Issue50

THE PAPER WITH A HEALTHY OUTLOOK ON LIFE! TAKE ME HOME!

£553 HAMPER p5 WIN! WIN! WIN!

AUGUST_SEPTEMBER, 2013

‘ We should all support this brilliant charity newspaper’ — Bob Bryant BEM, health campaigner

GOVERNMENT’S NEW JOBS’ INITIATIVE

12 CROCUS PACKS TO BE WON p25 !

ROBO PETS!

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EN T

ISSUE SPECIAL

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THE DAY SIR PAUL TOPPLED US ON GOOGLE

UN

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— they’re helping people with dementia

opening doors . . . broadening minds

ONE OF THE LARGEST DISABILITY EXHIBITIONS IN THE UK

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TURN TO PAGE 13

TAKE ME HOME!

One-stop site for all YOUR needs!

All Together NOW!

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What’s inside NEWS

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WIN A HAMPER

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FAMILY PAGE

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THE MORGAN FOUNDATION

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LIVERPOOL COMMUNITY HEALTH p9 GETTING ON

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INDEPENDENT LIVING

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MERSEYTRAVEL

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MOTORZONE

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OPINION: SIR BERT MASSIE

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HEALTHZONE

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SKILLZONE

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HOROSCOPES

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GARDENING

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THEATRE GUIDE

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PUZZLEZONE

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CONTACT BOARD

p30

SPORTZONE

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n All Together NOW! is a

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

August/September 2013

NEW COMPANY PROFILE:

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NEW and exciting one-stop website that helps people find – and buy – the right equipment to retain their independence got a big thumbs up from visitors to this year’s Disability Awareness Day.

“We are doing this because we believe we can make a difference to a marketplace for independent living that is not great at the moment,” says Really Useful Stuff CEO Kay Allen OBE. “We believe we can stimulate some healthy competition amongst suppliers, helping to improve choice and price. The site will be accessible and mobileenabled – so you can shop on the move,” Kay adds.

The website also takes the pain out of e-commerce for charities, suppliers and disabled entrepreneurs.

It gives them control and support to add their goods and services into a new and

reallyusefulstuff.co

n KAY Allen OBE has served as a Commissioner both on the Disability Rights Commission and the Equality and Human Rights Commission. n Kay chaired the scrutiny panel for the Sayce review of Access to Work. n She also held senior positions for B&Q, BSKYB and Royal Mail – and launched a retail range for B&Q called Daily Living Made Easier.

innovative marketplace for products to make living easier – that’s growing fast.

However, Really Useful Stuff is not an advice site nor is it all about medical equipment.

Kay says: “The website strives to create an online community where people can share tips and product reviews. It’s about finding products that are well designed and look great.

“We need to empower disabled people as consumers and improve product choice and price.

There is a real need to get better product choice out into the marketplace.

“It’s also about giving something back. Really Useful Stuff is powered by the innovative Xperedon charity fundraising platform and 1% of every purchase is donated to charity.”

James Caan, one of the entrepreneurs on BBC TV Dragons Den, said: “Really Useful Stuff’s website is just what the independent living market needs.

“Now people can see for themselves, quickly and easily, all in one place, what products are available from what suppliers at what price.” n www.reallyusefulstuff.co

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

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

NEXT EDITION: Tuesday 1 October 2013 All Together NOW! is published by All Together Now! Ltd, The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP Registered Charity No.1106387

On your marks for Paralympian Day BRITAIN’S Paralaymians and disabled and deaf artists are returning to to celebrate National Paralympic Day – Saturday, September 7– almost one year since the London Games ended.

The event, at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will feature the Mayor of London’s Liberty Festival, the annual festival of deaf and disabled artists.

Among highlights will be “The Limbless Knight”, an aerial performance from award-winning theatre company, Graeae.

Andrea Begley, who recently triumphed on the BBC TV series The Voice, will be singing, and there will be street theatre, outdoor dance, mass choreography, visual arts, live music, film and food!

The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said: “This free event will be a fitting finale to another outstanding summer of sport, culture and entertainment in this magnificent new park.” n www.queenelizabetholympicpark.

co.uk/events/2013/6/disability-sport

Anne’s a diamond TV AND radio presenter Anne Diamond has given her support to a national charity which empowers limbless military personnel.

BLESMA - The Limbless Veterans was formed in the years following the First World War and became a national charity in 1932.

Anne said: “They deserve every ounce of our support.” n Tel: 020 8590 1124, www.blesma.org

Who to contact

Advertising/sponsorship

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Autism and OAPs

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RESEARCH is urgently required if the long-term health and support needs of elderly people with autism are to be understood and met, the UK’s leading autism charity warns.

Autism is under-diagnosed in the elderly and the National Autistic Society has found that less than half (41%) of English local authorities have a diagnostic pathway in place for adults, despite it being an obligation following the 2009 Autism Act. NAS boss Mark Lever said: “There is still a tendency to think of autism as a condition that just affects children, when there are older people with autism in all our communities who need our support.

“Too many older adults with autism are missing out on diagnosis and too many are still waiting to be assessed. This must change.”

www.alltogethernow.org.uk NEWS

August/September 2013

All Together NOW!

50th ISSUE SPECIAL

Are YOU up for the Panto National?

NUMBER ONE: All Together NOW! is now back where it once belonged – at the top of the Google charts!

The day Sir Paul’s singing toppled us on Google . . .

EVERYONE at All Together NOW! loves The Beatles.

So we didn’t mind too much when a video of Sir Paul McCartney’s Brazilian concert overtook us at the top of the Google search engine list!

The YouTube clip of Paul singing the Sixties’ classic All Together Now went viral.

But, luckily for us, it was only temporary and we’re now back to where we once belonged!

Meanwhile, Sir Paul has just returned to his old stomping ground at LIPA, the Liverpool School for Performing Arts – and catching up with his older brother, Mike, who is a massive fan of our charity paper.

TOGETHER WE CAN DO SO MUCH MORE MIKE McCARTNEY

THE RACE is on to find some very “horsey” people wanting to take part in a very special Grand National at Aintree’s world-famous racecourse - as pantomime horses!

The Grandest Charity National is being staged to help hard-hit charities raise some vital funds.

Organisers LCVS/United Way is also hoping to set a world record with the most pantomime horses in a race.

There will be prizes on offer for the best dressed team and a £500 charity prize for the team that wins the most races.

Over 2,000 people are expected to attend the free event on Sunday September 15 (1pm-5pm) Entry for a team of four costs £350.

Closing date for entries is Friday September 6. n Contact 0151 227 5177 n www.lcvs.org.uk

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VERY warm welcome to our 50th issue! When we launched our FREE charity paper in 2005 few people really believed that we would still be battling on eight years later!

Well, we are – and we now have almost HALF A MILLION readers!

But there’s no denying how tough it has been to get this far – especially when so many paid-for newspapers are folding, due to declining circulation figures.

We are bucking the trend in grand style.

More and more hospitals and health centres are asking for extra copies for their staff, patients and visitors.

We’re convinced we could DOUBLE our readership to ONE MILLION very quickly – if we had the resources.

That’s our dream . . .

Now, though, I am just so extremely thankful to our loyal partners and sponsors.

50

Get snapping

TH ISSUE SPECIAL

They recognise the vital social contribution All Together NOW! is making - and know that their messages are reaching vast numbers of people, many of whom can’t get the kind of news and information contained in All Together NOW! elsewhere.

I hope you all enjoy this very special issue.

We’re back in the autumn – Tuesday October 2 to be precise!

Tom Dowling, editor

centre insert

THANKS to the hundreds of readers who completed our Mental Health survey.

The response was overwhelming!

We are currently putting a bid together to see if we can attract some funding to launch a new Mental Health section in All Together NOW! Watch this space . . .

CALLING all you snappers! On The Move, the annual Disabled Photographers Society competition, has just been launched and organisers want entries that depict travel and leisure.

The opportunities to be creative are vast – and the prize fund, too, is bigger than ever. Each of three category winners will gain a Merlin Annual Pass for a disabled person and carer, offering entry to top UK attractions such as the London Eye, LEGOLAND Windsor and Madame Tussauds; a bundle of Calumet photographic accessories and £150 cash.

The three age categories are under 12, 12-18 and over 18 years.

Closing date, October 31. n Contact 01344 750 400 n www.disabledphotographers.co.uk

Summit special A TEAM of novice mountain walkers put on their boots and scaled Mount Snowdon, raising more than £40,000 for the Macmillan cancer charity.

“It was really tough going in places,” said Diane Jones, who was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago, “but it was made much easier by having the company of some truly remarkable women!” n www.justgiving.com/Diane-Jones007 n www.life-climb.co.uk

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Gizza job, we can do that!

All Together NOW!

NEWS

Be creative and win a £6k travel grant DO YOU help older people in creative and performing arts, either via an arts group, health authority or care provider?

If so, then this could be your chance to see other parts of the world - and learn new ways of involving more older people in the arts.

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust is awarding another 10 Travelling Fellowships in their 2014 Arts and Older People / Creative Ageing category, and the application process is now open.

Medical and care practitioners, artists, community workers and volunteers working with older people are just some examples of people who are being encouraged to apply.

Successful applicants will receive an average Fellowship grant of £6,000, covering travel, food, accommodation and insurance for approximately six weeks overseas.

Deadline for applications: September 24. n Tel. 020 7799 1660, www.wcmt.org.uk

Mental health shock MIND, the mental health charity, reports a 50% increase in calls to their national helpline service within the past year – including a 30% increase in calls relating to suicide.

In 2012/13 there were 1,546 calls from people who had experienced suicidal thoughts, had taken steps to end their own life, or had concerns about a loved one.

TV presenter Anna Williamson, Mind’s new ambassador, has ANXIETY: Anna battled severe anxiety and panic attacks for many years. She said: “Since I first shared my own experiences, I’ve heard from so many others in the same position.

It’s easy to forget you’re not alone, that actually one in four people experience a mental health problem every year.” n The Mindinfoline: 0300 123 3393.

Hate crime changes LAW changes could make it easier for prosecutors to bring disability hate crime charges to court – and for judges to impose harsher sentences.

The Law Commission has suggested new sentencing guidelines on the use of section 146, and for any hate crime element to be recorded on the offender’s criminal record and the Police National Computer.

It also suggests that crimes such as assault or criminal damage that are currently prosecuted as “aggravated” offences – with higher maximum sentences – on the grounds of race or religious hate could be extended to hostility on the grounds of disability, sexual orientation or transgender identity.

The commission also want to extend laws on publication of material intended to stir up hatred against people on the grounds of their race, religion or sexual orientation.

August/September 2013

Bosses urged to employ more disabled staff

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RIME Minister David Cameron has urged Britain’s employers to take on more disabled workers.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

50th ISSUE SPECIAL

SIR BERT, seated, received an Honorary Degree of Doctorate of Laws from Sir Howard Newby, ViceChancellor of the University of Liverpool.

Sir Bert was appointed as an OBE in 1984, a CBE in 2000, and knighted in 2007

It’s all just patronising waffle, say activistsg

DISABLED activists reacted angrily to the Government’s disability jobs conference, writes JOHN PRING Neil Barnfather, who has started 19 companies – seven of which have become multi-nationals – and is now chief executive of the web hosting firm eHosting, with 10,000 employees, said: “The message from the last year is that you can be a Paralympian and throw a discus or roll round a track, or you can be a welfare cheat.”

He said that the efforts big businesses were making to employ disabled people were “pathetic”.

Simon Stevens, a disabled entrepreneur, said: “It is just patronising waffle. This could have been 1993. It hasn’t changed.

Disability employment hasn’t changed.”

Other campaigners took over the Government’s #disabilityconfident Twitter hashtag.

Lisa Egan tweeted: “I used to be #disabilityconfident.

Now I read in the paper every day that I’m a waste of tax payer’s money. That crushes confidence.”

Dr Sarah Campbell tweeted: “I was inspiring and a role model, got awards for it. The illness progressed more. Now called scrounger.”

Speaking at the UK’s first Disability Employment Conference, the PM said: “I’m always talking about Britain competing and succeeding in this great global race. But what hope do we have in this global race if we lose out on the talent and skills of one-fifth of our population?

“What hope do we have as a country if a fifth of our people are excluded from mainstream society?”

The conference, attended by more than 300 bosses and linked via the Internet to six panels of employers in cities across the country, launched a two-year campaign to help Party to seek ways of LEADING campaigner for businesses to become more “disability enabling disabled citizens to disabled people – and confident”. play a full role in society and All Together NOW! coumnist It comes as new research shows to provide the support to – Sir Bert Massie is to lead a that more disabled jobseekers cite bring this about. The report new Labour Party-backed employers’ attitudes (42%) as a of the taskforce will suggest taskforce looking at ways to barrier to work than transport ways forward.” break the link between difficulties (37%). disability and poverty.

Mr Cameron added: “We need to Sir Bert, who recently SOUNDING OFF: p18 break the myth about the complexities received an honoroary n THE number of disabled of employing disabled people, or to doctorate from Liverpool people in “absolute” poverty put it more simply – to give employers University for his work for rose by 100,000 during the confidence. disabled peope, said: “Even coalition’s second year in “That is why we are launching this in an age of limited resources office.

“Disability Confident” campaign.” there are more humane and In 2010-11, there were 3.6 Minister for Disabled People and better ways of supporting million disabled people in Wirral West MP Esther McVey said: disabled people than this absolute poverty. By 2011-12, “This is the start of a campaign for Government’s unprecedented this had risen to 3.7 million. employers to better recognise the assault which has left DWP defines disability considerable talents disabled people millions of disabled people poverty as an individual have to offer and challenge some of facing greater poverty. living in low income in a the preconceptions around employing “I welcome the family where at least one disabled people. determination of the Labour member is disabled.

“We’ve already helped boost employment opportunities for disabled people through our schemes and we n Providing opportunities, through the regional Business Breakfasts – funded from are committed to doing everything possible Access to Work programme, for employers to the £350m budget for support for people with to help disabled people into mainstream engage disabled people on work experience, disabilities and health conditions.

Other plans work.” traineeship and supported internships. include: There are 6.9 million disabled people of n A £500k two-year advertising campaign n Provide advice and support for employers working age in Great Britain. In the past 10 targeting employers’ and workforce attitudes; through the new years the employment rate for disabled n Supporting disabled people and media website: www.gov.uk/ people has increased by 4% from 42.2% to organisations to increase dwp/disabilityconfident 46.3%.

TAKE ME HOME! media.representation and portrayal of Among the measures to help businesses disabled people in mainstream programmes.

SKILLZONE: p23 the Government plan to host a series of

Sir Bert’s poverty challenge

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

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2013

All Together NOW!

ENTER NOW!

WIN this ÂŁ553 hamper!

Your chance to make it a Christmas you’ll remember forever!

W

E MAY be in the middle of the best summer for years – but the countdown to Christmas has already started!

And for one very lucky All Together NOW! reader it’s going to be the best Christmas they’ve had for ages!

We’ve teamed up again with one of our key sponsors, Park, to give you a fantastic chance to win their top-of-the-range Christmas hamper.

The Empire hamper is worth £553.50 – and it will be all yours if you win our super competition.

This monster hamper contains a huge range 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.

And, as an extra gift, you will also get a Christmas table decoration – perfect for your Christmas table.

For more than 45 years Park has been providing top quality hampers for hundreds of thousands of customers across the country.

More than 400,000 people from all over the UK are currently budgeting for Christmas with Park.

Park CEO Chris Houghton said: “We are delighted to offer readers another chance to win our top-of-the-range Christmas hamper. It’s a fantastic hamper – the perfect Christmas prize for any family. “Our previous competitions in All Together NOW! have all been extremely popular. We are confident that this one will attract even more interest.�

So get your entries in now! n For more information about budgeting for Christmas with Park, go to:

www.getpark.co.uk

PREP53C14-AllTogeterNow-262x165-Aug_Layout 1 29/07/2013 15:00 Page 1

ALL you have to do to stand a chance of winning your dream hamper is answer these two questions: 1) How long has Park been operating?

2) How many people are currently budgeting for Christmas with Park?

The first correct entry drawn out of the hat on Friday, November 8, 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 paper – 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 RULES: 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 winning entry must agree to having a photograph taken for promotional purposes.

Plan for a debt free Christmas 2014 G Spread the cost of Christmas 2014 with easy weekly instalments and say goodbye to huge credit card bills in the New Year G Choose from a wide range of gift cards and vouchers. Including Love2shop vouchers which can be spent at over 20,000 high street stores. Plus, we are adding new retailers all the time to give you even more choice!

G Enjoy your Christmas shopping knowing it’s all been paid for in advance

the power behind the card

flexecashÂŽ is the pre-paid card platform which issues the Love2shop cards. This facility is provided by Park Card Services who are Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority to issue electronic money. FRN: 900016.

Please send me a FREE PARK Christmas 2014 Catalogue

PREP53C14

Please use Block Capitals

(Mrs/Miss/Ms/Mr):

(I am over 18)

FIRST NAME (in full):

SURNAME:

ADDRESS:

Christmas Savings Club POSTCODE:

TEL (incl Area Code):

ORDER ONLINE TODAY

MOBILE:

EMAIL:

DATE OF BIRTH:

Post FREE to Park, FREEPOST RRYK-BACB-HSSA, Birkenhead CH41 7ED DATA PROTECTION: By placing an order with us and/or giving data to us 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 us 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 tick this box You should be aware that your account with Park is not a bank account or equivalent and that any pre-payments made to Park are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Your prepayments are however held in an independent trust designed to improve protection of pre-payments made by you and agents in respect of orders. You can see full details of the trust on our website.

C P A CHRISTMAS improved security for savers

PREPAYMENT ASSOCIATION

We are a founder member of the CPA which has developed a Code of Practice, which we must adhere to in order to provide customers with the best possible service and to improve the protection of customers’ money.

www.parkmagazine.co.uk Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ParkChristmasSavings

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FAMILIES FAMILIES

All Together NOW!

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TAKE ME HOME!

August/September 2013

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Carers stressed to the limit Millions don’t know where to go for help

M

ILLIONS of family carers are putting their health at risk – simply because they don’t know what support is available to them.

Findings from surveys conducted in the North West and across the country reveals that nine out of 10 carers felt stressed as a result of their caring roles.

More than half have experienced depression, and had difficulties in their relationships with partners and friends.

The findings, from the report Prepared To Care?, show that support is not being made available to new carers with often devastating consequences.

Helen Clarke, manager of Carers Week, a consortium of national charities, said: “The impact of caring for a loved one or friend is an issue that we cannot ignore.

“Every day across the country, 6,000

CARERS CENTRES - p30 people take on new caring responsibilities and too often they face the challenges of caring without support.

Becoming a carer can happen overnight and without information and guidance, carers can be left feeling isolated and alone.

“The figures clearly show that carers aren’t being offered support and if they are, it can often be wrong or not the full information.

“The consequences are huge, so it’s vital that GPs, health and social care professionals and the Government all play a role to ensure that carers are offered the support they deserve from day one.”

Charlotte Argyle, Carers Support manager at Macmillan Cancer Support, added: “This research shows how

unsupported carers really are in the UK. These shocking figures highlight how the current system of identifying and signposting carers to support is failing.

“Carers want to look after their family or friends with cancer – but it is often at the expense of their own mental and physical health.

“It is time to tackle the caring crisis, and ensure carers are identified and given the information and support they need from day one” The findings of the North West survey are backed up by a report from leading disability charity, Vitalise.

Chris Simmonds, the charity's chief executive, said: "Clearly more needs to be done to reach out to this army of invisible carers across the UK." n There are around 6.5 million carers in the UK.

SIGHTLINE VISION Northwest

Sight Loss Sudden, progressive or long term loss of sight can be very traumatic to the person as well as to family and friends.

Visual impairment may combine with other disabilities/mobility problems or bereavement and loss of independence.

Sightline's main beneficiary group are individuals (and their families) that have experienced a sudden or progressive sight loss and are experiencing difficulties in their daily living.

We can help to alleviate these difficulties by signposting service users to the appropriate services and support groups.

Supporting you and your family

We provide essential emotional support to people at the onset and progression of loss of sight.

The Sightline service is staffed by visually impaired Volunteers, including our Co-ordinator.

We offer the following services

z

z

z z z

Emotional support/listening service. Volunteers will offer a listening ear and befriending service dealing with a range of enquiries from individuals coming to terms with their sight loss/visual impairment volunteers are trained in listening skills and abide by BACP guidelines.

Practical signposting/referral service. Sightline will build on its comprehensive directory of services that have been checked for suitability by our Charity to signpost and refer enquiries we receive based on issues that arise during telephone helpline calls. Sightline aims to be a link to specialist services for those facing the trauma of sight loss.

The Service operates every evening, including weekends, from 6pm to 10pm.

Who can call? Everyone including carers, family, friends of those affected.

Every call is treated with confidentiality and respect.

Festivals out of tune!

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OUNG disabled music fans are demanding better treatment at rock festivals – and have taken their case to Parliament.

The live music industry is out of tune with young disabled people, MPs were told by members of Trailblazers, the young section of the Muscular Dystrophy Group.

Their Access All Areas? report highlights the barriers they face buying tickets, locating adequate seating and accessing facilities at venues.

Trailblazers members have been asked to leave venues before events were over to avoid disrupting other members of the audience.

Others say that ticketing websites are failing to offer an option to book accessible tickets online, which often means they face lengthy periods on hold on premium-rate telephone lines.

A survey found more than threequarters of respondents believe that booking tickets for a live music event puts them at a “substantial disadvantage” in comparison with non-disabled people, with 94% saying that last-minute ticketing websites do not cater for disabled people.

Nine in 10 said that more inclusive seating designs would make “a big difference”.

Trailblazers want music venues to sign up to the best practice charter drawn up by the accessible live music campaign Attitude is Everything n Tel. 020 7383 7979. n www.attitudeiseverything.org.uk

NO SUCH problems for young rockers at Coventry-based Hereward College.

The college teamed up with organisers of the Godiva Festival 2013 to offer care breaks to young people with disabilities.

Alice Davey, college development manager, said: “We believe we are the first and only respite care provider in the country to offer this type of break.”

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2013

All Together NOW!

How we can help . . .

H

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

Difference.

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

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

Created in 2001 by

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

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

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

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

Carry on camping!

O

NE OF the many inspiring stories from last year’s Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards was how for more than 30 years a group of dedicated volunteers have been providing free or lowcost holidays for disadvantaged children.

The Longmynd Adventure Camp, set in the beautiful south Shropshire hills, gets no regular Government or local authority funding and yet has managed to do so much to help children experience the countryside – often for the first time in their lives.

Children can sleep under canvas or in a dormitory and take part in a wide range of activities including canoeing, COUNTRYSIDE ADVENTURE: orienteering, a visit to a Victorian Children from the OLLY club working farm, BBQ, and all kinds at the Longmynd camp of sports.

It’s no wonder they scooped even been out of Liverpool before. two of our prestigious awards – “Many thanks to Kim March and Longmynd won the Best his team for being so generous with Entrepreneurial Charity category their time and facilities – and for and volunteer Kim March was helping change the lives of those recognised for his sterling work at who visit the camp.” the camp.

This summer, children from Team Since then we have been working Oasis (Liverpool) and Women’s with the charity to help even more Enterprising Breakthrough children enjoy the adventure of this (Birkenhead) will be visiting the unique holiday camp. camp.

Among them was a group of (We are always on the lookout to children from the OLLY club from sponsor other deserving groups) the Liverpool-based Families Fighting for Justice charity. n For more information about A spokesman for the OLLY group Longmynd Adventure Camp visit said: “We had a fantastic time even www.longmyndcamp.org.uk/ though it rained every day! contact.php “Some of the children had never

Fun time, Finlay!

WE LOVE to hear your stories of how funding from The Morgan Foundation has given your charity a new lease of life, or enabled more families to overcome hardship.

It makes our job worthwhile! n Please get in touch via Facebook, Twitter (@MorganFound), email, our website, or phone us on 01829 782800.

SEVEN-year-old Finlay called in to the Children Today office and gave staff a real treat – showing off his new powered wheelchair, supplied using the proceeds of last year’s Morgan Foundation Charity Golf Day and Auction.

Thanks to this very specialised chair, Finlay, who has cerebral palsy, is enjoying a more independent lifestyle.

Finlay’s parents said: “Finlay thinks his new wheels are fantastic. The powerchair allows him to move around school and in the community independently.

“As a parent you want to watch your child grow and become more independent and the powerchair gives him the mobility that he needs.

“Finlay can now make his own decisions about where he wants to be without having to rely on someone else to take him there.

“We are very grateful for the support given to Finlay by Children Today and the Morgan Foundation.” n www.childrentoday.org.uk

www.morganfoundation.co.uk Tel. 01829 782800

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All Together NOW!

August/September 2013

Supporting Supporting banking current and former families bank and workers retirees and their with families life’s with life’s challenges Challenges challenges My Home Home My

My Wellbeing My Wellbeing

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

the experience experience to the to care, care, the knowledge knowledge to the to help help

My My Money Money

We work in partnership with some of the UK’s leading charities to provide the banking community with support

We help with information, advice and financial support.

Find out more, visit www.bwcharity.org.uk or call our FREE helpline: 0800 0234 834

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2013

All Together NOW!

The Over-50s step to it YOU ARE never too old for exercise – as the Over-50 Athletes clearly demonstrated at the annual Liveability sport day!

GOOD SPORTS: Cllr Gerard Woodhouse, Christine Flanagan (South Liverpool Homes), and Dianne Singleton, Service lead for Liveability

Councillor Gerard Woodhouse, Mayoral Lead for Older People in Liverpool, said: “We know that over 160,000 Liverpool residents are between 50 and 90 years of age – and that this number is set to increase dramatically in the next few years, so helping to keep people active and healthy later in life really is an increasingly important priority for health services.”

Liveability is an NHS nurse-led service that provides instructor-led exercise classes and gym sessions to help promote health and independence among older people. It also provides home assessments to help reduce the risk of falls and social isolation.

During the event, Christine Flanagan, from South Liverpool Homes, presented a cheque for £500 to the Fifty Plus Charity, which closely supports the service. n Liveability, tel 0151 234 1660.

What a service!

A

MINI army of young wheelchairusers gave Liverpool’s Lord Mayor the runaround on the basketball court.

SLAM DUNK: Liverpool Lord Mayor Councillor Gary Millar wins a few face-saving points

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ANNUAL GENERAL & OFFICIAL M E E T I N G OPENING

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The Lord Mayor, Cllr Gary Millar, was helping to launch the city’s Children’s Wheelchair In A Day scheme at Lifehouse, home of Liverpool’s Wheelchair Service.

He said: “This new service will make a real difference to disabled youngsters throughout Liverpool.

“It was an incredibly inspiring and actionpacked day, and I think a great deal of fun was had by all.”

Under the scheme, young wheelchair users will now be able to be assessed for, and provided with, a wheelchair to fit their specific clinical needs – all on the same day.

The event gave children a chance to take part in a wide range of creative arts and activity sessions including wheelchair basketball – with coaching from the Greenbank Sports Academy and the Vikings Wheelchair Basketball Club – and wheelchair football, with support from the LFC Foundation.

Helen Lockett, Director of Operations and Executive Nurse for Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust, said: “This is a fantastic new initiative which will totally transform the way wheelchairs are provided to children and young people.”

Christine McGhee, service manager for Liverpool Wheelchair Service, added: “I also want to add my thanks to each of our event sponsors, Sunrise Medical, Invacare, Specialised Orthotic Services (SOS), RMS and Consolar for supporting this event and helping to make it such a success.” n Liverpool Wheelchair Service also launched a competition inviting children from special schools across the city to design them a new mascot or logo for the service. The winner will be announced at the Trust’s AGM on September 19 at Aintree Racecourse.

19 SEPTEMBER 2013 Baylis Suite, Liverpool Innovation Park, Digital Way, Liverpool, L7 9NJ 12-1PM Registration and Marketplace 1PM-3.30PM AGM 4.30-6.00PM Official Opening Our Annual General Meeting will provide you with an opportunity to meet a number of our services to see the outstanding work they have achieved over the last year. We will also present our Annual Report and Financial Accounts for 2012/13.

The AGM will be followed by the Official Opening of the Trusts’ new head office at Innovation Park.

To book your place (and advise of any special requirements) contact LCH Communications Team, LCH.Communications@Liverpoolch.nhs.uk or 0151 295 3131. @Liverpoolch #LCHAGM

LIFESAVER: James, left, donated a kidney to his identical twin, Tim

How YOU can be a lifesaver LIVERPOOL Community Health NHS Trust wants more people to join the NHS Organ Donor Register.

Among staff members championing the message is James Brown, head of communications, who donated a kidney to his identical twin earlier this year, and Jeanette Pilsbury, head of adult services, who underwent a lifesaving liver transplant for her mum.

James said: “Being able to help save my brother’s life meant so much, but it was the support of my colleague Jeanette that really helped me through my experience.

“There were so many physical and emotional effects of going through the transplant process that I didn’t expect, and Jeanette was there to listen and reassure me that it was all very normal.”

Jeanette added: “It’s an incredible thing to give the gift of life back to someone who has been told they have just months left to live, and I would definitely encourage others to consider registering to become a donor too.

“Being a live donor is a unique experience and is hugely rewarding, but there is limited support after the operation and recovery.

“We now want to see what can be done locally to create a support network so that potential donors and those who have donated, have people that they can talk to and share their experiences with, who understand what they have been through.”

Around 10,000 people are currently waiting for a transplant operation in the UK, and at least three die every day because not enough organs are available. n To find out more about becoming a blood or organ donor call the NHS Donor Line on 0300 123 23 23 or text ‘SAVE’ to 62323.

You can also register at: www.transplantweek.co.uk

www.liverpoolcommunityhealth.nhs.uk

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GETTING ON . . .

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All Together NOW!

August/September 2013

Life is fragile, handle with care . . .

WISE WINNIE Top up your Vitamin D . . . helps to solve some of the problems faced by older people

Q

I value a close friendship with a lady of my own age, which is 84.

We are both widows and for years I have considered her to be my best friend.

In the last 12 months her health has deteriorated and I seem to have taken on the role of chauffeur, driving her to the shops, the doctor, the hospital, the chiropodist, her hairdresser, her dentist and her solicitor as well as more enjoyable jaunts to garden centres or the seaside.

She loves shopping and I usually end up carrying most of the parcels.

I started doing this because she has no relatives living close by, but I’m afraid it is getting too much for me, both mentally and physically.

Parking is difficult at some of the places we need to go to and I find this worrying and stressful, especially when she tells me what I should be doing!

She insists on giving me petrol money and is so grateful for what I do for her, but the annoying thing is that she turns down offers of lifts from other people because she says she prefers to be taken by me.

Does this look like being the end of a beautiful friendship? I am not proud of myself, but enough is enough.

A

Something needs to be done here, or yes, it will be the end of what was a good relationship.

Your friend has become far too dependent on you because you have always been there for her. Things must change.

Cut down the number of times you act as chauffeur to your friend by pleading another important engagement sometimes.

Point out to her that she has other friends quite willing to drive her to an appointment when you are not available.

Failing that she could occasionally call a taxi as other people do.

Some hospitals run a car/ambulance service for patients who warrant it.

The present situation makes heavy demands on a lady of your age and you have done well to accommodate her so far.

Your friend shows thoughtfulness in paying for your petrol so let’s hope she soon realises she has been expecting a bit too much and learns to turn to others as well as yourself.

HERE comes the sun – and the National Osteoporosis Society is taking the opportunity to remind us to boost our vitamin D levels. But take care – too much sun causes problems!

EXPOSURE to sunlight every day between 11am and 3pm from May until September will increase Vitamin D and help to keep bones healthy You should try to get 10 minutes of sun exposure to your bare skin, once or twice a day (depending on skin type), without sunscreen and taking care not to burn.

Our bodies cannot produce Vitamin D even if you are sitting

I

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

by a window or in a conservatory on a sunny day. You must be outside. But take care not to burn.

Only a small proportion of vitamin D comes from the food we eat, but it is still important to include vitamin D rich foods in your diet, such as oily fish and eggs. Many margarines, breakfast cereals and dairy alternatives are fortified, but do check the label.

If you are over 65, not exposed to much sun (e.g. housebound or cover-up for cultural reasons) or a pregnant or breast-feeding woman, you should consider taking a daily, 10 micrograms (400IU), vitamin D supplement.

Make time for exercise REGULAR exercise can strengthen our body ‘clock’ and help it stay synchronised as we grow older, according to a new study.

In mammals, the clock, or suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), is located deep in the brain and regulates the circadian rhythms by expressing different proteins and hormones.

As we age, the circadian rhythms of the body clock often become less synchronised which can result in poor sleep patterns, weakened immune function and general cognitive decline.

Researchers at the University of Glasgow were able to see how important circadian rhythms are by “resetting” the internal body clock of mice through advancing their light/dark cycle by eight hours. Young mice were able to quickly adapt to the new schedule whereas older mice struggled more.

However, when the older mice were given access to a running wheel, they showed stronger activity in the SCN and synchronised more quickly compared to those older mice without a wheel.

Professor Stephany Biello said: “Our study demonstrates that exercise has implications for the health of older people.”

80 is now the new 60!

’M DELIGHTED by the news that older people who manage to stay active feel years younger.

A survey carried out among visitors to the 50+ Show – a series of exhibitions for the active over-50s – found that those in their 80s willing and able to keep in trim feel almost 20 years younger than their actual age.

And their minds felt nearly 30 years younger!

Active people in their 70s said their bodies felt nearly 15 years younger than their actual age, while their minds felt over 23 years younger.

Now in my mid-70s, I generally feel better now than I did when I hit the big Six-0. Leaving my 50s behind, I truly believed it would be downhill all the way for me.

The trouble is, the less you do,

by TED CLINTON

the less you feel like doing. I thought it was just the way I was but now believe a lot of my aches, pains, stiffness, lethargy and low spirits (I could go on!) were down to a sedentary lifestyle.

It was when a pal suggested I try yoga for my back problems that my life started to change. I thought yoga was for hippies but, partly out of desperation, agreed to give it a try.

My friend said if you’re going to do it, you’ve got to give it a proper chance. At first I was unconvinced but stuck with it and am I glad I did. The pain, the stiffness and my bad posture all improved. After a while, I took up swimming for the first time in years.

I even started playing bowls after

giving it up due to those niggling back problems. On top of that I also do tai chi lessons (and there’s something I never thought I’d say!).

There will be people out there who will say “that’s fine for you, but I can’t possibly manage it”.

And you may be right, but I started off very slowly and built up little by little. You have to be pretty determined but as far as I’m concerned it’s absolutely worth putting in the time and effort.

Of course, the sooner you get active, the better. The survey also revealed that active people in their 60s had bodies that felt nearly 12 years younger than their real age, while their minds felt almost 20 years younger.

So it seems tthere’s a lot of truth in the old adage that you are only as old as you feel!

SENIOR MOMENTS . . . with FRANK HARRIS

MONEY MATTERS

DO YOU have a large expense coming up soon? Another credit card you may like is the American Express Platinum Cash Back.

There is no fee and you will receive 5% cash back for the first £2,000 spend (£100) in the first three months.

After that there will be cash back available at up to 1.25% depending on your spend. It also includes purchase protection insurance. www.americanexpress.c om/uk Gordon Viner FCA CTA gordonviner@aol.com

Alarm bells on pensions THE cost of buying a retirement income has jumped by 29% in just three years.

In 2009 a £5,000 income would have cost a man £118,000 and a woman £133,500.

Today, based on unisex annuity rates, the cost is £152,800.

Tom McPhail, head of pensions at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: “Many people’s expectations of their retirement incomes will be based on historical experiences – where they exist at all. Far too many are still disengaged right up to the point of retirement.

“It is vital that people shop around for the best possible terms, seeking out an enhanced annuity where they can.”

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2013

All Together NOW!

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United Utilities is calling on all customers to protect themselves from doorstep criminals.

Statistics show that around 20 bogus caller crimes are committed every day in the UK, but this might only be 10% of the total that actually take place as victims often feel too embarrassed to report it to the police.

Bogus callers will often call at your door claiming there is an issue with the water and they need to check your taps; they will use this as an opportunity to trick themselves into your home claiming to be from United Utilities or ‘the water board’. Once inside, they will distract you while they or an accomplice help themselves to money and valuables.

Genuine United Utilities’ employees always carry an ID card and are happy to show this to you. They will never put pressure on you to enter your home and will be happy for you to phone United Utilities to check their identity. And our employees won’t refer to ‘the water board’ as this hasn’t existed for more than 30 years!

Bogus callers can be very persuasive, but our advice is to never feel under pressure to let someone into your home.

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To help you, we operate a ‘password protection’ scheme. Joining our password scheme is easy.

It takes just one call to 0845 746 1100. We simply need your details and your choice of password.

Then, whenever someone claiming to be from United Utilities calls at your home, you can ask them for your password.

Only a genuine visitor from United Utilities will know what it is. It’s a simple deterrent that really does work and will give you the confidence to turn people away from your door.

Most gas, electricity and telephone companies will operate a similar scheme – see a recent bill for further details and contact numbers.

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All Together NOW!

NDEPENDENT LIVING

FREE SUPPORT

August/September 2013

www.alltogethernow.org.uk 50th ISSUE SPECIAL BANGING THE DRUM . . . for disability.

Visitors got plenty of info and had plenty of fun at this year’s Disability Awareness Day

Does YOUR community group need

We are here to help!

Hints, tips and health checks on day-to-day running of your project/group We also offer: n Advice on funding opportunities and initial bid development n Free desk space/computer and internet access for emerging groups without income n Daily email information bulletins and networking n Company and charity administration n Preparation of governing documents

Contact us NOW for an appointment or to organise an outreach session!

Telephone: 0151 707 0566 or Email: info@merseysidenwtorkforchange.org www.merseysidenetworkforchange.org You can find us: next door to & above Oxfam, 4th Floor, 35 Bold Street Liverpool L1 4DN

BEST DAD EVER!

F

ORMER Everton and Wales footballing legend Neville Southall and Minister for Disabled People Esther McVey were among the record numbers who flocked to the annual North West’s Disability Awareness Day.

More than 28,000 visitors turned up for the event, held at a sun-drenched Walton Hall Gardens, Warrington.

The day was the finale of a weeklong programme of activities that helped to raise awareness about disability.

Brian Cronin, chief executive of

Your Housing Group, who sponsored the show, said: “This fantastic event is not only a wonderful day out but a unique opportunity to showcase the achievements and talents of disabled people.

“It also offered Your Housing Group the chance to show the work we are doing across the group on welfare reform.”

Dave Thompson, founder and DAD co-ordinator, said: “It is an honour to be part of a team that continues to make a difference to the lives of tens of thousands of visitors to DAD Warrington.

“Our work is now being recognised

all over the country – and much further afield.

“This year there were also DAD events taking place in India and in Cameroon! That shows that we really have gone international!”

Dave and the team are already planning next year’s event, which will be held on Sunday, July 13.

He wouldn’t elaborate, but he has promised something very special for next year. Watch this space . . . .

n DAD helpline: 01925 240064, www.disabilityawarenessday. org.uk

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2013

All Together NOW!

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Ferry cross the Mersey – the new digital way All Together NOW!

MERSEYTRAVEL

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ISABILITY minister Esther McVey heard how Merseytravel is helping people with learning disabilities get to grips with new digital skills during a special day out on the river.

Members and volunteers from Mencap Liverpool – Merseytravel’s corporate charity for 2013 – turned out in force for the event, using their digital expertise to plan the day out at the Merseytravel ICT suite in Mann Island before boarding the world famous Mersey Ferry for a trip to the U-Boat Story at Woodside.

The attraction houses one of only four surviving World War Two U-Boats.

Wirral West MP Esther McVey said:

August/September 2013

www.alltogethernow.org.uk 50th ISSUE SPECIAL GOING DIGITAL: Disability minister Esther McVey and Cllr Gordon Friel with visitors from Mencap Liverpool and Merseylearn officers

SPACEPORT WINNERS – Page 30

“It was really interesting to meet with staff, volunteers and members from Mencap Liverpool to see first-hand their work in making local services more accessible.

“We are committed to supporting disabled people fulfil their potential – whether through the improvements we are making to our rail services or making sure our schemes are accessible to disabled people.

“We have also just launched a two-year campaign to harness the drive of the private sector to support more disabled people into work because they should have the same choice of jobs, in every sector and at every level, as everyone else.”

Merseylearn, the learning project within

Merseytravel, has been working with Mencap Liverpool to help develop digital skills and help people who have a learning disability to access transport services. The project is supported by Unionlearn, the learning and skills arm of the TUC. Cllr Liam Robinson, Merseytravel chairman, said:“As an organisation we support one specific charity each year, so this is a great opportunity to link our visitor attractions, our passion for learning and our support for Mencap Liverpool together to make a really special day.

“Digital skills are increasingly important for everyone, so with our partners in Unionlearn, UK Online and Go-On, we are actively

working to help people in our community get online.

“Merseytravel aims to have a fully inclusive transport system. It is important that we work with marginalised groups to give the widest possible access to all modes of transport across Merseyside.”

Mencap Liverpool career coach Jan Donnelly added: “It’s been a fantastic day for everyone involved – we’ve brushed up on our digital skills as well as getting the chance to enjoy such a unique experience.” n Merseytravel owns and operates the famous Mersey Ferries, the U-Boat Story, Spaceport, the Mersey Tunnel Tour, and the Beatles Story.

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

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

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

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

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

New loo-k stations NEW fully accessible toilets have been installed at 15 stations on the Northern and Wirral lines.

Funding of £800,000 from the Department for Transport’s Access for All Mid-Tier Fund has led to the improved station facilities at: Bebington Birkenhead Park Bromborough Cressington Eastham Rake Fazakerley Green Lane Leasowe Manor Road Moreton Old Roan St Michaels Seaforth & Litherland Spital Town Green.

Toilet facilities are also being provided at Freshfield and Orrell Park stations in line with other improvements.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2013

Major crackdown on drug-driving

P

LANS to make it easier to prosecute those who drive under the influence of drugs have been announced.

“Drug driving is a menace which devastates families and ruins lives,” said Roads Minister Stephen Hammond.

“That is why we are proposing to take a zero tolerance approach with those who drive under the influence of illegal drugs and sending a clear message that this behaviour will not be tolerated.”

The proposals will also apply to drivers using some prescribed drugs.

“We know that the vast majority of

people who use these drugs are doing so responsibly and safely and that is why our approach does not unduly penalise drivers who have taken properly prescribed medicines,” said Mr Hammond.

“Together, these proposals will make our roads safer for everyone by making it easier for the police to tackle those who drive after taking illegal drugs and clarifying the position for those who take medication.”

RAC technical director David Bizley said: “We welcome the move to bring increasing levels of clarity to driving on illegal drugs and prescription medication, something that is very much needed.

“We all know that driving under the influence of drugs is extremely dangerous and wrecks lives – but it is also a growing problem, particularly among young motorists.

“Motorists will be happy to see the Government taking a lead on this and ensuring people understand their position – and what happens if they step over the line.” n WANT to express your views?

The consultation closes on September 17. www.gov.uk/government/consult ations/drug-driving-proposedregulations Public enquiries: 0300 330 3000.

All Together NOW!

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ZERO TOLERANCE A ZERO tolerance approach is being proposed for the following eight controlled drugs which are known to impair driving: Cannabis MDMA (Ecstasy) Cocaine Ketamine Benzoylecgonine (primary metabolite of cocaine) Methamphetamine Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD) 6-monoacetylmorphine (6-MAM heroin and diamorphine) THE Government also proposes to set limits for eight controlled drugs that have recognised and widespread medical uses but which can also affect a patient’s ability to drive.

Clonazepam Diazepam Flunitrazepam Lorazepam Methadone Morphine Oxazepam Temazepam The consultation is seeking views on what a suitable limit might be for amphetamine.

DRIVEN TO D

All Together NOW!

16

SAVED! THE Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) is to be retained following a consultation on its future.

Norman Baker. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, announced that, having considered responses to the public consultation on options for replacing DPTAC, that the committe will be retained.

Dai Powell, chair of DPTAC, said: “This news is very welcome – it will be welcomed by disabled people, DPTAC members past and present. We want now to re-establish and re-fresh our working links with the transport sector, disabled people and Government.

“A huge amount has been achieved in recent years; there is much more to do.”

Since its establishment in 1985 DPTAC has played a key role in helping make the transport system more accessible for everyone.

LOG ON

August/September 2013

www.alltogethe

Three quarters of motorists admit to being distracted behind the wheel – and one in 10 of all driving convictions is for using a mobile phone on the move

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T SEEMS we are fast becoming a nation of distracted drivers with threequarters of motorists admitting to taking their eyes off the road ahead.

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A NEW easy-read version of key advice become distracted while driving – putting and information about the Motability Car themselves and those around them in danger.

Scheme is now available to help people Over half of those surveyed (54%) admitted with learning difficulties. to changing music while driving, 47% per eat, Delia Ray, head of marketing, Motability 47% drink, and a further one in six (16%) Operations, said: “Easy-read publications send texts from a mobile phone. offer a more helpful stepping stone to enable Six per cent admitted to using apps on a people with learning difficulties or other smartphone or tablet, updating their Facebook status or tweeting. cognitive impairments to find out more.”

The research, The new guide is available to download All together now_July13_Half.e$S:Layout 1 25/07/2013 11:07 Page 1 by comparison site MoneySupermarket.com, also found that motorists, as well as distracting themselves, are easily from motability.co.uk

P th a o a Over a third of people (35%) admitted to being distracted by children or other passengers and one in five (20%) said a goodlooking person made them take their eyes off the road.

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GET AN EIFFEL OF THIS C

AROLYN Jassi, our recent Eurostar competition winner, is such a big fan of All Together NOW! that she took copies to Paris – “to show the French what this wonderful charity newspaper is doing to make life better for everyone!

“I’m always singing the praises All Together NOW! – then of wishing I hadn’t because it’s a pleasure I’d rather keep all to myself,” says Carolyn, from Ormskirk.

“As you can see, we visited the Eiffel Tower. It was brilliant. The tourists loved it – almost as much as All Together NOW! ”

PLACES FAST

50TH ISSUE SPECIAL

All Together NOW!

50

TH

ISSUE SPECIAL

‘ We should all support this brilliant newspaper’

‘

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

So says Bob Bryant, one of the region’s biggest health campaigners who sits on Halton’s new Clinical Commissioning Group.

“Everyone of us should be supporting All Together NOW! It’s bringing together so many people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds – and it’s free!”

Bob, 66, has had his fair share of health problems and knows what it’s like to bounce back from adversity.

A seizure at the age of 32 stopped him in his tracks, but he went on to set up the nation’s biggest support group of its kind for people affected by stroke – and has just been recognised in the Queen’s Honours List for doing so.

Bob’s efforts in running Halton’s Let’s Go club has led to him receiving the British Empire Medal.

THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO IS HELPING TO KEEP THIS FREE CHARITY PAPER ALIVE AND KICKING!

All Together NOW!

50, AND BETTER August/September 2013

50TH ISSU

TERRIFIC PAPER, FANTASTIC BRAND, – DISABILITY MINISTER “All Together NOW! is a terrific newspaper that’s helping so many people.

It is a fantastic brand, trusted by its ever-growing army of readers, and, apart from the all the help and inspiration it gives to families affected by disability, it is also raising significant general awareness about the everyday issues that disabled people and those in poor health face in the UK.” — Esther McVey, Minister for Disabled People

Together, we can do so much more What our supporters say . . .

“We are delighted with the huge progress All Together NOW! has made. We know from the number of telephone calls we receive from people who have read the paper that distribution is on the increase and is reaching the right audience.” Steve Morgan, chairman, The Morgan Foundation

“We are very impressed with how All Together NOW! is getting our health messages to people across the region.

The paper is having a tremendously positive impact on people’s wellbeing, especially those affected by disability and age, and we are delighted to continue our partnership.”

James Brown, Head of Communications Liverpool Community Health (NHS) Trust “All Together NOW! has helped us to reach some of the 5,000 people from the banking sector in the North West who have to cope with multiple issues like work/life balance, financial problems, dealing with

MAYOR’S SEAL OF APPROVAL: All Together N seated, and son Dan with Liverpool’s Lord Ma

caring and health issues. The paper is making a terrific social contribution.”

Fred Payne, CEO, Bank Workers Charity

“All Together NOW! is making a hugely important social contribution to people affected by health issues and deserves to be supported. There is nothing else like it in the country and we know how valuable it is for many of our customers. We are proud to be associated with the paper.”

Chris Houghton, CEO, Park Group plc “THE North West is fortunate to have such a distinctive and FREE newspaper in All Together NOW!” Dave Scanlan, Liverpool Community College “All Together NOW! is a fabulous example of how sheer willpower and a reluctance to give in can create and maintain a specialist publication. All Together NOW!’s success is remarkable.

O2 North West Media Awards

We reach almost HALF A MILLION readers . . .

Call us – 0151 230 0307

R THAN EVER!

UE SPECIAL

August/September 2013

NOW! editor Tom Dowling, ayor, Councillor Gary Millar

waiting to collect their relatives,” says Joe Paxton, Media & Communications Manager, Wythenshawe Hospital.

“All Together NOW! is a very effective way of communicating our messages.

Every copy of every issue is quickly snapped up, which just shows how popular the paper is. I am sure that it will continue to go from strength to strength.”

2012

2009

Highly Commended – Best

info@alltogethernow.org.uk

I THINK All Together NOW! is fantastic! I wouldn’t have known about the Odeon’s autism-friendly screenings without it. It’s a very valuable source of information – thank you very much! Maria Webster (by email) All Together NOW! is the best and the most informative and lively newspaper I have ever read. I am a carer and also not in very good health.

This amazing newspaper has helped me contact various services and organisations I didn’t even know existed!

Mrs Hazel Sutcliffe, Anfield Road, New Moston, Manchester

I LOVE All Together NOW! for its fun and positive approach to life!

Well-written, up to date and exudes positivity from every angle.

Sarah Laycock, Fleet, Hants

2011

2010

I LOVE All Together NOW! because it brings awareness of all kinds of disabilities to the public attention. If the general public get to understand that people with a physical or mental health need are just as you or I the world would be a much happier place to be. Elizabeth Worgan (by email)

THANKS for the best paper ever for the “forgotten people”. Mrs P Atkinson, Ainsdale Close, Bebington

Winner – Best Magazine (North West) How Do media awards Commended – Niche Newspaper of the Year, National Newspaper Awards Finalist - Best small charity Making Best Social Contribution, Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards Finalist -– Best Publication, UK Public Sector Communication Awards

Finalist – Barclays Trading Places Awards.

“All Together NOW! shone as an outstanding business that has thrived despite what seemed like impossible odds.”

Finalist – Best Magazine, How Do North West Media Awards

I HAVE been a carer for my husband for the past seven years and this newspaper makes me realise I am not alone – there are thousands of us and there is help available. I would rather read this than the nationals.

Mrs K Cummins, Wirral

I LOVE All Together NOW! It’s a uniquely different paper aimed at everyone.

Ruth Worthington, Sandringham Grange, Prestwich, Manchester

The story so far . . .

Finalist – Best Magazine, How Do North West Media Awards

WHY we love this paper!

All Together NOW! is great, has a positive emphasis, and is packed with information and health and disability news.

Pete Hughes, Buckingham Avenue, Chester.

M

ORE than 100,000 patients and visitors at hospitals and health centres are now learning about health issues in All Together NOW! The multi award-winning charity paper is available in more than 50 hospitals and health centres across the region.

The feedback from Merseyside is tremendously positive. Aintree and Fazakerley Hospitals circulate 5,000 copies across their various sites; Arrowe Park hospitals have asked for more of our pick-up boxes; and we’re getting plenty of praise, too, from across Manchester.

“The combination of good news, useful information and fun articles & competitions is absolutely ideal for patients waiting for their appointments, staff on their breaks and visitors

All Together NOW!

Editorial Team, 02 North West Media Awards Finalist – Best Magazine, How Do North West Media Awards Highly Commended – Against All Odds, Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards

2008

Finalist – Best Magazine, How Do North West Media Awards Finalist – Against All Odds,

Morgan Foundation Entrepreneur Awards

2007

Best Media – Halton Positive About Disability Awards

2006

Winner – Getting The Message Across, National Information Forum

2005

Winner – Best Media, Wirral Challenge Awards Winner – Best Media, North West Positive Action Awards

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

I’VE just read All Together NOW! for the first time. I look after my 90 year- old mother and have found many useful tips that will enhance her life. I feel isolated sometimes and so felt much encouraged that there is a publication that understands the needs of carers. Christine Siddle (email) I PICKED up my copy in ASDA Queens Drive, Liverpool. It reads as good as any daily ‘normal’ newspaper. After seeing such a variety of articles I had to check it was free and that we hadn’t accidentally stolen it from the store! I look forward to reading the next issue! Victoria Bennett (email) I LOVE the All Together NOW! website. I work for Age UK, teaching older people how to use computers. I’m always on the lookout for websites and forums that offer advice and support for the people who I teach and www.alltogethernow.org.uk ticks all the boxes. Bill Tasker, Age UK Knowsley

PICK UP YOUR FREE COPY! 50TH ISSUE SPECIAL

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LIVERPOOL ASDA Breck Road; Hunts Cross; Smithdown Road; Utting Avenue SAINSBURYS East Prescot Road; Woolton TESCO Deysbrook Lane; Park Road Age Concern, Sir Thomas Street; Aintree & Fazakerley Hospital; Alder Hey Hospital; Anglican Cathedral; Bradbury Fields, Youens Way, Dovecot; Breeze Hill Health Centre; Broadgreen Hospital; Christopher Grange, Youens Way; DaVinci Mobility, Gilmoss; Everton Health Centre; Mere Lane Health Centre; FACT, Wood Street; Greenbank Sports Academy; Hugh Baird College; Kuumbai Centre; Lifehouse, Summers Road; Linda McCartney Hospital; Liverpool Association Disabled, Upper Baker Street; Liverpool Echo, Old Hall Street; Liverpool Community College – Bankfield; Hardman Street; Clarence Street; Vauxhall Road; Duke Street; Learning Exchange, Roscoe Street; Maritime Museum; Merseytravel, Mann Island; Merseyside Society Deaf People; Merseycare NHS Trust; Millstead Primary School, Old Mill Lane, Wavertree; Neurosupport, Norton Street; Picton Road Health Centre; Ropewalks GP Surgery; Royal Hospital; Dental Hospital; Shopmobility, Liverpool One; Speke Hall; Speke Health Centre, South Parade; South Liverpool NHS, Church Rd; Walk-In Centre, Charlotte St; The Walton Centre; Women’s Hospital; World Museum; Yew Tree Health Centre KNOWSLEY & ST HELENS ASDA Huyton Lane Huyton Independent Living Centre, Brickfields; Whiston Hospital; Peasley Cross Hospital; St Helens Hospital; ASDA St Helens; NHS Walk-In/Millenium Centre; St Helens CVS; Shopmobility, St Helens; PRTC Carer’s Centre; St Helens Council; St Helens College; Age Concern St Helens, Victoria Park, City Road; Age Concern Knowsley, Griffiths Road, Huyton; Knowsley Libraries; Knowsley Disability Concern, Tarbock Road, Huyton; SEFTON Sefton Libraries; Sefton OPERA, Stanley Road, Bootle; Sefton Carers Centre, South Road, Waterloo; Lady Green Nurseries Ltd, Ince Blundell WARRINGTON ASDA Birchwood SAINSBURY’S Church Street Warrington Hospital; Warrington Disability Partnership, Beaufort Street; Warrington Market; The Gateway

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CHESTER DIAL Shopmbility, Chester; Upton Golf Club; Countess of Chester; Bowmere Hospital; Chester Chronicle; CHESHIRE Altrincham Shopmobility; Bridgemere Garden Centre;Minshull’s Garden Centre, Crewe; Crewe Chronicle; Cheshire Academy of Sport, Crewe; Springfield School, Crewe; Mid Cheshire College, Hartford; Cheshire Carer’s Centre, London Road, Northwich; Shopmobility Northwich;The Wingate Centre, Nantwich; Wilmslow Shopmobility; Neuro Muscular Centre, Winsford; GREATER MANCHESTER ASDA Hulme; Eastlands; Harpurhey; Wythenshawe; Stockport TESCO Gorton SAINSBURY’S Salford BASIC, New Eccles Rd; Museum of Science & Industry; Manchester Town Hall; Wythenshawe Forum; Wythenshawe Hospital; Assist UK; Breakthrough; Manchester College; Manchester Libraries; Scoota Mart/Shopmobility; Trafford Libraries; Tameside Libraries; Wilmslow Libraries WIGAN Shopmobility; Wigan Library Services; Wigan & Leigh College; Oakfield College, Hindley Green;

FORMBY TESCO Formby

WIRRAL ASDA Birkenhead; Bromborough TESCO Bidston Moss; Heswall SAINSBURY’S Prenton; Upton; Arrowe Park Hospital; Birkenhead Central Libraries; WIRED Birkenhead, St John Street; WIRED Liscard Crescent, Wallasey; Mental Health Unit, Oxton; Floral Pavilion; Studio 42, Seabank Road, Wallasey; Wallasey Town Hall; Victoria Central Health Centre; Victoria Central WalkIn Centre; Moreton Health Centre; Wirral Met College; Wirral Wheelchair Centre; Wirral Country Park; Clatterbridge Hospital; Clatterbridge Oncology Centre; Ness Gardens; Wirral Autistic Society, Bromborough Pool; Eastham Health Centre; Age Concern Wirral.

HALTON ASDA Runcorn Halton Lea Shopping City; Halton Hospital; Direct Link Widnes; NHS Walk-In, Caudwell Road; Rivendell Garden Centre; Widnes Weekly News, Robert Street; Runcorn Carer’s Centre, Church Street.

ELLESMERE PORT ASDA Ellesmere Port SAINSBURY’S Cheshire Oaks Burleydam Garden Centre; Boat Museum; Ellesmere Port Hospital; DICE Shopmobility; Links Healthy Living Centre, Civic Way; Ellesmere Port Library; Neston Live @ Home;

SOUTHPORT ASDA Southport SAINSBURY’S Southport Southport Hospital; Spinal Unit; Mornington Road Resource Centre; Dobbies; Range; Ainsdale Heath Centre; Sandpipers; Southport Visiter, Tulketh Street; Southport College; Southport Community Service, Scarisbrick Avenue ORMSKIRK Ormskirk Hospital, off Wigan Road SKELMERSDALE ASDA Skelmersdale

PRESTON & FYLDE SAINSBURY’S Preston; Penwortham Dobbies, Preston; Wilkinsons, Blackpool; Preston Market; St Annes Library LANCASHIRE BADDAG Shopmobility; Blackburn Central Library; Bolton Library; Bolton Shopmobility; Bury Library; Burnley Library; Chorley & Sth Ribble Shopmobility; Fleetwood Library; Hyndburn Library; Rawtenstall Library; Ribble Valley Library; Rochdale Libraries; Rochdale Shopmobility CARLISLE Carlisle Shopmobility; The Sands Centre; Kendal Shopmobility; NORTH WALES Taran Disability Forum, Llangefni, Anglesey; Tan -y- Maen, Blaenau Ffestiniog Flints Disability Forum, Earl Road, Mold; Daniel Owen Centre, Mold; North Wales Weekly News, Vale Road, Llandudno Junction; CIL De Gwynedd, Porthmadog; Rhyl Shopmobility; Wrexham Disability;

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How YOUR favourite charity paper is funded CURRENT PARTNERS Bank Workers Charity; Liverpool Community College; Liverpool Community Health (NHS) Trust; Merseytravel; The Morgan Foundation; Park Group; United Utilities EARLIER PARTNERS Liverpool Primary Care Trust; NHS North West; Sellafield DONATIONS RECEIVED SINCE LAUNCHING IN 2005 Big Lottery (Awards for All); Community Foundation of Manchester; Community Foundation of Merseyside; Duchy of Lancaster Benevolent Fund; E L Rathbone CT; John Moores Foundation; John Lewis Foundation; Liverpool Chamber of Commerce; Lloyds TSB Foundation; Merseyside Disability Federation: European Social Risk Fund; Merseyside Expanding Horizons; National Information Forum; National Union of Journalists; Neighbourhood Regeneration Grants – Liverpool; Halton; Knowsley; Sefton; St Helens; Wirral.

North West Regional Development Agency; Peel Holdings; Rainford Trust; Ravensdale Trust; Rowan Charitable Trust; Sir Cliff Richard Charitable Trust.

A BIG THANKS, too, to all our loyal advertisers – and for the donations that we have received over the years from readers, including some fantastic anonymous support.

Without all this, together with All Together NOW! would simply not exist.

— TOM DOWLING editor and coordinator

CALL 0151 230 0307

DISTRACTION!

ernow.org.uk

August/September 2013

All Together NOW!

TOP GEAR AT TELFORD ROADSHOW

THIS year’s Mobility Roadshow rolled nto Telford and was a resounding success.

For the first time in the show’s 30year history, test drives took place on public roads around the venue, offering visitors a more authentic driving experience.

“We were very excited to be hosting our 30th anniversary Roadshow at Telford,” said Jacqui Jones, executive director of Mobility Choice, the charity hat organises the event.

“We had three excellent years at Peterborough Arena, a fine venue for he show, but it was time to move on again to give visitors from other parts of the country the chance of easier access to the event.”

Pratt, car insurance expert at MoneySupermarket.com, e all lead busy lives and find ourselves trying to multi-task, en driving. But motorists need to be vigilant as taking your

TAKE ME HOME!

wheel is not only very dangerous but also illegal.”

The company also found the total number of actual driving convictions declared on insurance quotations was 2,724,948 (or 19.3%). Ten per cent of those were for using a mobile phone while driving.

Male drivers were three times more likely to get caught using their phone behind the wheel than women.

Those aged 30-39 had the highest conviction rate for mobile phone use at 1.63 per thousand, closely followed by 25 to 29-year-olds with a rate of 1.57 per thousand.

Those aged 17-19 and then 50 and over are more cautious and least likely to use a mobile phone while driving.

Drivers in south and mid Scotland are most guilty of this offence, registering a rate of 2.1 and 2.0 per thousand respectively.

Meanwhile, those in the South West of England are least likely to get caught, with only 0.71 per thousand registering a conviction.

Mr Pratt added: “If you are caught driving while using a mobile phone you run the risk of not only receiving a £60 fine and three penalty points on your licence, but it is also likely to increase your insurance premium by a substantial sum.

“Our analysis shows convicted drivers can expect their insurance premiums to increase by 20% or £92 a year on average.”

REACH 450,000 READERS

0151 230 0307 eyes off the road for only a second could have disastrous consequences for yourself and other motorists and pedestrians.

“Using a mobile phone to text, call or tweet when behind the

17

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Demand different, ask for more.

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18

All Together NOW!

August/September 2013

READERS’ LETTERS . . . OPINION . . . COMMENT . . .

www.alltogethernow.org.uk 50th ISSUE SPECIAL

Action is now needed on jobs THE Government has begun a two-year campaign to persuade employers to take on disabled people.

PARALYMPIAN James Crisp

Polio: Help at hand BRITISH Polio Month is underway and as part of the campaign to raise awareness of Polio and Post Polio Syndrome (PPS) I urge readers to contact The British Polio Fellowship should they find themselves with nowhere to turn and in need of our support.

More than 120,000 people in the UK suffer from PPS and despite affecting around as many people as Parkinson’s disease, this devastating neurological condition can be missed or misdiagnosed

by GPs, leaving those with PPS feeling forgotten.

The British Polio Fellowship is here to help. Our website survey is researching GPs knowledge of Polio and PPS, while our Medical Alert Card, Map of Medicine and other online resources provide the medical community and patients alike with the tools and support they need.

With a large population from countries where Polio is still prevalent, those in the Asian Community living with Polio and PPS in the UK also need our assistance, together with their families, carers and health professionals. Our aid and advice is always just a call or a click away.

Readers can call us on 0800 018 0586, Email us at info@britishpolio.org.uk or visit www.britishpolio.org.uk Ted Hill, CEO The British Polio Fellowship

More deaf news, please I HAVE read your newspaper only for the second time as it is difficult to obtain in the Preston area.

I find the content is very good, but I have been disappointed that there is very little about deafness in the paper.

Deafness is a hidden disability and can cause problems with communication and acceptance.

I am disabled and deaf and I find this a double barrier for getting people to accept me. I also know this is a feeling that many deaf people share.

I am hoping you will raise this in your next issue and ensure more deaf related issues are in All Together NOW! Trevor Watson, Preston EDITOR’S REPLY: Great to hear that you like All Together NOW! which is available in Sainsbury’s in Preston and Penwortham, and Dobbies Garden Centre, Blackpool Road, Preston. We’d be delighted to get the paper into more supermarkets and hospitals in the region so any help readers can give us will be very much appreciated.

Regarding our coverage of deaf issues, we feel your comment is slightly unfair.

We are very much aware of the isolation that deafness causes and the disadvantages that deaf people continually face. I think as you become regular reader you will see that we try to help all people with wide-ranging disabilities and health issues.

Such campaigns are welcome but do not replace the need for the Government to talk practical action.

We need to ensure disabled people have the skills for the modern job market but the Government is considering closing some of the residential course that disabled people can attend in favour of cheaper less

adequate courses.

There have been many attempts to persuade employers of the value of disabled people but change only started to happen when the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act was passed, making it unlawful for employers to discriminate, and employment tribunals and the courts could be used to enforce the law.

But in future access to justice will be more difficult because it will be impossible to get legal aid for Tribunal

SOUNDING OFF!

cases. The Equality and Human Rights Commission, which used to fund some cases, has had its powers cut so we cannot turn to it.

At least the message the Government is trying to project shows disabled people in a positive light. That is a pleasant change from claims that disabled people on benefits are scroungers who will not look for work.

Recognising that employers have a role to play is a move in the right direction.

with Sir BERT MASSIE

‘

Talking the talk – but no wonder we’re suspicious

Do Do you you call call this equality?

WHEN the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) replaced the Disability Rights Commission in 2007, legislation required it to have a Disability Committee on which at least half the members were disabled.

An independent review this year recommended that the Disability Committee should be retained until 2017.

However, the EHRC has decided not to renew the committee but to establish instead a new “strategic group” to consult with disabled people.

Once the statutory basis of the Disability Committee is allowed to lapse it will be simple for the EHRC to abolish the ‘strategic group’.

The decision to abolish the Disability Committee cannot be taken by the EHRC and will be made by the Equalities Minister, Maria Miller. But the Commission have written to her recommending she abolish it even though they give no compelling reason to do so.

If the ERHC cannot serve disabled people has the time come to abolish it so we can drop the pretence that disabled people are supported by a commission?

If 20% of the ERHC’s budget was given to an organisation of disabled people it would be able to do more to protect disabled people from discrimination than the ERHC does.

If the ERHC is to continue it must justify its existence. At the moment its resources could be better used.

Walking the walk?

A

LTHOUGH the Government consulted widely on the Personal Independence Payment, which replaces Disability Living Allowance (DLA), a strange thing happened when the new laws were being finalised.

Previously, claimants who could walk a maximum of 50 metres were entitled to the higher mobility rate of DLA, which qualified them to use Motability scheme.

But under PIP rules the distance has been reduced to just 20 metres – or to about the length of two buses.

When disability campaigners rightly complained about this sleight of hand the Government replied that it was not a change but a “clarification”.

It is a clarification that could cost many disabled people their mobility because it makes it more difficult to achieve the 12 points needed for the enhanced rate of PIP. The only people entitled to use Motability are those who qualify for the higher rate of the Mobility Component of DLA.

As DLA is phased out in favour of PIP, entitlement to use Motability will be limited to those who qualify for the enhanced rate of the mobility component of PIP. The Government argues that PIP is more focused to those who need it most.

But this is just another way of saying they propose to ensure that hundreds of thousands of people who qualify for DLA will not qualify for PIP and Motability.

There might be people who will be entitled to PIP but who would not have received DLA. For those with physical impairments the distance they are able to walk is a critical criterion.

DLA was based loosely on 50 metres.

This is the same distance used in planning accessible environments. It was therefore a surprise when the Government dropped the distance for PIP to 20 metres thus increasing the number of people who would fail to qualify.

Disabled people reacted strongly and pointed out that in none of the consultation documents had the

Government said they intended to drop the walking distance to 20 metres and that the Government are obliged to consult.

A legal case was started to force the Government to consult but before it was heard in court the Government changed its position and has issued a consultation on the 20/50 metres issue. Unfortunately, rather than the three months normally allowed for such consultation, this consultation will last only six weeks making it difficult for many people to respond in time.

The Government have said that the consultation is being undertaken with an open mind. There must, however, be some suspicion that it is an attempt to get around the legal challenge. Whatever the Government’s motivation it is an opportunity for disabled people to make the case once again that PIP should be granted to all those TAKE ME HOME! unable to walk 50 metres; 20 metres is far too short.

450,000 readers and GROWING FAST!

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2013

All Together NOW!

The stats add up for statins S

TATINS not only help save lives but are great value for money too, even in lower risk patients, according to a new study.

The cholesterol-lowering drugs are widely prescribed to people who have had heart attacks or strokes.

They can also help prevent these events occurring in people who have not previously developed cardiovascular disease.

Some critics have urged caution in using statins in people who are otherwise healthy and have questioned whether it is worth the expense.

However, clear health and financial advantages are shown by the latest study from the Robertson Centre for Biostatistics at the University of Glasgow.

Dr Alex McConnachie said: “Treating relatively healthy, middle-aged men with statins reduced the number of hospital admissions due to heart disease and stroke, leading to better quality of life for the men in the study, and saving money for the NHS. “Treatment of even younger people at lower risk of future heart disease is likely to be costeffective too.”

The study, published in the European Heart Journal, used NHS statistics to follow 6,595 men from the west of Scotland who were aged 45-64 years at the start of the study and had high levels of cholesterol but no history of a heart attack.

Half were given the drug pravastatin over five years and all the men were followed up for at least 15 years.

This is the first time the cost-effectiveness of

‘We’re missing out again . . .’

T

HE UK is under prepared for the benefits it could get from leading the way in regenerative medicine, say top politicians.

Regenerative medicine involves replacing or regenerating cells, tissues or organs in the human body, in order to restore or establish normal function.

The House of Lords Science and Technology Committee report, Regenerative Medicine, delivers a stark warning that while the NHS makes the UK a potentially attractive place for international investment in regenerative medicine, problems in our regulatory arrangements and a lack of co-ordinated leadership on the issue is holding back the chance to deliver improvements to the quality of people’s lives and generate significant economic benefits for the UK.

‘UK ought to be leading way in cell regeneration’ The Committee points to research that indicates there is likely to be a £44bn to £54bn NHS funding gap by 2022 and that management of chronic disease accounts for around 75% of all UK health costs.

The report highlights that regenerative medicine has the potential to provide innovative treatments for a wide range of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease, and says that investment in such treatments could be a major benefit to the UK public purse as well as providing health benefits.

Committee chairman Lord Krebs said: “Regenerative

medicine has the potential to be good for public health and the health of the UK economy but we must take steps now to ensure we realise that potential.

“In the NHS the UK has a strong resource for ensuring we are an attractive place to develop innovative regenerative treatments and we have real expertise in research in this area.

“However, in order to benefit from that, we need the Health Research Authority to up the pace of its review of the regulatory environment to ensure that we are not placing overly onerous burdens on research in this area.

“We are calling on the Government to appoint an independent chair to oversee regenerative medicine policy in the NHS. “We need leadership and investment now to ensure that this opportunity is not missed.”

statins has been assessed in this way. The results showed that for every 1,000 patients who received a 40mg dose of the drug once a day for five years, the NHS saved £710,000, after taking into account the cost of the drug and safety monitoring.

There were also 163 fewer admissions saving 1,836 days in hospital, with fewer admissions for heart attacks, stroke and coronary operations and a 43% reduction in heart failure admissions to hospital, all over a 15 year period.

Dr Andrew Walker, Health Economist at the Robertson Centre, said: “The results from this study are clear: treatment with a statin in middle age saves lives and frees up NHS beds for other patients.” n The NHS estimates that statins save 7,000 lives in the UK annually.

19

Roll over Beethoven – it’s Vivaldi’s turn!

SCIENTISTS have shown that Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons concerto can boost your brain power.

The uplifting first movement is particularly capable of improving attention and memory, according to Northumbria University researchers.

In an experiment a group of 14 young adults were given a mental concentration task to perform, first in silence and then listening to each of the four movements from The Four Seasons while their brain activity was measured.

The results showed that participants responded correctly faster when listening to the inspirational Spring concerto, which also caused an increased emotional response.

Psychologist Dr Leigh Riby said: “The Spring movement had an exaggerated effect on the area of the brain that’s important for emotional processing.

“This experiment shows that cognitive capacity is enhanced when pleasant and arousing stimuli are introduced.”

You are invited to join us at our annual general meeting, once again being held in the flagship 18th century building that is Liverpool Town Hall.

COME along to hear about Mersey Care’s progress and performance over the last year, as well as our exciting plans for the future as a provider of mental health and learning disability services for the people of Liverpool, Sefton and Kirkby.

Our 2012- 2013 Annual Report will be available and depicts the importance of listening.

Light refreshments will be available from 5.30pm and there is access for people with disabilities.

Date: 25 September 2013 Time: 6.00pm to 7.00pm Venue: Liverpool Town Hall High Street, Liverpool L2 3SW To confirm your attendance (for seating purposes) or for further details please call 0151 471 2336.

27.103 Merseycares AD 2013.indd 1

23/07/2013 13:52

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All Together NOW!

August/September 2013

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Thanks a lot, Gill

Beatrice Fraenkel chair, Mersey Care NHS

S

OME TIMES it can be the little things that make all the difference to the way people perceive how they are welcomed or treated.

The NHS and wider community owes a huge gratitude to the army of volunteers at hospitals and facilities across the country who provide information, assistance and support to patients in a variety of roles, sharing their skills and passion for meeting and greeting people.

I, too, was delighted to meet many of Mersey Care’s volunteers during national Volunteers Week this summer, when actress and singer Claire Sweeney was able to join our celebration of volunteering to present some awards to them.

One of the points made at the event was that age is no bar to becoming a volunteer – everyone has a skill to offer.

For those starting out on their education or careers the chance to make a contribution to mental health recovery at the “sharp end” can provide that volunteer with valuable insights into the world of work and other ways of living.

The older members can and do pass on experiences and understanding which only time can provide.

One of the wonderful things about volunteering is that a person can give of their time, energy and expertise knowing they are valued and wanted for themselves.

There is something very important to all of us in the knowledge that we are wanted and needed and have something to give... volunteering is a wonderful way to give and receive at any time of life.

In fact, volunteering for Mersey Care was described to me by one volunteer as the new form of Botox. That’s great for the older volunteers but perhaps not quite the same for the 18-year-old volunteer I met!

T

HE NHS celebrated another milestone with its recent 65th anniversary.

It’s good to look back at what has been achieved during those years and right that we also use it as a time to evaluate what we do now and how we provide care in the future.

As I write, my own trust is undergoing a visit by the Trust Development Agency’s team of clinicians and managers to see for themselves the quality of services we provide.

It is part of a thorough process to scrutinise our application to become a foundation trust, which will then pave the way for the election for our council of governors.

If you would like to keep up to date with this and other matters, I now have a Twitter account @BFraenkel if anyone wants to follow me.

CONGRATULATIONS to Gill Pass who has scooped a national award for providing support to people with cancer.

Gill, a volunteer at her local Macmillan Cancer Unit in Crewe, Cheshire, was presented with the Deborah Hutton Award at a ceremony with her fellow volunteers.

Julie Pieczarka, manager at the Leighton Hospital-based centre, said: “I am delighted for Gill that all of her hard work and dedication has been acknowledged with this award.”

“There are a number of different volunteering opportunities available within the unit, all of which will make a difference to those affected by cancer.” n Contact Julie on 01270 273603 or email HONOUR: Gill (centre) receives her award from Julie Pieczarka (far right) julie.pieczarka@nhs.net

3D CELL MAP A

N EXCITING new 3D mapping system of human cells could lead the way to better treatments of wide-ranging diseases – including cancer.

The first 3D disease map of mitochondrial proteins – miniature machines that come together to form energy-producing “batteries” in the body – has been created by Dr Rhiannon Lloyd and Dr John McGeehan, of the University of Portsmouth, have created Their map will allow doctors and researchers to make better diagnoses and develop better treatments of patients affected by mitochondrial disease.

It also opens the possibility of scientists one day being able to build patient-specific maps identifying precisely what is happening at molecular level.

Dr Lloyd said: “Our bodies contain many thousand miniature energyproducing ‘batteries’ known as mitochondria.

“Defective mitochondria are associated with a range of serious human diseases, including cancer.

“The UK Government has recently backed the use of three-parent IVF technologies to help those parents who are carriers to have healthy children, but research is urgently required to identify how these diseases occur in the first place.

“This 3D map paves the way for scientists and drug developers to be given for the first time a window to what is happening at molecular level in some diseases.”

Mitochondria have their own DNA which contains the genetic information to make vital energy-producing proteins and it is small defects, or mutations, in this DNA which can cause disease.

Despite the continuing discovery of more and more of these mutations, it remains fundamentally difficult to tell which ones are important in disease.

n LEFT: Dr Rhiannon Lloyd

studying brain tumour cells n BELOW LEFT: The first

comprehensive 3D map of mitochondrial mutations (coloured spheres) associated with a wide range of human diseases: neuropathies (yellow), myopathies (blue), cancers (red) and blood disorders (cyan) n BELOW: Brain scan of a

Glioblastma multiforme patient, the most common and aggressive malignant primary brain tumour in humans

Dr Lloyd and Dr McGeehan have developed a strategy to visualise these mutations in 3D inside the mitochondrial proteins, allowing them to predict each mutation’s importance in a wide-range of diseases.

Dr McGeehan said: “Almost 100 mutations associated with diseases were analysed in 3D and categorised based on their location within the mitochondrial proteins.

“We created a comprehensive 3D map that led to the significant discovery of a new category of disease-associated mutation.

“Current available tools for predicting

disease are extremely useful but often give contradictory information when applied to mitochondrial mutations, falling short of the Holy Grail of telling clinicians how likely and how severe mitochondrial diseases will be from the results of a straightforward genetic test.”

This new strategy is now being implemented in the University of Portsmouth’s neurooncology group (LINK) to predict the importance of mitochondrial mutations found in brain tumours, particularly in patients with Gliblastoma multiforme.

The perfect tonic . . . almost HALF A MILLION

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2013

All Together NOW!

Motor neurone hope

Diabetes help for care staff

A LARGE-SCALE international study into the genetic cause of the fatal motor neurone disease has been set up.

MORE than a quarter of people in care are diabetic – but staff responsible for their welfare have very little knowledge of the condition.

Researchers aim to collect, examine and compare DNA profiles from 15,000 patients with the disease as well as from 20,000 healthy volunteers – an unprecedented number of studies.

Motor neurone disease is also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Lou Gehrig’s disease in the US. Professor Leonard van den Berg, leading the study at the ALS Center in The Netherlands, said: “In its design, project MinE is currently the largest genetic study in the world looking at ALS. “Through this study, we want to find concrete perspectives for treating this condition, for which the outcome at the moment is inevitably death.

“There is no medicine for ALS yet and this study may help find possible angles of approach for developing a treatment.”

Now a new “passport” – from two leading diabetes charities – will provide carers in residential homes with vital information about their needs.

“There are high numbers of people with diabetes in residential care, especially the elderly and people with learning disabilities,” said Jenny Hirst, chair of the InDependent Diabetes Trust.

“Through no fault of their own, many care homes have very little access to the training necessary to manage diabetes.”

The Trust has joined forces with the Institute of Diabetes for Older People (IDOP) and the English Community Care Association to produce the passport. n Free samples of the ‘Passport for Diabetes in Care Settings’ are available by contacting IDDT at: martin@iddtinternational.org or calling 01604 622837.

ROBO PETS! CHILLING OUT: Professor Glenda Cook taking time out to stroke one of the robotic pets that could become a big help to people with dementia

— they’re helping people people with with dementia dementia

21

MEDICAL NOTES ‘Pop drinks as bad as crack cocaine’ FIZZY drinks are as damaging as crack cocaine when it comes to your teeth.

That’s the conclusion of a new study which discovered that a woman in her 30s who drank two litres of diet fizzy drinks daily for three to five years suffereed tooth decay remarkably similar to that experienced by a 51-year-old habitual crack cocaine user and a 29-year-old methamphetamine addict.

Dr Nigel Carter, head of the British Dental Health Foundation, said: “The key part of this research is the fact the damage was caused by frequent consumption of fizzy drinks. This is exactly the message the Foundation tries to make the public aware of.

“Cutting down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks is one of our key messages, and this research highlights the possible damage not following this rule can cause.

“Every time we eat or drink anything sugary, teeth are under attack for up to one hour.”

Sleep well . . .

SLEEP expert Dr Craig Hudson is encouraging people to take simple steps to ensure quality sleep is not sacrificed this summer.

He says: “Good quality sleep is essential for health and wellbeing, as a way to beat stress, maintain a healthy weight and boost the immune system.”

Here are his top tips for a better summer night’s sleep: n Keep hydrated during the day.

Invest in a lighter duvet to ensure the optimum body temperature is maintained. n Keep to your usual bedtime - staying up later will confuse your body’s natural sleep pattern n Have a cool bath or shower before bed. n Sleep in 100 per cent natural cotton sheets to maintain a cool sleeping environment n Use blackout curtains or blinds to keep rooms dark.

Easing the pressure

R

OBOTIC pets are helping to improve the quality of life for people with dementia.

Research has already shown that interaction with animals can have a beneficial effect on older adults, increasing their social behaviour and decreasing feelings of loneliness.

But pets and care homes often just do not mix.

Now, though, things could soon start to change with the introduction of a special breed of robotic pets.

Researchers at Northumbria University and from Australia and Germany have found that interacting with a therapeutic robot companion made people with mid- to latestage dementia less anxious and also had a positive influence on their quality of life.

A pilot study investigated the effect of interacting with PARO – a robotic harp seal –

compared with participation in a reading group.

PARO is fitted with artificial intelligence software and tactile sensors that allow it to respond to touch and sound. It can show emotions such as surprise, happiness and anger, can learn its own name and learns to respond to words that its owner uses frequently.

Eighteen people, living in a residential aged care facility in Queensland, Australia, played with PARO for five weeks and also joined in a control reading group activity for the same period.

Reduced anxiety Following both trial periods the impact was assessed, using recognised clinical dementia measurements, for how the activities had influenced the participants’ quality of life, tendency to wander, level of apathy, levels of

depression and anxiety ratings. The findings indicated that the robots had a positive, clinically meaningful influence on quality of life, increased levels of pleasure and also reduced displays of anxiety.

Prof Glenda Cook, Professor of Nursing at Northumbria University, said: “Our study provides important preliminary support for the idea that robots may present a supplement to activities currently in use and could enhance the life of older adults as therapeutic companions and, in particular, for those with moderate or severe cognitive impairment.

“There is a need for further research, with a larger sample size, and an argument for investing in interventions such as PARO robots which may reduce dementia-related behaviours that make the provision of care challenging as well as costly due to increased use of staff resources and pharmaceutical treatment.”

people are reading these pages . . .

GOOD news for Britain’s seven million adults with overactive bladders.

The new daily pill - mirabegron - that improves the storage capacity of the bladder and reduces the number of trips to the toilet has now been finally endorsed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

Specialist nurse Suzanne Ryder, from Manchester Royal Infirmary, said: “Mirabegron offers an effective treatment option without some of the more bothersome side effects.”

It is expected that the pill will be generally available nationwide within three months.

The pill has been available in TAKE ME HOME! some parts of the country since February.

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All Together NOW!

August/September 2013

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

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

School stories

ANIMATOR: Natalie Preston at her work station

Natalie strikes back

B

ACK in 1990 doctors told Natalie Preston’s parents that she would never again walk, talk or sit upright.

Natalie had been born with cerebral palsy and medics told Sally and Lawrence to “expect nothing” from their child.

Well, Natalie has just proved them all wrong!

Now 24, she has gained a degree in animation at the University of Central Lancashire.

She said: “To be written off by experts at a young age was tough but to come here, study something I love and live independently has been fantastic.

“The course and the other students have been absolutely amazing. I’ve loved every minute of my time here and would encourage anybody interested in studying to come to UCLan. I’m even thinking of doing a Masters before trying to forge a career in the animation industry.”

Throughout the course the Disney film fanatic enjoyed turning her creative ideas into on-screen animations.

For her final year project she created a three-minute film for youngsters involving a carousel ride, a rocket and an alien.

And her next goal?

“Creating my own animated television series for pre-school children!”

Phil’s route to work

C

HESTER university student Philip Thebridge is going places fast!

The 21-year-old tourism and marketing student has just been presented with an outstanding achievement award for the work he did while on a placement with disabled holidays specialist Enable Holidays.

“I’d definitely like a career in accessible travel,” said Philip.

“I have cerebral palsy and I feel that everyone, regardless of disability, should be able to travel and do everything nondisabled people can do.”

Philip, from Sutton Coldfield, is especially passionate about reaching places that were once considered too ‘off track’ for disabled tourists. Enable Holidays managing director

OUTSTANDING: Philip Lynne Kirby said: “Philip set out his stall from the outset and quickly became a popular member of the team.

“Then to cap it all, he produced a feasibility study that was absolutely first class – and one which will definitely be used as we begin to add a new range of adventure-style holidays to our programme of over 200 holidays for disabled people.’’

THE MEMORIES of disabled people’s experiences of school life are being filmed for a new project that highlights 100 years of “special” education.

The Alliance for Inclusive Education (ALLFIE) has recorded the school memories of 50 disabled people from across England for the How Was School? project.

There are already about 250 interview clips on the How Was School? website, with a quarter of them on film. This will eventually rise to about 400 clips.

ALLFIE hopes the archive will help schools and colleges bring debates on citizenship, equality and diversity to life.

Tara Flood, ALLFIE’s chief executive, said: “There is a wealth of experience that until now had been pretty much invisible.

“It is a very timely reminder for politicians and policy-makers of how much progress has been made for the inclusion of disabled people in mainstream education.”

The British Library supported the project. n Tel. 020 7737 6030. n www.allfie.org.uk

Bad attitudes EMPLOYERS’ attitudes towards disability are the biggest barrier in the workplace for disabled people, says Christian disability charity Livability.

The charity’s Let Me Work survey, in association with and nfpSynergy, revealed that 62% of those asked highlighted employers’ attitudes as the main issue – and just 1% thought that a disabled person’s ability to do a job could prove problematic.

The findings also showed that almost half of those taking part in the survey claimed they had never worked with anyone with a disability.

Current employment statistics show that disabled people are far less likely to be in a job than non-disabled people.

Tell our 450,000 readers

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August/September 2013

Great Scott!

All Together NOW!

23

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

TAKE ME HOME!

Michaela fights back after losing her sight

L

OSING your sight and finding yourself unemployed would be enough to shatter anyone’s confidence.

But Michaela Scott fought her way back and has just graduated with a first class honours degree – and a job.

The Merseyside mum-of-two from Southport was 29 and working as a tax advisor when she was diagnosed with optic neuritis, which resulted in the partial loss of her vision.

Faced with the prospect of no job and a mortgage hanging over her head, Michaela, now 42, was determined to fight back. She started to learn Braille and volunteered for the charity Sightline Vision North West,

the helpline for visually impaired people.

“I was a mess for the first couple of years,” said Michaela. “Losing my sight brought up so many challenges. It was a very difficult time but I just felt that I had to get on with it and let my life take a different path.”

After having children, Michaela decided she wanted a career in social work and returned to education.

“I’d been volunteering for a number of years with Sightline and I felt that my empathy and experience could be put to good use.

“I’m very passionate about making sure that people get the right support because of my own personal

circumstances and I wanted to do something to help.

“I enrolled at Edge Hill University on the BA (Hons) Social Work degree and I’ve never looked back.”

Michaela impressed bosses at Lancashire County Council on her work placement so much that she has since been offered a job in the Active Intervention and Safeguarding Team for Adult Services.

“It hasn’t been an easy road for me, but I’ve had lots of support and some great tutors by my side to encourage me.

“Losing my sight taught me you just have to make the best of what’s out there, use the resources available to you and stay positive. That way you will achieve what you want in life.”

ESTHER McVEY, MINISTER FOR DISABLED PEOPLE

PROUD MUM: Michaela Scott

New help is on the way for jobseekers Y

OUNG disabled people can now get help to find sustainable paid work through new Supported Internship and Traineeship programmes.

A NEW website links employers with local organisations that can help to improve their business by recruiting and retraining people with disabilities.

Government-backed Access Ability has been set up by Work Choice and Access to Work – the Government’s disability employability programmes. www.accessability.info

Specialised employmentfocused study programmes are aimed at young people aged 16 to 24 with complex learning difficulties and disabilities.

They will help trainees learn from expert career coaches while doing real jobs for a minimum of six months and be offered through further education colleges by the Department for Education.

Employers will also receive support from the coaches, increasing their confidence of working with disabled young people and helping them to understand the business case for employing a diverse workforce.

The new mainstream Traineeships programme will give 16 to 24 year olds the workplace experience and job skills that employers require and will be open to disabled young people with less complex needs.

Speaking at the UK’s first National Disability Employment Conference Business Secretary Vince Cable said:

“Disabled people have a lot to offer British businesses but often their potential is largely untapped.

“If their employment rate matched that of the rest of the population, an extra two million people would be working.

“The Internship and Traineeships programme will help create a fairer society by putting young people with disabilities on meaningful career paths and give employers the opportunity to see what they can offer.”

about your courses . . .

‘

GREAT PAPER, GREAT BRAND

D

ISABLED people will also get more support to gain the skills and experience they need to get a job under changes to the Government’s specialist disability employment scheme, Access To Work.

Disabled people on traineeships, supported internships, work trials and work academies will for the first time get additional help through the Access to Work scheme.

Minister for Disabled People Esther McVey said: “Young disabled people tell me how difficult it can be to get a job without experience.

“We’re opening up Access to Work to do just that.”

Recent changes also mean that businesses with up to 49 employees will save up to £2,300 per employee who uses the fund by no longer paying a contribution towards the extra costs faced by disabled people in work.

Disabled jobseekers who want to set up their own business through the New Enterprise Allowance are also eligible for Access to Work funding.

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THIS NEWSPAPER IS MAKING A HUGELY IMPORTANT SOCIAL CONTRIBUTION

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All Together NOW!

day tripper Until Sep 1: Time Travellers Exhbition, Spaceport, Seacombe, Wirral. A must for Dr Who fans.

Amazing exhibits including a replica TARDIS, Cybermen, a Sontaran, K9 and ever-terrifying life size Daleks, along with a new monster-making station.

Until Sep 4: Fit For Action! Imperial War Museum, Manchester. Loads of events designed to get you ready for service, including fencing, wheelchair ballroom dancing and assault courses Until Aug 31: Reaseheath Maize Maze.

Reaseheath, Cheshire.

Aug 8-Sept 14: Mold Gold Cape Exhibition.

Wrexham County Borough Museum. The finest piece of gold craftsmanship known from prehistoric Europe returns to the area, courtesy of the British Museum.

From Aug 10: Distant Voices: from Iceland to Viking Wirral. The Grosvenor Museum, Chester.

Until Aug 11: Street Organ Festival. National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port. A real flavour of the streets of days gone by.

Aug 10: Clitheroe Food Teddy time – August 26 Festival. Over 100 producers will take centre stage – and all from Lancashire.

Aug 10-11: Clash of Knights! Beeston Castle.

Medieval combat tournament with some participation events.

Aug 10-11: Lowther Show. Lowther, Penrith.

Traditional country fair.

Aug 11: Viking Sunday. Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire. Experience life as a Viking.

Aug 11: Backward Running. Heaton Park, Manchester.

Aug 17-18: Classic, Vintage and Sports Car Spectacular. Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire.

Aug 25: Croxteth Park, Liverpool. Alt Valley Music, Culture and Food Festival.

Aug 26: Teddy Bear’s Party! Bury Transport Museum. Join the party at Bury Transport Museum. Every child accompanied by their cuddly friend travels for free!

Aug 26: Cilcain Show & Mountain Race. The Waen, Cilcain, near Mold. Let your teddies parachute from the church tower.

Sep 1: Trans Lancs Vehicle Rally. Heaton Park, Manchester.

IRTON HOUSE FARM

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

Book now!

August/September 2013

ARIES March 21st - April 20th

as August gets under way. Give yourself time to rest, relax, and rejuvenate at mid-month. Sneaking off to some secluded beauty spot will recharge your batteries. It could also put you on the path to love. A glowing testimonial or recommendation will open doors for you in the first days of September. A relative will ask for your honest opinion at mid-month. Be as tactful as possible, as this family member is a lot more sensitive than they let on. A passionate romance will heat up toward the end of the month.

Don’t let a mother figure pressure you to conform in the opening days of August. Working from home or catching up with repairs and renovations around and about the house will help you on a creative level, but don’t let a loved one push you into buying things you can’t afford. Your impressive work ethic will put you in the spotlight in the early days of September. Don’t let a difference of opinion affect a relationship with a friend. Look to accept more responsibility towards the end of the month.

SAGITTARIUS November 23rd - December 21st

TAURUS April 21st - May 21st Family relations will be strained at the beginning of August. Your relatives won’t approve of an intimate friendship, and it feels like you’re being torn in two.

The days surrounding the 21st will draw fame and acclaim. An intense romance will be a welcome diversion as August turns to September. Your powers of attraction will be very strong throughout mid-September. A group project will come to fruition near the 19th, and your contributions will be singled out for favourable attention.

Signing a contract is well starred toward the end of September.

GEMINI May 22nd - June 21st Save as much money as you can for an upcoming challenge. A family member will also need your help so look out for those signs. Working from home can take some pressure off in the final week of August. The first days of September bring a great opportunity to overcome a stubborn fear once and for all. Exciting news for your family will arrive on or around the 5th; throw a big party to celebrate, but don’t let pushy relatives interfere - this is your party, not theirs.

CANCER June 22nd - July 23rd Try to be frugal during the early days of August, as money will be tight. A business or romantic partner’s spending habits may be part of the problem. Things are likely to improve by the end of the month due to your actions. A romantic relationship reaches an exciting turning point near the 21st.

Wonderful news about a project that is close to your heart arrives in the first days of September. Let a loved one lead you into unfamiliar waters in midSeptember. You won’t be disappointed.

LEO July 24th - August 23rd In the first half of the month you should listen more than you speak. Resist the urge to dramatically change your appearance. An intimate relationship will give you great pleasure in the closing days of August. Your financial picture will improve greatly in the beginning of September. Trust your instincts regarding your health. Visiting a homeopath or trying a holistic therapy will yield impressive results. As an added bonus, your sex drive will return with a vengeance!

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

RUSSELL GRANT looks at what’s in store for YOU VIRGO August 24th - September 23rd A power struggle over money erupts in early August. A relative may betray a secret on the - it will be difficult to forgive this transgression. Fortunately, you’ll get a welcome distraction in the second half of the month, when you get fame and acclaim for a job well done.

The early days of September are ideal for updating your look in some way.

The 19th marks a beautiful turning point in a romantic relationship, heralded by a beautiful conversation. At the end of the month, your expertise will be recognised.

LIBRA September 24th - October 23rd Don’t forget your personal obligations; make time for your best friend or lover.

But make certain not to reveal too much personal information to a new acquaintance. You will have an opportunity to make a dream come true - take the risk. Venturing into unfamiliar ground will be very exhilarating. Trust your instincts regarding a domestic matter in the opening days of September. There’s lots to get excited about so prepare yourself for a few surprises!

SCORPIO October 24th - November 22nd Resist the urge to contradict an expert

Resist the urge to move quickly in an intimate relationship at the beginning of August. The chance to go on an overseas trip arrives quite suddenly at mid-month. Seize this opportunity the moment it is offered, or a quick thinking rival will snatch it from you.

Early September is perfect for taking a public stance about a moral issue. An expert will offer to take you under your wing at mid-month. The closing days of September are great for a change of scenery or company.

CAPRICORN December 22nd - January 20th Don’t let family get in the way of your love life in the beginning of August. An exciting letter from an educational, religious, or cultural institution will arrive near the 16th. Your sex appeal is at an all time high in the first half of September. The end of September is ideal for throwing a party. Get in touch with an old friend who is celebrating a birthday. This gathering will turn out to be the social event of the year.

AQUARIUS January 21st - February 19th Treat your body gently during the first days of August or you could incur an injury. The last days of August are perfect for creating some long term financial security. Open a savings, retirement, or college fund. September looks like being a very exciting time for you! If you’re single, you’ll meet someone special. There’s also a little more than you expected coming your way on or around the 19th. Be sure to look your best before attending a glittering party at the end of the month.

PISCES February 20th - March 20th A new opportunity will present itself, but it won’t be worth taking. Stay cool there will be more options coming your way throughout the next month or two.

An intimate partnership gives you added confidence in the first half of September. Take this opportunity to pursue a childhood dream. Don’t let money come between you and your partner in the middle of the month. The results of a self improvement programme will be impressive around the 19th.

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August/September 2013

All Together NOW!

Twelve crocus packs up for grabs CROCUSES are among the most vivid harbingers of spring, bringing immediate impact to the dowdy latewinter garden.

They are easy to grow and look especially striking when planted in a variety of colours.

We have TWELVE of the latest sparkling Crocus Mixed packs from Thompson & Morgan to give away in this competition.

Each pack, worth £9.99, contains 50 corms which will produce flowers of gold, purple, white or blue-striped. They will reach our winners in early autumn at the right time for planting.

They are perfect for planting in rockeries, naturalising in grass, or growing in large groups beneath trees and shrubs. Just scatter a handful of bulbs and plant them where they fall for a really natural effect.

For a more compact display grow crocus in containers or window boxes where you can appreciate their bright flowers and

CHECKLIST

light scent close up. Planted in containers, they can be moved into prime position when they are in full bloom.

Crocuses tolerate most soils, as long as the ground does not become waterlogged, and will grow in sun or light shade. Plant them 7.5cm (3in) deep and, for the best effect, 5cm (2in) apart in the soil and closer in containers.

To enter the competition, answer this question: How deep should crocus corms be planted?

Send your entry with your name and address on a postcard or sealed envelope, stating where you picked up your copy of All Together NOW!, to T&M Crocus Competition, All Together NOW!, The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP, to arrive by Monday August 19, or enter online at www.alltogethernow.org.uk For the full range of Thompson & Morgan bulbs and plants, go to www.thompson-morgan.com.

Lawn arranger!

T

HERE are two kinds of lawns. Smart ones, whether large or small, set off the rest of the garden beautifully while weedy, unkempt patches make the whole plot look a mess.

All any lawn asks is regular cutting and cossetting.

If your grass is in the unkempt category, now is a good time to plan revival treatment with this guide to common problems.

Work starts in October.

Meanwhile, mow regularly with the blades on a medium or high setting.

Symptom: Grass is pale or thin all over lawn.

Diagnosis: Starvation.

Solution: Feed in late September or early October with a highphosphate autumn lawn feed, sometimes labelled “root-build.” Feed again in spring with a high-nitrogen spring lawn fertiliser. It is important to use the correct type for the time of year.

Symptom: More weeds than grass.

Diagnosis: Inadequate general care.

Solution: Root out large-leaved weeds such as dandelions and plantains. Apply a selective lawn weed killer to the entire lawn early in October and again in spring. Feed in autumn and spring as above.

Symptom: Numerous small mushrooms with grass dying in curves or circles.

Diagnosis: Fairy rings – fungi caused by decaying material, probably wood, underground.

The fungi repels water causing the grass to die, effectively of drought.

Solution: Remove the mushrooms, spike the

LAWN ORDER: give your lawn some tender loving care this autumn area deeply and saturate with a large amount of water, first mixing in washing-up liquid at the rate of one tablespoonful to 23 litres (5 gallons), which breaks down the water-repellent. Repeat whenever mushrooms start to grow. Feed the area in autumn and spring as above.

Symptom: Very hard ground, poor or patchy grass.

Diagnosis: Compacted soil.

Solution: Open up soil by spiking with a hollowtine spiker or garden fork. Plunge a fork 10cm (4in) into the ground and rock it back and forth.

Make holes 10cm apart all over the lawn. If gritty sand is available, brush it into the holes.

Symptom: Moss.

Diagnosis: Can vary with the situation but poor drainage is almost always a factor.

Solution: Improve drainage by spiking as above.

Apply mosskiller and rake out dead moss when it has turned black. Do not rake out living moss

because thousands of spores will be spread and will quickly replace the older moss.

Symptom: A bump with bare patch on top.

Diagnosis: Your mower is shaving off grass as it passes over the bump.

Solution: Cut an H-shape 5cm (2in) deep with a sharp spade, peel back flaps of turf, remove enough soil to level the ground and replace flaps of turf.

Finally, avoid the three most common errors in lawn care...

DON’T cut the grass very short. Set mower blades high when cutting starts in spring and at a medium setting for the rest of the year. Shaven lawns are least able to withstand drought or frost.

DO follow the instructions on all lawn treatments precisely. Ignoring them can kill grass.

DON’T water unless you can use a large amount. Light watering encourages roots to grow towards the surface but they resist drought and grow stronger better by seeking moisture below..

25

FLOWERS: Take cuttings of soft evergreens such as candytuft, rue and the goldenflowered Alyssum saxatile.

Take cuttings under a leaf joint, strip off all but two or three topmost leaves and set them in pots in cuttings compost in a shady position.

SHRUBS AND TREES: Dead-head roses, pruning back to an outward-facing leaf-joint.

Spray where aphids or the fungal diseases blackspot or mildew are prevalent. Clip hedges and topiary, removing all new growth unless it is needed to fill gaps or add height.

PATIOS: Spend a few minutes every day deadheading container flowers.

Make sure the compost does not dry out and give a liquid feed once a week.

PONDS: Remove blanketweed and excess duckweed; pull off the dying leaves of water plants. When the water level falls due to dry weather, discourage algae and provide fish with oxygen by trickling water on the surface, but not near water lilies.

FRUIT: Apples yielding a small crop should produce more if pruned in summer.

Shorten all mature side shoots - the dark, woody ones - to within three leaves of the base.

This year’s shoots, lighter in colour and more supple, should be cut back to one leaf.

HERBS: Take cuttings of shrubby herbs like sage, rosemary and thyme.

GLASS: Water and feed tomatoes and other crops regularly. Plants in growing bags or pots may need watering twice a day. In tomatoes, splitting and blossom-end rot – where a dark, decaying patch appears on the opposite side to the stalk – are caused by irregular watering.

VEGETABLES: Harvest potatoes and onions when the stems turn brown and are dying down. To save seed for next year, leave some pea and bean pods on the plants until the pods are brown and crisp.

HOUSEPLANTS: Re-pot if roots are showing through the base holes in the pot or on the surface.

Replant in a pot at TAKE ME HOME! least 2.5cm (1in) wider and deeper.

26

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One advert goes a long, long way

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August/September 2013

E! E HOM TAKE M

BOX OFFICE SENSATION!

Aug 5-10: Soul Sister. Liverpool Empire. Musical story of the life of Tina Turner.

Aug 8-10: How to Succeed in Business. The Lowr, Salford. Awardwinning youth theatre.

Until Aug 10: Evita. Manchester Lowry.

Acclaimed musical. SIGNED AUG 8.

Aug 10: Roy Orbison & Friends.

Southport Floral Hall. Tribute to the great singer-songwriter.

Aug 11: Joe Pasquale.

Blackpool Grand Theatre. Standup comedy.

Aug 12-17: Save the Last Dance For Me. Manchester Palace Theatre. Rock ‘n’ roll from the team that brought you Dreamboats and Petticoats.

Aug 13: Burnt By The Sun. Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.

Examination of the full horror of Stalin’s rule.

Aug 13-14: The Gruffalo’s Child. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. Fun family show.

Aug 16: A Vision of Elvis. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. A tribute to the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Aug 16: Jackson - Live in Concert.

Venue Cymru. Tribute to Michael Jackson.

Aug 16: Ken Dodd. Venue Cymru. Stand-up comedy.

Aug 19-31: Evita.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. The classic musical.

Aug 21-23: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. Stage version of the critically acclaimed book and film.

Aug 22-24: Stage Experience: Grease.

Liverpool Empire. Liverpool’s most talented young performers in the classic high school musical.

Aug 23: Joe Longthorne. Rhyl Pavilion. The renowned singersongwriter.

Aug 23-Sep 14: Lennon. Liverpool Royal Court. The musical story of the ex-Beatle.

Aug 24: Roy Orbison & Friends.

Venue Cymru. Tribute to great singer.

Aug 24: That’ll Be The Day. Southport Floral Hall. Rock ‘n’ roll variety show.

Aug 25: Superstars of Soul with Ben E King and Jimmy James. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. An evening of soul music.

Aug 25: Magic of Motown. Blackpool Grand Theatre. Evening of motown hits.

Aug 27: John Edward. Liverpool Empire. Internationally acclaimed medium.

Aug 29: The ELO Experience. Rhyl Pavilion. Tribute to rock greats.

Aug 29-Sep 1: As You Like It. Venue Cymru. William Shakespeare’s comedy.

Aug 30-Sep 5: Fawlty Towers The Dining Experience. The Lowry, Salford. Join Basil, Sybill and Manuel for a hilarious night.

No riff-raff, please!

Sep 2-7: Blood Brothers. The Lowry, Salford. Willy Russell’s tearjerking musical.

Sep 3-7: Stand Up: The Musical. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. Brand new comedy musical.

Sep 4-7: Grease. Runcorn Brindley. The hit rock ‘n’ roll musical.

Sep 4-8: Grandpa in my Pocket. Rhyl Pavilion. The hit kids’ TV show comes to the stage.

Sep 5-7: Formby. The Lowry, Salford.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

BOX OFFICE NUMBERS BLACKPOOL Grand Theatre: 01253 290190.

BOLTON Octagon: 01204 520661.

LIVERPOOL Empire: 08444 999 999.

Everyman & Playhouse: 0151 709 4776.

Royal Court: 0870 787 1866.

LLANDUDNO Venue Cymru: 01492 872000.

MOLD: Theatr Clwyd: 0845 3303565.

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

Opera House: 0870 401 9000.

Palace Theatre: 0870 401 3000.

NEW BRIGHTON Floral Pavillion: 0151 666 0000.

PORT SUNLIGHT: Gladstone Theatre: 0151 643 8757.

PRESTON: Charter Theatre: 0845 344 2012.

RHYL: Pavilion Theatre:

01745 330 000.

RUNCORN The Brindley: 0151 907 8360.

SALE: Waterside Arts Centre: 0161 912 5616.

STOKE: Regent Theatre: 0844 871 7627.

SOUTHPORT: Floral Hall: 0844 847 2380.

ST HELENS: Theatre Royal: 01744 756000.

Citadel: 01744 735436.

WOLVERHAMPTON Grand Theatre: 01902 429212.

Go on . . . treat yourself!

Follow George Formby’s rise from awkward stable boy to one of Britain’s best-loved entertainers.

Sep 5-Oct 5: An Inspector Calls.

Bolton Octagon. J.B. Priestley’s classic play.

Sep 8: Roy Chubby Brown.

Blackpool Grand Theatre. Standup comedy.

Sep 8-13: Caro Emerald & Special Guests. The Lowry. Dazzling mix of pop and jazz.

Sep 10: French Can Can. Rhyl Pavilion. Stage spectacular in the mould of Moulin Rouge.

Sep 10-14: Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance.

Blackpool Grand Theatre. Two hours of hit songs.

Sep 11-12: Jason Manford. New Brighton Floral Pavilion. Stand-up comedy.

Sep 12: Billy and Wally’s Big Variety Show. Runcorn Brindley. Variety show from the radio entertainers.

Sep 12-Nov 16: Wicked. Manchester Palace Theatre. The sequel to the Wizard of Oz. Sep 13: The Beatles - A Musical Celebration. Re-live the days of the Fab

Four New Brighton Floral Pavilion.

Sep 13: The Bohemians. Venue Cymru. Tribute to rock giants Queen.

Sep 13: Private Lives. Runcorn Brindley. The Noel Coward play.

Sep 13: Albert Lee and Hogan’s Heroes. Ther Lowry, Salford. One of the world’s finest guitarists.

Sep 14: Fish. The Moveable Feast Tour.

New Brighton Floral Pavilion. The former Marillon frontman’s solo tour.

Sep 14-15: Three Phantoms.

Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. Opera.

Sep 15: Justin Currie. Manchester Lowry. Scottish singer/songwriter.

Sep 15: The Osmonds. Blackpool Grand Theatre. Featuring Merrill, Jimmy and Jay. Sep 16-20: Houdini. Blackpool Grand Theatre. The magic of Houdini revived for the stage.

Sep 16-21: Blood Brothers. Venue Cymru.Willy Russell’s masterpiece.

Sep 16-21: Dreamboats and Petticoats. Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. 50s style variety show.

Sep 16-21: Daytona. Theatr Clwyd.

Play with Maureen Lipman.

Promote your shows here . . .

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2013

All Together NOW!

You’ve got to laugh!

R

OBERT Softley is back at the Edinburgh Fringe with his sensational oneman show.

If These Spasms Could Speak is a funny and moving insight into the day-to-day reality of being disabled.

Drawing on real stories from other disabled people as well as Robert’s own experiences, the show looks at how their bodies impact the way they live their lives,

books n Blink: Life After Locked-In Syndrome by David and Sandra Nette, published by Kobo, £7.99 A ROUTINE neck adjustment six years ago left Sandy Nette trapped in her own body.

Paralysed by a series of violent strokes after her arteries were damaged during a visit to a chiropractor, she was unable to move, swallow or talk.

Suddenly, Sandy was a prisoner of lockedin syndrome; aware of the world around her but completely unable to reach it.

Sandy could only communicate with those around her by blinking. Barely into her 40s, she had been cast into a living hell, a place where few have ventured and actually survived.

The Nettes have since campaigned for greater regulation in the chiropractic industry.

and how they’re seen by others.

Whether sad, funny, touching or surprising, each story offers an enlightening insight into what it really means to be disabled.

The show, which runs at Pleasance Below at Pleasance Courtyard until August 26, was one of the highlights of the Arches’ Behaviour festival in 2012, performing to sell-out audiences and receiving critical acclaim. n Tickets, 0131 556 6550, www. madeinscotlandshowcase.com

Coward classic NOEL Coward’s classic comedy, Private Lives, comes to The Brindley, Runcorn, with a new twist.

Performed by the newly-formed amateur group, Consensus Touring Theatre, the play revolves aroud a divorced couple who go on honeymoon with their new spouses only to find, to their horror, that their former spouses are staying in the same hotel – in the next bedroom.

It was first performed in 1931, with Coward starring in it himself, alongside Gertrude Lawrence. Later productions have involved such stars as Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Vivien Leigh and Lawrence Oliver. n The curtain goes up on Friday, September 13.

Sep 17-21: A Murder is Announced. Runcorn Brindley.

Agatha Christie’s classic.

Sep 18: Ha Ha Holmes.

Rhyl Pavilion. Comic version of Sherlock Holmes’s The Hound of the Baskervilles.

Sep 19-20: Bunty the Bouncer.

New Brighton Floral Pavilion.

Brilliant one-woman play.

Sep 19-Oct 12: Aristocrats. Theatr Clwyd. Achingly beautiful play about the collapse of the Irish gentry.

Sep 20: Ha Ha Holmes.

Southport Floral Hall. Comic adaptation of Sherlock Holmes.

Sep 20-28: Melody Loses Her Mojo. Liverpool Playhouse. New play from exciting storytellers 20 Stories High.

Sep 21: Pink Floyd Experience.

Southport Floral Hall. Tribute to rock legends.

Sep 21: Bill Bailey. Rhyl Pavilion. Stand-up musical comedy.

Sep 22: Kelly Joe Phelps. The

Lowry. Ssinger/songwriter.

Sep 23-28: Butterfly Lion. Venue Cymru. Heartwarming story of friendship from the writer of War Horse.

Sep 24-28: West Side Story.

Liverpool Empire. Internationally acclaimed musical.

Sep 24-28: The Full Monty. Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. The smashhit musical.

Sep 26: The Elephant Bridesmaid. Rhyl Pavilion. Brilliant children’s show Sep 26: Colin Fry - The Happy Medium. Runcorn Brindley. An evening of cold reading and showmanship.

Sep 26: Matt Richardson.

Runcorn Brindley. Stand-up comedy.

Sep 26-Oct 12: Educating Rita. The Lowry, Salford.

Willy Russell’s hilarious comedy.

Sep 27: Vikki Stone.

Manchester Lowry. Standup. AUDIO DESCRIBED.

27

How I beat diabetes n Becoming An Ex-Diabetic, by Barry

Landsberg, Panoma Press, Amazon, £8.79 (including postage) AGED 50, Barry Landsberg was totally obsessed with food and absolutely loathed exercise. When he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, something clicked and he decided to take responsibility for his health and his life by making some radical changes.

Twelves years on and Barry is now slim, fit and living a much healthier lifestyle. His blood sugar has been at a very healthy level for over ten years without the use of medication.

He’s also gained a brown belt in kickboxing, ran two half marathons, and completed a one-mile swim.

My alcoholic partner

n WHERE better to celebrate the magic of the classic Victorian novel Alice In Wonderland than in a Victorian town! n The batty Hatter of Lewis Carroll’s book has issued an invitation to join him for his Mad Tea Party and a host of other activities in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland at the disabled friendly Blists Hill museum in Shropshire. n The themed Alice in Wonderland weekend takes place over the summer bank holiday (August 24-26). Tel. 01952 433 424.

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

n Blind Drunk: Light at the End of the Tunnel For Anyone Living With a Loved One’s Alcohol Problem, by Anne Morshead, Amazon, £7.86 WHEN a loved one is struggling with an alcohol problem it is natural to think you can help them, even change them.

But it can also lead to huge pressures on your own health and wellbeing.

Anne Morshead shares her experiences in this new book about her relationship with her blind partner – and his addiction to TAKE ME HOME! alcohol.

0151 230 0307

All Together NOW!

28

August/September 2013

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.

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Robe (8) Freshwater fish (4) Spiced Spanish wine (7) African country (5) Drowned valley (3) Savage (6) Midday meal (5) Cattle shelter (4) Yellow-flowered herb (6) German composer (6) Trust (4) Temperate, moderate (5) Most ancient (6) Curve forming part of circumference (3) Deal out (5) Small falcon (7) British nobleman (4) Lawyer (8)

Huge (4) Spanish man’s title (5) Deserve (5) Almost (6) Evened up (7) Slit (4-4) Deciduous shrub (6) Vase (3) Talented (4) Not visible to audience (3-5) Welsh resort (4) Cloudy (7) Mistakes in print (6) Born as (3) Ornamental case (6) Dancing party (5) Temptress (5) Sticky earth (4)

The Accumulator Quiz Each question has four possible answers and is worth from one to 15 points. Circle your chosen answers and keep a record of your points total. Maximum total points 120.

QUESTION 1 – for 1 point: Which cartoon cat was the enemy of TweetyPie the canary?

A Felix B Tom C Fritz D Sylvester

QUESTION 10 – for 10 points: In which year was the Windows Vista computer operating system released worldwide?

QUESTION 2 – for 2 points: On which river is Glasgow situated?

A Forth B Clyde C Tay D Dee

QUESTION 11 – for 11 points: Which musical contains the song Come Follow The Band?

QUESTION 3 – for 3 points: What type of fruit is dried to make prunes?

A Peach B Apricot C Plum D Cherry QUESTION 4 – for 4 points: Which of these actors first played the role of Dr Who on television?

A Patrick Troughton B Jon Pertwee C William Hartnell D Tom Baker QUESTION 5 – for 5 points: Which is the most easterly port in England?

A Grimsby B Lowestoft C Ramsgate D Folkestone QUESTION 6 – for 6 points: Of which Commonwealth country is Stephen Harper the prime mininister?

A New Zealand B Canada C Australia D Jamaica

SUDOKU

A B C D

2007 2008 2009 2010

A B C D

The Music Man Barnum On The Town Show Boat

QUESTION 12 – for 12 points: Who co-hosted the game show Countdown with Carol Vorderman until 2005?

Media personality Carol Vorderman. See Question 12

A B C D

Richard Whiteley Gyles Brandreth Des O’Connor Fred Dinenage

QUESTION 7 – for 7 points: Which is the largest of the Canary Islands?

A Tenerife B Lanzarote C Fuerteventura D Gran Canaria

QUESTION 13 – for 13 points: Which city stands on the site of the original Aztec capital?

QUESTION 8 – for 8 points: What was the name of the gang led by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid? A The Hole in the Wall Gang B The Tombstone Gang C The Black Hand Gang D The Clanton Gang

QUESTION 14 – for 14 points: Which team won the inaugural Football League in 1889?

A B C D

San José Guadalajara Mexico City Panama City

A B C D

Sunderland Aston Villa Preston North End Everton

QUESTION 15 – for 15 points: Who was the first European explorer to cross the Pacific?

QUESTION 9 – for 9 points: Who wrote the song White Christmas?

A Cole Porter B Hoagy Carmichael C Irving Berlin D George Gershwin

A B C D

Vasco da Gama Sebastian Cabot Christopher Columbus Ferdinand Magellan

KAKURO

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

EASY

DIFFICULT

6 8 7 4 6 9 9 2 3 1 7 5 8 7 2 1 4 5 8

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

5 9

9

8 5 4 3 6 7 4 6 3 6 2

4 6 1 2 1

9 4 9 8

2 9 2

3

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8

6 5 1 9 6 2 3 4 1 8

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 9

39

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SAY THAT AGAIN . . .

‘

Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened — Dr Seuss

‘

Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those who are obsessed with themselves. The happiest are those who lose themselves in the service of others. If we complain about life, it’s becuase we are thinking only of ourselves — Gordon B Hinckley

‘

I think happiness is what makes you pretty. Happy people are beautiful. They become like a mirror and they reflect happiness — Drew Barrymore

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2013

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

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

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

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

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DIALLING CODES

CROSS CODE 3

All Together NOW!

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

1 []’–

2 ABC

3 DEF

4 GHI

5 JKL

6 MNO

7 PQRS

8 TUV

9 WXYZ

1. English novelists 876 556 731 353 646 665 312 724 371 427 264 717 488 317 363 124 378 378 661 489 124 747 843 137 222 928 44 4. Parts of a ship 767 846 531 429 737 434 314 255 391 776 537 124 543 126 246 769 171 637 812 224 462 419 273 766 618 371 328 48

Spaces and any punctuation marks are represented by 1.

127 735 712 619 455

5. Items of furniture 287 328 176 321 373 718 255 269 124 247 652 273 192 737 623 826 178 665 174 332 312 424 731 566 483 866 261 337 5

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 18 inventors.

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?

3. Trees 297 737 275 317 176 752 472 412 123 324

518 447 265 873 843

T

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E M E MAKE A DATE

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714 298 463 124 716 852 437 791 179 226 466 542

773 126 134 627 168

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Here is an unusual word with three definitions, only one of which is correct. Can you identify the right definition?

MAIDAN 1) Food containing no animal flesh and so able to be eaten on a fast day; 2) An open space used as a sports ground or paradeground in India and Pakistan; 3) A breed of dog with very thick hair used in Arctic regions for drawing sledges.

F

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

1. East Germany lifts its road and rail blockade of Berlin after allied forces airlift in thousands of tons of supplies.

2. Israel’s first general election is won by David Ben-Gurion’s Mapai Party.

3. The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is founded as the Soviet Union explodes its first atomic bomb.

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

Clue: Clipped back the hard growth.

WAS IT? a) 1949; b) 1951; c) 1953; d) 1955; e) 1957.

____ +S=S____

616 688 912 569 162

WORD WIZARD

2

C

E

467 378 377 945 673

6. English coastal resorts 834 466 688 412 522 576 651 722 726 768 441 327 826 876 312 522 866 164 634 323 193 966 884 172 674 283 186 778 291 274 448 66

1

FELT

SQUASH

419 391 355 539 531

2. Items of clothing 924 782 628 126 672 378 178 625 464 717 812 529 371 886 421 376 179 328 371 876 771 373 771 762 571 172 273

ALL THE ANSWERS Pathwords: Montgolfier; Shrapnel; Bell; Whittle; Stephenson; Baird; Dunlop; Babbage; Remington; Edison; Watt; Bessemer; Otis; Davy; Arkwright; Dyson; Braille; Siemens.

6 4 7 9 2 1 8 3 5

8 9 2 5 3 4 7 1 6

7 6 9 2 1 5 3 4 8

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2 1 5 4 8 3 6 9 7

5 2 4 6 7 9 1 8 3

9 7 3 1 4 8 5 6 2

1 8 6 3 5 2 4 7 9

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8 7 6 9 1 3 5 2 4

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CROSS CODE

7 3 2 1 9 5 4 8 6

4 9 5 8 6 2 7 3 1

2 1 9 3 5 7 6 4 8

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6 8 7 4 2 9 3 1 5

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SUDOKU DIFFICULT

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2

19

4 7

39

8

1

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3

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12

ADVERTISE HERE 0151 230 0307

3 5 1 8 6 7 9 2 4

K G R

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KAKURO MEDIUM

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Accumulator Quiz 1 – D; 2 – B; 3 – C; 4 – C; 5 – B; 6 – B; 7 – A; 8 – A; 9 – C; 10 – A; 11 – B; 12 – A; 13 – C; 14 – C; 15 –D. Starspot Crossword Across – 1 Vestment; 5 Carp; 9 Sangria; 10 Zaire; 11 Ria; 12 Brutal; 15 Lunch; 17 Byre; 19 Fennel; 22 Handel; 24 Rely; 26 Sober; 27 Oldest; 30 Arc; 32 Allot; 33 Kestrel; 34 Earl; 35 Attorney.

Down – 1 Vast; 2 Señor; 3 Merit; 4 Nearly; 6 Aligned; 7 Peep-hole; 8 Azalea; 13 Urn; 14 Able; 16 Offstage; 18 Rhyl; 20 Nebular; 21 Errata; 23 Née; 25 Locket; 28 Disco; 29 Siren; 31 Clay.

Star Name: KEITH RICHARDS

Word Wizard No 2 is correct. A maidan is an open space.

Dialling Codes 1. Trollope; Fleming; Woolf; Archer; Hardy; Amis; Shute; Rendell; Chesterton; Huxley; Christie; Drabble; Waugh.

2. waistcoat; anorak; vest; stockings; shirt; blazer; tunic; bolero; sweater; trousers; dress; socks; tie; scarf.

3. cypress; hawthorn; maple; pine; chestnut; poplar; mulberry; birch; cherry; willow; beech; sycamore; magnolia.

4. porthole; hawser; bridge; galley; propeller; bilge; anchor; crow’s-nest; cabin; winch; wardroom; tiller; davit.

5. bureau; sofa; dresser; tallboy; chair; bookcase; wardrobe; divan; stool; sideboard; chaise longue; ottoman; desk.

6.

Teignmouth; Blackpool; Scarborough; Eastbourne; Clacton; Minehead; Weymouth; Ramsgate; Torquay; Brighton.

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

Missing Link tip; out; more; aside; trail; orange.

Salad ingredient: tomato.

Make a Date The year was 1949.

Transformer Horn + S = Shorn.

REACH 450,000 READERS . . .

TAKE ME HOME!

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All Together NOW!

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August/September 2013

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ARE YOU A WINNER? WERE you among FIVE winners of our super Spaceport competition? All winners will receive family vouchers for entrance to the Merseytravel attraction PLUS family tickets for a cruise along the Mersey!

Mrs Gabrielle Graham, Hindsford Close, Brooklands Estate, Manchester. “What a fabulous paper!

It’s a breath of fresh air – informative and helpful for people with disabilities and carers. And it reduces prejudices and preconceptions some people might

hold.” (Wythenshawe Hospital) Mr Andrew Kay, The Willows, Mawdesley, Ormskirk. (Asda, Skelmersdale) Mr M Sikora, Northop Road, Flint.

“This paper is fantastic!” (Daniel Owen Centre, Mold) Sue Toomer, York Road, Lytham St Annes. “What a brilliant read!”

Paul Benson, Greenway, Alkrington, Middleton, Manchester. “You have cleverly created a free paper with great sections that are of interest to everyone. (ASDA Manchester).

SHIP AHOY BRIGID McClennan, who lives in Rathmore Road, Prenton, was the winner of our competition to win a return Supercruise family ticket to Belfast aboard a Stena ferry. Brigid is a big fan of All Together NOW! She writes: “This newspaper is so helpful and full of information regarding disability. I think it is wonderful. I picked my copy up at Arrowe Park Hospital.”

CONGRATULATIONS to the FIVE lucky winners of our competition to win a copy of the RHS Encylopedia of Gardening.

Mr A Roberts, Hafod Park, Mold. “All Together NOW! is just brilliant – full of valuable information, well written and to the point. Please keep it going exactly as it is.” (Picked up at the Daniel Owen Centre, Mold)Mr Graham Holroyd, Mythop Road, Lytham St Annes.

(Picked up at Wilkinsons, Blackpool) Mr S Parr, Vicarage Road, Orrell, Wigan.

(Sainsburys Southport) Mrs Susan Jane Cannon, The Copse, Liverpool. (Royal Liverpool Hospital) Mr Barrie Walker, Eddisbury Avenue, Flixton, Manchester. “A brilliant newspaper.”

HELP AT THE END OF A PHONE n ANGLESEY:

TARAN Tel 01407 721933 n BLACKPOOL Disability Information and Support.

Tel 01253 472 202.

Textphone 01253 476 450 n CHESHIRE CIL Tel 01606 331853 n CHESTER Dial House Tel 01244 345655 n DENBIGHSHIRE Tel 01745 354445 n ELLESMERE PORT DICE Tel 0151 355 1420 n HALTON Disability Service Tel 01928 717222 n KNOWSLEY DISABILITY CONCERN. 0151 480 4090 n LANCASTER DISC Tel 01524 34411 n LIVERPOOL Association of Disabled People. Tel 0151 263 8366. Text 0151 260 4076 n MERSEYSIDE Coalition of Inclusive Living.

Tel 0151 260 4001 n NEUROSUPPORT Centre Tel 0151 298 2999 n MANCHESTER (GTR) Coalition of Disabled People Tel 0161-273 5154 n MOLD Flintshire Disability Tel 01352 755546 n NELSON: Pendle Pakistan Welfare Association.

Tel 01282 603 616 n PRESTON DISC: Tel 01772 558 863.

Textphone 01772 204 787 n RHYL Tel 01745 350665 n STOCKPORT: Disability Stockport. 0161 480 7248 n WARRINGTON Disability

Partnership. 01925 240064 WIRED Tel 0151 670 1500 n WEST LANCS HELPLINE Freefone 0800 220676 n ST HELENS DASH Tel 01744 453053 n WREXHAM Tel 01978 262955 MIDLANDS BIRMINGHAM Disability Resource Centre Tel 0121 789 7365 Disabled People’s Network Solihull Tel 0121 788 1544 STOKE: Disability Solutions Tel 01782 683800 WOLVERHAMPTON Elder and Disabled Group Tel 01902 448552 n WIRRAL

ORGANISATIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND n ACCRINGTON Tel 01254 233332 n BARROW Tel 01229 820698 n BIRMINGHAM Action for Blind Tel 0121 665 4200 n BLACKBURN Tel 0125 554143 n BLACKPOOL: N-Vision Tel 01253 362696 n BURY Tel 0161 763 7014 n BURNLEY Tel 01282 438507 n CARLISLE: Action for Blind People Tel 01228 595121 CHESHIRE & N WALES: Vision Support. Tel 01244 381515 n CUMBRIA (West) Tel 01946 592474 n CUMBRIA (Sth Lakeland) Tel 01539 726613 n GUIDE DOGS Tel 0118 983

5555 n HENSHAW’S 0161 872 1234 Tel 0151 708 7055 n LIVERPOOL: Bradbury Fields.Tel 0151 221 0888: Action for Bind Tel 0151 298 3222 n MANCHESTER: Action for Blind Tel 0161 787 9252 n PRESTON: Action for Blind People Tel 01772 320550 n OLDHAM Tel 0161 682 8019 n ROSSENDALE Tel 01706 873256 n SIGHTLINE (North West) Tel 0800 587 2252 n WIGAN Tel 01942 242891 n WIRRAL Tel 0151 652 8877 ORGANISATIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF n BIRMINGHAM Institute for Deaf Tel 0121 246 6101 n CHESHIRE Deaf Society Tel 01606 47831 n CUMBRIA Deaf Society Tel 01228 606434 n LANCASHIRE (EAST) Deaf Society Tel 01282 839180 n MANCHESTER Deaf Centre Tel 0161 273 3415 Genie Networks. Tel 0161 941 4549. Text 18001 0161 941 4549 n MERSEYSIDE Society for Deaf Tel 0151 228 0888 n ST HELENS: Deafness Resource Centre Tel 01744 23887 n WOLVERHAMPTON Centre for Deaf Tel 01902 420904 n N WALES Deaf Association, Tel 01492 542235

CARERS’ CENTRES

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n ACCRINGTON Tel 01254 387 444 n BLACKBURN with DARWEN Tel 01254 688 www.bwdcarers.org n BLACKPOOL Blackpool Borough Council, Tel 01253 477 716 n CUMBRIA Carlisle.

Tel 01228 542 156 Penrith.

Tel 01768 890 280 Barrow-in-Furness.

Tel 01229 822 822 Kendal.

Tel 01539 732 927 Whitehaven, Tel 01946 592 223 n CHESHIRE Helpline: 0800 085 0307 n KNOWSLEY Tel 0151 549 1412 n LANCASTER Tel 01524 66475 n LIVERPOOL Tel 0151 705 2307 n MANCHESTER Tel 0161 835 2995 n MORECAMBE Tel 01524 833456 n PRESTON Tel 01772 200173 n RUNCORN Tel 01928 580182 n WIDNES Tel 0151 257 9673 n SALFORD Tel 0161 833 0217 n SEFTON Tel 0151 288 6060 n ST HELENS Tel 01744 675 615 n STOCKPORT Tel 0161 456 2808 n WARRINGTON Tel 01925 644 212 n WEST LANCS Tel 01695 711243 n WIGAN & LEIGH Tel 01942 683711 MIDLANDS n BIRMINGHAM Tel 0121 675 8000 n SOLIHULL Tel 0121 788 1143 n WALSALL Tel 01922 610 810 NORTH WALES n ANGLESEY Tel 01248 722828 n BANGOR Tel 01248 370 797 n CONWY Tel 01492 533714 n DENBIGHSHIRE: NEWCIS, Tel: 0845 603 3187 n DOLGELLAU Tel 01341 421167 n FLINTSHIRE: NEWCIS, Tel: 01352 751436 n WREXHAM: NEWCIS, Tel: 01978 310414.

Email your news to us at news@alltogethernow.org.uk

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August/September 2013

All Together NOW!

31

EURO CHAMPS

I

N A nail-biting final, the Standard Life GB Men wheelchair basketball team retained their European Championships title, beating Turkey 59-57.

Both teams struggled to find their touch, with GB down 8-16 after the first quarter.

But some key changes by head coach Haj Bhania allowed GB to level the score at 26-26 as they went into the break.

Throughout the third quarter the teams went basket for basket with neither side taking more than a two points lead.

CELEBRATION TIME: Standard Life GB players with the Euro trophy. Picture: S A IMAGES Captain Abdi Jama made the final basket of

the quarter to edge GB ahead 47-45. Turkey regained the lead at the start of the fourth quarter but a 6-0 run from GB gave them a five point cushion with seven minutes remaining.

Turkey came back with an 8-0 run of their own, but GB’s re-introduction of the experienced Bywater and Jama made the difference.

Bhania said: “It’s fantastic to win gold. We are a great team, we played really well and Turkey gave us a big battle.

“It was a great final. We had to do something special to win and credit to the team – they were just unbelievable.”

GB’s top scorer Ian Sagar said: “It’s fantastic. We came out here to win and we’ve done it. We knew the Turkish were going to be tough and what a final to play in.”

Standard Life GB Squad: Joe Bestwick (Nottingham, club RSV Lahn Dill, Germany) Simon Brown (London, club Santo Stefano, Italy) Harry Brown (Halifax, club Sheffield Steelers) Matt Byrne (Nottingham, club Jaguars Lincoln, Sheffield Steelers) Terry Bywater (Redcar, club CD Fundosa, ONCE, Spain) Gaz Choudhry (Ealing, club RSC Rollis Zwickau, Germany) Martin Edwards (Bury, Tameside Owls) Abdi Jama (Liverpool, clubs Greenbank, Tameside Owls) Kyle Marsh (Wolverhampton, club Santa Stefano, Italy) Simon Munn (Peacehaven, club GSD Porto Torres, Italy) Ade Orogbemi (Liverpool, club RSC Rollis Zwickau, Germany) Ian Sagar (Barnsley, Briantea84 Cantu, Italy) n THERE was also bronze for the Standard Life GB women team after their 60-39 defeat of the French.

Head Coach Joe Jayaratne said, “Our number one aim was to make sure this team qualified for the World Championships.

“Once that had been achieved we’d have been disappointed not to get bronze.” n www.gbwba.org.uk

Tennis stars shine at the British Open LEFT: Merseyside’s Jamie Burdekin.

Making his comeback after injury, Burdekin went on to knock out the seeded Greg Hasterok RIGHT: Joachim Gerrard, right, winner of the men’s singles

M

ERSEYSIDE’S Jamie Burdekin was responsible for knocking out the first seeded player on the second day of play at Nottingham.

Greg Hasterok 6-0, 6-0.

Burdekin, who was playing his first tournament since May after recovering from injury, went on to put up a battling performance in the semi, losing to South African second seed and world No. 3 Lucas Sithole.

Teaming up with Sithole, he also just missed out on a place in the quad doubles final, losing to Hunter and Wagner, 7-5, 6-3.

WORLD BEATERS W

After victory in his opening match against fellow Brit Adam Field, World No. 10 Burdekin, the 2012 runner-up at the British Open, put in a tremendous performance to beat American fourth seed and world No. 7

ORLD No. 6 Joachim Gerard from Belgium won the men’s singles final at the 24th British Open Wheelchair Tennis Championships defeating world No. 2 Stephane Houdet of France 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

On another action-packed day of tennis at

Nottingham, Dutch duo Jiske Griffioen and Aniek van Koot also retained the women’s doubles title, while North American top seeds Sarah Hunter and David Wagner took the quad doubles.

British pair Marc McCarroll and Jordanne Whiley claimed the mixed doubles with a 6-

Stay ahead of the game

2, 6-1 beating of David Phillipson and Louise Hunt. The NEC Wheelchair Tennis Tour returns to Nottingham Tennis Centre in October, when the Tennis Foundation again organises the Nottingham Indoor, which this year has been upgraded to ITF 1 Series status, just one level below the British Open.

President Phil?

SIR Philip Craven, President of the Brititsh Paralympic Association, has been nominated to be President of the International Paralympic Committee.

The election takes place in Athens at the committee’s General Assembly from November 22-24.

. . . www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together NOW!

32

August/September 2013

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

WHEELCHAIR RUGBY

SNOOKERED: TV celeb Jeremy Kyle will be joining in the action at the Capital Venue in Gloucester

England go down fighting

CUE FOR GLORY! Are YOU up for disabled snooker championships?

ET YOUR cues out and your entries in for this year’s National Disability Snooker Championship.

G

How about this for goal of the season?

And you might get the chance of playing a frame with TV celebrity Jeremy Kyle at the world famous Capital Venue in Gloucester.

“There isn’t a better facility anywhere in the UK, or probably in the world,” said a spokesperson.

“Our competitors will have the opportunity to play on the World Snooker tables, where the stars of the sport compete regularly.

“Everything is well set up to cater for any disability.”

In addition to the main event, there will be coaching workshops for players with special needs.

The championship takes place from September 6-8.

The closing date for entries - August 23. n www.southwestsnookeracademy.com

CHILDREN who have lost limbs due to meningococcal septicaemia showed just what they can do on the sports field when they met for the first ever children’s amputee support day.

Shirley Gieron, at Meningitis Research Foundation, said: “Many of the children who came to our Pushing the Boundaries Day at Alder Hey Hospital hadn’t met others their own age with amputations from septicaemia, so it was a great opportunity to join in and not feel like the odd one out.

“The feedback from the event was fantastic and we hope to organise more days like this in the future” n MRF Helpline: 080 8800 3344. n www.meningitis.org

Stay ahead of the game

Plucky 7 ENGLAND took fourth spot in the first ever Wheelchair 7s Six Nations tournament in Vichy, France.

Wins over Scotland and Wales gave the young England side great hope, but on the final day they went down to Italy, Ireland and France.

Coach Martin Beddis said: “It was an excellent experience for a young squad, a lot of whom play for Liverpool Lions.”

It is hoped that the next year’s Six Nations will be held in the UK – with many of the games being played in the North West.

. . . www.alltogethernow.org.uk

STAR STRIKER: Edward Bright from Ripley

Showrooms at Liver Industrial Estate, Long Lane, Liverpool (behind Taskers, Aintree)

telephone: 0151 524 1700

ENGLAND’s heroic players missed out by just two points – 40-42 to France – in their bid to retain the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup. In front of a sell-out Medway crowd, England clawed their way back into contention from 36-6 down at the start of the second half.

“It was a fantastic game and really was one of two halves,” said England captain Andy Wharton.

“France played their hearts out.”

England had earlier thrashed Australia 81-10 in the semi, and both Wales (50-6) and Ireland (868) in the group stages.

England squad: Chris Greenhalgh; Andy Wharton, captain, Martin Norris, Mike Stevenson, Ian Kenny, Jack Brown, Adam Rigby, Phil Roberts, Jack Heggie, Harry Brown

www.liverpoolbathrooms.com

freephone: 0800 999 6500