Easy read information about accessible events and activities in Leeds for adults with learning disabilities
Winter Edition 2016
Registered charity number 1078829 registered in England and Wales. A non-profit company limited by guarantee, number 3127540
Contents Welcome to Through the Maze Leeds Learning Disability Week 2017 Through the Maze Drop In Citizens Advice Bureau Planning your holiday Go Provence Bempton Holiday Villa Gwesty Seren The Bond Hotel Blackpool Vicky Hiles on National Holidays Paperworks Swarthmore and People Matters Courses Making Time Pharmacy World Autism Day Nights out in Leeds Relaxed Performances Contact Us
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In 2017 Through The Maze will be asking for your feedback.
We would like to know what you think about our Newsletter.
Please contact us  0113 270 3233 Let us know what you like or don’t like about it.
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Welcome to Through the Maze Hello and welcome to the Through the Maze Newsletter.
We hope that you enjoy the Winter Newsletter.
We hope that you like the Through the Maze website and that you are finding it useful to find out accessible events and activities in Leeds. http://through-the-maze.org.uk Leeds Learning Disability Week 2017 18th June – 24th June 2017 Please let Through The Maze know if you are planning a special event. If you would like to send an article for our next newsletter please email ttm@citn.org.uk We will send you a template to help you write the article. We can provide you with some help and support to write an article.
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Citizens Advice Bureau Learning Difficulties Project in Leeds Do you need help checking you are getting the right benefits or help to apply for benefits?
Do you need help with your finances?
Advice about rights to work? Advice about housing problems? Help and Advice about financial assessments? For more information contact Kate Huthwaite Willow House Cross Francis Street Leeds LS7 4BZ  0113 262 2281  kate.huthwaite@chapeltowncab.org.uk 4
Advice on planning your Holidays People often like to plan their holidays early. We thought you might like to start planning a summer holiday soon. We have some ideas on the next few pages about accessible holidays. We haven’t been to any of these places so we can’t recommend them. You must check that your holiday is going to be right for you. Some top tips when planning your holiday. Make sure to take out holiday insurance. If you use a travel agent check that they are members of ABTA. For flight organisers check that they are ATOL protected. For any other holiday organisers check that they meet AITO standards. It’s a good idea to pay for your holiday by credit card.
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Hft have written a very useful guide to accessible holiday s http://www.hft.org.uk/holidayinforma tionguide The Foundation for people with learning disabilities has produced a useful fact sheet about flying for people with limited mobility http://www.learningdisabilities.org.uk /content/assets/pdf/resources/flyingfactsheet.pdf For information about free accessible days out in Britain try http://ablemagazine.co.uk/fun-andfree-accessible-days-out-across-theuk If you want to stay close to home have a look at Nathan Popple’s website. This has information about how accessible things are in Leeds for people who use wheelchairs. http://www.accessibleleeds.com
If you can’t get onto the internet why not come along to our drop in. We can find what you want and print it off for you.
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Go Provence, supported holidays in France Go Provence provide supported holidays for people with learning disabilities. Go Provence say that staff are Disclosure and Barring Service checked. They also say that their staff are able to speak both English and French. The price of the holiday can include Flights or trains to France and back to England. Support on the journey if needed. Accommodation. Travel while you are in France. Staffing. Activities.
For more information contact 0033 973 213 118 ian@goprovence.co.uk http://www.goprovence.co.uk
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Bempton Holiday Villa Wilf Ward Family Trust owns 2 holiday properties near Filey on the Yorkshire coast. One is for 7 people. The other is for 8 people. Each property has Wet rooms. A fully profiling bed. Ceiling tracking hoist. Access to upper floor via lift. Find out more here http://www.bemptonholidays.co.uk or contact Bempton Holidays Team The Wilfward Family Trust Cayley Court Hopper Hill Road Scarborough YO11 3YJ 0845 605 0371 bemptonholidays@wilfward.org.uk
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Gwesty Seren Gwesty Seren in North Wales provide a range of different holiday options for disabled people. The more support you need from them the more it will cost. Prices start from £70 per night. That is for bed and breakfast. If your support/carer shares your room the cost is still only £70.
There are lots of things to do in the area. There are also activities in the accessible hotel bar area. Entertainment is provided at the hotel in the evening.
Find out more here http://www.gwestyseren.co.uk For more information contact 01766 513 133
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The Bond Hotel in Blackpool
The Bond Hotel in Blackpool provide accessible holidays.
The hotel welcomes guests with learning disabilities and physical disabilities.
Bedrooms at The Bond Hotel come equipped with specialist equipment.
They can also provide optional holidays with care support and door to door travel.
For more information contact  01253 341 218  sales@bondhotel.co.uk http://www.bondhotel.co.uk
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Vicky Hiles tells us about going on National Holidays I have gone on lots of coach breaks with National Holidays. I’ve been to Wales, Blackpool, Newcastle, and Newquay. I’ve also watched the rugby final and seen Mrs Brown’s Boys. I find it easy to book my holidays by phone or at the Leeds Bus Station Travel Centre. At the Travel Centre you can pay in cash or on your debit card. You can also book your holiday online. I would recommend the holidays to anyone. I think they are brilliant. There are some really good deals where day trips, breakfast and dinner are included. They are really good value. I feel safe because I don’t have to panic about finding train platforms. The coaches go from Leeds Coach station which is easy to find. What I don’t like is the delays and having to stop to pick up people on the way. You just want to get there. I would like them to do festival trips in the future. 0844 477 9990 http://www.nationalholidays.com
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Things to do Would you like to join us at Paperworks? Hello, I’m Sam and I go to Paperworks. At Paperworks you get to try different jobs. My favourite job is bead weighing. You have to weigh the beads and then put them in small bags so they can be sold on the internet. Paperworks helped me get a voluntary job with HealthWatch. We worked together to make a film to teach Doctors to talk to us, not our parents or carers. This is a picture of me and Ashley on our way to talk about the video at the University of Manchester.
At Paperworks you can also go on visits to other business and do work experience with staff. Here are some other trainees visiting Fantastak. It is a factory in Bradford.
If you are interested in coming to Paperworks please call Helen and she will talk to you to see if Paperworks is right for you. You can also ask your care manager they pay for me to go to Paperworks. 0113 323 6000 h.mckay@paperworks.org.uk 12
New Courses for January 2017 Swarthmore College has some new courses starting in January 2017 for people of all ages and abilities. There are lots of subjects to choose from. Such as – English. Maths. Art Courses. Eat Well, Keep Well. Out and About. Swarthmore Study Program (for people aged 16 -24). Swarthmore College 2-7 Woodhouse Square Leeds LS31AD 0113 2432210 http://www.swarthmore.org.uk
People Matters new supported learning courses for January 2017 offer a choice of learning for people aged 25 and over with learning disabilities. For more information on courses and enrolment form look on the website http://www.peoplemattersleeds.co.uk For more information contact Sally Jude 0113 234 6896 info@peoplematters.leeds.co.uk 13
Making Time Pharmacy Making Time Pharmacy is to help people with learning disabilities get a better service from their pharmacy. If you would like to take part in Making Time you will get : A folder and membership card. More time to talk to your pharmacist about the medicine you take. Easy to understand information about your medicine and how to take it. To find out what else your pharmacy can help you with. To choose things you would like to do, like losing weight or stopping smoking. Special appointments for you to come back and find out more or check how you are. You can find the list of pharmacies taking part in Making Time in Leeds by following this link – http://bit.ly/MakingTimeLeeds
You will need to complete a consent form to take part. You can get this form from the pharmacy. What should you do next? Go into a pharmacy displaying a Making Time sign in the window and ask for more details. 14
World Autism Day Bigger and Better in Leeds is a yearly event to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day. It was set up in 2015 to promote awareness and acceptance of autism.
At the event there will be more than 20 stalls representing autism charities and services for adults and children, parents and carers. There will be lots of information available at the event about work, mental health, advocacy and peer support. Monday 3rd April 2017 9:30AM 3:00PM Leeds Civic Hall For more information contact Leeds Autism Services 28 Grape Street Hunslet Leeds LS10 1BX 0113 245 2645 biggerandbetterinleeds@gmail.com
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Nights Out Beat It Nightclub The nightclub is held on the first Thursday of every month. It is at Wharf Chambers. Tickets are £5 in advance and £6 on the door. The ticket price includes a free drink and food from the buffet. There is also a performance from The Outsiders. For more information call 0142 363 817
Leep the Bridge Leep on Dancing.
Future Dates 19th January at Tiger Tiger 16th Feburary at Tiger Tiger 23rd March at Tiger Tiger 20th April at Tiger Tiger. For more information call 0113 243 9477
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Access Leeds is a partnership between Leeds Grand Theatre, Northern Ballet, Opera North, The Carriageworks and West Yorkshire Playhouse. They offer a number of services to help everyone enjoy what they offer. These performances include, Audio described. British Sign Language. Interpreted. Captioned. Relaxed Performances. Dementia friendly performances. Audio described performances help improve the theatre for people who find it hard to see or are blind. You can also wear earphones and listen to a description of what is happening on the stage. A signed performance is where a British Sign Language interpreter stands to the side of the stage. Open captioning is for people who find it difficult to hear enjoy the theatre. At these shows captions will appear on a screen letting people read what is being said. Relaxed performances are shows with adaptations to make them suitable for people with learning disabilities.
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Future relaxed performances Please inform the box office staff when you are booking to use this service to find the best seats for you and so that you can get any discounts that are available. Cinderella Pantomime. At the Carriageworks Theatre 2:30PM Wednesday 28th December To book call 0113 376 0318 The Witches At West Yorkshire Playhouse 12:00PM Friday 6th January To book call 0113 213 7700 Strictly Ballroom The Musical At West Yorkshire Playhouse 6:00PM Tuesday 10th January To book call 0113 213 7700
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Contact Us By phone
0113 270 3233
Write to
Connect in the North Bridge House Balm Road Leeds LS10 2TP
By email
ttm@citn.org.uk
www.facebook.com/ throughthemazeleeds
@ThroughTheMaze
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