Issue 68

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This newspaper is read by a huge audience that we couldn’t reach with other traditional media James Brown, Head of Communications, Engagement & Marketing, Liverpool Community Health Trust

HALF A MILLION READERS

PRINT and ONLINE @ATNnews AllTogetherNowNews www.alltogethernow.org.uk

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IT’S DAD TIME!

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opening doors . . .

. . . broadening minds

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

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Editor: Tom Dowling

email: news@alltogethernow.org.uk

Legal Affairs, Corporate Social Responsibility, Philanthropy editor: Steve McDermott

Editorial Support: Gerry Corner

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

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NEWS

Brit film’s disabled star puts boot into the Oscars

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HITTING OUT; Sam in a scene from Little Devil

AM RENKE loves to speak up for disabled people – in either English, German or French.

Now actor and linguist Sam is raising eyebrows and winning awards for her portrayal of a disabled woman with very normal sexual desires in the new British indie film, Little Devil.

In her first screen role which won her the Best Lead Actress at the Los Angeles Diversity Film Festival, Sam plays Alice Gardner, a mischievous, sexually frustrated disabled girl who

Tactile maps make travel easier

June/July 2016

forms an unorthodox relationship with a troubled, gay male escort.

Rather than being a victim of her condition, she uses her disability, osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bones), as a cunning advantage in achieving her hidden agenda.

Sam, 29, who hails from Leyland, Lancashire, worked closely with the film’s writer, Abraham Papacosta, and its director, Max Barber, to base some of the plot on her real-life experiences.

She said: “I’m not a ‘sit at home’ type of girl, I’m very pro-active in

BRITISH BRAILLE: Kawal tries out the new tactile map at Peterborough rail station

Virgin’s touch of class

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APS being installed on Virgin Rail’s east coast route can be used by everyone, whether sighted, partially sighted or blind.

Tactile maps can be read by sight or by touch.

Leading sight loss charity the Royal National Institute of Blind People worked closely with Virgin to help it become the first company to install the “RNIB Maps for All”.

The maps provide key information such as the location of platforms, toilets, shops and cafes by using a mix of raised large print, braille and tactile symbols.

Kawal Gucukoglu, who is registered blind and has

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Subtitles blow for UK’s deaf viewers

raising awareness in what to me is still a blinkered world at times.

“The shameful lack of diversity at the Oscars again means that all of us in a perceived ‘minority’ must make a noise and demand change.

“The world’s population is amazingly varied – something not reflected by the Academy and its white, wealthy, ageing heterosexual male members.” n The trailer and film is available for rental on Distrify. https://distrify.com/videos/cx5W3j -little-devil

PUBLIC TRANSPORT APP FOR BLIND – p8

tested out the Peterborough map, said: “I like the fact it’s a map for everyone – there’s not separate ones for people with and without sight loss.

“It’s very easy to use with good Braille and print lettering. Tactile maps are a great idea and will come in useful for loads of travellers.”

Almost two million people in the UK are living with sight loss and it is predicted that this number will nearly double by 2050.

Debbie Ambler, Virgin Trains programme delivery manager, added: “We are committed to working with partners like RNIB to find new ways to make journeys more accessible and enjoyable for all our customers.”

HALF A MILLION READERS . . .

DEAF and blind charities are dismayed at the Government’s refusal to legislate for special features on video-ondemand content.

The culture and digital minister Ed Vaizey said they feel sufficient progress is being made towards increasing the provision of subtitles and other services on their video-on-demand services.

And he said introducing legislation “could have a detrimental impact on what the sector has shown it is able to achieve on a voluntary basis.”

But Joff McGill, head of information, advice and research at charity Sense, said: “The overall picture of current provision is disappointing.

“While accessible content can be found on an increasing range of devices, there are still large gaps on the major TV platforms and there have not been great advances for subtitle provision in 2015 – 76% of the UK’s on demand services are inaccessible.”

Paul Breckell, chief executive of Action on Hearing Loss, added: “I am very disappointed that the Government won’t be taking decisive action to ensure that people with hearing loss do not face digital exclusion.

“We have warmly welcomed some exciting improvements to the provision of subtitles that have been promised by some broadcasters and platform operators but the overall picture of current provision is bleak.”

Lesley-Anne Alexander, RNIB’s chief executive, said: “Last December industry regulator ATVOD’s report clearly showed the ‘voluntary’ approach had failed blind viewers. It makes no sense for the Government to decide that regulation is not needed.

We strongly urge Mr Vaizey to think again.”

Law firm gives its support

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

June/July 2016

L

AW firm Quinn Barrow is backing All Together NOW!

Want to help?

– centre pages All Together NOW! has been given a £5,000 boost from the Anne Duchess of Westminster Charity.

Kate Williams, manager of the Chester-based charity, said: “We support small community groups whose objectives reflect the interests and causes of the late Duchess, who died in 2003.

“All Together NOW! is doing a great job by giving hundreds of thousands of people affected by disability information that they cannot get anywhere else.

“We are delighted to help in its development.”

All Together NOW! editor Tom Dowling said: “This is a fantastic boost for the paper.

We have big plans to expand our work across the region and this grant will help us do that.” n Anne Duchess of Westminster Charity, tel 01244 684433 n www.adwc.org.uk

Lawyer to help your charity newspaper

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Council Approved Contractor & Suppliers Covering The Northwest

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EU exit would be ‘wrong for disabled workers’

Paul Barrow, senior partner at Quinn Barrow, said: “Corporate social responsibility is high on our agenda and this free charity newspaper is making an enormous social contribution.

“Millions of people affected by disability and ill health are so often denied information that would help them to lead more fulfilled lives.

“All Together NOW! provides this information in abundance. We are proud and excited to be involved in the paper’s development.”

All Together NOW! founder and editor Tom Dowling said: “It’s great to have Quinn Barrow on board. They understand the value of getting information to those affected by disability and ill health.

“Lots of readers have requested a legal section within the paper – and on our website. Now we can seriously start looking at how best we can provide that service.

“We are exploring all ways to improve and develop the newspaper and welcome enquiries from any organisation wanting to NEW FRIENDS: Paul Barrow, senior partner at Quinn get involved with our work.”

Barrow, and All Together NOW! editor Tom Dowling

STEVE McDERMOTT, a former chairman and trustee of the Everton In The Community charity, has joined All Together NOW! ! as editor for Legal Affairs, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Philanthropy.

Steve, a commercial and procurement lawyer for the Government Legal Department, said: “My organisation encourages its lawyers to lend their expertise to not for profits and charitable organisations from a pro-bono perspective, and I couldn't think of a better charity to help.”

Steve, who has a keen interest in both corporate

All Together NOW!

social responsibility and philanthropy, intends to create a new and exciting legal section within the newspaper – and on our website.

His aim is to attract organisations and individuals with the same outlook to help All Together NOW! He said: “This is an absolutely fantastic charity and community newspaper that’s helping and informing hundreds of thousands of people.

“I am sure there are many businesses and individuals who would want to be associated with this innovative and award-winning work.”

Free Home Demonstrations

SALES, REPAIR & SERVICING OF ALL MOBILITY & DISABILITY PRODUCTS

DISABLED workers risk losing many important rights if the UK leaves the EU, according to the TUC’s General Secretary Frances O’Grady.

Addressing the annual TUC Disabled Workers Conference, she said: “Brexit would be a huge gamble with disabled people’s rights.

“EU law has strengthened disability discrimination protections, and it guarantees disability rights for the future.

“The European Court of Justice has taken a positive and wide-ranging approach to disability rights. Thanks to the EU there is no cap on compensation for victims of disability discrimination and no exemptions for small employers.

She went on: “Nobody knows exactly how bad rights for disabled workers could get outside of the EU, but we can be sure it would be worse.”

Ruth’s Indian dream

AS artistic director of DaDaFest for the past 15 years, Ruth Gould has helped and inspired deaf and disabled artists from all over the North West.

Now, thanks to winning a Winston Churchill Travel Fellowship, she is playing a big part in setting up a major disability art festival in three Indian cities next year.

Ruth, who was diagnosed with a genetic hearing impairment aged six, used her Churchill funding to support her travel across Malawi, South Africa and india to investigate how disability and deaf arts empowers people.

Ruth said: “The Travelling Fellowships provide opportunities for UK citizens to go abroad on a worthwhile project of their own choosing, with the aim of enriching their lives through their global experiences – and to bring back the benefit to others in their UK.” n Winston Churchill Travel Fellowship, tel 020 7799 1660 n www.wcmt.org.uk

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01744 602602 Also At:

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All Together NOW!

Human rights test for welfare change

THE impact of changes to the welfare system on disabled people is to be examined by the Equality and Human Rights Commission “In the coming year, we will be starting a number of projects that will focus on removing barriers disabled people face in their day to day life,” said Lord Chris Holmes, EHRC’s disability commissioner.

“These include delivering improvements in relation to equality of access to health services; availability of appropriate services and dignity in care; and improving access to education and lower attainment among children with special educational needs and additional support needs.

“We will also be commissioning research to assess the impact of changes to the welfare system such as the changes to funding for independent living which have implications for disabled people’s standard of living.

“Our business plan and forthcoming strategic plan address many of the issues highlighted in the recently published House of Lords report on the impact of the Equality Act 2010 on disabled people.

“In addition to this, we will be publishing an analysis of the main challenges facing disabled people across the country at the end of this year.”

Day of action

DISABLED Access Day, which encourages disabled people to try something new – and which urges businesses to showcase their accessibility – was another huge success, says power chair user Paul Ralph, who set up the event last year.

“Never in my wildest dreams, but always in my wishes, did I imagine people across the UK and beyond would engage with the spirit of Disabled Access Day,” said Paul.

“I’m excited about what can be achieved in the coming years and I hope many more people and venues will join us in 2017.”

Almost 11,000 people took part in the event at venues across the UK. n www.disabledaccessday.com.

Good signs

HSBC and First Direct have launched a British Sign Language Video Relay Service for deaf customers.

The move will make it easier for the one in three of deaf or hard of hearing people who are put off using banks and building societies due to lack of access.

The service can be accessed through the banks’ websites.

Paul Breckell, chief executive at Action on Hearing Loss, said: “It is great to see that the banking industry is giving attention to inclusion and accessibility among its customers with hearing loss, which affects 11 million people in the UK.” n HSBC.co.uk/accessibility firstdirect.com/contact-us

NEWS

June/July 2016

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Time business ramped up access

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ROM lifts and loos, to signs and websites, UK businesses could be missing out by not providing basic services to meet the needs of disabled people.

The spending power of the nation’s 11 million disabled people – the so-called “purple pound” – is said to be worth up to £212billion.

But a survey by Barclays Business found that nine out of 10 small and medium sized UK businesses do not have a lift, and four-fifths say their products and services are not designed to be accessible to all customers,

including those with sensory or mobility disabilities.

A further 81% say they have no parking spaces for people with disabilities, and 74% have no ramp or toilets that are easily accessible.

Only one in 10 provides written communications in braille and audio, new research reveals.

Shockingly, only a third have signs that are easy to read.

The survey also found that almost one in five SME – small and medium-sized enterprise – owners are not sure what the benefit of making their business more inclusive would be.

A similar number said they would

not know where to start or what adjustments would need to be made.

Adam Rowse, head of business banking at Barclays, said: “The research demonstrates a large gap exists in educating and equipping businesses with the right tools and guidance on accessibility and in catering for disabled customers.

“It also shows the business SMEs could be turning away, simply by not knowing where to start.

“Living in a diverse society, the business that caters for the needs of all customers will be the one not only most likely survive, but to flourish.”

Grim facts of UK disability

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UNDREDS of thousands of disabled people in the UK are living in extreme poverty, says a new report.

The study found a total of 1.25 million people in the UK were defined at some point as destitute because they could not afford basic essentials they needed to eat, keep clean and stay warm and dry.

Researchers found one of the four most common causes of destitution was the extra costs of ill-health and disability.

The study, Destitution in the UK, published by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, found that nearly 30% of destitute people surveyed in 2015 had serious health problems.

The definition of destitution used by the researchers at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh was that in a single month, two or more of the following had applied to a person: n They had slept rough. n They had had one or no meals a day for two or more days. n They had been unable to heat or to light their home for five or more days. n They had gone without weatherappropriate clothes. n They had gone without basic toiletries.

Two-fifths of destitute people said they had experienced delays with their benefits and 30% said they had had their benefits sanctioned.

The report says: “Some found themselves having to spend money on specific items related to their illhealth that pushed them into a destitute situation and thus they came to lack other necessities.”

C4 offer £1m for best ad

CHANNEL 4 is offering £1 million in free TV advertising to encourage the use of people with disabilities.

The £1 million Superhumans Wanted prize will be awarded to the brand or agency which submits the strongest campaign idea.

And their ad will be given an exclusive launch spot in the first break of the opening ceremony for the 2016 Rio Paralympics Games, on September 7.

Channel 4 sales director Jonathan Allan said: “As part of Channel 4’s year of disability we want to ensure that our commitment to better reflecting disabled people goes beyond just our editorial approach and into our ad breaks.”

Channel 4’s coverage of the Rio Paralympics will be hosted by Clare Balding and Breaking Bad actor RJ Mitte, who played Walter White’s disabled son Walt Jr.

Team-up

A blistering pace...

A 100-MILE canalside trek in just eight days raised plenty of smiles, a few blisters – and some much-needed awareness about autismpeople in the UK. The Wirral-based Autism Together team strode along the Shropshire Union canal, supported by the charity’s Raby Enterprise narrow boat.

Service manager Kevin

CARERS ON THE BRINK: p10

Julia Unwin, chief executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: “Governments of all stripes have failed to protect people at the bottom

Mulligan, said: “When we got talking to people along the route, we realised just how much autism touches people’s lives.”

The group’s round trip journey took them from Tarporley to Llangollen via the 420m Chirk tunnel, guided by a wooden handrail and torches.

Autism is a condition affecting one in a hundred people.

of the income scale from the effects of severe poverty, leaving many unable to feed, clothe or house themselves and their families.

“Government, businesses and communities need to work together to provide better emergency support, make basic essentials more affordable and create better jobs if

HALF A MILLION READERS . . .

CHRISTIAN disability and community charities Livability and Prospects for people with learning disabilities are to merge.

Between them, the charities employ more than 2,000 people, with 1,500 volunteers and thousands of donors and partners all committed to helping improve the lives of disabled and disadvantaged people.

Livability’s president, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, said: “I am delighted to see Prospects joining the Livability family to share their resources, experience and passion.

“Both charities do extraordinary work, empowering those with disabilities to play a full part.”

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

UK-wide testing vital for older people NEWS

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NATIONWIDE programme of testing older people for deafness is urgently needed, say campaigners.

The call comes in a new report showing that older people who don’t address their deafness are more likely to suffer dementia, mental health issues, falls, social isolation and early death.

This is costing the NHS far more than it would if people tackled their hearing loss earlier with the help of a national screening programme, says the report from two leading UK hearing charities.

Screening would enable adults to access the help they need earlier to manage their

All Together NOW!

June/July 2016

Step closer to treating young adult deafness

ARE YOU LISTENING?: Left to right, Lilian Greenwood, MP, Prof Adrian Davis, Dr Sue Archbold (The Ear Foundation), Marta Neto (Advanced Bionics), Paul Breckell (Action on Hearing Loss) and Brian Lamb

hearing loss well and reduce its impact, say Action on Hearing Loss and The Ear Foundation.

The direct costs to the health service in England of addressing hearing loss are currently estimated to be around £500 million annually but the costs of NOT providing hearing technology run to many billions of pounds.

Without action the report – Adult Hearing Screening: Can we afford to wait any longer? – warns these indirect costs will increase as the UK’s population continues to age.

Research shows that hearing aids make a profound difference and are regularly worn

by 90% of users. The earlier people are fitted, the greater the cost effectiveness to the health service and benefit to the individual.

Paul Breckell, chief executive at Action on Hearing Loss, says: “Providing a hearing test for everyone as they get older would help millions to stay connected to loved ones.

“It would increase awareness of the health consequences of not addressing hearing loss. It would also encourage people to take action earlier and help to normalise both hearing loss and the wearing of aids, thereby addressing the stigma that some people feel is associated with hearing loss.”

SCIENTISTS are a step closer to finding a treatment for one of the most common causes of hearing loss among young adults.

Research has led to the discovery of a gene which causes otosclerosis, a hereditary condition which affects one in 200 people and results in hearing loss.

The condition is caused by abnormal bone growth in the middle ear, which over time grows onto the stapes and stops it moving when sound waves enter the ear – meaning those sound waves can no longer be efficiently transmitted into the inner ear.

The breakthrough comes as scientists from the Ear Institute at University College London showed that faults in the SERPINF1 gene can cause otosclerosis.

People with otosclerosis often start to lose their hearing in their 20s or 30s.

Treatments are currently limited to hearing aids or surgery to remove the affected middle ear bone and replace it with a prosthetic device.

Dr Ralph Holme, head of biomedical research at Action on Hearing Loss said: ‘We urgently need better treatments for otosclerosis and that’s why this latest discovery is so important to the thousands of people affected by this condition across the UK.”

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All Together NOW!

Ear plugs and tents at the ready

ABUNDANCE, the UK’s first music festival for people with learning disabilities, takes place in Lyndhurst, Hampshire (July 15-17).

More than 30 bands and DJs have signed up for the event.

Alongside the music, the festival features a skateboard ramp, circus big top, fire dancers, live graffiti, cinema and a fire pit with storytelling. There will also be a zip wire, archery, high ropes, climbing tower and tunneling.

Camping is included in the price, with early bird weekenders starting at £55. n www.abundancemusicfest.org

The friendly city NEWS

June/July 2016

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Take it easy . . .

Shift.ms, the social network for people with multiple sclerosis, has launched an online mental health tool – Thought Sort – to help people with MS “be kind to your mind”.

George Pepper, co-founder of www.shift.ms, said: “Members know all too well the effects an MS diagnosis can have on mental health.”

The tool development was guided by Rona Moss-Morris, Professor of Psychology as Applied to Medicine at King’s College London. n www.shift.ms MS is a condition of the central nervous

Easy targets we must protect

AUTISM CHAMPIONS: Shadow Home Secretary Andy Burnham MP with Julie Simpson, founder of Autism Adventures UK, and Robin Bush, CEO of Autism Together

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When a loved one dies, return them to nature and grow new life with eco-friendly biodegradable urns which can be buried with a tree. Or keep them close with a beautiful piece of ash keepsake jewellery.

You’ll be directly supporting our country’s wonderful woods and wildlife, so your loved one will leave a lasting legacy we can all treasure.

Find out more

Web: woodlandtrustshop.com/memories Phone: 0330 333 5310 The Woodland Trust is a registered charity. Numbers 294344 and SC038885. 8074 05/16

LIVERPOOL could become one of the country’s first autism-friendly cities.

Everton FC, Liverpool John Lennon airport, National Museums Liverpool and Liverpool ONE have already agreed to become Liverpool Autism Champions.

The Liverpool project is being run by Wirral charity Autism Together and Liverpool community business Autism Adventures UK. They say action is needed for the one in every hundred people who have autism and are often excluded from their own communities through lack of understanding.

To become an Autism Champion an organisation makes a public commitment to train its staff in autism awareness.

This includes how to recognise the signs that someone may have autism and how to handle challenging behaviour. n Autism Together: 0151 334 7510

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EOPLE with a limiting disability or illness are almost three and a half times more likely to suffer serious violence, says charity Victim Support.

Despite violent crime dropping by almost half in 10 years for the rest of the population, the figures were up by 3.7% for those with a limiting disability or illness.

The Crime Survey for England and Wales shows that people in that category are more likely to be on the receiving end of violent crime now than they were a decade ago.

Victim Support director Lucy Hastings said: “These findings are deeply alarming and warrant both further investigation and action.

“We recommend that further research is urgently undertaken, so that we can understand why the risk is so high and increasing, and how best to protect and support people with a limiting disability or illness.

“In the meantime, it is essential that professionals working with disabled people, including those working in health, social care and the justice system, are made aware of the increased risks to this group and know the sources of support and information available to them, should they fall victim to violence.”

The findings are published today in the VS Insight Report: “An easy target?: Risk factors affecting victimisation rates for violent crime and thef”..

The report also finds that, in addition to the increased risk of suffering violence with injury, people with a limiting disability or illness are: n Twice as likely to suffer violence without injury. n 1.6 times more likely to be a victim of personal theft. n 1.4 times more likely to be a victim of household theft than adults without a limiting disability.

The report is the first in a series whch are investigating the demographics of victims of crime and the risk factors affecting rates of victimisation across the population. n Victim Support offers free and confidential information and practical help to anyone affected by crime, regardless of when the crime took place or if the police are involved. Visit victimsupport.org.uk or call the Supportline team: 0808 1689 111.

HALF A MILLION READERS

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together NOW!

June/July 2016

£32million

Making a difference . . .

H

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

Over the past decade we have helped hundreds of organisations across the region,

committing over £32 million.

This year we will be giving away over £2 million to good causes.

Created in 2001 by businessman Steve Morgan OBE, founder and chairman of Redrow plc, chairman of the Bridgemere Group of Companies and Wolverhampton Wanderers FC, the Morgan Foundation supports charities across North Wales,

Merseyside, West Cheshire and North Shropshire.

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

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

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

TEE UP TIME – that’s what we have committed to give away!

Be Active project brings so many people together

T

HERE were smiles all round when The Morgan Foundation called in to Bradbury Fields to give staff a very welcome boost!

The Liverpool-based charity, which provides services to blind and partially sighted people, received a fantastic £79,818 cheque from administrator Jane Harris to help develop their Be Active project.

Since 2001 The Morgan Foundation has committed over £32m for good causes in our region, including support to more than 450 charitable organisations and 40 standard and wheelchair accessible Smiley buses.

“We scrutinise all our applications for funding,” said Jane. “We only fund those projects that fit our aims and objectives and Bradbury Fields’ Be Active project fits perfectly!”

Be Active helps reduce the isolation and loneliness felt by many blind and partially sighted people in Merseyside and beyond.

Conceived 18 months ago, the project has already helped more than 60 people by identifying activities that they would like to be involved with

ALL SMILES: Jane Harris, left, with Frank MacFarlane, chairman of Bradbury Fields, and Nikki Barnet, deputy CEO, Bradbury Fields

and matching them with highly trained volunteers.

Activities have included tandem cycling, swimming, gym sessions, shopping trips, theatre visits, and dog walking.

Phil Longworth, the charity’s chief executive, said: “We are delighted to receive this funding from the Morgan Foundation. It will allow us to employ a Be Active co-ordinator for the next

three years.

“We plan to develop the scheme and help even more service users to live healthy and happy lives – despite their sight loss. We also hope that eventually loneliness and isolation for them will be a thing of the past.” n Bradbury Fields have been providing services to blind and partially sighted people in Liverpool and Merseyside since 1857.

www.morganfoundation.co.uk Tel 01829 782800

LEADING THE WAY: Steve Morgan, right, founder and chairman of The Morgan Foundation, and his team at the 2014 event

Our golf day will help more young people

O

VER the past eight years The Morgan Foundation’s bi-annual Charity Golf Day and Gala Ball has raised more than £1m for good causes.

More than £250,000 helped to build a hydrotherapy pool at St Christopher’s Special Needs School in Wrexham.

Almost £350,000 went to Children Today – a local charity that provides mobility aids to children and young adults.

And two years ago, in what turned out to be the biggest fundraising event in the North West and one of the largest on record for the UK, a

The Morgan Foundation

massive £458,000 was raised for the Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children to provide essential equipment to disabled children in the Morgan Foundation remit area.

Over 300 children have so far received equipment, and that figure will soon rise, thanks to The Morgan Foundation renewing its support with £100k per annum.

The Way Youth Zone in Wolverhampton will benefit from this year’s big day, taking place at the Carden Park course, Cheshire, on Friday June 10.

@Morganfound

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All Together NOW!

Updated app for blind travellers

NEW voice and talk back features have been added to a free smart public transport app that is helping blind people to navigate across towns and cities worldwide.

Alex Mackenzie Torres, marketing officer at Moovit, the company behind the app, said: “By incorporating these features we’ll now be able to help even more users get around their cities smoothly.”

The new version 4.10 app works on both Android and iOS phones and enables people to plan a route from their doors to their destination. n Moovit is free to download for use in over 800 cities in 60 countries.

Very accommodating

A HOLIDAY website set up by two disabled entrepreneurs is to open an office in the US, less than a year after it launched in the UK. The accessible holiday service Accomable was set up by Martyn Sibley and Srin Madipalli, the team behind the online disability magazine Disability Horizons.

Accomable features accommodation across more than 30 countries. n www.accomable.com

TRAVELZONE

June/July 2016

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Loo-la-la!

MANCHESTER Airport has won a Platinum Award for its new Changing Places toilet facilities.

The airport’s facilities in terminals 1,2 and 3 received a five-star rating at the annual Loo of the Year awards.

Changing Places toilets meet the needs of passengers who have profound and multiple learning disabilities, and others with severe disabilities who need the support of at least one carer.

Features include a heightadjustable changing bench, an overhead track hoist, a peninsular (protruding) toilet, privacy screens and increased space.

New lanyard scheme at Gatwick

G

ATWICK Airport has launched a first-of-its-kind lanyard for passengers with hidden disabilities who may need support at the terminal.

The lanyard scheme, which is entirely voluntary, could be adopted across the country’s transport network, or other sectors,

where passengers with hidden disabilities may benefit from additional support.

The Alzheimer’s Society, National Autistic Society and Action on Hearing Loss are backing the scheme.

Stewart Wingate, Gatwick’s chief executive, said: “Travelling through a busy airport can be a challenge for passengers with hidden disabilities and we want to ensure that we’re

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doing everything we can to welcome and assist all our passengers.”

The lanyards are available free of charge from Gatwick’s assistance desks.

Gatwick Airport is the UK’s second largest airport with flights to more than 200 destinations in 90 countries for more than 40 million passengers a year. n www.gatwickairport.com

Check out this airport access guide

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N ONLINE guide that spells out access facilities at the UK’s top 20 busiest airports has been created by the Civil Aviation Authority.

The guide is in response to a CAA survey that found people with reduced mobility are ‘significantly less likely’ to have flown in the past year than those without a disability.

All 20 of the airports included in the guide have induction loop systems installed, and five airports provide text phone facilities including London City, Edinburgh and London Stansted.

Belfast City George Best will provide a text phone on request from the information desk.

Airport staff who are proficient in British Sign Language Stage 1 are also available at London Stansted and Birmingham, with most of the staff at London Stansted also being trained in deaf awareness.

Blue badge parking spaces are available at all 20 airports with eight offering free or discounted

parking options for badge holders.

Travellers wanting to take their Blue Badge on their onward journey should notify customer services, and travellers at Leeds Bradford also need to leave a photocopy of their badge in their car.

Those travelling with their own powered mobility aid should check the airport requirements prior to travel.

Travellers should also keep in mind that all airports rrequire at least 48 hours’ notice prior to travelling in order to plan and provide adequate assistance for disabled travellers.

To help parents of children with special educational needs, Birmingham provides a sensory pod that is located within the Interactive Kid’s Area.

Newcastle also allows access to the security fast track lane for families travelling with autistic children. n www.aph.com/ disabledfacilities n Tel 01342 859515

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together NOW!

June/July 2016

Free mags Jumping with joy! for young

PLANS to provide sports prosthetics for amputee children have been warmly welcomed by national charity Limbpower.

The £1.5 million NHS programme includes MAGAZINES including £500,000 to help 500 children to run or swim National Geographic Kids – and £1 million to fund the development of and BBC Horrible Histories new forms of prosthetics within the industry, are now free in different such as 3D printed limbs. formats for blind and Kiera Roche, chief executive of partially sighted children LimbPower, said: “We are over the moon. To under 16. know that 500 children will now be able to Alison Long, senior participate in school sports and other manager at the Royal recreational activities is incredible and a National Institute of Blind huge step towards equality.”

People, said: “RNIB believes that reading can make the world of difference and it is vital that all blind and partially sighted children can access the same content as their sighted peers in a fun and creative ARING for a child who has a way. life-shortening condition “Whether that’s the latest turns family life upside down. book or popular glossy Parents don’t always know what support magazine, we’re committed to delivering a great service, is available to them and so may not get the help and advice they so desperately straight to the doorsteps of need. blind and partially sighted Children’s palliative care charity children.”

Together for Short Lives are determined n To register for RNIB to help.

Newsagent, call 0303 123 They have just produced three online 9999, or email films to highlight the support they provide helpline@rnib.org.uk

Calling all you artists

Caring together

C

to families – and have developed an online guide to help parents find their way through the maze of assessments, plans and services.

Chief executive Barbara Gelb said: “I will always remember talking to a parent who told me that they found navigating education, health and care services to be like a minefield and that they were frightened going through it.

“They said that services didn’t join up and that professionals didn’t explain

T

Aaliyah has full body cerebral palsy, which severely restricts her mobility.

The new remote control profiling bed means she can independently reposition herself and not have to rely on mum, Hollie, as much to be comfortable during the night!

Hollie, from Llandudno, said: “Aaliyah regularly blogs about living with disability

Hi-tech Hi-tech help help to to ease Theo’s pain

A

BED BLOGGER AALIYAH! and has been telling everyone about the brilliant new bed. It has become a bit of a social space for her when her friends come round. And we have movie nights and bed picnics.

“The profiling feature of the bed means Aaliyah can now sit upright herself – something she couldn’t do without postural support.

“It also raises her legs so she doesn’t slip down the bed during the night and means she is more comfortable and is sleeping much better. It has made such a difference and given her more independence because she doesn’t have

A NATIONAL arts competition has been launched for disabled children and young people.

Tom Yendell, board member of the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists Trust Fund, who are organising the competition, said: “From painting to poetry, it’s sure to be an amazing platform for our entrants, not just through the awards themselves but through the travelling exhibition that will take to the road after the winners things to them. By the time the parent had have been announced.”

The competition has two made it all fit together, their child had age groups – 7-15 and 16passed away.

21 – with five categories “Our new guide aims to help prevent these tragic situations and make sure that comprising painting, photography, 3D sculpting, children with the most complex health poetry and music. needs get the joined up assessments, Top prize is £1,000 plus plans and services they need as quickly £3,000 for your as possible. I urge families to make as school/college/university. much use of our new guide as possible.” n Closing date July 31. n Helpline 0808 8088 100 www.uniqueartsawards.uk n www.togetherforshortlives.org.uk

NEWLIFE has become the UK’s largest charity funder of specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illness.

Free services available include: Equipment Grants for specialist items ranging from beds and buggies to wheelchairs and walkers; Emergency Equipment Loans for families of life limited and terminally ill children and those sleeping in unsafe environments; Play Therapy Pod Loans of sensory toys to aid development; Comfort Capsules to help families make memories; and Newlifeable, which offers refurbished equipment on a first-come, first-served basis. n For details of all services call the Newlife Nurse Helpline on 0800 902 0095 (free from UK landlines and mobiles), or visit www.newlifecharity.co.uk

WELVE-year-old YouTube star Aaliyah Canning-Williams has been blogging from her bed – since the gift of the specialist equipment arrived at her North Wales home a few weeks ago.

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to call me all the time.”

She added: “Since she started to post on YouTube she’s had hits from as far away as New Zealand, Canada and America, and people have been very positive.

They say that she’s an inspiration, which she is.”

Newlife provided the new bed with support from Cheshire-based The Morgan Foundation.

The two organisations are working together to ensure more children with disabilities and terminal illness get the right equipment at the right time throughout their area of operations.

COMPLEX condition means nine-year-old Theo Singh-Eyley has to be repositioned every two hours, day and night, to help relieve chronic pain, which is made worse by pressure sores.

But now, a hi-tech piece of equipment is set to heal the pressure sores – and the pain.

Theo, from Chesterfield, has quadriplegic cerebral palsy and is unable to move independently.

He is fed through a tube into his bowel and has access to an intravenous pain relief pump 24/7 – and also has to use oxygen equipment due to the pain.

Theo has only used his wheelchair to access hospital appointments. But his mum, Denise, wants to get him back at the heart of the family.

While recovering from major surgery at a local

hospice, Theo was able to use a piece of equipment called an Acheeva – a cross between a wheelchair, therapy table and bed – and Theo loved it!

Denise said: “He used the Acheeva all day, every day for a whole week and he didn’t have any issues with pressure sores at all.”

Newlife is now giving Theo an Acheeva of his own!

Denise said: “This will be a godsend – I can’t begin to explain the huge difference it will make to Theo’s quality of life.”

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CAREZONE

All Together NOW!

Free guide will help you stay on budget

M

ORE than 250,000 people aged 65 and over in the North West say their biggest financial fear is that their savings will run out.

And almost a third of older people in the region– 350,000 – say they have run out of money before the end of the month.

That’s according to a new survey by Independent Age, the older people’s charity, which has launched its new free Moneywise advice guide for older people, their families and carers.

The survey revealed: n One in six (16%) people aged 65 and over don’t expect to have the money needed for their funeral. n Excluding mortgage debt, over a quarter (28%) of people aged 65 and over are in debt and the average debt is over £3,600, twice as much as the national average and the most in-debt region of the UK The UK city with the most debt is Manchester, with average debts of over £4,000 There are 11.4 million people aged 65 and over in the UK, and 1.6 million of them live in poverty – 900,000 of whom live in severe poverty.

In total, £3.7 billion goes unclaimed for all benefits for older people each year.

In terms of unclaimed financial support for people aged 65 and over, the survey results show that in the North West: n Almost two in five (39%) have never checked to see if they would be eligible for benefits such as Pension Credit or Council Tax Reduction n Two-fifths (40%) didn’t know they could get a 25% discount on Council Tax if they live alone n Almost a quarter (23%) of people aged 65 and over do not have any money saved for unexpected costs, such as repairing a broken boiler or paying for a dental emergency. n One in seven (15%) of those polled would be interested in a benefits check to find out what they are entitled to, but wouldn’t know how to do it.

Lucy Harmer, director of services at Independent Age, said: “Anyone who needs more information about how to save money and boost their income should order a copy of our free Moneywise guide or call our free advice line.” n The Moneywise leaflet can be ordered for free via www.independentage.org/moneywise or by calling 0800 319 6789. n Free benefits checks can be arranged by calling 0800 319 6789.

June/July 2016

MONEY MATTERS

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

. . . with GORDON VINER

I HAVE mentioned a few times that the best bank account, in my opinion, is the Santander 123 account.

It now has a £5 monthly fee, but with cashback on your direct debits and 3% on balances up to £20,000, it is still very good value.

Are you aware that it has a credit card that you can get as an account holder with these benefits? n 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 23 months with no transfer fee. n 1% cash back on spending in most major supermarkets up to £300 per month. n 2% cash back on spending in large department stores up to £150 per month.

n 3% cash back on petrol and some other travel expenses up to £100 per month.

There is a monthly charge of £3 which is refunded for the first six months as long as you pay the credit card by monthly direct debit to your 123 account.

The average person will benefit from the 123 account (with £20,000 balance) by about £600 per annum (about £500 may be subject to tax) and from the 123 credit card by about £90 per annum for the first year, plus the saving of interest on any balance transfers.

Do have a look at both these. It really is easy to transfer bank accounts these days.

UK’s carers on the brink

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INANCIAL pressures are pushing England’s 5.4 million unpaid carers to the brink – despite new laws designed to help them.

A year after a new Care Act came into force, those supporting loved ones are still struggling to get the help they need.need.

Almost half of those caring for 35 hours or more have had to leave work - and have trouble making ends meet.

The 2016 State of Caring report, from charity Carers UK, also shows that over half of carers believe their quality of life will worsen over the year.

Under the new legislation, all carers are entitled to an assessment of their needs. But one in three carers who reported having an assessment in the past year had to wait six months or longer for the appointment.

And one-third of carers looking

GORDON VINER FCA CTA

after someone at the end of their life had to wait six months or more for an assessment.

Almost one in four had to request an assessment for themselves over the last year instead of having one offered to them, as the law requires.

Not only are carers facing barriers to getting an assessment, but the assessments they say they have received are not fit-for-purpose.

Of carers who received an assessment in the past year: n Two in three felt their need to have regular breaks from caring was either not considered or not thoroughly considered. n Only one in three felt that support to look after their own health was thoroughly considered. n Three in four working age carers did not feel that the support needed to juggle care with work was sufficiently considered. n One in five said they received

SENIOR MOMENTS

little or no helpful information or advice, and felt they didn’t know where to go for support with caring.

The research shows that those providing 50 hours or more care a week are twice as likely to be in poor health as non-carers.

But one in five of these are receiving no support whatsoever with their caring role.

Heléna Herklots, chief executive of Carers UK, said: “If the Care Act is to deliver on its promise to improve support for carers, the Government must set out a clear expectation of when carers’ assessments should be carried out, alongside investment in the care and support services that are desperately needed to back up families.

“Caring is not an issue that we can afford to ignore.” n Carers Helpline 0808 808 7777 n www.carersuk.org

. . . with FRANK HARRIS

A piece of £15bn in unclaimed cash may be yours!

ALMOST half of low income households don’t claim benefits and tax credits they could be entitled to.

Of those with disabilities, over half said they had been put off checking if they were eligible because they thought it would be a waste of time.

And one in four feel that recent welfare benefit changes have made it too difficult to apply could be entitled to, says national charity Turn2us.

As a result, nearly twothirds (65%) have not checked what welfare benefits they could be entitled to within the last year.

More than two in five of people with disabilities, who don’t currently claim benefits, said they would have to cut back on gas, electricity and other essentials if their income dropped; and nearly two in four would resort to cutting back on food.

The research is released as Turn2us launches its 2016 Benefits Awareness Campaign to help more people in financial hardship to access the welfare support available to them.

The charity is urging anyone in need to use its free and confidential Benefits Calculator at Turn2us.org.uk to see what they could be entitled to and how to make a claim.

Simon Hopkins, chief executive of Turn2us, said: “Shockingly around £15bn in welfare support still goes unclaimed every year, and as our findings show, people often feel that benefits simply aren’t for them.

“We want to show that financial hardship can happen for many different reasons and could affect anyone at any time in their lives.

“We would urge anyone who is struggling to visit our website today to check what support could be available.” n Readers can also contact the Helpline: 0808 808 2000.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

June/July 2016

All Together NOW!

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All Together NOW!

COUNTDOWN FOR A DAD TO REMEMBER

June/July 2016

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

25TH DISABILITY AWARENESS DAY

S ON THE BALL: Dave Thomson and Kathy Cowell, chair of principal sponsor, Your Housing Group. Below, reflections from DAD 2015

TAND BY for the 25th annual Disability Awareness Day – the world’s biggest vontary-led pan-disability exhibition.

Information about everything you want to know about products, services, and organisationss that can help you retain – or regain – your independence will all be available – and all in one place . . . Walton Hall Gardens, near Warrington.

“We have put so much effort into making this year’s 25th anniversary the best ever,”

said Dave Thompson, chief executive and founder of Warrington Disability Partnership.

“We are putting together a programme of events that visitors will remember for years to come.”

A huge tented village will house most of the 250 exhibition stands that are expected for this year’s spectacular.

With exhibitors from mobility and independent living equipment suppliers; transport; holidays; leisure and employment

Plenty to sing, sign and dance about . . .

n A FREE, accessible Park and Ride service will be available on the day – along with a free accessible bus service (every 30 minutes from 10am at Warrington Bus Interchange). n Other DAD services include British Sign Language (BSL) interpreters; trained assistants; and a scooter/wheelchair loan service. n For more details on DAD and DAD Week contact the WDP team on 01925 240064 or visit n www.disabilityawarenessday.org.uk

Get involved!

n THERE are lots of opportunities to join in with DAD 2016. n You can join the team as a volunteer, a DAD steward, enabler, BSL interpretor, general assistant, admin assistant, or in lots of other ways. n Call Brun on 01925 240064 and say how you would like to help.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

June/July 2016

All Together NOW!

Sunday July 10, Walton Hall Gardens, Warrington

Revving up the world!

W

ORLD BEATERS! That’s the team at Warrington Disability Partnership.

Not only are they inspiring people across the globe with their innovative ways of helping and informing disabled people, they are also intent on setting new world records!

Their latest effort is staging what they hope will become the world’s biggest parade of powered mobility scooters!

“We had a fantastic response,” said WDP chief executive Dave Thompson. “Now we are all hoping that our efforts get into the next Guinness Book of World Records.”

The Warrington charity has also launched its ‘WDP Scooter Safe campaign’ that promotes the safe use of mobility scooters.

Back row: Gavin Thompson (WDP commercial manager), Mike Hough (WDP fundraising & community engagement officer).

Front, Ray Mann (Golden Square Shopping Centre), Tom Coleridge (WDP disability information officer), Ian Cox (Golden Square Centre manager), Cynthia Salluyts (WDP trustee), and Anna Chrystal (Golden Square marketing manager)

providers; support groups and services, it is set to inspire visitors to travel from all over the UK and beyond.

Also on-site will be the fully accessible Sports Zone, supported by Active Cheshire, with an impressive assortment of activities including archery; penalty shootout; small bore rifle shooting; new age curling; and accessible rugby.

There will also be a chance to play football and tennis with Warrington

Information at your fingertips!

Wolves Community Foundation, and try your hand at boxing, golf, and even scuba diving, thanks to Cheshire Scuba Academy.

If that’s not enough to whet your appetite, experts from the worlds of martial arts, wheelchair basketball, and wheelchair fencing will also be there to

guide you.

Disabled performers, including Carly Ryan, from the BBC’s Autistic Superstars show, and nationally acclaimed drama group Ella Performance, will be taking to the stage.

There will also be an exhibition of

artwork produced by disabled artists.

Dave continued: “It is testament to the hard work and commitment of DAD’s army of volunteers that the event has grown in size and quality.

“DAD’s history is a great example of just how far a ‘can do’ attitude can take you. Our success has led to similar events being held far afield as India, Uganda, Egypt, Gibraltar and Cameroon!”

WHAT A WEEK

SATURDAY JULY 2 10.30am - 4.30pm. Launch of DAD 2016. Old Market Place, Golden Square Warrington All events below at Walton Hall Gardens . . .

TUESDAY JULY 5 9.30am - 12.30pm. Schools Disability Matters Schools Event 1pm - 3pm ‘Wise Up Event’ – Schools Event. Making young people aware of Hate Crime and bullying.

7.00 - 10.30pm. Frogtastic. Two fantastic tribute acts – Rod Stewart and Amy Winehouse – as well as singer Carly Ryan.

WEDNESDAY JULY 6 Ignite Your Life - Mental Health & Wellbeing Workshops 7pm – 11pm - Mayor of Warrington - Multi-Culture

THURSDAY JULY 7 1pm - 4pm. Carers Tea Party in the Park 5.00pm - 7.30pm. Children’s Party in the Park 8pm – 10.30pm. Wingate’s Brass Band. Buy tickets online at www. disabilityawarenessday.org.uk

FRIDAY JULY 8 7.30pm - 11.30pm. DAD Mega BBQ Buy tickets online at www. disabilityawarenessday.org.uk

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All Together NOW!

New disability award for businesses A NEW national award has been launched for businesses that proactively work toward driving down the extra costs commonly faced by consumers with disability.

The new ‘Extra Costs Award’ has been added to the Disability-smart Awards scheme run by the Business Disability Forum, which works with 300 leading organisations.

Robin Hindle Fisher, chair of the Extra Costs Commission, said: “It is terrific that companies are being recognised for engaging enthusiastically with disabled consumers, customers and employees.

“There are 12 million disabled people in the UK, whose spending power is estimated to be worth £212 billion a year, the so-called ‘purple pound’.

“This means that disabled people have the potential to be a hugely powerful consumer force.

“Life costs more if you are disabled, but more competition in the markets for the goods and services disabled people require will push down some of the extra costs of disability.”

Family help . . .

FAMILIES with disabled children in the North West are to get more help and advice, thanks to the Big Lottery Fund.

National charity Contact a Family has been handed more than £400,000 to help families in need.

In addition to holding information days and workshops, Contact a Family will set up face to face work with families specifically in Manchester, Liverpool and East Lancashire.

“Over the next three years the funding will help us directly support over 800 families,” said Jane Burns, director of fundraising for the charity.” n Helpline - 0808 808 3555 n www.cafamily.org.uk

Speechless!

DEAFBLIND charity Sense has raised concerns at the Government’s lack of focus on breaking down barriers and building opportunities for disabled people.

Commenting on the Queen’s Speech, Richard Kramer, the charity’s deputy chief executive, said: “It is disappointing that no mention was made of a clear plan to build opportunities for people with disabilities.

“The Government made an admirable manifesto pledge to halve the disability employment gap by 2030, but the reality is that there are still a huge number of barriers that prevent many people with disabilities from securing meaningful employment, such as negative employer attitudes, inaccessible transport and inadequate work support programmes.”

NEWS

June/July 2016

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

PITCH PERFECT: Students hold their own in the Together Trust’s Dragons’ Den

Students win over the charity dragons

All aboard – at last!

STUDENTS from the Together Trust found themselves in a BBC style Dragons’ Den, pitching their ideas on how to improve the charity’s facilities.

Contestants competed for a slice of £30,000 of voluntary income to help fund their project.

Successful pitches included £27,000 for a

sports facility and youth club space, and £1,500 for a common room area at Bridge College -– the Together Trust’s further education college in Openshaw for 16 to 25 year olds with complex needs – and outdoor equipment at the charity’s Ashcroft School in Cheadle for Duke of Edinburgh pursuits.

The Together Trust supports over 2,300 children, adults and families with a range of learning difficulties, physical disabilities or complex needs in the North West each year. n Together Trust, tel 0161 283 4848 n www.togethertrust.org.uk

Taxi laws to be enforced 20 years on

T

AXI drivers will no longer be able to refuse to accept wheelchair-users – or charge them extra for a journey, writes JOHN PRING

Sections 165 and 167 of the Equality Act 2010 will come into force this year – 20 years after they were first included in legislation.

Successive Conservative, Labour and coalition governments have refused to bring the measures into force, which were included in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and then incorporated into the Equality Act 2010.

The Government’s low-key announcement, during a debate on taxi licensing regulations, appears to be the first success to follow the work of the House of Lords’ Equality Act 2010 and disability committee, which reported in March on how equality legislation affected disabled people.

Baroness Thomas, the disabled Liberal Democrat peer whose idea it was to set up the Equality Act committee, welcomed the news.

She said: “It is almost certain that

the only reason they have agreed to this now is because it was highlighted in the report of the Lords committee on the Equality Act and disability published in March.

“I hope they will also look at the other recommendations in the report, and act accordingly.”

Lord Holmes, the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s disability commissioner, said the announcement was long overdue and would finally give disabled people the right to travel by taxi on an equal basis.

Open all hours . . .

SOUTHPORT’s New Leaf garden centre – run by people with disabilities – is now open seven days a week.

Lesley Henderson, manager at Sefton’s social care provider New Directions, said: “Everyone is excited that we’ll be open every day of the week. Customers will have the satisfaction of knowing that their purchases are supporting our service users who are learning useful new life and work skills,” added Lesley. n New Leaf is located at Park Lodge greenhouses on Rotten Row. Tel, 01704 562406.

HALF A MILLION READERS . . .

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

We've advertised in All Together NOW! almost since the beginning.

It's a fantastic publication which does a brilliant job of presenting disability interests and issues in a positive and inclusive manner.

I always look forward to seeing the paper, and the team is always great to deal with.

Best wishes for the next 11 years!

Donald Pow, managing director, Allied Mobility

June/July 2016

All Together NOW!

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All Together NOW!

LETTERS

Polio: this is why we must work together

THE news that seven Pakistani policemen were killed in Karachi while guarding polio vaccination workers was a tragedy, especially when we’re so close to eradicating polio once and for all from the only two remaining countries who count the disease as endemic – Pakistan and Afghanistan.

With nearly 80 people who were helping polio vaccination programmes killed since December 2012, I welcome the news that security for such workers will be increased.

People who are helping to save lives are, ironically, putting their own lives at risk.

To eradicate a condition which has already caused enough pain and damage, we must all work together – only then will we see polio vanish. n The British Polio Fellowship 0800 043 1935. www.britishpolio.org.uk Ted Hill MBE CEO, The British Polio Fellowship

Who’s for lunch?

IS THERE anything better than catching up with friends over lunch?

We at Talbot House think not and this summer we are asking you to do just that while helping our charity with The Great Manchester Lunch.

Talbot House has been supporting the parent carers of people with learning disabilities for over 35 years.

Holding a Great Manchester Lunch is really easy – you can do it at work or at home, in schools or even in the wider community.

You can make it as spectacular or simple as you would like, from a marquee in the garden for 50 of your nearest and dearest to a picnic in the park with your kids and all their friends.

For a free fundraising pack visit www.talbot-house.org.uk or by call 0161 203 4095.

Tom Hall, Fundraising manager, Talbot House Support Centre, High Peak Street, Newton Heath, Manchester, M40 3AT

Plane good sense

WOULD readers kindly support my epetition to enable those wheelchair users who are unable to transfer to an airplane seat to travel in their chairs?

Both my children (young adults really at 21 & 23) are disabled – they neither walk nor talk.

Boarding and disembarkation of an aircraft would be so much swifter, easier and smoother.

I am also sure most wheelchair users would still be happy to transfer to an airplane seat where they can.

If they can test seating for economy, business class, club class etc. surely they can do the same for clamping for wheelchair users.

I have spoken (discreetly) to cabin crew, pilots and others in the airline industry who all believe that it can be done.

Surely they could create a space for wheelchairs to be clamped in safely Christopher Ward

June/July 2016

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

OPINION

This mobile app could be a real life saver

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HENEVER I check into a hotel I am given a form on which I provide details of my impairment and the assistance I will require in an emergency.

What then happens to that piece of paper is something of a mystery but it is important.

Many people believe that if a building catches fire it is the responsibility of the fire service to rescue the people in there.

In fact, the responsibility lies firmly with the owners or managers of the building.

That is why employers and people who manage buildings and other facilities to which the public have access should have robust evacuation procedures while simultaneously ensuring disabled people

can use their services. In many cases a Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) will need to be prepared.

It has to be personal: the evacuation needs of a deaf person, who does not hear an alarm, are different to that of a blind person in an unfamiliar building.

Their needs are different to a wheelchair user or someone with a learning disability.

How can disabled people be guided along the best route to evacuate the building?

How do the building managers know where disabled people in the building are located?

A Merseyside company, formed by disabled people, has developed a

The long road to making life easier

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RITAIN’S first campaign to enable disabled people to access public buildings was in the 1960s.

The then Central Council for the disabled employed Denny Denley who – as the country’s first access officer – set up the Disabled Drivers’ Association in 1948.

The issue was taken increasingly seriously in Parliament and The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1977 decreed that new buildings should be accessible insofar as it was “practicable and reasonable”.

A High Court case in Liverpool against Classic Cinemas quickly illustrated how companies, even building a new cinema, could argue it was impractical and unreasonable to to create access for disabled people.

In the mid-1980s building regulations were introduced that required new buildings open to the public to be

designed to provide access for disabled people.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 required existing buildings to be made accessible by 2004 where this was reasonable. At this point there was a Disability Rights Commission to enforce the law – but it was abolished in 2007.

The right of access does not just apply to buildings.

Increasingly, Britain’s bus fleet has access facilities to enable wheelchair users to get on and off the bus.

The work of making buses accessible was done in the 1980s and 1990s. But there was little point in the buses being accessible to wheelchair users if they could not get to the bus stop.

The main problem was kerbstones that are often six inches or more high.

That is why the tactile (ramped) pavements were designed: they enable wheelchair users to get up and down kerbs and provide tactile information to

solution. They have developed an app that can be downloaded onto a mobile phone free of charge.

On this they answer a number of questions about their needs in an emergency.

This can be downloaded to any company which has the sister app and is instantly turned into a PEEP. In the case of an emergency evacuation detailed instructions on what they should do appears on the person’s telephone including pictures of the corridors they should use, the location of fire safe lifts, refuges etc.

SOUNDING OFF n The app can be downloaded fromnEvacu8me.com

SIR BERT MASSIE blind people so they know where the pavement stops and the road begins.

Many city leaders think everything is all right providing the main shopping centre is accessible. But how do people get to it if they cannot get to the local bus stop to catch the bus?

Good to see then the work being done

by Liverpool City Council who are raising the level of bus stops so people can get on and off buses more easily. It is also ramping pavements – not only at junctions of side streets but also across the driveways of people’s homes.

I can think of many roads where these driveways cross the pavement, with a kerb several inches high on either side. It often forces wheelchair users to travel on the road because they cannot negotiate the pavement.

Well done to Liverpool for not only making life easier for disabled people but also safer.

Time to get out and about?

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E B THE

June/July 2016

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All Together NOW!

June/July 2016

www.alltogethe

INFORMING AND HELPING HALF A MILLION READERS .

How YOU can help to keep this paper alive and kicking

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OUR FREE and favourite All Together NOW! charity paper is celebrating its ELEVENTH anniversary – and here’s your chance to help keep it alive and kicking for years to come.

Funded entirely through advertising, partnerships and grants, and donations, the multi award-winning newspaper is helping and informing hundreds of thousands of people affected by ill health and disability – and is the only one of its kind in the UK. But publishing newspapers is a hugely costly business.

To save money, more and more organisations are ditching their print information and switching to the Internet.

But in doing so they are denying huge numbers of people from accessing what might be vital news and information – and especially the six out of ten disabled people (6 million) who are not connected, and a similar number of older people.

We believe this is wrong.

Not only are we are determined to continue making this UNIQUE newspaper freely available, we also aim to significantly increase the numbers of papers available across Merseyside, Manchester and Cheshire.

But to do so, we need YOUR help.

We are now appealing to businesses, charities and readers to help us to carry on the good work by becoming a FRIEND of All Together NOW!

A small donation would mean so much

If you are a UK taxpayer we will be able to get £2.50 from the Government for every gift of £10. So if you are able to donate £20, then the All Together NOW! charity would get an extra fiver! There’s a Gift Aid form on the right of this page to help you.

You can text a donation from your mobile phone (DONATE ATNOW to 88802), or commit to a regular monthly donation via the Charity Checkout link at www.alltogethernow.org.uk You can also send a cheque to the charity.

One other great way of helping would be for readers in employment to persuade their organisations to get involved with the charity – either as an advertiser, partner or as a Corporate Friend!

All of our partners place health and equality high on their agendas, so if your organisation fits the bill this could be the start of a great relationship.

Sir Bert Massie, Liverpool’s former chairman of the Disability Rights Commission, is one of the paper’s biggest fans. He says: “All Together NOW! is more than just a newspaper. It is the key that opens a thousand doors.”

With your help we can secure the paper’s future – and make it bigger, better and open even more doors.

And that has to be good for EVERYONE.

Thank you _ Tom Dowling, editor

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“WE HAVE had the pleasure of working with All Together NOW! since the newspaper’s launch 11 years ago. The publication and online platform provide a vital link for disabled people and their families to what’s on regionally and nationally.

“The service provides advertisers, like ourselves, with a cost-effective solution to sharing messages about products and services. We look forward to working TOGETHER for years to come.”

This is more than ju it is the key that open

Dave Thompson MBE DL, Co-founder & Chief Executive, Warrington Disability Partnership

Reaching people other media can’t

“WORKING with All Together NOW! over the last five years has been a great privilege.

“The community paper continues to grow and develop and is read by a huge audience that we couldn’t reach using other regional traditional media.

“The values of the ATN team fit perfectly with our Trust and help us to engage our local communities in improving health and services.”

James Brown, Head of Communications, Engagement & Marketing, Liverpool Community Health Trust

INFORMATION is vital for all of us to our lives. But if you are affected by d long-term health conditions finding s and information to help you is far fro That’s why All Together NOW! is so im We are proud to be involved in its dev

Steve Morgan OBE, chairman, The Mo

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June/July 2016

. . . BUT WE CAN ONLY DO IT WITH

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SUPPORT

HE Government operates a scheme called Gift Aid that allows charities to claim the basic rate tax on every pound donated.

So for every £10 you donated to All Together NOW!, the charity would be able to get another £2.50 from the Government!

Giving under Gift Aid means that so much more money can be raised at no extra cost to our donors.

Gift Aid Declaration Form

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I would like to be a FRIEND of All Together NOW! and agree to donate

Name

to the charity.

Address

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All Together NOW!

SIR BERT MASSIE: one of the UK’s leading disability campaigners – and one of All Together NOW!’s biggest fans

“WE HAVE advertised in All Together NOW! almost since the beginning.

“It’s a fantastic publication which does a brilliant job of presenting disability interests and issues in a positive and inclusive manner.

“I always look forward to seeing the paper and the team is always great to deal with.

Best wishes for the next 11 years!

Donald Pow, managing director, Allied Mobility

“CORPORTATE social responsibility is high on our agenda and this free charity newspaper is making an enormous social contribution.”

Paul Barrow, senior partner, Quinn Barrow

Tel No:

If you are a UK taxpayer, the value of your donations can increase by 25% under the Gift Aid scheme – at no additional cost to you! Please tick the box below to join the Gift Aid scheme.

notice.

I am a UK taxpayer*. Please treat all donations I make or have made to All Together Now for the past 4 years as Gift Aid donations until further

DATE:

It may be that having read the information on this form you feel that your donation does not qualify for Gift Aid. If this is the case please tick the relevant box below..

I cannot complete the Gift Aid form because:

I am not a UK taxpayer

I do not pay enough tax each year to cover the tax on the gift * Please be aware that you must have paid an amount of income and/or capital gains tax at least equal to the amount of tax reclaimed by all charities and Community Amateur Sports Clubs on all your donations in the tax year (6th April one year to 5th April the next).We can currently receive an extra 25p for every £1 you donate. Please let us know if your tax circumstances or name/address change so that we can update our records.

Please return this form with your donation to:

All Together Now, The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP

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All Together NOW!

SHOPMOBILITY

n ALTRINCHAM. Tel 0161 929 1714 n ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE. Tel 0161 339 9500 n BARROW. Tel 01229 434039 n BIRKENHEAD. Tel 0151 647 6162 n BLACKBURN AND DARWEN. Tel 01254 690566 or 07757 502217 n BLACKPOOL. Tel 01253 349 427 n BOLTON. Tel 01204 392946 n CARLISLE. Tel 01228 631564 n CHESTER. Tel 01244 312626 n CHORLEY. Tel 01257 260 888 n COLWYN BAY. Tel 01492 533822 n CREWE. Tel 01270 580 031 n ELLESMERE PORT. Tel 0151 355 1420 n KENDAL. Tel 01539 740 933 n LEIGH, Wigan. Tel 01942 777 985 n LIVERPOOL. Tel 0151 707 0877 n MANCHESTER Trafford Centre. Tel 0161 747 2684 n MANCHESTER Arndale Centre. Tel 0161 839 4060 n NELSON. Tel 01282 692 502 n NORTHWICH, Vale Royal Tel 01606 288820 n OSWESTRY. Tel 01691 656882 n PENRITH. Tel 01768 895 438 n PRESTON. Tel 01772 204 667 n RHYL. Tel 01745 350665 n ROCHDALE. Tel 01706 865 986 n RUNCORN, Halton Lea Tel 01928 716971 n SHREWSBURY. Tel 01743 236900 SKELMERSDALE. Tel 01695 550066 n ST HELENS. Tel 01744 613 388 n STOCKPORT. Tel 0161 666 1100 n WARRINGTON. Tel 01925 240064 n WARRINGTON. Birchwood Tel 01925 822 411 n WIGAN. Tel 01942 776 070 n WINSFORD. Tel 01606 557550 n WREXHAM. Tel 01978 292065 MIDLANDS n BIRMINGHAM. Snow Hill Railway Station. Tel 0121 236 8980. Level 2, Centre Car Park, Bullring. Tel 0121 616 2942 n STAFFORD. Tel 01785 619456 n STOKE ON TRENT. Tel 01782 233333 n SUTTON COLDFIELD. Tel 0121 355 1112 n TAMWORTH. Tel, 01827 709392 n WALSALL. Tel 01922 650781 n WEST BROMWICH: Sandwell. Tel 0121 553 1943 n WOLVERHAMPTON. Tel 01902 556021

June/July 2016

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Are YOU one of our lucky winners?

CARERS’ CENTRES

THE FIVE lucky winners of our recent gardening competition are:

Mrs S Thomas, Derby Road, Liverpool (picked up her copy of All Together NOW! at Garston HNS Centre) E Lewis, Hornby Road, Walton, Liverpool (Breeze Hill Health Centre) Tony Nuttall, Canberra Avenue, St Helens (St Helens Hospital) Mrs S Llewellyn, Mansion Drive, Croxteth, Liverpool (Yew Tree Medical Centre) Mr T Kelly, Borough Road, St Helens (ASDA St Helens) All winners receive the new sweet pea – Sublime Scent Mix – and pop up planter from Sutton Seeds

HELP AT THE END OF A PHONE

n ANGLESEY: TARAN Tel 01407 721933 n BLACKPOOL Disability Information and Support.

Tel 01253 472 202.

Textphone 01253 476 450 n CHESHIRE CIL Tel 01606 331853 n CHESTER Dial House Tel 01244 345655 n DENBIGHSHIRE Tel 01745 354445 n ELLESMERE PORT DICE Tel 0151 355 1420 n HALTON Disability Service Tel 01928 717222 n KNOWSLEY DISABILITY CONCERN. 0151 480 4090 n LANCASTER DISC Tel 01524 34411 n LIVERPOOL Association of Disabled People. Tel 0151 263 8366. Text 0151 260 4076 n MERSEYSIDE Coalition of Inclusive Living.

Tel 0151 260 4001 n NEUROSUPPORT Centre Tel 0151 298 2999 n MANCHESTER (GTR) Coalition of Disabled People Tel 0161-273 5154 n MOLD Flintshire Disability Tel 01352 755546 n NELSON: Pendle Pakistan Welfare Association.

Tel 01282 603 616 n PRESTON DISC: Tel 01772 558 863.

Textphone 01772 204 787 n RHYL Tel 01745 350665 n STOCKPORT: Disability Stockport. 0161 480 7248 n WARRINGTON Disability Partnership. 01925 240064

n WIRRAL WIRED Tel 0151 670 1500 n WEST LANCS HELPLINE Freefone 0800 220676 n ST HELENS DASH Tel 01744 453053

MIDLANDS n BIRMINGHAM Disability Resource Centre Tel 0121 789 7365 n Disabled People’s Network Solihull Tel 0121 788 1544 n STOKE: Disability Solutions Tel 01782 683800 n WOLVERHAMPTON Elder and Disabled Group Tel 01902 448552

ORGANISATIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE BLIND n ACCRINGTON Tel 01254 233332 n BARROW Tel 01229 820698 n BIRMINGHAM Action for Blind Tel 0121 665 4200 n BLACKBURN Tel 0125 554143 n BLACKPOOL: N-Vision Tel 01253 362696 n BURY Tel 0161 763 7014 n BURNLEY Tel 01282 438507 n CARLISLE: Action for Blind People Tel 01228 595121 CHESHIRE & N WALES: Vision Support. Tel 01244 381515 n CUMBRIA (West) Tel 01946 592474 n CUMBRIA (Sth Lakeland) Tel 01539 726613 n GUIDE DOGS

Tel 0118 983 5555 n HENSHAW’S 0161 872 234 Tel 0151 708 7055 n LIVERPOOL: Bradbury Fields.Tel 0151 221 0888: Action for Bind Tel 0151 298 3222 n MANCHESTER: Action for Blind Tel 0161 787 9252 n PRESTON: Action for Blind People Tel 01772 320550 n OLDHAM Tel 0161 682 8019 n ROSSENDALE Tel 01706 873256 n SIGHTLINE (North West) Tel 0800 587 2252 n WIGAN Tel 01942 242891 n WIRRAL Tel 0151 652 8877

ORGANISATIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DEAF n BIRMINGHAM Institute for Deaf Tel 0121 246 6101 n CHESHIRE Deaf Society Tel 01606 47831 n CUMBRIA Deaf Society Tel 01228 606434 n LANCASHIRE (EAST) Deaf Society Tel 01282 839180 n MANCHESTER Deaf Centre Tel 0161 273 3415 Genie Networks.

Tel 0161 941 4549.

Text 18001 0161 941 4549 n MERSEYSIDE Society for Deaf Tel 0151 228 0888 n ST HELENS: Deafness Resource Centre Tel 01744 23887 n WOLVERHAMPTON Centre for Deaf Tel 01902 420904 n N WALES Deaf Association, Tel 01492 542235

n ACCRINGTON Tel 01254 387 444 n BLACKBURN with DARWEN Tel 01254 688 www.bwdcarers.org n BLACKPOOL Blackpool Borough Council, Tel 01253 477 716 nCUMBRIA Carlisle.

Tel 01228 542 156 Penrith.

Tel 01768 890 280 Barrow-in-Furness.

Tel 01229 822 822 Kendal.

Tel 01539 732 927 Whitehaven, Tel 01946 592 223 n CHESHIRE Helpline: 0800 085 0307 n KNOWSLEY Tel 0151 549 1412 n LANCASTER Tel 01524 66475 nLIVERPOOL Tel 0151 705 2307 n MANCHESTER Tel 0161 835 2995 n MORECAMBE Tel 01524 833456 n PRESTON Tel 01772 200173 n RUNCORN Tel 01928 580182 n WIDNES Tel 0151 257 9673 n SALFORD Tel 0161 833 0217 n SEFTON Tel 0151 288 6060 n ST HELENS Tel 01744 675 615 n STOCKPORT Tel 0161 442 0442 n WARRINGTON Tel 01925 644 212 n WEST LANCS Tel 01695 711243 n WIGAN & LEIGH Tel 01942 683711 MIDLANDS n BIRMINGHAM Tel 0121 675 8000 n SOLIHULL Tel 0121 788 1143 n WALSALL Tel 01922 610 810 NORTH WALES n ANGLESEY Tel 01248 722828 n BANGOR Tel 01248 370 797 n CONWY Tel 01492 533714 n DENBIGHSHIRE: NEWCIS, Tel: 0845 603 3187 nDOLGELLAU Tel 01341 421167 n FLINTSHIRE: NEWCIS, Tel: 01352 751436 n WREXHAM CARERS SERVICE Tel: 0800 276 1070

INDEPENDENT LIVING

Giving people a voice

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

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HE creators of new computer software that gives a voice to people with communications difficulties, have won £50,000 to make it available.

AzuleJoe was designed by NorthWest based programmer Joe Reddington and speech and language therapy technician Kate McCullum. Both have younger brothers using communication devices.

“The pair scooped the jackpot at the 2016 national Inclusive Technology Prize, which showcases new technology that can make a difference to disabled people’s lives.

Joe – based in Lancaster – and Kate’s software creates a screenbased tool that lets users select the word they want from icons representing words.

The device will then “speak” the word. It can even be customised to include the user’s jokes and personal stories, and will run on a variety of platforms, including iPads, laptops and Kindles, without a complex set up, making it accessible to as many people as possible.

Also receiving financial and development support were Nimble, a one finger package opener; and

All Together NOW!

June/July 2016

Shoes and gloves that can make life easier LET’S TALK: Jane Jenkinson using AzuleJoe software. INSET, Kate McCallum. PICTURE: Gaham Flack

A shopping centre with vision

Active Hands’ Fine Motor Aid and Limb Difference Aid, gripping aids that can help with everything from using gym equipment to applying eye liner.

Other finalists included a 3D printed, functioning bionic hand for amputees; and a wheelchair lap belt that can be used with just one hand.

Justin Tomlinson, Minister for

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LIVERPOOL ONE is striving to be the UK’s number one retail and leisure destination for people with a visual impairment.

And helping them to achieve their goal is the team at Christopher Grange Visual Rehabilitation Centre, who helped them to understand some of the everyday issues that blind people face.

Christopher Grange manager Mike Bailey said: “Liverpool ONE truly want to make a difference to their customers shopping experience.

“They have become the first shopping destination in the country to complete our national award winning Visual Impairment Awareness Training.” n ONE FOR ALL Chris Bliss, left, Liverpool ONE manager, and Mike Bailey

Disabled People, said: “The technology may be complex, but the ambition is simple: to harness the power of the latest advances and use it to address the barriers faced by disabled people on a daily basis.

“The technologies we’ve seen in the Inclusive Technology Prize have the power to transform the lives

of disabled people and support their independence.

“Each entrepreneur can be proud of their contribution towards this.”

The competition attracted more than 200 entries from across the country.

n www.inclusivetechprize.org

TWO young inventors are using cutting-edge design to help people with Parkinson’s disease and other disabilities.

Students Joon Faii Ong and Lise Pape were both shortlisted at the AXA PPP Health Tech & You Awards, with Lise taking first prize.

Her winning entry is the Path Finder shoe, which helps people who suffer from “freezing of gait”, described as feet remaining “glued to the floor”.

Four out of 10 people with Parkinson’s disease suffer from falls each year, costing the NHS £2.3bn every year.

Lise’s company, Walk with Path, has developed shoes mounted with lasers that project green lines ahead as the person walks, activated by a sensor in each heel that monitors the user’s walking pattern and pace.

The shoe produces a line, which provides a visual cue to step “over”.

Joon Faii Ong’s device is an unobtrusive glove, which aids people with debilitating hand tremors.

The glove uses gyroscopic engineering principles mixed with hitech sensors to counteract the tremors and stabilise the hand.

Both inventors are students at Imperial College, London.

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All Together NOW!

‘Welfare-to-work is just not working. . .’

A NEW report says the Government’s welfare-to-work provision is failing in its ambitions to enable more people with long-term conditions to enter work.

The report from The Work Foundation – part of Lancaster University – says that although there are some pockets of good practice and examples of local innovation across the UK, the support is not as effectively or comprehensively available as it could and should be.

Karen Steadman, health and work policy lead at The Work Foundation, and co-author of the report, said: “The Government pledged to halve the disability-employment gap by 2020 and next year will be launching its ‘Work and Health Programme’ to support this.

“However it now needs to reflect on the inadequacies of the current system, and re-build trust to ensure claimants and stakeholders engage with it.

“It is clear that much of the current provision is not effectively meeting the public need.” n Labour Force Survey statistics indicate that just 46% of people with a disability are in work compared to 74% of the working population as a whole.

Just the job

A NEW online education/employment guide is now available to help people who have just become disabled or diagnosed with a long-term health condition.

The guide, ‘Get back to where we do belong: An employment skills guide for people with newly acquired disabilities or health conditions’, includes advice on: what to expect from employers; advice and signposting on careers, education, training opportunities and welfare benefits; coping strategies and resilience. n www.disabilityrightsuk.org

Apprentices for all

A TASKFORCE has been set up to help more people with learning disabilities to access apprenticeships.

The move comes as part of the Government’s goal to create three million apprenticeships by 2020, and to halve the disability employment gap.

The taskforce will be led by Paul Maynard MP for Blackpool North and Cleveleys, and will include employers, training providers, charities and educational experts.

Skills Minister Nick Boles said: “This taskforce will focus on how apprenticeships can be more accessible to people with learning disabilities so everyone can be part of the apprenticeships success story.”

Only 6% of people with learning difficulties are currently in employment. n The taskforce has been created by the Department of Work and Pensions, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, and the Department for Education.

June/July 2016

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

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

Can YOU help make my dream come true?

WHEN YOU can’t use your arms or legs – and are unable to speak – choreography may not be the obvious career choice. But who wants to be obvious . . ?

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by LISA SIMPSON

HE first time I decided I was in love with dance and wanted my own business was when I went to dance presentation at a “mainstream” school.

I say mainstream because I had spent my childhood at special schools.

You see, I was born with quadriplegia cerebral palsy – which means I have very limited use of my arms and legs – and unable to talk.

So for me to work in dance – and run my own business – was a dream.

I spent the next few years studying business and finance, as well as visual art and design. I also met some wonderful people along the way who gave me great support in lots of ways. All in all, it’s what’s got me to where I am today.

I have always been a “glass half full” girl who wants to achieve just as much, if not more, than someone who does not have my challenges.

Oh, I forgot to say how I communicate . . .

I use a “transparent eye pointing board” and my PA, or whoever is with me at the time, holds it up between us. I then look at which letters I want to say and the person says each letter out loud. It sounds more complicated than it is, believe me!

One of the biggest boosts to my career came when Adam Benjamin, co-founder and joint artistic director of CandoCo Dance

Company, visited my college. He was inspired by the methods by which I produced visual artwork, and wondered whether this could be done with bodies!

He then arranged a five-day residency involving students with and without disabilities. The result was The Simpson Board – named after yours truly! – which is a choreography tool that lets people with limited or no verbal communication create their own piece of work.

Three years later, it all went a bit wrong for me. After working really hard to do a BTEC HND in Performing Arts, I was unable to get a place at university and felt utterly dejected.

But not being someone to do nothing and think “poor me” I left residential college and went to Wakefield College, which also had its challenges in moving into renting accommodation to do an Access to Higher Education before doing a Foundation Art and Design course.

The staff, though, were absolutely amazing.

They couldn’t do enough for me and I went on to get my degree in Surface Pattern

Design at the University of Huddersfield.

I also got lots of help from a mainstream dancer/choreographer. I watched her teach – and learned so much.

My dream was now very much back on. All I needed to do was set up my own business – Lisa Simpson Inclusive Dance – and beg, steal or borrow from anyone who was prepared to help me succeed.

Six years on and I admit it’s not been easy.

I have done lots of work at cost or at a loss, but I really do believe that I will make a success of my business.

I’ve also been lucky in getting a grant from Arts Council England to support and make my business sustainable over the next two years.

I am now planning to keep All Together NOW! readers fully informed of my journey.

If my story inspires anyone with challenges in life to go right ahead and achieve their dream then what a bonus that would be!

However, we all need some help sometimes so if any businesses or individuals would like to help me that would be fantastic.

One of my current challenges is dealing with the high bank charges! So please let me know if you know of a bank that is especially friendly to small enterprises like mine!

Here’s to the next two years – fingers crossed!

n Lisa can be contacted by calling 07814 232189

JUST WHAT THE DOCTOR ORDERED!

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

June/July 2016

All Together NOW!

REACHING PEOPLE OTHER NEWSPAPERS AREN’T! . . . HALF of our readers DON’T read any other LOCAL NEWSPAPER

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BRILLIANT – FULL OF HOPE, BEAUTIFULLY PRODUCED

. . . the ONLY paper that focuses on helping readers affected by age, ill health and disability

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MEDICAL NOTES Eye condition set to be diagnosed early SCIENTISTS have come up with a new test that can spot the first stages of sight loss in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

The test could lead to earlier diagnosis for millions of people worldwide.

Professor Roger Anderson, who led the research team at the National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, said: “We have designed a new vision test – the Moorfields Acuity Chart – that can more reliably detect the earliest vision loss associated with age-related macular degeneration so that we can enter patients on treatment regimes more quickly, and monitor them more reliably than ever before.”

Standard letter charts are not consistent or sensitive enough to give an early diagnosis accurately or to monitor AMD’s progress.

To address the problem, the team invented a new test chart, called the Moorfields Acuity Chart (MAC), that uses letters – known as ‘high-pass’ letters – built up from fine (high spatial frequency) black-and-white stripes. n In the UK, more than half a million over-50s have a form of AMD, and the figure is set to rise as the population ages. n Most sight loss from AMD happens in the later stages, but, until now, there has been no quick and reliable sight test that can detect the earliest changes in the retina in AMD.

Who is your hero?

HAVE YOU been affected by meningitis – a condition that can kill or leave survivors with lifelong after-effects such as hearing loss, epilepsy, limb loss or learning difficulties?

If so, here’s your chance to highlight your achievements – or thank your personal heroes who have helped you back on the road to recovery.

Meningitis Now, the charity that helps people affected by the disease, is celebrating 30 amazing years of the meningitis movement in the UK by asking people to contribute to its online photo-wall.

Amanda Oxford, director of fundraising and communications, said: “We want to showcase as many stories from the last 30 years as we can, and use this inspiration to create national awareness of the ongoing fight against meningitis.’’

Anyone with a meningitis experience can submit their stories and photos at www.MeningitisNow.org anytime before Saturday, October 15. n For the freephone helpline, call 0808 8010388.

June/July 2016

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How to keep your ticker in tip top order

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HEN it comes to keeping your heart as healthy as possible, there are some factors such as genetics that you can’t change.

If you have a family history of heart disease, then you are at increased risk yourself.

However, there is plenty you can do to decrease your risk whether you have a family tendency or not.

Here are some proven changes you can start making today to reduce your risk of heart problems in the future.

Bin the fags

Smokers die TEN years earlier than nonsmokers as shown in a study of a million UK women published last year. If you can stop smoking before you are 40, you are TEN times less likely to have health problems than if you continue. As well as benefiting your heart, you will see rapid improvements in your breathing, mood and reduce your risk of stroke, diabetes, cancer, circulation problems and numerous other problems.

Watch your weight

The association between heart disease and being overweight is extremely strong – not least because obesity puts you at risk of type 2 diabetes which, in itself, increases the risk of heart disease and multiple other conditions.

If you carry more weight around your waist than your hips you are even more at risk.

To calculate your waist to hip ratio, divide your waist measurement by your hip measurement. A high ratio (over 0.85 for women or 1 for men) means increased risk of health problems such as heart attacks, high blood pressure or diabetes – even if you aren’t that overweight.

Fat-free?

You have probably been advised to cut out saturated fats and replace butter with unsaturated fat spreads.

This is because a diet high in saturated fats is thought to be one factor that leads to high

by Dr Sally Norton NHS Weight Loss Surgeon & Consultant www.vavistalife.com

levels of bad cholesterol in the blood… which in turn may cause narrowing of the arteries and heart attacks.

However, there is now some controversy as to whether these dietary changes make much difference to your risk of heart disease.

A recent overview of multiple studies found no evidence that restricting saturated fat and increasing polyunsaturated fat consumption lowered the risk of developing heart disease.

The jury is still out on this one, and it shouldn’t be used as an excuse to eat high fat doughnuts, pastries, chips and other sources of processed, saturated fat.

However, butter, cheese and cream in small quantities may not be the complete villains they were thought to be.

Bye-bye bacon

Reducing the amount of red meat is recommended as studies have shown that eating a large amount can increase heart failure by up to 24%.

However, recent evidence suggests that this is linked more to red meat that is processed (we’re talking ham, salami, sausages, bacon etc) – with no definite association shown with the consumption of unprocessed red meat.

The researchers calculated that for each 50g of processed meat eaten per day (about one or two extra slices of ham) the risk of heart failure increased by 8% and the risk of death by 38%.

These results require confirmation with further studies but as processing can increase the risk of stomach disease too, it seems sensible to limit processed red meat wherever possible.

Less salt, less sugar

The British Heart Foundation is clear that too much salt can raise blood pressure and increase the risk of heart disease later in life.

Adults should have less than 6 grams (1 teaspoon) a day.

Cutting back on salt doesn’t just mean keeping your hands away from the salt cellar

when you are eating…there is also a lot of hidden salt in processed food.

Check the labels and cook from scratch wherever possible – then you are in control.

Say no to sugar.

A large population study in the States showed that people who consumed over 25% of their daily calories from added sugar had almost 3 x risk of dying from heart disease than those who had less than 10%, independent of other risk factors including weight.

More and more evidence suggests that too much sugar is contributing to the obesity and diabetes epidemic too….and as it offers no nutrients whatsoever, it is time to cut back.

Gradually reduce the sugar you add to your food or drinks, avoid fizzy drinks and look carefully at labels – you will be amazed at how much sugar is added to all sorts of food, both sweet and savoury.

Keep active

Don’t despair if you are a couch potato – it’s never too late to start.

As well as helping with that weight loss, a recent study showed that you could get the same heart health benefits if starting exercise such as running or cycling after 40, as you would have done if you had started before the age of 30.

There are numerous other benefits from exercise too…what are you waiting for?!

Stress less

And finally, while you should be aware of keeping your heart healthy, don’t let it stress you out as stress doesn’t help your heart either!

The stress hormone “cortisol” can increase unhealthy fat around the middle, raising your risk of heart problems, as well as leading to cravings for high fat and sugar foods, which only make things worse!

So, for a healthy and happy heart, start making a few small changes today – your heart will love you forever!

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Police charity supports our palliative care service A GROUP of Merseyside police officers, who set up a charity to raise money for local good causes, have made a donation to LCH’s palliative care service.

The Sefton officers originally formed ‘Phoebe’s Fund’ to support cystic fibrosis care at Ormskirk General Hospital in memory of a colleague’s daughter who fought the illness and was treated there.

Since then, their charity has raised money for countless other good causes across Merseyside.

The officers recently raised and donated £1,200 for the LCH service by holding a charity race night at Crosby Comrades Club.

The donation was made in honour of Steve Coulton, a serving Sefton police officer and colleague who died from bone cancer last year and was cared for by LCH nurses.

Steve’s wife, Kelly, asked for the money to be used to buy a morphine syringe pump for Macmillan nurses to administer pain relief to local cancer patients being cared for at home or in hospices.

Claire Johnston, a Community Macmillan Nurse, and Kirsten Collins, the district nurse who helped care for Steve towards the end of his life, accepted the cheque from Phoebe’s Fund on behalf of Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust, alongside Kelly.

Claire said: “We are so grateful to the officers behind Phoebe’s Fund for raising this money for our service.”

Chief Inspector Simon Thompson, from Sefton Command Team, added: “Steve Coulton was a very dear friend and colleague to many of us.”

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June/July 2016

SMILE PLEASE! L

OOK after your gums – they will save your teeth!

That was the serious message behind National Smile Month, the annual awareness raising campaign run by British Dental Health Foundation.

Here’s how you can maintain a healthy mouth, teeth and gums. n Always brush your teeth in the morning and last thing at night with a family fluoride toothpaste, and avoid rinsing afterwards n Cut down on how often you have sugary food and drinks n Visit you dentist regularly – every six months if possible, or as often as they recommend.

Lisa Allen, an LCH Dental Lead based at River Alt Centre for Dental Excellence in Knowsley, helped to organise the initiative with her team.

She said: “We want to remind people of how important it is to brush your teeth and gums twice a day with a family fluoride toothpaste, and to visit a dentist regularly for a routine check up in order to look after your smile.”

The team is also especially keen to remind families with young children of oral hygiene advice.

Latest figures show that more than a third of children in Liverpool have suffered tooth decay – in part due to the impact of sugary drinks and diet.

Lisa added: “In Liverpool we have a very high level of tooth decay amongst children.

“Our advice to all parents and carers is that you should start brushing your baby’s teeth using a baby toothbrush as soon as their teeth start to come

through, and remember that children will continue to need help with brushing up to the age of seven.

“We’d also strongly urge every family to make sure they are registered with a local dentist and attend regular check ups together, which can help spot any early teeth or gum problems early and treat them before they become more serious.”

n To find a local dentist, please call NHS England on 0300 311 2233 or visit NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk

Dragon Boat Ann’s quest for blood!

NURSE Ann San from LCH has completed the first ever 128-mile Dragon Boat paddle between Liverpool and Leeds to raise money for charity.

Ann, who has worked as a Community Matron for over 10 years, is part of the Crosby Crusaders racing team, determined to raise funds for North West Blood Bikes.

They set off from Liverpool’s Albert Dock and six days later finally landed in Leeds – after also competing en-route in the Bradford Lord Mayor’s Dragon Boat race.

Blood Bikes charity provides free emergency, out of hours support to the NHS across the North West by transporting blood and other vital organ tissues urgently required to hospitals – at night, weekends and bank holidays.

Ann said: “We chose to support the charity because everyone knows the NHS has limited resources. I have seen first hand how fantastic service the Blood Bikes charity provide.”

So far the team have raised over £15,000 for their cause – with more still coming in. n If you would like to make a donation too, please visit: www.justgiving.com/ Ann-San.

Armistead team get the chance to show how they can help

IDAHOT – International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia – is an awareness day that aims to draw attention to the discrimination, abuse and violence experienced by the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) community.

And LCH’s Armistead Centre, which provides a free and confidential sexual

health and wellbeing service for LGBT people, gave the occasion its full support.

During the build-up to the day, outreach workers from the centre visited local colleges, universities and work places to raise awareness about IDAHOT and promote LGBT support services available.

Jo Lightwood, team leader for the

Armistead Centre said: “IDAHOT Day marks an important date in the LGBT calendar, giving us a great opportunity to raise awareness around how homophobia and transphobia can impact on a person’s mental health and wellbeing.

“It also allows us to call attention to LGBT support services and our close

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partnership work with Merseyside police in tackling homophobic and transphobic hate crime, and reaffirm our commitment to challenging and addressing homophobia and transphobia.” n For help or support call Armistead’s helpline 0151 247 6560 or visit www.armisteadcentre.co.uk

To find out more, visit . . . www.liverpoolcommunityhealth.nhs.uk

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MEDICAL NOTES How having a dog lengthens your life

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DID ANYONE SAY WALKIES . . ?

OUR four-legged friend may be more than a faithful companion – dogs can lead their owners to a healthier, happier and longer life.

Dog walkers are over two and a half times more likely than the average person to achieve the recommended 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week – and thereby improve their heart health.

Being with your pet can also help keep stress and anxiety at bay and keep your blood pressure down, research in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health has found.

Here are some of Heart Research UK’s top dog-walking tips and facts: Dogs are nature’s personal trainers, so kick start the day with a heart healthy walk to wake you up and start you on the road to an active day.

A brisk 15-minute walk will count towards your recommended 30 minutes a day so increase the pace of dog walks and the distance covered to reap the benefits of a reduced waistline and stronger heart.

Playing together

Playing games like Frisbee and tug of war with your dog will keep that tail wagging and keep your heart working towards a healthier you.

A dog can make the ideal cycling or running buddy and, unlike a friend or colleague, man’s best friend won’t usually moan about the weather and cancel on you or slacken off the pace.

A walk with your dog in the evening after a long day at work will help you to unwind, leaving you more energised when you get home.

If you don’t own a dog then why not offer to help at your nearest shelter for abandoned and mistreated dogs?

Having a commitment will help you maintain the regular exercise that your heart and your new found friend needs.

Dogs need their daily walks and are a great motivator to keeping you active too, so if you have a canine companion at your heels, make sure you take the lead and get outside.

Not only will this keep your dog fit and healthy and avoid those sad puppy dog eyes, it will keep you in great shape and reduce your risk of heart disease. n www.heartresearch.org.uk

June/July 2016

New hope for osteoporosis

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N EFFECTIVE treatment for a disease that can cause bones to break just by coughing could be on the way.

A decline in a specific sort of stem cell due to ageing can cause Type II osteoporosis.

The result is reduced bone mass, which causes bones to become weak and brittle, can lead to hip fractures, and often results in a stooped back.

But when a single dose of a stem cell called mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) was injected into mice with the disease quality bone growth resulted.

The study, led by Dr William Stanford, of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute ,points the way to a new, potentially

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restorative treatment for age-related or type II osteoporosis. So far more than 500 clinical trials using MSCs have taken place, with some showing significant benefits in treating bone-related conditions.

As a step towards what they hope leads to clinical trials, researchers investigated whether MSCs can help mice bred to exhibit human age-related osteoporosis.

The MSC transplantation took place when the mice were 10 weeks old, with the cells injected directly into the animals’ bloodstream via a tail vein.

Twenty-four weeks later the results showed improved bone quality, and sustained skeletal competence compared to a group of untreated animals.

Spice of life...

A SPICE that adds colour and flavour to Indian cooking, could help to prevent or treat cancer.

Scientists will work with a team over in Vietnam where turmeric is cultivated for use in cooking and in traditional Chinese and Indian medicine.

Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties have been used to fight not only cancer, but diabetes, neurodegeneration and cardiovascular disease.

The spice is poorly absorbed when given as a tablet or capsule and their work would centre on overcoming that issue, said Professor John Smart, from the University of Brighton.

DIY breast test

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Healthy future?

NEW test has been developed that can detect if breast cancer has spread.

And the breakthrough could lead to the use of home testing kits.

The do-it-yourself blood or urine kit would mean TWO Merseyside councils that if secondary cancer does occur, it could be have agreed to share a treated as quickly as possible. health chief to save costs A home test would also empower patients and and to collaborate on help to reassure them, say UK experts who have important health and developed the new blood test. wellbeing initiatives.

Scientists say the test distinguished between Matthew Ashton, director patients with secondary breast cancer and those of Public Health and who remained disease free for five years after a assistant executive director breast cancer diagnosis.

(Health and Wellbeing) in Researchers analysed the blood of 112 breast Knowsley, will now do the patients. They detected more of a protein called same job in neighbouring “cadherin-5” that had unusual sugars decorating Sefton too. its surface in women diagnosed with secondary Councillor Eddie Connor, breast cancer over a year later. from Knowsley Council, This indicates that the sensitivity of current said: “Everyone is aware of blood tests could be improved on for earlier the budget challenges local diagnosis of secondary disease. authorities are facing.

More sensitive, non-invasive tests are required STEVIE WEBB was 27 when she was diagnosed with an “Despite the Government’s for secondary breast cancer - which occurs when aggressive primary breast cancer that was classed as commitment to protect new tumours grow in the bone, liver, lung or brain “high-risk of recurrence”. health services, public - to make diagnosis easier and for treatment to She completed her treatment last year and lives every health is an area where begin as early as possible. day as if it’s her last – she’s just completed a 280km national funding cuts are Dr Nicola Winstone, research manager at Husky Trail across Norway and Sweden to raise funds for also being made.

Against Breast Cancer, says: “We envisage a Against Breast Cancer.

“Sharing our senior future where a home test blood or urine kit for “You always think about it (breast cancer) without management costs is a good secondary breast cancer is available, much like realising,” she says. “If I ever feel ill, I feel I’m going to be way to reduce our budgets those used to monitor diabetes or for pregnancy really ill. I’m more paranoid, whereas I wasn’t before, I without impacting on the testing, and this work takes us closer to that goal. was a free spirit. Now I worry more.” quality of services.”

“More women and men are surviving primary breast cancer than ever before and better monitoring tools are needed not only to detect secondary spread and begin treatment as early as possible, but to also empower survivors of breast cancer by being injected into a vein and viewed on a PATIENTS at the Royal Liverpool and addressing the emotional burden that the specialist scanner.

Broadgreen University Hospitals will be the threat of secondary spread can cause.”

The scans can potentially identify cancer first outside London to undergo a new test Secondary breast cancer is difficult to cells that have spread beyond the prostate that could extend many people’s lives. diagnose before symptoms are gland. A team of specialists can then identify The ground-breaking procedure – based on experienced and occurs in up to a third of a brand new method for spotting early signs a treatment plan, which specifically targets breast cancer patients. and treats the patient’s type of cancer. of returning prostate cancer – aims to The research was carried out by This also means that if treatment is required increase life-expectancy for patients with a scientists at Westminster University. it can begin sooner, and for those patients variety of long term conditions including n Against Breat Cancer: Tel. 1235 that do not require treatment they can be cancer and heart disease.

534211 reassured.

The test involves a radioactive material n www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk

Scans are set to extend lives

The perfect tonic . . .

HALF A MILLION

June/July 2016

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Work starts on a medicine for hearing loss

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MAGINE if you could go to your local pharmacy and buy medicine that will improve your hearing.

Well, that possibility has now taken a leap forward with a major new project aimed at developing over-the-counter or prescription drugs to treat hearing loss.

The three-year programme has been made possible with a £300,000 investment by UK charity Action on Hearing Loss.

An international team will work to develop medicines to treat age-related hearing loss and noise-induced hearing loss.

Hearing loss affects over 11 million people in the UK – a number expected to rise to over 15.6 million by 2035 – meaning one-fifth of us

will be affected. But despite hearing loss resulting in isolation, depression and social withdrawal for many sufferers, no medicines have been approved for the prevention or treatment of hearing loss.

French-based biotech Pragma Therapeutics will work with Professor Robert Frisina’s team at the Global Center for Hearing and Speech Research at the University of South Florida.

The pioneering research aims to develop and test innovative small molecule drugs that work on an important receptor involved in our ability to hear and which can stop functioning properly as we age.

Dr Ralph Holme, from Action on Hearing Loss, said: ‘There is an urgent need for

effective treatments to prevent and treat hearing loss – a condition affecting as many as one in six people in the UK and all too often isolating people from friends and family.

“In bringing together the drug discovery expertise of Pragma Therapeutics and the hearing research expertise of the Global Center for Hearing and Speech Research, our new project aims to bring the development of urgently needed treatments a step closer.”

Action on Hearing Loss runs the world’s largest donor-supported hearing research programme, dedicated to funding research into better treatments and cures for hearing loss and tinnitus.

Muscle power

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olunteers are being sought across the country to test if a heart pill combined with a food supplement can make older people stronger.

The UK-wide clinical trial is aimed at improving the health of the over-70s by improving their muscle strength.

A research team is looking at whether the treatments can prvent the weakening of muscles that commonly affects older people and stops them leading independent, active lives.

It is hoped to recruit 450 people aged 70 and over for the 12-month trial.

Participants will be given a heart pill (perindopril) or a matching dummy tablet, and also a food supplement powder (leucine) or matching dummy powder.

“Muscle weakness, which we call sarcopenia, is really common as we get older,” said Dr Miles Witham, lead researcher for the study at the University of Dundee.

“Older people with weak muscles find it much harder to get around, or to climb stairs, and are more prone to falling and injuring themselves.

“In the long term people with weaker muscles are more likely to need help to look after themselves. So keeping muscles working well is important in keeping older people active and independent.

“Although we know exercise helps to improve muscle strength even in very old people, it’s important to find new ways to keep muscles working well in older people – and to help improve strength when muscles are weak.” n Potential volunteers can contact Karen Smith on 01382 383265 or go to www.lacetrial.org.uk

BATTLING SIGHT LOSS: Marj Murphy from Medicash with Professor Heinrich Heimann of St Paul’s Eye Unit and a patient

Cash to beat eye disease

HEALTHCARE cash plan provider Medicash has donated over £7,000 to support the world-renowned work of St Paul’s Eye Unit in Liverpool.

The unit provides opthalmic services to local residents, but also nationally and across the globe. Professor Simon Harding said: “Medicash has helped bring us a step closer to delivering groundbreaking developments in eye care and shape the way we detect, diagnose and treat eye disease over the next 20 years.” n About 2 million people in the UK live with sight loss – a figure expected to double by 2050.

Chance to consign measles to history books

HEALTH experts are calling on all parents to get youngsters vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella at the time it’s offered.

Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can be very unpleasant and sometimes lead to serious complications and, in rare cases, death.

The MMR vaccine is offered routinely to infants from 12 months of age in England – with a second dose offered at three.

Dr Rosemary McCann, deputy director for health protection at PHE North West, said: “We’re asking parents, young people and healthcare professionals to help us eliminate measles. Back in days before a vaccine was available, hundreds of thousands caught measles and around a hundred people died each year.

“But now the whole community benefits from the immunity the safe and effective MMR vaccination offers – fewer people get ill and

the disease’s spread is restricted.

“Following the introduction of the measles vaccination in 1968, the number of cases dropped dramatically and deaths from measles are now extremely rare.

“This is an opportunity to consign measles to the history books.

The cases we are seeing currently in England are being confirmed mainly in adolescents and young adults, and it’s never too late for them to have the vaccine.”

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MEDICAL NOTES

Anger over decision to ditch acupuncture

ACUPUNCTURE specialists have hit back at a decision by the Government’s drug watchdog to stop recommending it as a treatment for lower back pain or sciatica.

The new advice amounts to a U-turn from NICE (the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) and comes after they looked at scientific evidence and decided acupuncture was no better than a placebo.

But the Acupuncture Association of Chartered Physiotherapists says much of the evidence NICE examined did not make a fair comparison.

The organisation claims that many international bodies still support acupuncture, including the World Health Organisation, which lists low back pain and sciatica as conditions for which acupuncture has been proved – through controlled trials – to be effective.

Women hit hardest

A WOMAN’S brain is in worse condition than a man’s at the same stage of Alzheimer’s.

Women were already known to be significantly more at risk of developing the disease than men – and this difference increases with age.

Now a major study has found that women’s cognitive functions are more severely and widely impaired – even where younger women have better verbal and language skills.

“Until now, very little research has been done about the differences between the sexes in the brain function of those with Alzheimer’s,” says Professor Keith Laws, from the University of Hertfordshire, which carried out the study.

Alzheimer’s is the most common neurodegenerative disease associated with ageing.

There are around 30 million people with dementia worldwide, 4.6 million new cases annually, and one new case every seven seconds. n The findings are published in the World Journal of Psychiatry.

The old country...

THE best country in which to grow old – that’s the aim for Ireland after landing the biggest charity donation in its history.

A gift of over £100m will see the setting up of a Global Brain Health Institute in Ireland and the US, to improve health and dementia care worldwide.

The cash, from The Atlantic Philanthropies charity, will be shared by Trinity College, Dublin, and the University of California, San Francisco.

Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kenny said: “The Government’s vision is to make Ireland the best country in which to grow old.”

Christopher Oechsli, head of The Atlantic Philanthropies, said: “Our goal is to create a generation of leaders around the world who have the knowledge, skills and drive to change both the practice of dementia care and the public health and societal forces that affect brain health.”

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One advert TAKE ME HOME! goes a long, long way . . .

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BOX OFFICE SENSATION!

June/July 2016

Jun 1-11: The Government Inspector.

Liverpool Everyman. Roxana Silbert directs this ground-breaking new production with innovative video projection and set design.

All performances are fully accessible.

Jun 6-11: Heartbeat. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. For the first time ever ITV’s popular Sunday evening 60s police drama comes to the stage starring members of the TV cast.

Jun 6-11: Save The Last Dance for Me. Liverpool Empire. From the team behind Dreamboats and Petticoats. The ‘music and magic’ of the early 60’s.

Jun 7: Hamlet/All’s Well That End’s Well. The Lowry.

Jun 8-25: Observe The Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme.

Liverpool Playhouse. On 1 July 1916, the 36th (Ulster) Division took part in one of the bloodiest battles in human history. Eight ordinary men are changed, changed utterly…

Jun 8: Hamlet. The Brindley, Runcorn.

Jun 8-11: Gangsta Granny.

Regent Theatre, Stoke. The acclaimed stage show of David Walliams’ book.

Jun 9: Evening of Clairvoyance. The Brindley, Runcorn. Back by popular demand, leading UK spirit medium and author David Holt.

Jun 9-Jul 2: Much Ado About Nothing. Theatr Clwyd, Mold (excluding Sundays). Drawn from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the play mixes the real and unreal – a perfect introduction to Shakespeare. Captioned, Jun 18.

Described performances Jun 23 and Jun 25) Jun 10: Roy Orbison and Friends. The Brindley, Runcorn. Barry Steele’s warm tribute show.

Jun 11: The Real Thing. The Brindley, Runcorn. Celebrating 40 years in the business, the three original vocalists, Chris and Eddie Amoo and Dave Smith are back … and back with style.

Jun 12: Ken Dodd’s Happiness Show. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Jun 12: James Veitch: Dot Con. The Lowry.

Jun 13: The Ring Cycle/Das Rheingold. The Lowry. Opera North.

June 13-15: The Naked Truth.

Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Hit comedy play from Dave Simpson. Starring Vicki Michelle and Faye Tozer.

Jun 14-18: That’s Entertainment.

Liverpool Empire. From the producers of the sell out smash hit Puttin’ On The Ritz comes a dazzling song and dance extravaganza of the 40s & 50s.

Jun 14-18: Sound of Music. Venue Cymru, Llandudno. One of the greatest musicals.

Jun 14-15: Northern Ballet: Jane Eyre. Regent Theatre, Stoke.

Jun 14: Die Walkure. The Lowry.

Jun 14: Rock of Ages. The Lowry. Big bands, big egos, big guitar solos and even bigger hair!

Jun 15-18: The Sorcerer. The Brindley, Runcorn. Bentley Operatic Society’s production of the Gilbert and Sullican classic.

Jun 15: Northern Ballet: Tortoise and The Hare. Regent Theatre, Stoke.

Jun 16: The Dreamboys. Regent Theatre, Stoke.

Jun 16: Siegfried. The Lowry.

Jun 16: Grumpy Old Women.

Manchester Palace Theatre.

The Grumpies are back to knock some sense into the nation.

Jenny Éclair, Susie Blake and Kate Robbins.

Jun 16: Samantha Barks. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Jun 17: Nights on Broadways – The Bee Gees Story. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. You can’t see the Bee Gees anymore, but you can still experience a

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BOX OFFICE CONTACTS BLACKPOOL Grand Theatre: 01253 290190.

BOLTON Octagon: 01204 520661.

LIVERPOOL Empire: 08444 999 999.

Everyman & Playhouse: 0151 709 4776.

Royal Court: 0870 787 1866.

LLANDUDNO Venue Cymru: 01492 872000.

MOLD: Theatr Clwyd: 0845 3303565.

MANCHESTER Opera House: 0870 401 9000.

Palace Theatre: 0870 401 3000.

SALFORD The Lowry: 0843 208 6000.

NEW BRIGHTON Floral Pavillion: 0151 666 0000.

PORT SUNLIGHT: Gladstone Theatre: 0151 643 8757.

PRESTON: Charter Theatre: 0845 344 2012.

RHYL: Pavilion Theatre: 01745 330 000.

RUNCORN The Brindley: 0151 907 8360.

SALE: Waterside Arts Centre: 0161 912 5616.

STOKE: Regent Theatre: 0844 871 7627.

SOUTHPORT: Floral Hall: 0844 847 2380.

ST HELENS: Theatre Royal: 01744 756000.

Citadel: 01744 735436.

WOLVERHAMPTON Grand Theatre: 01902 429212.

Summer time specials

concert of the incredible music written by the brothers Gibb.

Jun 17: The Illegal Eagles. Manchester Palace Theatre.

Jun 17: One Night of Queen. Regent Theatre, Stoke.Tribute show.

Jun 18: ABBA Mania. Regent Theatre, Stoke. Tribute show.

Jun 18: Puppetry of the Penis. Manchester Palace Theatre.

Jun 18: Gotterdammerung.

The Lowry.

Jun 18: Petrification. The Lowry. This is a play for anyone who ever left home and come back to find everything changed. And for anyone who never went away in the first place!

Jun 18: Bunty The Bouncer.

The Brindley, Runcorn. She’s mean, she’s tough and she’s dog rough! Set in a Liverpool nightclub, the story of the hardest and probably only female bouncer in town.

Jun 19: Billy and Wally’s Surfin’ USA Variety Show. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Jun 19: Rock with Laughter Show.

The Brindley, Runcorn. A double header featuring 60s iconic band The Merseybeats and comic Jimmy Cricket Jun 19: Half Moon Presents The Girl and The Giraffe. The Lowry. Charming puppetry, an enchanting landscape and beautiful storytelling.

Jun 19: Black Ballet: A Triple Bill. The

Lowry.

Jun 21-25: American Idiot. Liverpool Empire. Double Platinum selling artist Newton Faulkner in the starring role as Johnny.

Jun 21-25: The 39 Steps. The Lowry.

Alfred Hitchcock’s classic spy thriller, Jun 22: The Naked Truth. The Brindley, Runcorn. Hit comedy play from Dave Simpson. Starring Vicki Michelle and Faye Tozer.

Jun 23: The Stones. The Brindley, Runcorn. If you like the Rolling Stones you will like this band.

Jun 23-25: LazyTown Live 2016.

Manchester Opera House. A 60-minute nonstop highly interactive and energetic show, jam packed with singing, dancing, spectacular acrobatics and music, featuring original tracks from the hit TV show.

Jun 23-24: Declaration. The Lowry.

Sarah grew up feeling different. Her childhood doctor thought it was sugar.

Her current doctor thinks its ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder).

Sarah still feels different, so what will a label do? Will it change the way you see her and the way she sees herself?

Jun 23-25: That’s Entertainment.

Regent Theatre, Stoke. From the producers of the sell out smash hit Puttin’ On The Ritz comes a dazzling song and dance extravaganza.

Jun 24: You’ve Got A Friend. The Brindley, Runcorn. From the creators of the West End show The Simon & Garfunkel Story comes a celebration James Taylor and Carole King.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together NOW!

June/July 2016

Biting satire finds creative ways to include all

THEATRE BLAZING A TRAIL

T

HE news that a government inspector is due to arrive in a small Russian town sends its bureaucrats into a panicked frenzy.

The mayor’s fear is well-founded as he has been somewhat lacking in his official duties: the hospital’s a health hazard, the school’s a war zone, the soldiers don’t have trousers to march in and he never quite got around to finishing his building programme.

However, a simple case of mistaken identity leads to matters spiralling out of control, exposing the hypocrisy and corruption at the heart of the town in this biting satire. Surely the only reasonable solution is bribery!

Following her acclaimed productions of The King’s Speech and Of Mice And Men, Roxana Silbert directs this ground-breaking new production, The Government Inspector, from Ramps On The Moon, a network of seven theatres dedicated to increasing opportunities for disabled people.

All performances are fully accessible including a creative combination of sign language, audio description and captioning.

(Liverpool Everyman until June 11) n www.rampsonthemoon.co.uk

Jun 24: Dancing Queen. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Tribute show.

Jun 25: Rhythm of the Dance. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Jun 25: Sara Pascoe: Animal. The Lowry. A mixture of completely true stories about Tony Blair, Oedipus Rex and the wildlife of Lewisham, plus a load of stories that don’t sound true at all about Jason Donovan, Henry the Hoover and when God took over the tannoy in Sainsbury’s!

Jun 25: The Missy Marlone & Friends Burlesque. The Brindley, Runcorn.

Jun 25: Billy Liar. The Brindley, Runcorn. Hall and Waterhouse’s classic 1960 play starring Tom Courtenay.

Jun 26-27: Dance Fever. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Jun 26: Prizegiving. The Brindley, Runcorn. Graduation and Prize Giving for KS Dance students.

Jun 27-Jul 2: Save The Last Dance for Me. Manchester Palace Theatre.

From the team behind Dreamboats and Petticoats, Save the Last Dance for Me will take you back through the ‘music and magic’ of the early 60’s.

Jun 27-Jul 2: The Mousetrap.

Manchester Opera House. Agatha Christie’s record-breaking 60th anniversary production is back by popular demand starring Louise Jameson (Doctor Who, EastEnders, Doc Martin) as Mrs Boyle.

Jun 28: Summer Song. The Brindley,

PANTO TIME!

OH NO, it isn’t. Oh yes, it is!

Panto time is on the way – so get your tickets now!

The Brindley’s Cinderella (Dec 12Jan 15) will feature real ponies, while there’s all sorts of surprises planned by double act Adam Keast and Francis Tucker in the Everyman’s Beauty and the Beast (Nov 26-Jan 21).

Theatr Clwyd is also expecting another sell-out season with its rock ‘n’ roll version of Aladdin (Nov 25-Jan 18).

CALLING all singers. This could be the break you’ve been hoping for.

Open Mic UK have announced their music competition auditions dates, taking place in 15 regions across the UK. It’s a chance for aspiring singers and musicians to perform in front of judges who work for the three major record labels (Universal, Warner and Sony), as well as

Runcorn. Community signing groups from across Halton.

Jun 28-Jul 2: Jackie The Musical.

Liverpool Empire. Once there was a time with no mobiles, no online dating and no Facebook, when teenage girls waited with bated breath by the letterbox for their weekly issue of Jackie Magazine.

Jun 29: Inscape Summer Festival 2016. The Lowry. Talented pupils from special schools across Greater Manchester and Cheshire.

Jun 29-Jul 2: Project L.M.E.Y Angela Beardmore Dance Show.

Regent Theatre, Stoke. One of Stokeon-Trent’s most successful dance schools with over 25 years of dancers through the doors is an amazing performance full of local talent.

Jun 30: The Performance. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Liverpool theatre school’s annual dance show.

Jul 1-2: Musicals 4 U – Starlight Youth Theatre. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Jul 1: Pink Floyd’s The Wall. The Lowry. Vesbim’s Pink Floyd show with an 11-piece band.

Jul 2: Made In The USA. The Brindley, Runcorn. Andrew Curphey Theatre Company present the wonders of the USA through song, dance and drama. The 160-plus ensemble take to the theatre stage with this glamorous theatrical treat.

Jul 2: The Lancashire Hotpots: Now’t Like The 80s Tour. Do you

national radio DJs. The audition venues include: Sat 13 Aug: National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham.

Sun 14 Aug: Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester.

Sun 4 Sep: Sheffield City Hall.

Sun 11 Sep: The Liner Hotel, Liverpool. n www.openmicuk.co.uk

remember the 80’s? A decade of Rubik’s Cubes, shoulder pads and Walkmans. The Lancashire Hotpots do and they’re back to bring you a show full of music and comedy that’s as daft as a Sinclair C5! Expect all your usual favourites including Chippy Tea and I Fear Ikea as well as some 1980’s styled musical fun.

Jul 4: The Evil Queen. The Brindley, Runcorn. Professional dance Jul 5-6: The Last Tango. Regent Theatre, Stoke. Fresh from their sellout hit shows Midnight Tango and Dance ’Til Dawn, Strictly superstars Vincent Simone & Flavia Cacace have created their most moving production yet as they prepare to dance in their final ever show.

Jul 7: China Crisis. The Brindley, Runcorn. Merseyside’s 80s band are back on stage.

Jul 7: Give My Regards to Broadway. The Brindley, Runcorn.

Smash hit songs from Broadway.

Jul 8: Mama: The Hits. The Brindley, Runcorn. Genesis tribute band.

Jul 9-16: The Merchant of Venice.

Liverpool Playhouse.

Jul 9-10: U Dance 2016. The Lowry.

Bringing together the best youth dance companies from across the UK. Jul 9: Some Guys Have All The Luck – The Rod Stewart Story. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. New production celebrating the career of one of rock’s greatest icons. Paul Metcalfe in the tight pants.

Jul 9: I Wanna Dance with Somebody. Manchester Palace Theatre.

Jul 9: Burlesque: Legendary Martini and Guests. The Lowry.

Jul 10: Matt Cardle. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. The X Factor 2010 winner fresh from his West End award-winning role in Memphis Jul 11-16: Cats. Liverpool Empire.

Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s extraordinary record-breaking, smash-hit musical.

Jul 13: Summer Dreaming. The Brindley, Runcorn. Relive the good old days in a highly inter-active roller coaster of 50’s & 60’s fun and frolics.

Fancy dress recommended.

Jul 14: Young DaDaFest – Perform.

Liverpool Everyman. A showcase of dance, music and performance led by disabled and deaf young people from Merseyside. Young DaDaFest develops young disabled artists by giving them a platform to perform in front of a large audience.

Jul 14-15: Desperate Scousewives 3. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

New comedy full of abrasive Liverpool wit written by Lynne Fitzgerald, telling the tale of Susan (Lynne Fitzgerald), Vanessa (Charlie Griffiths), Gayle (Gemma Brodrick) and Donna (Jenni Cartwright) and their hilarious summer capers.

Jul 14-16: HMS Pinafore. The Lowry.

Sasha Regan returns with one of the most popular Gilbert and Sullivan

29

operas, following her hugely successful The Pirates of Penzance.

Jul 15: Dynafam 2016: Kids Fight Back. The Brindley, Runcorn.

Streetdance extravanza.

Jul 15-16: Don’t Wake The Damp. The Lowry. Awardwinning comedy captains Kill The Beast with a new neon rollercoaster of shocks, shadows and shameless wigs.

Jul 17: The Works. The Brindley, Runcorn. Sarah Royle School of Dance take to the Brindley stage to showcase their fantastic, talented pupils for a night of dance, acting and singing in their annual show.

Jul 18-23: Parazz. Theatr Clwyd, Mold (excluding Tues and Thurs). High impact performance from the children of Clint and Nikki Theatre Arts.

Jul 20: The Chicago Blues Brothers.

Liverpool Empire. Complete with pork pie hats and sunglasses, the legendary Brothers are back on their brand new Jailbreak Tour.

Jul 21-23: Blue Remembered Hills.

Theatr Clwyd, Mold. Dennis Potter’s play with adults playing the roles of children.

Jul 21-22: The Elasticated Sound System. Liverpool Everyman. Mc Stretch places the needle on the groove, and ramps up the volume. 20 Stories High celebrates its 10th birthday with a brand new contemporary Musical Mash-Up where urgent political stories are re-mixed with personal heart rending tales.

Jul 21: The ELO Experience.

Liverpool Empire. Tribute show.

Jul 21: The Dreamboys. The Brindley, Runcorn. The UK’s top male strip show.

Jul 21: Jimmy Carr. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Jul 22: A Night of Dirty Dancing. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Tribute show.

Jul 23-24: These are a few of my Favourite Things. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Jul 22: Back to Bacharach. The Brindley, Runcorn. A celebration of the magical music of Burt Bacharach Jul 22: Ball of Fire: A Tribute to Alan Ball. The Brindley, Runcorn. Life and times of the Everton and England footballing legend Alan Ball. ExEverton star Ronnie Goodlass poetically narrates the play tracing every step of Alan’s journey, performed by a talented cast.

Jul 22: Puppetry of The Penis. Liverpool Empire.

Jul 23: The Drifters.

Liverpool Empire. High energy show with many of the group’s greatest hits Jul 23: The Snail and the Whale.

The Brindley, Runcorn. Storytelling, live music and lots of laughs, in a show for everyone aged 4 and over.

Jul 24: Rhythm of the Dance. The Brindley, Runcorn. The journey of the Irish Celts throughout history. Using modern art forms of dance and music, this richly costumed show marries the contemporary and the ancient.

Jul 24: Andre Rieu’s 2016 Maastricht Concert. The Brindley, Runcorn.

Jul 27: 90 Glorious Years. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Jul 28: James Burton plus Marty Wilde and the Jets. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton.

Jul 28-Jul 31: The Pied Piper. The Brindley, Runcorn. Timeless classic.

This thrilling adventure is enhanced by a truly magical musical score.

Jul 29: James Burton plus The Merseybeats. Floral Pavilion, New Brighton

Books

30

All Together NOW!

Autism and those teenage years

n Sex, Drugs & Asperger Syndrome (ASD): A User Guide to Adulthood, by Luke Jackson, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, £16.99

LUKE Jackson, wrote his first bestselling book, Freaks, Geeks & Asperger Syndrome, aged 12, which focused on the growing pains of childhood and adolescence on the autism spectrum.

Fourteen years later and his life has been packed with enough experience to fill another book.

He offers up brotherly and humorous guidance to young adults with autism while also being a shining beacon of hope for parents who worry what the adult world holds for their vulnerable children.

Living with MS

n Living Free with MS by Karlene Rickard, Filament Publishing

KARLENE Rickard was driving through London with her son when suddenly her right leg started to feel unusually heavy.

Feeling that something was not right, she had the presence of mind to drive to the nearest A & E department. Within a few minutes of arriving, she had collapsed with a numbness creeping up her body and she became completely paralysed. This was the start of a new chapter in her life – living with multiple sclerosis.

Now more than 20 years later, Karlene has been recognised for her work as a parent facilitator, trainer and counsellor in the UK, USA and Jamaica and has a number of books to her name.

Her latest book not only tells her own inspirational story, but also is full of positive ideas to help anyone whose life has been touched with MS.

Hope and hilarity

n Cancer with a Small ‘c’ published by Elizabeth Caush in conjunction with Writersworld, £8.99

ELIZABETH Caush hopes that her ten-year story of dealing with breast cancer will help other women who have had a similar diagnosis.

Although any cancer diagnosis can be devastating not only to a patient but also to their family, a positive outlook, a grateful heart and a belief that life can only get better is vital to recovery, says Elzabeth.

Drawing on some hilarious moments, because it wasn’t all bad, the cancer attacked her when she was most in need of a break from life.

Ten years on, Elizabeth says that her life is so different that she hardly recognises the person in the story.

June/July 2016

ARIES March 21st - April 20th

Be as resourceful as possible with your income and make resources stretch as far as possible.

The Full Moon on the 20th can improve your financial situation, but only if you’re willing to accept an unorthodox job offer. Expanding your horizons should be your first priority in early July. Taking an adult education course, embarking on a spiritual journey and going on an overseas trip are among the possibilities.

The Full Moon on the 19th is ideal for signing a contract or negotiating a financial deal. Beware of reacting badly to an authority figure’s instructions at the end of the month. Maintaining grace under fire will pave the way for future success. Keep your cool.

It’s time to face the phobias that have prevented you from taking risks and acquiring new skills.

Resist the urge to throw in the towel. Arguments over money management could erupt during the first half of June. The Full Moon on the 20th will prompt you to adopt a more liberating philosophy of life. It will be easier to get financial assistance from a bank or lending institution as June turns to July. Don’t get drawn into power struggles with your romantic partner or boss during July. Maintaining a tactful silence will keep these relationships intact. You could be put in an embarrassing position at work during the second half of the month. Try keeping your cool. Things that once bothered you at work will seem insignificant at the end of July.

SAGITTARIUS November 23rd - December 21st

TAURUS April 21st - May 21st

Money will be tight in June, so be as conservative as possible with your resources.

Lending money to a loved one could end in disaster. Cutting back on luxuries is painful, but it’s also necessary, especially around the middle of the month. Acquiring valuable skills should be your primary focus in early July. You’ll fare well on an important test on the 19th, when the Full Moon will mark an educational turning point. Go out and celebrate with relatives. A creative breakthrough could occur at the end of July. Pay careful attention to your dreams, as they can give you a useful insight into how to proceed with a writing, design or music project.

If you play your cards right, you will be able to sell the fruits of your labour.

GEMINI May 22nd - June 21st

Asserting your needs will become easier this June, when a passive/aggressive authority figure is removed from the mix. Striking a balance between your personal and professional lives will be challenging during the second half of June. You can find an innovative solution to this problem on the 20th, when the Full Moon allows you to let down your defences with a loved one. Financial opportunities will abound at the beginning of July. Beware of getting involved in a war of words with an imposing colleague. Find ways of working together. The Full Moon on the 19th could result in a huge windfall from an inheritance, dividend or tax refund. Use this money to buy something that will improve your daily life, like an appliance, bicycle or computer.

CANCER June 22nd - July 23rd

It may be difficult to get a good night’s sleep.

The Full Moon on the 20th may result in a new opportunity, possibly a job offer. Seize this opportunity to venture into a rapidly growing field. Your best friend or romantic partner will offer their full support. Let their encouragement push you forward. Your charisma is second to none at the beginning of July. Resist the temptation to get drawn into a power struggle with officials or officialdom during July. Do your best to adjust to your boss’s offbeat leadership style. The Full Moon on the 19th is ideal for signing a contract, getting engaged or exchanging marriage vows. Work will become less stressful as the month draws to a close.

LEO July 24th - August 23rd

Don’t let someone blame you for their bad behaviour. Take an interesting trip with someone special in June. You’ll reap the rewards of a gamble on the 20th, thanks to the supportive Full Moon. A moneymaking opportunity is on the horizon at the end of June. Be ready to accept this offer at a moment’s notice.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

RUSSELL GRANT CALLING . . .

The beginning of July will be a quiet time for you. Take this opportunity to rest, relax and recuperate from an extremely social time. The Full Moon on the 19th could mark a lucrative job offer; be sure to accept this position, as there will be lots of growth potential at this company.

A business trip could be in the cards as July comes to a close. This journey could be very beneficial for you, both personally and professionally.

VIRGO August 24th - September 23rd

A well connected friend could lead you to a good position that will allow more personal freedom. Launching a home-based business is also possible, particularly near the 20th. That’s when you can use the strength of the Full Moon to strike a better balance between work and home. Spending quality time with your amour will be enriching for you both as June turns to July. Think about taking an extended break together. You’ll be extremely popular in the opening days of July, so take advantage of it. It will become easier to manage your money around the middle of the month; take this opportunity to draw up a sensible budget. The Full Moon on the 19th marks an exciting turning point in a romance. An engagement or marriage could be in the cards.

Your home will be a comforting place to recover and heal. Let your family pamper you throughout June. Take this opportunity to enjoy your favourite hobbies, food and pursuits. An exciting job offer will be a welcome diversion at the end of the month. This position will improve your financial situation. The opening days of July will be passionate ones. Your finances will improve on the 19th, when the Full Moon attracts a lucrative job or big salary. If you want admission to an exclusive organisation or university, apply during the second half of July, when your prospects will be strong.

CAPRICORN December 22nd - January 20th

Your health will be delicate. Don’t tax your system with sugar, fat and alcohol. A diet that is mainly comprised of fresh produce, lean protein and whole grains will keep your strength up. It’s also important to take exercise each day. The Full Moon on the 20th will be good for dealing with a bureaucratic institution. An intimate partnership will be a profound source of satisfaction at the beginning of July. The Full Moon on the 19th is perfect for pampering yourself. Take this opportunity to splash out on new clothes, a spa treatment or a luxury trip.

Sign up for an advanced course of study as July turns to August. Become an expert in your desired field.

AQUARIUS January 21st - February 19th

LIBRA September 24th - October 23rd

Old alliances could fall by the wayside during June; you no longer want to mix with people whose views you find offensive. On the 20th, you’ll have an opportunity to end some toxic alliances. Money from a grant, loan or scholarship could become available as June turns to July. The beginning of July is ideal for starting a fitness regime. Taking regular exercise, sleeping well and following a nutritious diet will give you an attractive glow that is hard to resist. A love affair will show exciting signs of renewed passion in the middle of the month. If you’re single, you could meet someone special at a movie, concert or play.

SCORPIO October 24th - November 22nd

Home life will be stressful at the beginning of June. It will be impossible to get your needs met by self absorbed relatives. Instead of looking to them for support, seek to satisfy your own needs. Steering a friendship into romantic waters is possible as June turns to July. Your creative juices will flow freely in early July.

There’s never been a better time to launch a writing, design or music project than the 4th.

That’s when the power of the New Moon will uplift and inspire you. If you’re looking for love, you will find it with someone who shares your artistic tastes. The Full Moon on the 19th will prompt you to spend more time on social pursuits.

On the 20th, the Full Moon will bring an end to a neighbourhood construction project. It should be easier to get around after this pivotal day. A home improvement project will be successful towards the end of June. Improve the plumbing, upgrade the electrical system or repair structural damage. Career opportunities will abound in early July. The Full Moon on the 19th marks a turning point in your home life. This would be a great time to buy or sell a property.

You’ll emerge from this deal in a much stronger financial position. Your social life will heat up as July turns to August. Attend as many parties, dinners and get-togethers as possible. You’re sure to make lots of new friends.

This isn’t a good time to splash out on luxuries.

PISCES February 20th - March 20th

HALF A MILLION PEOPLE ARE READING THESE PAGES

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

June/July 2016

All Together NOW!

TEN dazzling onion collections to be won

THE onion family not only adds piquancy to meals but variety and colour to flower beds – and we have TEN sets of a dazzling new collection of decorative onions, botanically known as alliums, to be won.

The collection, compiled by top plant firm Thompson & Morgan, totals 100 bulbs worth £14.99.

They produce an explosion of colourful globe-shaped flowers in late spring and early summer, followed by shapely seedheads for autumn interest.

The collection includes alliums which are suitable for mixed borders, cottage gardens, wildlife gardens (bees love them) and lowmaintenance gardens. They are good for cutting, too. They are fully hardy and like a position in full sun.

T&M’s ornamental allium collection comprises: Allium aflatunese (16 bulbs): Dense globes of mauve-purple flowers, 10cm (4in) across. Height: 90cm (35in).

Allium sphaerocephalon (24 bulbs): Oval, purple-green flower heads.

Height: 60cm (24in).

Allium caeruleum (50 bulbs): Bright blue globes of starry flowers. Height: 60cm (24in).

Allium Purple Sensation (10 bulbs): Starry purple flowers up to 8cm (3in) across. Height: 90cm (36in).

The bulbs will be sent to the winners in September.

To enter the competition, answer this question: What is the botanical name for onions?

Send your entry with your name and address on a postcard or sealed envelope, stating where you picked up your copy of All Together NOW!, to T&M Allium Competition, All Together NOW!, The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP, to arrive by Friday July 22, or enter online at www.alltogethernow.org.uk n For the full range of Thompson & Morgan seeds, plants and bulbs, go to www.thompson-morgan.com

Guard your garden!

UP FOR GRABS: The onions produce great globe-shaped flowers

I

TOOK a lot of care in creating a rocky alpine corner in my garden, full of lewisias, saxifrages and other interesting plants.

For the finishing touch, I stood a thumb-pot – a Tudor-style watering pot – in the middle.

But now it’s gone, stolen by some light-fingered visitor.

The crime was just one more statistic in the growing fashion for garden theft. I did not make an insurance claim because the pot was not particularly valuable – it was a replica bought several years ago.

But it gave extra focus to the scene and I was annoyed it had been taken.

A year or two earlier, a weatherproof outdoor clock was stolen from a wall so deep in my garden that it could only have been seen by a deliberate intruder.

What else do garden thieves steal? Anything movable and often valuable equipment from sheds and garages.

As millions of families head off on holiday, taking care to remember buckets, spades and sun cream, the last thing on their minds is garden theft.

Yet anything can go – hanging baskets, statuary (very popular these days), bird tables, fish from ponds, sundials and garden machinery.

Tot up the replacement value of tools and equipment – lawn mower, hedge trimmer, strimmer – and it becomes apparent that security and insurance are worth taking seriously.

Insurance companies estimate that the

SUMMER SCENT: Fuchsias, such as these hybrid varieties, are among the best plants for filling a dull gap on the summer patio with flowers, which hold their vivid colours well into autumn

average garden shed theft costs £500-£1,000.

Even plants are under threat. They are increasingly stolen, both by opportunists passing through and to order by professional villains as familiar with flowers as are art thieves with oil paintings.

In Hampshire, a cactus enthusiast lost £500worth of potted plants from his collection in a greenhouse, including two so heavy that he could not lift them. The thieves carried the pots 25 metres and passed them over a high, locked gate.

Sadly, ordinary garden enthusiasts are not immune to temptation. Numerous thefts take place every year from botanical gardens and the hundreds of private gardens opened to the

public for charitable causes. Amateur gardeners, who would presumably never consider stealing an eminently expendable jar of instant coffee from a shop, evidently have no qualms about digging up a rare primula which a fellowgardener has taken pains to cultivate.

And size does not matter. The largest stolen plant I have heard of was a rare Tasmanian shrub 1 metre (3ft 3in) tall, which disappeared from a Cornish “garden open” on a wet day when some visitors were wearing long raincoats.

Grass may look immovable but it is not. A bowling club had a lawn’s worth of newly-laid, top-quality turf taken.

Thefts have even taken place at Chelsea Flower Show, though I understand security is tighter now. In the past, immensely valuable bonsai have gone missing and, on one occasion, standard gooseberries, oranges and lemon in pots disappeared at the end of the show while the garden designer was on the spot still dismantling his creation.

The lesson for everyone is to check the house insurance policy and ensure it covers garden theft and damage. Investigate security systems such as lighting and alarms, chain valuable machinery to shed walls and postcode the items.

Then lock up garden ornaments – including Tudor pots! – before going on holiday.

Remember, thieves will steal ANYTHING as a gardening pal of mine found. One day last autumn I came across him giving a furious impression of Victor Meldrew. “I do not believe it,” he said. “Someone has stolen a load of manure off my front drive.” n The Tudor watering pot has many tiny holes in the base for filling from a pond or water tank.

Once it is full, the hole in the top is covered with the user’s thumb, creating a vacuum. The pot is carried to where watering is needed, then the thumb is lifted, the vacuum broken and a gentle shower falls from the holes in the base.

CHECKLIST

31

FLOWERS: Trim over aubrieta and yellow Alyssum saxatile with garden shears and give them a generous liquid feed of highpotash fertiliser. Plant autumn flowering bulbs such as colchicum and autumn crocus.

PATIO: Spend a few minutes every day dead-heading container flowers. Make sure the compost does not dry out and give a liquid feed once a week.

SHRUBS AND HEDGES: When trimming cypress hedge, or any evergreen hedge, taper the sides so the base is wider than the top, allowing light to reach the lower leaves and avoid dieback. When roses start to fade, remove the dying flowers, pruning back to an outward-facing leaf joint to encourage a second flowering.

LAWNS: Raise the mower blades so that grass is not cut too short to withstand hot weather. Use a spot-weeder spray to kill individual weeds.

PONDS: Control blanketweed by removing as much as possible and applying a proprietary treatment. In hot weather, if fish show signs of oxygen shortage by “gasping” at the surface, fix a hose to trickle water on to the surface.

VEGETABLES: For a crop of late vegetables, in early June sow quick-maturing varieties and water them thoroughly in any dry weather until they are wellestablished. Good varieties are pea Cavalier or Kelvedon Wonder, lettuce Little Gem, carrot Early Nantes and beetroot Pablo.

FRUIT: Check soft fruit for pests – the green caterpillars of sawfly on gooseberry bushes and green shield beetles on raspberries.

Hand-pick and spray with an insecticide. If apples, pears or plums have been attacked by the burrowing grubs of codling moth or apple sawfly, spray as soon as the petals have fallen and again when the tiny fruits form.

HERBS: Few herbs need regular feeding but those in pots benefit from a thorough watering with a liquid fertiliser. If mint grows tall stems, which are not needed, cut them down to encourage new shoots from the base.

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

HOUSEPLANTS: Repot plants if roots are showing through the base holes in the pot or on the compost surface. Replant in a pot at least 2.5cm (1in) wider and deeper.

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All Together NOW!

32

June/July 2016

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

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18.

20.

21.

23.

25.

28.

29.

31.

Startle (8) Asterisk (4) Military officer (7) Separately (5) Energy (3) Assent (6) Fundamental (5) Therefore (4) Magnate (6) Putrid (6) Cowshed (4) Ethical (5) Shellfish (6) Bird of prey (3) Discover (5) Word for word (7) Ruined (4) Argued angrily (8)

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

QUESTION 5 – for 5 points: How many pieces are there in a set of dominoes?

A Thirty-six B Twenty-eight C Twenty-four D Eighteen QUESTION 6 – for 6 points: Which metal is used in the process of galvanizing?

A Lead B Aluminium C Zinc D Tin

Fennel Bay Dill Rosemary

QUESTION 11 – for 11 points: Which US president formally announced the end of the Cold War with Russia in 1989?

A B C D

QUESTION 3 – for 3 points: According to the Bible, from which direction did the Magi come to witness the new-born Jesus?

A North B West C South D East QUESTION 4 – for 4 points: Which singer achieved three consecutive No 1 hits in the UK singles charts of 2012?

A Cher Lloyd B Pixie Lott C Rita Ora D Jessie J

Coal bag (4) Souvenir (5) Scope (5) Argent (6) Passage through (7) Reserved (8) Tropical grass (6) Dove’s call (3) Disclaim (4) Incentive (8) Dull colour (4) Sure (7) Rectangular (6) Tiny child (3) Large wave (6) Silky fabric (5) Sign on (5) Trudge (4)

A B C D

QUESTION 2 – for 2 points: Which tree produces acorns?

A Oak B Elm C Beech D Ash

SUDOKU

Jimmy Carter George H.W. Bush Ronald Reagan Bill Clinton

QUESTION 12 – for 12 points: What was Rod Stewart’s first UK No 1 hit record?

A B C D

Actor and singer Jared Leto. See Question 13

QUESTION 13 – for 13 points: Actor and singer Jared Leto won an Oscar for his role in which 2013 film?

QUESTION 7 – for 7 points: Which country’s yachting team in the 2013 America’s Cup lost 9-8 in the first-to-nine challenge despite once having led 8-1?

A B C D

A B C D

Italy Australia Sweden New Zealand

American Hustle 12 Years a Slave Gravity Dallas Buyers Club

QUESTION 14 – for 14 points: Whose short story inspired Hitchcock’s film The Birds?

QUESTION 8 – for 8 points: Which of these countries lies on the east coast of the Red Sea? A B C D

You Wear It Well Sailing Maggie May You’re In My Heart

A B C D

Saudi Arabia Egypt Sudan Ethiopia

Edgar Allan Poe Daphne du Maurier Ernest Hemingway Somerset Maugham

QUESTION 9 – for 9 points: Which 19th century poet wrote To A Skylark?

QUESTION 15 – for 15 points: Where did Grace Darling and her father rescue the crew of the Forfarshire in 1838?

A B C D

A B C D

Keats Shelley Byron Tennyson

The Farne Islands The Orkneys Flamborough Head The Goodwin Sands

KAKURO

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

EASY

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

QUESTION 10 – for 10 points: Which herb is used to flavour pickled cucumbers?

QUESTION 1 – for 1 point: Which is the fastest pace of a horse?

A Trot B Canter C Jog D Gallop

8

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DIFFICULT

5 3 9

6 2 5

4 7

7 6 8

1 2 6 4 9

5

8 6

3 6 7

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

REACH 500,000 READERS

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

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

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

MEDIUM 9

34

19

16

3

6

17

6 10

17

6

25 16 21 19 21

15

4

9 13 26 24

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

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.

5

/

2 ABC

3 DEF

4 GHI

5 JKL

6 MNO

7 PQRS

8 TUV

9 WXYZ

LIGHT

â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

DRUG

â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

FRIENDLY

IN

â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

OUT

COAL

â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

ALARM

AMERICAN

â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C; â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

ONE

3. words to do with art 727 371 227 872 281 753 824 178 455 154 331 526 372 273 132 735 176 787 248 122 682 713 737 261 645 192 837 265 687 168 331 282 476 168 725

4. words to do with railways 744 625 136 446 318 866 351 872 251 752 836 761 753 373 712 277 424 313 748 371 782 846 612 833 381 227 127 253 182 618 463 822 531 842 538

5. cartoon characters 466 371 767 393 153 352 124 275 431 276 961 766 679 162 743 174 651 726 843 715 377 917 623 178 663 712 847 128 669 137 917 383 714 743 346

6. classroom items 342 846 627 919 448 326 273 133 751 736 245 122 412 665 182 253 135 241 242 471 734 478 371 365 337 178 537 176 783 717 825 722 517 361 627

SPOT CHECK

Starting from the central shaded letter, move one letter at a time (up, down, right or left, but not diagonally) to find 15 internet terms and acronyms.

Can you place the six dominoes (right) into the grid below in such a way that the number of spots in all four rows across and all four rows down totals 9?

E

R

N

E W S

G

U

P

P

R

D

S

U

R

I

V

R

O

E

S

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A

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PAL

SUMMER

2. Royal Christian names 266 313 549 223 841 945 542 613 392 731 263 739 123 287 423 124 275 371 253 926 372 138 436 431 927 214 277 917 445 471 436 743 162 742 738

PATHWORDS

A

Each pair of words has a missing word between them that acts as a link to both (e.g. FRONT â&#x20AC;&#x201C; DOOR â&#x20AC;&#x201C; MAT). The initial letters of the six answers (reading downwards) will spell out a seabird.

1. words to do with horses 723 353 142 631 447 841 327 743 713 455 917 847 787 133 856 251 496 542 621 274 353 146 631 782 253 142 251 373 772 431 362 516 263 173 467

1

MISSING LINK

WHOLE

1 []â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x201C;

Spaces and any punctuation marks are represented by 1.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

2

33

DIALLING CODES

CROSS CODE

All Together NOW!

June/July 2016

O B

B N

Y B

E

B

R

S W O

E C

K E

T

E

P N

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D

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G A P B G TRANSFORMER

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6

SPHAIRISTIKE

F

1) The name under which lawn tennis was patented in 1874, and by which it was quite widely known for a time; 2) Zinc blende, a lustrous black or brown crystalline zinc sulphide; 3) A minute body on the surface of a sea urchin, thought to be a sense organ.

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

1. More than twenty anti-terrorist experts are killed in a helicopter crash on the Mull of Kintyre.

T

R

5

MAKE A DATE

G

I E

4

A

U L

3

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

C

A E

E

N

WORD WIZARD

2

E

2. The first National Lottery draw takes place on BBC television.

T

3. Fragments of the comet Shoemaker-Levy are observed from earth crashing into the surface of Jupiter.

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

Clue: Give entertainer a lift.

WAS IT? a) 1994; b) 1995; c) 1996; d) 1997; e) 1998.

____ +I=__I__

ALL THE ANSWERS Pathwords: browser; cyberspace; email; home page; link; netiquette; surfing; spamming; web page; FAQ; bulletin board; access provider; newsgroup; proxy server; virus.

9 1 4 7 3 5 8 6 2

7 8 6 9 4 2 1 5 3

5 2 3 8 6 1 4 9 7

3 6 9 1 2 4 5 7 8

SUDOKU EASY

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1 7 5 3 8 9 2 4 6

6 5 1 2 9 3 7 8 4

2 9 8 4 7 6 3 1 5

4 3 7 5 1 8 6 2 9

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6 4 2 1 8 9 3 5 7

5 9 7 2 3 6 4 8 1

SUDOKU DIFFICULT

3 6 1 4 9 7 8 2 5

2 7 5 8 1 3 9 4 6

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24 26 21 21

8

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KAKURO MEDIUM

3

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1

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3

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2 6

1 4

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Accumulator Quiz 1 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; D; 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A; 3 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; D; 4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; C; 5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; B; 6 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; C; 7 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; D; 8 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A; 9 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; B; 10 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; C; 11 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; B; 12 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; C; 13 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; D; 14 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; B; 15 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; A. Starspot Crossword Across â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1 Surprise; 5 Star; 9 Colonel; 10 Apart; 11 Vim; 12 Accede; 15 Basic; 17 Ergo; 19 Tycoon; 22 Rotten; 24 Byre; 26 Moral; 27 Oyster; 30 Owl; 32 Learn; 33 Literal; 34 Sunk; 35 Wrangled.

Down â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1 Sack; 2 Relic; 3 Range; 4 Silver; 6 Transit; 7 Reticent; 8 Bamboo; 13 Coo; 14 Deny; 16 Stimulus; 18 Grey; 20 Certain; 21 Oblong; 23 Tot; 25 Roller; 28 Satin; 29 Enrol; 31 Plod.

Star Name: EMILY BLUNT

Word Wizard No 1 is correct. Sphairistike was the orginal name for tennis.

Dialling Codes 1. saddle; hand; girth; farrier; filly; stirrup; fetlock; gymkhana; bridle; hoof; stable; hack; dressage; foal; mane; reins.

2. Anne; Elizabeth; William; Edward; Andrew; Beatrice; Charles; Alexandra; Eugenie; Zara; Harry; Philip; George; Margaret.

3. paper; abstract; sketch; still life; landscape; easel; portrait; canvas; fresco; oil; watercolour; nude; cubism; mural.

4. signal; engine; tunnel; track; platform; sleeper; carriage; driver; station; buffet car; brake van;

timetable; ticket.

5. Homer; Popeye; Leela; Charlie Brown; Snoopy; Marge; Pink Panther; Jerry; Road Runner; Bugs Bunny; Fry; Peter Griffin.

6. dictionary; whiteboard; desk; pencil; bag; book; table; flag; chair; register; folder; ruler; poster; rucksack; pen; map.

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

Missing Link pen; user; fill; fire; Indian; number.

Seabird: puffin.

Make a Date The year was 1994.

Transformer Host + I = Hoist.

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June/July 2016

Sighted guides for blind runners

A

NEW database has been set up to help blind runners find a sighted guide.

The online “Find a Guide” is aimed at anyone over 18 with a visual impairment, will enable visually impaired people to go for a run on their own, join a club or running group or take part in an event or race.

The guide is part of a national drive by England Athletics and British Blind Sport to support more visually impaired people to get active through running.

There are currently 112 guide runners on the database across England.

Blind runner Nick Thorley said: “Running has become a massive part of my life. It gives me a focus, makes me feel healthier, has increased my confidence and provides a real sense of achievement.

“It’s the generosity and commitment of guide

All Together NOW! is helping and inspiring tens of thousands of people whose lives are affected by disability.

But the charity needs to find ways to balance the books.

You can help in a big way by becoming one of our loyal subscribers. For a suggested £15 donation (more, if you can afford it!) we will send you the next SIX editions.

NAME

ADDRESS

Please send this coupon and a cheque payable to All Together NOW! to: Subscriptions Dept., All Together NOW! The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP — THANKS!

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runners that makes all this possible. Strangely, I find running with someone gives me more of a sense of freedom and independence than anything else I’ve done.”

Guide runner Wendy Lawson said: “I love the feeling that I can ‘give something back’.”

Running is one of the most accessible and low cost ways to be active and meet government recommendations to be moderately active for at least 150 minutes per week. Whether it’s to get fit, improve health, make friends or take on a challenge. running has something to offer everyone.

Sport England’s Active People Survey 9, December 2015, shows that only 11.8% of adults with a visual impairment take part in sport once a week, compared to 39.3% of non-disabled adults.

TEE UP NORTH

DISABLED golfers from all over the world are being invited to take part in the Scottish PanDisability Open Golf Championship, taking place in August.

Players from Scotland, England, France, Germany and several other European nations have already signed up for the competition.

The Scottish Open runs from Aug 22 -25 at the Green Hotel Golf & Leisure Resort, Kinross. n Contact, James Gales, secretary, Scottish Disability Golf Partnership, tel 07903 596552 n www.sdgp.org.uk/Index.asp?

MainID=21381

ANYONE FOR TENNIS?

W

n To find a guide runner visit www.englandathletics.org/findaguide

ANT to try your hand at wheelchair tennis? Here’s your chance . . .

The Tennis Foundation is running a new series of “beginners” tournaments across the UK – with summer events taking place in Shrewsbury (July 15-17) and Liverpool (Aug 6-7) .

Gordon Reid, Britain’s top player, is backing the programme.

Reid, who won his first singles Grand Slam title at the Australian Open at the end of January, said: “We are always looking for new ways to encourage people to take up the sport and this series will be a great way to get into competing in a friendly and fun environment.

“I would encourage anyone to enter and give it a go. You never know where it might lead!”

For new players, every Tennis Foundation National Wheelchair Tennis Series tournament will have a novice division.

More experienced players can enter the main draw and are able to gain points at each tournament according to their finishing position.

Players can also choose to play in either singles or doubles events or both.

At the end of the year awards will be given to the top ranked male and female players in both singles and doubles.

Everyone who competes will then be eligible to take part in the National Finals and Celebration Weekend in Gloucester from December 9-11.

Liz Terry, disability competitions manager at the Tennis Foundation, said: “We’re really excited about the new-look series. It it will not only be a great opportunity to play tennis but also to meet new people.”

NOTHING TO STOP YOU SKIING

JUST because you can’t stand – or have other mobility issues – doesn’t always mean you can’t ski!

So if you want to give it a try, then here’s your chance.

Snozone, the operators of two premier indoor snow slopes in the UK, believe that snow sports should be accessible and inclusive to everyone – regardless of any sensory, cognitive or physical impairment.

They’ve trained 10 of their coaches to provide bespoke adaptive coaching and now they are inviting disabled people to experience the slopes on Disability Awareness Day – Sunday July 10 – at their centres in Castleford and Milton Keynes. n Book your place by emailing snowsports.cas@snozoneuk.com (Castleford: Tel. 0871 222 5671) or snowsports.mk@snozoneuk.com

Countdown to Transplant Games

MORE than 800 athletes from across the UK who have received life changing organ, tissue and stem cell donations will converge in Liverpool at the end of July for the Westfield Health British Transplant Games.

Kathy Cross, 55, from Liverpool, is a member of The Royal Liverpool transplant games team.

Ten years ago Kathy received a kidney from

her brother John. She said: “The Transplant Games are so important, not just for us transplant recipients, but for future transplant patients and those currently waiting on the transplant list as we encourage more people to sign the organ donor register.”

Stay ahead of the game . . .

n www.britishtransplantgames.co.uk

GO FOR IT!

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All Together NOW!

June/July 2016

35

All ages, all abilities.

Are YOU ready to get FIT and have FUN?

W the way.

HEN it comes to sport and disability, Liverpool leads

Now in its third year, the city’s Active Me Inclusive sports project goes from strength to strength.

And here’s an open invitation to join in the fun.

More than 35 weekly

activities are now taking pace across the city – all tailored to suit individual needs.

Project manager Michelle Messom says: “Our sessions are fun and friendly. It’s all about learning something new and becoming more active.”

Active Me is funded through Sport England’s Place People Play programme.

CHECK OUT WHERE’S BEST FOR YOU TO JOIN IN THE ACTION . .

MONDAYS

10.30-11.30: Able Table Tennis, The Bridge Community Centre, 2 Daneville Road. Contact Yvonne, 07872 466 676 11.00-noon: Swim Session, Lifestyles Austin Rawlinson, Speke. Contact Yvonne, 07872 466 676 11.00-12.00: Amazing Mondays – Zumba, ACE, Pagoida Arts, Henry Street. Contact Michelle, 07545 200317 12.00-1.00: Multi Sport, Lifestyles Evergreen, Carr Lane. Contact Yvonne, 07872 466 676 12.00-1.00: Swim Lessons, Lifestyles Evergreen, Carr Lane. Contact Michelle, 07545 200317 1.30-2.15: Zumba, Lifestyles Evergreen, Carr Lane. Contact Daniel, 07739 834681 2.00-3.00: Multi-Sport, Lifestyles Austin Rawlinson, Speke. Contact Yvonne, 07872 466 676 2.45-3.45: Zumba, The Brain Charity, Norton Street. Contact Michelle, 07545 200317 4.00pm-5.00: Yoga, Bradbury Fields, Youens Way. Contact Yvonne, 07872 466 676

TUESDAYS

10.00-11.00: Climbing and Watersports, Awesome Walls/Liverpool Watersport Centre.

Pre-booking only. Contact Michelle, 07545 200317 11.00-noon: Dance Fitness, ACE, Walkabout, Concert Square. Contact Michelle, 07545 200317 11.00-noon: Walking Football, Lifestyles Garston Leisure Centre. Contact Yvonne, 07872 466 676 2.00-3.00: Multi Sports, Lifestyles Evergreen, Carr Lane. Contact Michelle, 07545 200317 4.30-5.30: Gym and Swim, Lifestyles Peter Lloyd, Bankfield Road. Contact Michelle, 07545 200317 5.00-6.00: Zumba, Henshaw’s Society for the Blind, 10 Duke Street. Contact Henshaw’s 0151 708 7055 6.30-8.30: Social Club and Multi Sports, Vagabonds Social and Tennis Club, Queens Drive. Contact Michelle, 07545 200317

WEDNESDAYS

10.00-11.00: Multi Sport, The Bridge Community Centre, 2 Daneville Road. Contact Yvonne, 07872 466 676 12.00-1.00: Badminton for All, Fire Fit Hub, 115 Upper Warwick Street, Toxteth. Contact Stephanie 07482 966606 12.15-1.15: Deaf Sport (communication support available), Liverpool College Sports Hall. Contact Abdel, text 07540146850

1.00-2.00: Nia Fusion Fitness, L’Arche Centre, The Ark, Lockerby Road. Contact Daniel, 07739 834681 2.00-3.00: Multi Sport, Lifestyles Walton, Walton Hall Avenue. Contact Michelle, 07545 200317 3.00-4.00: Climbing and Watersports, Awesome Walls/Liverpool Watersport Centre.

Pre-booking only. Contact Michelle, 07545 200317 6.00-7.00: Zumba for All, Bradbury Fields, Youens Way. Contact Yvonne, 07872 466 676

THURSDAYS

10.00-2.00: Drop-In: Adapted Cycling, Wavertree Park (The Mystery), Wellington Road. Contact Yvonne, 07872 466 676 10.00-12.00: Swim Session, Lifestyles Park Road, Steble Street. Contact Yvonne, 07872 466 676 11.00-12.00: Boccia, Kenny Disco, All Saints Church, Molyneux Road. Contact Yvonne, 07872 466 676 4.30-5.30: Gym and Swim, Lifestyles Peter Lloyd, Bankfield Road. Contact Michelle, 07545 200317 5.00-6.00: Autism Adventures Football, Lifestyles Austin Rawlinson, Speke. Contact Michelle, 07545 200317

. . . www.alltogethernow.org.uk

FRIDAYS

11.00-12.00: Funtastic Fridays – Zumba and Sports, Kirkdale Community Centre, Stanley Road. Contact Michelle, 07545 200317 2.00-3.00: Multi Sport, Lifestyles Austin Rawlinson, Speke. Contact Yvonne, 07872 466 676 2.00-3.00: Multi Sports, Lifestyles Peter Lloyd, Bankfield Road. Contact Daniel, 07739 834681 2.00-3.00: Core Conditioning, Henshaw’s Society for the Blind, 10 Duke Street. Contact Henshaw’s, 0151 708 7055 3.00-4.00: Tai Chi, The Brain Charity, Norton Street. Contact Michelle, 07545 200317 6.00-8.00: Indoor Cricket Nets, St Margaret’s Cricket and Sports Centre. Contact Eamon, 07725 109174

SATURDAYS

9.30-11.00: Cricket, Alder Cricket Club, Alder Road, West Derby. Contact Michelle, 07545 200317

SUNDAYS

3.00-4.00: Inclusive Swim, Liverpool Aquatic Centre, Wellington Road. Contact Yvonne, 07872 466 676

Latest timetable available at https://www.livewellliverpool.info/Service s/1901/Active-Me-Inclusive

32 36

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