Issue 37 - All Together Now magazine

THE BEST READ HEALTH & DISABILITY NEWSPAPER IN THE NORTH WEST! GETTING ON . . .

TAKE ME HOME!

— our NEW page for more mature readers

p11-13

ROADSHOW SPECIAL! SENIOR MOMENTS with top p27 cartoonist FRANK HARRIS

The perfect place to find YOUR new car

JUNE-JULY, 2011

WIN! WIN! WIN!

HERE COMES

SUMMER!

FIVE SPEEDHOES TO BE WON p13

p3 Store boss and son scale the heights for Alzheimer’s cure

Tribute to a true champion

THANKS ANN, FOR A GREAT SERVICE

p16-17 LOOK WHO ARE BACKING YOUR TRAILBLAZING PAPER

p5

p29

p8

p10

p7

p22

All Together NOW!

2

What’s inside NEWS p2-6 THE MORGAN FOUNDATION p7 NATIONAL INFORMATION FORUM p8 BRIGHTER FUTURE WORKSHOP p9 MERSEYTRAVEL

p10

MOTORZONE

June/July 2011

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

NEWS

Keep up the fight, TUC tell disabled people

Love blossoms as online dating club takes off

p11-13

GARDENING

p14

DISABLED people are being urged by the TUC to continue their resistance to the government spending cuts which are hitting every aspect of their lives.

WARRINGTON DISABILITY PARTNERSHIP: DAD p15-17 THEATRELAND

p18 -19

PUZZLEZONE

p20-21

SKILLZONE HEALTHZONE ASTRALZONE GETTING ON HELPING HAND SPORTZONE

p22-23 p24-25 p26 p27 p28 p31-32

n All Together NOW! is a registered charity set up to provide a tip top news service for anyone whose life is affected by disability, longterm health condtions or age. n The charity relies entirely on support from its sponsors, advertisers and from general subscriptions and grants. n You can contact us on

0151 230 0307

UNIQUE online friendship and dating agency has been created for adults with a learning disability across the north of England.

The Luv2meetu site began as a oneyear pilot in 2007 in Leeds and Wakefield, funded jointly by national learning disability charities Hft and Dimensions UK, but has since taken off.

Originally known as “Stars in the Sky Yorkshire”, the service was developed further by Hft with the help of local

A

funding and now has over 150 members, operates in six different local authority areas, and is set to continue growing Activities take place in local communities and are supported by up to 50 volunteers who are vital to the success of the initiative. n Anyone interested in becoming a member or volunteer can visit the L2MU website or telephone 01924 NEW FRIENDS: 229120. Email luv2meetu@hft.org.uk Cathryn Horbury at www.luv2meetu.com the launch event

Who to contact Editor: Tom Dowling email: news@alltogethernow.org.uk

Advertising/sponsorship

Local Solutions is supporting

Carers Week 2011

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

NEXT EDITION: Monday 1 August, 2011 All Together NOW! is published by All Together Now! Ltd, The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP Registered Charity No.1106387 Company No. 5096931 Printed by Trinity Mirror NW2, Oldham

Carers Week highlights the vital contribution made by carers to their families and communities in providing unpaid care for someone who is ill, frail or disabled. This year, the theme for the week is The True Face of Carers .

The annual Carers Week Event (organised by Local Solutions) will take place at St George s Hall, Liverpool on Friday 17th June between 10.30am until 3.00pm.

Numerous organisations from across the city and neighbouring boroughs will be exhibiting information about the services they provide to support carers and the people they care for. There will also be complementary therapies and a Tai Chi demonstration.

Come along with your family and friends for an informative and fun day. For more information about the Carers Week Event 2011 at St. George s Hall, please contact Kathy Newton on 0151 705 2390 or e mail knewton@localsolutions.org.uk or to find out about other Carers Week events, please visit www.carersweek.org

Royal opening MORE than 200 people saw the Earl of Wessex open the new premises of Liverpool Charity and Voluntary Services.

The five-storey building in Dale Street provides a city centre base with conference facilities for charities and community groups.

Alan Lewis, chief executive, said: “It is an exciting time for both LCVS and the voluntary sector as a whole.

“We have a wide range of groups booked into to use the new office space.” n LCVS, tel 0151 227 5177

All Together NOW! is exceptionally well received by its 240,000 readers.

120,000 readers DO NOT see any other local paper — The Murray

A new TUC briefing – Disabled people fighting the cuts –- issued to coincide with the TUC’s annual disability conference reveals the impact of the government’s spending cuts on disabled people, and encourages unions and disabled people to fight back.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “This report shows just how hard some of the most vulnerable members of our society have been hit by the government’s deep spending cuts.

Key role “But a fightback is taking place and unions have a key role to play.

“Thousands of disabled people joined the TUC march for the Alternative earlier this year, and many more took part in the Hardest Hit march and rally on 11 May - the largest demonstration by disabled people for decades.”

Speakers at the twoday disability conference at Congress House included TUC Assistant General Secretary Kay Carberry, Anne Begg MP, Stephen Brookes from the NUJ disability hate crime network, and John McArdle from the Black Triangle antidefamation campaign in defence of disabled peoples’ rights.

The TUC report highlights several key areas of concern, including employment, benefits, healthcare, transport, and safety.

MINISTER HITS BACK: Page 4 TAKE ME HOME!

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together NOW!

June/July 2011

3

NEWS

The world at our feet . . . with help!

VERY warm welcome to our SIXTH anniversary edition!

Few people thought we’d get anywhere near this far when we set up our unique charity newspaper.

But thanks to the magnificent and ongoing support from our sponsors and advertisers, we’re not only surviving – we are also bucking the trend in the UK newspaper industry and EXPANDING! Some prudent book-keeping and THREE extremely generous donations from the National Information Forum (see Page 8), the E L Rathbone Charitable Trust, and the Rainford Trust means we can now get even more copies

A

printed – and buy more of our distinctive dispensers from which readers can pick up their FREE copies of the multi award-winning paper.

This will take our readership to a whopping 260,000 – that’s significantly more than the numbers of people reading the vast majority of local newspapers here in the North West and throughout the UK. And we’re not stopping there.

Our goal now is to attract more partners – and especially

those with high street outlets who just might also help us to distribute the papers. If we can get that kind of support then there’s no telling how far All Togeteher NOW! will go.

With the right backing your favourite paper could easily become a really popular national title . . . with copies available in mainstream venues right across the country.

And, who knows, one day there may even be European and US versions!

But one step at a time . . .

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the inspirational stories in this anniversary edition.

Thanks for all the help. We’re back in August. See you then!

Tom Dowling, editor

N-ice one, Malcolm!

Top of the world feeling for Iceland boss and son, Richard CELAND Foods boss Malcolm Walker chose a suitably chilly challenge to raise money towards a cure for Alzheimer’s Disease – scaling the world’s highest mountain.

Malcolm, 65, and son Richard, 30, have just returned from Mount Everest . . . glad to be back in one piece.

They didn’t quite reach the summit with other members of the team, but by reaching the North Col (7,020 metres) they fulfilled their personal dreams – and are now well on the way to raising £1 million for Alzheimer’s Research UK, the charity seeking a cure to the

I

disease that will soon affect one million people UK-wide.

Malcolm said: “Getting to the top of the North Col was the most frightening and physically demanding thing I have ever done in my life.

“I will admit that I daydreamed about maybe going further and trying for the summit itself, but this has never been a suicide mission and I knew when we arrived at the top of the North Col that I had reached the limit of my endurance.

“I have learned that climbing Everest isn’t technically difficult: it’s just a very long way up and a test of survival in extreme conditions.

“Richard, who showed himself to be the strongest member of the expedition, could have stayed on to make a successful summit bid, but decided that the time was right to return to his family.

“I am immensely grateful to everyone who has already donated to help us towards our target of raising at least £1 million.

“I and the rest of the Iceland store and head office team will be working hard all year to ensure that we reach our goal, and I would urge anyone who has been thinking of making a donation to do it now.” n www.justgiving.com/icelandeverest

Cuts to services could land councils in court ALL local councils and public authorities should immediately review their decisions to cut services to disabled people, says a leading lawyer following a High Court judgement.

Birmingham City Council has been forced to look again at its move to provide a service only to those with ‘critical’ needs.

This would have meant withdrawing services from all disabled people assessed as having ‘substantial’ needs, which would include many severely disabled people.

But Mr Justice Walker found that, both when setting its budget and changing its eligibility policy, the council failed to give proper consideration to the impact on disabled people (as required by legislation), and failed to undertake adequate consultation on its proposals.

Karen Ashton, of Public Law Solicitors, said: “In cash-strapped times such as these, the public sector must do more to avoid the consequences of cuts falling on those who are least able to bear them.

“What this case demonstrates is that this may be not only a moral obligation, but also a legal one.

“Local councils, and all other public authorities, must learn this lesson and learn it fast – otherwise there will be many more of these cases coming before the courts.”

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!

Council Approved Contractor & Suppliers Covering The Northwest z Stairlifts Installed from £750.00 z Fully Stocked & z Bathlifts Equipped Workshops z Walking Aids z Rise Recline Armchairs z Hire Wheelchairs & Scooters z Waterproofs

Call n: Us O

01744 602602

Centrally Located In Town Centre At Rear Of ‘Wilkinsons’ 58 Claughton Street, St. Helens Town Centre

z Incontinence Products z Toilet Aids z Kitchen Aids z Batteries, Parts & Accessories

Also: At

SALES, REPAIR & SERVICING OF ALL MOBILITY & DISABILITY PRODUCTS

0151 423 3738

Fre e Dem Hom ons e trat ions

Widnes Mobility Supercentre (Largest in Northwest) Alexandra Street, Widnes, Cheshire WA8 7RU

4

All Together NOW!

June/July 2011

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

NEWS

How am I going to put flowers on Dad’s grave . . ?

Biggest ever disabled march hits London CENTRAL London came almost to a standstill as an army of 5,000 disabled people, their families and friends marched through the streets to warn the Government that public spending cuts will push disabled people over the edge.

Many travelled by coach and by train from all over the UK to take part in what is being hailed the biggest ever gathering of disabled people in the UK. The demonstrators marched from Victoria Embankment to the Houses of Parliament waving banners and brandishing placards with slogans such as “Blame Banks Not Disabled People” and “Don’t Leave Me Stranded”.

Supporting them were actresses Jane Asher – president of Arthritis Care, National Autistic Society and Parkinson’s UK – and Julie Fernandez, together with Sally Bercow, writer and wife of House of Commons Speaker John Bercow.

Liam Byrne MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, said: “People agree that the welfare bill needs to come down but we should do that by getting people into jobs not by pushing them into poverty.”

Benefit promise THE new Personal Independence Payment to be phased in during 2013-14 to replace Disability Living Allowance will also be non-means tested, the Government has confirmed.

But it will mean that disabled claimants will, unlike under the current system, be subjected to regular reassessments to ensure their entitlement.

The benefit changes follows one of the biggest ever consultations at the Department for Work and Pensions with more than 5,500 responses from disabled people and disability organisations.

So what is DLA? DISABILITY Living Allowance is paid to help people who cannot do things like walk or wash and dress themselves.

It provides a contribution to the extra costs severely disabled people incur, and is claimed by 3.2 million people at an annual cost of £12 billion.

Currently more than 2m people get the benefit indefinitely.

Nearly a quarter of all working age people on DLA have not had any review of their claim in 10 years.

How much a week is it worth?

Higher rate, £73.60; middle, £49.30; lower, £19.55. There is also a mobility component – higher rate, £51.40; lower, £19.55

PROTEST: Actress Jane Asher, fourth left, joined the London march against benefit cuts

Minister hits back!

ISABILITY minister Maria Miller has spoken out in defence of the Government’s welfare reform proposals.

Talking exclusively to All Together NOW! the minister put the case for

D

one of the bill’s most controversial plans – replacing Disability Living Allowance, which provides up to £125 weekly towards the extra costs that disability brings, with a new Personal Independent Payment.

“DLA reform is a big issue,” she said.

“But I can give readers a great deal of reassurance. We will continue to spend the same amount on DLA in future as we did last year – £12 billion. But we are reducing the extraordinary rate of growth of DLA to something which is sustainable.

“I have concerns in the way that some organisations are talking about the changes, because their views are causing real concern to disabled people. The reforms we are talking about will be about improving what is a broken benefit.”

The Minister said that some of the major disability organisations involved in the recent London march were also very much involved in helping to shape the new reforms.

“We are working hand in hand with disabled people’s organisations and disabled people in redesigning DLA. “I meet people from every major disability organisation on a regular basis and we have been through the reforms in great detail.

“Many of the organisations involved in the recent London march are

Why I believe welfare reform must happen,

by Minister in the firing line actually working directly with me and colleagues on reforming the system so that it best reflects the needs of disabled people.

“Organisations like Radar and Mind and other disabled-led organisations have been working with me for many, many months.

“In fact, they are not just working with us . . . they are shaping the way we reform DLA, shaping the assessment processes, and working with us hand in hand.

“It is only by working with disabled people’s organisations and disabled people that we have been able to produce such strong reforms.”

So why is it necessary to scrap DLA and replace it with Personal Independence Payments?

“Our research shows that people find DLA to be a very complex benefit - the application runs to some 40 to 50 pages long and it’s difficult to complete.

“The subjective nature of the assessment is leading to different outcomes for people, and is not necessarily consistent.

“Secondly, I am concerned there is

MARIA MILER

no inbuilt reassessment of people’s cases.

“Yes, there will be some cases where people’s conditions won’t change, but for the majority their conditions do change. This leads to individuals receiving too little or too much support.

“Research also revealed that £600m was overpaid in DLA to disabled people – but there was also £190m underpaid because of people’s changing conditions that had not been recognised.

“Thirdly, we have to make sure the support is sustainable into the future.

The government spends £40 billion a year supporting disabled people.

DLA is £12 billion of that figure – more than the entire UK road budget.

“The money must go to people who need it most to lead independent lives.”

Regarding the assessment procedures for the new benefit, the Minister said: “We are now looking at the detail of how the assessment process will work.

“There may be some people for whom there is sufficient medical evidence that they have severe disabilities and it would be inappropriate for them to come in and have a face-to-face assessment.

“But for the vast majority it is important for them to have the opportunity to talk about other support they might need. The assessments will be a positive way of signposting people to additional support – especially people with multiple conditions.

180,000 – two-thirds of All Together NOW! readers – DO NOT see any other disability or health publication — The Murray Consultancy

DISABLED people in residential care in Scotland have talked movingly about what losing a vital benefit would mean to them.

When asked how he would be affected by the withdrawal of mobility benefit ,one man said: “How am I going to put flowers on my Dad’s grave?”

The man was taking part in research commissioned by Capability Scotland and Margaret Blackwood Housing Association.

The Government is reviewing its plans to scrap the mobility component of the DLA for people living in residential care homes.

People tend to use the benefit in a variety of ways including paying for cars and other forms of transport.

Wellbeing Richard Hamer at Capability Scotland, said: “Whether that’s the big things like going to work or accessing health care services or the things that contribute to a person’s overall wellbeing like visiting friends, going shopping or even the ability to tend to a loved one’s grave, it is clear the mobility component plays a vital role in supporting disabled people to live their lives.

“It is also clear that the impact of the changes will not be restricted to disabled people – they are also likely to affect GPs who simply don’t have the capacity to cope with the increased demand for home visits.”

TAKE ME HOME!

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

June/July 2011

All Together NOW!

NEWS

Towpath volunteer call BRITISH Waterways wants readers to help them create a real-time virtual picture of the condition of its towpaths highlighting any obstructions to access.

Robin Evans, chief executive of British Waterways, said: “Inevitably the type and condition of our towpaths varies from place to place but with the use of mobile technology, we’ll be asking the 13 million people who visit the waterways each year to help keep a virtual waterways map up-to-date.

“As the waterways in England and Wales move to become a charity in 2012, they will be increasingly run by local people for local people and so who better to help keep the picture of access up-to-date.” n If you would like to take part in the project, email volunteer@britishwaterways.co.uk

Travel the world and help the poor

The way ahead EOPLE who are colour blind will soon be able to see Ordnance Survey maps in all their colourful glory!

A revolutionary new colour palette promises to put an end to the map-reading challenge faced by the one in 12 men and one in 100 women unable to distinguish certain colours.

“This will take our maps to a whole new level of accessibility and mean that a skill as simple, yet crucial, as map reading will soon be within everyone’s reach,” said Simon

P

New maps for people who are colour blind Duquénoy, senior technical product manager at Ordnance Survey.

“We also hope that it will inspire others and make a real difference to the lives of people with colour vision deficiency.

“The icing on the cake would be if essential front line emergency responders such as coastguards, pilots and firemen who might

suffer from CVD were able to make effective use of maps in their work.”

Ordnance Survey is now working with the Royal National Institute of Blind People to incorporate the new colour palette in its products.

Among the first expected to benefit will be customers of OS VectorMap Local, which allows users to create maps to their own individual specifications. With the new colour palette they will be able to create maps for people with CVD.

PEOPLE with disabilities – and those with experience of working in the field of disability – are invited to be part of a global youth volunteering programme.

International Citizen Service is a new Government volunteering scheme for 18 to 22-year-olds from all walks of life that helps people in developing countries.

Places are also available for experienced team leaders aged 23+.

Placements usually last for 12 weeks and can be tailored for people with disabilities.

They are also means-tested according to household income.

Those with an income of £25,000 to £40,000 p/a are expected to provide £1,000 costs.

Those with a household income over £40,000 are expected to provide £2,000.

Those with a household income under £25,000 and older volunteers will not have to contribute. n Tel: 01904 647799 n www.internationalservice.org.uk

The perfect gift for every occasion!

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

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

5

6

All Together NOW!

June/July 2011

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

NEWS

GPs better equipped to help families Lifeline for parents ‘left high and dry’ PARENTS of disabled and sick children are being urged to tap into a specialist nursing service offering advice and practical support to families.

Calls to the national helpline, Call Karen, rose by 62% last year as many families reported feeling they had been left ‘high and dry’ by cutbacks and declining services.

Last year, nurses from Newlife – which runs Call Karen – helped award £1.2million in equipment grants to families for equipment like wheelchairs, beds, walking frames, seating and communication aids. n Freephone: 0800 902 0095. www.newlifecharity.co.uk

A NEW handbook has been published to help GPs when a child with palliative care needs comes into their care.

The Children’s Palliative Care Handbook for GPs covers issues like handling strong emotions and difficult questions; assessing pain; spiritual care; management of terminal symptoms; and helping the family with grief and bereavement.

Lizzie Chambers, chief executive

of ACT, the charity that supports families with life-limited or lifethreatened children, said: “It has long been recognised that GPs often have very limited involvement in the care of lifelimited children and their families and that this need not be the case.

“In fact, GPs are ideally placed to support children and families throughout their illness and to providing ongoing support for the family in bereavement.

“This handbook provides a really practical way to empower GPs to be involved in the care of lifelimited children. We hope this will lead to less fragmented care for families during such a difficult time.” n The ACT Children’s Palliative Care Handbook for GPs is a fully interactive PDF with 13 sections available free to download at www.act.org.uk/gps

Game on!

Toys R plus for kids’ centre

Fantastic paper!

I stumbled upon All Together NOW! at Whythenshawe Forum after being at the gym.

It’s fantastic! I can’t believe that I’ve not seen the paper before. It’s got everything – and especially so much news about disability sport, which I am passionate about. This paper is exactly what’s needed to change people’s perception of disability. I wish you all the luck in the world!

Jordan Raynes, Disability Officer at Stockport County FC

Odeon’s autism day ODEON cinemas are to trial a new national film service for people affected by autism.

The service – ‘Autism Friendly Films’ – will enable those who would normally not be comfortable in attending “mainstream” viewings to attend special screenings.

The first film, Mr Popper’s Penguins, gets under way in more than 30 Odeon cinemas across the UK – including Wrexham – on August 11.

For a full list of cinemas taking part in the trial visit: n www.dimensions-uk.org/autismfilms

Top award for Claire PRESTON businesswoman Claire Fryer, whose Mosaic Group provides care and respite for people with disabilities, has been named social entrepreneur of the year in the 19th Inspiring Women Awards.

VIP TREATMENT: Headteacher Adrian Martin with pupils Ben, Molly and Ellena – and Amanda Farrell and Carol Brocklesby

UPILS at Greasby Junior School are making hospital visits more fun for disabled children.

They have just handed over £1,200 to Clatterbridge Hospital’s Child Development Centre, which helps children across Wirral with special needs, or who have been diagnosed with some form of

P

developmental delay.

The money will allow the CDC to improve play equipment that can assist children with their development.

Headteacher Adrian Martin said: “Every year the school holds a charity event that involves our staff, pupils and parents working together to raise funds in support of a local children’s charity.”

Amanda Farrell, from Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the CDC, said: “We are very grateful to all the pupils for their generous support.

“The funds that they have raised will help to significantly improve the play equipment which will make a big difference to the children who attend each week.”

£200,000 summit climb is sum effort!

A MASS climb up Kilimanjaro has raised £200,000 for The Ear Foundation.

Sixty people scaled Africa’s highest mountain in aid of the charity which supports cochlear implants for profoundly deaf children.

Annie Martin, director of the Destiny of a Child charity, masterminded the climb. She said: “We had amazing support from family and friends who found ingenious ways to cover the cost of the trip as well as raising money.”

The donation will pay for an internet-based

education training service for parents and medical professionals.

Sue Archbold, chief executive of The Ear Foundation, said: “The advent of the internet means we now have a new global reach through our website which receives around 2,500 hits a day from people around the world – visitors from China and Russia are the most common after the UK.” n www.destinyofachild.com n www.earfoundation.org.uk

Readers feel All Together NOW! creates parity between those who hav a disability and those who have not — The Murray Consultancy

Help at home for brain injured A PILOT scheme to help children who have problems after a brain injury has been launched – and could be rolled out nationally.

The Tadworth Brain Injury Co-ordinator service is being trialled for two years from The Children’s Hospital, Sheffield, in partnership with national charity The Children’s Trust, Tadworth.

Co-ordinator Jenny McIntyre said: “It’s incredibly important that a service like this exists for children.

“Currently children come to hospital with brain injuries and receive excellent treatment for their physical problems.

“But when they get back into the community, to home or school, they may have problems with learning or behaviour which weren’t obvious when they were in hospital.

“It can be a very frustrating and confusing time.”

Ms McIntyre, who has been a speech therapist for 25 years, said children with a mild or moderate brain injury may currently receive little support once they go home.

“Often problems are not identified during the hospital stay,” she said.

“However, when the child returns home they can have problems with short-term memory and develop physical signs such as headaches and stomach aches as well as behavioural difficulties.

“We hope to identify the children who could have these problems early on and work with families and schools to ensure they get the support and structure the children and families need.”

TAKE ME HOME!

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

IMES are tough – and especially so for charities who are doing geat work but struggling to make ends meet.

Here at The Morgan Foundation we want to help organisations who share our philosophy – Making a Difference!

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.

T

June/July 2011

All Together NOW!

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 of the people in our region.

EVERY ONE A WINNER! RECENT Morgan Foundation grants include . . .

UK NORTH BLIND SOCIETY provides sail training for blind people

Proud Penguins IKE all responsible funders, The STICK ‘N’ STEP Morgan Foundation has to be provides special very selective when awarding education for children grants. with cerebral palsy With the best will in the world, our trustees simply cannot say yes to all the applications we receive.

THE Our money must Morgan Foundation be spent on may be able to help with projects that we your project. But please make feel are making a sure that your group is based real and lasting within our area of support – as difference to shown on the map above. communities.

— Jane Harris, Administrator, That’s why we had no hestitation in The Morgan Foundation supporting the Cheshire Penguins Contact details at foot swimming club – with a grant AND with of page. one of our special Smiley Buses . . . a 17-seater minibus to replace their 10 SPLASHING OUT: Cheshire Penguins have been awarded a grant and a minibus year-old vehicle.

HERE are some of the other Based in Northwich, the club is a groups we’ve also supported COMING SOON . . . lifeline for people of all ages with during the past year: learning difficulties.

ACSIL - Amputees and Carers A huge community success story, Support in Liverpool; Aftermath the Penguins provides its 80 Support, Wirral; All Together Now!; Autism members with the chance to travel Networks, Crewe; Chester & around the country – and Europe HEY ARE five years old economic impact on the local District Federation of the Blind; – competing in top galas, and community will also be eligible to – and they are bigger and Dwyfor Travel Club, Pwllheli learning from new experiences. (minibus); John Holt Cancer enter. Sponsored this year by better . . .

Travelling without their parents Foundation, Warrington; Kids The 2011 Morgan Foundation Redrow, the awards will be Fun Club, Rhyl; Making A has also helped some of the Entrepreneur Awards are being launched on June 21 in Difference Club, Huyton; swimmers to become more Wolverhampton and on launched in June and Millstead Primary School, confident and independent.

June 22 in Liverpool. there is plenty to get Liverpool; New2You, Wrexham; But the Penguins are not just Penn Hall School, Shortlisted candidates excited about. about swimming . . . the club also Wolverhampton; Rape and With cash prizes will be invited to make a Sexual Abuse Support Centre develops friendships and totalling £115,000 PLUS a presentation at Carden Park hotel, North Wales; Speke Baptist arranges social outings.

Cheshire, on September 27 or 28 package of valuable professional Church, Noah’s Ark Community There are regular opportunities and winners will be announced services for winners and Centre; St Christopher’s School, to play table tennis, ten pin Wrexham (minibus and proceeds live at the Morgan Foundation runners-up, the awards can make bowling, go to the pictures, of Golf Day for hydrotherapy Entrepreneur Awards Gala Dinner a substantial boost to your charity pool); Stepping Stones, shopping and ballroom dancing. or business. on Thursday November 10.

Wrexham; Warrington Aspergers And there’s an annual holiday to Full details on how to enter will Young entrepreneurs, charities, Society; Last year’s Against look forward to – and, of course, be available on our website social enterprises, as well as Women’s Enterprising All Odds winner the Christmas party!

Breakthrough, Birkenhead; (see below) and in the next those businesses that are making

L

2011 entrepreneur awards

T

Cheshire Penguins, tel 01606 42453

a proven positive social or

edition of All Together NOW!

www.morganfoundation.co.uk

Debbie Stone

Women Supporting Women, St Helens; Zero Centre, Birkenhead

Tel. 01829 782800

7

All Together NOW!

8

June/July 2011

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

FEATURE

‘

All her life, Anne Darnbrough has fought social injustice . . .

Lack of news and information is one of the main causes of social exclusion

All Together NOW! editor Tom Dowling reflects on her lifetime of helping others NN Darnbrough is like a wise, wonderful, fun-loving aunt – with an almost permanent mischievous twinkle in her eyes.

By her own admission, she’s been a bit of a rebel in her time, constantly speaking up for the underdog, and continually challenging bureaucracy.

And she hates the Honours’ system – even though she herself has an OBE. For more than half of her life, Ann, now 80, has been fighting to give disabled people a better deal in life – and encouraging others to do likewise.

“Information is now a commodity in such ample supply that many of us feel overwhelmed by it,” she told me when we last met a few years ago.

“We know what it is to experience information overload. But it is a revolution that has passed many people by.

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

And that very much includes the millions of people in Britain who are faced with disability.

“That’s why I was so delighted when the Liverpool ECHO started your I Can Do That! disability page all those years ago (1983) – and when it developed into a stand-alone paper. It was a real breakthrough to have this kind of news, presented so positively, in a mainstream newspaper.

“But All Together NOW! is better, much better – jam-packed with life-enhancing news and information AND becoming increasingly available in mainstream venues

A

Isolation “People in deep hardship generally lack the skills and the initiative to seek out information, and any inquisitiveness they may have is often blunted by their crushing disadvantage.

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

So it’s brilliant that All Together NOW! is banging the drum!”

Isolation and disability are things that Ann knows only too well.

As the only child of parents living in Madrid, Ann developed TB of the spine, while her mother, Ada, fell victim to cancer.

“My only clear memory is of crawling around the flat. I should have been walking, but doctors advised my parents

LIFETIME CAMPAIGNER: Ann and, left, with her devoted partner, Derek

Ann: a true champion that I should remain on all fours, rather than putting strain on my back.”

Aged three, she and her mum returned to England (her dad stayed in Spain) and each went into different hospitals.

“Mum never came out. She died when I was five.”

When Ann was discharged from hospital she had nowhere to go – a pattern that continued for the next ten years.

“I was never put into care, just looked after by families who my father could charm into taking me into their households.”

Constantly changing circumstances and living with new people helped her to cope with the challenges life threw at her.

“I quickly developed a strong sense of independence.”

Aged nine, she was back in hospital, again strapped to a leather frame for another two years. And if all that wasn’t enough to cope with, in her final year at school she had to have an emergency operation to remove an infected kidney.

“Fortunately, the operation coincided with the discovery of the antibiotic streptomycin, and the disease was stopped in its tracks,

saving my life.

“Perhaps it was this seeming miracle that served to give me the further impetus to make the most of life’s opportunities – and to have fun.”

She’s certainly done that. Four years ago she also found time to write her autobiography, A Rebellious Disposiistion, published by Highshore Press.

Main passion Outside her disability work, Ann has been an enthusiastic supporter/member of a number of charities including – Liberty, Dignity in Dying, the British Humanist Association, CND, Prisoners Abroad, Amnesty International, the Movement for the Abolition of War and Free Tibet.

She joined the anti-monarchy group Republic in November 1999, served as director in 2009/10 – and is also a fierce defender of animal rights.

But since the early 70s her main passion has been improving ways of getting information to underprivileged people.

For over 10 years she was the agony aunt of Disability Now, has chaired or been involved in the management of several

disability charities, and has served as a member of five adjudication panels, including the Snowdon Award Scheme.

In 1972 she was appointed deputy general secretary of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

“They provided information but it was largely confined to news of research. I felt people with MS needed wider information such as financial benefits, aids and equipment, and leisure and holiday opportunities.”

So she launched a monthly bulletin newsletter.

Two years later she and her partner, Derek Kinrade, developed the work into what very quickly became a bible for so many disability organisations, the Directory for Disabled People.

There were even greater things to come.

When the United Nations set up International Year of Disabled Persons they had overlooked the vital role information was not included on the agenda.

“When I complained I was invited to do something about it!”

Within months she and Derek – and others sharing the same commitment – had formed the National Information Forum to encourage UK organisations to come up with innovative ways of disseminating news and information.

“It was the only organisation whose prime concern was that every individual should have the opportunity to access the information they need to lead lives of choice in our communities.”

The Forum has been Ann and Derek’s main focus ever since.

Sadly, however, time is now catching up . . . and Ann’s health must again be the top priority.

Earlier this year, when they decided to call it a day, the Forum’s trustees gave the All Together NOW! charity a fantastic donation to help us through extremely difficult times – and to develop the paper.

Derek said: “Ann’s single-minded dedication to the provision of information has impacted on the lives of untold thousands of disabled people.

“Now we really want to help All Together NOW! to carry on all the good work. We wish the paper every possible success.”

And we wish you both – and all the team at the Forum – every happiness.

Thanks!

In the past year All Together NOW! has increased its readership by 20%. This is due to its increasing availability in MAINSTREAM outlets — The Murray Consultancy

TAKE ME HOME!

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

June/July 2011

CHARITY SPOTLIGHT . . .

All Together NOW!

Brighter Future Workshop

Queen’s tribute to our work RIGHTER Future Workshop, a charity that trains young people with disabilities to repair and recycle mobility equipment, has won The Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

The Skelmersdale-based organisation has been chosen for the top honour in UK business for “enhancing the lives of the community in which it operates and embodying sustainability through its committed leadership”.

Peter Cousins, a full-time wheelchair user, founded the social enterprise in 2005.

Peter said: “If someone has a long-term disability you don’t train them without first helping them to believe in themselves.

“Our trainees get the satisfaction of becoming part of a team and being recognised for what they can do,

B

TOP TEAM: Peter Cousins, second left, and some of the staff and trainees at Brighter Future Workshop

visit us at . . . www.bfworkshop.co.uk

regardless of their level of ability.”

The centre’s unique combination of work experience and job coaching builds confidence, competence and self esteem.

Brighter Future manager Jackie Tittle stressed the importance of delivering low cost mobility equipment. “Disabled people who live in deprived areas are

doubly disadvantaged and unlikely to be able to afford new mobility equipment due to prohibitive costs,” she said.

“Brighter Future overcomes this problem by providing recycled mobility equipment at an affordable price.”

Peter added: “We recently had a call from the daughter of an 82-year-old man

who had bought a recycled mobility scooter from us.

She said that her father had been out of the house to buy his newspaper for the first time in 11 years. This is what Brighter Future Workshop is all about – giving people an entirely new lease of life.”

Brighter Future Workshop Brighter future for EVERYONE!

Recycled mobility aids at a price you can afford Since 2005 Brighter Future Workshop has provided over 5,000 pieces of recycled mobility equipment Visit our showroom or view our e-bay shop via our web site www.bfworkshop.co.uk to see our vast selection of: Mobility Scooters

· · · · · · · · · ·

Power Chairs Wheelchairs Walkers Beds Rise & Recline Chairs Hoists Children’s Equipment Bathroom Aids Small Disability Aids

Brighter Future Workshop, 20 Greenhey Place, East Gillibrands, Skelmersdale, Lancashire WN8 9SA Company No 5419682. Registered charity No 1110389

9

All Together NOW!

10

June/July 2011

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

PUBLIC TRANSPORT:

Girls put police on the spot!

ERSEYTRAVEL has produced a film about the effects of disability hate crime on people with learning disabilities.

Working with Fresh Box TV, the film examines the impact on young people with learning difficulties who experience hate crime on public transport in Merseyside.

The film, entitled The Holly Lodge Hate Crime Project, features Year 8 and 9 students from Holly Lodge Girls College,

M

Merseytravel

Calling all you

LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION . . . pupils from Holly Lodge Girls College during filming at Merseyside Police HQ

Liverpool, who interviewed consultants from United Response, a national charity that supports people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and physical disabilities, and who provide training to people about Hate Crime.

The girls also interviewed members of the public to see what they knew about hate crime, and police from the SIGMA hate crime team about how people can report incidents and what the police can do to help.

Neil Scales, chief executive of Merseytravel, said: “We hope that this film helps people to understand the consequences of hate crime for those affected and goes some way to reducing the number of incidents of crime across the network.”

Maria Checkland, Merseytravel Partnership Support Officer, who coordinated the project added: “We were lucky to work with Fresh Box TV, who secured funding for the project from Liverpool City Council and the Youth Service.

artists . . .

“The film shows that there are still a lot of people who will target someone who is different to them – quite often hate comes from ignorance.”

Freshbox TV is a platform for engaging young filmmakers from the local community to produce projects about the issues affecting them within their local area. n For more information contact

Maria Checkland at maria.checkland@merseytravel. gov.uk

ARTISTS from across Merseyside are being urged to enter Merseytravel’s third annual Art on the Network competition.

Entrants are being asked to design a unique poster which is clear, bold and striking and portrays their chosen theme in a positive manner.

Each winner will receive a £500 cash prize and their artwork will be displayed in a number of different formats on and around the transport network.

The competition is open to all residents or professionally based people in Merseyside aged 16 and over, and each entrant can submit a maximum of two original designs.

Closing date is Thursday September 1. n More competition details from Emma Lawrence, Public Arts Officer, Merseytravel, 24 Hatton Garden, Liverpool L3 2AN. www.artonthenetwork.co.uk

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AD346A

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

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

June/July 2011

All Together NOW!

Do you really want a winch with your WAV? O MANY people jump at the chance of a free winch with their wheelchair accessible vehicle.

But have you considered whether this really is the best option?

Here are several reasons why you should think twice before having a winch unless it is really necessary: n Expense: They are heavy and will add to your fuel consumption. n Space: They are quite cumbersome and

S

take up space in front of the wheelchair user. n Time: The electric motor slowly pulls the wheelchair into the vehicle.

They are also electrical, so can – and do, sometimes – go wrong, leaving your WAV off the road for repair, which can be costly.

Winches are a thing of the past with Constables, who have been building market-leading WAVs for decades.

So it’s no surprise that their lightweight

ramp is one of the best in the industry.

Their counter-balanced ramp is so light that even a small child can lift it.

And the gentle gradient means the majority of wheelchair users do not need a winch!

Of course, sometimes a winch is necessary. But always ensure that the company you choose has met the required vehicle specifications and offer good quality WAVs.

11

EASY DOES IT: Constables ramps are light enough for children to place

Constables Mobility has obtained the internationally recognised quality standard, ISO 9001:2008, covering both product design and manufacture. The company also has Low Volume Type Approval on all their vehicles, and all their conversions are designed and manufactured at their purpose-built UK production facility.

To book a FREE UK-wide demonstration call 0844 88 00 218 or visit www.constablesmobility.com

12

All Together NOW!

June/July 201

The Mobility Roadshow ...driving mobility forward

30th June,1st & 2nd July 2011 East of England Showground Peterborough

The UK’s original hands-on event, showcasing mobility innovation for over 25 years Be inspired - new ideas for YOUR independent lifestyle

Open 10am daily Free admission & parking

Feel the experience - test drive vehicles, wheelchairs, powerchairs and scooters, plus a wealth of ideas for home, leisure and much more

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

New mission for war hero Derek

COUNTDOWN: Derek all set for the Roadshow

Meet the experts - advice and information to answer your questions

NE of the British soldiers who provided inspiration for the birth of the charity Help for Heroes will officially open this year’s Mobility Roadshow.

O

Join in - sports, cycling, demonstrations and activities for all the family

Four years ago Private Derek Derenalagi lost both his legs in an explosion while on patrol in Helmand province.

Derek, 35, was thrown from his army Land Rover after it hit a mine – and he thought his life was over.

Paralysed at the side of the road, medics immediately pronounced him dead. He wasn’t, but the damage to his once fit and healthy body was so

To register for your FREE tickets visit www.mobilityroadshow.co.uk or call 0845 241 0390

Specialist insurance for disabled drivers Chartwell Insurance offers competitive specialist cover for disabled drivers. Our trained and friendly staff will find you a policy to suit your needs, based on your own individual circumstances.

We can insure:

Our policies can offer:

G Mobility scooters

G WAV insurance

G Adapted vehicles

G Exclusive rates

G Disabled drivers

G Like for like cover on modifications/adaptions

FREEPHONE

0800 089 0146

Quoteline hours: Mon to Fri 9am-7pm | Sat 9am-4pm

chartwellinsurance.co.uk Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority

bad that it was necessary to amputate both his legs.

Today he walks on ‘bionic’ legs and is hopeful of a place in next year’s GB Paralympics squad.

Before then, though, he has a date with thousands of visitors at the three-day Roadshow, taking place at the East of England Showground, Peterborough from June 30 to July 2.

It’s the perfect chance to see, try out and compare a wealth of new vehicles, products and services all aimed at helping people with their independence.

There is also a new visitor Mobility Information Service at the event,

providing a central hub of information, plus informal ‘Meet the Expert’ sessions on topics that include Blue Badge and parking, assessment and adaptations and wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Cyclone Technologies will be displaying their upright functional electrical stimulation product for spinal injury rehabilitation - and demonstrating the revolutionary new ReWalk(tm) exoskeleton walking system for people who are paralysed. n Register now for free tickets at www.mobilityroadshow.co.uk or call 0845 241 0390.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together NOW!

June/July 2011

13

'EV MRWYVERGI ;ERX XS HVMZI E FIXXIV HIEP#

7EZI YT XS

35

%

If you’re disabled driver you can drive a better deal with Fish Insurance.

As the UK’s leading disability and Independent Living insurance specialist, we know a disabled driver is a safer driver.

That’s why you can enjoy savings of up to 35% and take advantage of car insurance specifically designed for disabled drivers, including wheelchair accessible and specially adapted vehicles.

So if you are disabled or drive for a disabled person, whether the vehicle is modified or not you can put the brakes on costly car insurance!

FREEPHONE 0500 432141 [[[ ´WLMRWYVERGI GS YO INSURING YOUR INDEPENDENCE Monday-Friday 9.00-5.00. Terms and conditions apply. Fish Administration is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Telephone calls may be monitored or recorded for security and training purposes. Fish Insurance is a trading style of Fish Administration Ltd. Registered in England No. 4214119

GET INTO GEAR!

TAKE ME HOME!

TELL 260,000 READERS ABOUT YOUR VEHICLES

0151 230 0307 T LOWES E A DV NC WAV A N O NT PAYME ILITY A MOT B

ON PAR F AL KIN RE LN GS E EW EN VE SOR HI S CL ES

ACCESS FOR ALL Av N Au aila ow to bl m ei at n ic

PEUGEOT PARTNER

HORIZON

™ CARRIES UP TO 8 PEOPLE

FROM ONLY

£495 ADVANCE PAYMENT

PEUGEOT EXPERT INDEPENDENCE™

» Carries up to 8 people

FROM ONLY

» EasyFold™ wheelchair ramp

£1,795

ADVANCE PAYMENT

» Lowering air suspension » Choice of seating layouts

INCLUDES ORIGINAL SEATS AND WINCH

With Allied Mobility, having your own wheelchair accessible car doesn’t have to cost the earth.

Added Value - No Added Cost

Unique new FlatFold™ ramp

» Parking sensors » Easy-use electric winch » Full original passenger seating as standard

» Easy to use » Folds flat to floor when not in use » Low ramp gradient

AUTOMATIC/MANUAL

RENAULT KANGOO AUTOGRAPH™

» Automatic/manual transmission

FROM ONLY

» Lightweight folding ramp

£595

0800 916 3028 www.alliedmobility.com

ADVANCE PAYMENT

» Lowered floor » CD player & air conditioning

14

All Together NOW!

June/July 2011

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

WIN! WIN! WIN! We have FIVE SpeedHoes to give away NEW design of garden tool, the SpeedHoe, has raised swiftness and efficiency in the beds and borders to new levels – and All Together NOW! readers have the chance to win one of FIVE, worth £29.99 each.

A

Hoeing is the tried-and-tested method of destroying young weeds and aerating the soil while taking not-too-strenuous exercise.

The SpeedHoe, from the British plant protection specialists Haxnicks, makes the job even less strenuous and more effective.

Its unique design combines an angled head with three sharp blades – on the front, rear and sides – enabling it to slice through weeds’ stems and roots whether pushed away or pulled back. There’s no need to turn the blade and the compact head makes it simple to manoeuvre between plants without causing damage.

The SpeedHoe’s long handle gives a

much greater reach and is positioned at an angle ergonomically designed for maximum working comfort, reducing the need for bending and minimising potential aches and strains.

It will be a boon for those who suffer from a bad back or limited flexibility.

See To enter our the SpeedHoe in action – go competition, to www.YouTube.com and search for answer this SpeedHoe or enter the link question: How www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkxl7zXkGVg many blades For Haxnicks’ full range of plant protection are there on the equipment, call 08452-411555 or go SpeedHoe? to www.haxnicks.co.uk 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: SpeedHoe Competition, All Together NOW! The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool, L14 2EP, to arrive by Friday, July 22 Or enter online at www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Border control!

OU planted a flower border five years ago.

After two years it looked fantastic. Now it is faded, jaded and overgrown. Sound familiar?

Y

Don’t take it personally – that happens to everyone!

Borders are one of the defining features of British gardens but, as well as routine care to prevent that unkempt look, they need a wakeup call sometimes.

Two of my borders reached that point last year.

One was designed mainly for a hot summer display – hot colours, that is, though the temperature’s not guaranteed. It also includes some late winter colours and is beautifully backed with greenery but I had to admit it was sagging in the middle, in early and mid-spring.

To apply the required boost, I introduced two sets of contrasting flowers.

First, a vivid mixture of golden and deep purple crocuses, Yellow Mammoth and Flower Record, to be followed by a graceful lilyflowered tulip, the variety Fly Away, and that self-seeding workhorse of patio corners and border edges, the forget-me-not.

Tulips have traditionally been grown for massed colour in formal borders but they are also brilliant in informal clumps among other plants. Normally, Fly Away would bloom well into May but this year’s warm spring brought them out by the beginning of April. They were at

BORDER BOOSTERS – tulip Fly Away among forget-me-nots; and nicotiana Perfume Mix their most stylish in the subdued light of morning, evening and those few duller days.

In bright sunlight, the yellow and orange-red flowers opened wide, losing their elegant shape and looking a little garish. However, they enhanced the border for almost a month so I’m not complaining.

The other problem border, small but in a prominent position, was so overgrown that it needed more drastic treatment. The shapeless bushes were ripped out and new, smaller shrubs ordered but were inexplicably unavailable until autumn.

Such a salient spot would look awful if left empty all summer so I snapped up some plug plants of a new dwarf F1 hybrid ‘tobacco plant’, nicotiana Perfume Mix, to fill

HELPING HANDS

the gap. They were an outstanding success, growing quickly, flowering in nearly 20 different shades for months, and emitting the promised perfume.

Good garden centres stock a wide range of plants and are always a pleasure to browse through but mail order from a reputable firm (my tulips, crocuses and nicotiana came from Suttons) is the answer for people who cannot get out easily or are looking for less familiar plants.

If your borders need a boost, try my choices or check out some of these: n For late winter and spring: the Lenten rose, Helleborus orientalis, 30cm-45cm (12in-18in) tall with unusual green flowers, though there are whitish, pink and almost black flowered varieties; and Viola

cornuta which produces a purple carpet of little pansy flowers. n For early summer: the true geraniums or cranesbills, notably the pink Geranium endressii. n From June to August: one of the garden campions, such as Lychnis coronaria, with magenta flowers against soft, silver-grey foliage.

Some perennials produce not only flowers but also attractive seed heads lasting into autumn: bear’s breeches, Acanthus spinosus, with handsome divided leaves and huge spikes of cream and purplepink flowers; masterwort, Astrantia maxima, with papery, shell-pink flowers, which dry to pale brown; and eryngium, the sea holly, with thistle-like metallic green or blue flowers which make striking shapes.

CHECKLIST FLOWERS: Seeds (of flowers or vegetables) needed at short notice can be had through a useful service provided by Suffolk seed firm D.T. Brown, guaranteeing that seed-only orders placed via its website by 12noon Mon-Fri will be sent first-class without postal charge on the same day, along with a free packet of seeds of a new lettuce variety. Spend a few minutes every day dead-heading container flowers and sweet peas.

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

SHRUBS: Remove the fading flowers of roses, pruning the heads back to an outward-facing leaf joint to encourage a second flowering in appropriate varieties. When trimming a hedge, particularly evergreens, shape it so the base is wider than the top.

LAWNS: Grass in which spring bulbs have been grown can be cut lightly.

Lawns suffering from dryness will benefit if the mower setting is raised.

PONDS: Tackle blanketweed and other invasive plants in ponds.

Blanketweed can often be controlled for several weeks at a time by removing as much as possible and treating with a proprietary antiblanketweed product.

FRUIT: Check gooseberry bushes for mildew. Trim off affected shoots and, if the problem seems serious, spray with a fungicide. The taste of fruits coated in mildew is not affected – they can be cleaned up and cooked.

VEGETABLES: For a crop of late vegetables, sow quick-maturing varieties and water them thoroughly.

Sow pea Kelvedon Wonder or Cavalier, lettuce Little Gem, carrot Amsterdam Forcing or Adelaide, radishes, spinach Sigmaleaf and beetroot Pablo or Boltardy.

HERBS: Take cuttings of shrubby herbs such as sage, rosemary, thyme and cotton lavender. Take cuttings under a leaf joint, strip off all but two or three topmost leaves and set them in pots in cutting compost in a shady position.

GREENHOUSE: As tomatoes ripen, keep feeding and watering regularly.

Pinch out the sideshoots and tie in the main stem as it continues to grow, and pinch out the growing tip once five or six trusses of flowers have set fruit. Cherry tomato types can be allowed to grow taller.

WILDLIFE: Clean bird tables and feeders. Scour off decaying food, which can attract disease, then scrub with a mild solution of bleach. Wash thoroughly with clean water, dry off and then put out fresh food.

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

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

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

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

CHARITY SPOTLIGHT . . .

All Together NOW!

June/July 2011

Warrington Disability Partnership

Centre is a lesson in team work ARRINGTON Disability Partnership’s new Centre for Independent Living is now open for business!

Located within a 100-year-old former primary school and disused caretaker’s house in Beaufort Street, the refurbished centre provides a wide range of services including a learning centre, equipment showroom, workshop, mobility test track, training rooms for hire and a community café with a sunny conservatory for all to enjoy.

Initial funding for the refurbishment – a joint project involving Warrington Disability Partnership and Warrington Borough Council – came from a Community Assets Transfer Grant of £922,055 from the The Big Lottery Fund (on behalf of the Office for Civil Society).

Other support – WREN (£22,000); Awards for All (£10,000); Bond Hotel (£10,000); St George’s Health Care (£6,000), Fairview Windows, and £250,000 from fundraising activities by WDP staff and volunteers.

Warrington Disability Partnership delivers over 30 projects including equipment showrooms, employment and independent living support to disabled people, their families and carers from the Centre, and provides a base for most of the 50 paid staff and 120 volunteers.

MAKING LIFE EASIER: The new Centre for n Tel: 01925 240064 Independent Living in Beaufort Street, Warrington n www.disabilitypartnership.org.uk

W

15

New mobility aids company set up to support charity NEW trading arm has been set up to help fund Warrington Disability Partnership’s innovative community work.

The Disability Trading Company Ltd will also provide a wide range of disability equipment at very competitive prices.

Facing cuts in funding caused by the current economic climate, WDP recognised the need to fill the shortfall from the cuts with self-generated finance to ensure that they can continue to provide a full range of services to local disabled people, their families and carers.

Dave Thompson, founder and chair of WDP, said: “Last year we reviewed our services and funding streams and realised that we couldn’t just sit back and expect the public to fill the gaps left by cuts being imposed by the council and NHS. “The newly formed Disability Trading Company builds on our strengths, utilising our firsthand knowledge of the needs of disabled people, combined with the skills we have amongst our staff and volunteers, many of whom have experience in retail, engineering, advertising and finance.

“Through consultation with local disabled people and discussions with several national suppliers we have identified a range of high quality products that we can offer at competitive prices.”

Any profits from the trading activities of the company will be fully reinvested into the charity. n Tel: 01925 240064 n www.disabilitytradingcompany.co.uk

A

All Together NOW!

16

June/July 2011

www.alltogethe e

‘A magnificent even

DISABILITY AWARENESS DAY: Sunday July 10

THE SHOW GO HE COUNTDOWN has started to the 20th annual Disability Awareness Day, Europe’s biggest disability-led exhibition and information event.

T

Despite what seemed like impossible odds, the organisers, Warrington Disability Partnership, have guaranteed that the show will go on.

It’s a huge achievement for all involved, especially after months of uncertainty following the loss of long-serving principal sponsor the North West Development Agency, which is set to close.

To mark the 20th anniversary, the RAF Events Team have agreed a ‘fly past’ of a World War Two Dakota.

Event founder and co-ordinator Dave Thompson MBE DL, said “This year’s event has been made possible thanks to the support of most of the original sponsors and a massive team effort.

“We have also several new names on board with us this year including Arena Housing, St George’s Healthcare, Disability Trading Company and the David Lewis Centre.”

Dave and the team at WDP also raised funds with a fantastic scuba dive and swimming event. The “Going the Extra Mile” challenge – 66 lengths of the pool at Fordton Leisure Centre, Warrington – brought together 25 divers and swimmers.

The marathon swim was testing for most of them, but more so for Dave who has been a full time wheelchair user since breaking his neck in an American football game in 1989.

The accident left him with only limited use in his left arm, and none in his right arm and legs.

Massive team effort saves the day!

DAD coordinator Dave Thompson and team all set to make Disability Awareness Day another great event

Disability Awarenes — Sunday July 1 Walton Hall Garde Warrington

Fun and information . . . a great day in

Fundraisers But with help from his brother-in-law and dive buddy, Graham Horton, Dave managed to complete the challenge.

WDP staff and volunteers also took part in other fundraising events including the Manchester 10k Run and the Kayak Challenge.

Dave said: “It’s all been tough going, but very worth all the aches and pains. At least we can now say the show DEFINITELY goes on!”

More than 28,000 visitors and 250 exhibitors promoting independent living equipment, motoring and support services are expected to flock to the show, taking place at Walton Hall Gardens, Warrington, on Sunday, July 10.

DAD will be the finale of a disability awareness raising week consisting of 12 complementary events, including the official launch of DAD week 2011, to be held on Saturday, July 2, in Warrington town centre with a colourful display of performing arts including the ELLA from Halton Speak Out, Revive Dance School and stars from TV’s

‘Autistic Superstars’.

Other events during DAD week include mental health and wellbeing workshops; a theatre production of The Taming of the Shrew; a workshop for employers; a Party in the Park for young disabled people; Tea in a Tent from Warrington Carers Centre; and the ever-popular DAD BBQ in the Park.

On the big day itself there will be lots to keep everyone entertained – and informed!

Among the highlights is Inclusive Arts,

featuring top disabled artists from across the UK, including Carly Ryan, Martin Finn, Alan Martin, Revive Dance Group, Ella, and Beminor (Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist) and the Dee Sign Choir.

‘Have a go’ There will also be music from the Batala Samba Band and the Liverpool Harmonic Gospel Choir.

One of the marquees will be dedicated to

artwork produced by disabled artists.

This year’s Sports Zone will include laser rifle shooting, a climbing wall, a huge scuba diving pool, wheelchair basketball, and, new for 2011, GB Adaptive Rowing. There will also be the chance to have a go at all the activities.

Entertainers around the park, plus a funfair, will keep children entertained.

More than 150 volunteer stewards and assistants from Lions and Rotary clubs, sea

cadets Institu will be Easy showg be a fr from t bus se Interch interpr servic

For more details call the DAD Office on 01925 240064

ernow.org.uk

All Together NOW!

June/July 2011

nt that really makes a difference’

— Cheshire’s Lord Lieutenant David Briggs PRINCIPAL sponsor for this year’s DAD is NHS Warrington.

Helen Bellairs, chief executive, and John Gartside, chairman, were both pleased to pledge the Trust’s support.

Event founder and co-ordinator Dave Thompson said: “This is fantastic news. The predecessor Trust was involved in our first event and has shown its commitment year on year.”

OES ON! So, who are your winners?

ss Day 0 – ens,

DO YOU know of an employer, organisation or individual deserving of recognition for their work involving disabled people, and if so have you heard about the Positive Action Awards?

Organised by Warrington Disability Partnership and supported by NHS Warrington and Arena Housing Group, the awards promote exemplar practice here in the North West.

Nominate by phone – Tel: 01925 240064 – or online at: www.positiveactionawards.org.uk You can also nominate someone by writing to us at the address below providing your name, organisation, address and telephone, nominee name, organisation, address and contact telephone number and the reason why you are nominating the person/organisation. n Positive Action Awards, WDP, Beaufort Street, Warrington WA5 1BA Closing date: 2 September.

17

Crossroads Caring for Carers Isle of Man

Ella Performance Group

The awards provide an opportunity for disabled people and carers to nominate Northwest employers, businesses, service providers or individuals that deserve recognition for promoting independence, delivering accessible and/or inclusive services, or maintaining exemplary employment practices.

Nominate online at

www.positiveactionawards.org.uk You can also nominate someone by writing to us at the address below providing your name, organisation, address and telephone, nominee name, organisation, address and contact telephone number and the reason why you are nominating the person/organisation.

M & Y Joinery

Or call 01925 240064 for a nomination form Closing date 2nd September 2011

The National Trust Alderley Edge

Positive Action Awards, WDP, Beaufort Street, Warrington WA5 1BA

the park

s, Thorn Cross Young Offenders te, plus dozens of family and friends e helping to run things smoothly. y access to and around the ground is a top priority and there will ree, accessible Park & Ride service he Old Greenall Brewery site, a free ervice from Warrington Bus hange. Also available will be BSL reters, a scooter and wheelchair loans e, and trained assistants.

4 . . . or visit . . . . www.disabilityawarenessday.org.uk

18

All Together NOW!

One advert goes a long, long way

E! E HOM TAKE M

Tel: 0151 230 0307

BOX OFFICE SENSATION!

June/July 2011

May 30-Jun 18: Mamma Mia! Palace Theatre, Manchester. (Excl. Sundays).

Jun 6-Jun 11: Corrie! Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent.

Jun 7-Jun 11: The Naked Truth. Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.

Jun 8-Jun 11: Glorious!

Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight. Comedy.

Jun 8-Jul 2: Hard Times. Library Theatre, Manchester. From Charles Dickens’ novel.

Jun 8: Greg Davies. Lowry: Quays, Manchester. Comedian.

Jun 8: Harlem Gospel Choir.

Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Jun 8: An Evening with Blake. The Brindley, Runcorn. Blend of pop and opera.

Jun 9-Jun 10: Spirit of the Dance.

Opera House, Manchester.

Jun 9-Jul 2: Sweeney Todd. Octagon Theatre, Bolton.

Jun 9: Slaughterhouse Live. Lowry: Quays, Manchester. Hilarious cabaret.

Jun 9: Sally Morgan. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. Psychic.

Jun 9: Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Guild Hall, Preston.

Jun 9: Big Girls Don’t Cry. Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl. Frankie Valli tribute.

Jun 9: Music for a Summer’s Evening.

Waterside Arts Centre, Sale.

Jun 9: Magic of Mowtown. Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent.

Jun 10: ABBA-Forever. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. A tribute.

Jun 10: Swing and Swing Again.

Waterside Arts Centre, Sale. Featuring the Mike Baker Saxophone Quintet.

Jun 10: Jonathan Ansell and friends.

Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl. Classical singer.

Jun 10: The Magic of the Beatles.

Theatre Royal, St Helens.

Jun 11-Jun 12: Thomas and Friends.

Grand Theatre, Blackpool. Children’s show.

Jun 11: Danny Bhoy. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. Comedian.

Jun 11: The Kings of Swing.

Opera House, Manchester.

Jun 11: Ken Dodd’s Happiness Show. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Jun 11: Shaolin Warriors. Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.

Jun 11: An Evening of Voices and Brass. Waterside Arts Centre, Sale.

Jun 11: Glebe Symphonic Winds.

Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent.

Jun 11: Camp Rock. Floral Hall, Southport.

Jun 11: The Smiths Ltd. Citadel, St Helens. Tribute.

Jun 12: Trafford Youth Concert Band.

Waterside Arts Centre, Sale.

Jun 12: Jonathan Wilkes. Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent.

Jun 13-Jun 18: Agatha Christie’s Verdict. Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

Jun 13-Jun 18: Evita. Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.

Jun 13-Jun 18: Thriller Live. Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent. Michael Jackson tribute.

Jun 13: Jonathon Ansell and friends.

Opera House, Manchester. Classical singer.

Jun 14-Jun 15: Spring awakening.

Lowry: Quays, Manchester. Rock musical.

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:

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.

What’s on Jun 14: Jonathon Ansell and friends.

Empire Theatre, Liverpool. Classical singer.

Jun 14: Don McLean. Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

Jun 15-Jun 18: Oklahoma! Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight.

Jun 15-Jun 18: Fame. Charter Theatre, Preston.

Jun 15: The Billy Fury Story. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Jun 16-Jun 17: Dylan Moran.

Opera House, Manchester.

Comedian.

Jun 16-Jun 17: Spirit of the Dance.

Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Jun 16: Ed Stafford-walking the Amazon. Lowry: Quays, Manchester.

Account of an astonishing expedition.

Jun 16: The ELO Experience. Floral Hall, Southport. Tribute.

Jun 16: Bon Jovi. Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.

Jun 17-Jun 18: Deaf school.

Everyman, Liverpool.

Jun 17-Jul 16: Brick up the Mersey Tunnels. Royal Court, Liverpool.

Jun 17: Irish Evening. Waterside Arts Centre, Sale. Compered by Eamonn O’Neill.

Jun 17: High Tease. Lowry: Quays, Manchester. Burlesque show.

Jun 17: Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown.

Guild Hall, Preston. Blue comedian.

Jun 17: My Mother Said I Never Should. The Brindley,, Runcorn.

Drama.

Jun 17: One Night in Vegas. Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent. Musical show.

Jun 17: One Night of Elvis. Floral Hall, Southport. Tribute.

Jun 18-Jun 19: Thomas and Friends.

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.

Jun 18: Joe Wilkinson and Gareth Richards. The Brindley, Runcorn. Comedians.

Jun 18: Akhilam Madhuram. Lowry: Quays, Manchester. Dance.

Jun 18: Midnight at Puss Creek. Opera House, Manchester. Starring Oliver Samuels.

Jun 18: Ringo Starr and his All Starr band. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Jun 18: Mike Hall Jazz Quartet.

Waterside Arts Centre, Sale.

Jun 18: Ken Dodd’s Happiness Show. Floral Hall, Southport.

Jun 18: Andy Cutting. Citadel, St Helens. Folk music.

Jun 19: Alan Price. Lowry: Quays, Manchester.

Jun 20-Jun 25: Busybody. Grand Theatre, Blackpool. Comedic thriller.

Jun 20-Jun 25: The Merry Wives of Windsor. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Open-air performance, Royden Park.

Jun 20-Jun 25: Evita. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Jun 20-Jun 25: Agatha Christie’s Verdict. Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.

Jun 20-Jun 25: Footloose. Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.

Jun 20: Dom Joly. Charter Theatre, Preston. Comedy.

Jun 20: Mark Thomas. The Brindley, Runcorn. Radical comedy.

Jun 20: Tony Stockwell and James Van Praagh. Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent. Mediums.

Jun 21-Jun 22: That’s entertainment.

Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Jun 21: Tony Stockwell and James Van Praagh. Opera House, Manchester. Mediums.

Jun 21: Summer Solstice. Victoria

Promote your shows with us . . .

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

June/July 2011

All Together NOW!

Dance dates ALAN MARTIN, the country’s only dance workshop leader who communicates via an electronic speech aid connected to his wheelchair, is running a spectacular course in Knotty Ash, Merseyside.

His ‘Mouse on the Move’ dance workshops, which he set up in 2004, now includes using light painting techniques.

“This art form is particularly accessible to people dancing in wheelchairs,” says Alan.

“People can fix several light sources to their chairs and dance to produce some really interesting images. It’s very exciting and very inclusive!”

This series of workshops, which culminate with a special performance in July, involves music making and ‘light graffiti’ with projection to liven up the performance space. n Further details: Tel. 0151 677 7631.

in theatreland . . .

Hall, Stoke-on-Trent. Youth dance show.

Jun 22-Jun 25: Desperate to be Doris. Lowry: Quays, Manchester. Hilarious duo.

(Signed Jun 23) Jun 22: Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band. Opera House, Manchester.

Jun 22: Remember When. Theatre Royal, St Helens. Music nostalgia.

Jun 23: Barry and Stuart. Brindley Theatre, Runcorn. Magicians.

Jun 23: Magic of Mowtown. Opera House, Manchester.

Jun 23: Colin Fry. Charter Theatre, Preston. Medium.

Jun 24-Jun 25: The Nutcracker.

Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent.

Jun 24-Jun 25: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Citadel, St Helens. Children’s show.

Jun 24: The Ring of Stones.

Waterside Arts Centre, Sale. Emotive musical.

Jun 24: Call Mr Robeson. Everyman, Liverpool. Paul Robeson life story.

Jun 24: One Night of Elvis. Brindley Theatre, Runcorn.

Jun 24: Magic-A kind of Queen.

Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent.

Jun 25-Jun 26: Thomas and Friends. Opera House, Manchester.

Jun 25-Jun 26: Peppa Pig. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Jun 25: English National Brass Band Championship. Guild Hall, Preston.

Jun 25: One night at the Proms.

Victoria Hall, Stoke-on-Trent.

Jun 25: The Drifters. Floral Hall, Southport.

Jun 25: Fireman Sam. Theatre Royal, St Helens.

Jun 26: Shaolin Warriors. Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

Jun 26: Three Bonzos and a piano.

Lowry: Quays, Manchester.

Surviving members of legendary band.

Jun 27-Jun 29: The tiger who came to tea. Playhouse, Liverpool.

Jun 27-Jul 2: The Pitmen Painters. Grand Theatre, Blackpool.Comedy drama.

Jun 27-Jul 2: Blood Brothers.

Charter Theatre, Preston.

Jun 27: Jonathon Ansell and friends.

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.

Classical singer.

Jun 28-Jun 29: Festival of performing arts. Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.

Jun 28-Jul 2: Billy Eliiot. Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent.

Jun 28-Jul 2: Busybody. Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton. Comic thriller.

Jun 28: The Ladyboys of Bangkok.

Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Jun 30: The Performance. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. An eclectic evening of song, dance and drama.

Jun 30: Jools Holland. Venue Cymru, Llandudno.

Jul 1: The Lancashire Hotpots. Lowry: Quays, Manchester. Interactive comedic band.

Jul 1: Blue Bayou. Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl. Tribute to Roy Orbison.

Jul 2: Bucks Fizz and Brotherhood of man. Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight. Concert.

Jul 2: The comedians. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Stan Boardman, Mick Miller and Johnnie Casson.

Jul 2: War and Peace. Waterside Arts Centre, Sale. North Cheshire Wind Orchestra.

Jul 2: Girl Talk-I am a woman. Lowry:

Quays, Manchester. Songs and humour.

Jul 2: Concert for Chernobyl.

Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.

Jul 2: You’re Avin’ a Laugh, Comedy Night. Citadel, St Helens.

Jul 3: Simply Barbara. Lowry: Quays, Manchester. Hilarious Barbara Steisand interpreter.

Jul 4-Jul 9: Does my bum look big in this? Grand Theatre, Blackpool. Fun musical.

Jul 4-Jul 6: Festival of performing arts. Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.

Jul 4: Mark Thomas. Lowry: Quays, Manchester. Radical comic.

Jul 5-Jul 9: Death By Fatal Murder. Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton. Murder mystery.

Jul 6-Jul 17: That Day We Sang.

Opera House, Manchester. From Victoria Wood.

Jul 7-Jul 9: Modulate. Lowry: Quays, Manchester. Diverse dance show.

Jul 7: Buble Fever. The Brindley, Runcorn. Tribute act.

Jul 8-Jul 16: Legally Blonde the musical. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Jul 8-Jul 9: K-style Dance.

Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight.

Student dance group.

Jul 8: Oasish. Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.

Tribute to Oasis.

Jul 8: Guitar Anthems. Charter Theatre, Preston.

Jul 8: Alzheimer’s Charity Concert.

Waterside Arts Centre, Sale.

Jul 8: Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown.

Floral Hall, Southport. Blue comedian.

Jul 9: Comedy Sportz.

Waterside Arts Centre, Sale.

Fast-paced improv.

Jul 9: Dance Fusion. Pavilion

Theatre, Rhyl.

Jul 9: A Miner’s Dream. Citadel, St Helens.

Jul 10: Sideshow. Lowry: Quays, Manchester. Bizarre cabaret show, 16+.

Jul 10: The Grimethorpe Colliery Band. Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.

Jul 11: Transfer. Lowry: Quays, Manchester. Contemporar dance.

Jul 12-Jul 17: Joseph. Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent.

Jul 12-Jul 16: Who Killed ‘Agatha’ Christie? Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton. Drama.

Jul 14: Chris Ramsey and Jimmy McGhie. Brindley Theatre, Runcorn.

Comedians.

Jul 14: They call her Natasha.

Lowry: Quays, Manchester. Music of Elvis Costello.

Jul 15: Guitar Anthems. Lowry: Quays, Manchester. Air guitars at the ready!

Jul 15: Never For Ever. The Brindley, Runcorn. Kate Bush tribute.

Jul 15: Chris Farlowe and the Norman Beaker Band. Citadel, St Helens.

Jul 16: Dom Joly. Lowry: Quays, Manchester.

Comedian.

Jul 16: French Opera Gala. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Wirral Symhony Orchestra.

Jul 16: The Stones. Citadel, St Helens. Rolling Stones tribute.

Jul 16: Rhos male voice choir.

Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight.

Jul 16: Before they were Famous.

Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.

Jul 17: That’ll be the Day. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. 25th

240,000 readers across the North West . . . 0151 230 0307

19

Anniversary performance.

Jul 17: Bouncers. Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

Outrageous comedy.

Jul 17: One night at the Proms.

Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Jul 17: Annual Dance Showcase.

Lowry: Quays, Manchester.

Jul 19-Jul 23: The Woman in White.

Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.

Victorian thriller.

Jul 21-Jul 23: Bugsy Malone. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. From Starlight Youth Theatre.

Jul 21: A Rat Pack Vegas Spectacular. Empire Theatre, Liverpool.

Jul 22-Jul 24: Mr Benn. Regent Theatre, Stoke-on-Trent.

Jul 22: Jimmy Tarbuck.

Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.

Comedy.

Jul 22: Rubberneck. Citadel, St Helens. Local bands.

Jul 23: John Edward. Empire Theatre, Liverpool. Psychic.

Jul 23: Burlesque! Lowry: Quays, Manchester.

Jul 23: Masters of the house.

Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl. Songs from the musicals.

Jul 23: That’ll be the Day. Floral Hall, Southport.

Jul 24-Jul 26: The Go! Go! Go! Show. Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton. Pop musical for kids.

Jul 24: Raymond Froggatt. Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl. Country music.

Jul 25-Jul 30: Agatha Christie’s Verdict. Regent Theatre, Stoke-onTrent.

Jul 26-Oct 25: The Billy Pearce Laughter Show. Grand Theatre, Blackpool. Showing every Tuesday.

Jul 27-Oct 26: Dancing Queen.

Grand Theatre, Blackpool. Showing every Wednesday. Abba tribute.

Jul 27: Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown. Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl. Blue comic.

Jul 28-Oct 29: Joe Longthorne.

Grand Theatre, Blackpool. Showing Thursdays and Saturdays.

Jul 28-Jul 30: CICB Ballet. Lowry: Quays, Manchester. World class ballet competition.

Jul 28: Twice Brightly. Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl. Variety.

Jul 29: Guitar Anthems. Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.

Jul 30: Beyond the Barricade. Opera House, Manchester. West End/Broadway hits.

Jul 30: Cannon and Ball Laughter Show. Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.

Jul 30: Connie Lush and Blues Shouter. Citadel, St Helens.

Jul 30: 80s Mania. Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.

Jul 31: The Barbershop Boys.

Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.

Jul 31: Bob the Builder. Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.

Aug 1-Aug 6: Dreamboats and Petticoats. Venue TAKE ME HOME! Cymru, Llandudno.

All Together NOW!

20

STARSPOT CROSSWORD

2

3

4

5

5

6

7

8

★

9

11

10

12

13 15

17

★

10

24

22

★

★

19

20

16

18

★

14

21

23

25

26

29

27

28

★

30 31

32

★

★

33

★

ACROSS

DOWN

1.

5.

8.

9.

10.

11.

13.

15.

17.

19.

22.

24.

26.

29.

30.

31.

32.

33.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

12.

14.

Bone in the upper arm (7) Walked slowly (5) Turkish commander (3) Completely (7) North Italian city (5) Milky sap (5) Fidgety (7) Irritable (4) Refer indirectly (6) Cure (6) Flightless bird (4) Mollusc (7) Cowboy show (5) Paint solvent (colloq.) (5) Heroic (7) Prosecute (3) Proportion (5) Miser (7)

★

16.

17.

18.

20.

21.

23.

25.

27.

28.

Inn (5) Church cantata (5) Rested (7) Uttering (6) Father (5) Rust (7) Succession of rulers (7) Pointed instrument (3) Jane ----, novel by Charlotte Brontë (4) Diesel (4) Judge, umpire (7) Young hare (7) Sound attenuator (7) Female deer (3) Paradise (6) Lariat (5) Stage show (5) Chose (5)

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 series featured the young girl Lucille ‘Lucy’ van Pelt?

A The Simpsons B Peanuts C Tintin D Little Orphan Annie

QUESTION 10 – for 10 points: How many legs does a crab have, not counting its front claws?

QUESTION 2 – for 2 points: The Leghorn is a breed of which creature?

A Chicken B Rabbit C Cat D Duck

QUESTION 11 – for 11 points: Which plant produces sloes, as used in sloe gin?

QUESTION 3 – for 3 points: Which character in Alice In Wonderland smoked a hookah?

A The Caterpillar B The Mad Hatter C The Mock Turtle D Bill The Lizard QUESTION 4 – for 4 points: What type of food is known in the USA as chowder?

A Air-dried beef B Pork and beans C Seafood soup D Stew and dumplings QUESTION 5 – for 5 points: Which fictional planet is home to Dr Who and the Time Lords?

A Krypton B Nasqueron C Solaris D Gallifrey QUESTION 6 – for 6 points: Who starred as Rolanda Hooch in the film Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone?

A Emma Thompson B Maggie Smith C Zoë Wanamaker D Miriam Margolyes

SUDOKU

A B C D

A B C D

Four Six Eight Ten

Blackthorn Elder Wild damson Bullace

QUESTION 12 – for 12 points: French footballer David Ginola played for four English clubs between 1995 and 2002.

Which of these did he not play for?

French footballer David Ginola. See Question 12

QUESTION 7 – for 7 points: The famous sphinx at Giza, Egypt, has the head of a god and the body of which animal?

A Lion B Camel C Crocodile D Dog QUESTION 8 – for 8 points: What is the name of the main railway station in Edinburgh?

A Snow Hill B Waverley C Thorpe D Queen Street QUESTION 9 – for 9 points: Which monarch was the target of the Gunpowder Plot?

A Elizabeth I B Charles I C James I D Charles II

A B C D

Newcastle United Liverpool Aston Villa Tottenham Hotspur

QUESTION 13 – for 13 points: In which century did China’s Ming Dynasty come to power?

A B C D

12th 13th 14th 15th

QUESTION 14 – for 14 points: Which is the highest mountain in Canada?

A B C D

Mount Logan Mount Columbia Mount Fairweather Mount Robson

QUESTION 15 – for 15 points: In Greek mythology, who was both son and husband of Gaia?

A B C D

Neptune Mars Mercury Uranus

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

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

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

The Accumulator Quiz

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

1

June/July 2011

DIFFICULT

5 9

4 7 1 9

8

7 3 9 1 8

8 6 4

9 1

3

6

1 7 4

6 5

8

2 6 1

3 5

2 3 5 6 2 5 1 9 2 4

STRESSED OUT? And thinking that your holiday will cure you of all the stress you feel while at home or at work – this may even make you more tense. Instead, try to get your stress levels under control on a daily basis.

TAKE ME HOME!

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 8

24

16

11

20

23

10

12 13

8 11

17

20 21 10 10 24 11

22 3

ALMOST 300,000 elderly people in the UK go for a month at a time without speaking to a family member of neighbour A survey of more than 1,000 over-65s found that the majority of them are “lonely most of the time” – and half of people over 75 live alone.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

9

11

19 10

16

11

24

17

17

8

15

16

1

7

8

7

24

15

23

16

9

17

2

2

22

15

8

8

20

18

25

8

8

15 15

19 20

20

8

21

9

11

19

15

8 20

2

18

24

12

9 6

8 14

15

9

8

19

14

8 6

15

7 2

8

8 24

14

6

20 8

4

8

5

6

15

8

19

26

11

24

8

14

2

18

2

22

9

2

8

20

20

2 8

19

17

11 11

24

18

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.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

R

L

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

3

19

15 20

13

9 15

11

22

8

1 1

11 6

20

19

8

24 23

20 2

20

8

21

DIALLING CODES

CROSS CODE 20

All Together NOW!

June/July 2011

10

11

23

24

I

1 []’–

2 ABC

3 DEF

4 GHI

5 JKL

6 MNO

7 PQRS

8 TUV

9 WXYZ

Spaces and any punctuation marks are represented by 1.

1. TV comedy shows 329 589 186 937 712 771 372 743 716 659 657 126 314 677 371 612 551 468 771 332 464 377 142 831 414 639 713 671 968 collective

2. UK politicians 433 746 193 612 474 716 855 136 461 564 614 866 371 945 673 542 614 248 317 285 126 317 681 283 641 542 613 691 372 651 343 531 738 371 424 6

names

for

4. animals 376 831 265 669 143 792 761 276 631 722 462 514 244 531 467 238 917 246 651 874 258 824 177 433 154 713 562 5

world

champion

731 517 331 231 883

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 17 university towns.

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?

A

R

E

L

D

S

R

S W U

E

D

S

E

H

A W D

A

D

A

A

B

D

F

F

I

E

S

E

T

H

R

T

S

E

H

C

E

A

C

N

A

E

A

N

C

L

N

E

I

S

S W E MAKE A DATE

C

R M E

V

I

L

T

T

Y

O

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

LEG

R

I

E

R

P

O

R

E

L

E

R

1. King George II dies at the age of 69 after a reign of 33 years.

B

D

G

E

T

O

L

T

S

I

K

M A C R E TRANSFORMER

X

E

O

L

R

B

GARDEN

––––

THERE

–––––

TASTE

ALL

–––––

OFF

BE

––––––

ON

–––

MAKE

–––––––

WOMAN STORM GAIN

I

F

F

I

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

W N

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

C

WORD WIZARD

2

R

MISSING LINK

K

I

1

O

26

D

931 271 712 786 675

F

25

A

6. cartoon characters 726 629 136 617 673 867 122 819 644 123 366 253 138 251 284 866 913 733 135 468 631 893 389 174 317 917 44

X

13

E

152 535 177 551 978

183 715 746 873 273

M O

12

R

racing

5. drivers 326 661 445 516 454 832 152 637 148 681 317 672 374 125 246 678 164 435 162 673 635 766 174 783 812 661 736 62

3. computer terms 636 679 142 739 273 764 625 177 623 776 392 627 316 633 617 837 176 389 273 166 172 266 371 768 632 122 787 434 3

G

L

H

3

4

5

6

A C B

E D

HYGRISTOR

F

1) An electronic component whose resistance varies with humidity; 2) An apparatus for testing the strength of gunpowder;

2. Prussia defeats Austria and Russia at the Battle of Leignitz during the Seven Years’ War.

3) The flat or concave receptacle of a perigynous flower.

3. In the Great Fire of Boston 349 buildings are completely destroyed.

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

Clue: Give movement feeling.

WAS IT? a) 1750; b) 1760; c) 1770; d) 1780; e) 1790.

______ +E=E______

ALL THE ANSWERS Pathwords: Leicester; Liverpool; Exeter; Cambridge; Manchester; Cardiff; Sheffield; Warwick; Reading; Swansea; Durham; Oxford; Leeds; Bath; Newcastle; York; Bristol.

1 9 2 3 5 8 7 4 6

6 4 5 9 7 2 8 3 1

7 6 4 5 2 3 9 1 8

SUDOKU EASY

5 1 3 8 9 6 2 7 4

9 2 8 4 1 7 6 5 3

8 5 6 2 4 1 3 9 7

2 3 1 7 8 9 4 6 5

4 7 9 6 3 5 1 8 2

2 5 1 9 6 3 4 7 8

4 9 8 2 7 5 1 3 6

6 3 7 4 1 8 9 2 5

9 2 3 7 4 6 8 5 1

1

T

V

15 2

U

16 3

J

P

17 4

B

G

18 5

F

A

S

19 6

20

O

7

Z

K

21

E

8

C

H

Q

L

22 9

23 10

N W M

24 11

I

25

X

12

26

Y

13

CROSS CODE

8 4 5 3 2 1 7 6 9

7 1 6 5 8 9 3 4 2

SUDOKU DIFFICULT

3 6 4 8 9 2 5 1 7

5 8 2 1 3 7 6 9 4

1 7 9 6 5 4 2 8 3

1

2

3

2

9

22

11

7

24

10 10

1

9

17

2

3

13

12

5

20 8

8

3

9

5

4

2 7

21 20

7

1

9

6 24

16

KAKURO MEDIUM

3 1

3

7

5

11 8 10

2 1 11

8 6 9 23

Accumulator Quiz 1 – B; 2 – A; 3 – A; 4 – C; 5 – D; 6 – C; 7 – A; 8 – B; 9 – C; 10 – C; 11 – A; 12 – B; 13 – C; 14 – A; 15 – D. Starspot Crossword Across – 1 Humerus; 5 Paced; 8 Aga; 9 Totally; 10 Turin; 11 Latex; 13 Nervous; 15 Edgy; 17 Allude; 19 Remedy; 22 Rhea; 24 Bivalve; 26 Rodeo; 29 Turps; 30 Valiant; 31 Sue; 32 Ratio; 33 Niggard.

Down – 1 Hotel; 2 Motet; 3 Relaxed; 4 Saying; 5 Pater; 6 Corrode; 7 Dynasty; 12 Awl; 14 Eyre; 16 Derv; 17 Arbiter; 18 Leveret; 20 Earplug; 21 Doe; 23 Heaven; 25 Lasso; 27 Drama; 28 Opted.

Star Name: RINGO STARR

TAKE ME HOME!

3 8 7 1 6 4 5 2 9

R

D

14

Word Wizard No 1 is correct. A hygristor is an electrical component.

Dialling Codes 1. Fawlty Towers; Cheers; Frasier; Only Fools And Horses; Open All Hours; Dead Ringers; Have I Got News For You. 2. Tim Yeo; Chris Mullin; John Gummer; William Hague; Paul Boateng; Liam Fox; Frank Field; Peter Hain.

3. memory; hardware; terminal; processor; keyboard; modem; printer; software; mouse; scanner; soundcard; cartridge.

4. drove; colony; herd; swarm; brood; pack; shoal; gaggle; horde; bevy; school; tribe; clutch; pride;

litter; flock.

5. Damon Hill; Niki Lauda; James Hunt; Keke Rosberg; Alain Prost; Nigel Mansell; Nelson Piquet; Ayrton Senna.

6. Scooby-Doo; Popeye; Top Cat; Yogi Bear; Donald Duck; Bugs Bunny; Fred Flintstone; Tweety-pie; Porky Pig. Spot Check A = 5; B = 4; C = 2; D = 1; E = 6; F = 3.

Missing Link gate; after; round; little; ice; capital.

Ingredient: garlic.

Make a Date The year was 1760.

Transformer Motion + E = Emotion.

IF YOU experience an upset stomach while abroad this summer, the key is getting fluid back into your body, so use rehydration salts. Once your symptoms have subsided, reintroduce simple foods and avoid anything too spicy, rich or acidic.

ADVERTISE HERE 0151 230 0307

22

All Together NOW!

June/July 2011

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

RIGHTS . . .

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

Cash-strapped service closes RITAIN’S only charity dedicated to helping disabled students has been forced to close due to lack of funding.

Skill – set up more than 30 years ago – was the only pan-disability charity that focused on promoting equality for disabled people in education, training and employment.

Rupy Kaur, NUS Disabled Students’ Officer said: “The closure of the sole organisation dedicated to promoting the rights of disabled students is shocking, given the numerous barriers that disabled students face in accessing education.

“If the Government is serious about improving access to education for disabled people, they must urgently think about how this can be done in practice – it quite simply won’t happen

B

from just a few warm words.

“We continue to call for the establishment of a ‘National Advocacy Service’, run by disabled students and recent graduates, to offer support, guidance and advocacy.

“The closure of Skill makes this more vital than ever.”

“This is sad for all of us,” said Peter Little, chair of the trustees of Skill: National Bureau for Students with Disabilities.

“We had recently appointed an outstanding new chief executive and agreed a clear strategy to reduce costs and turn around our finances, but in the end time was against us.”

National campaigning group Trailblazers has worked with Skill since the launch of the University Challenge report, in 2009, which

highlighted many of the major obstacles that face young disabled people looking to enter and remain in higher education at the university or college of their choice.

Trailblazers project manager Bobby Ancil said: “Skill has made a considerable contribution to the lives of disabled students. Disabled students now face further barriers to participation in higher education.

“It is therefore essential that universities invest in a first class disability advice service and student unions understand and address the issues that affect disabled students.” n All Skill’s website resources and

information booklets are still available at www.skill.org.uk

HOLDING COURT: Rob Cayton, left, and Stephen Buckley

On the ball and fired up for top action

Southport College's new course guide - out NOW! Accountancy, Art, Beauty Therapy, Business, Computing, Counselling, Languages, Microsoft and much much more!

Every year thousands of adults enrol on one of our courses.

Whether you are looking to come to college for a formal qualification or simply for enjoyment you are sure to find a course for you.

Download or request your free copy from www.southport.ac.uk or call 0845 00 66 236 for more details.

TWO students are to become Young Leaders in Wheelchair Basketball at Mid-Cheshire College, an accolade recognised by the Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball Association.

Rob Cayton, 17, and Stephen Buckley, 18, signed up for the basketball course to gain an understanding of how to safely introduce the basic skills of the sport to novice players of any age.

Skills covered included

chair movement, dribbling, passing and receiving, and shooting, which are all part of the ‘FUNdamental Skills Awards’ scheme for Wheelchair Basketball.

At the end of the course they received a Wheelchair Basketball Leaders Award certificate.

Rob, who is a full-time wheelchair-user, said. “Any student can take part in the game so no one is left out.”

Stephen, who is an ablebodied student, is also looking forward to passing

on some of newly-gained skills. He said: “Wheelchair basketball is really good fun, great exercise and a terrific way of bringing students together, whether they have a disability or not.”

Mid Cheshire College will soon be holding taster sessions with the aim of developing their own wheelchair basketball team.

Rob and Stephen were recruited by Malcolm Tudor, further education sports coordinator at the college.

Tell 240,000 readers about your

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

June/July 2011

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

All Together NOW!

23

Liverpool Community College ‘Working with Business’

SEE THE VIDEO!

Programmes for better prospects...

For a glimpse of how the scheme works visit our website at www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Thinking about...

CONFIDENT COMMUTER: Peter ready for his trip to the airport

Students devise their own ways to travel in safety

Will I get help finding work?

Can I start right away?

Where can I go to retrain or gain skills?

Easy riders S TUDENTS with learning difficulties at Liverpool Community College have created special safety wallets to keep them free from danger when out and about.

Sixteen students studying for Asdan qualifications, discussed the dangers, safe actions that can be taken, and what to do if they get lost when on educational visits.

Tutor Maria Rimmer said: “This was a valuable exercise as it allowed students to recognise their own health and safety risks involved in travel training while encouraging ownership of responsibility for their behaviour and actions.

“The students felt empowered as they were proactively planning and reviewing their own support.”

Two students created their own safety wallets, which contained visual cues to help them remain safe on a journey they took from college to Liverpool Airport.

The creation of the safety wallets were particularly meaningful for the students as they contained personalised real life photographs, widget and board-maker images depending upon the preferred learning style of the student involved.

It allowed them to feel more confident in all stages of the journey and to be more aware of their own personal safety.

Tutor Clare Dowling said: “It has given the students more choice, greater independence and enhanced life

opportunities by breaking down barriers in accessing local community services such as transport and restaurants.

“Prior to using the safety wallets the students had no concept of what to do if they got lost.

“Peter, who created his own safety wallet, used it when he went to the airport. He said it made him feel safe and that he immensely enjoyed counting the bus stops along the journey.”

The initiative is being overseen by Liz Daw, inclusive learning manager, and is supporting a national Learning and Skills Improvement Service project in which Lin Etheridge from Wirral Metropolitan College, and Anne Price from David Lewis College, are devising resources to support organisations in helping learners in the North West to identify their own support needs Accessible risk assessments for students with learning difficulties at Liverpool Community College will be rolled out to include more students over the coming year.

The students are being supported by Connie Windever and Gary Roberts.

n Want to find out

more? Contact Liz on 0151-252-4085 or e-mail liz.daw@liv-coll.ac.uk

TAKE ME HOME!

equality programmes: 0151 230 0307

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

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

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

Our future.

It’s in our hands

All Together NOW!

24

June/July 2011

Save yourself ANCER claims the lives of around 1,330 Liverpool residents every year, making it the city’s biggest cause of death.

C

Bowel, breast and lung cancer account for nearly half of the city’s cancer deaths, but early diagnosis makes cancer easier to treat and improves survival rates.

Nationally, it is thought that up to 10,000 deaths a year could be prevented if cancers were picked up sooner.

Liverpool Primary Care Trust is raising awareness about the signs of bowel, breast and lung cancer in a new campaign which encourages people to report their symptoms sooner.

Be Clear on Cancer highlights some of the symptoms you need to watch out for.

Dr Steve Connolly said: “There are many reasons why people might not report changes in their health to the doctor – sometimes they

CONTACT your doctor if you display one or more tell-tale signs: BOWEL CANCER (for three weeks) Blood in your poo Looser poo Persistent change in bowel habit Abdominal discomfort Abdominal lump BREAST CANCER Lump in your breast Skin dimpling/puckering Discharge from your nipple might not recognise the symptoms as being anything significant, or feel embarrassed talking about them, or think that they’ll be wasting their GP’s time.

“Some people might also assume that if cancer is detected then there’ll be nothing that can be done for them. But we know that diagnosing cancer sooner, can save lives.

“For example, if found at

LUNG CANCER (for three weeks) Persistent cough A change in a cough Unexplained shortness of breath If you discover any of these symptoms then make an appointment to see your doctor - the likelihood is it won’t be anything serious, but if a problem is found then by getting it treated sooner you’ll be improving your chances of beating the disease. the earliest stage, bowel cancer has a survival rate of more than 90% over five years, yet less than 10% of patients nationally are diagnosed this early.

“Finding cancer sooner makes it more treatable and could save your life.

“If you experience any of the symptoms highlighted in the campaign then please speak to your GP – we want to see you!”

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

We’re Olympic champions . .

OLYMPIC champion Jonathan Edwards gave his seal of approval to next year’s Wythenshawe Games – a unique local version of the London Games involving all its 70,000 residents and backed by the University Hospital of South Manchester.

And he awarded a coveted London 2012 Inspire Mark from the organisers of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to UHSM for their efforts to increase the health and well-being of staff and volunteers.

UHSM is the first hospital in the NorthWest to receive the award. Trust chair Felicity Goodey said: “This is a great honour for us to be leading the way for the JONATHAN EDWARDS AND FELICIY GOODEY NHS in the North West.”

Show Clatter they matter!

AREN Jones’s life turned upside down the day she went from cancer team carer to cancer patient at Wirral’s Clatterbridge Centre for Oncology.

That was in 2009 and now she is urging people to back the charity that made her experience that much easier to bear – “Clatterbridge your cancer centre” – in its million pound fund-raising bid.

Karen, from West Kirby, said: “I feel so lucky that my experience has been so positive. A lot of that is down to the extra support I received.

“Although cancer was in my family, I didn’t think it would affect me. My sister passed away in May 2007 and following that, my eldest sister was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009.

“So, when I found puckering under my right breast I was frankly denying that I might be affected too. Luckily, I know how vital it is to find out as early as possible so I went to my GP, and it saved my life.”

“Clatterbridge patients don’t just receive treatment, there’s so much more to it than that, and a lot of these services are funded by the charity ‘Clatterbridge your cancer centre’.

“It’s been a confidence-sapping time, but the support has really helped me to stay positive, and remember that life is for living and loving. I’d like others to have this gift too.” n www.yourclatterbridge.org.uk

K

POSITIVE: Karen Jones

Laughter IS the best medicine THE best prescription for patients with venous leg ulcers is good quality nursing care – and and a good belly laugh!

A five-year study has shown that ultrasound therapy does nothing to speed up the healing process of leg ulceration, contrary to what had been expected.

Traditional methods of nursing care, which are cheaper and easier to deliver, work just as well, the authors conclude.

“The ‘healing energy’ of low-dose ultrasound can make a difference to some medical conditions but with venous leg ulcers, this is simply not the case,” said

Professor Andrea Nelson, from the University of Leeds’ School of Healthcare, who led the study.

“The key to care with these patients is to stimulate blood flow back up the legs to the heart. The best way to do that is with compression bandages and support stockings – coupled with diet and exercise.

“Having a really hearty chuckle can help, too.

“Laughing gets the diaphragm moving and this plays a vital part in moving blood around the body.”

Venous leg ulcers are common in people with varicose veins or mobility problems.

260,000 people read these pages

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together NOW!

Jue/July 2011

25

by Beatrice Fraenkel chair, Mersey Care NHS LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: Mid Cheshire Hospitals staff meet students from South Cheshire College

My hero Helen

Students get a taste of nursing AN ARMY of nurses went on the march in a bid to enlist more recruits!

HELPING HAND: Helen Thornton, left, with William, and mum Jane Spilsbury

Devoted nurse in running for top award SIX years devoted nursing of a young child has earned Helen Thornton a place in the star-studded finals of the WellChild Awards.

The diabetic nurse specialist was nominated by Jane Spilsbury from Whiston, Merseyside, for the excellent standard of care she has provided to her nine-year-old son, William, and other children with diabetes.

William was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes when he was three and Helen has cared for him and his family ever since.

Jane said: “Helen spends a lot of her own time looking after children like William. She also helped arrange an activity weekend, where they go without their parents.

“This encourages the children to be responsible for their own diabetes management and gives parents the confidence to allow the child to be more independent.”

William said: “Helen is helpful, she's caring, she knows what to do in a difficult situation and she's always calm.”

Modern matrons, divisional lead nurses, senior nurses, ward managers and the director of nursing and quality from Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust all joined the mission to persuade students of the benefits of a career in nursing and the wider NHS. Staff from the faculty of health and social care at the University of Chester also joined the special Nurses’ Day tour of local schools and colleges.

Nurses manned the displays at Sir John Deane’s College, Northwich, Sandbach High School, Brine Leas School, Nantwich, Winsford Academy and South Cheshire College, Crewe.

A display also took place at Sandbach Market.

Julie Smith, director of nursing and quality at MCHFT, said: “From the feedback we had from the day, the Nurses’ Day events were very well received, and the students particularly felt that they had benefitted from learning more about what a career in nursing could do for them.”

the most appropriate dose of a medicine for a sick child.

“Eighty per cent of infants in intensive care in hospitals receive medicines which have not been appropriately tested or licensed for use in such young patients, and the dosage is usually calculated based on licensed doses for adults or older children.

“Sizable blood samples are then required to measure the concentrations of the drug in the infant’s bloodstream.

“Our work opens up opportunities for using the same approach to study other medicines which are used in this manner in

P

Strong position

Perhaps the NHS has lagged behind offering the same consideration to our “customers” who we often take for granted in our day-to-day lives.

The Government wants to modernise the NHS to make it more accountable to its local GPs and communities.

A “listening exercise” over its plans has been under way and Minister for Care Services Paul Burstow visited Mossley Hill Hospital, Liverpool, to children, and we are currently studying a meet a group of our staff, service users number of these.” and carers.

The Queen’s study involved the antibiotic I was pleased that patients told the metronidazole. The research team used Minister they had received a quality single drops of blood collected on blotting service which they felt could not be paper from premature infants who were matched by a competitor. receiving the medicine as part of their Nevertheless we know that in an routine care. increasingly changing health sector we The ‘spots’ were shall face increasing competition from dried, analysed in the !

ME both NHS and non-NHS organisations.

HO ME TAKE University’s school of And that by ensuring we never take pharmacy, and the what we do for granted, and always results used to working with our stakeholders to develop dosage consider how to continue to improve guidance for doctors. quality, we shall benefit our service users and staff and be in a strong position as an NHS Trust.

New needle-free test for premature babies A NEW needle-free test to take the sting out of medicine testing in premature babies, has been pioneered by scientists.

Greater accuracy in prescribing and a significant reduction in the trauma of such tests for newborn infants and their families, will be the benefits of the research at Queen’s University, Belfast.

“This type of testing will obviously reduce the discomfort of medicine testing in these vulnerable patients,” said principal nvestigator, James McElnay. “What is even more important, however, is that it will ensure maximum accuracy in calculating

ATIENT Choice is a buzzphrase across the health sector, but for me it’s too simple a term that does not emphasise the important point that it’s essentially about ensuring we meet people’s needs and provide a quality and value service.

I officially opened a Patient Appointment Centre for mental health clinics in Liverpool which illustrated that we can combine all these essential ingredients to offer choice.

This new centre will receive over 15,000 calls every year and make more than 20,000 calls, not only offering people greater choice for their contact with our services, but also improving performance and reducing wasted NHS resources from missed appointments.

At the heart of the workings of the centre is what any one of us would describe as “good customer care”.

Many NHS staff shy away from the “customer care” tag seeing it as something that only commercial organisations pursue, but if a shop fails to provide a product and service that its customers want then it simply goes out of business.

Promote your health messages – call 0151 230 0307

26

All Together NOW!

June/July 2011

ARIES (March 21 - April 20) The opening days of June bring an incredible learning opportunity courtesy of your best friend or romantic partner.

Around the 7th is ideal for a business deal or signing a contract. It’s best to be honest on the 10th. The middle of June gives you closure to an emotional legal battle; you'll be forced to make some compromises.

You’ll win in a face off with someone in power at the end of the month. Difficult changes are needed for the family as June turns to July. The 4th is perfect for a romantic dinner. A short business trip proves productive on or around the 6th.

Resist the urge to lash out at a sentimental female relative on the 7th. Your rebelliousness attracts romantic attention near the 27th. Love and adventure enter your life at the end of July, but will you welcome this change of pace?

TAURUS (April 21 - May 21) A well-paid job offer comes in early June making daily life much easier but increasing your career commitments. Don’t lend an absent minded friend money on the 3rd. Work responsibilities ease around the 13th. A teacher or someone in authority will burden you with what you think is unfair criticism on the 19th. It may be necessary to break ties with a respected expert at the end of June and find a new adviser or mentor in July. Good news at the start of July forces you to be more sociable. You can show off your talent around the 7th. The 12th finds you donating time, money, or both to a good cause. A legal decision will go against youaround the 15th. You could find a beautiful new home towards the end of July, so keep your eyes and ears open.

GEMINI (May 22 - June 21) Your wit and charm attract accolades as June begins. Take your boss’s promises with a grain of salt near the 3rd. Resist the temptation to sugar coat the truth on the 10th. An angry outburst will only make your boss more confused on the 22nd; try to contain your frustration. You'll have to work hard to pay back a debt at the end of June and it may be necessary to economise during July. Friends could be jealous of a wonderful opportunity that comes your way as the curtain rises on the new month. Give youngster encouragement on the 6th. Good news about a pregnancy reaches your ears on the 9th. Your keen wit and intelligence attracts lots of romantic attention near the 12th.The 28th prompts you to spend more quality time at home.

CANCER (June 22 - July 23) A spiritual epiphany helps you make a difficult decision in early June helping you respect a loved one’s privacy on the 3rd.

Your social circle widens to include some pleasure loving newcomers near the 4th.

Pressures ease on the home front around the 13th. A work assignment may come to a stop in the middle of the month – have a fallback plan. Arrange something fun on the 17th. You’ll be forced into changes to your personal life after an office

What do the stars have in store for YOU . . ?

by RUSSELL GRANT reorganisation at the start of July. Let a friend fix a blind date around the 7th. A bold strategy increases your employer's profits near the end of July and a promotion possibility helps you handle money matters more effectively.

LEO (July 24 - August 23) A cherished wish will be granted at the start of June. Don’t spend your savings on an irresponsible friend near the 3rd. A love affair shows serious signs of strain midmonth and you must decide whether to permanently make up or break up. A confidential discussion draws you closer to a friend near the 17th. Beware confrontation with a powerful colleague at the end of June. A spiritually enlightening time at the start of July causes you to make a break with your usual beliefs and values in order to explore new ideas and ideals. The 2nd is good for working out the details of a self-improvement programme.

Don’t blurt out a friend’s secrets midmonth or you may make an enemy. A change of image at the end of July will bring a fresh potential into your world for the rest of the summer.

VIRGO (August 24 -September 23) A fabulous career opportunity in the opening days of June will help you afford some necessities previously out of reach.

A friend or lover will sweep you off on a grand adventure around the 9th. A public presentation will go well on the 12th. Don’t lend or borrow money on the 18th, or a good friendship will fall apart. Devote the 25th to fun, family and friends. Joining a support group as June turns to July will give you a new direction.The 9th prompts you to donate time or money to a charitable cause. A dynamic boss is impressed by your intellectual power near the 12th. Don’t mix money with friendship around the 13th. You cancel some of your mid-month plans and arrangements to give a friend a helping hand. Keep an unusual romance under wraps on the 27th.

LIBRA (September 24 -October 23) A glamorous travel opportunity lands in your lap early in June, improving career

prospects. If you’re unhappy with a medical consultation on the 3rd, get a second opinion. You’ll have a chance to share your advanced knowledge with some eager students near the 7th. Power plays at work convince you to seek greener pastures at the end of the month, but what are your options? The chance to show off your creativity in the workplace will come around the 4th of July. Don’t patronise a dissatisfied client or customer near the 7th.

Stay positive and confident because the middle of the month brings an end to a difficult personal or professional situation.

A business or romantic partner has a lovely surprise on the 27th – go out and celebrate!

SCORPIO (October 24 - November 22) If you want it to, a sizzling love affair could give your life added depth and dimension as June comes busting out all over. The 3rd warns against lending money to a friend. Your love life could interfere with work near the 10th. An unusual work assignment will be given to you on or around the 13th, allowing you to earn some extra money. A source of income will come to an end mid-month meaning that you have to lean on a loved one for support.Spending time with the person you love best is favoured for the 25th. Don’t settle a money matter at the end of the month; hold out for better terms in July. A rare opportunity to study or travel will force you to quit a job at short notice as July begins. A health problem will ease around the 10th. A career opportunity puts a spring in your step at the end of July.

SAGITTARIUS (November 23 - December 21) A new partnership causes your social status to rise as the curtain rises on genial June. Strong emotions prevent you from making good choices on the 3rd; postpone important decisions for later in the month.

Take an older friend’s advice regarding romance on the 7th. Money from an inheritance or investment helps you buy some luxury items for your home near the 17th. Keep a close eye on your household budget as June gives way to July. Taking or teaching a class provides plenty of intellectual stimulation on the 2nd. A fun job assignment on the 7th allows you to

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

showcase your expertise. A child or lover’s rebellious streak dies down around the 10th. Life gets decidedly sweeter on the 23rd, thanks to an attentive lover. The opportunity to teach, write or travel makes the end of July a memorable time.

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 20) An exciting job offer comes your way allowing you to showcase your leadership abilities in early June. Be precise when giving directions on the 3rd, or chaos will ensue. The 7th is ideal for making a bold work proposal. Work responsibilities ease near the 13th, giving you more time for social activities. Romance will be in the air around the 25th; take advantage of it!

Power struggles will erupt at home as June draws to a close. Make plans for your long-term financial future in the days surrounding the 2nd. You’ll form half of a dynamic power couple near the 9th. You’ll have to make a choice between your personal and professional lives during the middle of the month. As August draws near you should plan to take time out to do whatever pleases you.

AQUARIUS (January 21 - February 19) News of an unexpected engagement or opportunity comes as a delightful surprise in early June. Be realistic about your finances near the 3rd. A teacher or expert admires your work on the 7th. Much to your relief a friendship will end in midJune. Be discreet on the 18th when talking to a friend or relative about sensitive matters. A new job or responsibility may mean you having to upgrade your car, computer or phone as July starts. A work assignment on the 4th allows you to flex your creative muscles. Draw on a business or romantic partner’s expertise on the 9th.

Plan a romantic vacation on the 12th, when you'll find some good deals on hotels and airline tickets. An unorthodox business deal near the 27th is profitable. Beware of running up debt around the 29th. News of a marriage or engagement comes at the end of the month.

PISCES (February 20 - March 20) Your heart and head are perfectly aligned on the 3rd, allowing you to make a good decision. The 9th is ideal for expressing your creative side. Take steps toward paying off a debt near the 13th. A career path takes an abrupt and unexpected turn in mid-June giving you a chance to spend more time at home. Working from home puts some extra money in your pocket around the 27th. As July comes into sight you’ll be working out ways to break away from an oppressive situation. Don’t let a shortage of hard cash stop you from going on an enjoyable excursion in early July. A home improvement job makes life more comfortable near the 6th. Promises you once made to a friend or colleague will cease to be relevant mid-July and give you pause for thought. Don’t brush off a loved one’s wants and wishes at the end of July.

TAKE ME HOME!

180,000 of our readers DON’T see any other newspaper

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together NOW!

June/July 2011

GETTING ON . . .

27

Ageing can be all in the mind. The challenge is stopping it from creeping down into the body!

Cooking can be fun again WHEN my husband was alive I enjoyed cooking. My chicken and mushroom pie was everyone’s favourite and I was often asked for the recipe.

Sadly, since I was widowed, I seem to have lost the knack and I no longer have any interest in preparing meals. I remember it started with pastry. From being melt-in-the mouth it sank to being the kind that is left on the side of the plate. My married daughter said maybe it was because I was no longer cooking with love – and it showed.

Nowadays I seldom cook a hot meal for myself. I can’t face tackling a pile of washing up when the dish I’ve gone to the trouble of preparing has been a disaster. I used to enjoy looking through cookery books and trying out new recipes, but now it seems extravagant to buy the special ingredients I would need. Also I end up with a lot more than I can eat and I hate waste.

It’s no fun cooking for one but I’ve no appetite for supermarket ‘ready meals’ either. People are complimenting me on my slimmer figure but all the flavour seems to have gone out of life. This situation can’t be good for my health. I am 75 and a friend, recently widowed, tells me she is going the same way.

Q

YOUR situation is not unusual.

Your daughter hit the nail on the head when she said you were no longer cooking ‘with love’.

True, there’s pleasure to be had from the creativeness of turning raw

A

WISE WINNIE UNDERSTANDS

the problems facing older people ingredients into a mouth-watering dish, and chefs like Jamie Oliver and Raymond Blanc convey this very entertainingly on TV. But women like yourself have cooked for a family over the years drawing on an extra ingredient – your meals have been a way of showing that you care.

With your husband and daughter out of the picture, this vital spark has gone and your cooking has suffered.

You say your friend has the same problem. Why not try making something

SENIOR MOMENTS

that can be split between the two of you so that she has a home-made ‘ready meal’? Or you could sometimes invite her to eat with you. Aim to please her rather than yourself.

Faced with a challenge, I’m sure your efforts will result in appreciation and praise and you will regain pride in your cooking.

Maybe she will start cooking again to return the favour. With all these delicious meals coming out of the oven it will pay to freeze some of them.

. . . with FRANK HARRIS

‘Surfboard’ that may be the key to a longer life OULD this “mini surfboard” be the key to prolonging thousands of lives and saving the NHS countless millions of pounds in the future?

Exciting new research has found that using the Indo Board – essentially a mini surfboard – for just 10 minutes, three times a week, can significantly improve balance and potentially decrease the risk of falls among the elderly.

Volunteers used the boards, under close supervision, for five weeks and the results were pretty amazing.

People said they felt safer on their feet from day to day, while some said they could now stand, sit down and move around without the help they previously needed.

Balance is a major issue among the ageing population – as age increases, so does the likelihood of falling, often with fatal consequences. The research, by Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, found one in three people aged 65-plus experiences a significant fall.

“Falls are not only debilitating to the individual, but a large financial burden to the health care system,” the study reports. www.indoboard.com

C

All Together NOW!

28

June/July 2011

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

. . . with JAN LOCKYER

What to wear . .

I am an active wheelchair user and like to spend a lot of time in the great outdoors.

I find standard outdoor activity clothing, though expensive, doesn’t work very well. What is on the market?

Q

I have come across waterproof breathable overtrousers with a high back for wheelchair users and waterproof breathable jackets cut higher at the front and lower at the back.

You can get thermal insulated trousers and jeans, jackets and rain capes, and thermal leggings with no back seams.

Specially designed fleeces and leisure trousers are also available.

Your local DLC will be able to provide literature illustrating these products and information on suppliers.

A

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9,000 loos to choose T’S no fun when you are out and about and get caught short!

And trying to find a toilet that’s wheelchair accessible can often double your agony.

Help, though, is on the way for anyone with a smartphone.

A new smartphone app brings details of almost 9,000 accessible loos in the UK that can be opened with special keys available via the National Key Scheme Guide.

The app, developed in conjunction with the Royal Association for Disability Rights, enables you to find the nearest

I

accessible toilet facility – and you can search by town, location, postcode or well-known place.

You can also get directions by road or on foot to suit travel needs and requirements, and you can even give the toilet your own rating!

The Radar NKS app costs £4.99 and is out now on the iPhone.

Blackberry and Android versions will be available soon. n www.radar.org.uk

Getting a leg up on the path to independence Lifehouse is a new approach to providing services for disabled and older people in Liverpool.

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

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

Disabled Living Centre 0151 296 7742 Fax: 0151 296 7743 296 7744 7748 Disabled Living Centre 0151 296 7742 Minicom: 0151 Moving and Handling Team Tel: 0151 296 7750 Fax:0151 0151296 296 7749 Independent information, assessment and advice on choosing daily living equipment and how to get it.

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

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

0151 296 7769

Tel: 0151 296 7408

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

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

Having allassist these services under one accessibility.

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

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

The existing services will be joined by others which will greatly increase theinformation range of information and available.

For further call thethe service youadvice require or contact main reception forDay a For further information call service you require or visitour a Lifehouse Open list ofifehouse Lifehouse Open Days.

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

GETTING my legs into bed is becoming more and more of a challenge.

Are there any gadgets that could help?

Q

FINDING the right equipment to get your legs into bed can be a tricky business, but here are some tips. If your arms are strong then a simple leg lifting strap might help.

This has a soft loop at one end to put your hand through and a rigid loop at the other end to put your foot in.

You then lift your leg onto the bed – using the strength of your arms.

If more help is needed there are also motorised leg lifters that are fitted to the bed.

These will lift your legs up and

A

over onto the mattress.

Other types just lift your legs up at the side of the bed until they are level with the mattress and you have to move your legs around.

You can also get beds with rotating mattresses that can transfer a person from a sitting position at the side of the bed to lying in the bed, and chair beds that recline into a completely flat sleeping surface at night.

To enable you to be as safe and independent as possible this kind of equipment is usually provided free on loan to people who need it through community equipment services following assessment by a health professional.

Your local Disabled Living Centre can provide expert advice on products – you may even be able to try some – and advise how to obtain them!

A chair to bring cheer WE would like to take my mum for a few day trips but she is finding walking a problem. Where can I hire a wheelchair to help her?

Q A

IF your mum needs a wheelchair on a permanent basis, her GP will refer her to a local wheelchair service.

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

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

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

Tel. 01928 582 920. n HANDFORTH East Cheshire Independent Living Centre, Redesmere Road, Handforth Tel. 01625 374080. n HARTFORD Hartford Independent Living Centre, Hartford Business Park, Chester Road, Hartford, Northwich.

Tel. 01605 881980. n LIVERPOOL Disabled Living Centre, Lifehouse, Summers Road, Brunswick Business Park, Liverpool.

Tel. 0151 296 7742.

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

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

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

Tel. 01925 240064. n WILMSLOW Redesmere Road.

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

Tel. 0151 678 7272.

MIDLANDS n BIRMINGHAM St Marks Street, Springhill. Tel. 0121 464 4942/9525. n DUDLEY St Giles Street, Netherley.

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

Tel. 01743 210820. n WOLVERHAMPTON Bell Street.

Tel. 01902 553 648.

If you just want a wheelchair on temporary loan, try the British Red Cross.

Your local Disabled Living Centre will also have details of voluntary organisations and companies that hire wheelchairs on a short-term basis. Most require a deposit.

You can usually hire wheelchairs by the day, week or month.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together NOW!

June/July 2011

29

Save water and money with our FREE water saver’s pack At United Utilities, we’re always looking at new ways to help you save water and money in the home.

That is why we’re offering all our customers a FREE water saver’s pack. The pack contains a clever gadget* which is easily connected to your existing shower hose, helping to reduce the amount of water used every time you have a shower. It will also save money on your energy bills (as you are heating less water) and, if you have a water meter installed in your home, will reduce your water bills too.

To order your free pack, visit our website: unitedutilities.com/freeoffer or send your address details to us in the post using the form below. *This shower regulator is NOT suitable for electric showers or those with multiple jets. Further information available at unitedutilities.com/freeoffer

Visit our water efficient house

Need a little ExtraCare?

We offer a range of free services to help customers who: • are older • have a disability • have a serious illness • have sight, hearing or learning difficulties Our services include: • personal notification of water shut-offs • large print, Braille and talking bills

If you have access to the internet, our website has a wealth of information on how you can save water in the home and garden.

Visit unitedutilities.com/waterefficiencyhouse to see how simple it is to save water.

To order a free water saver’s pack, visit unitedutilities.com/freeoffer. Alternatively complete your details below and return it to the following address (no stamp required): FREEPOST ANG8097, Owen Road, Diss, IP98 3HH. NAME

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

ADDRESS

POSTCODE EMAIL TEL

Only one pack per household. This offer applies to customers of United Utilities only and is subject to availability. Please allow up to 14 days for delivery.

To find out more call 0845 746 1100 or textphone 0808 143 1195

We may use your details to inform you about special offers, products and services which may be of interest to you.

Please tick this box if you are happy to receive information from United Utilities.

Please tick this box if you are happy to receive information from SaveWaterSaveMoney Ltd on behalf of Ark-H Handling (who will send the water saver pack to you).

05/11/SD/4428

30

All Together NOW!

June/Ju;ly 2011

SHOPMOBILITY n ALTRINCHAM. Tel 0161 929 1714 n ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE. Tel 0161 339 9500 n BARROW. Tel 01229 434039 n BIRKENHEAD. Tel 0151 647 6162 n BLACKBURN AND DARWEN. Tel 01254 690566 or 07757 502217 n BLACKPOOL. Tel 01253 349 427 n BOLTON. Tel 01204 392946 n BURY. Tel 0161 764 9966 n CARLISLE. Tel 01228 625950 n CHESTER. Tel 01244 312626 n CHORLEY. Tel 01257 260 888 n COLWYN BAY. Tel 01492 533822 n CREWE. Tel 01270 580 031 n ELLESMERE PORT. Tel 0151 355 1420 n KENDAL. Tel 01539 740 933 n LEIGH, Wigan. Tel 01942 777 985 n LIVERPOOL. Tel 0151 707 0877 n MANCHESTER Trafford Centre. Tel 0161 747 8046 n MANCHESTER Arndale Centre. Tel 0161 839 4060 n NELSON. Tel 01282 692 502 n NORTHWICH, Vale Royal Tel 01606 353525 n ORMSKIRK, West Lancashire Tel 01695 570055 n OSWESTRY. Tel 01691 656882 n PENRITH. Tel 01768 895 438 n PRESTON. Tel 01772 204 667 n RHYL. Tel 01745 350665 n ROCHDALE. Tel 01706 865 986 n RUNCORN, Halton Lea Tel 01928 716971 n SHREWSBURY. Tel 01743 236900 n SOUTHPORT. Tel 0151 288 6885 n ST HELENS. Tel 01744 613 388 n STOCKPORT. Tel 0161 666 1100 n WARRINGTON. Tel 01925 231941 n WARRINGTON. Birchwood Tel 01925 822 411 n WIGAN. Tel 01942 776 070 n WINSFORD. Tel 01606 557550 n WREXHAM. Tel 01978 312390 MIDLANDS n BIRMINGHAM. Snow Hill Railway Station. Tel 0121 236 8980. Level 2, Centre Car Park, Bullring. Tel 0121 616 2942 n STAFFORD. Tel 01785 619456 n STOKE ON TRENT. Tel 01782 233333 n SUTTON COLDFIELD. Tel 0121 355 1112 n TAMWORTH. Tel, 01827 709392 n WALSALL. Tel 01922 650781 n WEST BROMWICH: Sandwell. Tel 0121 553 1943 n WOLVERHAMPTON. Tel 01902 556021

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Apple tree winners KNOWSLEY DisAbility Partnership’s fifth 5th Family Fun day takes place on Sunday June 26 at King George V Leisure Sports Complex, Longview Lane, Huyton (11am-4pm) Sponsored by Merseytravel and Knowsley council, the annual event is dedicated to the memory of access officer John Rainey, who worked with Knowsley council for 30 years.

Contact, 0151 228 8404

Shopmobility takeover HALTON council has taken over Halton Lea’s Shopmobility Scheme that provides scooters and wheelchairs to help people do their shopping.

People with disabilities will help council officers run the scheme.

The centre is open from Monday to Saturday from 9am to 4.30pm.

Tel, 07979824621 or 01928716971.

CONGRATULATIONS to the five lucky winners of our recent competition to win a new Redlove apple tree: Mr J R Shaw, Salmon Street, Whelley, Wigan (Picked up at MOSI. “All Together NOW! is a great read. I think it should be more readily available.”)

Mrs Judith Kelly, Thornfield Road, Thornton, Liverpool (Lady Green Nurseries, Ince Blundell. “All Together NOW! is a very interesting read.”)

Teresa Moran, Pike Law Lane, Golcar, Huddersfield (Huddersfield Examiner office) Mrs L J Manning, Church View, Barlborough, Chesterfield, Derbyshire (“It is so informative that I now subscribe to All Together NOW! ”) Mrs J Capper, Biddulph Road, Chell, Stoke on Trent (Bridgemere Garden Centre). “I love MY All Together NOW! LOOKING for a household gadget especially made for people with sight problems?

Liverpool’s new Henshaws centre in Duke Street has a range of aids and equipment that might help.

Henshaws, tel 0151 708 7055 www.henshaws.org.uk

HELP AT THE END OF A PHONE n ANGLESEY:

TARAN Tel 01407 721933 n BLACKPOOL Disability Information and Support.

Tel 01253 472 202.

Textphone 01253 476 450 n CHESHIRE Dis Federation Tel 01606 888400 n CHESTER Dial House Tel 01244 345655 n DENBIGHSHIRE Tel 01745 354445 n ELLESMERE PORT DICE Tel 0151 355 1420 n HALTON Disability Service Tel 01928 717222 n KNOWSLEY DISABILITY CONCERN. 0151 480 4090 n LANCASTER DISC Tel 01524 34411 n LIVERPOOL Association of Disabled People. Tel 0151 263 8366. Text 0151 260 4076 n MERSEYSIDE 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 n WIRRAL WIRED Tel 0151 670 1500 n WEST LANCS HELPLINE Freefone 0800 220676 n ST HELENS DASH Tel 01744 453053 n WREXHAM Tel 01978 262955 MIDLANDS BIRMINGHAM Disability Resource Centre Tel 0121 789 7365 Disabled People’s Network Solihull Tel 0121 788 1544 STOKE: Disability Solutions Tel 01782 683800 WOLVERHAMPTON Elder and Disabled Group Tel 01902 448552 ORGANISATIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND n ACCRINGTON Tel 01254 233332 n BARROW Tel 01229 820698 n BIRMINGHAM Action for Blind Tel 0121 665 4200 n BLACKBURN Tel 0125 554143 n BLACKPOOL Tel 01253 792600 n BURY Tel 0161 763 7014 n BURNLEY Tel 01282 438507 n CARLISLE: Action for Blind People Tel 01228 595121 CHESHIRE & N WALES: Vision Support. Tel 01244 381515 n CUMBRIA (West) Tel 01946 592474 n CUMBRIA (Sth Lakeland) Tel 01539 726613

n GUIDE

DOGS Tel 0118 983 5555 n HENSHAW’S 0161 872 1234 Tel 0151 227 1226 n LIVERPOOL: Bradbury Fields.Tel 0151 221 0888: Action for Bind Tel 0151 708 9008 n MANCHESTER: Action for Blind Tel 0161 787 9252 n PRESTON: Action for Blind People Tel 01772 320550 n OLDHAM Tel 0161 682 8019 n ROSSENDALE Tel 01706 873256 n SIGHTLINE (North West) Tel 0800 587 2252 n WIGAN Tel 01942 242891 n WIRRAL Tel 0151 652 8877 ORGANISATIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF n BIRMINGHAM Institute for Deaf Tel 0121 246 6101 n CHESHIRE Deaf Society Tel 01606 47831 n CUMBRIA Deaf Society Tel 01228 606434 n LANCASHIRE (EAST) Deaf Society Tel 01282 839180 n MANCHESTER Deaf Centre Tel 0161 273 3415 n MERSEYSIDE Society for Deaf Tel 0151 228 0888 n ST HELENS: Deafness Resource Centre Tel 01744 23887 n WOLVERHAMPTON Centre for Deaf Tel 01902 420904 n N WALES Deaf Association, Tel 01492 542235

CARERS’ CENTRES n ACCRINGTON Tel 01254 387 444 n BLACKBURN with DARWEN Tel 01254 688 www.bwdcarers.org n BLACKPOOL Blackpool Borough Council, Tel 01253 477 716 n CUMBRIA Carlisle.

Tel 01228 542 156 Penrith.

Tel 01768 890 280 Barrow-in-Furness.

Tel 01229 822 822 Kendal.

Tel 01539 732 927 Whitehaven, Tel 01946 592 223 n CHESHIRE Helpline: 0800 085 0307 n KNOWSLEY Tel 0151 549 1412 n LANCASTER Tel 01524 66475 n LIVERPOOL Tel 0151 705 2307 n MANCHESTER Tel 0161 835 2995 n MORECAMBE Tel 01524 833456 n PRESTON Tel 01772 200173 n RUNCORN Tel 01928 580182 n WIDNES Tel 0151 257 7767 n SALFORD Tel 0161 833 0217 n SEFTON Tel 0151 288 6060 n ST HELENS Tel 01744 675 615 n STOCKPORT Tel 0161 456 2808 n WARRINGTON Tel 01925 644 212 n WEST LANCS Tel 01695 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@allltogethernow.org .uk

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together NOW!

June/July 2011

31

In 2005 a freak rugby accident left Pete Stephenson paralysed . . . New super league is on the way A NEW competition structure for Wheelchair Rugby League that features a Super League, Championship and European Club Challenge, has been unveiled by the Rugby Football League

GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME: Pete takes time out from his studies and, far left, in his playing days

FIGHTING BACK

‘

ALL I heard was a loud click, then I was flat on my back staring up at the sky, paralysed from the chest down.”

This is when the unthinkable became reality for Hull Dockers player Pete Stephenson following a desperate reach for the goal line during his side’s fixture against local rivals and former club East Hull in August 2005.

After making an instinctive dive, Pete was held up just short of scoring a memorable try before feeling the pressure of the defence on his back and neck.

At this point, the 26-year old knew that he would not be making another surge for the line and was immediately rushed to Hull Royal Infirmary.

Operation With only partial movement in one of his arms, Pete received the devastating news that he had not only shattered two of his vertebra, but also dislocated his neck.

“As I lay there thinking about what I had just been told, I felt like my whole world had just collapsed around me.

“All I could think about was how this was going to effect not just my life but that of my partner Emma and our two-month-old boy Sam.”

I’ve ditched the wheelchair, now I want a career!

Pete was told that he would need an operation to take the pressure off his spinal cord, which was causing the paralysis, but was also warned that he may never walk again.

This devastating news was the beginning of a long period of recuperation during which he was transferred to Minefields Hospital, Wakefield.

After eight months of gruelling rehabilitation at Minefields, the former joiner/carpenter had regained full movement in his arms and partial movement in his legs.

During his time in Wakefield, he was visited by Tim Adams, Phil Clarke and Dave Phillips, all trustees of the Rugby Football League Benevolent Fund who offered their support to his recovery.

The fund supports former Rugby League players who have sustained career-ending injuries and require further assistance in the form of physiotherapy sessions or other treatments.

With the 100-mile plus round trip for his family to visit him in Wakefield,

the Fund contributed towards travel costs and accommodation – and enabled Pete to return home in a wheelchair to continue his rehabilitation.

Five years on, he is now able to walk with the aid of crutches.

Physiotherapy sessions, based around swimming and weights, have enabled him to lead an active lifestyle with his four-year-old son, Sam. And continued support from the Fund has given him the opportunity to undertake a sports journalism course at Huddersfield University under the tuition of Rugby League journalist Chris Irvine.

Pete is also involved in the burgeoning media volunteering scheme that the RFL is running with a number of universities to give aspiring journalists valuable media experience reporting on Rugby League events.

Fundraising “I now feel strong enough to want to go back into a work environment” He has also set himself a number of targets to help raise money for the RFL Benevolent Fund.

“It is important we continue to raise funds and awareness for this great charity. Rugby league is one of the toughest sports in the world. Although I hope no one else suffers the kind of

injury I did, in reality, another serious injury is always around the corner. It is vital that the funds and help are there for that player when it does.”

Pete is already no stranger to fundraising events.

“During my recovery I set a goal of being able to walk one mile with the aid of crutches around the local park, where I suffered my injury.

“I completed this on the second anniversary of my accident in less than one hour, raising £4,000 for the spinal unit at Pinderfields Hospital.”

In a specially modified quad bike, Pete and Jeremy Gittins – a former Rugby League player who broke his neck whilst playing for Sharlston Rovers, successfully completed the ride from Perpignan to Wembley.

They also took part in the 27-mile Dragon Boat Paddle down the River Thames to complete the challenge for the new cancer unit in Manchester.

Next on the agenda is the Marathon Rowing Challenge in July when he will join former Rugby League stars including Paul Sculthorpe, Kris Radlinski, Terry O’Connor, current Wakefield Trinity Wildcats coach John Kear and the BBC’s Dave Woods in a 42,195-metre indoor marathon at Leeds Metropolitan University. n Rugby League Benevolent Fund, Red Hall Lane, Leeds, LS17 8NB. www.rflbenevolentfund.co.uk

Wigan, Halifax, Mersey Vikings, Bury Jigsaw and Wolverhampton Rhinos will compete in the Wheelchair Super League which runs until the Grand Final in September.

The Wheelchair Championship will feature Bradford Bulls, Mersey Vikings A, Wakefield and Medway Dragons from Kent.

The UK Super League champions will play the French champions in the European Club Challenge in October. This will be followed by an international fixture between England and France.

There will also be a regular schedule of festivals taking place across the country involving new and existing clubs including teams from Hull and Leeds.

Wheelchair Tag Rugby League offers both disabled and non-disabled players of both sexes the opportunity to compete both with and against each other.

There are five players per side in Wheelchair Rugby League. Tackles are made in the same way as tag rugby, with players wearing tags on their shoulders and opposition players having to remove a tag to effect a tackle.

The game has the same six tackle count that is used in Rugby League, with teams conceding possession of the ball if they have not scored after a set of six tackles have been completed.

Offside, knock-on and intouch rulings apply as they do in the traditional game.

Conversions are scored by punching the ball from a tee over mini-RL posts. n www.tryit.co.uk n www.rfl.uk.com

Stay ahead of the game . . . www.alltogethernow.org.uk

TAKE ME HOME!

All Together NOW!

32

June/July 2011

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

City honour

Everton double!

WINNERS: Sir Geoff Hurst, left, with Steve Johnson and Stephen Raynor (Everton in the Community) and Olympian Denise Lewis

MANCHESTER has been named as the base for Britain’s top disabled swimmers in the run-up to the 2012 Paralympic Games.

The city was chosen for its world class facilities at the Manchester Aquatics Centre.

National Performance director John Atkinson said Manchester would offer his team “the optimum environment”.

“We have worked with Manchester City Council for a number of years in making sure our athletes have access to anything they could need in their training cycles and I believe this is a great opportunity to continue our already successful partnership.”

EVERTON Football Club’s official charity has won a top award at the ‘sporting Oscars’ for the second year in a row.

Everton in the Community’s disability programme scooped the Best Community Programme category at the 2011 Sport Industry Awards.

Last year Everton’s innovative Imagine Your Goals mental health programme came out on top.

The charity’s disability programme is the largest and most respected in the world, delivering over 10,000 football opportunities for disabled children and adults every year.

WORLD CLASS! REAT Britain’s elite disabled athletes were crowned BT Paralympic World Cup winners for the first time since the tournament started seven years ago.

Their victory came after a nailbiting end to an action-packed week in Manchester.

G

Having entered the final day in third place, the GB swimmers turned in fantastic performances to catapult the team into pole position.

Double Paralympic champion Eleanor Simmonds led the charge, narrowly missing breaking her own world record in the SM6 200m individual medley, with a time of 3:09.36.

The swimming victories

dramatically changed the league table, with GB overtaking the Rest of the World team, and leaving the Americas in third and Europe fourth.

Earlier in the week, GB’s women’s wheelchair basketball team struck gold, beating Germany 63-52 in the final.

And there was a bronze for the men’s team – which included four North West players, Dan Highcock, Abdi Jama, Ade Orogbemi and Jon Pollock – after their crushing defeat of Brazil 63-43.

In front of a capacity crowd at the Manchester Regional Arena, the women’s team were unforgiving in attacking the basket with Helen Freeman (Watford) top scoring with 22 points, while Amy Conroy

(Norwich) and Laurie Williams (Manchester) also got into double figures as they hit 16 and 11 respectively.

Things did not go all GB’s way in the athletics arena as South Aftrica’s “blade runner” Oscar Pistorius stole the show with two gold medals.

Pistorius stormed to gold in the T44 100m and setting a new T42/44 400m world record of 47.28.

Stockport’s Ian Jones joined Pistorius on the podium in the latter event, with a time of 51.86.

Elsewhere, GB’s boccia team overwhelmed Ireland 10-1, but it was the Netherlands who shone through in the sitting volleyball match.

Burdekin’s back

SUCCESS: For Stockport’s Ian Jones

Help us to keep spreading the news – subscribe NOW All Together NOW! is helping and inspiring tens of thousands of people whose lives are affected by disability. But the charity needs to find ways to balance the books.

You can help in a big way by becoming one of our loyal subscribers. For a suggested £12 donation (or more, if you can afford it!) we will send you the next SIX editions.

NAME

ADDRESS

Please send this coupon and a cheque payable to All Together NOW! to: Subscriptions Dept., All Together NOW! The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP — THANKS!

MERSEYSIDE’S Jamie Burdekin is back in the world’s top 10 wheelchair tennis rankings after backto-back tournaments in the United States.

Burdekin is ranked No 9, climbing back inside the world’s top 10 for the first time since May 2010 when the Liverpool-based player was recovering after a wrist operation.

The Beijing Paralympic bronze medallist, who broke his back in a car accident in 2000, also helped the GB quad team gain a bronze at the ITF World Team Cup in Pretoria, South Africa.

Jamie’s army THE search is on for a 300-strong army of Jamie Carraghers to raise vital funds for deprived youngsters.

The Liverpool FC star wants the “Team of Carraghers” – sharing his solid, never-say-die character – to take on the Liverpool Marathon representing the former England defender’s charity, The 23 Foundation.

The Foundation has been chosen as one of the four official charities to benefit from the Liverpool Marathon, which is returning to the city in October after an absence of almost 20 years and is expected to attract around 12,000 local, national and international runners. n www.cfmerseyside.org.uk