All Together NOW! Autumn 2024

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ON THE RIGHT

PATH:

People with mobility issues urged to join rambles

Walks that work for all

BEST foot – of wheel –forward for a series of countryside rambles

Youth hostelling charity YHA is staging its third annual Festival of Walking – and want more people with mobility issues to join in the fun

It’s completely free, whether that’s joining one of the many organised social walks from youth hostels or downloading a walking route

A number of accessible routes suitable for motorised wheelchairs are included in the programme

Some are guided social rambles, others are free-todownload accessible routes,

which have been developed in conjunction with Access the Dales, a non-profit organisation that provides free access to the outdoors for everyone

Andrew McCloy, YHA’s Walks Programme Manager, said: “We’re keen to get more people to benefit from the mental and physical health benefits

“We know that there are a number of barriers to participation, and we’re using this festival to overcome those blocks ”

A wheelchair accessible social walk is planned from YHA Malham on October 10 n Access the Dales: Tel 07715964621

www access-the-dales com www yha org uk/festival-ofwalking

MEANWHILE, two special Memory Walks are being planned to raise funds for the Alzheimer ’s Society n Sat Oct 12: Tatton Park Two routes – 6 5km and 2 5km Sadly, these routes are not suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs n Sun Oct 13: Heaton Park, Manchester Two wheelchair accessible routes – 5km and 1 5km n Tel 0300 330 5452 memorywalk@alzheimers org uk www alzheimers org uk/memorywalk/fundraise

Pals conquer high anxiety

THREE intrepid friends

from Wirral completed a skydive to raise almost

£2,000 for local cerebral palsy charity, Stick ‘n’ Step Despite a nerve-wracking wait –they were originally meant to jump at 2pm, but ultimately didn’t take the plunge until 6pm –Andrew Brough, Amanda Griffiths and Kate Duffy revelled in the experience and were delighted to

raise much-needed funds

Kate said: “We had an incredible time, so much so, we wanted to do it all again

“I have been volunteering at Stick ‘n’ Step events over the last couple of years

“I have always wanted to do a skydive, so when I found out it was one of the charity’s fundraising events, I convinced my friends to do it with me ” Stick ‘n’ Step corporate

Deaf man

‘constantly failed by jobcentre’

A DEAF jobseeker has won a £50,000 payout after the Department of Work and Pensions repeatedly failed to provide sign language help for him

Paul Rimmer believed his local jobcentre did not provide the support he needed because they found it “too difficult and too expensive”

A tribunal awarded Mr Rimmer £49,880 in damages and interest payments for discriminatory behaviour after hearing staff repeatedly failed to arrange British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation for job-related interviews over a six-year period

Even when it did provide interpretation, it was sometimes not of a high enough standard for the needs of Mr Rimmer, who is profoundly deaf and has no spoken English

The tribunal referred three times in its judgement to how Mr Rimmer ’s experience of repeated failures by the Leeds jobcentre must have felt like a “groundhog day”, and it describes how he felt he was “constantly fighting for things other people take for granted”

Every time he faced discrimination, the tribunal concluded, it damaged his “mental wellbeing, whether by frustration or upset or depression or isolation”

The compensation includes £10,000 in “exemplary damages” imposed due to a “victimising” and “oppressive” internal email sent by a DWP disability equality advisor (DEA) who referred to Mr Rimmer making “multiple” complaints

Despite a colleague describing Mr Rimmer as “keen to get support”, the DEA suggested Mr Rimmer did not want to work, needed “firm work coaching” and to be sanctioned

fundraiser Jo Fowler said: “We have huge respect for all our volunteers – even more when they go out of their way to fundraise for us too Well done to Andrew, Amanda and Kate ” At its Wallasey and Runcorn centres, Stick ‘n’ Step provides free weekly sessions to children and young people with cerebral palsy up to the age of 25, aimed at giving them the skills they need to live more independent lives

Nick Whittingham, chief executive at Kirklees Citizens Advice and Law Centre, which supported Mr Rimmer with his case, said: “This case shines a light on the way that disabled benefits claimants are treated by the DWP, and is particularly important in light of current political rhetoric ” A DWP spokesperson said in a statement: “We are considering this judgment ”

WHAT A DIVE!: From left, Andrew, Amanda and Kate

‘Accessible’

hotel beds

are too low for wheelchair users . . .

Nightmare

scenario

OH, WHAT A NIGHT OH, WHAT A NIGHT

HAD a good holiday? What was the height of your bed? Not the kind of question you’d normally expect to be asked.

Nor did I ever think that it would be something I’d get so hung up about

For 50 years transferring sideways from my wheelchair to a bed a few inches higher or lower was never a problem

But that’s all suddenly changed and I’ve been caught out twice recently

I wrongly assumed the bed height in an accessible room at a Travelodge and at a wheelchair accessible National Trust cottage and would be okay

However, the beds were eight centimeters lower than my seated

position and gave me all kinds of problems

Travelodge and NT say they’ve followed guidance from the British Standards Institute, which states 48cms as being the height of a standard wheelchair

But this figure DOES NOT include a wheelchair cushion, which increases the overall height by another 6cms-10cms

This was the situation I found myself in at a Travelodge in Ashbourne The only solution was to place some spare bed sheets under the legs

I was caught out again at an National Trust accessible cottage in Shropshire, but this time it was impossible to raise it Lowering my paralysed body onto the

bed was tricky; getting it back up and across onto my chair was extremely exhausting and only possible with help from my wife

Luckily, a cushion from a nearby armchair saved the day Placing it on the bed I was able to lift onto it before shuffling sideways and finally, with my wife holding my legs, dragged my body back onto my wheelchair It was far from ideal I’ll definitely be more careful ro ask about bed heights before I next book an overnight stay n Let us know your experiences Letters to: All Together NOW!, The Bradbury Centre, Liverpool L14 2EP email: news@alltogethernow.org.uk

REACTION: Time to revise the guidance

CHESHIRE-based Disability Positive is working with Travelodge on access issues Chief executive Lynne Turnbull says: “There will be a range of needs for bed heights and the current British Standard may not meet all of those needs We will share this feedback with BSI who set the British Standard ”

l A National Trust spokeswoman said: “We keep our accessible properties under constant review When we next make developments at any of our accessible places, we will be looking to amend the beds if we can ” l A Spinal Injuries Association spokesperson said: “We know the

MILLIONS of children and adults across the North West are being offered Covid-19, flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus vaccinations

This year, based on the latest scientific evidence, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommended adults aged 65 and over, residents of care homes for older adults and those with underlying health conditions aged six months to 64 years are being eligible for flu and Covid-19 jabs.

The jabs, given at the same time, are also being offered to frontline health and social care staff, with staff in care homes for older adults being offered the Covid-19 jab.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus is a common cause of coughs and colds which can be dangerous to older people and young children.

The jabs will be available to those aged 75 to 79, and will be offered to pregnant women from 28 weeks.

EMERGENCY!

frustration and anger that many people feel when they discover what they thought was an accessible room is not because of something as obvious as bed height The voices of disabled people must be heard when designing accessible rooms but all too often companies will follow a ‘one size fits all’ approach ”

Comments on social media:

l “I WAS about to book Travelodge but their bed height is 48cms – my bed is about 10cms higher so I ‘m having second thoughts now I’d hate to end up not being able to independently

transfer either on or off the bed ”

l “UNFORTUNATELY, the BS 8300 Design of Buildings and Code of Practice states the top of accessible bed mattresses should be 48cms from floor ”

l “BED height is a real problem, even in accessible rooms Hotels seem to think we have the climbing skills of Tarzan/Spider Man A few years ago late at night I lost balance trying to do a high transfer and slid to the floor I ended up pulling the duvet and pillow off the bed and slept on the floor ”

MEDICS in Merseyside and Cheshire are diagnosing patients’ health conditions more quickly than in almost any other part of the country

Spokeswoman Liz Bishop said: “While the results show excellent progress and are heading in the right direction, we know there is still more to do.

“Our focus this year will be to ensure that even more patients receive their test within six weeks and that the time it takes for results is significantly reduced.”

Professor Rowan Pritchard Jones, medical director at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and demonstrates the hard work that has gone into ensuring residents can easily access important diagnostic services, which help patients to be treated earlier and closer to home.”

TOM DOWLING, editor

Shock cancer death rates highlight inequalities

ADULTS with learning disabilities are three times more likely to die from cancer compared to the general population, researchers have found.

Professor Deborah Cairns, director of the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory and Cancer Programme

Lead, said: “These startling findings highlight that people with learning disabilities continue to face significant health inequalities in all aspects of their lives including a higher proportion of avoidable cancer deaths.

“Many cancers are preventable and/or treatable. The more we raise awareness about early signs and symptoms, the more lives we are likely to save.”

GPs’ good gut guide

A NEW website has been launched to help GPs treating people who experience gut issues

Whether it’s coeliac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s disease, colitis or another condition, getting a diagnosis can be complicated and overwhelming, say gut health charities n www whatsupwithmygut org uk

Buses still a barrier

BUS travel still has lots of challenges for disabled passengers, according to a new study.

Bus Users UK, which campaigns for accessible transport, says there is an urgent need for improvements.

Chief executive Claire Walters said: “At some point in our lives, we are all likely to need more accessible transport. Despite many recent advances in legislation, staff training and vehicle design, buses are still far from fully accessible.”

Better homes ‘on way’

THE call by MPs for the new minimum accessibility standard for all future homes to be implemented urgently has been “warmly welcomed”

Members of the influential House of Commons’ Levelling Up, Housing and Communities committee were critical of the last government for failing to bring in the new standard

And the MPs report on Disabled People in the Housing Sector has been greeted with enthusiasm by accessible social housing provider Habinteg Habinteg’s director of social impact, Christina McGill, said: “The Committee rightly emphasises the urgency of establishing the building regulations’ accessible and adaptable standard as mandatory for all new homes

“This is a landmark initiative Once implemented, it will revolutionise housing options for disabled and older people, ensuring that all new homes will be both easy and costeffective to adapt to people’s changing needs ”

THE Covid-19 Inquiry has shown how successive governments showed a “criminally negligent” attitude towards protecting those most at risk from pandemics, say campaigners.

The report says emergency planning generally failed to account sufficiently for the pre-existing health and societal inequalities and deprivation in society

And there was a failure to appreciate the full extent of the impact of government measures and long-term risks from the Covid pandemic on minority ethnic communities and those with poor health or other vulnerabilities

It concludes: “When the pandemic struck, many of those who suffered and many of those who died were already vulnerable ”

Among its recommendations is for there to be a

Covid: ‘criminal failures’ DISABLED BACK DISABLED BACK IN FIRING LINE IN FIRING LINE

Most vulnerable set to bear brunt of spending cuts

by JOHN PRING

DISABLED people are back “in the firing line” for spending cuts, activists have warned, after a trio of decisions by new chancellor Rachel Reeves.

Reeves told MPs there would be cuts to social care and winter fuel payment to address what she described as a £22 billion hole in the public finances left by the previous government

But among a series of other measures, she also appeared to suggest that cuts to benefits would be announced later in the year

Reeves told MPs that it would not be possible to take forward reforms to adult social care charging

The announcement came just days after a report by the Disability Law Service showed that disabled people across England were continuing to face unlawful discrimination and inequality on an “unparalleled” scale due to “unjust” social care charging policies

A DLS spokesperson said: “Whilst we did not believe that these reforms went anywhere near far enough, they would have been an improvement on the current home care charging policy ” Further decisions on tax and spending will be announced at the new Government’s first budget on October 30

But Reeves warned that she would “look closely at our welfare system, because if someone can work, they should work”

Fazilet Hadi, head of policy at Disability Rights UK, said the chancellor ’s comments

new UK-wide civil emergency strategy to assess the potential impacts of future emergencies on vulnerable people It says the Government should also prepare research to identify which groups of vulnerable people are hardest hit by the pandemic and why Rick Burgess, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People, said the report showed the government “had for a very long time ignored its legal responsibilities towards disabled people in pandemic planning ”

Kamran Mallick, chief executive of Disability Rights UK, said: “With almost 60% of Covid deaths being those of disabled people, it is hardly surprising the inquiry found pre-pandemic planning failed to take sufficient account of those with pre-existing conditions, those living in deprivation or those from minority ethnic communities ”

Cuts hit older carers

CUTTING back on Winter Fuel Payments will put even more more pressure on older unpaid carers

The Government plans to stop the payments to those not in receipt of Pension Credit

But Carers UK boss Helen Walker said: “Many older carers struggle to make ends meet Those just above the threshold for Pension Credit will be substantially worse off ”

on economic inactivity “were interchangeable with those of the previous government”

She said: “The reasons for more people being unable to work due to disability and ill health isn’t down to a poor work ethic, it’s because of an ageing workforce, high levels of mental distress, lack of NHS treatments, a failing social care system and negative employer attitudes and behaviours

“We heard nothing about tackling these underlying drivers of ill health and disability ” Meanwhile, there were more than 16,000 responses to the last government’s consultation on reforming personal

The charity’s State of Caring 2023 survey revealed 45% of carers aged 65 and over, who are not in receipt of Pension Credit, are worried about living costs; 20% have had to cut back on food or heating Unpaid carers can get a Carer ’s Addition of £45 60 added to their Pension Credit if they are entitled to Carer ’s Allowance But there are complicated overlapping benefits rules, which mean carers need to apply for Carer ’s Allowance They won’t receive it because they are already paid a state pension, but they become entitled to the Carer ’s Addition in Pension Credit as a result of going through the process! n Helpline 0808 808 7777

GROUNDED GROUNDED

THE Government has refused to say if it will introduce laws to improve protection for disabled air passengers, after a TV documentary Channel 4’s Fight to Fly saw presenter Sophie Morgan investigate the abuse, treatment, damaged equipment and even physical harm experienced by fellow wheelchair users

The Department for Transport has refused to say if it would bring in the legislation

But transport secretary Louise Haigh said in a statement: “We are committed to working closely with industry and stakeholders to make progress in enhancing the accessibility of aviation ”

independence payment (PIP)

Disability Minister Stephen Timms said:

“The proposals in this Green Paper were developed by the previous government We will be considering our own approach to social security in due course ”

The Modernising Support for Independent Living green paper, published in the spring, included possible plans to make it harder to claim PIP and even replace cash payments with vouchers or one-off grants, and was described as a “brutal, ideological attack” on disabled people’s support

with 250,000 people across the region

MORE people feel lonely now than did during lockdown

New figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show 24% felt lonely all or some of the time at the beginning of June this year

That compares with 21% at the start of June 2020, at the height of Covid

The new figures showed women (26%) and 16 to 29year-olds (30%) were hardest hit

People in the UK are also less satisfied with life, with 9% of respondents reporting low levels of life satisfaction Those aged 30 to 49, at 12%, were the most unsatisfied group

In 2020, before lockdown measures lifted, 8% of people reported low levels of life satisfaction

Meanwhile, 12% reported low levels of happiness at the beginning of June this year, with 17% of 16-29 year olds in particular experiencing low happiness levels

‘Can I hear 101 Dalmatians next?’

THAT’S an entertaining tail! A guide dog appears to listen intently as a young reader treats him to the magic of Harry Potter

The two were taking part in a special reading session held by the Guide Dogs charity

Children with different sight loss conditions met up with friendly guide dogs in training at the British Library They were encouraged to read to a laidback canine audience using the charity’s CustomEyes books, which are designed to make reading accessible and enjoyable for children with a variety of sight loss issues

CHARITY SPOTLIGHT

A poll held by the charity found that although reading aloud helps improve literacy skills, many children feel shy doing so in front of others

But nearly three out of four youngsters agree reading to a dog would help their confidence, because they are non-judgemental

Guide Dogs charity is encouraging all children to read to dogs, including children with vision impairment Kerry Kernan, from Guide Dogs, said: “A patient audience can work wonders when you’re getting to grips with tricky pronunciation and sounding out letters “That’s why reading to dogs can be a lovely option –they don’t mind if the story gets a bit tangled up ”

Disabled people

leading change

It works with Disabled People’s Organisations and Government across the UK to influence regional and national change for better rights, benefits, quality of life and economic opportunities for disabled people

DR UK provides vital information to disabled people across the country through its helplines, news updates and factsheets

Unique services, such as its Student Helpline, provide advice about how to access support at university

It also partners with various grass roots organisations in the North West to run projects enabling disabled people to participate in sport and physical activity

Readers of All Together NOW! can get a 10% discount on all purchases from the DR UK shop by entering the code NOW10 at checkout

Disability Rights Handbook provides in-depth, comprehensive guidance on the benefits system, explains how social care operates around the UK and includes information about other services and resources for disabled people And it’s full of tools and tactics to help you make a successful claim Written in plain English by benefits specialists and legally referenced, it’s the only user-friendly guide designed for both claimants and advisers Fully updated for 2024/25 and easy to find your way around, it has the answers you need, to claim what you’re entitled to, or challenge an unsuccessful application for benefits or social care n

Joker Johnny launches neurodiversity festival

COMEDIAN Johnny Vegas and writer Ashleigh Nugent are launching the North West’s first Neurodiversity Arts Festival

The event, run by the Brain Charity, brings together all the major arts organisations in Liverpool Festival organiser

Chris Beaumont said: “About one in five of the population identify as neurodivergent We believe the festival will not only shed light on the diverse experiences and talents within this community, but also foster a deeper understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity across society to create lasting change ” Festival highlights include new art commissions, theatre performances, musical acts, and cabaret shows highlighting the rich diversity within the neurodivergent community

Two comedy nights are also on the bill at the Brain Charity on Norton Street featuring Bliss Comedy and Disabilarity n The festival runs from Sep 20-29

Full listings at: www the braincharity org uk

JOHNNY VEGAS

Bid to remove bar to the Bard in schools

GIVING deaf students an equal chance to enjoy and learn about Shakespeare is the aim of a new project

Teaching packs are being sent to every deaf school and major deaf unit in the UK

It’s all part of the Signing Shakespeare initiative – a partnership between the Royal Shakespeare Company and University of Birmingham – addressing the gap between deaf children and their fellow students

Dr Abigail Rokison-Woodall, who co-led the Signing Shakespeare project, said:

“There are over 50,000 deaf children in the UK and Shakespeare is the only named author all children are required to study in the national curriculum

“But the fact is there aren’t many resources for deaf students studying Shakespeare in school ”

The packs contain a Scheme of Work for teaching Macbeth, plus handouts and other resources, which accompany films of scenes from the play, performed by deaf actors using British Sign Language

Ombudsman: Lessons must be learned MUM’S CARE MUM’S CARE

EXPERIENCE EXPERIENCE

HAUNTS ME HAUNTS ME

AWOMAN and her mother were left with huge bills and chronic anxiety after failing to receive the support they were entitled to

Health bosses neglected to arrange and pay for care, leaving the woman struggling to work full-time while supporting her seriously ill mother

case circumstances not considered

Broken autism system puts kids in peril

A GENERATION of autistic children may be left behind, with news that thousands of pupils with complex needs miss out on support

The warning comes from the National Autistic Society, who say a quarter of parents wait more than three years to get proper help

THE printing costs for this edition of All Together NOW! have been paid out of a generous bequest from former head teacher Miss Pat (Audrey) Lowe, She was a great fan of the paper. “This free newspaper is so vital, especially to those not online,” she said. “With it there would be an enormous void. I just hope it gets the support it deserves.”

A NEW app is proving a hit with parents of deaf youngsters

The app – My NDCS – enables parents and carers to personalise the support provided by the National Deaf Children’s Society

It features a journal function, allowing parents to jot down feelings, milestones and appointments

They can also book onto the charity’s events and workshops, and get reassurance from real-life accounts of other families with similar experiences

One user, Kyla Alderman, said: “Finding out my daughter was profoundly deaf was a complete shock “My NDCS has helped me understand her diagnosis and reassured me she’ll live a normal life ”

Holly Patel at NDCS said: “Our mission is to make sure children receive the support they need from the moment their deafness is identified ” n Download the app at www ndcs org uk

She has since been repaid more than £37,000 after an ombudsman’s report found both had suffered substantial financial loss and acute fear of money running out.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman is urging Integrated Health Boards –which plan and fund health services in their local area – to learn from mistakes made and take action to prevent other families facing unnecessary financial strain

The 61-year-old woman and her mother were forced to finance an NHS healthcare package for seven months due to the failures of the then East Riding of Yorkshire Clinical Commissioning Group

Despite starting an assessment of the mother ’s circumstances in May 2018, a Personal Health Budget was still not finalised when she died in November of that year, aged 81

She had been suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, anxiety, hypoxia, a low blood oxygen condition causing shortness of breath, and a tremor

Failings were found to include:

l Communication not meeting guidelines

l Health needs not appropriately assessed

l A clinical review not completed until September

l Reimbursement guidance not followed and

The Ombudsman recommended that what has since become Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board pay £26,382 plus interest to the woman for costs incurred and unreimbursed care, acknowledge its failings and produce an action plan to ensure the same mistakes are not repeated

The ICB has complied with the recommendations and after undertaking an internal assessment paid more than £37,000 to the woman

The woman, from Beverley, North Yorkshire, said:

“We were concerned that we were going to run out of money We knew the care she needed and how much it would cost

Proper carers

“Over that summer I was trying to care for my mother whilst working full-time It’s those kinds of memories that will haunt me She should have had proper carers and I was filling gaps because we couldn’t afford to get carers

“The Ombudsman helped enormously They explained to me what should have happened and that’s the first time anybody did that, except for the initial assessment

“I hate the thought of another person going through the stress and financial worry we suffered I hope me complaining helps to change things for the better so that this doesn’t happen to anyone else ”

n The PHSO investigates complaints about UK government departments, other public organisations and the NHS in England The service is free, fair and open to everyone n www ombudsman org uk n Tel 0345 015 4033

‘Not ADHD, just immature’

TEACHERS may be mistakenly suspecting a child has ADHD when in fact they are simply not as mature as their classmates

A study has found the youngest pupils in a class – with birthdays just before the school entry cut-off date – are overrepresented among children receiving an ADHD diagnosis or medication for the condition

Professor Kapil Sayal, at the University of Nottingham’s school of medicine, said the results showed “adults involved in identifying or raising concerns over a child’s behaviour, such as

parents and teachers, may be inadvertently misattributing relative immaturity as symptoms of ADHD

“The child’s age in relation to their classmates – their ‘relative’ age –needs to considered when making this kind of diagnosis ”

Experts looked at how being one of the youngest in a class can influence the likelihood of being diagnosed with conditions like ADHD or Autism Spectrum Disorder

ADHD is a condition where individuals have significant challenges with attention and can be overly active

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complex developmental condition that relates to how a person communicates and interacts

Their research confirmed that younger students in the school year are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD and receive medication for this, compared to their older classmates

Dr Eleni Frisira, who led the research, added: “It is important teachers are supported in considering the relative age of a child in a classroom when ADHD is being queried ”

Councils have a legal time limit of 20 weeks, in most cases, to issue an education, health and care plan (EHCP), after a parent or school asks for one

The plans set out the extra help a child needs to access education, on top of what is available through special education needs support

Examples of extra support might include one-to-one lesson time, or help to learn at home for those with such complex needs that school is unsuitable

Tim Nicholls, the charity’s head of influencing and research, said: “The system has been broken for years

“Our research found that more than half of Education, Health and Care Plans take longer than the legal deadline of 20 weeks, and 26% of parents wait more than three years to get support in place for their children

To the brink

“The law is clear, but it’s not being followed As a result, families are being pushed to the brink, even ending up in costly tribunals, where a staggering 98% find in favour of parents

“The Government must act now, or it risks a generation of autistic children being left behind ”

More than 1 5 million pupils in England have special educational needs or disabilities (Send)

Latest figures show 517,000 children and young people were on an EHCP in 2023 – the highest on record

More than 187,000 people are waiting for an autism assessment in England – an increase of 22% in one year Almost nine in 10 of these people have been waiting to be seen longer than the NICErecommended 13 weeks n NAS: Tel 0207 833 2299

United Utilities is calling on its customers to take advantage of FREE support with their water

Since launching in 2015, more than 400,000 people across the North West have now registered for United Utilities’ Priority Services scheme.

Steph Smith from the Priority Services team said: “Our Priority Services scheme is free to all our customers who may need a bit of extra support in life. This could be due to age, ill health, disability, worries or language barriers.

“By registering for our scheme, we can make sure you receive the right support from us during those times the water to repair a leak, or if we need to visit you in your own home.

“Even if you don’t need this support, we all know someone services - such as a friend, family member or neighbour - so please encourage them to get in touch to register.”

Services include:

• A dedicated team on hand to listen and help

• Braille, large print, ‘talking’ bills and text relay service

• Knock and wait service. If you tell us you have mobility needs and we have to visit your home, we will wait allowing enough time for you to answer the door

• Nominate a carer, family member or friend to check your bills and speak to us on your behalf

• Additional support if you have a medical need for water.

• Protection from bogus callers with a password protection scheme

• Notice of interruptions to your water supply

• Translation services

• Every two years we’ll check that your details are still correct

Our scheme is designed to support people who:

• are blind or partially sighted;

• have a chronic (long-term) or serious illness;

development;

• have dementia;

• rely on dialysis, feeding pumps or automated medication;

• are deaf or hard of hearing, or have

• have a mental health condition;

• have children aged 5 or under;

• are experiencing temporary life changes (including divorce or bereavement);

• are recovering after leaving hospital;

• have restricted movement making it

• may struggle to communicate because

Scan the QR code to visit our Priority Services webpage, where you can click on ‘Accessibility Help’ to turn on text-to-speech or change the language used on our website.

IRTUAL reality is being used to design driverless cars that don’t put deaf and hard of hearing pedestrians in harm’s way

Automated vehicles are on the increase but not all designs are people friendly, especially those people with disabilities or specialist needs

But Dr Wenge Xu, principal investigator and an expert in human-computer interaction at Birmingham City University, says technology can play a key role in overcoming those challenges

“Drivers often communicate with pedestrians and cyclists using hand signals, head gestures, and eye contact,” said Dr Xu

“But when humans are no longer in the driving seat, these traditional methods will be replaced by an External Human-Machine Interface (eHMI) ”

And that is where the problem lies Currently, there are no fully operational highly automated vehicles with eHMI capabilities on the roads

“We’ll bring deaf and hard of hearing people into the design process,” added Dr Xu

Funded by a £70,000 grant from the Royal Society, the project will involve Dr Xu working with a number of major car manufacturers and charities

Dr Xu added: “When we have a design that meets the needs of deaf and hard of hearing people, we’ll explore how this can be extended to people with other disabilities ”

EVs shouldn’t be for the leccy few ROOM TO ROAM ROOM TO ROAM

n GETTING behind the wheel brings a level of freedom and independence, especially for people with limited mobility

n As more manufacturers understand the need for inclusive vehicles, SAM SHEEHAN, motoring editor at online car dealer cinch, offers his tips to prospective buyers

WHETHER you are a disabled driver or a passenger with mobility needs making sure your car is comfortable and spacious for the journey is a must

A sliding door can be perfect for passengers who need additional space to get in and out of the vehicle, or if you need to store a wheelchair or mobility scooter

Alternatively, finding doors that open wide can offer the space needed – some doors don’t open as wide as you think they would

Modular seating can also help, as well as give you the flexibility you need to ensure that all passengers are catered for and

comfortable The height of your seats could also be an important factor to consider

Seats more than 55cm off the ground may be tricky to climb in to from a wheelchair

Alternatively, seats very low to the ground may also prove difficult for access

Here are my top three cars for disabled drivers and passengers:

Citroen Berlingo

The Berlingo is a solid choice for its reliability and comfort Based on the Berlingo van, it has the functionality and practicality required for those with a disability

One welcome feature is the sliding door, which makes for easy entry The middle row of seats also offers space for additional comfort and manoeuvrability

For those needing to carry a wheelchair or mobility scooter, the seven-seater offers plenty of boot space with the rear seats folded flat

Volkswagen Caddy Life

Whether new or used, these vehicles are the

perfect match for transporting disabled passengers who need additional space The van-style sliding door offers the necessary room to support disabled passengers getting in and out of the vehicle

The Caddy Life is a solid build with generous space inside, and Volkswagen’s reputation for reliability means you can trust it to get you where you need to If space is a priority, a van-style vehicle is often the best option The Caddy Life is fun to drive and comes with a well-built interior, making it feel not dissimilar to a VW Golf

Ford Galaxy

While the Galaxy doesn’t have sliding doors like the Berlingo and Caddy Life, its doors do open wide It also offers great space, both width and height-wise, to suit most passengers

The three middle seats can move individually, making this car easily customisable to your needs The car gives passengers the adjustable room they need to travel comfortably

DISABLED people are being left behind by the electric vehicle revolution

That’s the conclusion of a survey which found 75% of disabled people with experience of electric charging points say accessibility is at best “bad” and in many cases “very bad”.

More than 6,000 people took part in the Euan’s Guide Access Survey supported by Motability Operations

When asked how they would rate the accessibility of charging points, 46% of respondents said they were “very bad” and 29% said they were “bad”

Euan’s Guide founder Euan MacDonald said: “For disabled people, EVs should offer not just a greener future, but a more inclusive one.

“As a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) user, I’m worried about being able to get out and about in the future

“I have huge concerns about the transition to electric vehicles due to the lack of electric WAVs available.

“Sadly, the infrastructure to support disabled people having electric vehicles –from accessible charging points to WAVs –isn’t ready ”

Motability Operations chief executive, Andrew Miller, said: “Our customers are telling us the same things The Government and wider industry need to prioritise accessibility and inclusion from the start ” n www euansGuide com

MEDICAL NOTES

Sleepless army in search of a solution

HUNDREDS of thousands of internet searches are carried out every month in the search for a peaceful night’s sleep

Sleep apnea tops the list of sleep conditions most researched online, with close to 150,000 Google searches a month across the UK

Insomnia, with 112,215 Google searches each month and restless legs syndrome, 90,696 searches, were second and third in the list, a new study has revealed

Up to 10 million people across the UK are thought to be affected by sleep apnea. A medical condition, it causes sufferers to stop and start breathing during the night repeatedly,

Sleep apnea was the most searchedfor sleeping condition – with an average of 147,253 per month – in 72 out of the 73 UK cities analysed, including Manchester, Glasgow and London.

Some common symptoms of sleep apnea are loud snoring, periods during sleep where breathing stops (often reported by a family member or partner), and gasping for air during sleep

Insomnia, affecting an estimated one in three people, leads to difficulty in getting to or staying asleep. It appeared in the top five searches in every city, with the most coming from Leeds, Birmingham, and Liverpool

Restless legs syndrome causes an uncomfortable sensation that generates the uncontrollable urge to move the legs and can also make long flights or even a trip to the cinema a stressful situation.

RLS appeared in the top five most searched-for conditions across all 73 UK cities analysed

Sleep paralysis, often characterised by the terrifying inability to move upon falling asleep or waking, is ranked fourth in the list, with 66,576 searches It is thought to be caused by disrupting the transition between REM sleep and wakefulness

The rest of the top 10 is made up of narcolepsy, which causes people to fall asleep suddenly; jet lag; bruxism, the involuntary grinding or clenching of teeth; night terrors; hypersomnia, causing sufferers to feel excessively tired during the day or sleep longer than usual at night; and sleepwalking Ashley Hainsworth, from bedroom furnishing suppliers Bed Kingdom, who carried out the survey, said: “While stress is a significant factor, it’s essential to recognise that sleep disorders can have diverse origins, from alcohol consumption to the type of bed you sleep in ”

Heart device helps avoid hospital

ANEW wearable device could transform the treatment of heart failure patients and keep them out of hospital

The monitor is set to avoid patients having to endure many hospital admissions for invasive treatment

Heart failure sufferers need to be monitored for a build-up of fluid in the heart, which can be dangerous Current methods can involve lengthy stays in hospital at considerable cost to the NHS

But more than 60 people are trialling a new sensor that is applied to the skin of the

patient’s chest and only needs to be worn for a few minutes a day

The Sensinel Cardiopulmonary Management System, from Analog Devices Inc, communicates via Bluetooth with a mobile app providing patients and health care professionals with the information they need

Professor Pardeep Jhund, from the University of Glasgow, said: “We are very excited by the results of our study using the Sensinel CPM system in patients with heart failure

“As the device is designed to be used at

Dementia: Is Dementia: Is prevention prevention losing out to losing out to race to cure? race to cure?

ADEMENTIA charity is urging researchers to put as much of their money into prevention as into finding a cure

The call comes as the Alzheimer ’s Society says dementia will cost the UK almost £91billion a year by 2040

The Society’s chief executive, Kate Lee, said: “Dementia’s devastating impact is colossal – on the lives of those it affects, on the healthcare system and on the economy ”

But Patrick Holford, head of dementia prevention charity foodforthebrain org, insists those costs could be halved by helping people avoid the devastating condition

He said: “None of the major charities are taking prevention and the role of nutrition in brain health seriously ”

Mr Holford, who claims “over 80% of dementia could be prevented now if we took prevention seriously”, has written a book, Upgrade Your Brain, which argues you can “dementia-proof” your diet and lifestyle

He said: “Kate Lee of the Alzheimer ’s Society told me they spend nothing on prevention Alzheimer ’s Research UK told us they spend 4 3% of all research money on non-drug prevention

“Surely at least half of research funds should be spent on non-drug prevention? We do not need to wait for more research ”

The founder of foodforthebrain org added: “Dementia is diagnosed using a cognitive function test done in memory clinics But by the time a GP refers a patient it is often too late We offer exactly this cognitive function test for free, online at foodforthebrain org

There is no need to wait for a mythical blood test to ‘diagnose early’ ”

“This is like having a blood test to diagnose how unfit you are”, says Holford “Even if this existed, the critical question for those at risk is how to reduce it

“All that is needed is to take prevention seriously It is not difficult The Government has pledged £166m for dementia a year but no-one can tell us if any of this is actually to be spent on prevention research or putting prevention into action ”

Recent study

home, we hope that in the future we can give the device to patients and detect fluid accumulation early, thereby allowing us to alter their medication and prevent them from needing a costly hospital admission ”

Dr James Curtain, who is leading the study at the University of Glasgow’s school of cardiovascular and metabolic health, said: “The next step will be to conduct a large trial to determine if the device can detect fluid accumulation in patients who use it at home and provide sufficient warning so that we can reduce hospitalisations in those patients who use the device ”

one of the most easily actioned prevention steps – lowering homocysteine with B vitamins

foodforthebrain org says a recent study from the UK Biobank data, and conducted by two of the charity’s scientific advisors –leading dementia prevention professor JinTai Yu from Fudan University in China, and former deputy head of Oxford University’s school of medical science Professor David Smith – concluded that “up to 73% of dementia can be prevented” right now by focussing on prevention

The Biobank research, however, did not measure homocysteine and thus excluded

Mr Holford said: “The quickest wins are testing people, for free, for cognitive function, then identifying those at risk and why they are at risk

“Dementia is diagnosed with a cognitive function test and changes occur at least 30 years before a diagnosis This is doable right now with no cost at all ”

The charity says it has tested 425,000 people with 200 taking the free, validated test every day

This is followed by a cognition questionnaire that shows the person what is driving their future risk

The quick wins, says Mr Holford, are increasing omega-3 fats from seafood and supplements, and lowering high homocysteine with B vitamins

The higher a person’s omega-3 level the better their cognition and the more brain density they have, according to research from Loma Linda University in California

“Half of those over 65 have raised blood homocysteine which is easily lowered with a 10p a day B vitamin supplement,” he added

The other big driver, he says, is sugar and ultra-processed foods, with diabetes linked to dementia risk and brain shrinkage

BRAIN FOOD: Patrick Holford

Joy as toddler hears for the first time

MEDICAL NOTES

“The

results are really spectacular Gene therapy has been the future for many years and I’m so excited it is finally here ” – Professor Manohar Bance, ear surgeon at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

DEAF BREAKTHROUGH DEAF BREAKTHROUGH

ATODDLER born deaf can hear unaided for the first time after receiving groundbreaking gene therapy.

Opal Sandy is the first patient to be treated in a global gene therapy trial, said to be showing “mind-blowing” results

Opal, now 18 months old, was born profoundly deaf because of a rare genetic condition, auditory neuropathy, caused by the disruption of nerve impulses travelling from the inner ear to the brain

Within four weeks of having the gene therapy infusion to her right ear, Opal, from Oxfordshire, responded to sound, even with the cochlear implant in her left ear switched off

Clinicians noticed continuous improvement in Opal’s hearing in the weeks afterwards, and at 24 weeks confirmed close to normal hearing levels for even soft sounds, such as whispering, in her treated ear

Seven months on from the treatment, at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, Opal can respond to her parents’ voices and can

communicate words such as “Dada” and “bye-bye”

Auditory neuropathy can be due to a variation in a single gene, known as the OTOF gene Around 20,000 people across the UK, Germany, France, Spain and Italy are deaf due to a mutation in the OTOF gene

The CHORD trial, which started in May 2023, aims to show whether gene therapy can provide hearing for children born with auditory neuropathy

Delay in speech

Children with a variation in the OTOF gene often pass the newborn screening, as the hair cells are working, but they are not talking to the nerve It means this hearing loss is not commonly detected until children are aged two or three – when a delay in speech is likely to be noticed

Ear surgeon Professor Manohar Bance, who is leading the Cambridge trial, said: “We have a short time frame to intervene because of the rapid pace of brain development at this age Delays in the

diagnosis can also cause confusion for families as the many reasons for delayed speech and late intervention can impact a children’s development ”

“More than 60 years after the cochlear implant was first invented – the standard of care treatment for patients with OTOFrelated hearing loss – this trial shows gene therapy could provide a future alternative

“It marks a new era in the treatment for deafness It also supports the development of other gene therapies that may prove to make a difference in other genetic-related hearing conditions, many of which are more common than auditory neuropathy ”

Consultant paediatrician Dr Richard Brown, who is also working on the CHORD trial, added: “It is likely that in the long run, such treatments require less follow-up so may prove to be an attractive option, including within the developing world

“Follow-up appointments have shown effective results so far with no adverse reactions and it is exciting to see the results to date ”

N-West whooping

cough warning

MEDICAL experts are urging parents across the North West to protect their children against whooping cough

The call comes as cases are continuing to rise across the region and the rest of the country

Young infants are at highest risk of severe complications and death from whooping cough, a highly contagious respiratory infection

A number of factors have caused a rise in cases in many countries since December 2023: the disease is cyclical and a peak year is due, while the impact of the pandemic means there is reduced immunity in the population

Uptake of vaccinations that protect against whooping cough have also fallen in recent years – in both the programme for pregnant women and the infant programme

Hayley Mercer, from the UK Health Security Agency North West, said: “Vaccination remains the best defence against whooping cough It is vital that during pregnancy, you are vaccinated before your baby is born

“This will protect your newborn baby from becoming unwell and needing hospital care ”

We were fitter during the Covid pandemic

WE Brits have an unhealthier lifestyle now than at the peak of Covid, an expert claims.

Dr Avinash Hari Narayanan says adults in the UK spent an average 19.1 minutes a day on exercise, sports and wellbeing activities in March this year. That compares to 29.6 minutes in 2021, at the height of the pandemic.

The irony of Brits being less fit now than during a massive global health crisis is not lost on Dr Narayanan, clinical lead at the London Medical Laboratory.

He said: “Contrary to the general assumption that we all gained weight and let ourselves go during the pandemic, actually it may have been a golden period for our health.

“Compared to the pandemic period, our health and wellbeing is also affected by other ways we now spend our days. Back in March 2021, an average 28.8 minutes a day was spent doing DIY and working in the garden, activities that are likely to improve our fitness and health. This March, that fell to an average 11.5 minutes a day.

“Clearly, we all need to look again at how we spent our time during the pandemic and build the best of those routines back into our lives ”

SUCCESS STORY: Opal with parents Jo and James

GROWING up I was always the underdog I’ve been bullied, abused, discriminated against and written off by the so-called “professionals”

Seven years ago, I became very ill after having a severe seizure and have needed CPR on at least six separate occasions

Unfortunately, it became so frequent that my dad, Denis, and my younger sister, Abbie, had to devise a life-saving regime: My sister would pull out the CPR plug to deflate my bed and call 999 whilst my dad performed CPR –perfectly every time My mum, Lesley, is bedbound and would be watching on a baby monitor

Can you imagine how she felt seeing me in such a dire way and not be able to do anything other than watch on feeling helpless? She would be desperately calling my name as my dad pushed on my chest to keep me alive

I lost the ability to walk, speak, write and was confined to a wheelchair I had to

‘Abused, written off, then I found my inner author Bipolar Heston plea to bosses

relearn everything, even what most would consider the most basic things My loving family wore name badges as I couldn’t recognise them; I can never thank them enough for all the love and support they gave and continue to give

I had lost who I was, my identity I felt useless and lost All I had was my laptop and my imagination so I started to type and discovered my inner author

I now have two novels published – When Worlds Collide and Wild Poison – and a poetry book, World Through Autistic Eyes

I was diagnosed with autism when I was 15 People often say, “You’re not autistic, the correct term is you have autism”, but to me, I am autistic because it’s part of who I am; a lot of my quirks and personality is heavily influenced by my autism

When I got the diagnosis I felt relieved yet frustrated at the same time I was relieved that there’s a reason why I’m “different” but frustrated that it took so many years for me to get the diagnosis

KATIE, an author and poet, lives with epilepsy, autism, functional neurological disorder, learning disabilities, joint hypermobility syndrome, depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, cerebral palsy, and a rare platelet function disorder

I feel like autism can hold me back in some ways I can’t work so I can’t earn to help my family as they have helped me, and I feel like I can’t be a proper big sister to my younger sister

Also, I can’t go out without a carer or family member and socialise on my own as having autism often makes this difficult, and I feel lonely even when I’m surrounded by people

My home can feel like Lime Street Station as there are always carers around, but no matter how busy home can be, I still feel alone

I think autistic people see the world in a different way My autism, along with my other conditions, has given me some form of a creative edge/advantage

I hope my story will help others who feel alone You aren’t your “struggles” or “disadvantages”: you are who you want to be

Our family motto is Never Back Down, Never Give Up Remember, anything is possible if you put your mind to it

CELEBRITY TV chef Heston

Blumenthal is challenging employers to give more support to people with bipolar disorder or a neurodiversity.

Heston, who recently received his own bipolar diagnosis – a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings –said: “Businesses are missing out on skilled and passionate employees simply because they don’t understand the condition or have proper support in place

Lifehouse Liverpool, 0151 709 0121

“Although there are tough days, I would attribute some of my most creative moments to bipolar Creativity and perfectionism are two common traits for those who live with the condition ”

Heston has teamed up with charity Bipolar UK in its fight to get people with the condition a better deal

He added: “If businesses around the country better understood bipolar and neurodiverse conditions like ADHD, then many more like me could reach their potential adding huge amounts of value to companies across a wide variety of sectors ” Bipolar UK’s latest survey of more than 1,000 people with the condition found poor

workplace culture limits work opportunities for anyone living with bipolar, with almost three quarters of respondents not applying for a particular job because of their bipolar; and almost half not applying for a promotion for the same reason

The research also revealed 24% have not told their employer about their diagnosis; and 24% of those who had disclosed it, regretted their decision

Simon Kitchen, chief executive of Bipolar UK, said: “While it is illegal to discriminate against an employee with any disability, including a mental health condition, the survey reveals an alarming number of situations where discrimination has taken place postdisclosure based solely on a lack of understanding about bipolar

“It is vitally important that employers and HR teams recognise and address these barriers effectively ”

There are over a million people in the UK living with bipolar That’s one in every 50 people n Bipolar UK runs workplace courses for business to improve understanding about the condition and how to support colleagues living with bipolar They also have a free 20-minute e-learning course

‘NO LEGS . . .

AS if being the first double above-knee amputee to conquer the world’s highest mountain was not enough

Multi record-breaking UK climber Hari Budha Magar ’s latest challenge is one most of us would consider crazy –scaling the highest peak in all seven continents

But former Gurkha Hari is determined to take his “no legs, no limits” mantra around the world

He said; “Limitations are put on those with a disability all the time Yet most of the time a disability is not life-limiting, it shouldn’t stop us from chasing our dreams It’s all about adaptation

“Through my challenges, I want to raise awareness of disability and positively change the way people with disabilities are perceived – and how they perceive themselves Having done

Records tumble Hari’s amazing seven peak feat

this in Nepal, and in the UK where I live, I now want to take this lifechanging message around the world

“The best way to do that is to take my story to them To climb the seven highest summits on the seven continents ”

His latest challenge began successfully during the summer when he scaled North America’s highest peak, Denali, in Alaska, in a three-week expedition

Having also climbed Mont Blanc in the Alps, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, and Everest in the Himalayas – that leaves Puncak Jaya in Oceania, Aconcagua in South America and finally Mt Vinson in

Antarctica to complete the incredible feat During his climb, he will be raising funds for the Gurkha Welfare Trust, On Course Foundation, Pilgrim Bandits, BLESMA and Team Forces Foundation

Originally from Nepal and now living in Canterbury, Hari served for 15 years in the British Army’s Gurkha regiment, before losing both of his legs to an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan in 2010

To complete his challenges, Hari needs to raise additional sponsorship and funding He has an appeal at crowdfunder co uk/p/hbm7summits

l Hari will be raising funds for the Gurkha Welfare Trust, On Course Foundation, Pilgrim Bandits, BLESMA and Team Forces Foundation, who have been instrumental in helping UK veterans

IT WAS in May last year that Hari realised his dream of becoming the first double above-knee amputee to stand atop Everest

His final summit via the Balcony, South Summit and the famous Hillary Step, took Hari’s team over 25 hours (it usually takes 12-16 hours for an average climber) in gruelling weather

Hari has also set numerous world records on other mountains including Ben Nevis, Mont Blanc, Kilimanjaro, Mount Toubkal, Chulu Far East and Mera Peak

He has kayaked around the Isle of Wight, completed multiple skydives, paraglided, bungee jumped and competed internationally as a para-skier and golfer; as well as also becoming the first person to reach Everest base camp with prosthetic legs (Genium X3s) in 2022

hire d ple ology t for mply yone ,000 ,000 d out! TALLY TALLY UDED UDED

NO LIMITS’

NO legs, no limits are also the words Kanya Sesser lives by

It’s a motto the skating star continues to prove as she shatters stereotypes – one gravity-defying trick at a time

And the 31-year-old professional skater has just gained another incredible achievement – gaining a place in the Guinness World Records 2025 book for the longest handstand on a skateboard

After holding the position for an astonishing 19 65 seconds, Kanya described it as “one of the most lifechanging moments in my career

“Making history for others to see is incredible, and I hope to inspire future generations ”

Born without legs, Kanya faced

Fearless Kanya is skate great

significant challenges early in life She was found abandoned at the side of the road as an infant in Thailand, and later adopted by a US couple, growing up in Portland, Oregon, There she overcame numerous challenges, including the language barrier and multiple surgeries Kanya discovered her passion for skateboarding during high school and quickly mastered the sport, becoming a fixture at her local skatepark Her talent and dedication led her to

MAKING HISTORY:

Kanya set new world record for headstand on a skateboard

compete in prestigious events like the X Games and Dew Tour, where she finished second in women’s street adaptive skateboarding in 2022

In addition to her record-breaking handstand, Kanya excels in complex tricks such as the 50/50 grind and the 5-0 grind, showcasing her extraordinary skill and fearless approach Her rigorous training routine includes daily sessions and strength training

Beyond her athletic prowess, Kanya is a powerful advocate for people with disabilities, using her platform to inspire and empower others

“No one’s grass is greener; everyone has different lawns and gardens,” she says

SHOPMOBILIT Y

n ALTRINCHAM

Tel 0161 929 1714

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MIDLANDS

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n WALSALL

Audio books free for a year

MORE than 10,000 audiobooks, newspapers and magazines are available to anyone who finds that their illness, mental health condition, or disability affects their ability to read or hold a book

The Listening Library’s wide selection of books for all ages ranges from the classics like Jane Austen and Charles Dickens, to murder mysteries, celebrity autobiographies and many more!

There’s also a friendly support service

and a virtual book club on Facebook where you can chat to fellow book lovers about your latest listens

Membership costs £20 a year But there’s good news for anyone living here on Merseyside, Cheshire and Lancashire – it’s FREE membership for a year

n www.listening-books.org.uk

n Email: info@listening-books.org.uk

n Tel. 020 7407 9417.

30 new M-way loos

THIRTY Changing Places toilets have now been installed at Moto motorway services –with another five to be completed this year

Part funded by the Department for Transport, Changing Places toilets are larger than standard accessible toilets and have a range of features including adjustable changing bench, ceilingmounted hoist system, height-adjustable washbasin, non-slip flooring, privacy screens and support rails n www motorwayservices uk/Changing Places

Jo’s fired up

COMEDIAN Jo Brand is teaming up with a cartoon dragon to address the lack of mental health support for children

Jo and other stars, including Penelope Wilton, are helping out with Embers the Dragon – a project bringing everyday emotional support to youngsters and their families

The Embers team – a mix of clinicians, educators and storytellers – has developed an app that uses a combination of entertainment and education to help parents better understand and support their child’s emotional wellbeing

Aimed at children aged three to seven, it includes an animated series narrated by TV star Jo and a host of celebrities as characters, games and activities for children, as well as an accompanying course and standalone resources for parents, carers, and educators

STORY TIME: Jo narrates cartoon series

Emma Taylor, a mental health NHS nurse specialist and co-founder of Embers, said: “Understanding and supporting children’s emotional development can be a complex and challenging task for parents and caregivers

“Programmes like Embers the Dragon has the potential to

NEED advice finding the right equipment to help you live more independently?

If so, give the friendly people at Adapt & Live a call

The service is the new name for the helpline run by the Disabled Living charity, which has been operating in Manchester for 125 years.

The team also provides occupational therapy assessments, access audits and accredited training programmes. n Adapt & Live Helpline: 0161 214 4590

Speak up

improve child behaviour, confidence, and academic potential and in turn reduce the need for clinical mental health interventions among young children ”

The app is the subject of a clinical trial being run by the School of Applied Sciences at London South Bank University

IT’S not too late for young disabled people, aged 15-24, to take part in research about their transport experiences

The Motability Foundation will publish the results in October www takepartinresearch co uk/mobilityfoundation-invites-partresearch

Opening hours: 9 30am-1 30pm, Tues and Thurs

personalbudgets@ disabilityrightsuk org

n Disabled Students Helpline Tel 0330 995 0414

Opening hours: 11am-1pm on Tues and Thurs

students@disabilityrightsuk org

n Scope’s Disabilty Information and Advice Line (DIAL) Freephone 0808 800 3333

Owen joins fight for blind voting rights

LIVERPOOL football

legend Michael Owen is among the sporting stars calling on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to ensure blind people can finally cast their vote in secret

Sight loss charity RNIB has written an open letter to the PM – signed by Owen and other celebrity supporters –demanding blind and partially

sighted people are able to vote independently and in private Owen’s son James has the degenerative eye condition Stargardt disease He said:

“James turned 18 this year and was eligible to vote in the General Election

“Yet the only way he could do this was by having someone with him in the voting booth to read out the names on the polling slip This is unacceptable

WALK THEWALK THE WALK WALK ON TALKON TALK

NOT GOOD ENOUGH:

Mikey campaigns for more speech therapy

ACAMPAIGNER with a speech condition is calling on the new Government to do what the old one failed to do – address the lack of speech and language therapy.

Mikey Akers, 23, set up the Facebook page, Mikey’s Wish – Verbal Dyspraxia Awareness, to highlight the condition NHS figures show in England alone in January 73,635 children and young people were waiting for SLT support

The number of children waiting more than 18 weeks to start therapy has also risen, with more than 25,000 currently stuck on the list Verbal dyspraxia is a speech

VISUAL PROBLEMS

n ACCRINGTON Tel 01254 233332

n BARROW Tel 01229 820698

n BIRMINGHAM Action for Blind Tel 0121 665 4200

n BLACKBURN Tel 0125 554143

n BLACKPOOL: N-Vision

Tel 01253 362696

n BURY Tel 0161 763 7014

n BURNLEY Tel 01282 438507

and unnecessary in a world where technologies exist to allow people with sight loss to vote in secret ”

Anna Tylor, RNIB’s chair of trustees said: “Blind and partially sighted people often have to make their choices out loud, robbing them of their secret vote, leading to discomfort and uncertainty about whether their vote was cast as intended ”

disorder that makes it hard to pronounce words correctly and consistently

Mikey appeared on Chris Kamara’s ITV documentary, Lost for Words, following the TV presenter and football pundit’s diagnosis of apraxia of speech diagnosis

Huge impact

Now an Expert by Experience at Birmingham City University, Mikey was diagnosed with verbal dyspraxia aged two He said: “I was under speech and language services for 13 years, finally being discharged at 15 when my speech was, ‘as good as it’s going to get’ I’m the first to admit that my speech is still far from perfect!

Not being able to speak has a huge impact on daily life It affects our time in school, it’s harder to get involved with classroom discussion and can make job interviews even more daunting

“Making friends is hard too Even with a strong support network, the loneliness you feel from not being able to talk is so hard It affects your confidence and self-esteem

“Then there are those lucky enough to be seen by a speech and language therapist, have a six session block, and then are back on the bottom of the waiting list waiting for their next block of sessions This is not good enough!”

HELP AT THE END OF A PHONE

n CARLISLE: Action for Blind People Tel 01228 595121

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n LIVERPOOL: Bradbury Fields Tel 0151 221 0888: Action for Bind Tel 0151 298 3222

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n SIGHTLINE (North West)

Tel 0800 587 2252

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HEARING ISSUES

n BIRMINGHAM Institute for Deaf Tel 0121 246 6101

n CHESHIRE Deaf Society Tel 01606 47831

n CUMBRIA Deaf Society Tel 01228 606434

n LANCASHIRE (EAST) Deaf Society Tel 01282 839180

n MANCHESTER Deaf

Centre Tel 0161 273 3415

Genie Networks Tel 0161 941 4549 Text 18001 0161 941 4549

n MERSEYSIDE Society for Deaf Tel 0151 228 0888

n SOUTHPORT Centre for the Deaf Tel 01704 537001

n ST HELENS: Deafness Resource Centre Tel 01744 23887

n WOLVERHAMPTON Centre for Deaf Tel 01902

705959 / 486923

n BIRMINGHAM Tel 0121 675 8000 n SOLIHULL Tel 0121 788 1143 n WALSALL Tel 01922 610 810

WALES n ANGLESEY Tel 01248 722828 n BANGOR Tel 01248 370 797

n CONWY Tel 01492 533714

n DENBIGHSHIRE: NEWCIS Tel: 0845 603 3187

nDOLGELLAU Tel 01341 421167

n FLINTSHIRE: NEWCIS, Tel: 01352 751436

n WREXHAM CARERS SERVICE

STRIKING OUT: Michael Owen

books books

‘A

heart and mind behind disability’

Juggling the Issues: Living with Asperger ’s Syndrome by Matthew Kenslow, River Birch Press, Amazon

MATTHEW Kenslow was six when he was diagnosed with Asperger ’s syndrome, which today we refer to as autism spectrum disorder

Now in his late 20s, he aims to empower people living with disabilities or other challenges

The way his mind works is different, he says, and he has struggled with social and conversational skills, and poor eye contact

But he feels he has been blessed with the gifts to juggle, play piano and recall facts about US presidents, geography, science and mathematics

“My main message is that I have not given up on my goals If I can do that, certainly everybody else can too

“Behind the disability we have a heart and a mind; we have a calling and a purpose ”

Kenslow also enjoys a soaring social media following, amassing 1m followers on Instagram, nearly 70,000 followers on TikTok and over 65,000 YouTube subscribers

The perfect plan

The EHCP Handbook: How to Make an Effective Education Health and Care Plan: A Guide for Parents and Carers Amazon, £24 95

MORE than half a million children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities in England are provided with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

However, if not written properly or with careful attention to the specific needs of the individual, an EHCP can be ineffective or misleading

Practical solutions and strategies to avoid common pitfalls and misleading wording help to make make this a great guide for parents and carers making an EHCP

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 20)

Skeletons will be brought out of the closet on the 18th when the Lunar Eclipse pushes people to be more honest and open than ever before You will feel relieved that there will be no more pretending and you have a chance now to be yourself

October: Muddles and mix-ups abound thanks to the Full Moon on the 17th A business venture will benefit from congenial teamwork on the 22nd New joint arrangements on the 28th are destined to take you places

November: Positive thinking will lead you to make some quick decisions on the 9th The Full Moon on the 15th will bring some confusing events You might wonder whether someone has got it in for you Keep your suspicions to yourself

TAURUS (Apr 21-May 21)

New leisure pursuits will be good for your health on the 16th, helping you relax and forget about responsibilities for a while The Lunar Eclipse on the 18th charges a group project with excitement and passion

October: You work hard for your money and it will feel good to purchase something that will bring you pure pleasure on the 8th The Full Moon on the 17th will call for peace and privacy when you will experience a strong desire to be alone in order to recharge your batteries

November: A celebration will be in order on the 15th when the Full Moon brings recognition you richly deserve for dedicated efforts of the past

GEMINI (May 22-June 21)

Group activities on the 16th will be a great way to form stronger bonds with relatives, friends and neighbours Get through some tricky moments under the Lunar Eclipse on the 18th and you will come out of this at your best

October: If you’ve been confined to the same place for too long, a change of scenery is what you need to get those creative juices flowing

The Full Moon on the 17th adds to the tension in relationships It’s hard to be with friends who show no gratitude for what you do for them

November: Someone will trust you with their darkest secrets on the 15th The Full Moon brings revelations that are likely to change your opinion of a friend, relative or personal situation

CANCER (June 22-July 23)

Anything connected with travel and education should go well on the 18th when a Lunar Eclipse urges you to get plenty of intellectual stimulation People will admire your willingness to listen and take in new information

October: Make a list of your values on the 12th

How many of these originate from your childhood? If you realise your thoughts are influenced by beliefs your parents promoted, it is time to cut the umbilical cord

November: You could do with an extra dose of kindness and compassion on the 15th when the Full Moon heightens tempers Someone will fling some harsh criticism your way They will apologise for their behaviour on the 18th

LEO (July 24-Aug 23)

The Lunar Eclipse on the 18th will see you severing financial links with the past with the intention of making your future more secure A talented friend will introduce you to people who share your passion, on the 30th

October: A series of interesting day trips will add excitement to your life The Full Moon on the 17th brings secrets to the surface This will cause tension in several relationships

Someone who has been deceived will break off certain ties; you will entirely understand

November: People who have become heavily

RUSSELL GRANT

What‘s in store for you this autumn

dependent on your help will become resentful on the 15th when you aren’t around The Full Moon suggests a need for you to start putting your own needs first This will send out a clear message that you are no longer at their beck and call

VIRGO (Aug 24-Sept 23)

The Lunar Eclipse on the 18th will inject a new kind of enthusiasm into a joint effort when you and a partner will both agree that you want the same thing Together, you will find a way to achieve this Positive change will occur on the 24th

October: A chance to make some extra money will fall into your lap on the 2nd as the Solar Eclipse brings an unexpected opportunity for you to boost your income The Full Moon on the 17th will bring good news about a legal matter

November: A desire for something different will prompt you to take a journey You will be disappointed by a colleague’s actions on the 15th New experiences shared with someone special on the 27th will make you realise how insignificant a past romance is to you now

LIBRA (Sept 24-Oct 23)

Fond memories of the way things used to be will make you nostalgic on the 16th It will feel great to revisit happier times but there are good October: You will appear calm and controlled on the 13th while having to deal with some difficult circumstances Your calm composure means you are able to maintain a respectful tone when everyone is under a lot of pressure

A partner has been trying to cover up mistakes of the past

November: It isn’t a good idea to skip over legal and financial matters on the 15th when the Full Moon suggests you really can’t take these too lightly

SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 22)

The Lunar Eclipse on the 18th will bring an acknowledgement that it is time to reduce responsibilities and make more space in your

life for new interests

Expect even more invitations to come your way to community events, parties and professional gatherings

October: On the 2nd you will be released from obligations that were starting to hold you back The Solar Eclipse encourages you to push forward with personal plans of a long-term nature An unexpected visitor on the 30th will have news that speaks of changes to come

November: A perceptive friend will lift the lid on what has been going on behind some strange incidents on the 9th

SAGITTARIUS

(Nov 23-Dec 21)

The Lunar Eclipse on the 18th urges you to resolve misunderstandings that have been causing problems in the family

October: Your positive energy and enthusiasm to get involved in group activities makes you popular within your community Don’t be surprised if the Solar Eclipse on the 2nd brings several invitations for you to take part in social events and outings The Full Moon on the 17th will bring some interesting opportunities to exercise your creativity

November: Do something nice for yourself on the 15th The Full Moon will release guilt that makes you want to deprive yourself of creature comforts

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 20)

You’re starting to recognise the barriers that are preventing you from achieving your aims and the Lunar Eclipse on the 18th will give you the courage to take action to remove these Your chance to shine arrives on the 30th

October: Don’t be surprised if your priorities start to change The Solar Eclipse will make it easier for you to decide on what you really want over the months ahead and to go for it New arrangements will bring a different kind of challenge for you

November: The Full Moon on the 15th will be encouraging you to appreciate the finer things in life For a change, don’t feel bad about making your personal comforts a priority

AQUARIUS (Jan 21-Feb19)

Don’t be surprised if you are asked to mentor someone on the 19th Your ability to share your knowledge makes you an effective teacher If there are debts to be settled, the Lunar Eclipse on the 18th makes this a fine time to get your financial house in order

October: You long for something new and different and the Solar Eclipse on the 2nd will steer you in new directions Be careful about how much you reveal of your future plans A hidden rival will try to block your path

November: On the 3rd, be prepared to be more bold than usual if you are to win the support of sceptics Be honest about your intentions to get your agenda met Keep your wits about you on the 15th

PISCES (Feb 20-Mar 20)

The Lunar Eclipse on the 18th highlights an obligation that is starting to make you feel restricted or claustrophobic You may need to think long and hard about whether or not you want to continue with some commitments

October: Making a start on a home improvement project will give you a strong sense of satisfaction Expect to have to fill in a lot of paperwork on the 8th This will be extremely tedious but it is necessary and there will be deadlines to applications

November: The 15th less attention you draw to your plans and activities, the better The Full Moon warns that it would be best not to broadcast your intentions until they are firmly put in action

Sep 14: Pauline Daniels: Get Me Before The Crematorium

Does Theatr Clwyd, Mold

Sep 14: Carol Vorderman Live and Outspoken! Storyhouse, Chester

Sep 14: Danny Beard: Straight Expectations

Playhouse, Liverpool

Sep 14: Anthony John Clarke and Richard Digance Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Sep 14: Northern Soul Pavilion, Rhyl

Sep 14: BBC Radio 2 Piano Room

Live: Katie Melua Opera House, Manchester

Sep 14: Tim Peake: Astronauts –The Quest to Explore Space Empire, Liverpool

Sep 14: The Christians The Brindley, Runcorn

Sep 15: Lipstick on Your Collar

The Brindley, Runcorn

Sep 15: Bowie Experience Lyceum, Crewe

Sep 15: Tim Peake: Astronauts

The Quest to Explore Space The Lowry, Salford

Sep 15: Danny Beard: Straight Expectations The Lowry, Salford

Sep 15: The Girls Bathroom

Planet Tour Empire, Liverpool

Sep 17-19: Blackpool – What a Sh*t Place to Live Octagon, Bolton

Dark comedy telling the tale of Billy, a gay, autistic, out-of-work actor, who has a drink and drug problem A heart-warming story that will make you laugh and cry

Sep 17-21: Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby Empire, Liverpool Stunning performances from Rambert’s dancers and an iconic soundtrack from a live on-stage band

Sep 17-21: Heathers The Musical Storyhouse, Chester Audio described/signed, Sep 18

Sep 17: The James Brown Story Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Sep 17: The Ballad of Mulan Theatr Clwyd, Mold The real Chinese heroine that inspired Disney’s animation

BOX OFFICE CONTACTS

BLACKPOOL

Grand Theatre: 01253 290190

BOLTON

Octagon: 01204 520661

CHESTER

Storyhouse: 01244 409 113

CREWE

Lyceum: 01270 368 242

LIVERPOOL

Empire: 08444 999 999

Everyman & Playhouse: 0151 709 4776

Philharmonic Hall: 0151 709 3789

Royal Court: 0870 787 1866

Unity 0151 709 4988

LLANDUDNO

Venue Cymru: 01492 872000

MOLD:

Theatr Clwyd: 0845 3303565

MANCHESTER

Opera House: 0870 401 9000

Palace: 0870 401 3000

SALFORD

The Lowry: 0843 208 6000

Access line: 0333 320 2838

NEW BRIGHTON

Floral Pavilion: 0151 666 0000

RHYL:

Pavilion: 01745 330 000

RUNCORN

The Brindley: 0151 907 8360

ST HELENS:

Theatre Royal: 01744 756000

STOKE:

Regent Theatre: 0844 871 7627

BANDING TOGETHER: Brassed Off, until Sep 28, Octagon, Bolton

AN ACTION-PACKED

Sep 17-21: Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical The Brindley, Runcorn

Sep 18-28: War Horse The Lowry, Salford Sep 18: I Like It! The Ultimate Tribute to the 60s The Brindley, Runcorn

Sep 18: An Evening with Guy Chambers Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool The man behind the songs of Robbie Williams, Tina Turner and more

Sep 18: ELO Again Theatre Royal, St Helens

Sep 19: Illegal Eagles Theatre Royal, St Helens

Sep 19: Legend: The Music of Bob Marley Lyceum, Crewe

Sep 19: That’ll Be The Day Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Sep 20: The Carpenters Story Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Sep 20: The Illegal Eagles Lyceum, Crewe

Sep 20: Go Your Own Way – The Legacy of Fleetwood Mac. Theatre Royal, St Helens Tribute show

Sep 21-Oct 12: The eutenant of Inishmore Everyman, Liverpool Socking, savage and sadistically funny play Padraic is mad,

everyone knows that And if, just maybe, you’d killed his beloved pet, the one thing you wouldn’t want is for him to turn up at your door

Captioned, Sep 25; audio described, Oct 3; signed, Oct 10

Sep 21: Herman’s Hermits 60th Anniversary Tour Theatre Royal, St Helens

Sep 21: The Illegal Eagles Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Sep 21: An Evening with Graham Norton Lyceum, Crewe

Sep 22: Shaun Ryder: Happy Mondays & Fridays & Saturdays & Sundays Theatre Royal, St Helens

Sep 22: Luther Live Empire, Liverpool A must of for Luther Vandross fans

Sep 22: Marc Almond I’m Not Anyone Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Sep 23-24: The Illegal Eagles The Brindley, Runcorn

Sep 24-28: 101 Dalmatians. Empire, Liverpool Kym Marsh takes the lead

Sep 24-28: King Arthur The Lowry, Salford

Sep 25-28: Wonder Boy Playhouse, Liverpool heart-warming and inspiring story about the power of communication Captioned, Sep 25, 26 and 28; audio described, Sep 26; signed Sep 27; relaxed, Sep 28

Sep 25-28: An Inspector Calls Regent Theatre, Stoke

Sep 25: Gemma Hayes Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool The Irish songwriter with a taste of her new album, Blind Faith

Sep 25: Rob Lamberti presents Perfectly George Lyceum, Crewe Tribute show

Sep 25: Bowie Experience Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Sep 26: The Mersey Beatles The Brindley, Runcorn

Sep 26: Aled Jones: Full Circle Storyhouse, Chester

Sep 27-Oct 26: Girls Don’t Play Guitar Royal Court Liverpool The hit musical is back In Liverpool in 1963 the music world was exploding Standing tall amongst all of the boys was the world’s first all-girl rock ’n’ roll group

This is the untold true story of The Liverbirds!

Sep 27: The 80s Show Pavilion, Rhyl

Sep 27: Thank ABBA For The Music Theatre Royal, St Helens

Sep 28: The Haunting of Blaine Manor. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Sep 28: Monster Disco Unity, Liverpool Family fun event especially for children with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia and dyscalculia Hosted by Liverpool’s Brain Charity as part of the Neurodiversity Festival

Sep 28: The Magic of The Bee Gees Pavilion, Rhyl

Sep 28: George Hinchcliffe’s Ukulele

Orchestra of Great Britain Lyceum, Crewe

Sep 29: Superslam Wrestling Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Sep 29: Fairground Attraction Opera House, Manchester The 80s band are back on tour

Sep 29: The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Sep 30–Oct 5: Sister Act Empire, Liverpool Musical Must-see show which raises the spirits and warms the soul time after time

Sep 30-Oct 1: KIN by Christine Mackie. Theatr Clwyd, Mold Dark comedy about family and relationships Signed, Oct 1

Sep 30: Sarah Keyworth: My Eyes Are Up Here The Lowry, Salford

Oct 2-5: Legally Blonde The Mucical. Lyceum, Crewe

Oct 2: An Audience with Mick Miller Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Oct 2: Myra DuBois: Be Well Playhouse, Liverpool

Oct 3: Magic of Motown Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Oct 3: The Tiger Lillies: Come on Down Playhouse, Liverpool

Oct 3-Nov 2: Burlesque The Musical. Opera House, Manchester New musical Signed, Oct 16; audio described, Oct 23; captioned, Oct 30

Oct 3-6: The Gruffalo Octagon, Bolton

ANDY PARSONS: Baffingly Optimistic, Sep 20, Playhouse, Liverpool; Oct 4, The Lowry, Salford

NISH KUMAR: Nish Don’t Kill Me, Oct 4, Playhouse, Liverpool; Oct 17, The Lowry

The escape artists

Secrets from the chateau

Dick and Angel: Forever Home, Oct 12, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Oct 13, Regent Theatre, Stoke

NEW HEIGHTS: An Evening Without Kate Bush, Oct 14, Octagon, Bolton

FAB FOUR: Il Divo, Oct 28, Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

AUTUMN IN STORE

Oct 3: Swan Lake The Brindley, Runcorn

Oct 4: Jay Osmond Live Pavilion, Rhyl

Oct 4: The Real Thing Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Oct 4: Nish Kumar: Nish Don’t Kill My Vibe. Playhouse, Liverpool

Oct 5: 10CC In Concert Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Oct 5-7: Paul Carrack: How Long 50th Anniversary Tour Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Oct 5: Looking For Me Friend: The Music of Victoria Wood Theatr Clwyd, Mold

Oct 5: Deaths at Sea Storyhouse, Chester A small theatre company are performing their new play, but everything goes wrong!

Oct 5: The Shires – The Two of Us Tour Floral Pavilion New Brighton

Oct 6: The Elvis Tribute Artists World Tour Empire, Liverpool

Oct 8-19: Grease. Palace Theatre, Manchester

Oct 8-20: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Empire, Liverpool Musical

Oct 8-12: Birdsong Playhouse, Liverpool

Sebastian Faulks’s epic story about one man’s journey through an all-consuming love affair and into the horror of the First World War

Oct 9: Steve Hackett: Genesis Greats

Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Oct 9: Will Young Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Oct 9: QUEENZ – Drag me to the Disco Lyceum, Crewe

Oct 10: Will Young Lyceum, Crewe

Oct 10: Clinton Baptiste: Roller Ghoster! Pavilion, Rhyl

Oct 10: Ben Elton – Athentic

Stupidity The Lowry, Salford

Oct 10: Nik Kershaw The 1984 Tour Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Oct 10: WNO: Rigoletto (Autumn) Verdi: Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Oct 11-12: A Small Enclosed Room with Alfie

Murphy The Lowry, Salford

Oct 11: WNO: Opera Favourites at the Movies (Autumn) Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Oct 11-12: A Small Enclosed Room with Alfie

Murphy The Lowry, Salford

Oct 11: Bye Bye Baby The Brindley, Runcorn

Tribute to Franki Calli & The Four Seasons

Oct 11: Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells

Storyhouse, Chester

Oct 11: Made in Tennessee Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Oct 12: WNO: Suor Angelica/Gianni Schicchi (Autumn): Puccini Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Oct 12: Michael starring Ben Pavilion, Rhyl

Oct 12: Dick and Angel: Forever Home

Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool The stars of the TV show Escape to the Chateau

Oct 13: Will Young Storyhouse, Chester

Oct 13: Elkie Brooks. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Oct 13: There Was an Old Ladty who Swalled a Fly Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Oct 14: Justin Hayward’s Blue World Tour Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Oct 14: Gilbert O’Sullivan Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Oct 15-19: Play On! Playhouse, Liverpool Set in the jazz scene of New York's Cotton Club

Stylish retelling of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night

Oct 15: Swan Lake Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Oct 16-19: Pali and Jay’s Ultimate Asian

Wedding DJ Roadshow Octagon Bolton

Oct 16: Jimmy Carr: Laughs Funny Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Oct 16: Black is the Colour of My Voice. Lyceum, Crewe

Oct 16: Never: An Evening with Rick Astley Philharmonic Hall, Liverpoool

Oct 17: The Drifters Lyceum, Crewe

Oct 17: Lived Fiction. The Lowry, Salford Groundbreaking production in which access for deaf, disabled and neurodivergent audiences

has been intricately intertwined throughout Audio described

Oct 17: Nish Kumar: Nish, Don’t Kill My Vibe. The Lowry, Salford

Oct 17: Greatest Hits of Motown Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Oct 18: The Magic of The Bee Gees Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Oct 18: Jason Manford: A Manford for All Seasons (Work in Progress) Lyceum, Crewe

Oct 18: Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells Live in Cioncert Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Oct 18: Swan Lake (Imperial Classic Ballet) Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Oct 19: Nutcracker (Imperial Classic Ballet) Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Oct 19: Mallory and the Mountain Storyhouse, Chester New musical

Oct 19: Leo Sayer Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Oct 19: Toxic Octagon, Bolton Serious play tackling men’s mental health Two shows –afternoon and evening

Oct 19: Showaddywaddy Pavilion, Rhyl

Oct 20: Buddy Holly and the Cricketers. Octagon, Bolton

Oct 21: Squeeze: 50th Anniversary Tour Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Oct 22-26: Rambert in Peaky Blinders: The Redemption of Thomas Shelby. The Lowry, Salford

Oct 22-Nov 2: Stones in his Pockets Octagon, Bolton Dark comedy set in rural Ireland Captioned, Oct 29; audio described, Oct 30.

Oct 23-26: English National Ballet – Mary Skeaping’s Giselle Empire, Liverpool, Oct 24-26: After the Act Playhouse, Liverpool A new 1980’s-inspired musical about pride, protest and abseiling lesbians

Oct 24: Tales from the Grand Old Lady Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool Sean Styles with Everton legends Joe Royle and Peter Reid

Oct 25: Adam Ant Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Oct 25: Aled Jones – Full Circle Theatre Colwyn

Oct 26-Nov 3: Sleeping Beauty Theatre Royal, St Helens

Oct 26: The Elvis Years Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Sep 26-Dec 26: Fem de la Femme. Everyman, Liverpool

Oct 26: The Planets Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Oct 26: A Pleasing Terror: Two Ghost Stories by MR James. The Lowry, Salford

Oct 27: Cirque: The Greatest Show Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Oct 27: Clinton Baptiste The Brindley, Runcorn

Oct 28-Nov 2: & Juliet. Empire, Liverpool New musical

Oct 28: Il Divo Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Oct 29-Nov 2: Room on the Broom Playhouse, Liverpool

Oct 29-Nov 2: Here You Come Again – The New Dolly Parton Musical The Lowry, Salford

Oct 30-Nov 2: English National Ballet – Mary Skeaping’s Giselle Palace Theatre, Manchester

Oct 30: The Pretenders Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Oct 31: The Nightmare Before Christmas. Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Oct 31: The Haunting of Blaine Manor Pavilion, Rhyl

Continued next page

l Continued from previous page

Nov 1: Sister Sledge Live featuring Kathy Sledge Pavilion Rhyl

Nov 1: Dick and Angel: Forever Home Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Nov 1: Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way. The Brindley, Runcorn Tribute show

Nov 2: Pauline Daniels: Get Me Before the Crematorium Does The Brindley, Runcorn

Nov 2: Paul Weller Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Nov 2: The Mersey Beatles. Pavilion, Rhyl.

Nov 3: John Bishop: Back At It! Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Nov 3: Ben Elton Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Nov 3: The Body Snatchers.

Storyhouse, Chester Halloween special

Nov 4-9: Chicago Palace Theatre, Manchester Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer, murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her

Nov 4: Gyles Brandreth Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Nov 4: The Australian Pink Floyd Empire, Liverpool

Nov 5-6: The Haunting of Blaine Manor. The Lowry, Salford England, 1953 Renowned American parapsychologist Doctor Roy Earle famous for discrediting hauntings and exposing fake mediums, is invited to attend a seance in Blaine Manor, said to be the most haunted building in England

Nov 5: John Bishop: Back At It Empire, Liverpool

Nov 5: Chrissy Rock Theatre Royal, St Helens

Nov 5: Jon Ronson’s Psychopath Night

Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Nov 6-9: Outpatient The Lowry, Salford Explosive comedy about the fantasies of human minds and the fragility of human bodies

Nov 6-7: Jason Mountford Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Nov 6: The Overtones Good Times Tour Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Nov 6: Sarah Keyworth: My Eyes Are Up Here Playhouse, Liverpool

Nov 6: An Audience with Monty Don Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Nov 6: Ant Middleton Empire, Liverpool

Nov 6: The Manfreds Pavilion, Rhyl

Nov 7: I Like It! Theatre Royal, St Helens

Tribute to Gerry Marsden and the Swinging 60s

Nov 7: Rachmaninov’s Symphony No 2 Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Nov 7: The Music of John Denver Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Nov 7: The Feel-Good Christmas Concert Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Nov 7: Psychic Sally Pavilion, Rhyl

Nov 7: China Crisis The Brindley, Runcorn

Nov 7: The Illegal Eagles. Empire, Liverpool

Nov 7: Give Me The Night – George Benson’s Greatest Hits Lyceum, Crewe

Nov 8-Jan 18: The Scouse Red Riding Hood. Royal Court, Liverpool

Age advisory 16+ strong language throughout Signed, Nov 26, Jan 7; audio described, Nov 28

Nov 8: The World Famous Elvis Show: Chris Connor Pavilion, Rhyl

Nov 8: Simon Reeve: To the End of the Earth Storyhouse, Nov 8: Northern Live Lyceum, Crewe

Nov 8-9: The Brief Life and Mysterious Death of Boris III The Lowry, Salford

Nov 9: Frank Skinner – 30 Years of Dirt The

Lowry, Salford

Nov

To the ends of the earth

JOHN BISHOP –Back At It!

Nov 1, Opera House, Blackpool

Nov 3, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Nov 5, Empire, Liverpool

Nov 7, Plaza, Stockport

GYLES

BRANDRETH:

Nov 4, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Theatre, Stoke

Nov 9: Foster & Allen Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Nov 9: Thank ABBA for the Music: Eurovision Anniversary Tour. Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Nov 9: Count Arthur Strong is Charles Dickens in A Christmas Carol Playhouse, Liverpool

Nov 9: Ned Boulting’s Marginal Mystery Tour: 1923 And All That Lyceum, Crewe

Nov 9: Champagne for Lulu: Celebrating 60 years Empire, Liverpool

Nov 9: Sir Bryn in Belshazzar ’s Feast

Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Nov 10: Nathan Carter Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Nov 10: The Music of Zimmer Vs Williams Empire, Liverpool

Nov 10: John Barrowman – Laid Bare. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Nov 10: Fairytale of New York Pavilion, Rhyl

Nov 10: An Audience with Monty

Don The Lowry, Salford

Nov 10: Ned Boulting’s Marginal Mystery Tour: 1923 And All That The Lowry, Salford

Nov 11-23: Only Fools & Horses The Musical Opera House, Manchester Del Boy, Rodney and Grandad set to sell you something

very special

Nov 12-17: Elf The Musical. Palace Theatre, Manchester Magical tale of orphan Buddy who crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole The would-be elf is raised unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth

Nov 12-16: Ghost The Musical Regent

Nov 12-16: Dear Evan Hansen Empire, Liverpool

Nov 12-16: Wonder Boy The Lowry, Salford Heart-warming and inspiring story about the power of communication Signed, Nov 12; audio described and touch tour,

Nov 15; relaxed, Nov 14

Nov 12: Step into Christmas Lyceum, Crewe

Nov 13: Ginger Johnson Blows Off! Playhouse, Liverpool

Nov 13: Opera North: A Midsummer Night’s Dream The Lowry, Salford

Nov 14: Opera North: Ruddigore. The Lowry, Salford

Nov 14: Paul Foot: Dissolve Playhouse, Liverpool

Nov 14: The Manfreds Theatre Royal, St Helens

Nov 14: The ELO Experience Lyceum, Crewe

Nov 14: An American in Paris Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Nov 15: Soul Jam– The Very Best of Soul and Motown Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Nov 15: Opera North: The Magic Flute The Lowry, Salford

Nov 16-Jan 18: The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto: Rapunzel Everyman, Liverpool Signed, Nov 20 and Dec 17 Relaxed, Jan 7 Captioned, Jan 18.

Nov 16: Fern Brady: I Gave You Milk to Drink Playhouse Liverpool

Nov 16: Northern Soul Pavilion, Rhyl

Nov 16: A Beautifuly Noise – The Definitive Tribute to Neil Diamond. Lyceum, Crewe

Nov 16: Rob Lamberti presents Perfectly George Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Nov 17: Bye Bye Baby Floral Pavilion, New Brighton Franki Vallet tribute show

Nov 17: Frank Skinner: 30 Years of Dirt Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Nov 17: MANIA – The ABBA Tribute Empire, Liverpool

Nov 18: Suzi Quatro Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Nov 18: An Evening with Anton du Beke and Friends Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Nov 18: The Australian Pink Floyd Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Nov 19-30: Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake The Lowry, Salford

Nov 19-30: Blood Brothers Palace Theatre, Manchester

Nov 19-23: 1984 Playhouse, Liverpool Nov

Nov 19-23: An Inspector Calls. Empire, Liverpool

Nov 19: Brit Floyd: PULSE Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool Tribute band

Nov 19: The Nutcracker The Brindley, Runcorn

Nov 19: Fairytale of New York Venue Cymru, Llandudno Irish-inpsired Christmas concert

Nov 19: The Stylistics Regent Theatre, Stoke

Nov 19: The Searchers with special guests The Tremeloes. Theatre Royal, St Helens

Nov 20: That’ll Be The Day: So This Is Christmas Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Nov 20: Aled Jones – Full Circle Theatre Royal, St Helens

Nov 20-23: Elf The Musical. Lyceum Crewe

Nov 20-21: Ballet Black: Heroes

The Lowry

Nov 20: Rhod Gilbert &The Giant Grapefruit Pavilion, Rhyl

Nov 21: CIRQUE: The Greatest Show Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Nov 21: Lost in Music Theatre Royal, St Helens

Nov 22: Buddy Holly’s Winter Dance 65th Anniversary Show Theatre Royal, St Helens

Nov 22: Mercury. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton Tribute show

Nov 22: Whitney – Queen of the Night Regent Theatre, Stoke

Nov 22: Lost in Music Venue Cymru, Llandudno The music of Sister Sledge, Donna Summer and all

Nov 22-Jan 4: The Jungle Book Octagon, Bolton A wild and wonderful adventure for Christmas Signed /captioned, Dec 6; audio described, Dec 7; relaxed, Jan 3.

Nov 23-Jan 19: Mother Goose – The Rock ‘n’ Roll Panto Theatr Clwyd, Mold Signed, Dec 13, Jan 4; audio described, Dec 7, Jan 16; captioned, Dec 23, Jan 10; relaxed, Jan 15 Nov 23: The Sensational 60s Experience. Venue Cymru, Llandudno

Nov 23: Oh What a Night Pavilion, Rhyl

Nov 23: Tatty Macleod – Fugue The Lowry, Salford

Nov 24: Bellowhead Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool

Nov 24: Swan Lake: Crown Ballet Lyceum, Crewe

Nov 24: Kerry Ellis – Queen of the West

End Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Nov 24: Christmas Crooners Theatre Royal, St Helens

Nov 25: Christmas Crooners Lyceum, Crewe

Nov 25: Illegal Eagles Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Nov 25: Northern Soul Orchestrated Philharmonic Hal

Liverpool

Nov 26-27: Fairy of New York Opera House, Manchester

ACTION MAN: Simon Reeve

8, Storyhouse, Chester

HOW PLANTS GOT THEIR NAMES . . . SEMPERVIVUM

THE sempervivum or houseleek flowers in summer but the colourful, foliage is attractive for much of the year.

Sempervivums are succulents from mountainous regions of Europe and Asia so will flourish in well-drained situations where most other plants will not – in wall crevices, rockeries and scree beds.

They produce rosettes of thick, pointed leaves from which prominent stems emerge which bear star-

shaped flowers of purple, red, yellow or white.

Each rosette dies after blooming but new rosettes are formed so that plants spread from 30cm-50cm (12in-20in) depending on species, of which there are about 40.

The foliage of some species is covered in a network of fine hairs resembling a spider ’s web.

The name sempervivum reflects the plant’s reliable evergreen nature, coming from the Latin semper

meaning “always” and vivus for “living.”

The term “houseleek” probably referred originally to their reputation for protecting thatched cottages from lightning.

My favourite, Sempervivum Kramer ’s Spinrad (pictured), which has orange-pink blooms, is named for Otto Kramer (1883-1972), an Estonian plant breeder, farmer and wine-maker. Spinrad is German for spinning wheel.

WHAT’S NOT TO LAV!

WHAT’S not to like about lavatera shrubs? They are easy to grow and covered in vivid, rain-resistant, trumpet-shaped flowers – a fanfare which lasts for weeks in summer and early autumn when many others have faded away.

The spectacular lavateras grown in gardens are types of tree mallow not to be confused with the other kind of mallow, the genus Malva, such as hollyhock Tree mallows are sub-shrubs, generally hardy and often evergreen in England and Wales They are all free-flowering, producing blooms of five petals in many tones of pink and red as well as white and purple

The blooms of some have a central blotch of contrasting colour Most grow 2m (6ft 6in) tall and 1m wide although there are smaller forms

The most commonly grown are the varieties Lavatera Kew Rose and the similar Rosea (pictured)

Other fine varieties include:

Easy, rain-proof and spectacular

l Burgundy Wine, which is a rich, deep pink with darker veins

l Bredon Springs, which has flowers in tightly packed groups, pale purple with a dusky-pink flush There is an eye-catching double-petalled version (pictured)

l Barnsley, which has white petals turning faintly pink, with a deep rose-pink centre and cream stamen It is slightly less vigorous than Rosea but can revert to that pink species, from which it sprang as a sport – a freak shoot

If pink flowers appear, the branch bearing them should be pruned out completely It is

TIP OF THE SEASON

WATER camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons thoroughly if the ground is dry. Shortage of water during early and mid-autumn can cause the flower buds to drop next spring

not named after the Yorkshire town but the place where the sport arose, Barnsley House garden in Gloucestershire A smaller kind, Barnsley Baby, can be grown in a large pot (pictured) There is also a smaller pink kind, Shorty

The most attractive lavatera I have seen this year is rich purple-mauve with a deep magenta blotch and veins at the base of each petal (pictured) Rain-resistant, as my picture shows, but I have not yet been able to identify it

Several curiosities have been discovered by lavatera fanciers – a form with small,

frilly-edged flowers, called Pink Frills, and some with variegated foliage, green blotched with white or yellow, as in Wembdon Variegated and Chrisjen

As well as shrubs, there are hardy annuals Varieties of Lavatera trimestris are smaller and include some fine flower forms with deeply cut veins They include a superb white, Mont Blanc

The genus is named for one J R Lavater, a 16th-century Swiss naturalist

One of the other mallow genus, Malva sylvestris, has been used as a medicinal plant and pot herb at least since Roman times and, in 16th-century Britain, had the reputation of curing practically anything Today it is used more sparingly by herbalists and is also eaten by some enthusiasts

Young leaves and shoots are consumed raw in salads or cooked in vegetable dishes

Unripe seed capsules, known as “cheeses” because of their sha said to make an unu addition to salads

VIVID: Lavatera Rosea, Purple lavatera unnamed, and Lavatera Bredon Springs double-petalled

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

The Accumulator Quiz

E ach 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:

Where in the human body are the biceps?

A The wrist

B The lower leg

C The upper arm

D The buttocks

QUESTION 2 – for 2 points:

According to the saying, which of the following is a dangerous thing?

A A little knowledge

B Too much money

C Absolute power

D Not enough patience

QUESTION 3 – for 3 points:

Sussex, Mini Lion Lop and Angora are varieties of which animal?

A Rabbit

B Guinea pig

C Goat

D Sheep

QUESTION 4 – for 4 points:

In which country was entertainer Cliff Richard born in 1940?

QUESTION 7 – for 7 points:

In which area of London is Carnaby Street, popular for fashion in the 1960s?

QUESTION 10 – for 10 points:

What type of Italian food is Bel Paese?

A Bread B Pasta

C Cured ham

D Cheese

QUESTION 11 – for 11 points:

Who was the first cricketer to score 10,000 runs in Test matches?

A Sunil Gavaskar

B Greg Chappell

C David Gower

D Viv Richards

QUESTION 12 – for 12 points:

Who wrote the novel The Catcher in the Rye?

A William Golding

B Jack Kerouac

C J.D. Salinger

D Harper Lee

QUESTION 13 – for 13 points:

David Bowie did a duet of Dancing in the Street for Live Aid with which other singer?

A Freddie Mercury

1. Fervent (7)

5. In areas (5)

8. Vegetable (3)

9. Mistake

(4)

24. Disconcerted (inf.) (7)

26. Distributed cards (5)

29. Insinuate (5)

30. Playhouse (7)

31. Jeer at (3)

32. Having pluck (inf.) (5)

33. Rodent catcher (3-4)

African animal (5)

Grown-up (5) 3. Disciplined (7)

Goblin (6)

African country (5)

Nicked (7)

Mocked (7) 12. Fib (3) 14. Gaelic (4) 16. Sea-eagle (4) 17. Adjusting to nought (7) 18. Sound of steps (7)

Left-over (7)

Unwell (3) 23. Senior journalist (6) 25. Stopping-place beside main road (3-2) 27. Out of bed (5) 28. Fool (inf.) (5)

A Hong Kong

B India

C Australia

D Singapore

QUESTION 5 – for 5 points:

Who assassinated John Lennon in New York in 1980?

A Lee Harvey Oswald

B Mark David Chapman

C John Wilkes Booth

D James Earl Ray

QUESTION 6 – for 6 points: What flavour does the drink Pernod have?

A Vanilla

B Juniper

C Peach

D Aniseed

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. EASYDIFFICULT

A Marble Arch

B Knightsbridge

C King’s Road, Chelsea

D Soho

QUESTION 8 – for 8 points: What is a mnemonic?

A A memory device

B A minor scale in music

C The arm of a sundial

D The vibrating core of a loudspeaker

QUESTION 9 – for 9 points: Ferdinand Marcos was once the president of which country?

A Philippines

B Thailand

C Malaysia

D Argentina

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.

B Lou Reed

C Bing Crosby

D Mick Jagger

QUESTION 14 – for 14 points:

Sir Bernard Miles founded which London theatre?

A The Globe

B The Apollo

C The Mermaid

D The Lyric

QUESTION 15 – for 15 points:

In which year was the prohibition of alcohol in the United States repealed?

A 1933 B 1934

C 1935

D 1936

Entertainer Cliff Richard. See Question 4

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.

DIALLING CODES

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?

1 Whitney Houston songs 394 253 141 945 512 592 971 568 319 681 419 266 213 262 319 484 176 632 639 147 328 378 156 831 631 255 172 846 412 551 691 568 313 671 968

4 Roald Dahl books

2

MISSING LINK

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

ELASTIC – – – – STAND

TOFFEE – – – – – CRUMBLE

BRAZIL – – – CUTLET

PEN – – – – – GRINDER

DUCK

Spaces and any punctuation marks are

PATHWORDS

Starting from the central shaded letter, move one letter at a ime (up, down, right or left, but not diagonally) to find 12

MAKE A DATE

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

1. UN peacekeeping forces arrive in Cyprus after fierce clashes between Greek and Turkish communities.

2. The BBC’s new television channel, BBC2, begins broadcasting.

3. Tanganyika and Zanzibar unite to form the country of Tanzania. WAS IT? a) 1953; b) 1958; c) 1961; d) 1964; e) 1967.

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

BROCARD

1) A small metal skewer for holding food together while cooking;

2) A small south American deer with short unbranched horns;

3) An elementary law or principle.

2. The Switch; Cake; The Break-Up; We’re The Millers; Love Happens; Just Go With It; The Good Girl; Horrible Bosses. 3. pear; apple; peach; raspberry; redcurrant; blackberry; apricot; strawberry; rhubarb; plum; bullace; g;fi blackcurrant.

1. Exhale; I Will Always Love You; I Wanna Dance With Somebody; Greatest Love of All; Saving All My Love For You.

Word Wizard No 3 is correct. A brocard is a principle. Dialling Codes

4. The Minpins; The Twits; James and the Giant Peach; The Gremlins; Fantastic Mr Fox; The BFG; Matilda; The Witches. 5. Intrepid; Astute; Bounty; Triumph; Beagle; Endurance; Victory; Ark Royal; Vanguard; Invincible; Endeavour; Mary Rose. 6. documentary; musical; drama; romance; thriller; animation; fantasy; crime; action; comedy; horror; western; adventure. Spot Check A = 2; B = 6; C = 4; D = 3; E = 1; F = 5. Missing Link band; apple; nut; knife; egg; rice. Card game: banker. Make a Date The year was 1964. Transformer Topic + R = Tropic.

Star Name: LIZ HURLEY

C; 15 – A. Starspot Crossword Across – 1 Zealous; 5 Zoned; 8 Pea; 9 Blunder; 10 Inter; 11 Altar; 13 Teethed; 15 Leer; 17 Zephyr; 19 Sordid; 22 Need; 24 Rattled; 26 Dealt; 29 Imply; 30 Theatre; 31 Boo; 32 Gutsy; 33 Rat-trap. Down – 1 Zebra; 2 Adult; 3 Orderly; 4 Sprite; 5 Zaire; 6 Notched; 7 Derided; 12 Lie; 14 Erse; 16 Erne; 17 Zeroing; 18 Pitapat; 20 Oddment; 21 Ill; 23 Editor; 25 Layby; 27 Astir; 28 Twerp.

Accumulator Quiz

How leprosy victims were allowed to worship Sick get a look-in

KEN PYE’s latest book, Even More Merseyside Tales, is available in all good bookshops or from Ken directly (as are all of his books and factsheets)

THE very word had the power to conjure fear and panic In the Middle Ages leprosy was endemic in England, and with no cure, victims of the devastating disease became crippled and disfigured

These days, a cure for leprosy – now also known as Hansen’s – is effective and readily available and scientists have learned that to catch the disease, a healthy person must have months of close contact with someone who has it

But in pre-Reformation Britain, people believed it was highly contagious and those infected were obliged to live outside of communities in areas known as leper colonies

In those times everyone was obliged to go to church on Sundays and make their confessions to the parish priest – and that included those with leprosy

But sufferers were not allowed inside churches for fear of infecting the congregation and especially the priest, and

although historians are divided on the subject, some believe they followed the service through a special unglazed window, known as a “squint”

Such a window is built into the rear wall of All Saints’ Parish Church in the Liverpool suburb of Childwall The squint is very low from the outside, but was originally the height of an average man!

The Childwall squint appears to be an arched window, cut into the base of an outside wall of the church, to a depth of about 18in

Deeper

An open grill, about 12in sq, is set at the top of this, which looks directly into the rear of the church

On closer inspection, this recess can be seen to reach down below the current level of the surrounding graveyard for a couple of feet

In fact, it is even deeper than this and was originally cut to accommodate an adult standing fully upright This window is now below ground level because, when the old tower was demolished, in 1810,

the debris was never removed, only smoothed over

The raised level of the graveyard now hides the rest of the squint, and it is only when one goes into the church that the original height of the window can be seen

Could it be that, each Sunday, after the main congregation had gone inside, those carrying the disease crowded around the window, which looked towards the altar?

Through this could they listen to the service and, later, in turns, they would make their confessions to the priest, through a grille set into the small window – hence ”squint”?

Leprosy was common across Britain from around the 12th century, particularly in and around towns like Liverpool

The dreadful disfigurement that comes with the untreated disease was seen by many as divine punishment for sin, and people believed that they could catch moral corruption as well as physical illness from its sufferers Thus victims of

leprosy were generally forced to live outside normal society, in colonies established on the outskirts of villages and towns, near enough to obtain essential supplies but far enough away so as not to be a threat

The colony would also need to be close to a river, brook or pond so that they had access to fresh water

However, these communities of men, women and children, were largely self-sufficient – because they had to be

Surviving

By the time of King Henry VIII’s

Reformation of the English Church in the 1530s, leprosy had mostly died out in England The All Saints’ squint was eventually glazed over and left as the partially hidden grilled window that we can see today

However, inside the church the full and original height of the window can be seen, where the priest once stood The Childwall “Lepers’ Squint” is one of only a few surviving in Britain

OUTSIDERS: All Saints’ attenders with leprosy may have watched through a “squint” (inset)

GRIM: Leprosy caused fear and panic

‘The UK’s most accessible stadium’

EVERTON’S move to the banks of the Mersey will take facilities for disabled fans to an “entirely different level” in the most accessible and inclusive football stadium in the UK

And after being taken on a tour of the amenities at the Premier League club’s future home, members of the Everton Disabled Supporters’ Association (EDSA) declared themselves “very impressed”

The new Everton Stadium, at Bramley-Moore Dock, will have 279 wheelchair positions, including 226 for season ticket holders and match ticket purchasers, and a further 53 in bars, restaurants and experiences

There will be vantage points in all four stands, and at varying levels, offering both pitchside and elevated views

Lifts and escalator access will be available between levels, all kiosks around the stadium will have reduced level counters for easier access, and hundreds of easy access amenity seats are strategically positioned around the bowl

Faith rooms

The stadium has 58 accessible toilets, plus an ambulant disabled cubicle in all toilet blocks There will be three additional family toilets, plus 95 baby change facilities across all areas, 20 gender neutral toilets and three Changing Places facilities

It will house eight inclusive faith rooms, two quiet rooms and a sensory box with pitch view, which can accommodate 14 supporters or family members, plus two wheelchair positions.

EDSA chair Mark Dyer said:

“We are very impressed with the progress We have been involved in this project since the initial planning stages

“The fact this will be the most accessible stadium in the UK is a message that we want to put out to everyone

“Everton deserve a lot of credit for what they have done at Goodison, but this takes it to an entirely different level and the options that are available to people are fantastic.”

FLYING THE FLAG: Paralympians

Terry Bywater and Lucy Shuker, who led the British team at the Opening Ceremony

Day to day

life

is Day to day

life

is far cr y from glor y far cr y from glor y of Paralympics of

TParalympics

HE spectacular Paris

Paralympics showed the world just what disabled people can achieve

But the sad truth is what we witnessed in the French capital was a far cry from what is actually going on for the millions of disabled people in Britain

National charity Sense’s new research highlights the “shocking neglect” of disabled people’s health in the UK

According to Sense, four in five people with complex disabilities are at increased risk of illness due to lack of exercise

In a poll of more than 1,000 disabled people, nearly half said they would like to be more active, but are prevented due to societal barriers, such as inaccessible venues and a lack of trained staff

Greg Whyte, former Olympian and Professor of Applied Sport and Exercise Science at Liverpool John Moore’s University, said: “The health of people with complex

disabilities is being shockingly neglected

“It’s indefensible that four out of five are not active enough to be healthy and the barriers stopping them, like inaccessible exercise venues or a lack of trained coaching staff, are completely unacceptable

“What we are seeing is quite simply mass disability neglect at a time we are focused on elite disability sport It would appear that authorities are pretending to care without a strategy to ensure that sport is truly for all Huge benefits

“Simple changes, like training staff, fitting ramps or improving transport, could have a profoundly positive effect on disabled people’s physical health and resistance to illnesses like heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke

“There are huge mental, emotional and social health benefits too, leading to improved quality of life

“And by reducing pressure and costs to the NHS and social care, the whole of society will benefit ”

The poll reveals four in five do less than 150 minutes of physical activity a week, with more than a third getting less than 30 minutes

The NHS recommends adults aged 19 to 64 get at least 150 minutes of physical activity a week to help maintain physical and mental health, with those doing less than 30 minutes classed as “inactive”

The results mean around 1 3 million people with complex disabilities in the UK are not active enough to be healthy

Alissa Ayling, head of Sense’s sport and physical activity programme, said: “Disabled people experience many barriers to exercising, from inaccessible sports venues and transport to a lack of an upskilled workforce and closures of local facilities But if there’s enough determination to break down the barriers, it will happen ”

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