLE with a family history of premature heart disease continue to be at greater risk of dying even if they undergo drug treatment or lifestyle changes at a relatively early age.

Beatrice Fraenkel chair, Mersey Care NHS

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HE BBC TV talent show ‘The Voice’ is a clever way for singers to pitch their songs unseen to celebrities such as Tom Jones and Kylie Minogue, who then decide if they want to mentor or reject the singer just by the appeal of their voice.

So what’s this got to do with mental health and my own organisation you may wonder? The answer is it’s about putting your voice out there and giving people a chance to listen...

In the context of giving a voice to mental health issues I think it’s fair to say there doesn’t seem to be equal voice, or equal listening, compared to many other health matters.

One in four of us are affected by some kind of mental health problem during our lifetimes - in which case there should be a significant voice for the need for better mental health provision.

There are excellent national campaigns, such as Time to Talk, which challenge stigma. But I’d really like to hear more of an individual groundswell alongside the campaigns advocating for mental health services, which of course then needs due government priority and funding.

The Government’s new action plan for mental health called ‘Closing the Gap Priorities for Essential Change in Mental Health’ acknowledges that people affected by mental health MUST have equal priority with those who have physical health needs.

I’m grateful for the comments of Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg (see Page 2) and the Minister of State for Care and Support Norman Lamb who showed understanding and appreciation of the work that is being done in this area.

But when we are talking to politicians, especially as money is getting tighter, we must have a stronger voice behind us. It’s not all about the money, but we must also acknowledge that if we as a nation fail to spend on mental health we could impact on other areas such as education, employment and physical health.

The Time to Change campaign is helping people gain confidence but until we can talk about mental health openly and freely, we really won’t make big inroads. So I would urge All Together Now readers to add your voice to the growing lobby in calling for a fair share to help make all mental health, learning disability and addiction services truly world class.

Now experts think at-risk groups need to be referred to a GP in their early 30s or even in their 20s to give themselves a better chance of avoiding a heart attack or stroke.

And they are urging younger people to use family gatherings to quiz older relatives about the occurrence of heart disease before the age of 60 in close family members.

Doctors are well aware of the increased

risk individuals with a family history of heart disease face.

But research published by the University of Glasgow has shown that even when early interventions are used, these patients are still 12-20% more likely to die prematurely.

Dr Sandosh Padmanabhan, who led the study, said: “One explanation is that the earlier referral of these individuals – around 45 years of age in our study – is not early enough, and some damage has already occurred.”

Dr Padmanabhan said: “Patients with a family history are referred around an average age of 33-50 years in our experience. Perhaps we should be seeing

these individuals earlier in their 30s or even their 20s.

“Our study suggests there is a need for continued and sustained efforts to reduce risk factors in these individuals and more research required on the most effective means of doing this.

“For example, should doctors be more actively screening first-degree relatives of everybody who is admitted with a heartattack or a stroke before the age of 60?

“Family history is not only a link to the past, but also a bridge to future cardiovascular health. People need to be aware of their family history of conditions like heart attack or stroke.”

Dad’s back!

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ICHAEL Beckett’s future was looking bleak after divorce, redundancy and heavy drinking took its toll in the shape of liver disease.

Tasty idea

AINTREE hospital staff are helping patients with As his liver stopped working properly, the dementia enjoy mealtimes – 49-year-old endured regular hospital trips to without making a meal of have excess fluid drained from his abdomen them! and was facing the prospect of a liver New easy-to-eat finger food transplant. boxes allow patients to avoid “I had a huge belly and tiny arms and legs. many of the problems they I wasn’t eating and I was tired all of the face when eating during a time,” explained Michael. “Sometimes I had stay in hospital.

14 litres of fluid in my belly.”

The boxes were developed But Michael’s life has been tranformed by dementia matron Jane thanks to a simple pump, the size of an Green and head of catering iPod, implanted in his abdomen.

Sandra Higgins, together with And best of all, he says, he can take an chefs and the hospital’s active part in his children’s lives again. dietician team.

A liver transplant is often the only option The Aintree team is now for patients with severe alcohol-related liver planning to work with other disease. Around 4,000 people in the UK die hospitals in the region to help of the condition every year.

FINGERPICKIN’ GOOD: Jane Green and Chris spread the scheme.

But the new technology being trialled at Fairfield, ward nurse manager at Aintree hospital London’s Royal Free Hospital has given Michael and other patients with liver disease or cirrhosis a new n MAGIC lease of life.

PUMP: The alfapump controls the Michael debilitating symptoms of liver Beckett, failure and – if patients keep off left, who alcohol – can even allow the liver has to partially recover. benefitted When patients suffer from liver from the disease the liver and kidneys stop new liver working properly and fluid stops pump being exchanged within the cells operation in the way it should. This leads to ascites – excess fluid in the abdomen. drinking more when I got divorced and then said Michael. “I can really be involved in my There is no way for this fluid to be removed even more when I was made redundant.” sons’ lives. I can be an active father to them, from the body naturally and up to 15 litres of it which I couldn’t have been before.”

He stopped drinking immediately after being can gather around patients’ abdominal organs.

Professor Rajiv Jalan, from the Royal Free diagnosed with alcohol-related liver disease, The alfapump, implanted beneath the skin of but the damage was done.

Hospital, has 16 patient involved using the the abdomen, works by pumping fluid from the However, the combination of using the pump pump, and 44 patients are being enrolled in abdomen into the bladder, where it is removed and abstaining from alcohol, has allowed his hospitals across Europe. from the body naturally through urination. liver to repair itself and his health seems to be “What we have seen so far is that, if patients Michael, from Portsmouth, admits he had on the mend. stop abusing alcohol, there is hope – even for always been a heavy drinker. “I drank after “I am eating more, I have got more energy,” those with severe cirrhosis.” work with colleagues,” he said. “I started

The perfect tonic . . . almost HALF A MILLION

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February/March 2014

All Together NOW!

Fear for diabetic children

Simply the best

ONE in every four children and young people with diabetes are receving an unacceptable level of care.

PATIENTS at a hospital on Merseyside can be sure they are getting top class treatment.

That’s the warning from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health as worrying evidence shows Type 1 diabetes in children could double in the next six years.

“Significant numbers of children still do not have access to a level of control that would reduce their risk of developing complications long-term,” said Dr Justin Warner.

A new report from the College shows fewer than 7% of children with

diabetes undergo all of the seven tests and examinations that medical watchdog NICE says they need every year.

However, the report also showed that the number of children and young people getting a good level of care increased from 14.5% in 2009-10 to 17.4% in 2011-12.

And Dr Warner added: “With recent evidence suggesting that the incidence of Type 1 diabetes in children is rising and may double by 2020, getting the management of care right for every child is essential to ensure they have the best quality of life.”

The Burney Breast Unit, at St Helens Hospital, has received European recognition for its care of patients with breast cancer.

The Breast Centres Network, part of the European School of Oncology, has granted the unit “full membership”, an honour which means its range of specialised clinical services is judged to be of international standard.

The unit treats over 4,000 patients yearly, providing rapid access to a team of specialist oncologists, consultant surgeons, breast nurses and therapists.

Along with state-of-the art radiology equipment that can detect cancers at very early stages, the breast service also provides chemotherapy treatment.

Cancer b-test

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SIMPLE breath test at your local pharmacy could at last provide real hope for people with lung cancer.

UK researchers are working on a breathalyser that will be able to detect very early signs of the disease, making a cure much more likely.

And it will be pharmacists rather than GPs who carry out a test with the potential to save hundreds of thousands of lives.

One scenario might be that people who visit their local chemist’s seeking help to quit smoking will be invited to take the quick and simple test.

“The intention is that we will catch patients before they start getting the symptoms,” said Dr Rachel Airley, the University of Huddersfield lecturer who developed the breath test project.

“Once lung cancer patients start experiencing symptoms it is often very advanced and has a very low cure rate,” she said.

Lung cancer is one of the world’s biggest killers. In the UK it accounts for six per cent of all deaths, largely because treatment is often ineffective by the time symptoms are diagnosed.

The research team is working to produce a variation on the RTube, a breath testing device already used as a research tool for respiratory diseases.

“When you get certain chemicals in someone’s breath, that can be a sign that there is early malignancy,” said Dr Airley.

“We are looking to be able to distinguish between patients with early lung cancer and patients who have maybe got bronchitis, emphysema or non-malignant smoking related disease...or who have maybe just got a cough.”

The development of the lung cancer breathalyser will be part of the trend towards pharmacists playing an increasing front-line role in health care.

“There are 12,000 community pharmacies in Britain and there is a big move for them to get involved in primary diagnostics, because people visit their pharmacies not just when

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MEDICAL NOTES Gene genies make new breakthrough A NEW cancer gene has been discovered that will enable scientists to develop a less invasive test for chronic blood cancers.

There is currently a test for around 60% of chronic blood cancers, but the cause of the other 40% – affecting 30,000 people a year in the UK – was unknown.

This group of cancers causes the overproduction of red blood cells and platelets, which leads to blood clots then strokes and heart attacks. Some disorders can become more aggressive over time and may even develop into acute leukaemia.

However, a major breakthrough has been made by research led by the University of Cambridge and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute.

They identified CALR, the gene which causes this group of cancers.

By sequencing the DNA of patients, the researchers found that CALR was mutated, resulting in chronic blood cancers, high platelet counts and low haemoglobin levels.

Dr Aziz, Lecturer in Biomedical Science at the University of Salford’s School of Environment & Life Sciences, contributed to the study.

He said: “This discovery will not only lead to genetic testing for diagnosis but will shed light on the genetic mechanism that leads to chronic blood cancers.”

Why I love this paper

NEW TEST: Cancer pharmacist Emer Sheridan and Dr Rachel Airley, right

Kidney injury clue

Simple trip to chemist could stop a killer in its tracks they are ill but when they are well. A pharmacy is a lot less scary than a doctor’s surgery,” said Dr Airley.

“The idea is to pick up illnesses almost before they happen. Lung cancer is ideal for this because it is often not diagnosed until there are really serious symptoms.”

Smoking cessation clinics successfully being run by pharmacists will also be an opportunity to offer the simple, non-invasive breath test.

“I pick up my copy of All Together NOW! at the Countess of Chester Hospital. I take extra copies for members of the pensioner’s club I help to run. It is such an inspirational paper. Thank you.”

Mrs Jean Barnes, Thornton Drive, Upton, Chester

And once established, the lung cancer breathalyser could be adapted for other hardto-detect cancers, said Dr Airley.

“We are increasingly looking at noninvasive tests as an alternative to X-rays, imaging and blood tests.

“As detection methods get more and more sensitive we can pick up things from very easily taken bodily fluids such as saliva or sputum down to microscopic fragments of tissue, or even single cells.”

people are reading these pages . . .

A LINK between serious kidney problems and drugs commonly prescribed by GPs has been found by scientists.

The connection between ACE inhibitors (and similar drugs) and acute kidney injury – a sudden deterioration in kidney function – was discovered by a UK research team.

ACE inhibitors and related drugs, known as ARAs or ‘sartans’, are the second most frequently prescribed medicines in UK clinical practice.

They are used to treat conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease and kidney problems.

Dr Rupert Payne, from the University of Cambridge’s Institute of Public Health, said: “This work gives us an opportunity to estimate the size of the problem, and make clinicians and patients more aware of the importance of using these drugs in accordance with clinical guidelines.”

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February/March 2014

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. . . EDUCATION . . . TRAINING . . . JOBS . . . EDUCATION . . . TRAINING . . . JOBS . . .

More people are set to benefit from Access to Work TAKE ME HOME!

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THE scheme helping disabled workers with equipment and support costs, has been extended to cover work experience placements that disabled people arrange themselves.

Previously, only those whose work experience placements had been organised through Jobcentre Plus were eligible for help from the Government’s Access to Work scheme.

Disabled People’s Minister Mike Penning said: “This is great news for disabled youngsters who need valuable experience in their chosen trade or profession with a view to securing a job.

“Most people undertake work experience at some point and it is only right that disabled people have access to the same opportunities as everybody else.

“This change will put them firmly in control of their own careers by removing a barrier that prevented them from making their own arrangements in the past.”

It is the latest phase of a rollout to the scheme that began in September, when Access to Work was opened up to disabled people embarking on internships and traineeships.

Terry’s wonder suit is doing the business

Although it is expected that it will mainly benefit younger adults, the latest development is open to everybody who has a disability and needs extra support in taking up a work experience placement.

Access to Work provides financial help towards the extra costs faced by disabled people at work, such as support workers, specialist aids and equipment, and help with travelling to the workplace.

Last year the scheme supported more than 30,000 disabled people i getting or keeping employment.

BIG FANS: Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo use Terry’s aqua suits

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FORMER Liverpool FC footballer, whose revolutionary training suits are being used by Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo and other top footballers, was among the finalists of the Stelios Disabled Entrepreneur Awards 2013.

Terry Nelson, 51, came up with the idea of an aqua bouyancy suit while training in a swimming pool.

So good are the suits they are now used by the stars of Real Madrid, Manchester United, Liverpool, Manchester City – and the England team.

Having had a kidney transplant and then winning gold for Great Britain at the World Transplant Games in 1993, Terry spent the next 12 years on dialysis until having a second kidney transplant.

In 2011, following complications from an operation to remove a cancerous para-thyroid gland he had to have his right leg amputated.

Ten days later he was running in the pool in the bodysuit he had developed.

The TNAR Mk X6 - to give its full title – is a body suit made from nylon, lycra and strategically-placed foam padding, which lifts the wearer into the necessary position for exercise in the swimming pool.

“I designed it for training in the water so your feet don’t touch the floor,” said Terry, who was a youth player at Liverpool when the club were conquering Europe in the 70s.

RECOGNITION: Stelios, above, and Terry Nelson with his bouyancy suit “The suit keeps you upright in the correct biomechanical running position. Anyone who’s got an injury can now run and train and sprint and do all the things they can’t do on land.”

Terry added: “I use my experiences of injury and illness to develop my business and to enhance people’s lives in a positive and healthy way.”

The £50,000 Stelios award was won by James King who, although blind and dyslexic, runs a successful home extension firm.

James set up Oliver James Garden Rooms in 2011. With a workforce of seven and a turnover of almost £300,000, he works with homeowners across Buckinghamshire,

Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Hertfordshire.

James said: “There are obstacles in running a business when you are blind but you just have to accept them. Everyone has them, whether you’ve got a disability or not.”

Sir Stelios said: “Removing the barriers disabled people face in business is essential, and I hope that the Stelios Award for Disabled Entrepreneurs goes some way to highlighting their achievements.” n TNAR Limited (Terry Nelson’s Aqua Running) is based in Waterloo Road, Liverpool. Tel. 0151 236 9255, www.tnar.co.uk

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. . . EDUCATION . . . TRAINING . . . JOBS . . . EDUCATION . . . TRAINING . . . JOBS . . .

Backward step for disabled learners A DISABLED Lord failed narrowly in a bid to force the Government to include a definite commitment to inclusive education in its children and families bill.

Lord [Colin] Low’s amendment would have placed the commitment among the general principles of the bill, in line with the Government’s obligations under article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

His amendment made clear the need to continue to

develop an inclusive system where parents of disabled children have increasing access to mainstream schools and staff and which have the capacity to meet the needs of disabled children.

Mirroring calls by The Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE), Lord Low said the references to inclusion in the bill’s latest draft code of practice had been very much watered down in comparison with current guidance.

And he warned that draft regulations attached to the bill would allow a child to be placed in a special academy or free school even if they do not have an education, health and care plan (EHCP) – the planned replacement for statements of special educational needs (SEN).

He said this risked a return to parents being pushed into accepting a special school place for their child because the mainstream school had not provided appropriate support.

New films for deaf students

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EAF students are getting help to apply for university places from a series of new videos.

The films, in British Sign Language, were made by UCAS – the University Admissions Service – after a plea from the Deaf Education Advocacy Fellowship (DEAF).

Beth Hayes, digital media manager at UCAS, said: “‘British Sign Language is different from spoken English, so even though we had subtitles on all our videos, these were not suitable for students whose first language was BSL. “We worked closely with DEAF to choose the most relevant videos and make sure they would help deaf students to understand how to apply and where to get support.”

Esmail Patel, head of DEAF, said: “We are very proud and honoured to be working in partnership with UCAS to make a difference to the lives of deaf learners to help and

encourage the community to have confidence when applying to universities.”

Each video covers an individual part of the UCAS process including information for students with disabilities, how to apply, choosing a course, open days, personal statements, requesting a reference and a guide for parents.

UCAS is also working with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) to make its website more accessible to visually impaired people.

Improvements include better keyboard navigation of the site and ensuring the site is fully accessible to anyone accessing content using a screen reader. n The sign language videos are embedded on relevant pages of the recently re-launched UCAS website: www.ucas.com

Dyslexia hurdle to apprentices PEOPLE with dyslexia and other learning difficulties are being prevented from qualifying as apprentices because they are not allowed to use assisted technology in vital English and mathematics tests.

So says the Liberal Democrat peer Lord Addington, who has dyslexia himself, and has been campaigning for Government action for more than three years.

He told fellow peers debating the committee stage of the children and

families bill that the problem lay with legislation on apprenticeships introduced by the last Labour government, which states that apprentices must pass both English and maths tests to secure accreditation.

He said the Alliance for Inclusive Education had raised similar concerns about problems faced by apprentices with learning difficulties, while the British Dyslexia Association had so far had 60 meetings with civil servants in a bid to resolve the issue.

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BRIGHT SPARK: Thomas, left, receiving his award from actor David Proud, best known for his role as Adam Best in BBC TV’s Eastenders

The name is Kitcherman, Thomas Kitcherman

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AMES Bond fanatic Thomas Kitcherman has won an award for his short film about the inspiration his big screen hero has had on his life.

Thomas, who has learning disabilities, won The uScreen Best Film Award 2013 in the uSparks Shorts competition for his three-minute video.

Supported by the national learning disabilities charity, Hft, Thomas beat off competition from more than 100 entries from budding film makers submitted over the past year.

After receiving his award at Pinewood Studios, Thomas said: “I’d like to be James Bond, even if it is just for a day.”

Thomas’ mother, Joanne, said: “Thomas has always been a shy character and

creating this film has really brought him out of himself.

“It has improved his confidence and helped him to become more articulate. He has been involved in every stage of the project so he also learnt some new skills.

“It has been a lot of hard work but he has enjoyed every minute of it and he has been beaming from ear to ear ever since he won.”

The film took several weeks to make and Thomas was involved in every aspect of production from initially drafting the story board all the way to the final editing of the piece. n To view his film visit http://uscreen.co.uk/films/view/6397

The perfect tutorial for tutors

n Supporting College and University Students with Invisible Disabilities, by Christy Oslund, £18.99

THIS practical handbook provides lecturers, tutors, disability services, and administrative staff with an overview of the invisible disabilities they may encounter, dispelling common myths and offering practical advice.

Students with invisible disabilities are often academically talented but

struggle with certain aspects of higher education such as keeping track of appointments or maintaining concentration in lecture halls.

Detailed information is included on a range of disabilities including autism, AD/HD, dyslexia, OCD, and affective disorders with ideas for adapting teaching methods, offering suitable accommodation, and improving policy.

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books Fighting back Exploring the Iceberg, by Paul R Lamb, amazon.com MOST victims of traumatic accidents will tell you the experience brought them to the lowest point.

“When I came out of my coma at mid-life with the functions of a six-year-old, I had no self-esteem, no confidence, no worth or value,” says Paul R. Lamb.

“I was lower than a snake’s belly. But looking deeper within myself over time, my self-esteem began to emerge.”

Lamb’s book is an inspiring story of his transformation following the car crash that put him in a coma for several weeks, finding the strength to overcome the challenges of his incredible injury. In the course of his journey, he discovered that knowing yourself deeply is the bedrock of self-esteem.

“You live life feeling you have little value,” Lamb says. “In reality, you have great value, as everyone does. You just may not know it, yet. Fortunately, emerging your self-esteem and your personal growth can start at any age.”

Lamb rebuilt his life after losing almost everything, including his memory and his physical abilities

February/March 2014

ARIES March 21st - April 20th

SAGITTARIUS November 23rd - December 21st

TAURUS April 21st - May 21st

GEMINI May 22nd - June 21st Avoid making serious decisions about household matters. Resist the urge to put pressure on a prospective partner on Valentine’s Day; it’s best to keep things light and friendly. You’ll start to see exciting movement on the romantic front during the second week of February. Early March brings a host of exciting career opportunities. A nagging health problem will make it hard to concentrate during the first half of the month.

Adopting a more active lifestyle will provide relief. The Full Moon on the 16th prompts you to spend more time at home. Let your family shower you with affection. You’re long overdue for some pampering.

CANCER June 22nd - July 23rd

Best Served Cold: The Rise, Fall and Rise Again of Malcolm Walker THE revealing autobiography of an unsung hero of British business – Malcolm Walker, the man who made Iceland a household name.

Walker’s incredible life story – told here for the first time with humour, insight and humility - is as dramatic a tour de force as you will find in business. We hear of early impresario days as a small-time dance hall promoter in Yorkshire (alongside a certain Peter Stringfellow), as well as Malcolm’s journey from the Woolworths stock room floor to the founding of Britain’s very first frozen food outlet, Iceland, in 1970.

We also learn the truth behind the fierce fight Walker won to clear his name of insider dealing in 2000 before going on to rebuild his empire. n Proceeds from the book are being donated to the Iceland Foods Charitable Foundation to support the work of Alzheimer’s Research UK.

aren’t willing to hear the hard truth about health problems. Valentine’s Day may tempt you into making a grand declaration of love.

You’re better off keeping things private. You’ll have to work with a temperamental expert at the end of the month. Grin and bear it. March opens on a joyous note. This is a great time to embark on a love affair, launch a creative project, or start a family. A cherished dream will be realised on or around the 16th and you are about to attract lots of favourable attention.

You may have to revise a project during the first week of February. Don’t make any permanent changes yet, as the powers that be haven’t decided what the finished product should look like. Pay careful attention to your dreams, as they could inspire a successful creative endeavour. The opening days of March give you a welcome opportunity to rest, relax and rejuvenate. An old love could make their way back into your life. Your best friend, lover, or business partner can help you realise a cherished dream near midmonth. A friendship could turn to romance with very little effort as March turns to April.

You might have to reverse a decision concerning a child. You will be forced to change plans due to altered schedules or an unforeseen emergency. Don’t get let your family have too much influence on your love life, especially on Valentine’s Day. Your reputation will get another boost when you donate time, money and resources to a charitable organisation. Who you know will be much more important than what you know in March. Be sure to attend a festive party and push yourself to meet new people. Dress for success throughout the first half of the month. It’s critical to make a good impression on those in charge.

Don’t sign any contracts this month. If you commit to an arrangement, it will cost you more time and money than you imagined. It’s better to keep things informal at this stage of the game. Mixing romance with finance isn’t the best of ideas, either. Keep your money separate from that of your lover, or an angry power struggle will ensue. Valentine’s Day will bring an ethical question to the forefront.

You need to decide whether you can maintain a partnership with someone whose values are different from yours. You’ll feel especially nostalgic throughout the first half of March. Show off your leadership ability during the second half of the month.

LEO July 24th - August 23rd Be prepared for some financial confusion early in the month. An important career decision will affect an intimate relationship.

Have a serious talk with your best friend, business partner, or lover during the second

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RUSSELL GRANT CALLING . . . week of February. Exciting news will arrive at mid-month, allowing you to move forward with a partnership venture. A gift, inheritance, or dividend will arrive in the second half of the month. An intimate relationship provides lots of pleasure throughout early March.

Word will spread of your expertise in late March, attracting some exciting opportunities.

VIRGO August 24th - September 23rd You’ll be easily misunderstood this February.

It may be necessary to explain your motives several times. Try not to take all the scepticism personally. If you’re not satisfied with a medical diagnosis, get a second opinion. There may be additional factors that are contributing to a health problem.

Valentine’s Day will spark a serious conversation about the future of a relationship. Two heads are better than one in the opening days of March. This is a great time to enter into a romantic or business partnership. Your other half will help you to become more creative, while you’ll give their life structure and meaning.

LIBRA September 24th - October 23rd Finance and romance will not mix in the first half of February; don’t lend or borrow money during this phase. Valentine’s Day may tempt you into steering a friendship into romantic waters. You’re better off keeping things platonic. Don’t share personal stories about your best friend or lover during the final days of February. The beginning of March is the best time of the entire year to start a health regimen. You’ll see results almost immediately, which will give you extra incentive to stick to your routine. News of an engagement or marriage will reach your ears in the second half of March.

SCORPIO October 24th - November 22nd It will be difficult to express your feelings about an upsetting family matter. Relatives

A pay rise or promotion could be stalled this month. Put your expectations on hold until March, when the tide will turn in your favour.

Although you hate pretending to go along with a bad plan, it’s probably the best course of action right now. Valentine’s Day could find you debating an ethical matter. Someone will try to buy your affection toward the end of the month. Beware. A passionate love affair could burst into flower in March. If you’re single, you could meet someone special when you least expect it. Take pains to look your best whenever you go out.

CAPRICORN December 22nd - January 20th Misunderstandings with colleagues will abound. A socially prominent person will disapprove of your decision in the first half of February. You won’t appreciate being judged by someone who has no experience with such matters. Valentine’s Day will be charged with sexual energy. Don’t be surprised when a friend makes a pass at you. A writing project or speaking engagement will garner lots of favourable publicity mid-March. The Full Moon on the 16th prompts you to take a leap of faith. This risk will pay off handsomely. Be sure to stand up for your beliefs.

AQUARIUS January 21st - February 19th Joint finances will be a source of strain in the opening days of the month. It will be difficult to strike a balance between your personal and professional life on Valentine’s Day. You may have to postpone a romantic evening for another time. An exciting moneymaking opportunity will arrive in early March. The Full Moon on the 16th is perfect for meeting an obligation or paying off a debt. Listen to a sibling or neighbour’s advice in the second half of the month regarding your appearance.

PISCES February 20th - March 20th You’ll have to revise a partnership arrangement in the early days of February.

Be kind to yourself during this ultra-sensitive period. You might have to work on Valentine’s Day, but don’t let that derail your love life. Don’t mix business with pleasure during the closing days of the month. The March Full Moon on the 16th brings great news regarding a relationship. Prepare to hear news of an engagement, marriage, or commitment ceremony. A fantastic offer will arrive in the final days of March. Accept this position as soon as possible, or a rival will move in and steal your thunder.

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February/March 2014

PLANT OF THE SEASON:

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ERGENIAS are among the most useful plants for unpromising situations, as tough as the Siberian mountains where they originated.

Named after Karl von Bergen, an 18th German botanist, they are evergreen, tolerate shade and very poor soil, spread to form ground-covering clumps and flower reliably at this time of year, mainly in lovely shades of pinkish purple, when there is little else of similar colour to be seen.

The flowers are lightly scented and fairly good for cutting.

The large, leathery leaves, which give rise to the nickname elephant’s ears, can add to the display by taking on red tints in winter. The plants’ only unattractive characteristic is that the foliage is sometimes burned and tattered by cold winds, especially on the coast.

The best kinds for gardens include: n Bergenia cordifolia, 45cm (18in) tall with deep pink flowers from March taller than most, with pink flowers, and its variety ‘Purpurea,’

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BERGENIA If you have a friend or neighbour whose bergenia you admire, November is the time of year to ask for root cuttings. The method is simple: cut away a length of rhizomatous root there’ll be plenty growing on the surface - slit it into 1cm (half-inch) slices or cubes, and bury these in moist peat or peat substitute in a shallow pot or a seed tray. Put this in a plastic bag in a greenhouse or a light room.

Each slice will produce a new plant, which can be planted in a nursery bed in April and moved into its final flowering position in September.

The bergenias in my garden have been free from pest and disease problems for years, though I’m told they are sometimes attacked by slugs or snails, and that the roots can suffer from a fungal rot.

Social climbers T

with purple blooms. n Bergenia crassifolia, of similar size with pale purple flowers and red foliage in winter.

Bergenia purpurascens with purple autumn leaves followed by mauve blooms. n A hybrid Bergenia x schmidtii, which has large pink flower-heads and is the earliest to bloom.

n A National Collection of 10 species and 69 varieties, held by C. Hallsworth at Maylandsea, Essex (01621-740994), is open by appointment.

lavender-coloured double; and Lagoon, flowering a little later in very deep blue.

The word clematis seems to have come from the Greek klema, meaning tendril with which, of course, the climbing species cling to their supports.

Clematis alpina, from the Remember that when mountains of Europe and Asia, preparing a position for a new opens pendulous, bell-shaped plant – fix wires or trellis into blossoms of blue or mauve from position making sure they are mid-spring. The alpina variety sturdy enough to hold the Cyanea, bred to withstand the weight of a full-grown climber.

Swedish winter, has deeper blue If planting against a wall or flower and serrated, ferny leaves, fence, select a position at least while Constance has purple-pink 45cm (18in) away from it. blooms and Pamela Jackman has Immerse the roots, still in their blue flowers with blue and cream container, in water for 20 anthers. These easily grow 2m-3m minutes and, while the rootball (6ft-10ft) tall in our climate. is soaking, dig a hole 45cm One of the first to bloom is deep and wide (18in x 18in). In Clematis cirrhosa, an evergreen clay, dig a little deeper and species from southern Europe place a layer of crocks or which requires a warm wall to grow pebbles in the base to improve well. It climbs to some 3m (8ft-10ft) drainage, and also fork the and produces cup-shaped cream sides and base. flowers often flecked with red, from If the soil is dry, flood the mid-winter. hole with several gallons of The variety Balearica is not so water. Then add well-rotted vigorous but has pretty cut-leaf manure or garden compost to TOUGH GUY: Clematis Alpina from the mountains of Europe and Asia foliage. Wisley Cream has greenisha depth of 10cm (4in). Remove cream blooms, while Freckles often bears its the container and plant so the rootball is 6cm flowers from late autumn - creamy-pink blooms, (2.5in) below the soil surface. heavily speckled red inside, contrasting with the Backfill with loam mixed with a generous long, yellow stamens. handful of bonemeal, with or soil-based potting Another evergreen, Clematis armandii, has compost, firm the rootball in with your hands, tie large oval leaves and white, long-lasting, displays of fluffy seedheads in summer and the stems with soft string to a cane training the almond-scented flowers, often continuing autumn. plant towards its support, and cover the root area throughout frost and snow. It grows quickly to Clematis macropetala, from Mongolia, is with rocks or stone slabs to keep the roots cool.

3m-5m (10ft-15ft). another tough customer with similar flowers and Then water generously and continue to do so Among the hardiest are two deciduous species flowering time to alpina. whenever the weather is dry for the first two that survive not only cold, exposed positions in Varieties bred from this include Alborosea, years. Feed with a liquid plant food high in Britain but also bitter winters in northern Europe pinkish-mauve with paler stamens; Ballet Skirt, a potash once a fortnight throughout the growing and Canada. They are also noted for their fully double deep pink type; Maidwell Hall, a season.

HERE are the delicate, summery kinds of clematis. Then there are the tough guys – less obvious but more appreciated earlyflowering types. Some are incredibly hardy.

CHECKLIST FLOWERS: Trim back some of the leaves of hellebores so the flowers can be seen clearly. One of the most attractive hellebores, the pure white ‘Christmas rose,’ can be spoiled by drips from overhead trees after rain so protect blooms, especially for cutting, with a sheet of glass or plastic.

SHRUBS: Prune winter jasmine when the yellow star-like flowers die. Cut back all the side shoots which have flowered, leaving 3cm-4cm (1.5in) of shoot.

Towards the end of March, prune the butterfly bush (buddleia) and mop-head hydrangeas down to 30cm (12in) from the ground, just above a shoot or leaf-joint. Strong new shoots will flower this year.

LAWNS: Keep lawns clear of wormcasts and other debris by brushing them off. Do not walk on lawns when frost is on the ground. If new growth is beginning, give a trim towards the end of March with the mower blades set high.

PONDS: Check electrical equipment and cables. Remove slippery algae from paths and decking. As the weather becomes milder towards the end of March, try fish with a little food but if they ignore it remove the food and wait another fortnight.

VEGETABLES: Sow broad beans and plant onion and shallot sets if there is a mild spell in February. Otherwise wait a few weeks. Sow peas, carrots and beetroots in March.

FRUIT: Prune gooseberries and redcurrants if you missed them in the autumn, aiming to produce a goblet-shaped bush on a single stem.

HERBS: In March, sow a few herb seeds in pots in a greenhouse or indoors on a windowsill. Start with chives and tarragon.

GLASS: Greenhouses and cold frames containing plants need a good airing on sunny days but make sure they are closed by late afternoon. The temperature can zoom up very quickly yet the nights are still cold and, if you don’t trap daytime warmth, plants could rot.

HOUSEPLANTS: Remove fading flowers and dying leaves.

Give plants as much light as possible but in most cases only water when the compost surface is starting to dry out. Exceptions include azalea, cyclamen and maidenhair fern, which prefer more moisture.

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February/March 2014

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BOX OFFICE SENSATION!

Until Feb 22: Hobson’s Choice. Bolton Octagon. Classic comedy set in Lancashire.

Feb 6: Scottie Road: The Musical.

Runcorn Brindley. Musical.

Feb 6-8: Under Milk Wood. Clwyd Theatr Cymru. An unforgettable journey into the heart and soul of Wales.

Feb 9: Brendan Cole. Rhyl Pavilion.

Dance extravaganza.

Feb 9: Fairport Convention. Salford Lowry. British folk-rock.

Feb 10: Leave Hitler To Me, Lad. Runcorn Brindley. A new family musical.

Feb 11: Hofesh Schechter’s Sun. Salford Lowry. Contemporary dance show.

Feb 11-12: Ballad of the Burning Star.

Salford Lowry. Cabaret troop with a thoughtful new show.

Feb 11-15: Run for your Wife.

Runcorn Brindley. Classic Ray Cooney comedy.

Feb 11-15: English National Ballet’s Le Corsaire. Manchester Palace Theatre. Pirate ballet.

Feb 11-22: Ghost. Liverpool Empire.

The hit film from the 90s reworked as a stage musical.

Feb 12: We Can Be Heroes. Salford Lowry. Inspirational show with original music.

Feb 12: Grandpa’s Railway. Runcorn Brindley. New production for families.

Feb 12-13: Hidden. Bolton Octagon.

Dark comedy.

Feb 12-16: Peter Pan on Ice. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. Swashbuckling ice adventure.

Feb 12-22: Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Manchester Opera House. Based on the classic comedy film.

Feb 13: Festival of the Spoken Nerd. Salford Lowry. A chance to embrace your nerdy side.

Feb 13: Andrew O’Neill. Runcorn Brindley. Heavy Metal - A history.

Feb 13: Hofesh Shechter - Sun. Blackpool Grand Theatre. Dramatic dance show.

Feb 13-14: Prelude to a Number.

Salford Lowry. Paying homage to the most beautiful number in mathematics.

Feb 14: Jimeoin. Preston Charter Theatre. Stand-up comedy.

Feb 14: The Strawbs Electric. Sale Waterside Arts Centre. Rock music.

Feb 14-15: Chris Ramsey.

Salford Lowry. Stand-up comedy.

Feb 15: Sing-A-Long-AGrease. Blackpool Grand Theatre.

Audience participation.

Feb 15: That’ll Be The Day. St Helens Theatre Royal. The nation’s favourite rock ‘n’ roll variety show.

Feb 15: Punt & Dennis Ploughing on Regardless.

Salford Lowry. New from the satirical comedy duo.

Feb 16: Tom Wrigglesworth.

Salford Lowry. Stand-up comedy.

Feb 16: Germaine Greer.

Runcorn Brindley. A chance to hear and question the journalist, academic and authority on feminist issues.

Feb 17-18: Dancing Times. Runcorn Brindley. Youth dance troupe.

Feb 17-22: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Manchester Palace Theatre.

Feel-good international hit.

Feb 17-22: Agatha Christie’s Black Coffee. Stoke Regent Theatre.

Feb 17-22: Moon Tiger. Salford Lowry.

A story of loss and desire.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

BOX BOX OFFICE OFFICE NUMBERS NUMBERS BLACKPOOL Grand Theatre: 01253 290190.

BOLTON Octagon: 01204 520661.

LIVERPOOL Empire: 08444 999 999.

Everyman & Playhouse: 0151 709 4776.

Royal Court: 0870 787 1866.

LLANDUDNO Venue Cymru: 01492 872000.

MOLD: Theatr Clwyd: 0845 3303565.

MANCHESTER Library Theatre: SALFORD The Lowry: 0843 208 6000.

Opera House: 0870 401 9000.

Palace Theatre: 0870 401 3000.

NEW BRIGHTON Floral Pavillion: 0151 666 0000.

PORT SUNLIGHT: Gladstone Theatre: 0151 643 8757.

PRESTON: Charter Theatre: 0845 344 2012.

RHYL: Pavilion Theatre:

01745 330 000.

RUNCORN The Brindley: 0151 907 8360.

SALE: Waterside Arts Centre: 0161 912 5616.

STOKE: Regent Theatre: 0844 871 7627.

SOUTHPORT: Floral Hall: 0844 847 2380.

ST HELENS: Theatre Royal: 01744 756000.

Citadel: 01744 735436.

WOLVERHAMPTON Grand Theatre: 01902 429212.

Go on . . . treat yourself

Feb 19: Sarah Millican. Preston Charter Theatre. Stand-up comedy.

Feb 19: Red Riding Hood. St Helens Citadel. Re-telling of the story we all know and love.

Feb 19-22: Classic Ghosts. Llandudno Venue Cymru. Classic ghost stories from Dickens and MR James.

Feb 20-22: Be our Guest. Runcorn Brindley. Local dance school.

Feb 21: Ed Byrne. Preston Charter Theatre. Stand-up comedy.

Feb 21-Mar 8: The Seagull.

Salford Lowry. Critically acclaimed adaptation of Chekhov’s masterpiece.

Feb 22-23: Panto Pandemonium.

Runcorn Brindley. A fully inclusive group of young people and adults, both with and without additional support needs, take you on a journey to the land of pantomime. Can our heroes save the day? Or will the wicked witch succeed in stealing panto forever?

Feb 23: Tap Factory. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. Dance and percussion.

Feb 23: Just So Stories. Salford Lowry.

Four of Rudyard Kipling’s tales.

Feb 24: Jack Whitehall. Salford Lowry. Stand-up comedy.

Feb 24-1: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Liverpool Empire.

Musical.

Feb 25-26: Pronoun. Salford Lowry.

New drama.

Feb 25-27: The Wizard of Oz. Runcorn Brindley. Musical production from Uptonby-Chester High School.

Feb 26: Brendan Cole: Licence to Thrill. Stoke Regent Theatre. Dance extravaganza.

Feb 26-Mar 1: My Boy Jack. Port Sunlight Gladstone Theatre. Rudyard Kipling’s search for his son during World War One. Feb 26-Mar1: A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Salford Lowry. Shakespeare’s fantastical comedy.

Feb 27: Punt & Dennis: Ploughing on Regardless.

Liverpool Playhouse.

Feb 27: Brendan Cole: Licence to Thrill. Preston Charter Theatre. Dance show.

Feb 27: 366 Days of Kindness. Salford Lowry. Show about the aftermath of the 2011 riots.

Promote your shows here . . .

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

February/March 2014

All Together NOW!

BEST RUMOURS IN TOWN!

FOUR pairs of tickets up for grabs

F

OLLOWING a hugely successful 2013, sensational tribute band Rumours of Fleetwood Mac are coming to the North West for their ‘Fleetwood Mac Forever World Tour’.

And we have one pair of tickets to give away for each of their FOUR NW shows.

Recognised internationally as the leading tribute to Fleetwood Mac – over the past decade they’ve played to half a million music lovers at 500 world venues – the band’s stunning show reflects on an epic journey of changing eras and musical styles, from the exciting hub of the sixties London blues scene to staggering commercial success in the seventies and eighties, and beyond.

Stand by for some timeless classics such as the chart-topping instrumental Albatross, Black Magic Woman, Go Your Own Way, Dreams, Gypsy, Say You Love Me, Sara, Oh Diane, Little Lies, Everywhere, and prepare yourself for a nostalgic evening of breathtakingly outstanding musicianship.

The band’s North West gigs are: n Wed March 5: Southport Theatre n Thu March 6: Blackpool Opera House

Feb 27: The Circus of Horrors London After Midnight. Manchester Opera House.

Feb 27-Mar 1: The Taming of the Shrew. Blackpool Grand Theatre.

Feb 27-Mar 22: Twelfth Night.

Bolton Octagon. Shakespeare’s comedy.

Feb 28: Let’s Hang On. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. The music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

Feb 28: Geno Washington and the Yo-Yos. St Helens Citadel. Soul, rhythm and blues.

Feb 28: The Sound of Simon.

Runcorn Brindley. Simon & Garfunkel.

Feb 28-Mar 1: Comedy of Errors.

Salford Lowry. Shakespeare’s most farcical play.

Feb 28-Mar 8: Let It Be. Manchester Palace Theatre. West End hit of the music of The Beatles.

Mar 1: Gerry McAvoy’s Band of Friends. Sale Waterside Arts Centre.

Tribute to Rory Gallagher.

Mar 1: Dirty Dusting.

Runcorn Brindley. Cleaning lady comedy.

n Sat March 8: Liverpool Philharmonic Hall n Mon March 10: Salford Lowry.

To have a chance of winning a pair of tickets, all you have to do is tell us the name of the Fleetwood Mac instrumental that topped the UK charts. Here are a couple of clues – it’s claimed to have inspired the The Beatles to write Sun King (Abbey Road, 1969), and had a great influence on David Gilmour’s (Pink Floyd) playing style!

Answers please on the back of a postcard, stating where you picked up your copy of All Together NOW!, to: Rumours of

Mar 1: The Modern Prometheus.

Runcorn Brindley. The Bankfield School with an extremely thoughtprovoking new show.

Mar 1: La Boheme. Manchester Opera House. Ellen Ken production.

Mar 2: Grisly Tales from Tumblewater. Salford Lowry. Dickens meets Dahl meets Horrible Histories.

Mar 2: Motown and Philadelphia on Tour. New Brighton Floral Pavilion.

Mar 2: Joe Lycett. Salford Lowry.

Stand-up comedy.

Mar 2: Aida. Manchester Opera House. Verdi’s love story of war, jealousy and revenge.

Mar 3-8: Thriller! Live. Liverpool Empire. Tribute to Michael Jackson.

Mar 3-8: Buddy! Stoke Regent Theatre. The Buddy Holly story.

Mar 4: Carmen. Rhyl Pavilion.

Bizet’s opera.

Mar 4-8: Dial M for Murder.

Liverpool Playhouse. Stage adaptation of the Hitchcock classic.

Mar 4-8: Barry Humphries - Eat, Pray, Laugh. Manchester Opera House. Farewell tour.

Mar 5: Rumours of Fleetwood Mac.

Fleetwood Mac Competition, All Together NOW! The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool. L14 2EP. State which show you would prefer to attend and if you need a wheelchair space.

And remember to include your name, address, phone number and email address (if applicable).

Please also tell us what you think of All Together NOW! You can also enter online at: www.alltogethernow.org.uk Closing date: Friday, February 28.

Southport Floral Hall. Tribute act.

Mar 5-6: Frozen. Bolton Octagon.

Three people’s intertwining stories.

Mar 5-8: Private Peaceful. Liverpool Playhouse. Michael Morpurgo’s war epic.

Mar 5-8: West Side Story. Runcorn Brindley. Classic Broadway musical.

Mar 6: The Six Wives of Henry VIII. Sale Waterside Arts Centre. Hilarious new hit.

Mar 6-8: Macbeth. Salford Lowry.

The Scottish Play. AUDIO DESCRIPTION Mar 6.

Mar 7: The Fureys and Davey Arthur. New Brighton Floral Pavilion.

Mar 7-29: YNWA. Liverpool Royal Court. The official history of Liverpool Football Club Mar 5: Rumours of Fleetwood Mac. Liverpool Philharmonic. See above Mar 8: Carmen. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. The Russian State Ballet and Opera House perform Bizet’s masterpiece.

Mar 8: Andy Fairweather Low & The Low Riders. St Helens Citadel.

One of the pioneers of rock.

Mar 8-Apr 5: Twelfth Night.

450,000 readers. Call us NOW! . . .

Liverpool Everyman. Shakespeare’s anarchic tale of loss and love. AUDIO DESCRIPTION Mar 20, CAPTIONED Mar 29.

Mar 9: The Day The Music Died.

New Brighton Floral Pavilion.

Celebration of Buddy Holly’s music.

Mar 10: The Illegal Eagles.

Manchester Opera House. Ultimate tribute to the Eagles.

Mar 10: Rumours of Fleetwood Mac. Salford Lowry. Tribute act.

Mar 10-11: Pinnochio. Runcorn Brindley. A modern retelling of the classic.

Mar 11: Moscow State Circus.

Liverpool Empire.

Mar 11: Richard and Adam. Salford Lowry. Welsh singing brothers.

Mar 11-15: Eternal Love. Blackpool Grand Theatre. Thought-provoking drama.

Mar 12: The Manfreds. Runcorn Brindley. The rhythm and blues legends.

Mar 12-15: Rambert ft. Rooster.

Clwyd Theatr Cymru. Dance spectacular.

Mar 13: Lee Hurst. Runcorn

31

Brindley. Stand-up comedy.

Mar 13: Loose Moose String Band. Runcorn Brindley. Merseyside’s bluegrass favourites.

Mar 13-15: Buddy. Liverpool Empire.

The Buddy Holly story.

Mar 13-15: 42nd Street. Port Sunlight Gladstone Theatre. Awardwinning musical.

Mar 14: Russell Kane. Salford Lowry. Stand-up comedy.

Mar 14: Charlie Landsborough. Southport Floral Hall. Singer-songwriter.

Mar 14: The Drifters. Runcorn Brindley.

Mar 14: The Meat Loaf Story.

Manchester Opera House. Musical featuring the life and music of Marvin Lee Aday.

Mar 15: Dark Side. Runcorn Brindley. Tribute to Pink Floyd.

Mar 16: The Johnny Cash Story.

Salford Lowry.

Mar 17-22: Evita. Manchester Palace Theatre. Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical.

Mar 17-22: The Mousetrap. Salford Lowry. Agatha Christie.

Mar 18-19: What the Ladybird Heard. Stoke Regent Theatre.

Glittering family treat.

Mar 19-22: Tom: A Story of Tom Jones. Rhyl Pavilion. The story behind the voice from the Valleys.

Mar 19-22: Oliver! Runcorn Brindley.

Musical.

Mar 22: Susan Boyle. Liverpool Empire. Singing star.

Mar 22: Ghosts. Runcorn Brindley.

Henrik Ibsen’s haunting tale.

Mar 23: An Audience with Pam Ayres. Clwyd Theatr Cymru. Poetry and humour.

Mar 24: Andy Kirkpatrick.

Salford Lowry. Stand-up mountaineer.

Mar 24-29: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. Llandudno Venue Cymru.

Mar 25: Giselle. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. The Moscow State Ballet performing the ‘Hamlet of Ballet’.

Mar 25-29: Kindertransport.

Manchester Opera House.

Unmissable production of Diane Samuels’ award-winning classic.

Mar 25-Apr 5. This May Hurt A Bit. Bolton Octagon. New political comedy.

Mar 27-Apr 19: A View From the Bridge. Liverpool Playhouse. Arthur Miller’s devastating play. AUDIO DESCRIPTION: APR 17.

CAPTIONED: APR 19.

Mar 28: Richard Herring.

Salford Lowry. Stand-up comedy.

Mar 28: That’ll Be The Day. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. Rock ‘n’ roll spectacular featuring hits from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s.

Mar 28: Up and Under. St Helens Citadel. New play from comedy playwright John Godber.

Mar 28-30: Peter Pan on Ice. Manchester Palace Theatre.

Mar 30: The Day The Music Died.

St Helens Theatre Royal. Celebration of Buddy Holly’s music and life.

Mar 31-Apr 5: Let it Be. Stoke Regent Theatre.

West End hit featuring the TAKE ME HOME! music of The Beatles.

0151 230 0307

All Together NOW!

32

February/March 2014

The Accumulator Quiz

STARSPOT CROSSWORD Can you find the celebrity name hidden in this Starspot Crossword? Complete the crossword in the normal way then make a note of the letters contained in all the squares which are marked with shaded stars. These letters will make an anagram of the name you are looking for.

1

1

2

2

3

★

4

7 8

9

10

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17

6

6

8

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7

★ 11

13

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28

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★

ACROSS

DOWN

2.

7.

8.

9.

10.

12.

15.

17.

18.

19.

21.

22.

23.

26.

28.

29.

30.

31.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

10.

11.

13.

14.

15.

16.

20.

21.

24.

25.

26.

27.

Adore (7) Quartet (4) Repulsive (4) Endanger (7) Undergarment (4) Pine (4) Proverb (5) Call off (6) Thought (6) Stifled laugh (6) Annoy (6) Challenger (5) Rubbish heap (4) Of poems (4) Cross the ------- (7) Preposition (4) Fortune (4) Punishment (7)

A B C D

A B C D

A B C D

★ 30

31

QUESTION 10 – for 10 points: For his performance in which film did Humphrey Bogart win his only Oscar?

Jay Magpie Cuckoo Jackdaw

Arrive (4) Legal document (4) Annul (6) Addictive drug (6) Draw (4) Tribe (4) Moved out of (7) Holy place (7) Left out (7) Of a kind (7) Measuring device (5) Standard of excellence (5) Narrow band of material (6) Wrapped package (6) Arm bone (4) Support (4) Solely (4) Measure of length (4)

A B C D

Walnut Almond Hazelnut Chestnut

Taps Scissors Nappies Safety pins

QUESTION 4 – for 4 points: TV panellist and comedian David Mitchell forms one half of a regular duo with which other comedian?

A B C D

Robert Webb Lee Mack Dara O Briain Frank Skinner

QUESTION 5 – for 5 points: Which of these cheeses is commonly used grated and sprinkled on pasta?

A B C D

Parmesan Gorgonzola Bel Paese Roquefort

QUESTION 6 – for 6 points: In which country does the River Rhine have its source?

A B C D

Austria Switzerland Germany Hungary

SUDOKU

Stomach Lungs Windpipe Navel

QUESTION 12 – for 12 points: What type of items does a bibliophile collect?

A B C D

Comedian David Mitchell. See Question 4.

Postage stamps Coins Books Matchbox labels

QUESTION 13 – for 13 points: In which country did Buddhism originate?

QUESTION 7 – for 7 points: Which of the following is usually grown in water?

A Figs B Mangetout C Rice D Rhubarb

A B C D

QUESTION 8 – for 8 points: From which fruit is the French spirit Calvados made?

A Apples B Plums C Pears D Cherries QUESTION 9 – for 9 points: Which 20th century British prime minister was a descendant of the Duke of Marlborough?

A Alec Douglas-Home B David Lloyd George C Winston Churchill D Harold Macmillan

China Thailand Nepal India

QUESTION 14 – for 14 points: Who wrote an autobiography entitled The Naked Civil Servant?

A B C D

Robin Maugham Quentin Crisp Dirk Bogarde Francis Bacon

QUESTION 15 – for 15 points: What was the subject of the Beveridge Report of 1942?

A B C D

Prison reform Coal mines Education Social security

KAKURO

THERE is just one simple rule in Sudoku. Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, and so must each 3 x 3 box. This is a logic puzzle, and you should not have to guess.

EASY

DIFFICULT

8 4 4

The African Queen The Caine Mutiny The Maltese Falcon Casablanca

QUESTION 11 – for 11 points: What is the common name for the trachea?

QUESTION 3 – for 3 points: Which of the following are known as diapers in the USA?

27

28

29

chosen answers and keep a record of your points total. Maximum total points 120.

QUESTION 1 – for 1 point: Which bird lays its eggs in the nests of others?

A B C D

22 19

Each question has four possible answers and is worth from one to 15 points. Circle your

QUESTION 2 – for 2 points: Which nut is ground into a paste to make marzipan?

18

★

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

1 9

7

7 6 8

7 1 4 5 9 6

6 2 3 5 7 2 5 4 8 1 1 6 7 3 2

4 5 7 1 5 9

6 1 9

2 8 3 2 9

7 3

4 1 8 6

5 4

FILL in the blank squares in the grid with numbers so that each horizontal or vertical line adds up to the total given in the box either to the left or above it.

Horizontal totals are given in the top right corners of the shaded boxes; vertical totals in the bottom left corners.

You can use the numbers 1 to 9, but may not use the same number more than once in any run. The number may be used again, however, in the same row or column but as part of another run.

MEDIUM 5

6

39

11

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16

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34 10 12

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3 11

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23 13 18 5

SAY THAT AGAIN . . .

A TRUE soul mate is a mirror, the person who shows you everything that is holding you back, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life — Elizabeth Gilbert, American author

THE greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves —Victor Hugo, French playwright

We’re born alone, we live alone, we die alone.

Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we’re not alone — Orson Welles, American actor

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

February/March 2014

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26

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ EACH number in our Cross Code grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. You have three letters in the control grid to start you off.

Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters should go in the missing squares.

As you get the letters, fill in other squares with the same number in the main grid and control grid. Check off the alphabetical list of letters as you identify them.

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L

Telephone dialling pads combine several letters on one key. Here we have encoded several sets of words or items by using numbers rather than letters. Then we have divided them into groups of three characters and run all the names one after another to make your task a little more difficult. Can you crack the codes?

19

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DIALLING CODES

CROSS CODE 14

All Together NOW!

S

MISSING LINK Each pair of words has a missing word between them that acts as a link to both (e.g. FRONT – DOOR – MAT). The initial letters of the six answers (reading downwards) will spell out a type of fastener.

1 []’–

2 ABC

3 DEF

4 GHI

5 JKL

6 MNO

7 PQRS

8 TUV

9 WXYZ

Spaces and any punctuation marks are represented by 1.

1. Types of reference book 242 546 472 749 134 732 867 912 282 564 831 285 271 362 925 673 342 125 626 221 342 846 627 915 687 625 148 433 266 516 268 251 429 388 337

2. Types of weather 487 742 263 184 863 753 381 786 744 631 914 253 126 842 925 126 531 376 681 337 746 617 246 143 289 189 746 661 424 5

371 766 663 737 283

3. Mammals native to Britain 223 437 132 556 913 337 136 914 739 177 847 735 172 224 816 883 716 653 143 343 464 142 783 781 668 731 928 371 865 314 273 174 631 627 836

4. London landmarks 869 371 274 343 163 671 265 866 146 873 317 275 426 368 176 125 237 814 255 128 644 261 725 223 174 345 591 247 287

5. Types of rock pool life 737 494 655 312 888 533 474 154 673 816 877 351 782 734 741 227 622 531 272 217 729 616 286 787 173 218 724 461 562 783 712 636 663 146 29

6. Film production companies 893 684 384 123 688 791 369 187 478 271 925 813 476 391 927 637 127 671 265 862 421 638 761 465 399 616 293 717 272 668 681 864 837 725

PATHWORDS

SPOT CHECK

Starting from the central shaded letter, move one letter at a time (up, down, right or left, but not diagonally) to find 10 words and phrases involving numbers.

Can you place the six dominoes (right) into the grid below in such a way that the number of spots in all four rows across and all four rows down totals 8?

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D MAKE A DATE

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In which year did all three of these significant historical events take place?

1. Labour MP Paul Boateng becomes the first black member of the Cabinet.

S

BEARING

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KEPT

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RECORD

E

V W T

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I

BOTTLE

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E L T S O TRANSFORMER

BLOOD

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SILENT

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SHIFT

Here is an unusual word with three definitions, only one of which is correct. Can you identify the right definition?

E

––––

PEEL

WORD WIZARD

2

E

TENNIS

DOG

576 716 925 254 222

3

4

5

6

C

E D

FLEAM 1) A yellow dye made from the bark of the North American oak tree;

F

2. The Rolling Stones’ Mick awarded a knighthood.

Jagger

2) A type of brick, mottled yellow and pink in colour, with sharp edges;

is

3) An instrument similar to a lancet, used for bleeding diseased cattle.

3. The Scottish Parliament introduces a law to ban foxhunting.

Add the given letter to the first word to make a new word.

Clue: Change address when I get to make a film.

WAS IT? a) 1999; b) 2000; c) 2001; d) 2002; e) 2003.

____ +I=___I_

ALL THE ANSWERS Pathwords: seven deadly sins; two of a kind; pieces of eight; twelve apostles; sixth sense; five-a-side; seven seas; Ten Commandments; nine days’ wonder; six feet under.

9 4 1 8 6 3 2 7 5

7 2 3 9 1 5 6 4 8

4 1 9 5 2 7 3 8 6

3 5 2 6 8 4 7 1 9

6 7 8 3 9 1 5 2 4

1 9 5 2 3 8 4 6 7

2 6 7 1 4 9 8 5 3

8 3 4 7 5 6 1 9 2

5 1 6 7 4 8 3 2 9

8 9 7 1 3 2 6 5 4

3 2 4 9 5 6 8 7 1

7 3 8 6 9 4 2 1 5

Z

J

I

A O R

15 2

1

16 3

17 4

L

18 5

F

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K

19 6

20

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7

C

U N M V

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8

23

22

11

10

9

SUDOKU EASY

24

1

4

D

25

T

26

H Q S W E 12

13

CROSS CODE

9 4 2 3 1 5 7 8 6

6 5 1 8 2 7 4 9 3

2 6 5 4 8 1 9 3 7

1 7 3 2 6 9 5 4 8

4 8 9 5 7 3 1 6 2

5 18

8

9

22

2

3

10

12

10 10

5

3

34

1

2

12 5

6

7 5

SUDOKU DIFFICULT

9 13 23

1

4

3

6

9

8 9

13

39

ADVERTISE HERE 0151 230 0307

5 8 6 4 7 2 9 3 1

G B

14

KAKURO MEDIUM

17

2 8

9

11 3

1 2 8 11

6

1 10

7 9 16

2 8

Accumulator Quiz 1 – C; 2 – B; 3 – C; 4 – A; 5 – A; 6 – B; 7 – C; 8 – A; 9 – C; 10 – A; 11 – C; 12 – C; 13 – D; 14 – B; 15 – D. Starspot Crossword Across – 2 Worship; 7 Four; 8 Ugly; 9 Imperil; 10 Vest; 12 Long; 15 Maxim; 17 Cancel; 18 Notion; 19 Titter; 21 Pester; 22 Rival; 23 Dump; 26 Odic; 28 Rubicon; 29 Into; 30 Luck; 31 Penalty.

Down – 1 Come; 2 Writ; 3 Repeal; 4 Heroin; 5 Pull; 6 Clan; 10 Vacated; 11 Sanctum; 13 Omitted; 14 Generic; 15 Meter; 16 Model; 20 Ribbon; 21 Parcel; 24 Ulna; 25 Prop; 26 Only; 27 Inch.

Star Name: EWAN McGREGOR

Word Wizard No 3 is correct. A fleam is a surgical instrument.

Dialling Codes 1. bibliography; directory; catalogue; atlas; encyclopedia; almanac; dictionary; journal; guidebook; manual; gazetteer.

2. hurricane; thunder; sleet; sunshine; snow; gale; anticyclone; cold front; depression; rain; heatwave; typhoon; hail.

3. badger; fallow deer; fox; grey squirrel; rabbit; otter; mole; hedgehog; harvest mouse; water vole; hare; pine marten.

4. Tower Bridge; Nelsons Column; Houses Of Parliament; Royal Albert Hall; Buckingham Palace; Piccadilly

Circus.

5. periwinkle; cuttlefish; limpet; mussel; starfish; barnacle; crab; prawn; octopus; sea urchin; lobster; anemone; goby.

6. Twentieth Century Fox; TriStar; Walt Disney; Warner Bros; Columbia; Metro Goldwyn Mayer; Paramount; Universal.

Spot Check A = 3; B = 4; C = 1; D = 6; E = 2; F = 5.

Missing Link ball; under; track; top; orange; night.

Fastener: button.

Make a Date The year was 2002.

Transformer Move + I = Movie.

REACH 450,000 READERS . . .

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February/March 2014

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Free ‘n’ easy HERE’S a great offer for All Together NOW! readers who may not be as good on their pins as they might have been.

Woodvale and Ainsdale Community Centre are offering a free session of a ‘chair-based’ form of Tai Chi. Called ‘Chair Chi’ it’s an exercise programme that gets people to move joints and muscles in a safe, controlled manner, focusing on breathing, stretching, balance and posture. n Classes are usually £3 and are on Thursday from 10am - 11am at Woodvale Community Centre, Southport. Tel, 01704 573084 or email d.woodvalecentre@btconnect.com n LEFT: Rashid at Woodvale and Ainsdale Community Centre’s chair-based exercise classes

SIX OF THE BEST!

THE SIX lucky winners of our Christmas gardening competition are: Mrs Jean Barnes, Thornton Drive, Upton, Chester, who picked up her copy of All Together NOW! at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Mr Kenyon, Green End Road, Burnage, Manchester. (Wythenshawe Hospital) Mrs J Birchall, Childwall, Court, Ellesmere Port. (Ellesmere Port Library)

Miss Sophie Bowman, Landseer Avenue, Blackpool. (Wilkinson’s Blackpool Mrs Julie Cocker, Whitebeam Road, Penwortham, Preston (Dobbies Garden Centre) Mr Oliver Garratty, Upper Mann Street, Liverpool. (Asda Smithdown Road)

All winners will receive a super Suttons Heritage Seed Box PLUS six packets of their flower and vegetable seeds.

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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. Tel 0151 263 8366. Text 0151 260 4076 n MERSEYSIDE Coalition of Inclusive Living.

Tel 0151 260 4001 n NEUROSUPPORT Centre 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.

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CARERS’ CENTRES

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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 n CUMBRIA 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 Helpline: 0800 085 0307 n KNOWSLEY Tel 0151 549 1412 n LANCASTER Tel 01524 66475 n LIVERPOOL 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 456 2808 n WARRINGTON Tel 01925 644 212 n WEST LANCS Tel 01695 711243 n WIGAN & LEIGH Tel 01942 683711 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 n DOLGELLAU Tel 01341 421167 n FLINTSHIRE: NEWCIS, Tel: 01352 751436 n WREXHAM CARERS SERVICE Tel: 0800 276 1070

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February/March 2014

All Together NOW!

Rose the perfect roll model for Russia RETIRED alpine skier Sean Rose has been appointed the ParalympicsGB’s athletes ambassador at Sochi 2014.

CHAMPION: Sean Rose has been appointed as an ambassador for the GB athletes in Sochi

Sochi here we come

H

OPES are high for Britain’s winter Paralympians as they prepare for the Sochi Games.

Among the 10 selected athletes is sit-skier Mick Brennan, a retired serviceman who was injured while serving in Iraq in 2004. Brennan took up skiing through Help For Heroes and travelled out to Vancouver in 2010 as part of the British Paralympic Association’s inaugural Paralympic Inspiration Programme.

Mick has received substantial support in his journey to the Games by BPA partner Help For Heroes, who funded a new sit-ski for him.

ParalympicsGB will also field three competitors in the women’s visually-impaired category, including Northern Ireland’s Kelly Gallagher, who previously competed at the Vancouver Paralympic Games where she finished fourth in the Giant Slalom – the best finish by a UK visually-impaired skier since 1994.

Kelly said: “My guide Charlotte (Evans) and I have been working together for four seasons and we have been putting 100% in every day both on and off the hill. Being named for the team for Sochi is another step on our amazing journey with each other.

“We’ve had such fantastic support from our families and lots of other supporters, and our selection feels like a great reward for all their hard work behind the scenes. They have

High hopes on the slopes for ParalympicsGB

really made this possible for us.”

Gallagher and Evans have already picked up a number of World Cup medals this year including three golds and a silver at the recent World Cup event in Panorama in Canada.

Joining them is up-and-coming British prospect Jade Etherington, guided by Caroline Powell. The duos have been pushing each other on in both training and racing, and their friendly rivalry has benefitted both pairings.

Racing in the same category is the youngest selected athlete in the team and youngest ever British winter Paralympian, Millie Knight, who is only just eligible after turning 15 in January. She will make her Paralympic debut alongside guide Rachael Ferrier.

Millie said: “Having only joined the team in 2012, it’s been an amazing few years to get this far. Everyone in the team has been incredibly supportive and have helped me along the way, especially all my guides over the years.

“I’d like to particularly thank my mum, who

Stay ahead of the game

was my first ever guide because I wouldn’t have got to this point without her.”

Millie is one of three teenagers selected, reflecting an effort within the sport to develop new talent.

She will be joined by 19 year old sit-skier Ben Sneesby, who has been skiing with the BDST Youth Development squad since he was talent spotted at the age of 13.

Having first skied aged four and made his international debut at 11, 16 -ear-old James Whitley will make his Games debut in the standing category. He is currently ranked second in the world at under-18 level.

Completing the line up and returning for her second Games is Anna Turney, a University of Bristol graduate who was a snowboarder prior to her accident.

THE GB Wheelchair Curling squad comprises Gregor Ewan (Elgin, Morayshire), Tom Killin (Edinburgh), Aileen Neilson (Strathaven); Bob McPherson (Bellshill); and Angie Malone (Girvan).

The team, which competes as Team Scotland at World Championship level, has produced strong performances at international competitions between the last Games in Vancouver, including silver at the 2011 World Championships.

The Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games run from March 7-16.

Rose will share his knowledge and experience of competing at the Paralympics with teammembers as well as BPA partners and supporters.

A former World Cup gold medallist who represented ParalympicsGB at the Turin 2006 and Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in the sport of Alpine Skiing, Rose is one of GB’s highest achieving winter athletes of recent years.

Rose said: “Winter sports are my passion and I was already counting down the days to Sochi 2014 when I was invited to join the team as an athlete ambassador.

“I hope that I can use my experience to benefit the wider team and, in doing so, help them to support the athletes as they go out there and achieve the personal best performances that they’ve been working so hard towards.

Passion “Although I’m not competing this time round, I can’t wait to be part of the Games experience once more and I’m excited to see what ParalympicsGB can do in Sochi.”

Penny Briscoe, Chef de Mission for ParalympicsGB, said: “Sean is well known for his enthusiasm, passion and insight into Winter Paralympic sport and he has given us a lot in his time as a successful ski racer who has competed at the highest level.

“It’s great that we now have him on board in the capacity of athlete ambassador, and I know he’ll be a truly valuable asset to the team when ParalympicsGB compete in Sochi.”

. . . www.alltogethernow.org.uk

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February/March 2014

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Wizards of Oz!

DOUBLE DELIGHT: Jordanne Whiley and Yui Kamiji – and Andy Lapthorne (right) and David Wagner. PICTURES: TAKEO TANUMA

B

RITAIN’S top wheelchair tennis players pulled off a fantastic Grand Slam double at the Australian Open in Melbourne, writes MARSHALL THOMAS

Jordanne Whiley became the first British woman to win a Grand Slam title when she teamed up with Japan’s Yui Kamiji to a 6-2, 67(3), 6-2 victory over Dutch second seeds Marjolein Buis and Jiske Griffioen.

And Andy Lapthorne partnered American David Wagner to victory in the quad doubles.

It was a hat-trick for Andy Lapthorne who notched up his third Australian Open quad

doubles title with a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Australian Dylan Alcott and South Africa’s Lucas Sithole.

“I’m really happy to get my third Australian Open title and want to thank David (Wagner) – we have been on opposite sides of the net so often in other Grand Slam finals.

“Australia is where I made my Grand Slam debut in 2011 and it’s great to get another title.

“This one is dedicated to my late auntie,” said Lapthorne, who won his first two Australian Open doubles titles in 2011 and 2012 partnering fellow Brit Peter Norfolk, with whom Lapthorne went on

to win the quad doubles silver medal at the London 2012 Paralympics..

Lapthorne’s bid to reach a second successive Australian Open quad singles final came to an end despite having saved six match points against Alcott. World No. 3 Lapthorne beat Alcott but wasn’t able to repeat that win in his second of three round-robin matches.

Gordon Reid had to settle for runners-up honours in the men’s doubles after the Scot and Dutchman Maikel Scheffers slipped to a 6-3, 6-3 loss to top seeds Stephane Houdet (France) and Shingo Kunieda (Japan) in their final.

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Stay ahead of the game

Guides for all seasons NEW guides have been launched encouraging people with a disability to live healthier, more active lifestyles.

The series of guides, developed by experts at Loughborough University, also lead those who are already active into competitive sport.

The five Fit for Life & Sport guides contain information on physical activity, exercise and sport, nutrition, and psychology and have been written for adults with specific disabilities: visual impairment, spinal cord impairment, amputation, cerebral palsy and les autres.

Each guide has been split into two main sections. n Fit for Life is for those who do very little physical activity or exercise and want to improve health and fitness. n Fit for Sport is for regular exercisers who would like to improve performance or take their training more seriously.

The guides are available in print format and are downloadable online at www.lboro.ac.uk/phc-toolkit Hard copies of the guides are being distributed to local and national sporting organisations, disability charities and at various “get into sport” days such as the ParalympicsGB Sports Fest.

Copies can be ordered via the PHC website or by emailing phc@lboro.ac.uk

. . . www.alltogethernow.org.uk