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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 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 5 August, 2014 All Together NOW! is published by All Together Now! Ltd, The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP Registered Charity No.1106387
NEWS
June/July 2014
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Robot’s message to Obama PRESIDENT Barack Obama was given a warm welcome to Japan - by a robot. The President was greeted by ASIMO, Honda’s robot, during a visit to Tokyo’s National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation. “Mr President, I am ASIMO, a humanoid robot. It is a pleasure to meet you. I keep training every day so that someday in the future I can help people in their homes.” ASIMO then demonstrated some of its signature moves including running, kicking a ball and jumping.
£10m step forward
Walk suits on the way
T
HE creation of robots that enable paralysed people to walk again has taken a big step forward.
Rex Bionics, who are behind the unique hands-free robotic exoskeleton that works without crutches or a walking frame, has generated £10m to bring the futuristic technology to wheelchair users. The cash injection, enabling the growing company to expand its production, came after it was floated on the Stock Exchange, with the business valued at £25.7m. Completely self-supporting and, in one case, even able to navigate stairs, the robot suit has been described by early users as “magical” and “absolutely amazing”. Sophie Morgan, who was paralysed in a car accident in 2003, said she was suffering fewer spasms and sleeping better since using the suit.. The suits are still way out of range of most pockets for private use but they are initially intended to be used for rehabilitation purposes. Chief executive Jeremy Curnock Cook said: “We are now well-funded to scale up our production and marketing capabilities to meet the growing demand of wheelchair-users worldwide to gain access to the life-changing and unparalleled REX technology.”
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Making calls is getting easier MAKING phone calls should be a lot easier for people with hearing or speech difficulties. BT’s enhanced text service, which has just gained Ofcom approval, will enable people to communicate faster and have more fluent conversations. Calls will be made via a relay assistant who acts as a go-between to convert speech to text, and vice versa. BT will also be able to offer its text relay service to other communications providers for their customers. Claudio Pollack, Ofcom’s consumer group director, said: “We’ve taken another significant step in our work to ensure that users can access reliable, up-to-date text relay services. “Once in operation, we will be monitoring the performance of BT’s approved next generation text relay service closely to ensure it continues to meet Ofcom’s expected standards.” The service is now available on the following devices: existing textphones and Braille readers; Windows-based personal computers and laptops (using the following Windows operating systems: XP, Vista or Windows 7); Intel based Linux personal computers and laptops; Intel based Mac Operating System (“OS”) X; mobile telephones running Android 4 OS; and tablets running the Android 4 OS. n BT has confirmed its next generation text relay service will also be available on other Apple products (iPhones and iPads) by the end of June.
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Almost 10,000 copies of your favourite charity health paper are being picked up every week from supermarkets, health centres and visitor attractions. But as good as the paper is, the charity wants to get even more news and information to even more people - and faster! Now, thanks to an Awards for All grant, All Together NOW! has launched a fornightly enewsletter that’s bursting with news
Driver gets banned for parking abuse
updates and opportunities to help thousands of people affected by disability and ill health. Emailed to readers all over the UK – and beyond (we have subscribers in the US, Turkey, and Australia) – the e-newsletter is perfect for those of you who can’t wait to pick up the next print issue, and for relatives and friends who live out of the region. It will also help our sponsors, partners and advertisers to get their messages out to potentially millions more people. n Sign up for the FREE e-newsletter at: www.alltogethernow.org.uk
LET’S WORK TOGETHER B
ACK in the 70s, when a bullet in the back changed my life forever, national charities were saying much more needs to be done to educate the public about disability.
Discrimination was rife and little was being done to change things. Low and behold, 40 years on and the same record is playing again. New surveys on disability and mental health reveal British attitudes need to change – and change quickly – if we really want to give everyone better chances in life. Scope says a staggering two-thirds of the British public (67%) admit that they feel uncomfortable talking to disabled people. Their survey (see Page 4) reveals that people under 35 – are twice as likely as older people to feel awkward around disabled people – and that one-fifth of 18-34 year-olds have actually avoided talking to a disabled person because they weren’t sure how to communicate with them. Mental health organisations are echoing Scope’s feelings.
With over 850,000 children in the UK diagnosed with a mental health problem, there are fears that without increased awareness among adults thousands of young people are at increased risk of alcohol and drug misuse, self-harm, neglect and in extreme cases, suicide. That’s why this FREE mainstream charity newspaper is so important. All Together NOW! is all about raising awareness of health and disability issues – and providing tons of information about opportunities for people of all ages and abilities. The paper is now reaching almost half a million readers across the North West – with 90% of copies being picked up from supermarkets and hospitals. We could go even further afield and help many more people if we could get more organisations on board with us! As Bert Massie, one of Britain’s leading disability campaigners and former chair of the Disability Rights Commission, says: “All Together NOW! is more than just a newspaper. It is the key that opens a thousand doors.”
TOM DOWLING, editor
A BIG thanks to those who nominated me (and All Together NOW! ) for the Independent on Sunday’s Happy List, which features 100 people from across the UK who are trying to make a difference. It’s especially great that a national newspaper has recognised the importance of the All Together NOW! charity, which provides a vital news service for people affected by disability and ill-health. It’s also a fantastic tribute to our small band of sponsors and partners which include Liverpool Community Health Trust, the Morgan Foundation, Park Group, and United Utilities. Without their backing we would just not exist.
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A DRIVER who used his wife’s disabled parking badge has been banned from the roads for a year and told to pay £800. Portsmouth District Judge Callaway heard that Kenneth Austin, 64, dodged charges at Clarence Pier car park using the badge. He denied two offences and was found guilty of one of them. He was given a 12-month driving ban and a £500 fine, and ordered to pay £300 costs to the council. Michael Robinson, the council’s parking operations manager, said: “A driving ban sends out a clear message. The court has shown that Portsmouth will not tolerate such abuse of disabled badges.” Helen Dolphin, director of policy and campaigns for the charity Disabled Motoring UK, said: “Small fines are of little deterrent to people who can save hundreds, even thousands of pounds by using a badge which does not belong to them so taking a away someone’s licence is certainly a far better punishment. We can only hope that other authorities follow this lead.”
Why I love this paper I ALWAYS enjoy reading All Together NOW! What a very important newspaper it is. My best wishes to all help to produce this wonderful and FREE charity publication. Ken Dodd, comedian
Switched on THE number of people aged 65 and over accessing the internet has risen by more than a quarter in the past year, according to Ofcom’s latest report, Adults’ Media use and Attitudes. Older people using the web reached 42% in 2013, up nine percentage points from 33% in 2012. There has also been an increase in the use of tablet computers by older people (aged 65-74) to go online, up from 5% in 2012 to 17% in 2013.
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This is more than just a newspaper – it is the key that opens a thousand doors
‘
— SIR BERT MASSIE, BRITAIN’S LEADING DISABILITY CAMPAIGNER
Top BBC job for Nikki
Housing proposals slammed by charity NATIONAL charity Leonard Cheshire Disability has slammed the Government for ignoring the housing needs for disabled people. The new Locally Led Garden Cities prospectus sets out a broad support package that Government will offer to projects that set high standards for design, quality and the provision of green space. But Jane Harris, Leonard Cheshire Disability’s managing director of campaigns and engagement, said: “We are deeply disappointed that the Garden City prospectus makes no commitments to building disabledfriendly homes. One in six of us has a disability and there is a massive shortage of homes suitable for disabled people. “The new Garden Cities should include homes for everyone for the long-term. As we live longer, more and more of us will have a disability and need homes that, for example, have doors wide enough for wheelchairs and bathrooms downstairs. “We hope that the Deputy Prime Minister will make sure that a decent portion of the new homes built in Garden Cities will be disabled-friendly. Otherwise we will look back and regret that we built homes that millions of us could never live in safely or comfortably.”
Why I love this paper n I've just picked up my first copy of All Together NOW! from Central Library, Bolton. Really interesting varied content. Something for everyone and packed with information. I'll be looking out for it again. Dee Snelson, Hollowell Lane, Horwich, Bolton.
It’s all in the cards A NEW ‘alert card’ that informs people that a person has dyspraxia is available to help those affected by the condition which affects coordination. Similar to cards first launched for people living with autism, they can be used to advise police, passers-by, emergency services of the possible difficulties people may have, as well as providing contact details in the case of an emergency. Theresa Hart, a trustee of the Dyspraxia Foundation and also a parent of a teenager with dyspraxia, said: “All parents worry about their sons and daughters when they start going out and about on their own, especially in the evenings. We can’t protect them from everything but we at least want to be able to prepare them for difficult situations they might encounter.” The cards cost £2 to DF members. n Dyspraxia Foundation, tel 01462 455016 n www.dyspraxiafoundation.org.uk
BBC NEWS has appointed Nikki Fox as its first Disability Correspondent. Nikki, a Sony award-winning journalist and broadcaster who has made a number of documentaries for Radio 4 and Radio 5 Live, will be based at MediaCity Salford, working as part of a team of three broadcast journalists dedicated to the reporting of disability issues. Nikki, who has muscular dystrophy, has reported on disability issues for The One Show and Rip Off Britain and has worked as both a reporter and producer on factual entertainment programmes. She said: “I am thrilled to be able to
work as part of a specialist team of journalists, dedicated to the reporting of disability issues for a national audience, in a new and fresh way.” Nikki will be supported by producer Ruth Clegg, who brings a wealth of experience in radio, TV and online journalism, as well as a dedicated cameraperson who is yet to be appointed. Fran Unsworth, deputy director of BBC News, said: “Nikki’s appointment demonstrates BBC News’ commitment to providing the best disability news reporting across the country. The role of Disability Correspondent is the first of a number of positions to be created within our new disability news team.”
PLEASE, JUST TALK TO US
A
STAGGERING two-thirds of the British public (67%) admit that they feel uncomfortable talking to disabled people. A fear of seeming patronising or saying the wrong thing is why most people feel awkward, according to a new report by disability charity Scope. Scope says that the research sheds new light on why disabled people continue to face negative public attitudes in 2014. It reveals that so-called “millennials” are twice as likely as older people to feel awkward around disabled people – and that one-fifth of 18-34 year-olds have actually avoided talking to a disabled person because they weren’t sure how to communicate with them. Off the back of the findings, Scope has launched a national advertising campaign which uses comedy to shine a light on the awkwardness that many people feel about disability. The charity says that Channel 4’s
Most people feel awkward with disability
coverage of the London 2012 Paralympic Games had a huge impact and research at the time indicated that it changed perceptions about disability among viewers. However, the new research shows that there continues to be a real lack of public understanding about disability: Nearly half of the British (43%) do not personally know anyone who is disabled. Many people said that getting to know someone disabled (33%), or getting advice from disabled people (28%), would make them feel more confident when meeting a disabled person. While the adverts are lighthearted, Scope wants to highlight the negative impact of discomfort about disability on disabled
people’s lives. Chief executive Richard Hawkes said: “Awkward situations can be funny. We’ve all been in situations that have made us cringe. “But imagine if every day, people avoided talking to you because they weren’t sure what to say or how to act. That’s the situation that many disabled people face today. “Not enough people know a disabled person, or know enough about disability. This can mean people worry about saying or doing the wrong thing and feel awkward. “In 2014 disabled people face many challenges. Many disabled people continue to face negative attitudes, in the playground, in the street, and from employers. We’ve launched this campaign to get us all thinking about what we can do to include disabled people more in our lives.” Recent analysis released by Scope revealed that disabled people have higher aspirations than ever before, but that many disabled people feel that public attitudes to disability are still playing “catch up”.
Depressing facts on mental health MORE than one-third of adults are unsure of signs of depression in children -– and over half fear approaching the subject in case they are mistaken, a new survey reveals. The findings come as a new Government-funded website aims to help people understand the issues surrounding mental health issues. With over 850,000 children in the UK diagnosed with a mental health problem, there are fears that without increased increased awareness among adults thousands of young people are at increased risk of alcohol and drug misuse, self-harm, neglect and in extreme cases, suicide.
Dr Raphael Kelvin, clinical lead for the MindEd programme, said: “Half of all diagnosable mental health conditions start before the age of 14 and 75% by the age of 21, so identifying children at the earliest opportunity is crucial in setting them on the best path. “Investing in early intervention is crucial – not doing so comes at a high price for those battling a mental health condition, and also costs the economy vast sums of money in lost education, training, jobs, and often, through crime.”
n www.minded.org.uk
Improved access to rail stations THREE train stations in the North West are to get a share of a £100 million Government fund to improve access for disabled passengers. Liverpool Central, Penrith and Leyland stations will benefit from improved access into the stations and between the platforms as part of the Access for All scheme. Previous work under the scheme has included improvements such as new ramps, lifts or tactile paving. Rail Minister Baroness Kramer said: “We are transforming our railways through record levels of investment and improving accessibility at stations is an important part of that. “These improvements will make a real difference to the lives of disabled passengers and those with limited mobility, allowing them to get to work and pursue leisure activities more easily. That’s good news for them and good news for the economy.” A total of 42 stations across England, Scotland and Wales will benefit from improvements as part of the funding. The stations were nominated by the rail industry and selected for funding according to passenger numbers, the needs of the local area and proximity to facilities such as hospitals or schools for disabled children. A total of £460m has been invested in improving access to our railways since 2006. The Access For All Scheme will have delivered step-free routes at more than 150 other stations by 2015, while a further 1,100 stations have already benefited from smaller-scale improvements.
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Mobile phone guide
New app to beat stress and anxiety
AN ‘Easy Read’ guide to mobile phones for people with learning disabilities has been published by Ofcom. Five thousand copies are being circulated to every social services director in the UK. Mencap and the National Autistic Society are also helping to distribute the guide. Ismail Kaji, Parliamentary Assistant at Mencap, who has a learning disability, said: “The guide is really useful. It explains all about choosing and using a mobile phone and helps us to understand URRENTLY paddling his way around clearly. the UK – and hopefully into record “Information from phone books, is Richard Hunt, a Royal Navy companies can be very hard veteran amputee. to understand because they Richard, 43, is determined to set a new world use difficult language.� solo record of kayaking 2,300 miles around Claudio Pollack, Ofcom’s Britain’s coast – and to raise money for Consumer Group Director, BLESMA, the veterans charity that helped him said: “We expect this guide to rediscover his passion for adventure. be the first in a series to His ‘Great Paddle Round’ challenge launched ensure Ofcom’s consumer in April from HMS Victory in Portsmouth, the last advice and information about ship Richard served on before being medically communications services is discharged. accessible for all.� “It is going to be a tough challenge for me,� n Downloaded the guide at PREP55C14-AllTogetherNow-262x165-Oct_Layout 1 24/09/2013 said Richard before setting 09:57 off onPage his 1 www.ofcom.org.uk
Richard’s 2,300-mile paddle
adventures, “but I am determined to put my all into it.� Richard joined the Royal Navy as an able seaman in Radar Operation at 17 but sustained a knee injury playing rugby. Surgery caused nerve damage and Richard was left in constant pain and discomfort. Following 20 further unsuccessful operations to correct the damage he made the difficult decision to have his leg amputated above the knee. Ottobock, a world leading supplier of innovative mobility solutions, has provided Richard with a waterproof prosthetic aqua-limb to help him with his challenge.
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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. Not only can I give my family everything they need for Christmas, but I get the added peace of mind, knowing it’s all been paid for in advance!
AN app has been created by a group of 16-25 year-olds to help young people affected by mental health issues. The In Hand App, developed by Freehand, the Young People’s Programme at Liverpol FACT, is a simple, digital ‘friend’ that promotes mental well-being and offers support through some of the difficult moments that many young people face. Using a traffic lights system, the app allows users to communicate how they are feeling and helps young people to control feelings of stress, anxiety or depression through suggesting simple actions. n www.fact.co.uk/projects
All aboard, no fuss A NEW ‘Turn up and Go’ assistance service for commuters with mobility and sight impairments is up and running at all London Overground stations. Staff will provide help without the need to book in advance. ‘Next-stop’ audio- visual systems have also been installed across all bus routes, London Overground, DLR and Tramlink services and most Tube trains. n www.tfl.gov.uk/accessibility
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Could you be the next Susan Boyle? OPEN MIC 2014, the nationwide singing competition searching for the UK’s best singers, singer/songwriters, rappers and vocalists, has announced its audition dates. There will be thousands of pounds worth of competition prizes up for grabs along the way
Why UK children are dying earlier CHILDREN in the UK are at more risk of dying than anywhere else in western Europe due to the widening gap between rich and poor. Every day, five more children die in the UK than in Sweden, the best performing country according to estimates. Many of the causes of child death disproportionately affect those most disadvantaged in society. But a lot of the deaths could be avoided if politicians took more interest, says a report, Why Children Die. Social changes and better training for children’s healthcare professionals would also make a difference, says the study by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) and the National Children’s Bureau (NCB). The study revealed: n In 2012 over 3,000 babies died before the age of 12 months, and over 2,000 children and young people died between the ages of one and 19. n Over half of deaths in childhood occur during the first year of a child’s life, and are strongly influenced by preterm delivery and low birth weight - with risk factors including maternal age, smoking and disadvantaged circumstances. n Suicide remains a leading cause of death in young people in the UK, and the number of deaths due to intentional injuries and self-harm have not declined in 30 years. Dr Ingrid Wolfe, who helped compile the report, said: “Social and economic inequalities are matters of life and death for children. “Countries that spend more on social protection have lower child mortality rates. The messages are stark and crucial. Poverty kills children.”
Eureka! moments CALLING all staff at cultural and visitor attractions: Do you want to hear how to achieve instinctive inclusivity at your venue? Eureka! The National Children’s Museum in West Yorkshire is staging a free conference to share the learning, best practice and expertise gained during the museum’s three-year project, Helping Hands, funded by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation. The Access All Areas conference takes place on Monday 16 June and will be hosted in and around the popular children’s museum in Halifax. Eureka’s chief executive Leigh-Anne Stradeski said “We’ve come a long way since we launched Helping Hands. Inclusivity is at the heart of all that we do at Eureka!, which has been reflected by feedback from the families that have visited us and, of course, by our VisitEngland award for excellence. “We’re incredibly proud of our inclusive museum and can’t wait to meet colleagues from across the sector for a day which we hope will pave the way to the future of inclusivity in museums and cultural attractions.” n www.eureka.org.uk/accessallareas
including recording studio time and music development classes. The overall winner will receive a comprehensive winner’s package as well as a main prize of £5,000 i Northern audition dates: Sun 24 Aug: Studio 25, Church Street, Manchester
Sun 31 Aug: Vincent Harris Suite, Sheffield City Hall, Sheffield Sun 7 Sep: Britannic Suite, The Liner Hotel, Lord Nelson Street, Liverpool Sun 14 Sep: The Mill Volvo Tyne Theatre, Westgate Road, Newcastle n www.openmicuk.co.uk/
Disabled workers getting poorer
Access Man!
BIRDMAN: Roy Taylor trying to make the countryside easier for people using wheelchairs
B
IRD LOVER Roy Taylor went off on a 200-mile coast to coast wheelchair challenge to raise funds to improve access in the countryside.
“I love being outdoors and watching wildlife,” said RSPB worker Roy, who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease last September. “It makes me feel alive. Yet, despite purchasing the best four-wheel drive wheelchair on the market, many paths suitable for disabled people like myself,
are inaccessible due to stiles, kissing gates and other obstacles. “Many paths I could access when walking are now out of bounds. It needn’t be like this.” Over the next year, he will be carrying out an audit of the accessibility of all RSPB reserves in northern England and will draw up a list of actions for change – from installing wheelchair friendly access points to better views from bird hides. Roy added: “I might not be
able to change anything out in the wider countryside, but I can ensure that the 20 superb RSPB nature reserves we have in northern England are exemplars of accessibility for people with disabilities, mobility problems and also for parents with prams.” Roy’s coast to coast wheelchair challenge saw him travel from Southport to Hornsea.
n You contact him at roy.taylor@rspb.org.uk n www.rspb.org.uk
On your bikes for the forest
Better paths
AN ‘accessible for all’ cycle trail is open for action in the heart of Dalby Forest on the southern slopes of the North York Moors. The Ellerburn Trail is a pathway for disabled cyclists, walkers, and wheelchair users as well as being a safe route for children learning to ride a bike and parents with pushchairs. One new circular route has been constructed which is compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) while the original route has been enhanced catering for the more adventurous visitor with mobility issues, but still providing easy access.
ACCESS to Wirral’s 100-mile network of public footpaths has been dramatically improved. Nearly 50 stiles have been replaced by either kissing or step-through concertina gates - with a further 26 to follow. Improvements have also been made to some paths.
Almost HALF A MILLION people are reading these pages
TWO-THIRDS of disabled people who are in work feel their financial situation has worsened in the last year, says a new survey. Despite signs of an improving economy, 54% of disabled people are worried about their financial situation as they struggle with a combination of falling wages, shorter working hours and rising living costs. The survey, released to coincide with national charity Turn2us’s annual Benefits Awareness Month, has found that on average, working disabled people are forced to spend over half of their monthly income on utility bills and food. Almost a half (47%) say their outgoings now outweigh their earnings. With 1.4 million in parttime jobs nationally – 46,000 higher than a year ago – a huge 65% of those surveyed say they want to work more hours, while almost a third (30%) have seen a fall in their income in the last year. Over half of the 13 million people living in poverty in the UK are now from working households. Alison Taylor, Director of Turn2us, said: “It’s clear that more needs to be done to combat poverty, especially for those people in work. “Our message is clear. Being in work does not mean the end of help. We want everyone to know they are not alone and to ‘Be Aware’ of the support that is available.” n www.turn2us.org.uk
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June/July 2014
FAMILIES
Give our kids a chance! A
NEW campaign and an inquiry by Parliament aims to win a better deal for children with cerebral
palsy.
There are estimated to be 30,000 children in the UK with cerebral palsy. But support is inconsistent, leading to very different outcomes for different children. Amanda Richardson, chair of Action Cerebral Palsy, the consortium of CP charities behind the campaign, said: “Every day we see the amazing progress that children with cerebral palsy can make, given the right support. “But we are fully aware that only a small proportion of the 1,800 children born with cerebral palsy every year receive the early and
intensive intervention that can transform their lives. “By joining forces, we aim to get a better deal for all children with cerebral palsy.” Research has shown that early and intensive treatment can lead to significantly better outcomes for children with CP and significant future benefits for society. With appropriate intervention, undamaged parts of the brain can be retrained to take over some of the functions of the damaged part. Louise Taylor, mother of seven-year-old Sonny who has cerebral palsy and attends PACE, one of the consortium centres, said: “When Sonny was born we were given details of a bleak and uncertain future, but he is now
Developed by performing and creative arts company Wicked Fish, From There To Here: The hidden history of People with Learning Difficulties in Merseyside highlights the changing family, social and cultural history of people with learning difficulties over the past 100 years. The exibition, at the Museum of Liverpool, will run until July 13. Di Christian, creative director of Wicked Fish, said: “The project gave us a fantastic opportunity to look back through history to create a community archive in order to share the untold stories of people with learning difficulties in our area.”
Shocking truth comes back to haunt us Members from Wicked Fish and Moving On With Life and Learning (MOWLL), an organisation dedicated to promoting social inclusion for people with learning difficulties, have included their own stories to ensure that they leave their mark on history. The exhibition also features personal stories, oral history interviews and highlights of the radio shows, along with a selection of specially commissioned artwork. Kay Jones, curator at the Museum of Liverpool, said:
highly motivated and has made massive achievements since he started to attend PACE. “Early and intensive support can benefit not only the child, but also all those around him. We also know that the financial support Sonny will need in the future is now significantly less, thanks to all the improvements he has made.” n Cerebral palsy is a form of physical disability caused by damage to the immature or developing brain that occurs before, during or immediately after the birth of the child. As well as experiencing difficulty with movement, children with CP may also have speech and language and learning impairments. n www.actioncp.org
PAUL MAYNARD, above, MP for Blackpool North & Cleveleys and the only Member of Parliament with cerebral palsy, launched the Parliamentary inquiry to identify the policy changes needed to help children with CP achieve their full potential. The inquiry will build on the recent Government announcement that health bodies will now be obliged to discuss with parents the educational advice, guidance and intervention services available to children with complex developmental and/or sensory needs, such as cerebral palsy, in the very early years.
The hidden histor y of People with Learning Difficulties in Merseyside
“This is a powerful and fascinating exhibition celebrating the diverse lives of local people with learning difficulties, today and in the past. “Wicked Fish are making history by ensuring that for the first time their voices are heard.” Visitors to the exhibition can also experience short performances presented by actors from Wicked Fish. Many of the people featured in the exhibition from the late 19th and early 20th century attended schools and institutions in Liverpool. The Royal Albert Institution for the Care, Training and Education of Idiots and Imbeciles in Lancaster served the seven northern English counties. Accommodating more than 1,000 patients by the late 1960s, it finally closed in 1996.
© Mark McNulty/Wicked Fish
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HORSE PLAY: Sonny Pikett who is making great strides forward
Locked away . . . and FORGOTTEN NEW exhibition takes a look back at how people with learning difficulties have been segregated from society.
All Together NOW!
Until 13 July 2014
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23/04/2014 19:23
FAMILIES
All Together NOW!
8 TAKE ME HOME!
June/July 2014
www.alltogethernow.org.uk
Does YOUR child need help? D
O YOU have a child with a neurological condition – and need help with some of the challenges daily life can bring? Living with conditions such as autistic spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, ADHD and developmental delay can be hard. And Cerebra can make it easier through their grants scheme and Innovation Centre. The charity’s grant scheme can fund up to 80% of the price of specialist equipment that will directly benefit the individual child. This can be anything from play equipment, a touch screen computer or speech and language therapy. The charity recently funded a specialist trike for 15 year-old Ashleigh
These grants can make life easier who lives with a rare, debilitating genetic condition that seriously affects her independence. Mum Claire said: “The trike has made a huge difference to Ashleigh because it means she can get around outside the home and play with other local children who are fantastic with her. “It also provides a fun way for Ashleigh to exercise and helps maintain her fitness. “We never dreamed that she would be able to ride a bike, but she just
loves it. “Sometimes the piece of equipment you need just doesn’t seem to exist.” If you have a problem that you are struggling to solve, Cerebra’s Innovation Centre may be able to help by adapting an existing product or by building something from scratch. Their creative team have conjured up some incredible inventions – a robust iPad, a sturdy wooden rocking horse for riders of different sizes, and a supportive trolley seat to help keep kids secure when families are out shopping. The CIC team relish a challenge so if there’s anything you’re struggling with, please do get in touch. n Cerebra, tel 0800 328 1159 or e-mail info@cerebra.org.uk
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ENABLE Holidays is well known for providing personally audited accessible holidays abroad. But the company also offers adapted facilities in hotels and holiday parks in the UK. Here’s your chance to sample a superb UK break with Enable Holidays for FREE in this easy-to-enter competition. You can choose a three-night break in an adapted room for two people in a luxury hotel for adults only by Warner Leisure Hotels – or you may prefer a Haven family holiday park experience for up to six people in adapted accommodation. n To enter this fabulous competition, all you have to do is visit www.enableholidays.com/win during June and July and tell them why you – or someone you know – deserve to take a break.
SENSE, the national charity for deafblind people, is calling for volunteers to join its unique holiday programme taking place in various locations across England and Wales, in July and August this year. The holidays give deafblind children and adults the chance to get away from it all, try something new and have a lot of fun on a week-long summer holiday. They also give a much-needed break to families who support a deafblind person. Accommodation ranges from outdoor activity centres to cottages, farms and barns to villas and even barges! Activities could include kayaking, horse riding, camping or making sandcastles on the beach, while making a big difference to the lives of deafblind people and their families. The charity is looking particularly for male volunteers, people with experience of caring for others (could be their own children or a relative or in a paid capacity) or people with sign language skills. Accommodation, food and activity costs are covered by Sense. n If you’d like to get involved, call 0300 330 9250 or email holidays@sense.org.uk www.sense.org.uk
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www.alltogethernow.org.uk
June/July 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 £14 million. This year we will be giving away a whopping £2 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.
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.
ROCKIN’ THE BLUES AWAY! Robert Plant, Rick Parfitt Jnr Band and Rhys Meirion help to raise the roof at the Morgan Foundation Gala Dinner
STEVE MORGAN
D
ISABLED children in North Wales, Merseyside, West Cheshire, North Shropshire and the Wolverhampton area will benefit from essential equipment, thanks to a massive £450,000 raised at a star-studded golf day and gala dinner. Organised by The Morgan Foundation and sponsored by UK housebuilder Redrow, the event at De Vere Carden Park Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa, near Chester, raised vital funds for the Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children – a charity that supplies wheelchairs and other urgently needed equipment to help transform the lives of disabled children. Guest appearances during the evening included tenor Rhys Meirion, the legendary rock vocalist Robert Plant, and the Rick Parfitt Jnr Band, fronted by the son of the Status Quo singer and guitarist. Held every two years, it’s the fourth
Golf day raises a whopping £450,000 for children’s charity . . . such event to be organised by The Morgan Foundation, which was created in 2001 by businessman Steve Morgan OBE, founder and chairman of Redrow plc and chairman of the Bridgemere Group of companies and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC. To date the events have raised a total of £1.5m for charity in addition to the £2million that Steve donates yearly through The Morgan Foundation’s funding programme. The previous golf day in 2012 raised £330,000 for Children Today. The funds donated this year will be used by the Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children to purchase mobility equipment including powered sit-to-stand wheelchairs and other aids. Steve said: “The Morgan Foundation is
dedicated to making a difference by supporting charities and projects which enhance the quality of life for people in the region, particularly those with disabilities. “The money raised at our event this year will undoubtedly make a huge difference to many disabled children and their families by funding essential and life-changing mobility aids. I’d like to thank everyone who attended for their support.” Newlife CEO Sheila Brown said: “As local authority budget cuts continue to bite, more and more families are turning to charities like Newlife so their children can get vital equipment for everyday life. “In the last financial year provision across our range of services was significantly increased. Equipment grants
were up 33%, emergency equipment loans up 88% and use of our play pod service went up a staggering 273%. “Having the support of The Morgan Foundation is an enormous boost for Newlife. We look forward to helping to transform more lives across The Morgan Foundation catchment area. Anyone struggling to access equipment through their statutory services should call our Newlife Nurse Helpline to discuss their individual situation.” Funds were raised through a combination of golf team entry fees and gala dinner ticket sales as well as a silent auction, live auction and prize draw. Prestigious prizes and lots on the night included a wine tasting trip on the Orient Express; a ten-day luxury holiday to Antigua; tickets to The Royal Variety Performance; a £5,500 ladies watch; a day with Ted Baker; a wine tasting trip to Burgundy for six people; and the chance to drive Prince Charles’ former Aston Martin for the weekend.
www.morganfoundation.co.uk Tel. 01829 782800
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GETTING ON . . . All Together NOW!
All Together NOW! has lost one of its greatest supporters. Journalist and playwright Madeleine Were died just as our April edition had gone to the presses. Madeleine initiated and wrote our popular Wise Winnie advice column for older readers. She knew from personal experience the isolation faced by so many older people, especially those with disabilities and those trying to cope with mental health issues. Three years ago she wrote a special feature for All Together NOW! about how creative writing can be a huge tonic for people dealing with depression . . . REMEMBER the applause as the play ended and the gratitude I felt towards the lead character. She had much of Thora Hird’s magic, making my printed words materialise into a bouncy, entertaining Northerner. My debut as a playwright came late – a few days before my 85th birthday. The thrill of learning I was the winner in the Over-Sixties section of a scriptwriting competition was matched by the nature of the prize which was to see my winning entry acted out by a professional cast. This modest late achievement underlines the advice so often given to struggling writers – never give up. For me it was also a reminder that creative writing can be a therapy that helps to keep depression at bay. Novelist Margaret Drabble has noted that walking, talking, jigsaws and above all, writing, have helped her to overcome periods of depression. This mirrors my own experience and by now I have learned to recognise the early signs of low mood and know it’s time to give that writing bug full rein, no matter how much the little grey cells object to getting down to work. And there’s no time to lose, because the more the depression takes hold the weaker the motivation to pick up a pen. The downside is those rejection slips that only deepen depression, especially when one writes in solitude. Here lies the value of writing circles and groups, numbers of which are spiralling because a lot more people than we might think have the desire to express themselves in this way. At their best they provide an atmosphere of supportive togetherness. Yes, others in the group will constructively criticise your work, as you will criticise theirs, but this develops objective selfcriticism, without which there can be little progress. If praise comes, this means they are responding and relating to your words – very encouraging for a budding author.
I
That’s what Madeleine was doing most of her life – encouraging others.
June/July 2014
www.alltogethernow.org.uk
Who is going to care for us in the future?
T
HE NUMBER of older people in need of care is expected to outstrip those family members able to provide informal care for the first time in 2017.
A report shows the average yearly cost for an older person who pays for a typical package of care has increased to £7,900 a year, an average £25,000 for home care and £36,000 for a nursing home. By 2030, an estimated 230,000 older people in England who need care of more than 20 hours a week could be left without family to help, says the study by think tank IPPR. The report says that the number of people aged 65 and over without children to care for them will almost double before the end of the next decade - and that by 2030, there will be more than 2 million people in England without a child to care for them if needed. Older people are also not simply recipients of care they are also providing it: intensive care provided by spouses and partners is expected to increase by 90 per cent over the next 15 years. The report questions how families will be able to provide even higher levels of care in the medium to long term, and points
Life is fragile, handle with care . . .
n TWO-THIRDS of carers over 60 have long-term health problems or a disability themselves. n Nearly two million older people will be experiencing chronic loneliness by 2033. n Over the next 30 years, the numbers of cohabiting older people with support needs are projected to rise faster than the equivalent numbers of single people. n About 800,000 older people who need personal care are not receiving this, either because eligibility criteria has been cut back (87 per cent of councils are now providing care only for those with “substantial” or “critical” needs) or because they are unable to afford paid care.
to a lack of affordable, flexible and good quality formal care. Its recommendations include: n Following Germany, Japan and Australia in finding alternative ways to fill this gap, and build: n New neighbourhood networks for older people to give and receive support. n House public services for different age groups under one roof, to bring generations together, as they do in Germany. n Invest local public health budgets in strengthening community groups in those local authorities with the weakest record for community-based care. n Stronger employment rights for those caring for people who need more than 20 hours of care a week. n Care coordinators providing a ‘single local point of contact’ to
replace the ‘care management’ currently provided by adult social services in every area by 2020, for all but the most complex cases of care. Clare McNeil, of IPPR, said: “The supply of unpaid care to older people with support needs by their adult children will not keep pace with future demand. Thousands of people in their 60s and 70s today could be left to cope on their own when they need care in the future, with overstretched services unable to make up the shortfall. “Britain needs to build new community institutions capable of sustaining us through the changes ahead and to adapt the social structures already in place, such as family and care, public services, the workplace and neighbourhoods.”
SENIOR MOMENTS . . . with FRANK HARRIS
MONEY MATTERS
ISA changes on the way INDIVIDUAL Savings Allowances – known as ISAs – are changing from July 1, but it is worthwhile reminding you of the present rules. Each individual can invest up to £5940 in a cash ISA and up to £5940 in a stocks and shares ISA OR up to £11,880 in a stocks and shares ISA each tax year ending April 5. From July 1 these limits will be increased to £15000 in total per person each tax year, so if you have invested £11880 already you will be able to top up by up to £3120. The NEW ISA or NISA will be more flexible as you can invest up to £15000 in either cash or shares and transfers between the two are allowed. When investing into a cash ISA it is best to use a Building Society or similar and lock in for at least three years to get a better rate of up to 3%. Shorter periods may only give you about 1.5%. When investing into a shares ISA you would do well to use someone like Hargreaves Lansdown or Interactive Investor. Both of these offer very low charges and you ar able to manage them yourself online. You must, however, decide what shares to invest in, remembering that the value of shares can go down in value as well as up. You could invest in Company bonds which yield about 5% net tax free but these are not covered by any compensation scheme if you were to lose your money. Otherwise choose stocks with a yield of 4% or so or trust funds with income. Your stocks and share provider will have examples on their website. It is important to note that you cannot open more than one cash ISA per year but most providers allow you to add to existing accounts. You are also allowed to transfer cash ISAs on maturity to stocks and shares ISA but the money must go direct from one provider to another. Closing the account to yourself will then lose the ISA protection.
Gordon Viner FCA CTA gordonviner@aol.com
www.alltogethernow.org.uk
June/July 2014
All Together NOW!
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United Utilities is calling on all customers to protect themselves from doorstep criminals. Statistics show that around 20 bogus caller crimes are committed every day in the UK, but this might only be 10% of the total that actually take place as victims often feel too embarrassed to report it to the police. Bogus callers will often call at your door claiming there is an issue with the water and they need to check your taps; they will use this as an opportunity to trick themselves into your home claiming to be from United Utilities or ‘the water board’. Once inside, they will distract you while they or an accomplice help themselves to money and valuables. Genuine United Utilities’ employees always carry an ID card and are happy to show this to you. They will never put pressure on you to enter your home and will be happy for you to phone United Utilities to check their identity. And our employees won’t refer to ‘the water board’ as this hasn’t existed for more than 30 years! Bogus callers can be very persuasive, but our advice is to never feel under pressure to let someone into your home.
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To help you, we operate a ‘password protection’ scheme. Joining our password scheme is easy. It takes just one call to 0845 746 1100. We simply need your details and your choice of password. Then, whenever someone claiming to be from United Utilities calls at your home, you can ask them for your password. Only a genuine visitor from United Utilities will know what it is. It’s a simple deterrent that really does work and will give you the confidence to turn people away from your door. Most gas, electricity and telephone companies will operate a similar scheme – see a recent bill for further details and contact numbers.
Need a little ExtraCare? 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
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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. 03/13/SD/5631
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All Together NOW!
June/July 2014
Family’s Spirit of adventure H
AVING a wheelchair accessible vehicle that’s spacious enough for their large family is important for the Upton family.
When the time came for them to renew their vehicle they found just what they were looking for in the Peugeot Spirit, from Allied Mobility. Based on the Peugeot Boxer, Spirit provides loads of storage space and can easily take up to seven people, including two wheelchair passengers, exactly what the Upton family required. Mum Mary said: “We knew we needed lots of space but weren’t sure what vehicle would be the best one to go for. “Allied Mobility listened to our requirements and recommended the Spirit. We have a 12 year-old and a six year-old who both use wheelchairs, as well as three other children, so plenty of room is at the top of our priority list!
www.alltogethernow.org.uk
Two adults, five kids, two wheelchairs . . . Allied provide the ideal solution
“We like to travel as a family too, so it’s really nice that there’s a wheelchair accessible vehicle available that allows us to do that.” Spirit comes with an electric lift built in to make getting wheelchairs and scooters in and out of the car a breeze. Mary and her husband, Steve, haven’t had any issues operating it. “The tail lift is really good,” said Mary.
“There’s plenty of space on it even with a wheelchair. Once the kids’ wheelchairs are inside the restraint system is brilliant, too. “I’m really happy knowing that their chairs are properly secured and they’re simple to attach, so getting ready to go out is nice and easy.” Steve, who does most of the driving, said: “I presumed that such a large vehicle would be quite heavy and cumbersome but it was a
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lovely surprise to find out that it’s actually quite nippy. “It doesn’t feel like I’m driving a van. I’m really happy with it.” Peugeot Spirit wheelchair accessible vehicles are available to buy, rent or through the Motability Scheme.
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www.alltogethernow.org.uk
Green light for over 70 drivers
T
HE number of older people in the UK is set to rapidly increase. In 20 years, one in 10 will be over 80 and the number over 100 will have increased by almost FIVEFOLD. Older people add experience, tolerance and care to our roads, making them safer than other age groups. GERRY CORNER has been looking at how 70-plus drivers can keep on motoring.
YOU MUST renew your licence at 70 – and then every three years. When you renew, you are asked to self-certify the state of your health. Be honest – it may be worth going for a check-up with your GP first. Whether it is time to renew or not, you have a legal requirement to inform the DVLA as soon as possible if you are diagnosed with dementia. Drivers must be able to read a car number plate from 20 metres, whatever their age. If you need glasses or contact lenses, they must be worn at all times when driving. If you are diagnosed with a condition causing vision impairment, you must inform the DVLA. Now the good news. There are
plenty of steps you can take to prolong your driving life. Here are a few: n Allow plenty of time for journeys and plan your route. n Book an Assessment drive which looks at your physical changes in a positive light and offers guidance. For more details log on to www.buckscc.gov.uk/beabetterdri ver or call 01296 382540. n Take care with medications, some have side effects. Ask your GP for advice. n Get regular health checks, including annual hearing and eye tests and get enough sleep! n Drive a vehicle with automatic transmission, power steering, and power brakes. n Know your limits. If a driving situation makes you uncomfortable, don’t do it.
June/July 2014
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All Together NOW!
June/July 2014
www.alltogethernow.org.uk
READERS’ LETTERS . . . OPINION . . . COMMENT . . .
How much is a life really worth . . ? T
HE Department of Transport values a life at £1.8 million. That is how much they advise spending on safety measures which would aim to prevent a death on the roads and railways. The NHS uses another method of judging whether the cost of a new treatment is worth it, by working out the number of quality years it would add to a person’s life. Roughly speaking, if a treatment can deliver an extra Quality Adjusted Life Year for £30,000 or less, it is regarded as good value for money. Governments, insurance companies and public bodies have to take account of the value of a human life in deciding where to spend their money. Most Government departments survey the population to come to a figure. Now academics from Warwick Business School’s Behavioural Science Group and the University of Warwick’s Psychology department have started a four-year study into how these ‘values’ are obtained and how people in surveys come to their ‘value’. Graham Loomes, Professor of Behavioural Science, said: “Research has shown that context and the method used to elicit people’s values have an influence on their answer. “People are open to error and bias when asked for snap judgements or when doing surveys and their answers can vary quite a lot from one situation to another. “Putting a monetary value on life and health and safety is difficult and the answers can be pushed around by the way the question is framed. “We need to understand better how vulnerable these ‘values’ are and whether you can find a robust figure for general public policy use.” The Leverhulme Trust has awarded Warwick Business School and the University of Warwick a total of £900,000 to look at the concept of ‘value’ both at a fundamental level and to be applied in public policy matters. “At the end of the four years it is unlikely we will have a simple model to be used in every situation,” said Professor Loomes. “But what we hope to have is a model that can be adapted and used in different areas. “If we can understand more about the mental processes people use when they think about these things and answer survey questions, we may be able to reduce bias and error and get at figures that better reflect people’s underlying values.”
LETTERS/ARTICLES PLEASE TO: All Together NOW! The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP. email: news@alltogethernow.org.uk
This crude measure of disability isn’t working MANY disabled people have complained about the crudeness of the Work Capability Assessment performed on behalf of the Department for Works and Pensions by the French outsourcing company Atos. The Labour Party Taskforce has
called for the assessment to be scrapped or radically revised. It points out that even if Atos staff were better trained the most they could measure is the extent of a person’s impairment. They would not be able to assess the person’s employability because they would have
SOUNDING OFF!
insufficient skills to assess the employment market and to match a person’s ability to the requirements of employers. And even if they could do this, the assessment could take no account of the discrimination that disabled people face in the labour market and of the ability of
with Sir BERT MASSIE
WELL DONE Manchester City Council for ensuring that Blue Badge fraud is reduced. In the last five years it has prosecuted 500 people for abusing the Blue Badge Parking Scheme. The Local Government Association, which represents more than 370 councils in England and Wales, said the number of people caught abusing the scheme is on the rise with 686 successful council prosecutions in 2013 up from 330 in 2010.
people to assert their civil rights. For example, two blind people both aged 30 might appear to have equal employment prospects. But if one of them has been blind since birth and has attended university but the other is newly blind, has no qualifications, cannot read Braille and is still adjusting to loss of sight it is difficult to argue his employment prospects are as good as the first person. Measuring impairment tells us very little but it is all the Government and Atos do at the moment. A more detailed rigorous assessment is required. Atos is so fed up with the criticism it has received it has decided to withdraw from the contract and the Government is looking for another contractor. If the new contractor is expected to do the same job as Atos then it will also fail. The system needs changing. If disabled people’s income is to be assessed of whether they can work it is essential that the assessment produces an accurate result.
Being disabled ain’t cheap! Architects and lawyers are among those misusing badges.
People using a badge they are not entitled to are stealing a parking place from someone with a mobility impairment and thus also stealing their independence. It is good that a North West council is leading the fight
N
OW here’s the truth: If you are poor you are more likely to become disabled. And if you are disabled you are more likely to be poor.
There is a strong link between disability and poverty. A few months ago I was invited by the Labour Party to form and chair a Taskforce to offer recommendations on breaking the link between disability and poverty. There was an important caveat – recommendations should be within the current budgets. The Labour Party has made it clear that, if it wins the next election, it intends to work within the budgets it inherits from the current Government. Over the years a growing amount of evidence has been published showing that disabled people are hit financially in two ways. About half of disabled people of working age are not in work and live on state benefits. Disabled people who do work tend to be in the lower paid jobs or are working part time, so get paid less. The income of disabled people therefore tends to be lower than that of people who are not disabled. At the same time disabled people face higher costs and these can be considerable. For example, disabled people are increasingly expected to purchase their own equipment; there are additional heating costs for people
with mobility impairments; those who are incontinent have extra laundry costs. And so it goes on. Every disabled person reading this newspaper will be able to produce their own list of disability-related costs. The consequence of this is that disabled adults of working age are twice as likely as non-disabled adults to live in persistent poverty. There is no simple answer but if we could increase the number of disabled people in work it would also improve their financial situation. However, it is naive to believe that all disabled people are able to hold down a job. We need to ensure disabled people unable to work, as well as those able to work, have a reasonable standard of living. Attempts to achieve this go back 50 years. In the 1970s mobility allowance and attendance allowance were introduced. These subsequently became part of Disability Living Allowance and now the Personal Independence Payment. The mobility allowance gave disabled people cash to help them get around. It has never been high enough to enable people to buy a car and that is why the Motability scheme was introduced, which enables people to use their allowance to lease a car from Motability. Attendance allowance was different. It was a proxy payment to help meet the extra costs
n The report of the Taskforce can be downloaded at: www.yourbritain.org.uk
that disability invariably imposes. It was not intended to pay for the cost of social care. However, in the early 1980s the Government cut funding to local authorities for social care and as a result disabled people found local authorities charging them for home visits and other support. In fairness, local authorities had possessed powers to charge for social care since 1948 but few had done so. Because most disabled people were so poor they would fail a means test local authorities homed in on attendance allowance, claiming it was intended to meet social care costs. Disabled people therefore lose their mobility allowance if they obtain a Motability vehicle and lose their attendance allowance, which is claimed by the local authority. The Taskforce recommends that DLA/PIP should be abolished and replaced with a Disability Costs Allowance, comprising mobility and care elements PLUS something extra towards general disability costs. The Taskforce also recommended that there should be limits on how much of a person’s care component a local authority can claim. There is little point in giving disabled people allowances to meet the cost of being disabled if local authorities immediately take it from them. It will be TAKE ME HOME! wiser to fund social care properly.
450,000 readers and GROWING FAST!
INDEPENDENT LIVING
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June/July 2014
All Together NOW!
Mi . . . what a great way to help people
L
IVING with an illness can be difficult – and not just physically. If you, or someone you know has been diagnosed with a long-term condition, such as lung or heart problems, epilepsy or diabetes, you will understand how worrying it can be.
But help is just around the corner . . . Mi – More Independent – is a partnership led by the NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group that is helping people deal with all sorts of health issues. Mi can help you take control of your condition, manage your health, and live more independently and happily in your own home. Dr Maurice Smith, chair of the More Independent board, and excecutive lead for Integrated Care at NHS Liverpool CCG, said: “Liverpool is leading the way in pioneering technologies that can change people’s lives – supporting them to live as confidently,
healthily and independently as they possibly can in their own homes. “Mi pulls together a vast range of technologies, tools and projects that are all about enhancing the health and wellbeing of local people; providing ways to help them feel better, more supported and less isolated. “For example, someone with arthritis could have a fingerprint lock on their door; or a person with a lung condition can have their oxygen levels checked every day in their own home, helping us to spot deterioration and avoid emergency admissions. “The technology used to enhance independent living is not something from a science fiction film - it’s real, it’s here and it can help.”
Mi offers an amazing range of tools and easy-to-use technology that can help you to live more independently. Items include portable medicine dispensers that remind you when to take your pills; helpful gadgets for the kitchen and the bathroom that make everyday life that much easier; prompts you to remember your keys when you leave the house and much more. Also available is a system of wireless sensors placed around the home, which can detect dangers such as a fall, fire or floods. It can also be activated using a small personal unit worn on the wrist, waist or in a pocket. The moment that a risk is detected, an alert is sent to a 24-hour monitoring centre, who will get you any help you need. Whether you feel you need extra help yourself or are caring for someone, Mi will have something to help make things easier.
Dr MAURICE SMITH
n To find out more, freephone 0808 100 1929 or visit www.moreindependent.co.uk n To see Mi gadgets and technology in action, visit the Mi Smarthouse in the Museum of Liverpool or Shopmobility at St John’s Shopping Centre, Liverpool.
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INDEPENDENT LIVING
All Together NOW!
Students design and make their own aids D
ISABLED students are designing and creating devices to help them with everyday life – with the help of revolutionary 3D-print technology.
Students at Hereward College in Coventry are tapping into nearby Warwick University expertise to help them create 3D-print objects like a bespoke straw-holder – designed by a student with muscular dystrophy to help keep a straw in place when he drinks from a bottle. Ollie Baskaran, 21, came up with the device with the help of tutor Russell Smith. Shaped like a bung with a hole in the middle, the simple design allows him
June/July 2014
www.alltogethernow.org.uk
QUICK ON THE STRAW: Ollie Baskaran
to enjoy a beer or a soft drink from a variety of different bottles. “I have limited strength and need to use a straw,” said Ollie, “but when you lift and tip the bottle at an angle, the straw moves around, making drinking difficult. “The straw-holder just makes it ten times easier to enjoy a drink. “We took less than an hour to get all the measurements we needed and to create the design, which then took about 20 minutes to print. “Without 3D printing, I would never have been able to get the idea professionally designed and manufactured as it would have cost too much. This technology opens up so many possibilities to make life
easier for people with disabilities.” Other Hereward students have created an adapted version of the straw-holder which fits into a wine glass and a personalised fork which makes eating easier for a student with limited muscle function in his hand. University of Warwick pro-vicechancellor Professor Christina Hughes, said: “Many people with disabilities have a variety of unmet needs where an off-the-shelf solution is not good enough. “We have deep technical knowledge in computer sciences and product manufacturing but it’s the students who have knowledge of disability and the challenges they and their friends face every day.”
Can you help . . ? CALLING all foam companies and occupational therapists! All Together NOW! has been getting calls from people from across the UK saying that the makers of this type of foam toilet seat topper have closed down – and they can no longer get the toppers which provide protection against pressure sores. A spokesman at the Spinal Injuries Centre in Southport said: “Thousands of people with spinal injuries – and many others with other conditions – would get pressure sores if they did not have something like this. There must be a quite a market for anyone who can start manufacturing them.”
www.alltogethernow.org.uk
June/July 2014
Huw’s super sling eases the pressure
I
T’S EASY for some people to take mobility for granted. As someone with Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy who has for many years needed help to transfer from my wheelchair to, well, anywhere, I “get it” – I really do.
I never take for granted that a central part of my life is all about ensuring that I have access to safe, comfortable and wherever possible, dignified, manual handling. That’s why I invented the ProMove Sling, a different way of helping a disabled person transfer from A-to-B with dignity when a hoist is not a feasible option. People don’t come with handles ready attached. Lifting a person by holding onto bits of their anatomy is extremely risky and should be avoided. Apart from the obvious danger of dropping the person, localised pressure caused by trying to hold onto the person can cause bruising, skin shearing, fractures or dislocations.
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INDEPENDENT LIVING
All Together NOW!
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by Dr HUW THOMAS
‘
People don’t come with handles ready attached!
Lifting someone without proper handholds also increases the risk of injury to those doing the lifting. If someone is to be lifted manually, it is important that the weight is distributed between as many people as possible - with everyone having a proper grip and being fully aware of lifting techniques and posture. It is generally accepted that the safest way of moving someone is to raise them using a
powered hoist while they are supported by an appropriately designed sling of the correct size. I strongly support this approach wherever the equipment is available and there are people trained in its use around to assist. But the reality is that fixed hoisting is often not there when you need it. So when you are wanting to transfer safely it’s tempting sometimes to compromise too
Manual handling – a very dull phrase for a very important activity that’s a crucial part of many people’s lives . . .
much... The result being a lift that’s more akin to moving a sack of potatoes than a safe comfortable and, yes, dignified transfer, that also puts your family, friends, PA or other care professional at risk because the lift just isn’t right. For me, the answer is don’t compromise too much. Use a fixed hoist wherever possible. But if not an option look at a quality mobile hoist if you can transport it, or try my ProMove Sling which offers a truly mobile alternative that fits in a bag, and is a safe, comfortable and genuinely dignified way to transfer from your wheelchair to just about anywhere.
huw@promove.uk.com
The ProMove Sling, for when you can’t take your hoist with you
THE ProMove Sling is a lifting sling for when you can’t take your hoist with you. It can help people transfer from a wheelchair to just about anywhere. This is an innovative sling that is incredibly light and portable, making it a realistic alternative when a hoist is not an option, enabling a transfer/lift that is safe, comfortable and dignified. I invented the sling for my own use. I have limb girdle muscular dystrophy and cannot be lifted in that uncomfortable and undignified top-and-tail lift. I needed a realistic option for use in a restricted space and something that was easily transported. Many use the ProMove Sling to help a family member get access to a relative’s home, or while on holiday to a caravan, hotel or villa. It is used for transfers to theme park rides or even makes
access to swimming with the dolphins a reality. The ProMove Sling is used at numerous airports to transfer to aisle chair then aircraft seat, and is bought by many individuals for transfers at airports that do not provide ProMove Slings. In schools and colleges, it is providing access for disabled children and is used also for evacuation purposes – appropriate size slings are placed, in their own distinguished looking bags, on the back of each child’s wheelchair. The slings are also helping adults to take part in activities that are enjoyed by their able-bodied peers. Other uses for the sling are found in social care, and the emergency services.
The ProMove sling is available in all sizes and with and without a head support. Our website: www.promove.uk.com has many videos that show the ProMove sling in action and our lively blog and news sections cover a range of disability issues.
Contact Dr Huw Thomas:
01970 820893
Special offer for readers of All Together NOW! if you purchase any size sling we will send you the superb ProMove Sling bag, worth £19 ex VAT absolutely FREE of charge. All you need to do is enter the words All Together NOW! in the “Order Notes” section when you check out.
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All Together NOW!
June/July 2014
NORTH WEST DISABILITY AWARENESS DAY
WALTON HALL GARDENS, WARRIN
www.alltogethe
Roll up for Ho Ukulele Band
TUNING UP: Music therapists Stuart Meall (HelpingMinds) and Tom Ledson (HelpingMinds) with (from left) Judy Townley, Terry Gatley, Wendy Pitts, and Tom Coleridge
T
HE new Hotwheels Ukulele Band are tuning up for their debut performance at Disability Awareness Day.
The all-wheelchair-user band will be performing hits from the 50s through to the 80s, standards from the war period and some music hall numbers. “There will be something for everyone,” said tutor Tom Ledson, who has multiple sclerosis and a founder member of the George Formby Society. “I’ve always loved music. I first picked up the ukulele when I was 11, but I didn’t touch it again for 40 years! “When I got back into playing I did so in a big way and I have been at it for more than 10 years now.” Rod Scotney, founder and leader of Warringtonbased charity HelpingMinds, which runs the Hotwheels project, said: “The Hotwheels Ukulele
Club wi users in “It’s a confide liberatin join us. Dave T said: “R has a g by disa “I am the Hot Disabili The ba Centre Donat Helping n Conta visit the n www.
THE SHOW G — and it will be bigger and better than ever
T
HE COUNTDOWN has begun for the 23rd annual Disability Awareness Day – which will bigger and better than ever. Making that promise is Dave Thompson, founder and chair of Warrington Disability Partnership, organisers of the North West’s top disability event. “It’s been really tough trying to raise the funding for this year’s DAD,” said Dave, “and the truth is that without the level of support that Your Housing Group have pledged the event would have had to be cancelled. “But the good news is that Your Housing Group have come to our rescue, and for the past few months DAD’s Army of volunteers have been tirelessly putting together a top notch programme of events.
‘So proud to be the headline sponsor’
THE North West’s top disability event goes ahead a planned, thanks to Your Housing Group. The Group’s chief executive Brian Cronin said: “Your Housing Group is enormously proud to be th headline sponsor of the Disability Awareness Day. “This fantastic event is not only a wonderful day out but a unique opportunity to showcase the achievements and talents of disabled people. “It also offers Your Housing Group the chance to show the work we are doing across the group on Welfare Reform. “There are some big changes that directly affect many people with disabilities and our team will be able to talk to visitors about their concerns and Cathy Howell, chair, and Brian Cronin, chief executive of Your Housing Group direct them to the right help and advice.” “We can’t guarantee the sunshine, but we can assure everyone of a fabulous family fun day out – and the chance to learn about all kinds of opportunities for disabled and older people.” The world’s biggest – and best – voluntaryled pan disability event, DAD is the perfect place to find out about the products, services and support that are available to help people remain independent. “Our success has led to similar DAD events taking place in the Punjab, Camaroon, Kenya, Nigeria and Gibralta,” Dave added. “They will all be on the same day, Sunday July 13.” There will be something for all ages and all abilities at Walton Hall Gardens, near Warrington, including information for people affected by a whole range of physical,
sensory and learning disabilities, plus expert advice from mental health charities and NHS trusts. More than 250 exhibitors have already booked their place in the tented village, and there will be a wide range of sports to try, plus a non-stop music programme taking place in the ever-popular Arts Zone. “But the main aim of the day,” says Dave, “is to provide people with lots of information to help them get on with their lives. “DAD is a platform to enable small and large support groups, businesses and public sector organisations to work together promoting their services directly to the general public. “Since we set up the event all those years ago we have gone on to play a huge part in helping to promote a ‘can do’ culture
focussing on ‘what disabled people can d “And this is something all of us at Warrington Disability Partnership are extremely proud of.”
n Support services include a free access Park and Ride scheme, a free accessible service from Warrington town centre, a fre scooter and wheelchair loan service with trained volunteers, British Sign Language interpreters, unisex wheelchair accessible toilets, and more than 100 stewards and assistants all eager to make it a day to remember for everyone. n DAD Team, tel 01925 240064. n email info@disabilitypartnership.org n www.disabilityawarenessday.org.uk
NGTON, SUNDAY JULY 13
ernow.org.uk
June/July 2014
OYEZ, OYEZ – all the info you need and a great day out, too! TOWN CRIER Peter Powell and Dave Thompson, chair and founder of Warrington Disability Partnership
GOES ON!
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NORTH WEST DISABILITY AWARENESS DAY
otwheels d...
ill enable us to reach out to wheelchair n a very specific way. all about enjoyment and building ence. We hope that Hotwheels offers a ng and powerful experience to those who .” Thompson, WDP’s founder and chair, Rod is a very talented musician and he great understanding of the barriers faced abled people in accessing live music. looking forward to welcoming him and twheels Ukulele Club onto the stage at ity Awareness Day.” and rehearse on Wednesdays at WDP’s for Independent Living in Beaufort Street. tions of ukuleles and other instruments to gMinds would be most welcome! act HelpingMinds on 07961 001 940 or eir website at w.helpingminds.org.uk
All Together NOW!
DAD Week
Saturday July 5 10.30am - 4.30pm Launch of DAD 2014, Old Market Place, Golden Square Warrington Town Centre. Featuring some of the UK’s top disabled artists and friends of DAD. Free Admission. Monday July 7 5.30pm - 8.30pm Party in the Park, Walton Gardens. Funfilled evening for disabled young people, their families and friends. Contact Karen Beaton, 01925 240064 Tuesday July 8 9.30am - 12.30pm Positive Action Awareness Event Walton Hall, Walton Gardens. Invitation Only 1pm - 4pm Warrington Hate Crime Strategy, Walton Hall. Warrington Borough Council, Cheshire Police and our partners across the town have pledged Warrington Partnership Hate Crime Reduction Strategy as part of DAD 6.15pm - 9.30pm Frogtastic in the Park, Walton Gardens. Featuring two top tribute acts ‘Bob Marley & Rihanna’ and full supporting show Ronnie C & AJ Valliant – PLUS including guest Frogtastic club night DJs. The event is aimed at people who have learning disabilities, their families and friends. Ticket £4.00 – Terry Snowden, 0161 872 8787 or Janis Williams, 01925 240064 Wednesday July 9 10.30am - 3.30pm Ignite Your Life – Mental Health & Wellbeing Workshops & Exhibition, Walton Gardens. 5 Boroughs Partnership NHS Foundation Trust invites you to join them for a day of workshops and activities, advice and information from local support services, complimentary therapies, healthy eating, art, crafts and sports. Free Admission. Contact Kathryn Earlam 01925 664450 7pm - 10pm Evening of Celebration with Godfrey Birtill, Evangelist Singer, Walton Gardens. Free admission. Thursday July 10 1pm - 4pm Tea in the Tent Age UK, Walton Gardens. Contact Julia Webster, 01744 752644 8pm - 10.30pm Concert in the Park - Wingate’s Brass Band. Walton Gardens. Tickets £7.50, concessions £5. Contact Janis Williams on 01925 240064 Friday July 11 10-11am & noon -1pm Alternative Futures - Dementia Friendly Workshops. Walton Gardens. Free one hour workshops. Contact Carol Toner, 0151 489 5501 7.30pm - 11.30pm DAD Mega BBQ, Quiz & Charity Auction. Ticket £7.50 (includes barbecue). Contact Janis Williams, 01925 240064
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All Together NOW!
SHOPMOBILITY n ALTRINCHAM. Tel 0161 929 1714 n ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE. Tel 0161 339 9500 n BARROW. Tel 01229 434039 n BIRKENHEAD. Tel 0151 647 6162 n BLACKBURN AND DARWEN. Tel 01254 690566 or 07757 502217 n BLACKPOOL. Tel 01253 349 427 n BOLTON. Tel 01204 392946 n BURY. Tel 0161 764 9966 n CARLISLE. Tel 01228 631564 n CHESTER. Tel 01244 312626 n CHORLEY. Tel 01257 260 888 n COLWYN BAY. Tel 01492 533822 n CREWE. Tel 01270 580 031 n ELLESMERE PORT. Tel 0151 355 1420 n KENDAL. Tel 01539 740 933 n LEIGH, Wigan. Tel 01942 777 985 n LIVERPOOL. Tel 0151 707 0877 n MANCHESTER Trafford Centre. Tel 0161 747 2684 n MANCHESTER Arndale Centre. Tel 0161 839 4060 n NELSON. Tel 01282 692 502 n NORTHWICH, Vale Royal Tel 01606 288820 n OSWESTRY. Tel 01691 656882 n PENRITH. Tel 01768 895 438 n PRESTON. Tel 01772 204 667 n RHYL. Tel 01745 350665 n ROCHDALE. Tel 01706 865 986 n RUNCORN, Halton Lea Tel 01928 716971 n SHREWSBURY. Tel 01743 236900 SKELMERSDALE. Tel 01695 550066 n ST HELENS. Tel 01744 613 388 n STOCKPORT. Tel 0161 666 1100 n WARRINGTON. Tel 01925 240064 n WARRINGTON. Birchwood Tel 01925 822 411 n WIGAN. Tel 01942 776 070 n WINSFORD. Tel 01606 557550 n WREXHAM. Tel 01978 312390 MIDLANDS n BIRMINGHAM. Snow Hill Railway Station. Tel 0121 236 8980. Level 2, Centre Car Park, Bullring. Tel 0121 616 2942 n STAFFORD. Tel 01785 619456 n STOKE ON TRENT. Tel 01782 233333 n SUTTON COLDFIELD. Tel 0121 355 1112 n TAMWORTH. Tel, 01827 709392 n WALSALL. Tel 01922 650781 n WEST BROMWICH: Sandwell. Tel 0121 553 1943 n WOLVERHAMPTON. Tel 01902 556021
June/July 2014
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Are you among our 20 lucky winners? CONGRATULATIONS to the 20 lucky winners of our recent gardening competition. They will all receive a copy of RHS Garden Projects - bursting with ideas for children. Published by Dorling Kindersley with the Royal Horticultural Society, the 80-page hardback normally sells for £9.99. Prizewinners are: Isaac Dewberry, Scott Road, Lowton St Lukes Mrs K Parr, Vicarage Road, Orrell, Wigan Miss H Hodson, Partridge Close, West Derby, Liverpool Orla Dean, Ellesworth Close, Old Hall, Warrington Laura Goodwin, Sylvan Avenue, Timperley, Altrincham Helen Bottomley, Seymour Avenue, Clayton, Manchester Mrs W Moss, Ashburn Way, Wrexham
Anne Greaves, Stoneleigh Road, Springhead, Oldham June Blurton, Mill Lane, Hazel Grove, Stockport Rebekah Field, Newlands, Firswood Road, Lathom N Davies, Greenfields, Upton, Chester Mrs C Brock, Helmsdale Lane, Great Sankey, Warrington Helen Liversedge, Silverwell Road, Croxteth, Liverpool Ken Gallop, Suncroft Close, Woolston, Warrington Ava Leadbetter, Derby Street, Ormskirk Mary Storey, Bleakledge Grove, Hindley, Wigan Andrew Kay, The Willows, Mawdesley, Ormskirk Mrs. Helen Evans, Elizabeth Cres, Chester Ms Kapa, Caldicot Way, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancs Jane Codd, Pangbourne Close, Appleton, Warrington
HELP AT THE END OF A PHONE n ANGLESEY:
TARAN Tel 01407 721933 n BLACKPOOL Disability Information and Support. Tel 01253 472 202. Textphone 01253 476 450 n CHESHIRE CIL Tel 01606 331853 n CHESTER Dial House Tel 01244 345655 n DENBIGHSHIRE Tel 01745 354445 n ELLESMERE PORT DICE Tel 0151 355 1420 n HALTON Disability Service Tel 01928 717222 n KNOWSLEY DISABILITY CONCERN. 0151 480 4090 n LANCASTER DISC Tel 01524 34411 n LIVERPOOL Association of Disabled People. 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. Textphone 01772 204 787 n RHYL Tel 01745 350665 n STOCKPORT: Disability Stockport. 0161 480 7248 n WARRINGTON Disability
Partnership. 01925 240064 WIRED Tel 0151 670 1500 n WEST LANCS HELPLINE Freefone 0800 220676 n ST HELENS DASH Tel 01744 453053 n WREXHAM Tel 01978 262955 MIDLANDS BIRMINGHAM Disability Resource Centre Tel 0121 789 7365 Disabled People’s Network Solihull Tel 0121 788 1544 STOKE: Disability Solutions Tel 01782 683800 WOLVERHAMPTON Elder and Disabled Group Tel 01902 448552 n WIRRAL
ORGANISATIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND n ACCRINGTON Tel 01254 233332 n BARROW Tel 01229 820698 n BIRMINGHAM Action for Blind Tel 0121 665 4200 n BLACKBURN Tel 0125 554143 n BLACKPOOL: N-Vision Tel 01253 362696 n BURY Tel 0161 763 7014 n BURNLEY Tel 01282 438507 n CARLISLE: Action for Blind People Tel 01228 595121 CHESHIRE & N WALES: Vision Support. Tel 01244 381515 n CUMBRIA (West) Tel 01946 592474 n CUMBRIA (Sth Lakeland) Tel 01539 726613 n GUIDE DOGS Tel 0118 983
5555 n HENSHAW’S 0161 872 1234 Tel 0151 708 7055 n LIVERPOOL: Bradbury Fields.Tel 0151 221 0888: Action for Bind Tel 0151 298 3222 n MANCHESTER: Action for Blind Tel 0161 787 9252 n PRESTON: Action for Blind People Tel 01772 320550 n OLDHAM Tel 0161 682 8019 n ROSSENDALE Tel 01706 873256 n SIGHTLINE (North West) Tel 0800 587 2252 n WIGAN Tel 01942 242891 n WIRRAL Tel 0151 652 8877 ORGANISATIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF n BIRMINGHAM Institute for Deaf Tel 0121 246 6101 n CHESHIRE Deaf Society Tel 01606 47831 n CUMBRIA Deaf Society Tel 01228 606434 n LANCASHIRE (EAST) Deaf Society Tel 01282 839180 n MANCHESTER Deaf Centre Tel 0161 273 3415 Genie Networks. Tel 0161 941 4549. Text 18001 0161 941 4549 n MERSEYSIDE Society for Deaf Tel 0151 228 0888 n ST HELENS: Deafness Resource Centre Tel 01744 23887 n WOLVERHAMPTON Centre for Deaf Tel 01902 420904 n N WALES Deaf Association, Tel 01492 542235
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
Email your news to us at news@allltogethernow.org .uk
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June/July 2014
All Together NOW!
TAKE ME HOME!
A
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.
‘ ‘ ‘ WE ARE extremely passionate about adressing health inequalities and All Together NOW! is helping us to reach into our communities. “The newspaper provides vital information on news and services and has had a positive impact on people’s wellbeing, especially those affected by ill health and disability. It is making a vital social contribution. Bernie Cuthel, chief executive, Liverpool Community Health Trus
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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All Together NOW!
MEDICAL NOTES Disabled workers are lowest earners JOBLESS people are almost twice as likely as those in work to have a limiting long-standing illness or disability. And those on higher incomes were less likely to have either, according to latest figures from the Office for National Statistics. In 2012, just 6% of those with an income of £50,000 or more had a limiting long-standing illness or disability, compared with 30% of those with an income of up to £10,000. As expected, health was strongly associated with age. In 2012, 67% of those aged 75 and over had one or the other. This compared with 14% of those aged 16 to 24. And people from white ethnic groups were almost twice as likely as those from non-white groups (20% compared with 11%). People living in Wales (26%) were most likely to have a limiting long-standing illness or disability, when compared with other British regions.
Why we love this paper
n All Together NOW! is a fantastic read, brimming with lots of information and very useful telephone numbers and tons of updates. There is something always new to read and discover. A special thanks to the team who make this paper so valuable. Mrs Mary Catherine Livingstone, Wigan Road, Ormskirk n WOW! What an inspiring, easy to read and understand and yet relevant newspaper! Lynda Sanderson, Dale View Close, Heswall n All Together NOW! is brilliant. I am not disabled but work within the health service and will definitely recommend it to my service users. Julie Davies, Silverbirch Grove, Wigan
Benefits of coffee TWO new studies show that coffee may reduce the risk of liver cirrhosis and the most common type of liver cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases found drinking two or more cups of coffee per day reduces the risk of death from liver cirrhosis by 66%, specifically cirrhosis caused by non-viral hepatitis. The study, published in Hepatology in April, is one of the first to demonstrate a difference between the effects of coffee on non-viral and viral hepatitis related cirrhosis mortality. The American Association for Cancer Research found consuming four or more cups of coffee per day reduces the risk of developing HCC by 42%. For pregnant women the NHS recommends consuming no more than 200mg of caffeine per day from all sources (an average mug of instant coffee contains approximately 100mg of caffeine).
June/July 2014
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Corrie star’s big thanks to Walton Centre WHEN Coronation Street star Ben Price wanted advice on how to play the part of a horrific brain injury victim, he went to the best. Specialists at the Walton Centre in Liverpool, one of the country’s top neurological hospitals, helped him convince in the role of Nick Tilsley, who fans of the TV soap saw undergoing personality changes resulting from a serious car crash. Ben has been repaying staff at the Walton Centre by officially opening the hospital’s fourth MRI scanner. He said: “If anything ever happened to me I would want to be here at The Walton Centre and
in one of the best hospitals in the UK. “Having the best equipment and staff is essential for people with brain injuries. It really is life and death and somewhere like The Walton Centre with its amazing facilities is what can make the difference.” The Walton Centre’s neuroradiology department is already one of the busiest in the country and last year staff carried out around 14,000 MRIs and 7,000 CT scans. Thanks to the new scanner, the Neuroradiology Department will be able to treat a steadily increasing number of patients.
The scanner has a wider bore, meaning patients do not feel as tightly enclosed while undergoing an MRI scan. Clinical director of neuroradiology Dr Sacha Niven said: “A fourth MRI scanner will provide sufficient scanning hours to meet the increasing demand from the neurology, neurosurgery and pain services. “It will mean patients can be seen more quickly and the Trust can provide a full complement of MRI imaging to ensure the best levels of diagnosis and treatments.” Ben is a patron of brain injury charity Headway Preston & Chorley.
The vital test ECG on the move can be a life-saver
SUMMIT MEETING: Nick Fletcher, Richard Neve, Appeal champion David Fairclough, Andrew Brodbelt and Rob Fletcher
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EART patients have a much better chance of survival if they have an ECG test during their ambulance journey.
But women, the elderly and people from black and ethnic minority groupls are less likely to have the test, which can help doctors tell if you are suffering a heart attack. The number of patients who died within 30 days of being admitted to hospital was significantly lower when an ECG – which records the rhythm and electrical activity of the heart – was carried out by ambulance crews. A study funded by the British Heart Foundation also revealed a third of patients admitted to hospital with heart attacks were not given the test while en route. A further important finding from the study was that having an ECG in the ambulance was also the strongest predictor of a patient receiving treatment to reopen a blocked coronary artery. The use of this treatment is proven to reduce heart damage and improve the survival rate of patients. Lead author Professor Tom Quinn, from the University of Surrey, said: “Hopefully our results will reinforce to paramedics the importance of carrying out an ECG when they suspect a heart attack, as well as flag up the types of patients who are currently less likely to receive this test, leaving them more vulnerable to poor outcomes.” Dr Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Director at the BHF, said:“The results, made possible by studying huge numbers of medical records, clearly support existing guidelines on using an ECG test before patients reach hospital. “So it’s vital that all patients who show signs of a heart attack have this simple test.”
We’ve got a mountain to climb!
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TEAM of cyclists aiming to raise £30,000 for charity face an uphill struggle – quite literally. Eight enthusiasts will attempt one of the world’s most gruelling mountain climbs as part of a 600-mile journey. They will travel across France before attempting the infamous Mont Ventoux – more than one thousand feet taller than Ben Nevis and a key part of the Tour De France. The ride, being organised by a firm of Merseyside solicitors, is in aid of The Walton Centre’s Home from Home Appeal for relatives’ accommodation in Liverpool. Rob Fletcher, chairman of Fletchers Solicitors will be joined in the saddle by Walton Centre neurologist Nick Fletcher, neurosurgeon Andrew Brodbelt, and Richard Neve from Southport. Nick said: “It’s going to be very hard. You’ve got to climb steadily the whole time and the last 6km are characterised by a road through barren rocky terrain.
“The altitude doesn’t cause sickness but it takes that last little bit of strength out of you. It’s for a fantastic charity and should be a great challenge.” Mont Ventoux translates as “windy mountain” because of the strong gusts recorded from its peak, and it can take professional riders, like Tour De France winner Chris Froome who won the stage in 2013, about an hour to race up. Rob added: “We’ve had a long association with The Walton Centre and enjoy fundraising for them as it’s a great cause and special place. “Each person has committed to raising £3,000 but we hope to raise as much as £30,000 in total. “I turned 60 in May, and this will be the perfect way to conclude the celebrations.” The cyclists, supported by Formby Cycles, will be riding the mountain from its more difficult south side which has a very steep gradient for almost the whole climb.
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Thumbs up for online records scheme
Help us make our services the best
PARENTS have given the thumbs up to an online scheme that is helping them manage their children’s health records.
LIVERPOOL Community Health want to provide the best services in the land – and want patients to help them achieve it. They are asking anyone who has used any of its services to rate the care and treatment they have received. The national Friends and Family Test was introduced in 2013, initially for hospital wards, A&E departments and maternity services. Now LCH is one of the first community health trusts in the country to use the test, which asks patients whether they would recommend an NHS service to their friends and family if they needed similar services. Patients have also been invited to attend Board meetings to give their account of both positive and negative experiences with LCH services. Jill Byrne, director of nursing, said: “We are committed to providing the best quality health services we can, and one of the best ways we can do this is to learn from the views of our patients. They are at the heart of everything we do, so their opinions really matter to us.” n If you would like to complete the Friends and Family Test for an LCH service, visit www.liverpoolcommunity health.nhs.uk
Guests voiced their feelings at a first birthday drop-in session at Kiddicare, Aintree Racecourse Retail Park. Liverpool Community Health is one of only two NHS Trusts in England currently developing the e-Redbook system, an electronic version of the paper Red Book (Personal Child Health Record) given to all parents at the birth of their child. Because information is stored securely online, it’s quick and easy to update from any smart phone, tablet or computer, and there is no longer a risk of losing the data or forgetting to bring it along to an appointment. Parents can also choose to share access to their child’s online development records with other family members or professionals, as they wish to. Jane Banks, Year Zero Lead for Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust, said: “Our Health Visiting Teams have been busy promoting the eRedbook to parents and carers across Liverpool and Sefton for a number of months, and we now have 275 families signed up and using the system.” Over the coming weeks, ten of the Trust’s health visitors will be working closely with parents to help test the system in more detail before it is made available more widely. LCH medical director Craig Gradden said: “The e-Redbook has the potential to really revolutionise how parents and other health professionals can work together to improve the health of children and young people in the future. “We are very proud to be embracing new technologies such as the e-Redbook. “ I would encourage any parents and carers with babies or toddlers in the area to consider signing up to use it.” n To find out more or to start using this free e-Redbook tool now, simply log onto: www.eredbook.org.uk/liverpool or ask your health visitor for more information.
BEAT GOES ON!
HEALTHY START: Pictured from left – Louise Ellman MP, Lord Mayor Cllr Gary Millar, LCH deputy chief executive Gary Andrews, Liverpool Young Lord Mayor James Douglas, Victims Commissioner Baroness Newlove, Cllr Roz Gladden, and Frances Molloy, LCH chair
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HE BEAT, Liverpool’s new state-of-the-art health centre, got pulses racing when the venue officially opened.
Lord Mayor of Liverpool Cllr Gary Millar said: “Based right in the heart of the city centre, this modern, friendly and easy to access health facility will better serve the growing number of people who live or work in the city centre. “I have no doubt that it will be a real asset to local communities for many years to come.” Victims Commissioner Baroness Newlove, who recently became a Patron to SAFE Place, Merseyside’s Sexual Assault Referral Centre, which is now located within the premises, said: “SAFE Place provides a vital service to victims of sexual assault, and I am extremely pleased to be able to join LCH as a patron for the service, and to celebrate the official opening of this fantastic new facility.”
A new interactive Health Information Centre has also opened on the site, where people can call in for expert advice on a wide range of healthy living issues, such as stopping smoking, healthy eating, getting active and much more. Health services which have also relocated into the new centre include: Great Charlotte Street’s City WalkIn Centre & Sexual Health Service; ABACUS Sexual Health Services; and The Armistead Centre (Specialist LGBT health service). Gary Andrews, deputy chief executive at Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust, said: “Relocating a number of our city centre services into The BEAT will provide people with access to a much wider range of health services all conveniently located under one roof.” n The BEAT has entrances on both Hanover Street and David Lewis Street.
Dementia help STAFF at LCH have set up a new support group to help carers and relatives of patients with dementia who have been admitted to the Intermediate Care setting at Ward 35, Aintree Hospital. Alexandra Black, social worker based at the ward, said: “We want to ensure that the relatives and carers who are supporting patients admitted to the ward with dementia have as much support and information as possible.” The group also plan to help people across the other Intermediate Care settings, including Wards 9 and 11 at Broadgreen Hospital. n In 2012 there were 4,852 people estimated to be living with dementia in Liverpool. It is estimated that by 2021 the number of people with dementia will reach 1 million in the UK, and will double over the next 40 years.
To find out more, visit . . .
www.liverpoolcommunityhealth.nhs.uk
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Football hero who’s loving life on the veg
Beatrice Fraenkel chair, Mersey Care NHS T IS staggering to think that one in three babies now born in this country will have a life expectancy of up to 100 years.
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Massive improvements in healthcare combined with good nutrition have contributed to longevity - but can we have too much of a good thing? If you look at how obesity is becoming a curse for the developed world it appears to be a case of high calories and low exercise becoming a lethal cocktail that affects children, too. Two out of three adults in England are currently classed as overweight with a BMI (body mass index) higher than 25. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence wants overweight people sent to slimming classes on the NHS, together with a range of other supportive measures, with the aim of a 3% weight loss. At Mersey Care we have been encouraging a healthier balance between body and mind. An additional driving force for us is the fact that people with a serious mental illness die, on average, 20 years earlier than the rest of the population, the majority from preventable causes. That’s why we adopted the Five Ways to Wellbeing as an ethos underpinning quality care. The Five Ways is a range of proven methods that are translated to simple things individuals can do in their everyday lives and come under the headings of Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning and Give. Growing your own food is a fantastic way to enjoy being outside, get exercise, eat well cheaply and improve our mental and physical health. Demand for allotments is increasing and watching the BBC programme ‘The Big Allotment Challenge’ many of the competitors referred to the importance of their allotments as a place for escape and wellbeing. At Mersey Care we have many allotment and garden projects which combine this opportunity for being active and connecting with other members of a group, taking notice of nature, learning how things grow, and sharing and learning. Of course, gardening is not for everyone, and we have fitness projects like our showcase Everton in the Community’s mental health programmes. The good news is they are starting a women’s group that combines cookery, keep-fit, arts and crafts all in one lifestyle package. n We are always seeking volunteers. If you are interested we would be delighted to hear from you. Contact Mersey Care on 0151 285 2250 or email volunteers@merseycare.nhs.uk
MANCHESTER United and Everton legend Phil Neville, pictured, has turned vegetarian – and says he’s never felt better. Phil, who retired as a player with Everton last season, credits his wife Julie’s influence with prompting the switch. “My wife’s been vegetarian for about four, five years now”, he says. “I promised my wife that I would try it for two weeks. “I started to feel healthier, leaner. I started to feel great!” And he now knows that athletes can get all the nutrition they need, including protein, from plant-based foods such as quinoa, seeds, soya protein and nuts. “It’s made me feel better,” he says. “I hope it makes me live longer.”
“I think people are understanding the benefits, not just for yourself but for the environment,” he says. “Two and a half million animals a day are being slaughtered. That is a damning statistic we need to do something about.”
IN THE April-May issue of All Together NOW! another former footballer, Neil Robinson (Everton and Swansea) talked about his campaign to get more players to cut out meat from their diets. Neil hung up his boots in 1990 after being either vegetarian or vegan for his entire professional career. His upcoming talks include: June 7: North West Vegan Festival, Lancaster Town Hall Sep 13: Northern Vegan Festival, Winter Gardens, Blackpool Oct 25: West Midlands Vegan Festival, Wolves Civic, Wolverhampton n www.neilrobinsonvegan.com
War Horse star cheers a big day for diabetes C
HILDREN with diabetes have come though a pioneering trial with flying colours and given hope of a normal life to people with the condition. A group of British children with type 1 diabetes successfully used artificial pancreas technology – at home, overnight and without needing to be supervised by medical experts. An artificial pancreas mimics the insulinproducing function of a healthy pancreas, providing exactly the right amount of insulin to the body, exactly when it’s needed. Developed by a team at the University of Cambridge, the artificial pancreas promises to dramatically improve quality of life of people with type 1 diabetes, which typically develops in childhood. Those with the condition currently rely on the burdensome routine of multiple insulin injections or pump infusions every day just to stay alive. Young people in the trial, all aged between 12 and 18, saw improved blood glucose control, experiencing fewer nights with hypoglycaemic episodes – commonly known as hypos – which occur when blood glucose levels fall dangerously low. Without proper treatment, hypos can cause unconsciousness and even death.
Why I love this paper
n I MUST have had my head in the clouds as I had never heard of All Together NOW! until recently when a friend mentioned your paper. The content is so widespread that it really opens people’s minds to things they may not have known or considered previously. It’s so easy to go from one article to another without realising the time that has passed, that’s a good sign things are interesting. Keep it up guys, you’re doing brilliantly. I will be spreading the word. Thank you. Molly Kay (email) The latest trial is a major step forward as all previous ones involving the artificial pancreas, whether in hospitals or homes, have involved researchers strictly monitoring patients. The breakthrough comes as diabetes charity JDRF reveals UK people living with the condition are experiencing a “shockingly high” average of 10 hypos a week – laying
“MY HEROES”: Jeremy IIrvine bare the urgent need for the artificial pancreas to become an accessible reality. Actor Jeremy Irvine, who starred in the film version of War Horse and is a JDRF supporter, has lived with the condition since the age of six. He said: “When the chance came for me to take part in early artificial pancreas trials a few years ago, I jumped at the opportunity. “I wanted to play my own very small part in moving the artificial pancreas closer to reality. I’m really excited to hear of this latest progress – the scientists behind it are my heroes.” TV presenter Dominic Littlewood has lived with type 1 diabetes for almost 40 years. “I experienced my worst hypo during the night in a hotel room just over 10 years ago. I found myself crawling along my hotel room floor, before finally being hospitalised. “It nearly killed me. That’s why JDRF’s progress on the pancreas means a lot to me.” Dr Roman Hovorka, from the University of Cambridge, who is leading the UK effort, said: “The artificial pancreas is expected to transform the treatment of type 1 diabetes and we have proven that this promise holds. “The success of this trial means that larger and longer studies are already in the pipeline.”
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Protecting your baby TAKING a simple vitamin can provide vital protection to your baby while it is in the womb – pass it on! That’s the message from charity Shine which wants all women to tell at least one other woman of childbearing age about the importance of vitamin B9, popularly known as folic acid. Shine’s campaign – It’s Thumbs up for Folic! – aims to reduce the 1 in 1,000 chance that an unborn baby will develop spina bifida or a related condition.
Around 14 women in the UK every week receive the devastating news that their baby is affected. That number could be dramatically reduced simply by taking the right amount of folic acid at the right time. Yet studies show only one in three women take the vitamin correctly. Scientists have proved that folic acid can help reduce the risk of serious birth defects of the brain and spine (Neural Tube Defects or NTDs) by up to 72%.
All Together NOW!
Why we love this paper
n All Together NOW! is great. I picked up a copy while visiting family in Liverpool. As a researcher I think it is great that such a paper exists. It should be rolled out nationally. Victoria Chenery (email) n I REALLY like All Together NOW! My favourite section is the Healthzone. Christina Massue, Torrington Avenue, Bolton n I LOVE All Together NOW! As a disabled person it is good to read of others who are overcoming their problems. It makes me think that I can, too. The articles are great. Keep up the good work. Mrs Wendy Martindale, Gainsborough Road, Upton, Wirral n JUST read All Together NOW! at the hospital. A fantastic, inclusive and educational read. Melanie Hayes, Chequers Road, Chorlton, Manchester
WALKING BACK TO HAPPINESS H
OSPITAL governor Joe Paton learned to walk again following lifesaving surgery – then clocked up 35 miles in a charity walk in just over 12 hours.
“I loved it,” said Joe, 62, who counted more than 62,000 steps along the way. “The most challenging part of it was my balance, hearing and vision and having to concentrate so hard. “The levels of concentration I need are amazing but it felt great. I was very proud,” added Joe, from Southport, Merseyside.
His efforts raised £500 for The Walton Centre’s Home from Home Appeal which aims to raise £500,000 to build relatives’ accommodation. The former technician for Southport firm Central Prosthetics was given the all clear after more than 12 years of treatment for a brain tumour– including major surgery and 30 radiology sessions – leaving him with balance, vision and hearing difficulties. Birdwatcher Joe now walks between five and 10 miles a day, which he records in a daily diary and on his pedometer.
CANCER is now the world’s biggest killer – with the number of cases set to explode in coming years, says a new United Nations report. The disease claimed an estimated 8.2 million deaths worldwide in 2012 and experts believe the figure will reach close to 25 million over the next two decades. Dr Christopher Wild, director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer, said: “These new figures and projections send a strong signal that immediate action is needed to confront this human disaster, which touches every community worldwide, without exception.” The World Cancer Report 2014 confirms that inequality exists in cancer control and care globally. The number of deaths due to the disease among the world’s poor is growing at a faster rate than previously expected. By 2025 almost 80% of the increase in the number of all cancer deaths will occur in less developed regions. Unlike the developed countries, a large proportion of cancers in developing nations are caused by infections, such as the human papillomavirus (HPV).
NEW steps are being taken to make sure pancreatic cancer patients get the very best treatment and care. Just one per cent of pancreatic cancer patients are expected to survive 10 years, new figures show. To tackle that, specific clinical guidelines on treating people with pancreatic cancer are to be developed by health watchdog, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Alex Ford, chief executive of Pancreatic Cancer UK, said: “This is the most important and exciting development in pancreatic cancer care since the publication of the Improving Outcomes Guidance nearly 15 years ago.”
MUM of three Ninette Thomas completed a 150mile walk across North Wales to raise funds for the hospital she credits with saving her life. Ninette, 53, of Abergele, walked for 12 days along the Wales Coast Path from Holyhead to Liverpool’s Royal Hospital. She underwent her first kidney transplant in January 2006 after a childhood degenerative disease scarred her kidneys. But that kidney only functioned for sixand-a-half years, so in 2012 she received another. Ninette, who works as an instructor at Colwyn Leisure Centre, said: “The dialysis machines have saved my life twice so I wanted to raise as much “I LOVED IT”: Joe Paton money as possible for new equipment.”
Showing they care
Drug giant attacked over £90,000 treatment NICE chief Sir Andrew Dillon hit back, saying they “had hoped that Roche would have recognised the challenge the NHS faces in managing the adoption of expensive new treatments”. The drug can add up to six months to a breast cancer patient’s life. Experts at NICE concluded that trastuzumab emtansine made by Roche under the name Kadcyla “does not work well enough to justify its high cost and it therefore should not be
MEDICAL NOTES World’s No1 killer hits poor hardest
Better help ahead
Payback time...
A NEW drug giving longer life to people with inoperable breast cancer will NOT be available on the NHS. And a row over the medicine’s £90,000 price tag – far more than alternative treatments – shows no sign of being resolved in favour of cancer sufferers. Pharmaceutical giant Roche accused NICE, the body that approves new medicines for use by Health Service patients, of failing “to safeguard the interests of patients”.
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recommended for routine NHS use”. However, Sir Andrew said Roche could have helped the cash-starved Health Service by “reducing the cost of Kadcyla to the NHS”. Kadcyla is used as a treatment option for people with HER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to other parts of the body, cannot be surgically removed and has stopped responding to initial treatment. It has been found to add up to six months to a patient’s life.
people are reading these pages . . .
WARDS at the Royal Liverpool, Broadgreen, Manchester Royal Infirmary, and Central Manchester hospitals are among the first in the UK to receive a quality mark for the support given to older patients. The Elder Friendly Quality Mark, run by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and developed with the Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Nursing and British Geriatrics Society, encourages hospital wards to improve the quality of care for older people. There is also high praise for St Helens and Whiston hospitals for providng care that is among the best in the country. The Care Quality Commission say the quality of care and communication of clinicians working at the Trust was better compared to other hospital trusts.
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Sports lover Laura in the running for her ideal job
. . . EDUCATION . . . TRAINING . . . JOBS . . . EDUCATION . . . TRAINING . . . JOBS . . .
Anyone can become a pastel master now KEEN painters with limited mobility are being offered the opportunity to learn from a leading UK artist – from their own homes. Artist Annabel Greenhalgh has been teaching pastel painting from her cottage studio for many years. But it was when some students with limited mobility attended the course on crutches and were unable to attend regularly that the idea for a correspondence course was born. “There are six modules in the beginner’s course, which can take between a week and a year to complete,” said Annabel from Narbeth, Pembrokeshire. “I have known some people take a week off work and complete it but I always recommend that students take longer over it because they will learn more that way.” The course allows students to take photos of their work and email them to Annabel for assessment. “I then provide a critique, which is helpful for students to develop and improve.” Annabel, who plans to introduce an intermediate course later in the year, is best known for her sand dune pastels and is widely collected in the UK and abroad. n Contact Annabel on 01834 831633. Email annabel@annabelgreenhalgh.com,
A family action plan FEWER than one in 10 adults with a learning disability living with their family have a paid job. It’s a situation that The Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities says is unacceptable. The Foundation’s new employment guide aims to support families and help overcome the barriers that prevent their relatives from getting a job. It comes at a time when investment into employment schemes for people with learning disabilities continue to deliver disappointing results. The Getting a Job guide, written by Dave Barker, a family carer at the National Valuing Families Forum, includes: information on the value of working, where to find support, simple and achievable top tips and a practical action plan to get started. Christine Burke, senior development manager at FPLD, said: “Families have a hard enough time sourcing accurate support and information to provide the best quality of life for their relatives. This guide will offer useful information, raise aspirations and make employment an option for people with learning disabilities, most of whom want to work.” n Tel 020 7803 1100 www.fpld.org.uk/publications/getting-a-job TAKE ME HOME!
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OLLEGE life can be great, but there’s nothing better than getting that first break – whether it’s a full-time job or a student internship. Warrington Collegiate student Laura Gough, 22, was thrilled to get a six-months’ internship at town centre sports store Decathlon. “My ideal job is working in sports retail and Decathlon is a really good company to work for,” said Laura, from Latchford. “I’ve done a wide range of tasks, from sorting deliveries to arranging and tidying the displays and feel I’m learning fast.” Sports-mad Laura, who lists football, gym and swimming among her hobbies, is now preparing to apply for jobs in the sports retail industry. Other students securing internships include Start Connolly (Age Concern) and Tom Reid and Robert Hartley, who are working with the Ranger Service through Livewire. Bethany Marsh is working in the creative industries with Vision4Dreams.
Uni cash blow H ARDER for people to attend university and more likely they will drop out of their courses.
That will be the grim result of reforms to disabled students’ allowances, say campaigners. Changes announced by the Government appear to mirror the cuts to disability benefits that have angered disabled activists over the four years since the coalition came to power. This is because universities and science minister David Willetts said he wanted to focus funding – about £125 million was spent on DSAs in 2011-12 – on those with the highest support needs. Many students with lower support needs will then be left having to rely instead on their university to provide equipment or make other reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act. Similar language has been used repeatedly by ministers to justify cuts to disability benefits, with work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith often explaining that his disability living allowance reforms were “focusing support on those who need it most”.
SPORTING CHANCE: Laura Gough
By JOHN PRING
Willetts had already announced that maximum DSA grants for 2015-16 would be frozen at the same cash levels as 2014-15, a real-terms cut. Critics say the reforms - which only apply to students from England - could make some universities less keen to offer places to disabled students. The National Union of Students said it was “deeply concerned” by the announcement, which it said could see “fewer students receiving the support they need to stay the course”, while it was likely that many students would “fall through the cracks”. DSAs are non-means-tested grants that assist with the extra costs a disabled student faces during higher education study, for example by funding the purchase of laptops and specialist equipment, or paying support workers and additional travel costs. Universities will now be expected to put strategies in place that will reduce the need for support workers and encourage greater independence and autonomy for students. The government will no longer fund the
purchase of “standard specification” computers, or even some higher-cost computers that are needed “simply because of the way in which a course is delivered”, and Willetts said DSA would no longer meet the extra costs of “specialist” accommodation, other than in “exceptional circumstances”. He also said that DSAs would now only be provided to students who were seen as disabled under the Equality Act 2010 (those with impairments that have a substantial and long-term negative effect on their ability to do normal daily activities). He said it was the first time DSA had been reviewed in nearly 25 years, and added: “We recognise that students will continue to need support. “However, we believe that [higher education institutions] are better placed to consider how to respond in many cases, including giving greater consideration to the delivery of their courses and how to provide support.” The changes will be introduced for students applying for DSA for the first time for academic years beginning on or after September 1, 2015.
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. . . EDUCATION . . . TRAINING . . . JOBS . . . EDUCATION . . . TRAINING . . . JOBS . . .
Appreciate the positive
INSPIRING: Jonathan Brough in his film Meningitis & Me
He’s blinking marvellous! A
STUDENT left paralysed from the neck down by meningitis has made an emotional film about how you can fulfil your dreams despite a life-changing disability.
Jonathan Brough was in Canada training to be a skiing instructor at the age of 19 when he was diagnosed with the condition. Complications in his treatment left him paralysed and, for a time, only able to communicate by blinking. In spite of his disability, which requires him to have round the clock care, he has realised the dream of pursuing his studies – and is now in the final year of a media arts degree at Plymouth University. As one of his final year projects, Jonathan has written and produced a film about his experiences in the hope of raising awareness of the condition, but also to inspire others with a serious disability to think about what they might achieve in the future. Jonathan, now 25, from Minchinhampton in Gloucestershire, said: “Life throws many challenges at you, but I hope the film will
Paralysed Jon’s film of hope
show people that no matter what you go through, it is how you approach things that makes you who you are. “Meningitis and disability are both serious issues, but I wanted to deal with them in a positive way and show what I have been through and achieved following my injury. “I also hope the film helps people to get a better understanding of the potential effects of meningitis and how it can happen to anyone at any time of life.” In the film, made for the national charity Meningitis Now, Jonathan describes how he spent more than six months in intensive care and to start with could only communicate through blinking. But with pioneering medical treatment, in particular at the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Centre in Salisbury, he learnt to speak again and pursue his ambition of going to university. He added: “When I was first was told about the opportunity
I knew I wanted to go, but I wasn’t sure it would be possible. Being at Plymouth University has helped me to discover a passion for filmmaking that has helped me to express myself and I have worked on several exciting projects. The support I have received here has been excellent, in particular that of the Disability Assist team, which has helped make the whole thing possible.” As well as his studies, Jonathan has also discovered a passion for music, and regularly performs as a beatbox artist at venues in Plymouth and closer to home. Phaedra Stancer, Programme Leader of BA (Hons) Media Arts at Plymouth University, said: “Jonathan is a true inspiration to everyone who meets him, and his disability is never the focus for long. “It is Jonathan’s enquiring mind and dedication to his studies which really stand out, and he is a very talented and ambitious student who engages in all of the opportunities offered to him. “I can see a great future for him as a filmmaker and look forward to hearing about his successes.”
To view Jonathan’s film, visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLpqkmk_wFo
WORKERS are to be encouraged to deal with the difficulties faced by autistic colleagues – and appreciate their positives. The TUC has launched its first ever guide to autism in the workplace, which aims to inform union reps and employees of the facts around the condition. Autism in the Workplace advises how to support autistic staff to ensure they get the adjustments they need and are legally entitled to. The guide explains the difficulties autistic people can face at work, and suggests changes an employer can implement to make the workplace more autism-friendly. TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:“Our new workplace guidance gives union reps and employees the information they need to support autistic work colleagues and make plans for any potential problems before they arise.”
n Autism in the Workplace is available at www.tuc.org.uk
Making the apprentice A NEW guide will attempt to reverse the declining number of apprentices with disabilities. Inspiring stories written by disabled apprentices about their own experiences and the challenges they have faced are included in Into Apprenticeships, produced by Disability Rights UK. Common questions like how to find an apprenticeship, whether the training will be accessible and what support is available in the workplace, are also addressed in the guide for disabled people in England. Philip Connolly, the charity’s policy and communications manager, said: “Although successive governments have been investing in skills development, the proportion of disabled apprentices actually fell between 2006 and 2010, from 11% to 8%.”
n You can download it at www.disabilityrightsuk.org Or call 0207 250 8181.
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ARIES March 21st - April 20th
books Easing the pain n Mindfulness for Health, a practical guide to relieving pain, reducing stress and restoring well-being, by Vidyamala Burch, Amazon, £9.65 CHRONIC pain is a major and growing problem – an estimated 20 per cent of the UK, 12 million people, suffer from pain, and a further 50 per cent of those live with the added anguish of depression. Vidyamala Burch, who suffered two serious spinal injuries that left her in severe chronic pain and with partial paraplegia, developed her Breathworks programme over ten years, largely through trialling it upon herself. The resulting programme, which has helped thousands of people, combines a modern, scientific view of pain with the ancient practices of meditation and mindfulness. Her book and accompanying CD reveal a series of simple practices that take between 10 to 20 minutes and can be easily incorporated into daily life. Prof Mark William, University of Oxford, who writes the book’s forward, said: “This book doesn’t just provide a step-by-step guide to help you through your suffering, it also gives clear and up to date scientific explanations on how this happens, backed up medical research.” www.breathworks-mindfulness.org.uk
Lifting the gloom n Beat Depression Fast by Alexandra Massey, Watkins Publishing, £9.99 IN HER latest book, depression counsellor Alexandra Massey provides an easy to follow ten-step programme which, she says, can help beat it quickly and without medicine. Massey, who has suffered from depression most of her life, refused to take prescription drugs when her symptoms became debilitating. “I was very clear about the root cause of the depression,” she says. “It was very, very low self-esteem. The overriding symptom was deep hopelessness and I had a sense that connecting with others who knew how I felt was what I needed – not drugs.” According to Massey, the first step toward recovery from depression is acceptance. “Depression is like wet sand. The more you push, the harder it gets. By accepting depression, you will find a sense of relief.” The second step is trust. “When we are dealing with the despair and hopelessness of depression, it’s almost impossible to believe that everything is going to turn out okay,” she writes. “For me, real change didn’t happen until I acknowledged that I couldn’t beat depression on my own and that I needed to rely on something bigger TAKE ME HOME! and wiser than myself.”
an exclusive school or club as June turns to July. You could get in a war of words with a teacher or expert in early July. Keeping cool, calm and collected will allow you to retrain your power. A colleague will challenge your methods mid-month. Don’t be surprised if you’re given a promotion or pay raise near the 26th, when the New Moon brings fame and acclaim.
An original presentation gets lots of favourable publicity in early June. You may have to go back on a promise to your family during the first week of the month. Prepare to deal with disappointment. The 9th is the best day of the entire year to negotiate a raise, propose marriage, or go on a job interview. Fulfilling your creative side will become an increasing priority during the second half of July. This will be a good time to find love or rekindle your passion for a faithful lover. Resist the urge to berate your partner for a bad decision at the end of the month. The New Moon on the 28th is ideal for a wild gamble.
SAGITTARIUS November 23rd - December 21st
TAURUS April 21st - May 21st Friendship could turn to romance in the early days of June. The Full Moon on the 13th helps you pay off a long standing debt, which feels liberating. Don’t argue with the experts during the second half of the month. Discussing money matters will become much easier as June eases into July. The second half of July is perfect for buying a new home, moving to a bigger place, or expanding your family. Find an outlet for your physical desires. Your living situation will become much better as the month draws to a close. Your situation will become much better as the month draws to a close.
GEMINI May 22nd - June 21st Working on a creative project proves fulfilling in the opening days of June. Don’t be surprised your efforts bring fame and acclaim. You’ll find an eager audience for your ideas throughout the second half of the month. Take this opportunity to pitch bold proposals. It will be much easier to get your agenda met once July gets underway. The Full Moon on the 12th will force you to come to terms with some difficult relationship issues. The second half of July is perfect for buying a new home, moving to a bigger place, or expanding your family. You’ll get more help from a business or romantic partner after the 20th. You work hard for your income and shouldn’t throw it away on a spendthrift.
CANCER June 22nd - July 23rd Friends in high places can help you find a good job in early June. Trust your instincts when it comes to a career opportunity. A cherished dream could very well come true in the second half of the month; friends have been working overtime to help you. A terrible power struggle will erupt in the opening days of July; stand your ground. There’s no reason you should stay tied with someone who doesn’t appreciate and encourage you. Go ahead and splurge on some nice clothes and salon treatments on or around the 24th.The New Moon on the 26th is perfect for new opportunities.
LEO July 24th - August 23rd You’ll make a favourable impression on an executive in the first days of June; this is a great time to go on job interviews. The Full Moon marks a birth, engagement, wedding, or commitment ceremony. This will be a beautiful occasion to remember for a lifetime. The New Moon on the 27th is ideal for a passionate rendezvous. Power struggles will erupt at work as June turns to July. Take care
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RUSSELL GRANT CALLING . . . not to make any hidden enemies, or life could become very uncomfortable. The Full Moon on the 12th brings an end to a painful work situation. You’ll have a chance to strike out in a more creative direction during the second half of July.
VIRGO August 24th - September 23rd Your expert knowledge enhances your sex appeal in the opening days of June. The Full Moon on the 13th brings a successful conclusion to a family matter. A lover will be especially attentive to your needs as June turns to July. Authority figures will be more attentive in the opening days of July. Use this opportunity to make an important presentation or request. Problems with a difficult colleague will erupt during the third week of the month. Rely on an influential relative or neighbour to get you through this rough patch. The New Moon on the 26th is perfect for going on a spiritual retreat.
LIBRA September 24th - October 23rd You’ll feel a strong romantic attraction for a colleague in early June. The Full Moon on the 13th concludes a contractual obligation, giving you more freedom in your personal life. Developing your creative potential will be fulfilling in the final days of June. It will be much easier to share your expertise once July gets underway. No matter how tremendous your achievements, a jealous relative will not give you the respect you are due. Try not to dwell on it; everyone else knows just how talented you are. The New Moon on the 26th is perfect for hosting a birthday party or pursuing a childhood dream.
SCORPIO October 24th - November 22nd A romantic getaway will be a great idea in the early days of June; if you’re single, you could meet someone special in the opening days of the month. You’ll see exciting results from a health regimen. You could gain admission to
Be extra attentive to your best friend or lover as the month gets underway. The Full Moon on the 13th will showcase your unique talent. This is a great time to display your creative work or compete in a contest. If you’re single, your prospects for finding love are very strong during the third week of June. It will be much easier to have civilised conversations with a loved one starting in July. Opportunities to teach, write and travel will abound after the 16th. The New Moon on the 26th is perfect for applying to school, submitting written work for publication, or scheduling an overseas trip.
CAPRICORN December 22nd - January 20th A tender love letter melts your heart in the opening days of the month. The Full Moon on the 13th brings some hidden information to light, prompting you to spend more quality time with family. Don’t argue with an aggressive authority figure mid-month, even if you are right. A generous friend or lover will pamper you with gifts and affection throughout the second half of June. You could get to the bottom of a nagging health problem in early July. The Full Moon on the 12th will prompt you to defy authority..
AQUARIUS January 21st - February 19th Put your money where your mouth is in early June; a prominent person will be impressed by your generous behaviour. The Full Moon on the 13th brings the successful conclusion to a group project. Resist the urge to tell a pushy expert what you really think of their methods on the 25th. A new job offer will arrive as the month draws to a close. You’ll be able to move forward with fun plans in the beginning of July. You’ll do extremely well on the romantic front during the second half of the month. If you’re not already in a relationship, you soon will be. You’re especially drawn to warm hearted, generous types.
PISCES February 20th - March 20th Your creative powers are at an all time high in early June. This will be a great time to decorate, design and build something of enduring beauty. Communications with family become much easier during the second half of June. This is a good time to broach difficult subjects that have caused arguments in the past. It will be even easier to reason with relatives in the early days of July. An older professional’s praise gives you the energy to keep moving toward your dreams. The Full Moon on the 12th puts pressure on several friendships. The New Moon on the 26th will prompt you to launch a health regimen. This time around, you’ll actually enjoy exercising and eating right.
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SIX PRIZE PACKAGES TO BE WON! BE AMONG the first to grow four totally new house plants by winning this super competition. We are offering SIX £20 prize packages, each containing the four new varieties of streptocarpus – launched this year – plus two beautiful, longer-established kinds. The plants come from Dibleys Nurseries, the leading breeder and grower of streptocarpus and other indoor plants, based at Llanelidan, Ruthin, North Wales, who have won no fewer than 24 gold medals at the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show. Streptocarpus have become one of the
most popular house plants in recent years, flowering for up to 10 months in a wide range of shades and colours. The four new ‘streps’ are: Bella, producing numerous pink-veined blooms; Dee, with two-tone, velvety, violet-blue flowers; Delia, clear white with a delicate blue tracery; and Full Moon, which has large blooms with a snow-white centre surrounded by a deep purple ring. Also in the prize package are Harlequin Sapphire, producing unusual blooms of white with deep violet lower lobes; and Harlequin Ruby, white with deep red lower lobes.
To enter the competition, answer this question: How long can streptocarpus flower? Send your entry with your name and address on a postcard or sealed envelope, stating where you picked up your copy of All Together NOW! and what you think of the paper, to Dibleys Competition, All Together NOW!, The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP, to arrive by Friday May 23, or enter online at www.alltogethernow.org.uk n For the full range of Dibleys Nurseries plants, go to www.dibleys.com
LEFT: A ripped-up tree doomed to die, from The Planter’s Guide of 1827 RIGHT Hovermower bliss – thanks to the hovercraft
Gardening greats
I
DON’T know how I would manage without the wheelbarrow, secateurs, hover-mower and other clever tools. But who invented such invaluable aids?
The answers are in a second-hand book I acquired recently. Gardeners, Gurus and Grubs by George Drower (published by Sutton around 2001 and available online) tells the stories behind those inventions and many more – some 50 innovations and discoveries. Christopher Columbus introduced the wigwam structure still favoured for runner beans, the Roman statesman Cicero devised the trellis and no less an ancient than Pharaoh Ramses III started a craze for containers. Wheelbarrows are one of the oldest inventions, created by Chuko Liang, prime minister, general and military author. When they rolled out of his workshop in western China in 231AD, they were not intended for gardening but to get supplies to the battlefront through the deep mud of the rainy season. In Europe, barrows were popular on medieval building sites but, by 1885, Mrs Beeton’s Book of Garden Management was recommending various versions for gardening. Gardening without secateurs is unthinkable today but, until 180 years ago, British gardeners relied on pruning knives. During the French Revolution, Marquis Bertrand de Moleville fled to Britain in fear of losing his head and later spent years perfecting
his invention for beheading vines and roses. The new tool was quickly taken up in France – secateurs is French for ‘cutters’ – but for many years the British considered the new-fangled gadgets as suitable only for women. Garden makeovers are now commonplace but instant gardening on the grand scale required large, mature trees for the right effect. Capability Brown’s method had been to basically pull trees over, ripping the roots out of the ground, with the result that many died. By the 1830s, William Barron, inventive head gardener to the Earl of Harrington at Elvaston Castle, Derbyshire, realised a tree stood a better chance if its rootball could be kept in place and the roots handled carefully. He devised a trenching technique and designed an extra-strong cart which could raise and lower trees using chains and windlasses. Many gardeners support tall plants on bamboo canes from the east in a design from the west. Conical tents were among the many wonders described by Christopher Columbus when he returned from discovering the Americas. They were named wigwams, a corruption of the native American word wekou-om-ut meaning “in this house.”
The wigwam shape became popular for drying corn and supporting various plants, including hops. Today it is still the best method to support climbing crops such as runner beans. What about the hover-mower revolution? Sir Christopher Cockerell invented the hovercraft, starting with a pet food tin inside a coffee tin, and an adapted vacuum cleaner. Swedish lawnmower technician Karl Dahlman converted the idea to create a mower and his British-based company became Europe’s largest manufacturer of lawnmowers – a success based on the “flying mower” or Flymo. The Gro-Bag, introduced in 1973, has become essential for gardeners with limited space to produce their flowers and produce. It was developed by horticultural scientists at Fisons Fertilisers research station in Levington, Suffolk. The firm had already produced the first successful composts – the Levington range. Now it devised the bag for commercial tomato growers to avoid the build-up of pests and diseases caused by growing the same crop year after year in greenhouses. After a test with flat-dwellers on an East London council estate – which had them growing tomatoes, herbs, flowers and much more on their balconies – the Gro-Bag was launched to consumers. Today there are various branded ‘growing bags’ but the name of the original has found its way into the Oxford English Dictionary.
CHECKLIST GENERAL: Fix your watering priorities so the plants most in need get most irrigation in hot, dry weather – pots and hanging baskets, seed beds, tomatoes, beans and peas developing pods, and newly-planted shrubs. FLOWERS: Trim over aubrieta and yellow Alyssum saxatile with garden shears and give them a generous liquid feed of high-potash fertiliser. Plant autumn flowering bulbs such as colchicum and autumn crocus. PATIO: Spend a few minutes every day dead-heading container flowers. Make sure the compost does not dry out and give a liquid feed once a week. SHRUBS: Early in June, shear lightly over winter/spring heathers now the flowers have died and water generously with a high-potash liquid fertiliser. In July, remove the fading flowers of roses, pruning the stems back to an outward-facing leaf joint to encourage a second flowering in appropriate varieties. To encourage a second flush of bloom, spray the foliage with a liquid feed. Choose one combining a feed with insecticide and/or fungicide if aphids or fungal diseases like blackspot or mildew have been a problem. LAWNS: Raise the mower blades so that grass is not cut too short to withstand hot weather. Use a spotweeder spray to kill individual weeds. PONDS: Reduce blanketweed by removing as much as possible and applying a proprietary treatment. FRUIT: Check gooseberry bushes for mildew. Trim off affected shoots and, if the problem seems serious, spray with a fungicide. Mildew can be cleaned off fruits before cooking or making jam. Also check for gooseberry sawfly – inconspicuous caterpillars which can strip a bush. Hand-pick and spray with an insecticide. VEGETABLES: For a crop of late vegetables, sow quick-maturing varieties and water them thoroughly until well-established. Sow pea Cavalier, lettuce Little Gem, carrot Early Nantes 5, radishes, spinach Sigmaleaf and beetroot Pablo. HERBS: Take cuttings of shrubby herbs such as sage, rosemary, thyme and cotton lavender. Take cuttings under a leaf joint, strip off all but two or three topmost leaves and set them in pots in cutting compost in a shady position. GREENHOUSE: As tomatoes ripen, keep feeding and watering regularly. Pinch out the sideshoots from cordon tomatoes and tie in the main stem as it continues to grow, and pinch out the growing tip once five or six trusses of flowers have set fruit. Cherry tomato types can be allowed to grow taller. WILDLIFE: Clean bird tables and feeders. Scour off decaying food, which can attract disease, then scrub with a mild solution of bleach. Wash thoroughly with clean water, dry off and then put out fresh food. HOUSEPLANTS: Repot if roots are showing through the base holes in the pot or on the compost surface. Replant in a pot at least 2.5cm (1in) wider and deeper.
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BOX OFFICE SENSATION!
June/July 2014
Jun 3-14: Cats. Llandudno Venue Cymru. Hit musical. Jun 5: Finding Joy. Runcorn Brindley (See main article, Page 31). Jun 6: Desperado. St Helens Citadel. Eagles tribute. Jun 7: Stillia. St Helens Citadel. Rock and roll band. Jun 7: Ashton-on-Mersey Showband. Sale Waterside Arts Centre. Popular showband. Jun 7: The Chuckle Brothers in a 2014 Space Oddity. Stoke Regent Theatre. Family show. Jun 7: The Blues Band. Sale Waterside Arts Centre. Featuring exManfred Mann members. Jun 8: The Drifters. Blackpool Grand Theatre. R&B stalwarts. Jun 8: Immortal Chi. Stoke Regent Theatre. Chinese circus. Jun 8: TYO Philharmonic Orchestra. Sale Waterside Arts Centre. Youth orchestra. Jun 9: The Mike Baker Sextet. Sale Waterside Arts Centre. Saxophone band. Jun 9-14: The Two Worlds of Charlie F. Manchester Opera House. Awardwinning play. Jun 9-Jul 12: Love Story. Bolton Octagon. Inspired by the film. Jun 10-14: Sizwe Banzi is Dead. Liverpool Playhouse. Tony-nominated play. Jun 10-14: A Taste of Honey. Salford Lowry. Influential play. Jun 10-14: Annie Get Your Gun. Stoke Regent Theatre. Musical. Jun 11: The Pirates of Penzance. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. Gilbert & Sullivan opera. Jun 11: Blake. Runcorn Brindley. Pop trio. Jun 11-12: Flash Mob. Salford Lowry. Dance extravaganza. Jun 11-14: Last of the Red Hot Lovers. St Helens Theatre Royal. Comedy,. Jun 11-14: Jekyll & Hyde. Preston Charter Theatre. Musical. Jun 12: Iolanthe. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. Classic opera from Gilbert & Sullivan. Jun 12: Meeting Mr Boom! Runcorn Brindley. Live music and dance. Jun 12-14: Even More Fawlty Towers. Clwyd Theatr Cymru. Relive the TV show. Jun 12-19: Minotaur. Clwyd Theatr Cymru. New play. Jun 13: The Swing Commanders. Sale Waterside Arts Centre. Swing band. Jun 13: Killing Roger. Salford Lowry. Play featuring life-sized puppetry. Jun 13-14: The Mikado. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. Opera from Gilbert & Sullivan. Jun 13-14: Penn & Teller. Manchester Palace Theatre. World-renowned illusionists. Jun 13 - Jul 19: Lennon - The Musical. Liverpool Royal Court Theatre. Biographical musical of John Lennon. Jun 13-21: Derren Brown - Infamous. Salford Lowry. Psychological illusionist. Jun 14: The Houghton Weavers. Runcorn Brindley. Folk music. Jun 14: The Watery Journey of Nereus Pike. Salford Lowry. New play by award-winning comedian Laura Mugridge. Jun 14: Le Vent du Nord. Sale Waterside Arts Centre. Folk music from Quebec. Jun 14: The Illegal Eagles. Southport
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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
Floral Hall. Eagles tribute. Jun 15: Billy Pearce. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. Standup comedy. Jun 15: Tony and Mike. Salford Lowry. Family puppet show., Jun 15: Abandoman. Salford Lowry. Comedy hip-hop. Jun 15: Peter Pan. Sale Waterside Arts Centre. Family show. Jun 15: Sooty Show. Stoke Regent Theatre. Family entertainment. Jun 16-21: Entertaining Mr. Sloane. Blackpool Grand Theatre. Awardwinning play. Jun 17-21: The Full Monty. Clwyd Theatr Cymru. Musical. Jun 18: We Say Yeah! Preston Charter Theatre. Tribute to Cliff Richard and the Shadows. Jun 18: Tiernan Douieb. Salford Lowry. Stand-up comedy. Jun 19: The Johnny Cash Roadshow. Southport Floral Hall. Tribute to the Man in Black. Jun 19: Flash Mob. Stoke Regent Theatre. Dance show. Jun 19: Sleeping Beauty. Runcorn Brindley. Dance show.
Jun 19: Blackbird. Salford Lowry. Tale of revenge and intrigue. Jun 19: The Black and White Tour. Runcorn Brindley. Andrew Dee’s clairvoyance show. Jun 19-21: The Ghost Train. Clwyd Theatr Cymru. Comedy thriller. Jun 19-21: Morecambe. Salford Lowry. Award-winning play about the life of comic legend Eric Morecambe. Jun 20: I Wish I Was Lonely. Salford Lowry. Play about modern life. Jun 21: Halfway to Paradise. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. The Billy Fury story. Jun 21: Hamlet. Runcorn Brindley. Shakespeare’s play. Jun 21: The Bread and the Beer. Salford Lowry. One-man show combining ancient myths in a modern world. Jun 21: Joe McElderry. Llandudno Venue Cymru. Winner of ITV’s X-Factor. Jun 21: Derek Acorah. St Helens Theatre Royal. Psychic medium. Jun 21: Comedysportz. Sale Waterside Arts Centre. Improvised comedy.
Promote your shows here . . .
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One cool gran and a show not to forget
A SHOW about the bond between a woman losing her memory and her carer – her own grandson – has been causing a sensation across the UK. Now it’s on its way to the North-West. Vamos Theatre, one of the UK’s major full mask theatre companies, is presenting its acclaimed Finding Joy at The Brindley in Runcorn, Cheshire, on Thursday June 5. Joy is creative, funny, loves to dance . . . and is losing her memory. Her grandson, Danny, is rebellious, fearless, bright, and always getting into trouble. When out of the blue Danny decides to become Joy’s carer, they discover a shared playfulness and a mutual affection. But is that enough to take on the challenges ahead? Finding Joy is about memory, aging, love, and joy!
Jun 21-Jul 12: Dead Dog in a Suitcase. Liverpool Everyman. Musical comedy. AUDIO DESCRIBED: Jul 10. CAPTIONED: Jul 12. Jun 23-24: A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Nightlight. Salford Lowry. A double billing presented by young actors. Jun 24-28: The Vicar of Dibley. Blackpool Grand Theatre. Relive the hit TV comedy. Jun 24-28: Happy Days. Salford Lowry. Based on the TV show. Jun 24-28: The Vicar of Dibley. Runcorn Brindley. Jun 26: The Dreamboys. Manchester Opera House. Male stripper act. Jun 26: Advanced Style. Clwyd Theatr Cymru. Play focused on fashion. Jun 27: Steve Hewlett. Rhyl Pavilion. Ventriloquist. Jun 27-28: World At Your Feet. Preston Charter Theatre. Dance show.
June/July 2014
It is full mask theatre with no words - the story is told through visual physical performance and a vibrant original soundtrack. Finding Joy takes audiences into the 1930s, the 1950s and the present day, and is performed on an intricate set that’s full of surprises. It is suitable for audiences of 12 years and upwards. Other dates: Fri June 6: Rudry Village Hall, Caerphilly Sat June 7: The Borough Theatre, Abergavenny Wed-Thurs June 11/12: The Swan Theatre, Worcester Tickets, £12, £10 The Brindley, 0151 907 8360 n www.thebrindley.org.uk n www.vamostheatre.co.uk
Jun 28: Nigel Kennedy. Southport Floral Hall. Violin virtuoso. Jun 28-29: Peppa Pig’s Big Splash. Manchester Opera House. Kids’ show. Jun 28-29: Lost Boy Racer. Salford Lowry. New drama. Jun 29: Superhero Snail Boy. Salford Lowry. Show for older kids. Jun 29: Mr B Gentleman Rhymer. Salford Lowry. Upper-class hip-hop. Jul 1-5: Avenue Q. Blackpool Grand Theatre. Adult musical. Jul 2-5: Tonight at 8.30. Salford Lowry. Nine one-act plays. Jul 3: American Interior. Clwyd Theatr Cymru. Fascinating play. Jul 3: David Gray. Salford Lowry. Singer-songwriter. Jul 3-4: Icarus. Salford Lowry. Thoughtful new production. Jul 4: Immortal Chi. Manchester Palace Theatre. Chinese circus. Jul 4: Rock Choir - The Choir that Rocks. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. UK’s largest choir.. Until Jul 5: The Lion King. Liverpool Empire. Disney musical. Jul 5: Gotterdammerung. Salford Lowry. Opera.
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The will of God . . ? DISABILITY: the will of God... or just good karma? Award-winning disabled artist Claire Cunningham asks this question and more in her witty exploration of the relationship between faith and disability as part of the Glasgow 2014 Cultural Programme. Using dance, live music, humour and interviews with religious leaders, academics and deaf and disabled people, Claire explores how the major world faiths view deafness and
Jul 5: Emily Brown and the Thing. Sale Waterside Arts Centre. Family show. Jul 8-12: Show Boat. Salford Lowry. American-style family musical. Jul 9-12: Lord of the Flies. Salford Lowry. Adaptation of the William Golding novel. Jul 9-Aug 2: Betty Blue Eyes. Liverpool Playhouse. Smash hit musical. Jul 10: The Drifters. Liverpool Empire. R&B stalwarts. Jul 10: The Only Way is Downton. Runcorn Brindley. Impressionist Luke Kempner. Jul 11: Rhythm of the Dance. Stoke Regent Theatre. Live dance show. Jul 11: Lancashire Hotpots. Salford Lowry. Folk music. Jul 12: The Doors Alive. Salford Lowry. Tribute to Jim Morrison and the Doors. Jul 13: John Smith. Salford Lowry. Deaf stand-up comedian. SIGNED PERFORMANCES WITH SPOKEN INTERPRETATION.. Jul 13: Who’s Been Sitting in my
450,000 readers. Call us NOW! . . .
disability in her new show, Guide Gods. Thu 12 June (preview) - Greater Easterhouse Supporting Hands Fri 13 June - University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel Wed 18 June - Deaf Connections, Gorbals, Glasgow. Thu 19 & Fri 20 June - St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art September: Southbank Centre, London October: Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s n www.clairecunningham.co.uk
Chair? St Helens Citadel. Family fun. Jul 14: Patrick Street. Sale Waterside Arts Centre. Irish supergroup. Jul 14-16: Rising Damp. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. Stage adaptation of ITV comedy . Jul 14-19: Rock of Ages. Stoke Regent Theatre. Smash hit Broadway musical. Jul 15-16: The Gruffalo. Blackpool Grand Theatre. Family show. Jul 16: The Dreamboys. Liverpool Empire. Male stripper act. Jul 17: Rhys Darby. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. Stand-up comedy. Jul 17: Urbanisation. St Helens Citadel. Music showcase. Jul 18: Desperado. Sale Waterside Arts Centre. Tribute to the Eagles. Jul 18: Toploader. St Helens Citadel. Alternative rock. Jul 18-26: Dinosaur Zoo. Manchester Palace Theatre. Learn all about dinosaurs in this interactive show. Jul 19: Larry Miller Band. St Helens Citadel. Guitarist.
Jul 19: The ELO Experience. Liverpool Empire. Tribute to Jeff Lynne and the Eliectric Light Orchestra. Jul 21-23: Avenue Q. St Helens Theatre Royal. Adult musical. Jul 23: Rod Clements. Sale Waterside Arts Centre. Lindisfarne founding member. Jul 23-Sept 20: War Horse. Salford Lowry. Stage adaptation of the Michael Morpurgo novel. Jul 24: The Gruffalo. Preston Charter Theatre. Family show based on Julia Donaldson book. Jul 24: There’ll Always Be An England. Manchester Opera House. Patriotic music and fun. Jul 24-27: Peter Pan. Runcorn Brindley. Family musical. Jul 21-26: Rock of Ages. Liverpool Empire. Smash Broadway hit musical. Jul 24: Rhythm of the Dance. Southport Floral Hall. Dance show. Jul 26: Dancing Queen. New Brighton Floral TAKE ME HOME! Pavilion. ABBA musical.
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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
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2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 13. 14. 15. 18. 19. 22. 23. 24. 27. 28.
Discarding (9) Fit for crop-growing (6) Shellfish (4) Propel (4) Christian festival (6) Fourth (7) Impel (4) Mechanical repetition (4) Lout (3) Rotter (3) Come ashore (4) Chime (4) Citadel (anag.) (7) Distinct area (6) Near (4) Thin outer surface (4) Indicated agreement (6) Put back in order (9)
Hue (6) Think highly of (6) Mollycoddle (6) Body of the church (4) Bigger (7) Adjoin (4) Sincere (9) Treacherous area of land (9) Elderly (4) Spherical (5) S-shaped curve (4) Social worker (7) Act indecisively (6) Bodily fluid (6) Performing (6) Cipher (4) Go on horseback (4)
June/July 2014
The Accumulator Quiz Each question has four possible answers and is worth from one to 15 points. Circle your chosen answers and keep a record of your points total. Maximum total points 120. QUESTION 1 – for 1 point: Who won the 2012 series of Strictly Come Dancing? A Kara Tointon B Louis Smith C Harry Judd D Kimberley Walsh
QUESTION 10 – for 10 points: On which island are the former British colonies of Sarawak and Brunei?
QUESTION 2 – for 2 points: What colour is the stripe on the hoist side of the French national flag, the tricolore? A Blue B White C Green D Red
QUESTION 11 – for 11 points: Which was the first film made by Quentin Tarantino as an independent film-maker?
QUESTION 3 – for 3 points: In which of the James Bond films did Peter Sellers appear? A From Russia With Love B Casino Royale C Octopussy D Diamonds Are Forever
QUESTION 12 – for 12 points: What was the real name of the American author Mark Twain?
QUESTION 4 – for 4 points: Which constellation is also known as the Big Dipper? A The Southern Cross B Orion C Andromeda D The Plough
A B C D
A B C D
Film-maker Quentin Tarantino. See Question 11
QUESTION 7 – for 7 points: Which starchy food is obtained from the root of the cassava plant? A B C D
Tapioca Sago Millet Sorghum
A B C D
Madagascar Papua New Guinea Java Borneo
Inglourious Basterds Reservoir Dogs Jackie Brown Pulp Fiction
James Fennimore Cooper William Wilkie Collins Samuel Langhorne Clemens Herman Melville
QUESTION 13 – for 13 points: Which British wild flower is also known as the wood hyacinth? A B C D
Cowslip Primrose Bluebell Buttercup
QUESTION 5 – for 5 points: What type of creature was Rudyard Kipling’s Rikki-Tikki-Tavi? A Monkey B Otter C Fox D Mongoose
QUESTION 8 – for 8 points: How many triple word squares are there on a Scrabble board?
QUESTION 14 – for 14 points: Which animal is the symbol of the US Republican Party?
A B C D
A B C D
QUESTION 6 – for 6 points: With which of these industries are Auk, Piper and Beryl associated? A Satellite communications B Oil production C Computers D Mining
QUESTION 9 – for 9 points: Which continent is home to the secretary bird?
QUESTION 15 – for 15 points: Which actress’s third and final marriage was to Frank Sinatra?
A B C D
A B C D
SUDOKU
Four Eight Twelve Sixteen
Asia Europe Africa South America
Elephant Bear Donkey Buffalo
Ava Gardner Judy Garland Betty Grable Marilyn Monroe
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
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www.alltogethernow.org.uk
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REACH 450,000 READERS . . .
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.
TAKE ME HOME!
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ADVERTISE HERE 0151 230 0307
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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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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?
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CROSS CODE 24
All Together NOW!
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 []’–
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3 DEF
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5 JKL
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7 PQRS
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9 WXYZ
Spaces and any punctuation marks are represented by 1.
1. Metals 642 535 126 773 716 246 374 861 258 646 486 175 284 686 147 661 465 316 372 879 176 827 748 618 864 783 617 634 861 745 837 154 844 861 846
2. British actresses 366 218 466 776 615 133 624 143 536 164 616 244 431 764 841 721 564 448 539 136 125 868 152 831 946 813 662 192 876 6
Vessels which hold liquids
4. for drinking 287 172 466 637 188 625 371 826 527 312 425 423 123 253 716 841 452 771 462 538 135 275 174 824 371 268 853 158 412 261 227 866 133 226 837
834 773 534 459 753
3. Classic adventure novels 543 627 733 154 641 765 666 671 646 371 843 177 476 637 163 193 632 187 327 873 147 526 316 666 353 381 743 184 318 447 891 646 317 837 7
5. UEFA cup winners 548 377 665 122 937 616 864 241 588 368 871 727 621 468 371 645 261 767 861 778 134 634 683 612 853 842 616 237 431 868 836 426 146 877 87
6. Commonwealth nations 526 242 217 929 452 631 226 232 172 547 826 163 919 325 263 162 529 416 258 217 464 276 731 866 421 768 841 237 422 129 778 712 878 725 42
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 nine fashion designers.
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 12?
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Here is an unusual word with three definitions, only one of which is correct. Can you identify the right definition?
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percussion instrument similar to a
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glockenspiel; 2) A toothless anteater whose body is
2. George Washington becomes the first president of the USA.
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covered with overlapping horny scales;
3. Fletcher Christian leads a mutiny on HMS Bounty against Captain Bligh.
Add the given letter to the first word to make a new word. Clue: Excessive indulgence becomes Gershwin character.
3) A small metal
WAS IT? a) 1769; b) 1779; c) 1789; d) 1799; e) 1809.
____ +P=P____
drinking cup.
ALL THE ANSWERS Pathwords Mary Quant; Calvin Klein; Giorgio Armani; Vivienne Westwood; Ralph Lauren; Jean Paul Gaultier; Christopher Bailey; John Galliano; Christian Lacroix.
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SUDOKU EASY
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Accumulator Quiz 1 – B; 2 – A; 3 – B; 4 – D; 5 – D; 6 – B; 7 – A; 8 – B; 9 – C; 10 – D; 11 – B; 12 – C; 13 – C; 14 – A; 15 – A. Starspot Crossword Across – 1 Scrapping; 9 Arable; 10 Clam; 11 Move; 12 Easter; 13 Quarter; 16 Urge; 17 Rote; 18 Oaf; 20 Cad; 21 Land; 23 Peal; 25 Dialect; 26 Sector; 29 Nigh; 30 Skin; 31 Nodded; 32 Rearrange. Down – 2 Colour; 3 Admire; 4 Pamper; 5 Nave; 6 Greater; 7 Abut; 8 Heartfelt; 13 Quicksand; 14 Aged; 15 Round; 18 Ogee; 19 Almoner; 22 Dither; 23 Plasma; 24 Acting; 27 Code; 28 Ride. Star Name: KEANU REEVES
Word Wizard No 2 is correct. A pangolin is an anteater. Dialling Codes 1. nickel; copper; magnesium; aluminium; platinum; iron; gold; mercury; potassium; tungsten; sodium; silver; lithium; tin. 2. Emma Thompson; Judi Dench; Helen Mirren; Maggie Smith; Keira Knightley; Emily Blunt; Kate Winslet; Emma Watson. 3. Kidnapped; King Solomons Mines; The Prisoner Of Zenda; Treasure Island; Moonfleet; She; The Thirty Nine Steps. 4. cup; schooner; tumbler; tankard; chalice; beaker; mug; glass; goblet; flask; pitcher; bottle; jug; can;
carton; decanter. 5. Liverpool; Bayern Munich; Juventus; Parma; Inter Milan; Porto; PSV Eindhoven; Atlético Madrid; Tottenham Hotspur. 6. Jamaica; Swaziland; Canada; Pakistan; New Zealand; Malawi; Malta; Singapore; Tonga; South Africa; Cyprus; Australia. Spot Check A = 6; B = 1; C = 4; D = 2; E = 3; F = 5. Missing Link sea; table; art; pond; low; edge. Fastener: staple. Make a Date The year was 1789. Transformer Orgy + P = Porgy.
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All Together NOW!
Four US titles for GB tennis stars BRITAIN’S top wheelchair tennis players scooped four titles at the Atlanta Open with Jordanne Whiley returning with the women’s singles and doubles trophies. A year on from winning her first ITF 1 singles title in Atlanta, Jordanne Whiley justified her top seeding as the world No. 6 secured straight sets wins over the USA’s Mackenzie Soldan and her Chilean doubles partner Francisca Mardones to set up a final against former two-time champion Kaitlyn Verfuerth (USA). Whiley went on to beat former world No. 10 Verfuerth 6-2, 6-2. Whiley also clinched her second successive women’s doubles title in Atlanta. After partnering fellow Brit Lucy Shuker to victory in 2013, Whiley paired up with Mardones this year and the top seeds earned a 6-2, 6-3 victory over American second seeds Emmy Kaiser and Marianne Page. Andy Lapthorne beat world No. 1 David Wagner (USA) for the second time this year to take the quad singles title. After finishing runner-up to Wagner in Atlanta in 2013, world No. 3 and second seed Lapthorne produced a stirring comeback to earn a 2-6, 6-3, 7-6(1) victory after a final set tie-break. There was also victory in the men’s doubles for British No. 2 Marc McCarroll and Argentina’s Gustavo Fernandez. McCarroll and Fernandez, the top seeds, sealed a thrilling victory in the final, battling back from a set down to beat second seeds Yoshinobu Fujimoto (Japan) and Maikel Scheffers (The Netherlands) 2-6, 6-2, (10-8) following a deciding championship tie-break. McCarroll bowed out to Scheffers, the eventual champion, in the men’s singles semi-finals.
Go on, try a triathlon TWO triathlons especially tailored for disabled people and their friends are being organised for London and Glasgow. The ‘Tri Together’ events are short distance triathlons for people of all ages and abilities to swim, bike and run together. Last year’s events saw over £92,000 raised, with the money used to support Leonard Cheshire Disability’s work with disabled people across the UK. You can take part individually or in teams, and with all ages catered for it’s a great opportunity for a day of sport with friends, family and work mates. Tri Together London returns for a fourth year to Crystal Palace National Sports Centre on Sunday 31 August. Entry is £40 for adults and £19 for children. Tri Together Glasgow takes place for a second year on Sunday 21 September at Bellahouston Sports Centre. Entry is £37 for adults and £12 for children. Fundraising targets for adults in both events is £150. n Contact 020 3242 0239 or email tritogether@leonardcheshire.org www.leonardcheshire.org/tritogether
GO FOR IT – AND June/July 2014
www.alltogethernow.org.uk
You CAN do that! Life’s for living and having fun
A
FUN sports scheme that’s already getting more than 100 disabled people in Liverpool fitter, healthier, and making new friends, is set to get bigger and better. “Our Active Me programme has been a resounding success – and we now want even more Liverpool residents to get involved,” says Nicky Yates, Inclusive Sports Manager at Liverpool City Council. “The Active Me sessions are all about bringing people together to become more
www.liverpool.gov.uk/lifestyles/find-an-activity/active-me/ BEFORE he started attending Active Me sessions Robert Roscow hadn’t taken part in sport for over 10 years. Robert, 29, pictured left, started attending Active Me sessions at Lifestyles Ellergreen in Norris Green because he wanted to make new friends, get fit and have fun. He says: “The best thing about the Active Me sessions is they’re always lots of fun and there’s always a coach or Activator to help you. “So far I’ve learnt how to play basketball, handball and tennis and I’ve received a bronze award certificate or attending four sessions - I’ll get a silver certificate when I’ve attended ten times! “Since I started attending Active Me sessions I’ve become even more positive about myself and my independence. It’s great having my own membership card for Lifestyles Leisure Centres and travelling to sessions with my friends. I’ve also started thinking about my health more and eating more healthily. “I used to eat fast food three or four times a week but now I just have it as a treat now and again. I would definitely recommend the Active Me programme!”
Stay ahead of the game . . .
active in a fun way, especially adults with a learning disability, or sensory impairment. “The best things about the sessions are they are fun and everyone is really friendly.” Coaches from Everton in the Community help people of all ages and abilities to have fun and bring out skills they didn’t think they had. Basketball, handball, tennis and cricket are among the sports on offer at the city council’s Lifestyles Centres across Liverpool. Nicky added: “We realised that it’s quite hard for lots of people to be active, especially if they have different or additional needs. “People face lots of barriers when they try going to leisure centres or sports clubs and we wanted to change this.” “Participants are also supported by our team of Activators who encourage people to try other activities. “The great thing is that carers and support workers can join in for free. We are also adding new activities such as zumba, cycling, swimming and yoga.. “We’re going to start recruiting participants for our summer programme so book your place NOW!” Sessions cost £2 per person. The three-year Active Me programme has been funded with a £334,000 grant from Sport England. Contributions have also been made by Liverpool Mutual Homes and Your Housing Group.
MAKE FRIENDS www.alltogethernow.org.uk
June/July 2014
‘I feel really positive’ KATRINA DUBBER, 22, wasn’t doing much sport or physical activity before she started attending Active Me sessions at Lifestyles Ellergreen. Katrina, pictured right, started attending Active Me sessions to make new friends and become a bit more active. Katrina says: “I love the Active Me sessions. You can join in no matter how fit - or unfit - you are. “I’ve made lots of new friends and learnt new skills playing different sports such as volleyball, basketball and tennis. “It’s been great getting to know the coaches from Everton in the Community. They’re very helpful and friendly. “I feel really positive about myself and my new hobby. I’m thinking about my health and eating more healthy food such as fruit. I’m also getting support from an Activator who is helping me find other activities I’d like to do. “I’ve now started encouraging other people to take part in the sessions and I hope to become a volunteer in the future. I hope, too, that lots of other people join the Active Me programme to get fit and healthy like me.”
log on to
WIN A 3-MONTH LEISURE PASS! n HERE’s your chance to win a threemonths leisure membership for TWO people at Liverpool Lifestyle Centres, worth £90! n Just call Nicky Yates to register your interest in the Active Me scheme and you will be entered into a draw. n Deadline – June 30. Tel, 0151 233 3880 Nicky.Yates@liverpool .gov.uk
. . . www.alltogethernow.org.uk
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