All Together Now Magazine - Issue 32 _ August 2010

YOUR AWARD-WINNING DISABILITY MAGAZINE THAT’S BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS

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Life back p15 in the fast lane for Sir Stirling

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What’s inside NEWS

August/September 2010

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

NEWS

How you might be entitled to more

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WIN A CHRISTMAS HAMPER

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PROPERTY PAGE

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THE MORGAN FOUNDATION

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MERSEYTRAVEL

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GARDENING

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THEATRE GUIDE

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WHAT’S ON GUIDE

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MOTORZONE

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PUZZLEZONE

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SKILLZONE

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HEALTHZONE

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CAREZONE

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SPORTZONE

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n All

Together NOW! is a registered charity set up to provide a tip top news service for anyone whose life is affected by disability, longterm health condtions or age – and raises awareness about how people can overcome personal challenges. n The charity relies entirely on support from its patrons, advertisers and from general subscriptions and grants. n If YOU or YOUR organisation can help, we’d be delighted to hear from you!

0151 230 0307 Editor: Tom Dowling email: news@alltogethernow.org.uk

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

NEXT EDITION: Monday 4 October 2010 All Together NOW! is published by All Together Now! Ltd, The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP Registered Charity No.1106387 Company No. 5096931 Printed by Trinity Mirror NW2, Oldham

INTERMISSION: From left, Jo Boland, Richard Frame, Tim Stanley, Russell Walker, and Michael Xavier

Stars put on a long-running show!

A TEAM of star performers from West End shows and TV took time out from their schedules to take part in the ASICS British 10K London Run in support of the MS Trust.

Russell Walker, who is currently starring in the hit show Dirty

Dancing, wanted to raise money for the MS Trust as his father, Ray, has been living with MS for 31 years.

Also included in ‘Ray’s West End Runners’ were Tim Stanley (in Mamma Mia), Richard Frame (from the National Theatre),

Michael Xavier (Spamalot) and Jo Boland (Holby City and Being Erica).

More than 120 people ran on behalf of the MS Trust, which hopes to raise £25,000 to support people living in the UK with MS.

Harassment: time to hit back

Benefit review

HAVE you been the victim of harassment because you are disabled, or close to someone who is disabled?

Have you complained about it to a council, school, or the police, and found their response wanting?

Has a bus, train or other transport provider failed to protect you, or a disabled person you know, from abuse?

If so, you can give evidence – easily and directly – to an inquiry set up to hold public bodies to account over their duty to disabled people.

A MAJOR reform of disability living allowance (DLA) is to take place - with tighter eligibility, a new medical test and reassessments for all claimants.

The new medical test would be applied to new and existing DLA claimants from 2013.

The announcement was one of a series of measures designed to deal with what Chancellor George Osborne said was the “staggering” increase of £60 billion in the welfare budget over the last ten years. He said the annual cost of DLA had quadrupled to more than £11 billion.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission is investigating whether public bodies and public transport providers are fulfilling their legal obligations to prevent disabled people from being harassed.

Councils, police forces, schools and other public bodies failing in their duties could face enforcement action.nwww.equalityhumanrig hts.com/disabilityharassmentfi England: Tel: 08456 046 610.

Textphone: 08456 046 620 Wales: Tel: 08456 048 810.

Film star Bill on a flight to fight poverty

FILM and television stars Bill Nighy and Nick Frost got a new fundraising project off to a flying start . . .

British Airways has launched ‘Flying Start’, its new global charity partnership with Comic Relief, which aims to raise up to £8m for vulnerable and disadvantaged children in the UK and around the world.

An aircraft with ‘Flying Start’ emblazoned on its fuselage was unveiled to kick off the fund-raising venture and actors Nighy and Frost flew to Kenya to visit projects that Comic Relief supports.

Nighy, whose roles include Valkyrie, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, said: “Meeting some of the most impoverished and vulnerable children in the world has been a humbling experience. Yet, despite the adversity these children face, optimism and hope is strong.

“Just seeing how Comic Relief has already made a difference has been incredibly inspiring.”

HUMBLED: Bill and Nick and, top, children form one on of the projects they visited

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MORE than three quarters of British adults aged 55 and over are unaware of medical conditions that could entitle them to a higher pension.

Millions of people are potentially missing out on a higher income in their retirement because they are not taking advantage of the higher rates that come with enhanced annuities if they suffer from certain medical conditions, according to research.

Fifty nine per cent of people aged 55 and over claim they have, or have had, a medical condition that could qualify them for an enhanced annuity. But only one in four people (20% of women and 26% of men) are aware that they could get more income, says a survey

by MGM Advantage

Losing out Four fifths of British adults over the age of 55 claim to have had a health check within the past year and 65% claim to have had one within the past six months but it seems people are not sharing their results with their annuity providers.

The retirement income specialist warns that people who don’t mention any underlying health issues could risk losing out financially as enhanced annuities pay out on average 24.09% more for men and 22.69% more for women.

For the first five years of retirement for example, the difference between the amount paid out by an average standard and enhanced annuity is £3,823.50 for a man buying an annuity with £50,000, and £3,407.65 for a woman.

TAKE ME HOME!

Christmas Christmas comes early

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August/September 2010

All Together NOW!

NEWS

All our sponsors renew their support; we’ve a huge hamper to be won — and a very generous reader pays our print costs for TWO editions!

Hello!

A very special round for Tony

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T’S good to be back, and great to pass on more upbeat news about your trailblazing magazine!

Lots of exciting things have happened since our last edition . . .

Despite the economic uncertainty, all our sponsors are continuing their support for the next year. This is fantastic news and will enable us to get even more copies out across the region.

Park Savings Club have also provided a magnificent £517 hamper for another superb Christmas competition (see p5) And there was even more for us to get excited about . . .

THREE separate donations have been sent to us from an extremely generous reader (who wishes to remain anonymous) – enough to cover the print costs of TWO editions!

This really is a tremendous boost to our small, but fast-growing, charity, and is very much appreciated!

We’ve also been out and about, meeting hundreds of readers at the Cheshire Show and at Warrington’s Disability Awareness Day. There have been plenty of phone calls coming our way, too, all singing our praises. Two have come from prison officers in Leeds and Wealstun, both asking for hundreds of copies of All Together NOW! for their libraries.

Keith Pitt, at the Prison and Probation Services in Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “Many libraries within our prisons currently stock publications to cater for the diversity of those we look after, as well as out staff. But we do not have any publication on disability. It would be excellent if we could provide copies of All Together NOW! ” Copies are on the way to you, Keith!

I hope you all like this latest, infopacked edition – and hope you enjoy the rest of the summer. We’re back in October. See you then!

Tom Dowling, editor

LAST November All Together NOW! lost one its most loyal and passionate supporters.

Thomas Anthony Owens (Tony to his friends) was the first person to offer help when efforts were being made to set up the All Together NOW! charity.

He also became one of the charity’s trustees.

Golf was one of Tony’s other obsessions and he was a regular early morning player at Upton by Chester Golf Club – right up until last summer when he was diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour.

He was 61.

Now his wife, Tania, daughter, Alex, and countless numbers of friends are staging what promises to be a fitting memorial golf day for Tony – with proceeds going to Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology.

The Tony Owens Memorial Day takes place on Friday September 3 at the Upton club.

Details: Teams of four – stableford – 3/4 handicap (best two scores to count – all four scores on par 3s).

Gents, ladies or mixed teams. Entry fee, £35 per player (to include twocourse carvery meal) Want to get involved? email Alex at: alex.owens1@gmail.com

Dispensers are a big hit THOUSANDS more copies of All Together NOW! are now being picked up from our Lottery-funded dispenser units, situated in nearly 100 garden centres, hospitals and museums across the North West!

It now means that almost 60,000 copies of every edition are being picked up – that’s 360,000 a year!

The increased readership is also leading to increased

business for our advertisers.

Joan Almond, owner of Irton House Farm, Isel, near Cockermouth, called to tell us how delighted she was with the response to her advertisement: “We’ve had a huge increase in callers who tell us that they have seen our advertisement in All Together NOW! “We are delighted with the response.”

Tom tunes up for Bluecoat gig

DESCRIBED by many top musicians as one of the unsung heroes of the bottleneck lap-style acoustic guitar, Tom Doughty is back on stage at the Bluecoat, Liverpool, on Friday September 3.

It’s a difficult enough instrument to play under any circumstances, but even harder if you are paralysed from the neck with minimal use of your fingers . . .

Tom was just 17 when he suffered horrific injuries in a motorbike accident in 1974, putting a temporary stop to his guitar playing days. But after ten years of frustration he taught himself to play again - using a lap slide guitar.

Since then he has recorded three albums, built himself a terrific international reputation, and is also the proud owner of a huge range of historic guitars.

Last year’s globetrotting included a three-week tour of the west coast of the USA. “It’s been a fantastic period in my life,” says Tom, who lives near Northwich, Cheshire. “All hard work, but thoroughly enjoyable. I just hope that the people who come and see me enjoy my music. I want people to hear and appreciate what I can play – it doesn’t really matter how I actually do it.”

Tickets, £8, £5 concessions.

Bluecoat, tel 0151 702 5324

John joins Aspire TV sports broadcaster John Inverdale has beeen appointed president of the spinal injury charity, Aspire.

John said: “During my involvement with Aspire over the past 10 years, I have seen how far too many people’s lives can be devastated by spinal cord injuries.

“It is the essential and practical support from charities like Aspire that really helps people regain their independence.”

Aspire supports people who have incurred a spinal injury, with a specific focus on helping them regain their independence after being discharged from hospital.

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All Together NOW!

August/September 2010

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

NEWS

New £30m funding pot for young carers A NEW £30 million England-wide funding programme has been launched by the Big Lottery Fund to provide vital support for young carers as well as other vulnerable groups such as young people leaving youth offending institutions and young people leaving care.

The funding will support projects that give these young people a voice and help them to access the advice and services that can support their day-to-day lives.

There are currently 175,000 known young carers across the UK who look after a family member or loved one suffering from physical or mental illness, though it is thought there are thousands more hidden young carers. www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

Just the job A WEBSITE for people living with polio to share their memorabilia and stories has been set up by The British Polio Fellowship.

The charity wants readers to contribute memorabilia and create a lasting anthology of the conditions and difficulties experienced by those who contracted polio when there was no vaccine to prevent it.

Dr John Hooper, chief executive of The British Polio Fellowship, said: “Capturing this information should help us to provide an interesting and enlightening insight into an important part of our social history.” email glenys@britishpolio.org.uk or visit www.heritage-britishpolio.org.uk

Feeling the pinch CHARITIES in the North West saw a 15% drop in donations during the six months to the end of June, according to a new survey.

About 23% of people admitted they donated less money to charity during the six months to the end of June than in the same period in 2009, with only 10% of people saying they increased the amount they gave.

A quarter did not give any money to charity during the first six months, while 48% gave up to £50, according to Investec Bank.

Among those who had reduced their donations, 6% gave nothing, while 5% had more than halved the amount they handed over.

Overall, the group estimates that charities have suffered a 9.6% drop in the donations they received during the first half of the year.

Jack Jones, of Investec Bank, said: “Our findings suggest that, in this age of austerity, charities are suffering from falling donations as people have less money. On top of this, many of the cash accounts targeted at them are paying derisory rates of returns.”

Coalition ‘betrays nation’s carers’

YOUNG INVENTORS: Holly Moggridge (right) and Morgan Coy with EastEnders star David Proud at the awards presentation

Holly has the cool solution to deafness SCHOOLGIRL Holly Moggridge’s bright idea to help young people with hearing problems has won a national competition.

Holly’s brainwave could end feelings of self-consciousness felt by children who use standard hearing aids.

Her winning entry is an IPod hearing aid device which, if taken up commercially, could

overcome worries that conventional hearing aids are easily noticed and look uncool.

“I want to change the style of hearing aids to make them more trendy and cool,” said Holly, who won Ready Willing & Mobile Competition – organised by the Mobility Roadshow.

Holly, from Upminster, Essex, added: “Nearly every young person has an IPod or MP3

player. My specially designed box contains a special circle that picks up sound, which travels up the headphones into the ear.”

Runner-up was Morgan Coy, 11, from Bromley, Kent, with her ‘Crawling Caterpillars’ entry, a fun adventure trail designed to help young disabled wheelchair users enjoy all the activities of a trail, together with their nondisabled friends.

individuals who live in families with disabled members live in income poverty.

“Compare this with the number of individuals living in income poverty in families where no one is disabled: it is just 16%.”

Mrs Miller, who was elected as an MP in Basingstoke in 2005, has campaigned for extending the Blue Badge scheme, improving access for disabled people, and is an ambassador of Deaf Parenting UK. “My new areas of responsibility give me a great opportunity to make sure the people and families who are the most marginalised in our society don’t

feel excluded, and do feel fully supported.

“Meaningful employment represents a significant step towards delivering independent living for disabled people.

“It isn’t good enough that almost 40% of disabled people who are not in work would like to be.

“These people aren’t limited by a lack of aspiration, or will, or talent. These people are limited by a system that isn’t equipped to deal with their needs – a system that puts up barriers, when it should be tearing them down.

“If a society doesn’t properly support its disabled people, it doesn’t just hurt those individuals – it hurts their families. It hurts their communities. And it hurts society itself.”

‘Tear down the barriers now!’

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EW disability minister Maria Miller has called for the barriers to disabled people’s ambitions to be torn down.

In her first ministerial appearance, Ms Miller, right, said: “It can’t be right that in the 21st Century, disability can play such a determining role in limiting people’s life chances.

“Disabled people should have the same choice, control and freedom as any other citizen. But all too often in our country, the opposite is true.

Mrs Miller was speaking at the third annual Independent Living Awards, held at Manchester town hall, and set up by employment and training charity, Breakthrough UK. The minister said: “22% of

Olympics access body scoops award THE OLYMPIC Development Authority scooped a prestigious award for empowering disabled people at Breakthrough UK’s third annual Independent Living Awards 2010.

The public body, which aims to ensure that the 2012 London games will be open to everyone, scooped the ‘accessible public transport’ category when North West-based Breakthrough UK held its

black-tie awards ceremony in Manchester.

Other winners include: Pathway Associates, Accrington, Lancashire; Advanced Housing and Support, Witney, Oxfordshire; GGI Office Furniture, Darwen, Lancashire; Lawn and Leaf, Saffron Walden, Essex; and the Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People. n www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk

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THE nation’s one million unpaid carers – many over 60 – have been abandoned by the coalition government, says a leading pressure group.

During the election campaign, the Liberal Democrats pledged to introduce a week’s break, every year, to unpaid carers providing more than 50 hours of care weekly.

But the government’s new programme does not include any mention of the proposal.

Dot Gibson, the National Pensioners Convention general secretary, said: “It seems the first casualty of this new grown-up politics is the million unpaid carers.

“These are among our most dedicated and yet poorest members of our society, many of whom are pensioners, and the proposal to have a week’s break from their caring role seems to have been dropped.

“If this is the government’s idea of fairness, they need to think again.”

Reward ‘em!

DO YOU know of an employer, organisation or individual deserving of recognition for their work involving disabled people?

The North West Positive Action Awards aim to promote exemplar practice in making life fairer for disabled people.

Nominations will be accepted until Friday August 23.

This year’s awards will be presented on September 30 at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington.

You can nominate online at: www.positiveactionawards. org.uk or call Warrington Disability Partnership on 01925 240064.

TAKE ME HOME!

WIN A HAMPER

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2010

— worth more

than

£517!

All Together NOW!

ENTER NOW! ALL you have to do to stand a chance of winning your dream hamper is answer these two questions: 1) What company operates the UK’s biggest Christmas savings club?

2) What is their web address?

The first correct entry drawn out of the hat on Friday, November 12, will win the hamper.

Send your answers on the back of a postcard – telling us where you picked up your copy of All Together NOW! AND what you think of the publication – to: Park Hamper Competition, All Together NOW!, The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP You can also enter online at

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

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HRISTMAS is coming early AGAIN for All Together NOW! readers.

We’ve teamed up with Park – the UK’s number one for Christmas savings – to give you another chance to win their top of the range Christmas hamper.

The Empire hamper is worth £517.50 – and it could be all yours if you win our super competition.

Last year’s Park Hamper competition was a resounding success so don’t miss your chance to win!

This monster of a hamper contains a

10_19880_ATN.qxd:all together now

huge amount of Christmas food and drink goodies to keep even the biggest family fed over the festive period.

It’s filled with top brand confectionery, desserts, soft drinks, beers, wines, spirits, pasta, soups, vegetables, freezer foods and the finest quality meat.

You even get six crystal wine glasses so you and your loved ones can offer a toast to your finest Christmas dinner ever!

For more than 40 years Park has been providing top quality hampers for hundreds of thousands of customers

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across the country.

Founder and Park Group chairman, Mr Peter Johnson said: “We are delighted to offer All Together NOW! readers another chance to win our top-of-therange Christmas hamper.

“Last year’s competition caused plenty of excitement. We are confident that our new competition will be even more popular with readers.”

Why not save with Park for a debtfree Christmas. Get your FREE catalogue now at www.getpark.co.uk/ATN10

By entering the competition you confirm that you understand and agree that the information you provide will be held on a Park Group database and that it will be shared by all companies within the Park Group. A full list of those companies is available by writing to the Data Controller, Park Group Plc, Valley Road, Birkenhead, CH41 7ED. Park Group plc shall be the data controller for the purposes of the Data Protection Act 1998. The information you provide will be used by Park Group and any necessary third parties to provide you with the goods and services you request. Companies within the Park Group may wish to contact you for customer care purposes or to keep you informed about the latest offers, promotions, prize draws, and competitions, using post, telephone, e-mail, SMS and any other appropriate means, including new technology. If you wish to be contacted via email or SMS, please provide us with your e-mail address and/or your mobile telephone number as appropriate.If you do not wish to be contacted by any member of the Park Group for marketing purposes, please indicate this on your entry.

The perfect gift for every occasion!

G Home of the famous Love2shop Gift Voucher G Over 20 different gift vouchers available G Next day delivery option Accepted in over 20,000 stores in the UK, the Love2shop Gift Voucher is a fantastic gift idea. We also offer other top name vouchers such as Marks & Spencer, John Lewis and Arcadia (Dorothy Perkins & Topshop).

So whatever the occasion, the gift vouchers you need are at highstreetvouchers.com

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All Together NOW!

August/September 2010

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E! E HOM TAKE M

Building for the future

Robots and ‘avatars’ in future homes ROBOTS, internet video-calls and even virtual reality “avatars” are likely to play an increasing role in supporting disabled and older people to live independently, according to a senior government adviser.

Speaking at the Smart Living conference, Professor Brian Collins said the next generation of hand-held navigation aids would allow people to pinpoint their location to about 10 cm, making it easier for blind people to navigate obstacles.

A wheelchair-user’s hand-held electronic device will soon be able to tell a bus to lower its ramp – without needing to ask the driver – while Japanese scientists have developed a robot that can use chopsticks, to help people with arthritis.

Professor Collins even suggested that “avatars” - virtual reality images of people - could soon be providing “social well-being support” in a person’s home.”

Peter Ball, strategic research director for BRE, which carries out research, testing and consultancy on the built environment, also pointed to examples of future use of smart technology, such as wallpaper that could be set to influence a person’s mood, and motion sensors that monitor the movements of someone with a long-term health condition.

Mr Peter Bonfield, chief executive of Building Research Establishment, said: “By 2050 half of us will be of pensionable age in the United Kingdom.

“The homes and communities we build and retrofit today have to meet the needs of our future population.

Our industry must begin to address the ‘smart living’ agenda and embrace the technologies that will keep us all living independently for longer in our own communities.”

The conference came days after the government-funded Technology Strategy Board announced a £10 million funding pot for research that would encourage investment in assisted living services and technology.

Bedroom allowance NEW RULES will allow disabled people who need an extra bedroom for a personal assistant to claim housing benefit for the additional cost.

Chancellor George Osborne announced that the government would, from next April, “cover the cost of an additional room for those claimants with a disability who need a carer”.

Liz Sayce, chief executive of disability charity RADAR, welcomed the decision but warned there was still a “real housing crisis facing disabled people”.

PRIMARY school children were given a special lesson in 3D – explaining how homes are designed for people with disabilities.

Pupils at St Sebastian’s catholic school in Kensignton, Liverpool, were shown how Cosmopolitan Housing Association is hoping to convert a grade II listed building – situated next to the school in on Holly Road – into supported living units for people with learning and GRAND DESIGNS: Pupils with teacher Mrs Hagan and Angela physical disabilities.

Dodson, Cosmopolitan Housing Association (right) The association’s plans have been turned into a computerised 3D “walkthrough” by Caleb Butler, an architecture student at the University of Liverpool, who is gaining experience by working with local based architects BDP and Broadway Malyan Architects.

The former care home has been empty for five years.

Subject to planning permission, the pupils will, from September, be able to watch the building take shape as it is transformed into its new role.

The school’s design workshop, which included a visit to the site, was held as part of the National Housing Federation’s ‘Care and Support Awareness’ month and allowed children to gain an insight into the everyday challenges faced by some URGENT PLEA: Baroness Wilkins disabled people and understand how welldesigned homes can LEADING campaigner executive of the housing and support their for making homes more planning charity, the Town and independence. accessible has called on Country Planning Association, the Government to ensure that said: “The Association strongly Challenges commends Baroness Wilkins for good quality and affordable There was also an drawing attention to not just the housing is a priority. opportunity to learn about Speaking in a House of Lords desperate housing crisis, but the challenges of adapting opportunities to learn. debate, Baroness Rosalie also the need to ensure that we a listed building.

“People living longer are not Wilkins, patron of the Lifetime are designing and building Geoff Redhead, chief just people living into old age but Homes and Neighbourhoods homes that will meet the needs executive of Cosmopolitan more people are surviving a Foundation, said: “It is difficult to of generations to come.

Housing Group, said: “We exaggerate the importance of our traumatic birth, chronic illness or “There is a huge housing are pleased to have had home in the lives of most people. accident which previously would challenge posed by the 10 to 11 the opportunity to involve have killed them to live into It is normally the foundation for million people – including local children in this adulthood. This is to be our personal wellbeing – and for 800,000 children – with exciting new project. celebrated as an outstanding people with impaired mobility I disabilities and our country’s “We aim to not only teach achievement of modern society. think this is all the more true. changing age profile. them about the way “Yet, in surviving, people are “Yet we face a housing crisis of “In 2008, the Government was supported living works but too often faced with ongoing an unprecedented scale and explicit that all new homes built to give them an living requirements that are not urgency. after 2013 should be Lifetime understanding of disabled met by the average house today.

“We need to keep reminding Homes. Importantly, this would people and their needs.”

“The delivery of affordable ourselves of the devastating not just enable more people to If Cosmopolitan gets the homes must be a priority. But we impact which poor housing can live independently, but also go ahead the building will must take care not to rush in our have on people’s lives. Living in reduce personal and public become home to nine desire to cut unit costs now and good quality affordable housing expenditure costs for health and tenants with support so build houses that fail current improves people’s life chances, social care, as well as boost provided by L’Arche and future generations due to means they have better health, it people’s quality of life.”

Liverpool, an international their small size.” removes the scourge of fuel Christian based n www.tcpa.org.uk Kate Henderson, chief poverty and enhances children’s organisation.

Roof justice A decent home for all must be priority

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Poor housing devastates people’s lives

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All Together NOW!

August/September 2010

WINNERS: Steve Morgan, third left, and John Powell, centre, with representatives of last year’s winning entries, the Nessie Club, Runcorn, and Greengrape Solutions, Liverpool

One of these awards could change your life forever

£100,000 up for grabs!

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HARITIES who are coming up with ideas to beat the recession could be in line for a major cash boost.

Launching The Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards 2010, businessman Steve Morgan said: “These awards are very different from most other awards.

“Not only are there substantial cash prizes, but in line with the ethos of the Morgan Foundation, there are also categories aimed specifically at entrepreneurial charities and organisations that make a social or economic contribution to the region.

“With Government cut-backs imminent, such organisations are even more important in their local communities and need all the encouragement they can get.”

More than £100,000 of cash prizes – and a tailored programme of business support – are expected to be competed for by charities, social enterprises, businesses and entrepreneurs from Merseyside, Cheshire, Shropshire, North

The categories . . .

Best New Business – less than 4 years old. Winner, £20,000. Two runners-up, £5,000 Best Entrepreneur or Business Providing Economic or Social Contribution to its Region within the past 3 years. Winner, £12,500.

Two runners-up, £5,000 Best Entrepreneurial Charity or Social Enterprise. Winner, £12,500.

Two runners-up, £5,000

Wales and the Wolverhampton area.

There are five categories, including one specifically for charities and social enterprises in the Liverpool area (sponsored by Liverpool Vision), plus a package of valuable professional services, including free banking advice from the main sponsor Barclays.

Mr Morgan added: “These awards really do make a difference to the organisations and individuals who take part.

“Last year’s winners and runners-up

www.mf-awards.co.uk

Best Entrepreneurial Charity or Social Enterprise in Liverpool (area covered by Liverpool City Council).

Winner, £10,000 Best Young Entrepreneur – under 25 years old. Winner, £10,000. Two runners-up, £2,500 Against All Odds – Person, business, social enterprise or charity overcoming the greatest difficulties to succeed.

Winner, £10,000 have said that winning has helped them in many ways – from a much needed capital injection into their business to improving staff morale.”

John Powell, relationship director at Barclays Corporate, said: “Barclays is proud to support the Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards for the fourth year running.

“We continue to support and lend to viable small-to-medium enterprises during these challenging and unprecedented

economic conditions. In 2009, we supported over 89,000 businesses in starting-up. This is more than in any year since 2003.

“Every single one of them aims to be a positive influence on their local community.

“I hope this year’s entrants and their stories will inspire other budding entrepreneurs to come forward and turn their own business dreams into a reality.”

The awards are free to enter and it’s simple to apply.

A panel of independent business leaders and experts will select the finalists, who will then have the opportunity to present in person at the final judging in October.

Winners and runners-up will be announced at a gala dinner at Carden Park Hotel, Cheshire, on November 11.

Closing date for entries: September 10. n Full details, Jane Harris, The Morgan Foundation Administrator, tel 01829 782800 jane.harris@morganfoundation.co.uk

Tel. 01829 782800

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RTISTS across Merseyside are being offered the chance to showcase their work to thousands of commuters.

This year’s Art on the Network Competition 2010 – which is not restricted to a transport theme – is open to all Merseyside residents aged 16 and over.

Judged by internationally renowned contemporary artists, the Singh Twins, there will be two submissions chosen: the winner will receive a £500 cash prize and the runner-up £250.

Both pieces will go on permanent display, for the benefit of travellers, at locations across Merseytravel’s transport network.

Neil Scales, chief executive and director general of Merseytravel, said: “Our Public Arts Programme has caught the public’s imagination and we had a tremendous response to our first competition last year with the three winning entries now on permanent display at Liverpool Central, Waterloo and Whiston Rail Stations.

“Merseysiders have a reputation for creativity, last year the standard of entries was very

Platformforart

ART ON SHOW: Grand National at South Parkway; Ken Dodd meets Bessie B raddock at Lime Street

high and we are looking forward to seeing the ideas that come forward this year.”

Artists are asked to submit a maximum of two pieces of twodimensional artwork, which can

include painting, pastels, photography or collage.

Artwork must be the original work of the entrant and must not have previously been awarded a prize in any other competition.

Closing date for entries is September 21, with judging taking place in October. The winning entries will be announced in November.

Merseytravel has also

launched a dynamic new website dedicated to Art on the Network, promoting their highly successful Public Art strategy and increasing the awareness of the strategy to a wider audience.

The website contains detailed information and images on commissions and projects, and gives the viewer the opportunity to plan their journey using the on-line Art Map. It also includes the latest news, featured artists, calls for artists and more. n www.artonthenetwork.co.uk

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

We care about the accessibility of our buildings, vehicles and information.

All of our staff are trained to be courteous and considerate, particularly when our customers have special requirements.

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

Among our services and facilities are: UÊÊ Merseylink – a door to door fully accessible transport service for people who are mobility impaired.

UÊÊ ree concessionary travel for over 48,000 people with disabilities.

U Modern, low floor, fully accessible buses, which are developed in partnership with local authorities and bus companies.

UÊÊ Information in a variety of formats, including the Merseytravel Access Guide – containing access details for all bus and rail stations on Merseyside.

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

AD346A

Textphone users can dial 18001 then 0871 200 22 33 for a typetalk assisted call.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2010

All Together NOW!

CHECKLIST

CLASSIC MOPHEADS: Blue and pink hydrangeas

FLOWERS: In August, take cuttings of bedding geraniums (pelargonium) from your best plants.

Select strong, healthy, short-jointed side shoots and cut just below a leaf joint so the cutting is 8cm10cm (3in-4in) long. Remove flower buds and foliage leaving three or four leaves at the top. Insert the cuttings to half their depth into individual 7cm (3in) pots and place them in a light, cool place out of direct sun. Keep the compost barely moist and they will root for planting out next spring.

SHRUBS AND TREES: Prune shrubs that flowered earlier in summer, such as philadelphus (mock orange) and weigela. But don’t prune bushes grown for their berries.

LAWNS: Raise the mower blades in dry weather.

Spread grass clippings on the compost heap in layers up to 15cm (6in) thick. They are rich in nitrogen, which helps break down other composted material.

PONDS: Remove dying blooms and leaves of water lilies and other plants. If allowed to decay, they will use up oxygen needed by fish.

VEGETABLES: Gather GIVE your garden a summer scent with new To enter the competition, answer this courgettes and runner lavender bushes to be won in this competition. question: beans as soon as they are Each of FOUR winners will receive a £25 What are the ‘butterflies’ on top of French big enough – the more you voucher redeemable through the new mail lavender flowers?

Send your entry with your name and address order lavender and herb catalogue just pick, the more they’ll grow. on a postcard or sealed envelope, stating released by Norfolk Lavender, one of Britain’s Sow spring cabbages early where you picked up your copy of leading lavender suppliers. in August.

All Together NOW! to: Lavender Competition, The winners can choose a selection of FRUIT: Control mildew on All Together NOW! The Bradbury Centre, different kinds in shades of blue, pink and the tips of gooseberry bush white, or an identical group to make a beautiful Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP, to arrive by shoots by pruning off the Friday, September 18. low hedge or border edging. affected parts. If cherry or You can also enter online at The range includes Old English, Lavandula plum trees need pruning, do angustifolia, a large bush with wonderfully it now in a dry spell to www.alltogethernow.org.uk fragrant flowers; French, smaller with minimise the risk of silver For the full range of Norfolk Lavender plants, butterfly-like bracts on top of the flowers leaf infection. go to www.norfolk-lavender.co.uk or request (pictured); compact shrubs with purple flowers the new lavender and herb catalogue from HERBS: Take cuttings of Munstead and Hidcote; the dwarf white form shrubby herbs like sage, Norfolk Lavender, Caley Mill, Heacham, King’s Nana Alba, and many more. rosemary and thyme.

Lynn, Norfolk PE31 7JE. Tel. 01485-570384.

GLASS: Water and feed sterile flowers; Blaumeise or a year – but you must be ruthless. tomatoes and other crops Bluetit, with pale blue central And do it in spring when the worst regularly. Plants in growing flowers and dark ones round the frosts have passed. bags or pots may need outside; Lilacina, mauve-pink.

To see them at their best, visit watering twice a day. In All hydrangeas are long-lived, Holehird Garden, Windermere tomatoes, splitting and central group of small, vivid fertile hardy, deciduous shrubs that like (01539 446008), or the Garden blossom-end rot are caused flowers surrounded by larger, rich, moist but well-drained soil, House, Erbistock, Wrexham by irregular watering. sterile blooms of a paler shade. preferably on the acid side but (01978 HOUSEPLANTS: They Among the finest are: Blue certainly not very chalky. They 781149), need extra water even in Wave, normally azure and pale thrive in full sun or partial shade both of late summer but don’t water !

ME HO ME TAKE blue but mauve or pink on alkaline and need shelter from cold, drying which grow until the compost starts to soil; White Wave, pink or blue winds. hundreds of dry out. Feed those that are fertile flowers surrounded by white They require pruning only once varieties. due to flower later in autumn or in winter.

Mopheads are back S

O MANY flowers fade by late summer that the rich, fresh colours of mophead hydrangeas are doubly welcome as they bring a touch of class to the garden, whether in a border, on a shady bank or in a large tub.

The basic species grows to 1.8m (6ft) in height and can span 2.4m (8ft) though most varieties are smaller.

The flowers, in large, rounded heads, are either blue or pink, though the colour, particularly its intensity, can be influenced by soil type – acid for blue, alkaline for pink.

To check whether hydrangeas are likely to retain blue flower colour in your garden, buy a basic soil pH test kit. The reading will show a pH figure, probably between 5.0 and 8.0.

A reading below 6.0 means your soil is acidic and therefore suitable.

Otherwise you’ll need to water regularly with a proprietary blueing agent.

Some of the best varieties are: Altona, with deep pink flowers on a 90cm (3ft) shrub; Hamburg, a big bush with large flower heads of bluish-pink; Blue Bonnet, bright mid-blue blooms; Bouquet Rose, delicate pale pink; Goliath, as large and vigorous as the name implies with soft pink or pale blue flowers.

There are also white varieties, such as Lanarth White, in which the colour is not affected by soil type.

Apart from the mopheads, there are lacecaps, less spectacular but highly elegant.

Each flowerhead is flat with a

HELP . . .

— and so is the lavender hill mob

FOUR SUPER PRIZES TO BE WON!

Disabled and need advice on gardening? Contact national charity THRIVE. Tel. 0118 988 5688. www.thrive.org.uk or www.carryongardening.org.uk

9

10

All Together NOW!

One advert goes a long, long way . . .

August/September 2010

E! E HOM M E K A T

Tel: 0151 230 0307

Mon 27th Sep to Sat 2nd Oct, 7:30pm.

Wed and Sat Matinees, 2:30pm.

0151 666 0000

www.floralpavilion.com

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Your guide to theatreland Aug 7: An Unexpected Musical, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Aug 9 - Aug 14: Spamalot, Empire Theatre, Liverpool. Based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Aug 9 - Aug 14: Calendar Girls, Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

Aug 10 - Aug 14: Oklahoma, Blackpool Grand Theatre.

Aug 10 - Aug 21: Les Miserables, The Lowry, Mancheste Aug 11 - Aug 14: The Wizard of Oz, Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.

Aug 11: Forces Sweethearts, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Aug 12 - Aug 14: Guys and Dolls, Palace Theatre, Manchester.

Aug 12 - Aug 25: Corrie, The Lowry, Manchester. Five decades of Coronation Street.

Aug 13: Mercury (Queen Tribute), Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Aug 14: The Loveliest Night of the Year, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Aug 14: Chris Clayton Elvis Show, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Aug 14: China Crisis, The Citadel, St Helens.

Aug 15: Hazel O’Connor & The Bluja Project, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Aug 15: Ken Dodd’s Happiness Show, Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

Aug 17 - Sep 4: Hairspray, Empire Theatre, Liverpool. Michael Starke and Les Dennis star in the feel-good musical.

Aug 17: Shakin’ All Over, Blackpool Grand Theatre.

Aug 17: Remember When, Palace Theatre, Manchester.

Aug 18 - Aug 19: Black Vegas, Blackpool Grand Theatre.

Aug 19 - Aug 21: Dancing Queen, Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.

Aug 19: The Glenn Miller Orchestra, Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

Aug 21: Reach out to Mowtown, Floral Hall, Southport.

Aug 21: Show Me Chris and Pui, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Aug 21: Sinatra Live at the Sands, Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

Aug 22: Just Joe - Joe Pasquale’s Summer Tour, Blackpool Grand Theatre.

Aug 22: That’ll Be The Day, Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

Aug 23 - Aug 24: Guess How Much I Love You, Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

Aug 24 - Aug 25: Peppa Pig’s Party, Theatre Royal, St Helens.

Aug 24: Houghton Weavers, Floral Hall, Southport.

Aug 24: Snow White, Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl. Summer pantomime Aug 25: Forever In Blue Jeans, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Aug 25: Paul Carrack and Band, Palace Theatre, Manchester.

Aug 25: Ollie Wiva Twist, The Lowry, Manchester.

Aug 26: Shakin’ All Over, Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

Aug 26: Danger Mouse, Regent Theatre, Stoke.

BOX OFFICE NUMBERS BLACKPOOL Grand Theatre: 01253 290190 BOLTON Octagon: 01204 520661 LLANDUDNO Venue Cymru: 01492 872000 MOLD: Theatr Clwyd: 0845 3303565 CREWE: Lyceum: 01270 537333 STOKE: Regent Theatre: 0844 871 7627 MANCHESTER: Library Theatre: The Lowry: 0843 208 6000 Opera House: 0870 401 9000 Palace Theatre: 0870 401 3000 LIVERPOOL: Empire: 08444 999 999 Everyman & Playhouse: 0151 709 4776

Royal Court: 0870 787 1866 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 SOUTHPORT: Floral Hall: 0844 847 2380 ST HELENS: Theatre Royal: 01744 756000 Citadel: 01744 735436 WOLVERHAMPTON Grand Theatre: 01902 429212

A night Aug 27 - Aug 28: Parade, The Lowry, Manchester. Dark, ambitious and thrilling musical.

Aug 27 - Aug 30: Faenol Festival, Venue Cymru, Llandudno. Westlife, Opera Gala, Tan Y Ddraig, Battle of Britain, Al Murray.

Aug 27: Buddy Greco’s Swinging Las Vegas Show, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Aug 27: The Bon Jovi Experience, Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.

Aug 28: The Voice of Roy Orbison, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Aug 28: Bootleg 60s, Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.

Aug 29: Postman Pat, Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

Aug 30 - Aug 31: The Signalman and Moving on, The Lowry, Manchester. Two original thirty minute musicals.

Aug 30 - Sep 1: Cirkus Cirkör’s Inside Out, The Lowry, Manchester.

A wildly eccentric circus show to steal your heart.

Aug 30 - Sep 4: Blood Brothers, Venue Cymru, Llandudno. Dramatic musical set in Liverpool.

Aug 30: Postman Pat, Floral Hall, Southport.

Aug 31: Uncle David, The Lowry, Manchester.

Sep 1: An Evening with Peter Alliss, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Sep 2 - Sep 11: Don’t Stop Believin’, Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

Sep 2: Peter Grant in Concert, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Sep 2: Busting Out, The Lowry, Manchester.

Sep 3 - Sep 4: Rhod Gilbert, The Lowry, Manchester.

Sep 3 - Sep 4: Julian Clary - Lord of the Mince, The Lowry, Manchester.

Sep 3 - Sep 4: Love and other Magic Tricks, The Lowry, Manchester.

Sep 3: The Texas Tenors, Guild Hall, Preston.

Sep 3: Off The Wall - The Music of Pink Floyd, Theatre Royal, St Helens.

Sep 4: The Beatles - A Musical Celebration, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Sep 4: Dreamboys, Theatre Royal, St Helens.

Sep 5: James Last Tribute Concert, Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.

Sep 6 - Sep 18: Evita, The Lowry, Manchester. Bringing to story of Eva Peron to the stage.

Sep 6 - Sep 19: Faulty Towers - The Dining Experience, The Lowry, Manchester.

Sep 7 - Sep 8: Joel Hall Dance Company, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Sep 7 - Sep 11: The Odd Couple, The Brindley, Runcorn. Highly popular comedy.

Sep 7 - Sep 11: Teechers, The Lowry, Manchester. Back to the classroom of a typical British school.

Advertise with us – 0151 230 0307 . . .

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together NOW!

August/September 2010

in the great North West FREE TOURS!

THERE’S a chance to go backstage at Liverpool’s famous Everyman theatre.

Each tour will be followed by a short presentation of plans for the theatre’s future.

The proposals include a 400-seat auditorium, community, rehearsal and office spaces and a pavement café, theatre bar and basement bistro. The work is scheduled to be finished in 2013.

The review panel of CABE, the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment, has said of the plans: “We welcome the sensitivity demonstrated in maintaining the character and spirit of the much-loved Everyman façade, auditorium and bistro in the new building, while making significant technical improvements.

“This difficult balance has been achieved with ease and grace . . . this building promises to make Liverpool proud.”

ScreenTest

with DAN SANDERS SPOTLIGHT ON: PSYCHO

PLACES are free but limited to 15 people per tour and can be booked via the Everyman and Playhouse box office on 0151 709 4776 or www.everymanplayhouse.com Fri Aug 6: Drop in - 1pm-5pm. Tours, followed by short presentation at 1pm and 4pm Fri Aug 13: Drop in - 1pm-5pm. Tours, followed by short presentation at 2pm and

3pm Fri Aug 20: Drop in - 1pm-5pm. Tours, followed by short presentation at 1pm and 4pm Fri Aug 27: Drop in - 1pm-5pm. Tours, followed by short presentation at 2pm and 3pm Fri Sep 3: Drop in - 1pm-5pm. Tours, followed by short presentation at 1pm and 4pm

to remember Sep 7 - Sep 18: Brick Up: The Wirral Strikes Back, Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Sep 8 - Sep 11: The Graduate, Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight.

Sep 8: An Evening With Ricky Hatton, Guild Hall, Preston.

Sep 8: Off The Wall - The Music of Pink Floyd, Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

Sep 9: Kit Holmes Trio, The Brindley, Runcorn.

Sep 9: Joe Longthorne, Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

Sep 10 - Sep 11: Jason Manford, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Sep 11: Tony Christie, Octagon Theatre, Bolton.

Sep 12 - Sep 12: One Man Lord Of The Rings, Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

Sep 12: Tony Christie, Charter Theatre, Preston.

Sep 12: The Little Big Club, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Sep 12: Billy & Wally and The Bradshaws, Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight.

Sep 12: Variety Night, The Brindley, Runcorn.

Sep 12: Danny Bhoy, The Lowry, Manchester.

Sep 13 - Sep 18: Up ‘n’ Under, Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

Award-winning comedy starring Abi Titmuss.

Sep 13 - Sep 18: Dreamboats

and Petticoats, Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl. 60s feel-good musical.

Sep 13 - Sep 18: Blues Brothers, Regent Theatre, Stoke.

Sep 13: Extravaganza on Ice, The Brindley, Runcorn.

Sep 14 - Sep 18: The Silver Tassie, The Lowry, Manchester.

Thrilling wartime spectacle.

Sep 14: Ga Ga, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Sep 14: Dennis Loccoriere & Band, The Brindley, Runcorn.

Sep 15 - Sep 16: Phoenix Dance Theatre: Declarations, Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Sep 15: Remember When, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Sep 15: Halfway to Paradise The Billy Fury Story, The Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.

Sep 16 - Sep 18: Territory, The Lowry, Manchester. Touching and humourous reminder of what it is to be young.

Sep 16 - Oct 9: A Streetcar Named Desire, Octagon Theatre, Bolton.

Sep 16 - Oct 30: Tis a Pity She’s a Whore, Everyman Theatre, Liverpool. One of the most shocking and powerful stories ever.

Sep 16: Masters Of The House, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Sep 16: Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen, The Brindley, Runcorn.

Sep 17: The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists, The Brindley, Runcorn. Pre-wartime classic.

Sep 18: Last Night At The Proms, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Sep 18: Vision of Elvis, Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight.

Sep 19: Celebration, The Brindley, Runcorn.

Sep 20 - Sep 25: Love’s A Luxury, Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

Sep 20 - Sep 25: The Rocky Horror Show, Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

Sep 21 - Sep 25: The Ghost and Mrs Muir, Charter Theatre, Preston. Romantic thriller.

Sep 21 - Sep 25: The Game, Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool.

Sep 21: Verdi’s Falstaff, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Sep 22 - Sep 24: Rambert Dance Company, The Lowry, Manchester.

Sep 23 - Oct 3: The Play That Killed Me, The Lowry.. A story of two entertainers during wartime.

Sep 23 Oct 9: Arcadia, The Library Theatre, Manchester.

Comic literary detective story.

Sep 23: Tango Pasion, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Sep 23: Billy & Wally and The Bradshaws, The Brindley, Runcorn.

Sep 24: The Johnny Cash Story, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Sep 24: Autumn Celebrity Concert, The Brindley, Runcorn.

Sep 24: Joe Longthorne, Theatre Royal, St Helens.

Sep 25: Buddy Holly’s Tribute Show, The Brindley, Runcorn.

Sep 26 - Nov 7: Ken Dodd and his Happiness Show, Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

Sep 27 - Oct 2: Dreamboats and Petticoats, Charter Theatre, Preston.

Sep 27 - Oct 2: Calendar Girls, Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Sep 27 - Oct 2: Annie, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Sep 27 - Oct 2: Lark Rise to Candleford, Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

Sep 27 - Oct 9: Our Day Out, Royal Court, Liverpool.

Sep 28: The Blues Band, The Brindley, Runcorn.

Sep 29: Vampires Rock, Floral Hall, Southport.

Sep 29: Kevin Bridges, The Brindley, Runcorn.

Sep 30 - Oct 23: Dancing at Lughnasa Theatr Clwyd, Mold.

250,000 readers across the North West

TAKE ME HOME!

WELCOME to ScreenTest - my first column in All Together Now! Over the next year I will be focusing on some of the major blockbusters – and some of the famous personalities of the silver screen – and testing YOUR knowledge.

I’m kicking off with Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock’s horror masterpiece.

Watching this for the first time a few weeks ago (by the way, I’ve just had my 18th birthday) I can see why audiences were terrified when it was released in 1960.

Shot entirely in black and white added to its feel, giving it an edge rarely matched nowadays.

Overall, I’d give this film 8.5 out of 10.

If you haven’t seen it yet, put it on your to-do list.

If you have seen it, watch it again!

Now here are some questions to see how much you actually took in from the film – assuming, of course, that your nerves didn’t get the better of you!

All answers, apart from the last one, are printed on Page 20.

If you know the answer to Q13 send it to me on a postcard. I will send a DVD of the film to the first correct entry drawn out of a hat on Friday September 23.

You can also email your answer to: competition@alltogethernow.org.uk 1. What was the name of Janet Leigh’s character?

2. How much money did she steal?

3. Who played Norman Bates?

4. What was Norman’s hobby?

5. In which scene does Hitchcock make his trademark appearance?

6. Which of his family members also appears in this scene?

7. Who said: “We all go a little mad sometimes”?

8. Who wrote the book on which the film was based?

9. How many rooms were there at the Bates Motel?

10. What month was the film set in?

11. What room does Norman allocate to Sam and Lila?

12. What weapon did Norman use?

13. Between which two towns was Janet Leigh’s character travelling?

Answers: Page 20

11

12

All Together NOW!

Travel insurance: Are YOU covered . . ?

HUNDREDS of thousands of British holidaymakers are jeopardising their insurance by failing to tell insurers of their medical conditions, according to research.

Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance found that over half a million Britons travelled abroad last year with a longterm medical complaint but did not inform their insurer, potentially invalidating any claim they may have needed to make.

Many travel insurance policies offer customers the opportunity to cover most medical conditions. But despite this, about 245,000 holiday makers failed to inform their insurer despite suffering from severe back pain, 110,000 people travelled abroad last year with a respiratory condition without informing their insurer, and a staggering 50,000 people are also estimated to have gone on holiday abroad whilst keeping their insurer in the dark about their heart condition.

An estimated 340,000 people, equivalent to 8% of those who travelled abroad with a medical condition in the last 12 months, did so with no travel insurance whatsoever.

Country walks A NEW Walks for All brochure is available detailing accessible pathways in West Cheshire.

Woodland paths, lakeside strolls and great views are on offer in the selection of walks at various locations including Anderton Nature Park, Delamere Forest Park, Marbury County Park and Stanney Woods local nature reserve.

The 10 routes have no steps or stiles along the way, and they are accessible to those with pushchairs, wheelchairs and mobility scooters.

One of the routes follows the Chester Millennium Greenway, covering a stretch from Lime Wood Fields to picturesque Northgate Ponds.

Teenage wheelchair user Chelsea Kennedy, of Chester, said: “The route along the Greenway is really good - the surface is tarmac and there are no gradients. All the walks in the brochure are a real boost for people with mobility problems.”

The majority of the walks in the brochure, produced by Cheshire West and Chester Greenspace officers, are circular and the gradients are no more than 1:10. Most feature picnic areas, or are close to pubs, supermarkets and toilets.

For your brochure call 01606 288543

August/September 2010

Aug 9-Aug 29: Summer at the Farm, Tatton Park, Cheshire. Donkey grooming, make a scarecrow, farmyard collage and a fun quiz. Meet newly-born chicks and ducklings. Entry fees apply. Tel, 01625 374435 Aug 9-Aug 30: Roman Festival, Senhouse Roman Museum, Maryport, Cumbria. Festival to celebrate the Roman occupation of Britain and especially the Western end of Hadrian’s Wall.

Aug 9-Aug 31: Ingenious Egyptians, Ironbridge Museum, Coalbrookdale.

Sailing boats, glass, paper, honey and the 365-day calendar were all things discovered by the Egyptians. Learn even more amazing facts about them at Ironbridge museum in Coalbrookdale.

Aug 9-Sept 5: Summer Holiday Fun, Stapeley Water Gardens, Cheshire. Meet the Keeper sessions every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 1pm until 3pm. Feeding Time Talks every Sunday (various times).

Aug 9-Sept 15: Rhino Mania! Find up to 70 stunning rhinos decorated by artists and community groups around the streets of Chester.

Aug 9-Sept 25: Tatton Park Biennial: ‘Framing Identity’, a showcase of contemporary art. Entry fees apply. Tel, 01625 374435.

Aug 10, 24: Mad Hatter’s Tea Party, Rheged Centre, near Penrith. Story time, wacky activities, arts, crafts and a fabulous tea party. £6.50 per accompanied child includes lunch. Tel. 01768 868 000.

Aug 11, 18, 25: Wednesday Afternoon Summer Fun at Gawthorpe Hall, Lancashire. Range of activities from paper making to minibeast hunting. Charges applied per activity, children must be accompanied. Tel. 01282 771 004 Aug 14: Ruthin Flower & Country Show, Parc Glasdir, Ruthin. Shire horses, Ruthin Young Farmers competitions, a tractor section, shoot for goal, floral art demonstrations and trade and charity stalls. Café and live entertainment.

Aug 14: Farmer’s Market, Bridgemere Garden Centre, Cheshire. More than 20 of the finest producers from across the North West selling wares to thrill your taste buds.

Aug 14-15: Detective Weekend at Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge Gorge Museum, near Telford. Budding amateur sleuths and would-be private detectives have the chance to help Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson solve a mysterious crime.

Admission prices apply. Te., 01952 884391 Aug 15: Wirral Flower and Vegetable Show, Birkenhead Park (1pm-4pm).

Aug 15: Viking Sunday at the Old Hall, Tatton Park. Join in the battle, try on armour and experience domestic life as a Viking. Entry fees apply. Tel. 01625 374435 Aug 17: Summer fun at Brockhole, Cumbria.

Aug 17: Fun in TAKE ME HOME! the Park, Peel Park, Little Hulton, Greater

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

ON YOUR BIKES! IT’S TIME to get on that bike and start having fun!

And if you need a trike that can be controlled with your arms rather than your feet, don’t worry – there are plenty of adapted cycling centres around the North West (tel. 01925 234213).

Every Wednesday (10am-1pm), starting Aug 11, and every Saturday (1pm-3pm), from Aug 14: Wythenshawe Wheelers are staging specially adapted cycling events for disabled people and their friends and family at Wythenshawe Park, Manchester.

Ghosthunting Sept 4/5: Spooky Happenings at Whittington Castle, Shropshire. Investigate the unknown in one of the UK’s spookiest and most haunted castles. People have reported seeing a dark figure of a man standing behind them and when they turn around the figure slowly disappears. Not for the faint hearted!

Tel. 01691 662397.

WHAT’S HOT Manchester. Free afternoon of fun activities.

Aug 18: A Trip to Silver Bay, starting at Patterdale Hotel, Glenridding. Boots essential, walking equipment required.

Suitable for people with hearing impairments. Tel. 01539 724555 Aug 18: Fell Foot Flora Family Activity Day, Fell Foot, Windermere. 10.30am to 3.30pm. National Trust parking charge apply.

Aug 19: Sandcastle/Sandsculpture contest, Imperial Hotel, Llandudno. Small entry, proceeds going to Ty Gobaith children’s hospice, Conwy, and St David’s Hospice, Llandudno. Tel. 01492 877466 Aug 20: The Lancashire Witches, Lancaster Castle. Chris Goodier gives an in-depth look at the background to the story of the Lancashire Witches - all on the 398th anniversary of the executions.

Starts at 7pm. Adults £2.50, Concessions £1.50. Tel, 01524 64998 Aug 20: G-Factor, Heat One; G-Casino, Bury New Road, Manchester. Have you got the G-Factor? G-Casino Talent Contest. Tel, 0161 831 6370 Aug 21: Have a Go at Archery, Lake District Visitor Centre, Brockhole.. Get to grips with the techniques involved in using a bow and arrow. Ages 8+, £3.

Aug 21: Congleton Craft and Gift fair, Masonic Hall, Mill Street, Congleton (10am-4pm) Aug 21-22: Party in the Park, Severn Park, Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Stalls, funfair, live music and an interactive falconry display and a performance and meet & greet with CBeebies Star Justin Fletcher. Also Live music on three stages all weekend! Adults £3, children £1.

Aug 22: West Park Family Fun Day, West Park, Macclesfield. Non-stop entertainment in three arenas, side shows, fun fair and trade stands all with FREE admission.

Aug 23: Walk With a Hawk. Lake District Visitor Centre, Brockhole. Take a walk around the grounds with a hawk accompanying you. Suitable for people with limited mobility.

Aug 23, 24, 26: Accrington Market Treasure Hunt, Accrington Market Hall. A fun treasure hunt for all the family around Accrington’s famous Victorian market, with a tasty prize for the winner.

Aug 27-30: Bolton Food and Drink Festival, Victoria Square, Bolton.

Aug 28-30: Medieval Weekend with Knights of the Damned Joust, Hawkstone Park Folies, Shrewsbury. All things medieval including jousting on the 30th.

Tell 250,000 readers about your event

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Swamp time!

STAND by to man the boats at Martin Mere wetland reserve.

Visitors to the reserve, near Burscough, Lancashire, will soon be able to explore the ‘swamps’ in a Canadian style canoe.

It’s the latest exciting new attraction planned to open next year - and there will be full access for people with mobility problems.

The channels are now being dug out and landscaping is planned for the autumn.

Centre manager Andy Wooldridge said: “It is always exciting to create and develop wetland habitat and this is a unique opportunity for our members and visitors to experience wetland wildlife.

“This will be a unique attraction in the North West and I am really looking forward to jumping in a canoe and exploring next year.”

The wetland creation project will provide nesting habitat for Reed Bunting and Water Vole and other important species of conservation concern such as Bearded Tit, Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler.

THIS SUMMER n Martin Mere is open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm.

Situated off the A59, it is signposted from the M61, M58 and M6.

www.wwt.org.uk/martinmere

Aug 29: Craft Fayre, St. Leonard’s Church, Bridgnorth.

Around 40 stalls to browse.

Aug 29-30: Madoc’s Rebellion, Denbigh Castle. Step back in time to 1294 at Denbigh Castle.

Admission prices apply. Tel. 01745 813385.

Aug 29-30: Freemen of Gwent, Beaumaris Castle. A look back at the soldiers of Gwent. Admission prices apply. Tel. 01248 810361 Aug 29-30: Wirral Food and Drink Festival, Claremont Farm, near Bebington. Sample the delights of authentic food and drink from Wirral-based producers and retailers.

Aug 30: Country Fayre and Farm Day at Heaton House Farm, near Macclesfield. Entry fees.

Aug 30: Worldwide Gravy Wrestling Championships. Rose ‘n’ Bowl, Newchurch Road, Stacksteads, Rossendale.

Fantastic family day out. Officially named ‘Britain’s Best Silly Event 2009’. Tel, 01706 879 555 Aug 30: House of the Blackstar, Whittington Castle, Oswestry.

All Together NOW!

August/September 2010

Medieval re-enactors’ encampment with have-a-go archery. £1 for archery, free admission, car parking charges apply.

Sept 1-Sept 30: European Heritage Days, Conwy. Historic Churches, buildings and sites throughout Conwy County open their doors - a great opportunity to discover local history and heritage. Tel. 01492 575571 Sept 1: Wheelchair Users’ Countryside Walks, Dinorwig, Llanberis. Meet SNP car park Nant Peris. The track is rough with one short but steep uphill section.

Some help available. Booking essential. Tel, 01286 872555.

Sept 3: G-Factor, Heat Two. GCasino, Bury New Road, Manchester. Have you got the GFactor? G-Casino Talent competition. Tel, 0161 831 6370 Sept 9-12: Heritage and Landscape Walks in Birkenhead Park. Find out about the amazing history of the first public park and the role of Joseph Paxton in its design. Book in advance - Tel,

0151 652 5197.

Sept 10-12: Ellesmere Festival.

Traditional village fete set on the banks of the Shropshire canal.

Sept 11-12: Yesteryear Rally, Malpas, Cheshire. Old fairground, farm machinery and organs.

Sept 11: Wheelchair Users’ Countryside Walks, Holyhead Breakwater Park. Booking essential. Tel. 01248752139.

Sept 11: Made in Shropshire Fair in the Square. Sample a mix of products by ‘Made in Shropshire’ artists, designermakers and food producers.

Sept 12: Walk through History, Platt Hall Costume Gallery, Platt Fields Park, Manchester. Booking essential. Tel. 0161 248 9331 Sept 19: Port Sunlight Founders’ Day, Wirral. Celebrate the creation of Port Sunlight with a display of vintage cars.

Sept 25: Bidston Village Heritage Day, Wirral. Family entertainment, featuring Taiko TAKE ME HOME! Drummers.

— call us now: 0151 230 0307

One advert goes a long, long way . . .

13

E! E HOM M E K TA

Tel: 0151 230 0307 IRTON HOUSE FARM

‘We’ve had a huge increase in callers who tell us that they have seen our advert in All Together NOW! We are delighted with the response’

Holiday Breaks in the Lakes near Keswick Self catering apartments for 2-6 people.

Specially designed with the wheelchair in mind. No steps. Beautiful views in a superb location. Friendly owners in residence. Open all year.

For a colour brochure

Tel: 01768 776380 www.disabled-holiday.net email: joan@irtonhousefarm.co.uk

— Mrs Joan Almond, Irton House Farm

Book now!

ACCESSIBLE HOLIDAYS 3GREATCHOICES!

HOTEL Blackpool

Specialist holidays for carers & service users

120, Bond Street, Blackpool, FY4 1HG

EASY ACCESS FOR WHEELCHAIRS CAR PARK EN-SUITE ROOMS ADJOINING ROOMS ELECTRIC HOISTS OVERHEAD TRACKING HOIST ELECTRIC BEDS COT SIDES COMMODES MODERN SPACIOUS BAR & RESTAURANT SPECIAL DIETS CATERED FOR HYDROTHERAPY POOL CONFERENCE FACILITIES LIVE CABARET SHOW EVERY NIGHT PICK-UP AND RETURN SERVICE

PARTY at the Bond Hotel Blackpool, where the great fun atmosphere is a very popular choice for many of our guests. The hotel has 65 bedrooms, most of which are wheelchair-accessible, and all the extra facilities that you might require during your stay. With great food, and nightly entertainment, this hotel offers the perfect Blackpool holiday!

HOTEL St. Annes

The Beach, 69-71 South Promenade, St Annes on Sea, FY8 1LZ

RELAX in our sophisticated new hotel in St Annes.

Recently refurbished to the highest possible standard, this stylish 26-room hotel overlooks the sea, and offers a choice of luxurious wheelchair-accessible accommodation - from single rooms up to 3-room suites. The new Bond Hotel, St Annes is the ideal venue for those looking for the chance to unwind in style.

ENJOY our de-luxe holiday homes at scenic Marton Mere. If you would prefer a self-catering break, these superbly appointed holiday homes could be just the thing. They sleep up to six, have central heating and all mod cons, are fully accessible, and overlook the beautiful lake and wildlife area at this popular resort.

HOLIDAY HOMES

Marton Mere Holiday Village

LUXURY travel wherever you choose to stay, you will have access to Bond Accessible Coaches Ltd who will pick you up and take you home at very reasonable prices So come and explore a whole world of special holidays for very special guests. Whether it's a week with the stars of “Coronation Street or Emmerdale”, a break on a nature reserve, or a luxury room with a great sea view, we can provide it - and at a great price too!

www.bondhotel.co.uk

sales@bondhotel.co.uk

Booking hotline 01253 341218

Everest – the

All Together NOW!

14

DRUM ROLL: Young musicians from Warrington’s Bruche primary school and the Batala Liverpool Community Samba band helped keep the crowds entertained

Best ever DAD . . .

MORE than 28,000 visitors from right across the North West – and beyond – turned up for the 19th annual Disability Awareness Day at a sun drenched Walton Hall Gardens, Warrington.

“It was the best yet,” said Dave Thompson, chair of Warrington Disability Partnership, who organise the event.

“There were also more than 5,000 people who took part in our twelve complimentary events held during the week prior to the big day.”

The main event also attracted more than 280 exhibitors.

“We were really delighted with the response we had from whole programme,” said Dave. “We have a brilliant team of volunteers, of all ages and all abilities. The success is all very much down to them.”

The team is now working on next year’s programme – the 20th anniversary.

“We’re already asking ourselves how we can better this year’s events,” said Dave. “It’s going to be a real challenge, but we’ve some pretty good ideas!”

Pencil in next year’s DAD . . . Sunday July 10

August/September 2010

Insulin pump hel battling Laura to conquer her fears D

IABETIC Laura Brown overcame mountain sickness and altituderelated jumps in blood sugar levels to achieve her greatest goal.

Laura, 26, who has had Type 1 diabetes since she was nine, reached Everest Base Camp during two weeks in the Himalayas, averaging 10km a day, at altitudes of up to 17,000 feet.

“I decided if I could reach base camp, I would never let my diabetes stop me from achieving anything again,” said a jubilant Laura.

As a teenager she struggled to keep her condition under control but now finds it easier - thanks to an insulin pump which delivers fast-acting insulin into her body as and when she needs it.

“Through my teens and into adulthood my blood glucose levels were always changing so it was difficult to know how much insulin I needed to inject,” said Laura.

Life-saving

Wirral Voluntary Group ission Free Adnm ble ts Availa e Refreshm

The charity for people with diabetes.

Awareness Day Saturday 11th September, 2010 Christchurch Church Hall, Moreton 10.30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Everyone Welcome

Stalls on: Diet Exercise Healthy Heart Feet Food And many more. There will also be healthcare professionals available to talk to on the day.

For more information about this event or our monthly evening meetings ring Steve on 0151 677 1062 or 0780 222 9036 (mobile) Karen on 0151 334 3553 Or email:Sheila@blair324.fsnet.co.uk.

Reg. Charity No. 215199

www.alltoge

“If you don’t manage your diabetes well it can lead to all sorts of serious complications such as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, blindness and amputation.

“The thought of this can be a burden when you can’t seem to get your diabetes under control. This, as well as the daily commitment of regular blood glucose tests and insulin injections, has a real emotional and physical impact.”

Laura signed up to Diabetes UK’s Everest Base Camp trek to prove to herself that her condition, which had so deeply affected her life, would not stop her from achieving such a difficult endurance feat.

Laura took with her a huge medical bag with a spare insulin pump, double her usual quantity of infusion sets, spare batteries, a back-up plan of insulin pens, blood testing kits, needles and all the life-saving insulin she would need.

Her journey began 2,800m above sea level in Lukla, and took her through pine and

H Ju L am o ra £5 D rhododendron forests, along the edge of the Dudh Kosi river and through villages, before ending day one at their first campsite.

“There is nothing quite like opening your tent on a sunny morning to be faced with a spectacular mountain range bathed in sunlight, enticing you to get up and get walking.”

As they got closer to the base camp, Laura developed acute mountain sickness, a very serious condition if not treated quickly.

She was forced to stop and rest for a day to allow her body to acclimatise and adapt to the lack of oxygen in the air.

Laura also found that the higher she walked, the more her blood glucose levels increased so she had to monitor her levels more regularly and continually adjust her insulin dosage.

“I only suffered a few hypos which I treated with jelly babies,” she said.

“The team doctor was very attentive, and made sure he knew what my blood glucose levels were, but it was so important to me that I was the one in control of my diabetes every step of the way.”

On the final day, Laura and her team set off very early in the morning with the shadow of

the mountains keeping zero. They trekked ove scree, ascending to a r parallel to the Khumbu stretches down from Ev At 5,364 metres they rocks and iconic prayer Everest Base Camp.

“Life takes on a who when you stand below giants of nature.

“For me it was the mo so long and hard for, to having diabetes never of my dreams and amb this time, and I had ma never forget.”

Laura’s trek raised ov UK, the charity that wo the lives of 2.3 million p have been diagnosed w “Having diabetes doe from embarking on that always wanted to do,” s “Be prepared, think of what to expect in the co and the world really do oyster.”

15

All Together NOW!

August/September 2010

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Is this fair?

Q

I AM 75 and get the Lower Rate Mobility Component of Disability Living Allowance.

My disability has got much worse n MOBILISE, the national disability recently and I can hardly walk. Can motoring charity, has teamed up my benefit be increased to the with All Together NOW! to provide High Rate Mobility Component so I readers with a top-of-the-range can qualify for a Motability car? motoring news and information Disability Living Allowance service.

(DLA) has two components; a n For full details of membership, care component (paid at three including members’ concessions levels – lowest, middle and highest) contact: Mobilise Organisation, and mobility component (paid at two National Headquarters, levels – lower and higher) which Ashwellthorpe, Norwich, NR16 1EX. cover different needs and Tel: 01508 489449. Email: circumstances. enquiries@mobilise.info Higher rate is paid to people who are unable or virtually unable to talk disabled mentally or physically that because of a physical disability or they need guidance or supervision who meet other specified criteria. from another person most of the time Inva 165x265 16/7/10 09:59 Page 1 The lower rate7-10:Invatravel is payable to people when walking out of doors. who can walk but are so severely You can receive DLA if you are

A

disabled before you are 65. Once awarded it is paid irrespective of age, provided you still meet the qualifying conditions.

But if you are over 65 when you become disabled you will only qualify for Attendance Allowance (AA) not DLA. AA is a benefit to help people pay for personal care. This is awarded at two levels – lower and higher and there is no mobility component like DLA. On your specific enquiry the Department for Work and Pensions have advised that: “After the age of 65 you cannot have your mobility component changed to a higher rate but you can have the care component looked at.”

Therefore, unfortunately, you would not qualify for a Motability vehicle.

Motability factfile: Page 16

LEGENDARY British racing driver Sir Stirling Moss opened tihis year’s Mobility Roadshow – and met Marilyn Monroe lookalike, Suzi Kennedy.

Sir Stirling also saw some of the hottest new wheels for disabled drivers – including a wide range of mobility scooters like this new twoseater TGA Vita 3

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All Together NOW!

August/September 2010

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www.alltogeth

Top award f Allied Mobi A

LLIED Mobility has scooped the award for Best Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Partner for 2010 at the fifth annual Motability Supplier Awards.

The awards cover all areas of Motability Operations, recognising the people and businesses who deliver outstanding choice, excellence and customer satisfaction to over half a million Motability customers.

Allied Mobility’s sales director Peter Facenna said: “It is with great pride that we celebrate winning the award. The achievement is testament to the efforts of

our whole team in delivering excellence and we look forward to continuing to work with Motability Operations in the future.”

Mike Betts, chief executive at Motability Operations, said: “The Supplier Awards are an opportunity for us to offer sincere thanks to the people who deliver fantastic results for both our customers and our business.

“In 2009 Motability achieved the highest ever levels in customer satisfaction. The last year would not have been possible without the support and partnership of our dedicated suppliers and business partners.

“An increase in applications, great

Do you qualify for a car?

MOTABILITY – set up by the Government in 1978 – is prviding millions of people with a new car in exchange for their monthly mobility allowance.

Powered wheelchairs and scooters can also be financed through the scheme.

Motability’s car and wheelchair schemes currently provide freedom and independence to over 500,000 disabled people and their families, across the UK. The most popular option, chosen by over 97% of customers, is the contract hire of a new car.

You can choose a brand new car from over 3,000 models, from the major manufacturers, on a three or five-year lease. Insurance, road tax, breakdown cover, servicing, tyre and windscreen replacement are all included in a single monthly payment.

A similar all-inclusive hire plan is available for powered wheelchairs and scooters.

Many cars are available simply by customers transferring their allowance for the period of the agreement.

However, on larger or more expensive models, an additional payment (known as an advance payment) may be required.

Competitive hire purchase schemes, over one to three years, are also available to purchase a new or used car, powered wheelchair or scooter.

The scheme is available to anyone who is receiving the Higher Rate Mobility Compon of the Disability Living Allowance or War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement, and has a least 12 months award length remaining wh they apply.

A parent or carer can apply on behalf of a child aged three or older and non-drivers ca apply for a car as a passenger.

Once their application has been accepted the customer pays all, or part, of their allowance to Motability for the duration of th contract hire or hire purchase agreement.

Cars are supplied through a network of 4,500 Motability Dealer Partners across the UK. There is also a national network of accred retailers of powered wheelchairs and scoot For most Motability customers, a standard production car is suitable for their needs, bu special adaptations are needed for about 1 of customers.

As part of the contract hire package, a ran of popular adaptations are available at no additional cost, such as push-pull hand controls and left-foot accelerators.

Motability may also be able to help those customers who need additional financial he to obtain the mobility solution they need. n Motability Scheme: 0845 456 4566, www.motability.co.uk

hernow.org.uk

for ility

like Peugeot, Citroen and Volkswagen, Allied offers a wide range of converted wheelchair accessible vehicles. n The most recent additions to the range include the new automatic Renault Autograph and Citroen Presto. n Allied Mobility also manufactures the best-selling Peugeot Horizon which is the UK’s most popular wheelchair car.

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CONTACTS WINNERS: Allied Mobility chairman Gerry Facenna and sales director Peter Facenna receive the Best Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Partner award from the BBC’s Huw Edwards

customer satisfaction levels, and some of the most competitive prices in the wheelchair accessible vehicle category, all helped Allied Mobility win this award.

“Motability Operations has benefited from a partnership that delivers an increased n Allied Mobility is part of the Allied range of services, a network of Vehicles Group that was established in demonstration vehicles available across 1993 and has grown to become the largest the country, and superb after-sales care on supplier of wheelchair accessible vehicles conversion vehicles throughout the UK. to the UK Motability Scheme.

“Allied Mobility is a fantastic winner at the n The company now employs about 350 Motability Operations Supplier Awards.” people on their 20-acre site in Glasgow, The award was presented by BBC which incorporates engineering, production newsreader Huw Edwards at Brocket Hall and customer support facilities. in Hertfordshire.

All together now_July_Half:Layout 1 05/07/2010 13:11 Page 1 with a range of manufacturers n Working

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August/September 2010

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n Wrightington Mobility Centre, Hall Lane, Appley Bridge, Wigan, WN6 9EP. Tel. 01257 256409. www.mobility-centre.org.uk n The North Wales Driving Assessment Centre, Disability Resources Centre, Glan Clwyd Hospital, Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire.

Tel. 01745 584858. n Regional Driving Assessment Centre, Unit 11, Network Park, Duddeston Mill Road, Birmingham.

Tel. 0845 3371540. n Motability, Goodman House, Station Approach, Harlow, Essex, CM20 2ET. Helpline 0845 456 4566 (voice), 01279 632273 (text). www.motability.co.uk n National Association of Bikers with a Disability, Unit 20, The Bridgewater Centre, Robson Avenue, Urmston, Manchester.

Tel. 0870 759 0603. www.nabd.org.uk n Disabled Motorcyclists Association, Ada House, 77 Thompson Street, Manchester, M4 5FY. Tel. 0161 214 8314, 07947 138303. www.thedma.org.uk

MY LIFE

18

All Together NOW!

I

WAS just 15 when I started to realise there was something ‘wrong’ with my body.

Something was not quite right.

Yet when my body ached at this time, I put it down to all the hard work I was doing. I attended all the hospital appointments, x-rays, physio-therapy . . .

This went on until I was 24. Only then did they confirm I had had osteoarthritis from an early age.

As a dancer with good prospects I wanted to perform, to be on a stage in front of thousands.

Dancing my way through life. I was doing well and I studied as far as a degree. Then I became a teacher of dance.

In 1992, I met my first husband.

We were best friends and we stayed together for 12 years.

When I was pregnant with my daughter I found it extremely hard to carry out the simplest of daily tasks. My symptoms meant they became difficult and complicated.

Managing the increasing pain, and juggling family life, left me exhausted. This in turn led to feelings of sheer frustration compounded by what I saw as a lack of emotional support.

I gradually realised that our relationship was at an end; it could not be mended.

It is vital that a sufferer of any type of arthritis gets advice and

August/September 2010

DO YOU have a story that you would like to share with readers? Send it to: The Editor, All Together NOW! The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP email: news@alltogethernow.org.uk

Devastated by arthritis and a series of emotional traumas, I realised only one person could make me happy

by EMA KEAST support throughout its progression. I have found that ignorance has had a very negative impact on my life.

Following the breakdown of my marriage, I entered a new chapter with a new partner. For three years everything went well.

He understood my condition and supported me physically. Yet as

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

SELF PORTRAIT: Ema has gained great joy from her work as a photographer

time progressed I noticed that my body was becoming more and more rigid and simple chores became impossible – it was not that I was reluctant or could not be bothered, I simply could not do them.

Many a time I was sent home from work with pains in my fingers, feet and back until eventually my doctor signed me off work completely.

This was a turning point in this

STREETWISE

relationship. Money issues came to the forefront and the marriage ended.

The next two years went by in a blur; I shut myself off from the world and went to sleep. Of course, I was leading a very simple life, getting up, doing the school run, going to work, simple housework, making the tea and bed.

All the while I was being engulfed by my condition. The

one person who kept me sane during this time was my daughter.

She is now 13. All she has ever known is ‘mummy has bad bones’. She is my carer and my trusted friend.

During those two years I finally arrived at the conclusion that no one could change my life but me.

I could either sink under the pain and the additional difficulties life had thrown at me or I could work with it and utilise what I did have.

I knew if I was to survive this I had to change myself because other people would not.

To do this I knew I had to work around the condition. My research also allowed me to find the right medication for me. I subsequently moved to be closer to my family to get the help and support I needed.

I knew the first port of call was my job. Every employer I have had has said “yes, we understand”, but if I had to take time off, I felt like a slacker.

A day at a time

SALFORD YOUNG CARERS

LIVERPOOL ONE

EVERTON FOUNDATION

Closing date Friday 23 August, 2010

Whilst taking time out of work I re-formatted my life. I am in a happy relationship that offers love and support, providing a warm environment for my daughter.

What is more I have initiated a career that is fulfilling and can work around my condition. I have found great joy as a photographer with some great commissions under my belt.

I take it a day at a time, set myself challenges and realistic goals and I try to help others with arthritis. It’s not easy, but it is worth it: I am loving life again and the constant learning that comes with it.

When you are only suffering from, rather than living with, arthritis, it is time to reassess, make changes and find the support you need!

e hardest way

ethernow.org.uk

August/September 2010

All Together NOW!

lps

s

HIGH LIFE: ubilant Laura’s mazing feat of endurance aised over 5,000 for Diabetes UK

oment I had prepared o prove to myself that had to get in the way bitions. I was in control ade it. A feeling I will

ver £5,000 for Diabetes orks towards improving people in the UK who with the condition. esn’t have to stop you t adventure you have says Laura. f all eventualities, know ountry you are visiting, oes become your

SWASIE TURNER on the perils of the pavement cyclists

F

OR people with various forms of disability - especially those of us in wheelchairs - negotiating the country’s paths, highways and by-ways can be truly alarming.

Our pavements are becoming increasingly hazardous, and at worst a terrifying ordeal. Apart from the dangers of loose chippings; deep, wide cracks and potholes, there is the terrifying menace of . . . the pavement cyclist!

Let us remember, pavements are meant for pedestrians, NOT low flying pedal cyclists. Tragically there have been a number of fatalities, but resulting prosecutions are as rare as hens’ teeth!

The authorities’ continued ignoring of pavement cyclists exasperates the lawabiding public who are entitled to the protection of the full weight of the law on this matter. Legislation regarding this is so easy to enforce as police officers can now issue fixed penalty tickets. But many can’t be bothered.

In the letters columns of newspapers, we see frequent frustrated correspondences from a concerned public, yearning for something to be done about this blight.

There are still those who insist the offence is too trivial to bother about. Tell that to the families of those killed or maimed by these thoughtless idiots.

Community service

the temperature below er rock, boulder and ridge that took them Ice Fall, which verest’s South Col. reached the mound of r flags that represent

ole new meaning w these ethereal

SOUNDING OFF!

Strict regime that keeps a killer at bay n TYPE 1 diabetes develops when insulin-

producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed. n This type of diabetes usually appears before the age of 40 and is the least common of the two main types, accounting for around 10% of all people with diabetes. n Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented. It is not known why it develops and it is not connected with being overweight. n People with Type 1 diabetes have to take insulin either by injections or a pump several times a day to stay alive. n Insulin pumps work by delivering a varied dose of fast-acting insulin continually throughout the day and night, at a rate that is pre-set according to your needs.

n Because the insulin is fast acting, when you eat you can quickly give yourself an additional dose by pressing a particular button on the pump. n Hypoglycaemia (or ‘hypo’) occurs when the level of glucose in the blood falls too low. If left untreated the person having a ‘hypo’ might, eventually, become unconscious. n When a hypo happens the person often experiences ‘warning signs’, which occur as the body tries to raise the blood glucose level. These ‘warning signs’ vary from person to person but often include feeling shaky, sweating, tingling in the lips, going pale, heart pounding, confusion and irritability. n The Diabetes UK Careline: 0845 120 2960 www.diabetes.org.uk

One young victim was on the pavement loading his car at the kerbside before taking his family on holiday. He was struck by a speeding pavement pedal cyclist, who knocked him to the ground. The victim died from severe head injuries.

The offender was charged this time, with ‘wanton and furious cycling, which led to the death of another’.

The maximum sentence for this offence is two years’ jail. Instead, he received 300 hours community service and a 12 months suspended sentence.

Another avoidable incident involved a 15year-old cyclist in Bognor Regis who collided with a girl of four.

The little girl was thrown into the air and left with a fractured skull and bleeding from the brain. The cyclist was not prosecuted.

He did not even get a fixed penalty!

Instead, he was given an ‘official warning’ from the Crown Prosecution Service.

We are promised with monotonous regularity by our senior police officers that they are ‘cracking down’ on pavement cyclists.

Well, I can tell you, the law is NOT cracking down on this phenomenon. I see the same thing, day in and day out, many times witnessing near misses, which, if the person had been struck by the offending cyclist, could have been catastrophic.

I appeal to our chief constables to set an example, and I ask them all: “Can we please have a blitz to eradicate this menace?”

19

All Together NOW!

20

August/September 2010

The Accumulator Quiz

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

1

1

7

2

2

3

4

5

★

9

10

11

★

7

★ 11

13

17

6

8

★

8

6

15

12 16

★

13

14

★

15

18

★

22 19

20

25

21

★

22 23

24

29

25

★

28

28

29

★

31

26

27

★

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★ 31

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Small amount (7) Citrus fruit (4) Lazily (4) Pasta dish (7) Office table (4) Amphibian (4) Promenade (5) Absolute emptiness (6) Kettle stand (6) Living-room (6) Roll of parchment (6) Banish (5) Homework (abbrev.) (4) Glimpse (4) Excessive fatness (7) Overt (4) Slacken (4) Abandoned (7)

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: Which Walt Disney cartoon film features the song Whistle While You Work?

QUESTION 10 – for 10 points: Which building in London has a Victoria Tower and a St Stephen’s Tower?

A Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs B Pinocchio C Peter Pan D One Hundred And One Dalmatians QUESTION 2 – for 2 points: What is a female mouse called?

A B C D

A Jenny B Doe C Jill D Sow QUESTION 3 – for 3 points: Which of these words for an academic is spelt correctly?

A B C D

A Collarbone B Tongue C Kneecap D Thumb QUESTION 5 – for 5 points: Which present-day country was known as Gaul to the Romans?

Stare amorously (4) White liquid (4) Remove weapons (6) Powerful, convincing (6) Literary manner (4) Behind time (4) Unfold (7) Shut off from contact (7) Jealous (7) Wholly (7) Soft sweetmeat (5) Cease-fire (5) Scope (6) Toboggan (6) Stout cord (4) Small pool (4) Looked at (4) Bygone (4)

A Germany B France C Belgium D Denmark QUESTION 6 – for 6 points: Which of these herbs is used to flavour pickled cucumbers?

A B C D

Dill Sage Parsley Mint

SUDOKU

Rembrandt van Rijn Jan Victors Johannes Vermeer Jan Steen

QUESTION 12 – for 12 points: For which film did Warren Beatty win the Academy Award for best director?

A B C D

Actor Warren Beatty. See Question 12 QUESTION 7 – for 7 points: Which shipping forecast sea area was formerly known as Trafalgar?

A B C D

QUESTION 13 – for 13 points: What colour is the cross on the flag of Finland?

A B C D

Biscay Shannon Fitzroy German Bight

Blue White Yellow Red

QUESTION 14 – for 14 points: Which novel by George Eliot features the Tulliver family?

QUESTION 8 – for 8 points: Who, in the Bible, was the mother of King Solomon?

A B C D

Bugsy Heaven Can Wait Reds Dick Tracy

A B C D

Rebecca Salome Naomi Bathsheba

Adam Bede Middlemarch The Mill On The Floss Silas Marner

QUESTION 9 – for 9 points: What does an entomologist study?

QUESTION 15 – for 15 points: What is produced by the Haber process?

A B C D

A B C D

Insects Trees Ocean currents Earthquakes

Stainless steel Carbon fibre Coal gas Ammonia

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 need to have to guess.

EASY

DIFFICULT

4 2

The Tower of London Westminster Abbey The Palace of Westminster Buckingham Palace

QUESTION 11 – for 11 points: Which Dutch artist painted The Night Watch?

A Proffesor B Proffessor C Professor D Profesor QUESTION 4 – for 4 points: What, in the human body, is the patella?

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www.alltogethernow.org.uk

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ADVERTISE HERE – 0151 230 0307

CALLING ALL CHARITIES . . .

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

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

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

MEDIUM 20

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TAKE ME HOME!

PSYCO QUIZ ANSWERS – see Page 11 1. Marion Crane; 2. $40,000; 3. Anthony Perkins; 4. Taxidermy. 5.

Office scene, near the start. 6. Daughter, Patricia. 7. Norman. 8.

Robert Bloch. 9. Twelve. 10. December. 11. Ten, 12. Knife.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

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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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All Together NOW!

August/September 2010

A

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 the name of a language.

SMASH

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RECORD

COPY

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FALSE

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AIR

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RANGE

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BIN

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Spaces and any punctuation marks are represented by 1.

1. Weather conditions 292 566 317 246 176 786 744 631 254 992 364 142 531 753 381 486 464 194 631 374 318 676 236 166 676 786 76 4. Ballets 447 355 317 926 152 795 842 134 732 473 337 464 123 288 917 874 521 772 782 287 636 126 315 854 381 272 253 7

691 731 544 995 661

2. Members of the shark family 426 637 432 316 256 122 754 641 536 727 314 732 819 448 318 443 717 672 324 531 537 737 177 688 331 364 347 418 467 622 251 729

3. Percussion instruments 826 268 746 312 278 263 871 538 853 378 619 956 746 631 896 726 414 664 187 426 453 145 625 367 743 512 962 257 176 273 137 86

531 175 387 176 688

5. Foreign fruits 746 327 753 127 481 729 729 182 165 483 258 678 433 164 663 652 122 626 216 264 824 6

6. Tools 256 952 671 776 537 319 736 241 748 243 153 669 127 232 951 546 651 732 283 877 692 271 373 872 912 351 426 637

323 627 281 163 617

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 the surnames of 20 UK Olympic gold medallists.

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?

378 463 592 566 526

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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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In which year did all three of these significant historical events take place?

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1. Robert Walpole is recognised as Britain’s first prime minister.

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1) A type of South American palm tree having edible nuts; 2) A hydrous sulphate of iron found in volcanic rocks, named after the place in Chile where it was first discovered; 3) A brilliant red, the colour of a poppy.

2. Christian VI becomes King of Denmark upon the death of Frederik IV. 3. English potter Josiah Wedgwood is born in Burslem, Staffordshire.

Add the given letter to the first word to make a new word.

Clue: Stronghold can hold half an instrument.

WAS IT? a) 1730; b) 1740; c) 1750; d) 1760; e) 1770.

____ +E=____E

428 675 245 127 447

ALL THE ANSWERS

4 1 5 7 6 3 8 9 2

SUDOKU EASY

9 6 2 4 8 5 1 3 7

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CROSS CODE

6 3 5 4 1 7 9 2 8

9 1 2 8 5 3 7 4 6

3 5 6 7 8 2 4 1 9

1 2 7 9 4 6 5 8 3

8 9 4 1 3 5 2 6 7

SUDOKU DIFFICULT

6pm - 10pm every Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday & Monday

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0800 587 2252

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Telephone Sightline Free on

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KAKURO MEDIUM

6 8

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Accumulator Quiz 1 – A; 2 – B; 3 – C; 4 – C; 5 – B; 6 – A; 7 – C; 8 – D; 9 – A; 10 – C; 11 – A; 12 – C; 13 – A; 14 – C; 15 – D. Starspot Crossword Across – 2 Modicum; 7 Ugli; 8 Idly; 9 Lasagne; 10 Desk; 12 Newt; 15 Front; 17 Vacuum; 18 Trivet; 19 Lounge; 21 Scroll; 22 Exile; 23 Prep; 26 Espy; 28 Obesity; 29 Open; 30 Ease; 31 Ditched.

Down – 1 Ogle; 2 Milk; 3 Disarm; 4 Cogent; 5 Mien; 6 Slow; 10 Develop; 11 Seclude; 13 Envious; 14 Totally; 15 Fudge; 16 Truce; 20 Extent; 21 Sleigh; 24 Rope; 25 Pond; 26 Eyed; 27 Past.

Star Name: PAUL McCARTNEY

Word Wizard No 2 is correct. Coquimbite is a substance found in volcanic rocks.

Dialling Codes 1. cyclone; rain; snow; sunshine; blizzard; fog; gale; sleet; lightning; wind; drizzle; tornado; monsoon; storm.

2. hammerhead; mako; basking; leopard; great white; tiger; porbeagle; lesser-spotted dogfish; thornback ray.

3. tambourine; castanets; kettledrum; xylophone; tympani; gong; triangle; glockenspiel; cymbals; snare drum.

4. Giselle; Swan Lake; Sylvia; Firebird; Sleeping Beauty; Petrushka; Spartacus; Romeo And

Juliet; Nutcracker.

5. pineapple; breadfruit; pawpaw; tamarind; olive; kumquat; lychee; minneola; melon; banana; mango; plantain.

6. blowlamp; spokeshave; wrench; pitchfork; jemmy; bradawl; billhook; secateurs; crowbar; fretsaw; chisel; hammer.

Spot Check A = 4; B = 1; C = 3; D = 6; E = 5; F = 2.

Missing Link hit; edit; bottom; rifle; eagle; waste.

Language: Hebrew.

Make a Date The year was 1730.

Transformer Fort + E = Forte.

Support for you, your family and friends from those who understand

14

ARE YOU AFFECTED BY SIGHTLOSS?

Pathwords Redgrave; Sanderson; Goodhew; Ovett; Rand; Hemery; Holmes; Cram; Thompson; Pinsent; Coe; Dean; Packer; Wells; Cousins; Moorhouse; Curry; Wilkie; Torvill; Meade.

SIGHTLINE VISION (NORTH WEST)

22

All Together NOW!

August/September 2010

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

RIGHTS EDUCATION . . . TRAINING . . . JOBS . . .R

All together now!

SAMBA TIME: Pupils at the Include Us! event at LIPA

P

Enrolling Now Enrolling from Tuesday 24th August Go places with the BEST* FE college Hugh Baird College, Balliol Road, Bootle L20 7EW www.hughbaird.ac.uk

0151 353 4444

The College is committed to Equal Opportunities

*The BEST FE College in Merseyside according to Government league tables 2008, 2009 and 2010 (based on point score per examination entry)

UPILS from mainstream and special schools across Merseyside came together for the fourth annual Include Us! project, which ended with a live performance at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts.

Charlie Moger, from Aimhigher who funded the scheme, said: “The project allows young people to share their experiences and celebrate their differences, while also finding out about the opportunities open to them at university.”

Include Us! also gives pupils an experience of being on a university campus, working with undergraduate students and

professionals and provides them with information about further and higher education and careers in the creative arts.

Nicola Molyneux, from All Saints Centre for Learning, Kirkby, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for pupils to take part in performing arts sessions at a state-of-the-art higher education institution. It was great to see all of the pupils working together to create such a powerful performance.”

Schools taking part were: All Saints CfL; Ashfields; Bankview North; Foxfield; Kirkby Sports College; Meadowside; Sandfield Park; St Francis of Assisi Academy; Park High School.

‘Work Life’ website launched A NEW website has been set up to help people with long-term fluctuating health conditions stay in work.

The ‘Work Life’ site – supported by the Department for Works and Pensions and developed by the MS Society and other partner organisations – brings together examples of best practice; guidance for employers, employees and healthcare professionals; and case studies from across the employment sector.

Minister for Welfare Reform, Lord Freud, who has given the website his backing, said: “We know that work is good for people and we want those with

long-term fluctuating health conditions to have the support they need to stay in their job,” he said.

“When people fall out of employment, on to benefits, it becomes even harder to get back to work. The Work Life website will be an important resource for those managing health conditions in the workplace.”

Leonie Martin was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2000 while working as an office manager at a large school.

In 2003 she was forced to take early retirement on the grounds of ill health.

She said: “After being diagnosed I wasn’t given any advice regarding how

or when to tell my employer and colleagues, or what my rights were. Consequently, I tried to play down my difficulties and ended up becoming more and more anxious.

“If I had known that many of the problems I was experiencing at work, like fatigue and concentration, were due to my MS I wouldn’t have ended up on a downward spiral that culminated in my having to finish work.

“It has taken me several years to rebuild my selfesteem and learn to look at what I can still do well, rather than what I can no longer do.” n www.yourworkhealth.com

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together NOW!

August/September 2010

EYE GUITAR!

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

Liverpool Community College ‘Working with Business’

Programmes for better prospects...

Thinking about...

Will I get help finding work?

Can I start right away?

Where can I go to retrain or gain skills?

BLINKING HECK!: Matthew Smalley casts an eye over his creation

A blink strikes the right chord A

STUDENT has come up with an ingenious way for disabled children to play a video guitar game using only eye movements.

Matthew Smalley’s EyeGuitar computer application took second place in De Montfort University’s annual Creative Thinking Awards.

Matthew, 26, said: “An important element of the design of EyeGuitar is that the game that it interacts with does not recognise that it is being controlled by an external application.

“In theory, this means the application could work with many other similar games without modification and further empower people who wouldn’t normally play video games to have just the same fun.

“I’m a real video games’ fan so it’s great to be able to come up with something like this which could help less able people get the same enjoyment.

“It was also really

Michael’s game is a winner exciting to discover during trials that users of EyeGuitar were often able to score more highly in a game than people using the traditional keyboard method.”

Matthew’s innovative work impressed the judges so much that they awarded him the runnerup slot and handed him a £3,000 cheque.

The first prize of £5,000 went to artist Pamela Boardman whose winning idea explores the possibility of developing underwater homes that could help cope with the land loss caused by climate change.

Third prize of £2,000 was awarded to Phd student Sarah Greenfield for a mathematical approach she has devised that will enable developers to significantly improve performance in many

applications such as medical diagnosis and robot control.

The awards have been created and sponsored by Toby Moores, who is a consultant in commercial creativity and runs the highly successful TV and games company Sleepydog Ltd. He is also the grandson of Sir John Moores, founder of Littlewoods.

He said: “Thinking creatively is an increasingly important skill in the UK job market.

Creativity is a skill we take for granted, even though as a nation we have a strong heritage in innovation.

“De Montfort University has established a track record in encouraging creativity among its students. I hope the award will further raise the profile of its unique environment in nurturing creative talent.

“The winning entries are of exceptionally high quality and demonstrate the University’s status as one of the country’s leading centres of innovation.”

Let Liverpool Community College equip you with the skills employers want If you are unemployed, recently made redundant or ready to start work we can improve your chances of success in the current job market Let us prepare you for work with relevant training and help match your skills to current vacancies in security, hospitality, business administration, care, retail, and many more.

We also provide training in how to set up your own business For further information contact:

0845 013 1515 www.liv-coll.ac.uk

Our future.

It’s in our hands

23

All Together NOW!

24

August/September 2010

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Time for a heart to heart

P

EOPLE in Wirral are being encouraged to have a ‘heart to heart’ with their loved ones and discuss organ donation.

With three people dying every day while waiting for organs, Wirral University Teaching Hospital is backing the NHS Blood and Transplant’s campaign to encourage people to sign up to the Organ Donor Register.

Katie Whittle, a specialist organ donation nurse at the hospital, said: “Although there has been a big rise in the number of people on the register, there still aren’t enough.“ Organ donation transformed Joanne Russell’s life. She received a simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplant after diabetes left her with renal failure.

“I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was 13,” said Joanne, now 38. “And as I got older, the secondary effects of the

n THERE are about 8,000 people in the UK on the active waiting list for an

organ transplant. A further 2,574 people are on the suspended list because they are too ill or unable to receive a transplant at present. n LAST year 3,693 transplants took place, an increase of 5% compared to the previous year. n PEOPLE in their 70s and 80s have become organ donors and saved many lives. The oldest recorded cornea donor was 104 years old. n ONE donor can save or transform up to nine lives and many more can be helped through the donation of tissues. n TO JOIN the Organ Donor Register and to download the Heart to Heart pack, call 0300 123 23 23, text SAVE to 84880, or visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk diabetes got progressively worse.

“Among other things, I lost much of my sight and my kidneys stopped working.”

To stay healthy, Joanne underwent peritoneal dialysis four times daily, every day for between 45 minutes and an hour.

Peritoneal dialysis involves using a permanent tube in the abdomen to introduce fluid to the body and flush impurities from the blood.

Joanne said: “I was very lucky because my employer was very supportive, giving me time and space to carry out my dialysis, meaning that my work wasn’t disrupted too much.

“But it was still a huge inconvenience and I had to be very careful about how I led my life to manage my condition.”

In February 2009, organs became available that meant that Joanne could undergo the transplant she needed.

“I have never felt so healthy as I have done since my transplant,” said Joanne.

I feel very, very lucky to have been given the chance to lead a life without dialysis and I do everything I can to treat my new organs well.

“I am incredibly grateful to my donor.

For the first time I know what normal is. I love life now.

“I really would encourage everybody to put their name on the NHS Organ Donor Register.”

The campaign is encouraging friends and family to take time out, over a meal together, to have the conversations about organ donation that often get put off.

To make this easier, a downloadable pack has been put together with recipes from TV chef Lawrence Keogh – who has undergone a kidney transplant himself – and facts and figures about organ donation to encourage debate.

Making life better for cancer patients A NEW clinic has opened at University Hospital Aintree to help improve life for lung cancer patients.

As one of 15 pilot sites around the country, the new Lung Health and Wellbeing Clinic is the only site to be uniquely dedicated to patients suffering from lung cancer, which is the second most common cancer in the UK, affecting over 1.63 million people.

PATIENTS at St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust have got something to celebrate.

The hospital has been named one of the top performers in the recent Patient Environment Action Team assessments – for the fifth year in a row!

Both St Helens and Whiston hospitals scored top marks of ‘Excellent’ for high standards of food, cleanliness, infection control and patient environment.

Dancing with joy!

A TEENAGER from Belarus was given an 18th birthday she will remember all her life.

Staff at Withington hospital and Wrexham-based charity Teams4U teamed up to hand over a fantastic gift - a new sports wheelchair.

“The wheelchair will make a huge difference to my life,” said Olya, who was born without legs and who had been unable to sit correctly.

“It will help me to continue my passion in Latin dance.

“I just want to say thank you very much to everybody that helped me to achieve my dream of having a sports chair.

“It’s very nice that there are people out there who help people like me,” she said.

Dr Martin Twiste, from the University of Salford, and Dave Cooke, from Teams4U, coordinated Olya’s visit to Withington hospital’s Disablement Service Centre.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together NOW!

August/September 2010

Hospital visit delights Duke

T

IMPRESSED: The Duke of York with reception staff Debbie Radcliffe, left, Sheila Cooke, centre, and Debbie Shaw

MPs honour top maternity team WIRRAL hospital’s maternity team has been named the winner of a prestigious national award from a group of MPs and peers.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Maternity presented the team with its prize at its summer reception in the Houses of Parliament.

Linda Birch, head of midwifery at the Trust, said: “We are very proud that the high quality services we provide to women and their babies in our new Wirral Women and Children’s Hospital at Arrowe Park have been recognised nationally.

“This award is a reflection of the exceptional and dedicated staff in our

maternity team who provide the highest quality of care and who aim to make childbirth as natural a process as possible, in a home-like environment.”

Linda added: “Pregnant women now have a wider choice of where and when they have their first appointment and scan, and can keep the same midwife throughout their antenatal and postnatal care.

“We also provide three birthing pools in our delivery suite for women wanting to use water to aid pain relief in labour, 26 en-suite single rooms in our maternity ward and space for partners to stay overnight. We also support women who choose to give birth at home.”

HE Duke of York met with staff and patients when he officially opened the new St Helens hospital.

“I’ve spoken to many patients who are clearly impressed with the high standard of care they are receiving,” he said.

“This is an innovative hospital, which is absolutely fantastic.”

During a tour of the hospital the Duke visited the award-winning Lilac Centre and spoke to patients, their relatives and staff, before going into the state-ofthe-art radiology and cardio-respiratory departments to see patients being treated with the very latest diagnostic facilities.

Staff who had worked closely on the planning and construction of the hospital also gave a short presentation on the redevelopment project. Prince Andrew also met with elderly patients, retired members of staff and hospital volunteers.

Ann Marr, chief executive of the Trust, said: “The visit by His Royal Highness was a proud moment for the staff and all those involved in the planning and construction of the new hospital, as well as for our patients and the local community.”

Flintoff knocked for six TOP TEAM: Staff from the Women and Children’s Division at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust with their award, pictured with Anne Milton MP, Minister for Public Health

ENGLAND and Lancashire cricketer Andrew Flintoff was ‘knocked for six’ when he opened the new £8m expansion to the Cystic Fibrosis Centre at Wythenshawe hospital.

“This unit is imperative in the fight against cystic fybrosis,” he said. “I’ve found from chatting to the patients that their life expectancy has gone up because of the state-of-the-art facilities, and the great relationship they have with the staff.”

Cystic fibrosis affects about 8,500 people in the UK and claims the lives of three people every week in Britain.

Professor Kevin Webb, consultant in respiratory medicine and cystic fibrosis at UHSM, said: “Although the enormous medical advances of the last 30 years mean that CF patients now live further into adulthood, there is still no cure for the disease. It is important that we deliver the very best possible service for our patients who repeatedly come BOWLED OVER: Andrew Flintoff with CF taff at Wythenshawe hospital

TELL US YOUR VIEWS n NHS North West is

keen to hear from readers about your experiences of NHS services. n They also want any ideas or suggestions that could improve treatment and care for others. n Please send your comments to: Communications Team, FREEPOST, NHS North West, 3 Piccadilly Place, Central Manchester, M1 3BN

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All Together NOW!

August/September 2010

How Joyce is fighting back – and helping others

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www.alltogethernow.org.uk

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INSPIRATIONAL: Joyce Kenny who is now a tutor on the Expert Patients Programme, run

by Liverpool Primary Care Trust

A

SERIOUS car accident left Joyce Kenny with physical and mental scars, which affected her life for decades . . .

But an intiative designed to put people back in control of their lives has restored her selfconfidence and sense of purpose.

The Expert Patients Programme is an initiative that helps people living with long-term conditions to maintain their health and improve their quality of life through selfmanagement courses.

It is totally free and run by Liverpool Primary Care Trust.

Joyce said: “Back in the 70s I was involved in a really bad car accident – my fiancé and two friends were killed.

“I survived but have been living with the physical and mental after effects ever since.

The course has made such a difference to my life

‘

“I was left with a broken leg, fractured skull, broken knee and ribs, almost lost my right eye and suffered from depression and survivor guilt.

“But in a way I was lucky. I’m still here . . .

“Over the years I managed to hold down a full-time, responsible job but in 2001, the knee worsened and I had a prolapsed disc in my back. I was unable to continue so I took early retirement on health grounds.

“My world changed and I

became a bit of a recluse. I did my best but I found my condition was beginning to rule my life.

“Three years ago a friend suggested that I try the Expert Patient Programme as it had made a positive difference to her.

So after a great deal of thought and apprehension, I decided to join – and I’m so glad I did.”

The courses are open to anyone who is living with a longterm health condition and are designed to help people take control of their condition and

Six of the best . . .

THE 2010 Year of Health and Wellbeing is being supported by six key ambassadors over the course of the campaign, which will each represent one of the five ways to wellbeing.

Pictured from left to right with the specially commissioned puppets that will also be helping to promote the campaign are: the Singh Twins representing Take Notice; Frank Cottrell Boyce representing Keep Learning; Beth Tweddle representing Be Active; Stephen Yip representing Give, and Roger Phillips representing Connect. Also pictured are Councillor Roz Gladden, Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Gideon Ben-Tovim, Chair of Liverpool Primary Care Trust.

Check Check out out our our 2010 2010 programme programme of of events events .. .. ..

make a difference to their lives.

People with conditions such as MS, arthritis, asthmas, diabetes, liver disease, bronchitis, fibromyalgia, depression, HIV, epilepsy, heart disease and osteoporosis have all benefited from being on the programme.

Joyce continued:“Some of the techniques have made such a difference to my life, particularly the better breathing techniques which have helped me to relax and the distraction and relaxation techniques which have helped

me during a few really bad, painful times when I couldn’t seem to think positively.

“But the course brought so much more than that to me. Just being able to connect with people who were also managing longterm conditions was really comforting.”

It was just before Joyce was due to attend hospital again for an operation on her shoulder that she decided she wanted to become a volunteer tutor.

A few months later she attended the tutor training course in Manchester – the furthest she had been on her own in five years.

Now she is delivering courses across the city and sharing her experiences and knowledge.

“Being a tutor is very rewarding.

I feel I’m helping to make a difference, helping people to manage their lives better and gain confidence.

“You see how people, given help and support can take their lives back. If it hadn’t been for my involvement, I would have missed out on so much.

“If I had not been on the course myself three years ago, I really don’t know what I’d be doing now – probably sitting in the house watching daytime TV!”

www.2010healthandwellbeing.org.uk www.2010healthandwellbeing.org.uk

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together NOW!

August/September 2010

Brain im-pear-ment!

Too keen to clean?

INCREASED weight and a ‘pear-shaped’ figure in older women have a negative impact on memory function, says a new report.

Researchers suggest this is due to the type of fat deposited around the hips versus the waist, and cite cytokines, hormones released by the predominant fat in the body, as causing inflammation which might in turn affect cognition.

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, said: “The pear-shape is incredibly common, and while this study doesn’t explain fully the link between body shape and brain function, we could all do well to consider sensible lifestyle changes to keep our weight in check.”

The research, published in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society, featured 8,745 women aged 65 to 79.

CLEANING sprays, chlorine bleach and disinfectants may be contributing to the rise in asthma at home and work.

Dr Jan-Paul Zock, an expert in occupational asthma, claims there is growing evidence that exposure to some cleaning products can provoke respiratory disorders and make existing asthma worse, but that it is preventable.

Associate Professor Zock, from the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology, in Barcelona, found professional cleaners, and healthcare workers performing cleaning and disinfecting work, were more vulnerable to asthma.

Addressing delegates at the congress of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Dr Zock called for new studies to assess the effects of exposure to chemicals and strategies to deal with it.

Hope for victims of MS A BREAKTHROUGH finding may lead to earlier diagnosis, more effective intervention, and perhaps even a cure for MS. Multiple sclerosis (MS) has devastated the lives of two million people worldwide.

The autoimmune disease is more prevalent in cold climates and attacks twice as many women as men.There is currently no cure.

Now, research from Israel may pave the way for a diagnosis before symptoms appear and debilitation sets in.

Earlier diagnosis will allow earlier medical intervention – and perhaps even lead to a cure.

Professor Anat Achiron, of Tel Aviv University’s Faculty of Medicine in Israel, has uncovered a new way of detecting MS biomarkers in the blood. Her findings were published in the journal Neurobiology of Disease.

Helen Yates, chief executive at the Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre, said: “Any test that can identify MS very early on in the disease course is very welcome. One of the most important factors in MS is to treat, by whatever chosen method, as early as possible to prevent further damage.”

Painkillers may prolong life . . .

C

OMMONLY used painkillers like ibuprofen do not increase the risk of heart attack in the elderly population – and may even prolong life, a study claims.

Researchers found that the use of these drugs–- also called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – was also associated with a lower risk of death although they are not sure why.

Their findings, which appear in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, were based on a study which looked at a nationwide hospital admission and pharmacy prescription database of 320,000 Australian veterans.

Researchers looked at antiinflammatory drugs that – with the exception of ibuprofen – generally require a prescription.

Professor Arduino Mangoni, who recently joined the University of Aberdeen from Flinders University in Adelaide, led the study which was conducted in Australia and funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

He said: “Heart disease represents one of the main causes of death and long-term disability in the elderly and the burden of heart disease is likely to increase in the future due to the progressive ageing of the population.

“Thinking up until now suggests

‘No more of risk’ to heart – but don’t overdo it

New findings . . . Professor Mangoni

use of anti-inflammatory drugs, for the management of pain and inflammation in a number of disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system, increases the risk of heart disease.

“However, the evidence of a link between NSAIDs and heart disease is controversial as several studies have failed to demonstrate a significant increase in the risk.

“Our study has demonstrated that the use of NSAIDs has overall a neutral effect on the risk of heart disease in a large elderly population with multiple coexisting medical conditions.

“We also noted that the use of NSAIDs was associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality and there was a clear association with the number of prescriptions supplied in that the higher the number of prescriptions for

NSAIDs the lower the risk of death.”

Professor Mangoni said: “It could be that anti-inflammatory drugs could exert some protective effects towards heart disease and cancer, the two main killers in our ageing population.

“It might be that people on these drugs have better pain control and therefore have a less sedentary lifestyle. Or perhaps people on these drugs in our study were maybe generally healthier.”

Despite the findings Professor Mangoni would not advise people to take painkillers regularly unless they are necessary.

“Further prospective studies are urgently required to investigate the impact of NSAID use on these outcomes and the mechanisms involved.”

We can deliver your health messages

27

by Beatrice Fraenkel chair, Mersey Care NHS HAVING just been fortunate enough to have a holiday, I have been thinking how important it is that we can have a sense of wellbeing from all sorts of things in our lives as well as from going away.

Not everyone is able to take a holiday but we can still achieve a sense of wellbeing in any number of ways.

We are two-thirds through Liverpool’s 2010 Year of Wellbeing, a campaign designed to promote a sense of feeling good about yourself by following a pursuit, interest or activity.

At the heart of this campaign is the Five Ways to Wellbeing, a scientifically proven set of principles that underpins much of the work we do in the Trust to help people with mental health problems on their road to recovery.

One way we are looking to improve wellbeing among people who use our services is through a Merseyside pilot scheme for personal health budgets.

Payments can be made directly to individuals so they can decide what things, within reason, they need to meet their own health and wellbeing needs.

This will benefit people already accessing services and there will be no additional cost to the local NHS, but as the pilot runs we will monitor its impact.

I’d also like to mention one or two other items. Mersey Care recognises spiritual wellbeing is important to our service users, carers and staff and we are offering workshops in Liverpool and Southport, from August 18 to September 8, in preparation for the opening of the major arts exhibition – The Sanctum.

The exhibition, at the Liverpool Academy of Arts gallery, Seel Street, from September 21 to October 8, will celebrate the relationship between spirituality and good mental health and wellbeing. Details on 0151 471 2608.

We are also keen to encourage people to have a say about our services. You can drop by our community road shows at Bootle New Strand, week beginning September 13, or St John’s Centre, Liverpool, the following week.

We will be there raising awareness, encouraging people to join as members of Mersey Care and continuing to tackle stigma around mental health and TAKE ME HOME! learning disability.

0151 230 0307

All Together NOW!

28

August/September 2010

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

. . . with JAN LOCKYER

Call on hold . .

Q A

IS THERE a mobile phone holder I can use to attach my phone to my wheelchair?

THERE is a range of pouches for mobile phones that can be attached to the frame of your wheelchair.

You can also get mounts on flexible arms to hold your phone while you use it. For information on these and other wheelchair accessories call your local Disabled Living Centre.

20,000 ways to help you remain independent DID YOU know there are over 20,000 products on the market designed to assist disabled and older people?

If you need equipment to help you stay independent how do you make the right choice?

Disabled Living Centres provide independent information and advice and the opportunity to see and try a

vast range of products with the aid of expert advisors From beds to bath aids, showers to stair lifts, local Disabled Living Centres provide equipment info helplines.

So for information on equipment and how to get it contact your local Disabled Living Centre. Many

Q

TROUBLE with my neck stops me tipping my head back when drinking.

There’s always lots left in the cup. Any ideas?

THERE are cups with and without handles that have a cut-out shape that allows the cup to tip beyond the point that would usually touch your nose. Other cups allow your nose to fit into the cup as you tip it.

A

Scooter help, please

Q

OVER the past few years I have been having more and more trouble walking. I soon get breathless and I am always having to stop and pause.

It’s really getting me down. I know lots of people are in a similar situation and that many get aound the problem by getting a mobility scooter.

If I chose this option can I get any help to pay for one?

Lifehouse is a new approach to providing services for disabled and older people in Liverpool.

InAll the summer of 2007 the under following moved together to Lifehouse: these teams are now oneservices roof, working to provide the information and advice people need toDock. be as safe and an accessible, newly renovated building at Brunswick independent as possible .

Wheelchair Service 0151 296 7765 Fax:0151 0151296 296 7764 Wheelchair Service Tel: 7765 Assessment for and provision of wheelchairs for people who live in Liverpool.

Disabled Living Centre 0151 296 7742 Fax: 0151 296 7743 7748 Disabled Living Centre Tel: 0151 296 7742 Minicom: 0151 296 7744 Moving and Handling Team 0151 296 7750 Fax: 0151 296 7749 Independent information, assessment and advice on choosing daily living equipment and how to get it.

Communication Aids 0151 296 7408 Fax: 0151 296 7764 Moving and Handling Team Tel: 0151 296 7750 Practical advice for disabled people and their carers on moving and handling people.

Adaptations Team 0151 296 7757 Fax: 0151 296 7758 Communication Aids Falls Team

products can be provided free on loan through local Community Equipment Services.

All Together Now! has teamed up with Liverpool Disabled Living Centre to help readers of all ages and abilities stay independent. If you have a question contact the team on 0151 296 7742. Minicom: 0151 296 7748.

0151 296 7769

Tel: 0151 296 7408

Assessment and provision of communication aids for people who live in Liverpool.

Lifehouse is a newTeam approach to providing services for disabled Adaptations Tel: and 0151older 296 7757 Installation of adaptations to safely people in managing in their ownroof home.will improve people in Liverpool.

Having allassist these services under one accessibility.

Falls Team Tel: 0151 296 7769 A multidisciplinary team providing practical advice and assessment for people who have fallen.

Services will be able to work together to provide the independent information, advice and practical assessment people need to make the rightTel: choices 0151 about 296 7782 Telecare service 7733 Advice, assessment and installation of Telecare equipment. equipment.

The existing services will be joined by others which will greatly increase theinformation range of information and available. call thethe service youadvice require or contact main reception forDay a For further further information call service you require or visitour a Lifehouse Open

A

If you receive the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance or War Pensioners Mobility Support you can apply to Route2mobility.

This is the part of the Motability Scheme that helps people pay for scooters or power chairs. www.motability.co.uk Tel, 0845 456 4566 There are other services that will help you find charities that provide grants including Charity Search www.charitysearch.org.uk Tel, 0117 982 4060 Turn2us www.turn2us.org.uk Tel, 0808 802 2000

It’s vital that you get the right mobility aid for your needs.

Don’t just go out and buy a scooter - do your homework first.

It’s a good idea to hire one for a short period to be sure it will be right for you.

Details of where you can hire mobility equipment will be available from your local Disabled Living Centre or Shopmobility scheme.

Liverpool Disabled Living Centre have put an information pack together which includes information on what you need to take into account and details of local retailers, hire and repair and breakdown services.

There are some helpful online guides, too, including: Scooters and Powered Wheelchairs: A guide to vehicles that can be used outdoors, at www.ricability.org.uk Your Guide to Getting a Mobility Scooter or Powered Wheelchair, at www.motability.co.uk Choosing a Scooter or Buggy at www.dlf.org.uk Get Mobile, at www.radar.org.uk

list ofifehouse Lifehouse Open Days.

Lifehouse Lifehouse Lifehouse ifehouse Units 4–5 Dempster Building Units 4–5 Dempster Building Summers Road, Brunswick Business Park Summers Road, Brunswick Business Park Liverpool 4BL Liverpool L3L3 4BL Main Reception: 0151 296 7733 Main Reception: 0151 296 7733 www.liverpoollifehouse.org www.liverpoollifehouse.org

Help on the line n BLACKBURN Independent Living Centre, Mill Hill St, Mill Hill, Blackburn.

Tel. 01254 269 220. n ELLESMERE PORT Pool Independent Living Centre, New Grosvenor Road.

Tel. 0151 337 6399. n HALTON Collier Street, Runcorn.

Tel. 01928 582 920 n HANDFORTH East Cheshire Independent Living Centre, Redsmere Road, Handforth Tel. 01625 374080. n HARTFORD Hartford Independent Living Centre, Hartford Business Park, Chester Road, Hartford, Nantwich Tel. 01605 881980. n LIVERPOOL Disabled Living Centre, Lifehouse, Summers Road, Brunswick Business Park, Liverpool.

Tel. 0151 296 7742.

Minicom 0151 296 7748. n MANCHESTER Assist UK, 4 St Chads Street, Manchester.

Tel. 0161 834 1044. n STOCKPORT St Thomas’s Hospital, Shawheath, Stockport.

Tel. 0161 419 4476. n WARRINGTON Beaufort Street, Warrington.

Tel. 01925 240064. n WILMSLOW Redesmere Road.

Tel. 01625 374080. n WIRRAL St Catherine’s Hospital, Birkenhead.

Tel. 0151 678 7272.

MIDLANDS n BIRMINGHAM St Marks Street, Springhill.

Tel. 0121 464 4942/9525 n DUDLEY St Giles Street, Netherley.

Tel. 01384 813 695 n SHREWSBURY The Lantern, Meadow Farm Drive.

Tel. 01743 210820 n WOLVERHAMPTON Bell Street.

Tel. 01902 553 648

Awkward Scissorhands

Q

I LOVE doing crafts but I’m finding scissors more and more difficult to handle – arthritis seems to be getting the best of me! Are there any that would be easier to handle?

A

THERE are easy grip scissors which only need very gentle pressure to cut.

These open automatically when you release pressure on the handle. Right and

left hand models are available and there is a good range of sizes for different types of work.

You can also get soft handled pressure absorbing scissors more suitable for heavier work, for example, in the kitchen.

The next open days at Liverpool DLC are: Wed September 1 (10am - 1pm) Tues September 21 (1pm - 4pm)

4195 ATN bogus caller august 2010:Layout 1

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Beat the bogus caller

Knock knock!

Who’s there?

• LOCK Home or away – keep all doors LOCKED

Be stranger aware!

• STOP Is anyone EXPECTED? Is the back door LOCKED? • CHAIN Put the CHAIN ON before opening the door • CHECK Ask for caller’s ID card Check it by PHONING 0845 746 2200 Or ask for your PASSWORD 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 often claim that there is an emergency and that they need to check the water supply; they will use this as an opportunity to trick themselves into customers’ homes claiming to be from United Utilities or 'the water board'. Once inside, they will distract the homeowner while they or an accomplice helps themselves to money and valuables.

Genuine United Utilities’ employees always carry ID cards and are happy to show this to you. They will never put pressure on you to get into your home and are happy for you to phone United Utilities

to check their identity.

And genuine 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.

To help you, we operate a ‘password protection’ scheme.

Joining the United Utilities 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.

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: • are older • have a disability • have a serious illness • have sight, hearing or learning difficulties Our services include: • personal notification of water shut-offs • large print, Braille and talking bills We also offer a free password scheme for all our customers.

To find out more call 0845 746 1100 or textphone 0808 143 1195

07/10/SD/4195

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All Together NOW!

August/September 2010

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

CARERS’ CENTRES

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 625950 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 8046 n MANCHESTER Arndale Centre. Tel 0161 839 4060 n NELSON. Tel 01282 692 502 n NORTHWICH, Vale Royal Tel 01606 353525 n ORMSKIRK, West Lancashire Tel 01695 570055 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 717445 n SHREWSBURY. Tel 01743 236900 n SOUTHPORT. Tel 01704 546 654 n ST HELENS. Tel 01744 613 388 n STOCKPORT. Tel 0161 666 1100 n WARRINGTON. Tel 01925 231941 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

Are you one of our winners . . ?

THE SIX lucky winners of our recent competition to win a collection of streptocarpus plants, courtesy of Dibleys Nurseries at Llandelidan, near Ruthin, were: Margaret Parsons, September Cottage, Prior Close, Wistaston, Cheshire. She writes: “This magazine is so informative for people affected by disability and those who are not. I am very impressed. (Picked up from Minshull’s Garden Centre, Crewe) Mrs P Atkinson, Ainsdale Close, Bebington, Wirral. “I love the varied articles. You treat us as we should be treated.” (Picked up from Wirral Metropolitan College) Mrs Cora Brock, Helsdale Road, Great

Sankey, Warrington. “I find out about things that I otherwise would not.” (Handed to be by a friend) Syd Rawcliffe, Alice Street, Accrington, Lancs. “Brilliant, thoroughly interesting publication.” (Picked up from Blackpool Tourist Office) Stuart Wild, Didsbury Park, Manchester.

“It’s a fascinating magazine, a really good read. It’s interesting, infomative and entertaining.”

John Williams, Blackpool Road, Fulwood, Preston. “I like the wide coverage given to all aspects of disability, especially where to go for help.” (Picked up from Harris library, Preston)

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 Dis Federation Tel 01606 888400 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 Inform.

Tel 0151 260 4076. 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 n WIRRAL 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 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 Tel 01253 792600 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 DOGS Tel 0118 983 5555 n HENSHAW’S 0161 872 1234 Tel 0151 227 1226 n LIVERPOOL: Bradbury Fields.Tel 0151 221 0888: Action for Bind Tel 0151 708 9008 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 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 Daf Association, Tel 01492 542235 n GUIDE

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 7767 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 733737 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

Email your news to us at news@allltogethernow.org .uk

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2010

All Together NOW!

31

Golden summer for Jade and Mark

I

MEDAL WINNERS: Mark Allen and Jade Carr

Same again!

ALMOST 200 young athletes competed in Greater Manchester’s disability games at Wigan.

Adam Blezard, at Wigan’s sports development unit, says he hopes to make the event an annual fixture in Wigan’s sporting calendar.

T’S BEEN a golden summer for Jade Carr and Mark Allen who triumphed at the European Heart and Lung Transplant Games in Vaxjo, Sweden.

Jade, from Runcorn, celebrated her 17th birthday in style after judges awarded her the Best Overall Female Athlete for her fantastic haul of five golds and a silver.

The Helsby High school student struck gold in the 100m, long jump, ball throw, badminton and table tennis, as well as taking the silver in the women’s 4x4 relay.

Jade, who trains with Halton & Frodsham Harriers athletic club,

Halton table tennis club, and Frodsham badminton club, was just four when she received a new heart.

Since then she has won an incredible 61 medals.

She said: “Winning the medals was great - but this was a fantastic opportunity to promote organ donation.”

Meanwhile, there were also big celebrations at Halton borough council’s press office when they heard of Mark Allen’s success in his first transplant games.

The Halton press officer clinched a gold in the table tennis doubles event and two bronze medals in

table tennis singles and in the Swedish ball throwing event.

Mark, 38, recevied a double lung transplant in 2005 but only has 22 per cent lung capacity.

He said his main problem was stamina, as he was competing against people with 100 per cent lung capacity.

“I did get very tired,” he said, “but luckily I got a break between each game. My age group was the largest and I had to play 19 games to win my table tennis medals.”

Next stop for Jade and Mark is the British Transplant Games, taking place in Bath, August 19-22.

RIDING HIGH!

Sad loss PETER Jackson, a pivotal figure in the development and growth of the Great Britain Wheelchair Basekball Association, sadly passed away in July.

Peter’s contribution to the sport, particularly within the North West, had been outstanding.

As chairman of the Vikings wheelchair club in St Helens, he was also very much a passionate supporter of all local regional junior and women’s teams.

Our thoughts are with his family and friends.

Stable stars clean up in national finals

R

IDERS from Beechley Stables returned with glory from the national disabled riding championships at Hartpury, Gloucestershire.

Seven of the Liverpool stable’s riders – and three horses – were presented with a total of 17 rosettes from one of Britain’s top Paralympic riders, Ricky Balshaw.

Alison Greenidge took first place in the Countryside Challenge event with a polished performance.

Along with Tracey Ledlie and Martin Little, Alison also contributed to Friends of Beechley Stables coming third in the team event.

Alex Matthews, Leighton Kirk, Sam Walsh and Nathan Handly, from Springfield Special School, also won the Arts & Craft section with a beautiful group sculpture of a rocking horse.

CLASS PERFORMANCE: Alison Greenidge on her way to a gold at the national championships Support teacher Joanne Duncan said: “We are delighted. The children really look forward to visiting Beechley Stables and respond well to the calming influences of the horses.

“They also benefit physically from the horse’s motion which warms and stretches their legs THE call has gone out for 70,000 come to our website to find out volunteers of all ages to welcome the and which also improves balance and posture.” volunteers for the London Paralympic everything they need to know about world to London and give London 2012 Councillor Wendy Simon, the city council’s and Olympic Games - the biggest volunteering in 2012.” our own distinctive British imprint.” cabinet member for culture, said: “They can all post-war volunteer recruitment Hugh Robertson, Sport and Olympics London Mayor Boris Johnson said: be rightly proud of their achievements, which campaign in the UK’s history.

Minister, said: “As I have seen in Turin, “This is literally a once in a lifetime reflect the hard work and dedication of the staff Sebastian Coe, Chair of London Beijing, Vancouver and the Melbourne opportunity. It is the great people of this and volunteers at Beechley Stables.”

Organising Committee of the Olympic Commonwealth Games, volunteers are country, with their warm welcome and The Beechley team comprised: Alison and Paralympic Games, said: “Our the public face of every major sports ‘can-do’ attitude, on whom the success Greenidge, Tracey Ledlie, Martin Little, Daniel volunteers will be called Games Makers event, playing a vital role in the of our Games will depend.

Rigby, Beth Ryan, Kate to reflect the important role they will play spectator and athlete experience.

“So my message is simple: Your Fitzgerald, and Carol TAKE ME HOME! in staging the 2012 Games.

“If London is to be a friendly and Games need you!”

McGowan, and Zara www.london2012.com/volunteering “I urge anyone who is interested to successful Games, we will need Abraham.

2012 Games need YOU!

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All Together NOW!

August/September 2010

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Amputees warm up in style WITH a dazzling display of ball control, Great Britain’s amputee football team crushed France 10-0 in Manchester.

Manager and captain Dave Tweed said the result augured well for the World Amputee World Cup, taking place in Arengtina in October.

“The team showed what they were made of. If they play like

that in Argentina, we’re in with a real chance in the World Cup.” The GB team squad comprises: Tyrone Williams (Birmingham); Sean Kelly (Stretford, Manchester); Tom Jordan (High Peak, Glossop); Martin Heald (Kirkham, Lancs); Lee Dobson (Irlam, Salford); Michael Chambers (Leyland, Preston); Ben Houghton (Long Eaton,

Derby); Darren Mitchell (Ipswich); Adam McGuire (Stretford, Manchester); Ray Westbrook (Portsmouth); Dave Tweed, captain (Leigh, Manchester); Dave Gibson, player coach; (Anthony Mitchell (Liverpool); Graham Brade (Stretford, Manchester); David Jarvis (Leicester); Paul Findlay (HM Forces)

TEE TIME B

RITAIN’S top disabled golfers are all set to tee-off in the second annual Disabled British Open golf championships.

Seventy-two golfers with varying disabilities and handicaps ranging from 36 to scratch will compete in the event over the 7,138-yard, Robert E Cupp-designed East course, which has hosted two European Opens and seen the likes of major winners Nick Faldo, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh, Jose Maria Olazabal, Nick Price and Ian Woosnam walk its fairways.

Last year’s inaugural televised event at Old Thorns, in Hampshire – the biggest and most inclusive event in the country for disabled golfers – was a massive hit with all available places taken within

Golfers set for national glory . . . weeks of the launch.

Andy Barwell, from the Azalea Group, the Hampshirebased organisers, said: “Golfers came from all over the UK and beyond to compete which made it a hugely competitive event. The quality of some of the play was quite staggering and the reaction to the television coverage on Sky Sports was huge.”

Derek Howe, general manager of East Sussex National GC, said: “We are honoured to host the second DBO and look forward to

welcoming all the competitors and supporters.

“It’s the most inclusive pandisability event in the country and deserves to be played at a venue which can offer a championship golf course and a first-class hotel.

“We are delighted that the organisers recognised the quality of our facilities and we will work together to ensure the event is a thoroughly memorable time for all concerned.”

The championships take place at the East Sussex National Golf Club, September 20-21.

To join the band of volunteers or find out more about competing contact Andy Barwell on 07961 315520 or at andy@theazaleagroup.com

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Lapthorne clinches first big title BRITAIN’S Andrew Lapthorne paired up with Sweden’s Johan Andersson to win his first Super Series title at the 21st British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships in Nottingham.

The quad doubles final began superbly for the second seeds as they dropped just the fourth game en route to taking the opening set in 13 minutes against top seeds Sarah Hunter (Canada) and David Wagner (United States).

However, Hunter and Wagner need just the same amount of time to race through the second set without reply.

Lapthorne’s dream of a first Super Series title seemed to be disappearing as Hunter and Wagner went 3-0 ahead in the final set, but an amazing run of six games in succession clinched a remarkable 6-1, 0-6, 6-3 victory.

“Once we got back to 3-3 I was pretty confident we had them and we never looked back,” said the Middlesexbased player, who had lost to Wagner in a close quad singles quarter-final earlier in the week.

A second British victory proved elusive for Somerset’s Lucy Shuker and her French partner Florence AlixGravellier in the women’s doubles final.

Despite a brave performance, top seeds Aniek van Koot (Netherlands) and Aniek van Koot (Belgium) secured 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory.

World No. 4 Maikel Scheffers (Netherlands) won the men’s singles final.r.