issue8

THE PERFECT

200,000 PICK-ME-UP 200,000 FOR

READERS

In partnership with . . .

TAKE ME HOME!

WIN!

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2006

— a fabulous £500 shopping spree at Rapid Hardware p10/11

WHAT A

DIVER!

p31

Opening doors . . .

Making the North West a better place for EVERYONE!

Blind Mark sets a new world record

Registered Charity No: 1106387

broadening minds . . .

2

All Together Now!

What’s inside NEWS:

p7

WALK FOR KIDS:

p8

WHAT’S ON GUIDE:

p9

GREAT OUTDOORS:

p12-21

SKILLZONE:

p13-20

DISTRIBUTION MAP

p16-17

GARDENING:

p22-23

HOROSCOPE:

p24

PUBLIC TRANSPORT:

p25

CAREZONE:

p26-27

HEALTHZONE:

p28/29

SPORTSZONE

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

NEWS

p2/3/4/5/6

LEISUREZONE:

MARKET PLACE

August/September 2006

Roadshow moves into the midlands NEXT year’s Mobility Roadshow is moving to the NEC Birmingham.

p30 p31-32

Telephone: 0151 230 0307 Fax: 0151 220 4446

SIGNED UP: Sergeant Kate Crompton, Helen Clayton (fund-raising Officer, Royal School for the Deaf and Communication Disorders, Cheadle), PC Tony Crompton along with pupils

Tony and Kate happy to sign up

Editorial

TWO Greater Manchester police officers have gone back to school to learn sign language.

Husband and wife, PC Tony Crompton and Sergeant Kate Crompton have completed the British Sign Language level 1 course.

The couple also ran the Wilmslow half marathon to raise funds for the Royal School for the Deaf and Communication Disorders in Cheadle.

PC Crompton, crime reduction advisor for the Trafford division, said: “I was inspired to learn sign language after meeting a member of police staff who is deaf.

“I feel that being able to hold a basic conversation in sign language will be of real benefit when carrying out my job.

“We decided to run the half marathon as the

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

Pupils walk into the record books . . .

Who to contact

school does fantastic work and we wanted to help.”

Sergeant Crompton added: “I have been extremely impressed with the communications skills of the deaf people that I have had contact with, but disappointed I was not able to communicate in sign language.”

Helen Clayton, fund-raising officer for the Royal School for the Deaf and Communication Disorders, said: “Without the support we receive from people like Tony and Kate, we would not be able to buy the specialist equipment we so desperately need.

“If anyone else in the community would like to help by raising funds we have an exciting range of different sponsored challenges.” n Contact Helen on 0161 610 0168 or email Helen.Clayton@rsdmanchester.org

Advertising/sponsorship Chris Groves email: chris.groves@alltogethernow.org.uk

Want All Together Now! on audio tape? Give us a call . . .

NEXT EDITION: Wednesday October 4, 2006 All Together Now! is published by All Together Now! Ltd, The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP Registered Charity No.1106387 Company No. 5096931

Printed by the Liverpool Daily Post & ECHO, Old Hall Street, Liverpool L69 3EB

NEW RECORD: Cllr Morgan joins the bus with children from The Elms and Ruffwood School PUPILS across Knowsley – including children from The Elms special school – put on their walking shoes and high visibility jackets for this year’s world record-breaking walking bus attempt.

Knowsley school children

simultaneously joined others across the country and helped to create the world’s biggest walking bus.

Cllr Graham Morgan, Knowsley’s cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said: “Here in Knowsley we are

continuously promoting the benefits of walking to school.”

An estimated 50,000 children were expected to smash the previous record in the event organised by road safety charity BRAKE.

The three-day annual event, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors from across the UK and Europe, will be held on July 19-21.

Organisers say a separate exhibition will run alongside the traditional Roadshow which will include leisure, sport, employment, home and travel.

Jan Gethings, executive director, Mobility Choice, said: “We are thrilled to be able to take the Roadshow to the NEC. “The venue offers the opportunity to expand the scope of the exhibition, while maintaining its core ethos of promoting independent mobility for everyone through test drive opportunities and presenting the latest innovations in the mobility market.”

For the past few years the event has been held at Donington Park, near Derby, but this year’s was held at Kemble Airfield near Swindon. www.mobilityroadshow.co.uk

Carers’ help ARTHRITIS Care has launched a new carers’ section to its website.

“If you’re a carer, the pages and links in the new section will put you in touch with the wide range of practical and emotional support that could make a big difference to you, your health and to the wellbeing of the person you’re caring for,” says Kate Llewelyn, head of information services at Arthritis Care.

“Many carers are family members and don’t even think of themselves as carers – they’re just “doing what has to be done.

“But it can be round-the clock, day in day out, and we are offering them some ideas about how to care for themselves and to maintain a balance in their own lives,” said Ms Llewelyn.

Practical tips include information on financial assistance and benefits, what do in an emergency, what types of special equipment might be available, and how to apply for health and social care assessments. www.arthritiscare.org.uk0

Check out www.alltogethernow.org.uk

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2006

All Together Now!

NEWS

Can YOU help us to help YOU? Hello!

WHAT a fantastic summer – and what a red hot publication we have for you.

With your tremendous help we’ve put together our 8th action-packed edition, bursting with news and information.

You will see, too, that we’ve another partner on board.

Rapid Hardware have teamed up with us, and to introduce themselves to all our 200,000 readers they have put up a superb competition with a magnificent prize of a £500 shopping spree at their Liverpool city centre stores!

You can see their advertisement and competition details on pages 9 and 10.

Rapid join United Utilities, Merseytravel, Cheshire Building Society, Liverpool

Community College and Everton as our main partners.

Together we really are making a difference.

Our magazine now reaches – and helps – huge numbers of families across the North West. But we want tens of thousands more to see All Together Now! To do that we need to attract more financial support - from new partners, advertisers and grant holders.

If we can get that support, then there’s no telling how many people will benefit from our work.

Please pass on the word . . .

In the meantime, have a great summer!

We’ll be back again in the autumn – on Wednesday October 4 to be precise.

All Together Now! is a registered charity, set up with just one aim – to provide a tip top news service for anyone whose lives are affected by disability, long-term health conditions, or age.

The charity relies entirely on support from its partners, advertisers and from general subscriptions and grants.

If YOU can help, we’d be delighted to hear from you!

Tom Dowling, editor

Will you be a stockist for us?

SEVENTY-FIVE thousand copies of All Together Now! are now circulating across the North West – from Preston to Crewe, from Manchester to Holyhead.

It’s a fantastic achievement – and it’s all down to the terrific support we receive from people within various NHS Trusts, local councils, and community/disability groups.

The volunteer team at Aintree & Fazakerly NHS Hospital Trust distribute SIX THOUSAND copies!

We want the magazine to be in as many places as we can get it.

But, being a charity and in the very early stages of development, our resources are extremely limited.

Can you – or your organisation – help us by stocking the publication?

Please give us a call if you can help distribute at least 50 copies. n 0151 230 0307

Trinity Mirror chief takes on care role SARA WILDE, regional managing director of Trinity Mirror North West – who print All Together Now! – is the new chair of Buisness in the Community’s Liverpool Cares for Culture initiative.

Sara, pictured, takes over from John Roberts, the former chief executive of United Utilities.

Liverpool-born Sara also chairs the Mersey Waterfront Regional Park board, a groundbreaking initiative to transform and reenergise the Merseyside Waterfront, and is on the board of Liverpool Vision.

Sara said: “Business in the Community’s social agenda is one which all companies ought to support and engage in, given the potential for that agenda to deliver real benefits to people at all levels of society and to the companies themselves.”

BITC regional director Raksha Pattni said: “I know Sara is really looking forward to develop a powerful collaborative business presence to tackle disadvantage.”

Young persons club

Smiles better – that’s All Together Now! CLOWNING AROUND: Silly Billy, otherwise known as Treflyn Jones, brought lots of smiles from visitors when he called at the All Together Now! charity stand at Warrington’s Disability Awareness Day. “This free magazine is great,” said the owner of Warrington’s Target Television video film company. “There’s so much in it

for everyone, especially for those living with disability and wanting to get on with their lives. It’s the perfect tonic and puts a smile on everyone’s faces!” n PICTURED: Silly Billy the clown with All Together Now! editor Tom Dowling and two of his sons, Ben, left, and Dan at Warrington’s Disability Awareness Day.

A NEW social group for young people in the North West who have neurological conditions is being set up.

Gerry Tyrell, who is helping to launch the group, says: “There are hundreds of young people between 16 and 24 across the region who will benefit from this new group.

“It will be their group, and they will organise all the activities.”

Do you want to get involved? Or do you know someone who might like to be part of the acton? n Tel, 0151 298 2999. See page 7.

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All Together Now!

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2006

NEWS

Small grants getting bigger!

Threat to wheelchair accessible vehicles NEW European legislation will threaten the wheelchair accessible vehicle industry, place hundreds of jobs in jeopardy, and could send prices of specialist cars for disabled people in the UK rocketing, warns the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Converters’ Association.

Under the new directive, due in early 2007, manufacturers of wheelchair accessible vehicles will be forced to choose between either taking on huge extra costs to meet new EU requirements or reducing sales to only tiny numbers of each model in the UK and increasing prices.

Currently, UK converters can build up to 500 vehicles of any model type.

The new legislation will limit this to 75, making production unviable and forcing companies out of business.

Linda Ling, chair of WAVCA says: “I urge anyone who is concerned about transport for wheelchair users to write to their MP and MEP.” 11479_Tesco_Deysbrook_second_ad_v2.qxd n www.wavca.org.uk

RAISING CASH: Matt Cole and family are cycling in aid of Spinal Research

Going Dutch for spinal cure MATT Cole and his family are cycling 1,200km around Holland on his hand bike – raising funds for Spinal Research, the UK charity working to find a cure for spinal cord repair.

Matt, 38, was paralysed in a car accident two years ago and is determined to do his bit to help spinal cord injured people to walk again.

With him on his journey are partner, Louise, and children, 19/6/06 12:05 Page Libby, 15 and Jim, 12.1

Matt says: “Spinal cord injury has a devastating effect on families and loved ones.

“This is something we can do as a family and if it helps relieve some of the suffering for others in the future, then we will feel it’s a job well done.”

Matt, originally from Bournemouth, now lives in Eibergen, Holland.

Spinal Research focuses on finding ways to repair damaged spinal cords – something long

thought impossible. Established in 1980, the charity raises money for groundbreaking projects at scientific and medical institutions around the world.

The spinal cord, part of the central nervous system, cannot repair itself unaided.

More than 40,000 people in the UK are paralysed as a result of spinal cord injury, and about 700 more are injured every year. n www.spinal-research.org n www.invanet.org

THE Big Lottery’s Awards for All small grants scheme just got bigger.

The ceiling for awards to local communities has been raised to £10,000 with a new lower threshold level of £300.

Small scale projects that promote arts and education, encourage healthier living, develop local sports, support heritage initiatives and boost community activities are invited to put bids in for a share of £60 million.

Tessa Jowell, Minister for Culture, Media and Sport, said: “Carefully targeted, small amounts of money can make a real difference to local communities.” n For details, call 0845 600 2040 or visit www. awardsforall.org.uk

LIVERPOOL HAS A NEW TESCO STORE! Deysbrook Lane, West Derby A brand new superstore

now open in West Derby Tesco is committed to creating jobs in the local community, which is involved in a unique partnership, which has offered local people is a key part of the company’s ongoing commitment to the city of Liverpool. real jobs.

The regeneration partnership – the largest of its kind in Merseyside - has created over 200 jobs at the new 25,500 sq ft Tesco superstore currently under construction on Deysbrook Lane, with almost half going to the long-term unemployed, single parents, and workers who have been made redundant.

“These are real jobs for local people,” said new store manager Andrew Bland. “Working for Tesco is more than a job - it is an opportunity to get in touch with others, make new friends and recognising that you can make a real contribution and a difference, where it matters, in your own community.”

On Monday 12th June, the store was officially launched by Tesco Warehouse Operative Anthony McCleary, who cut the ribbon at 10am. Anthony, 40, West Derby is one of almost 100 staff who were recruited to work at the store through the regeneration project. As part of the official launch proceedings, Michael Anderson, Appeals Officer at Zoe’s Place Baby Hospice in West Tesco new store manager presents Imagine Appeal Office Manager Tesco, working alongside city agencies including the Adult Learning Derby accepted a cheque for £1000 on behalf of the charity from Anne Hodgson with a cheque for £1000. Also pictured (back row) Tracy Sheridan (Tesco Duty Manager), Jeanette Irwin (Tesco Duty Service, are committed to generating jobs where they are needed store manager Andrew Bland.

Manager) and Graeme Gaton (Tesco Duty Manager). Patients sat on most, removing barriers to work and also supporting healthy living. the bed (left to right): Louis Jones, 3, Hosen Ojora, 4, Kelsey Duncan, A number of exciting events will be taking place at the store 9 and Dominic Murray, 12. As pictured, a number of toys were also The new full-time and part-time jobs include everything from over the coming weeks. donated to the ward. cashiers and sales assistants to security officers and warehouse The new superstore boasts quality value food ranges and offers operatives. customers a wide variety of other departments, including an Among the successful applicants, who are now part of the Tesco electrical department. The store also has a free customer car park team, is a teenager who is deaf, a husband and wife, ten single with over 200 spaces.

Tesco Liverpool Deysbrook Barracks mothers and over 42 people who had previously been on income Deysbrook Lane, West Derby, Liverpool Tesco Liverpool Deysbrook store opening hours are 8am to 10pm support.

Monday to Friday and 10am to 4pm on Sundays.

Opening hours The Deysbrook Partnership programme involves over 20 different agencies, led by JET Eastern Link (the Jobs, Education and Training Service) as the lead partner along with the Eastern Link Management Services group, Liverpool Community College, Jobcentre Plus and Tesco.

Where to find us

8am to 10pm, Monday to Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday

What’s in store...

Cookshop

Electricals

Cold meats & cheeses

Home entertainment

Health & beauty

Bakery products

Car care

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2006

All Together Now!

5

NEWS

Hundreds tune in as Carers FM 87.7 is hailed a hit

Caring is given an airing on the radio

Now it’s easy to call a friend who is deaf

A

NEW radio station hit the airwaves to help the region’s huge numbers of people caring for a relative or friend.

Carers FM 87.7, set up by Wirralbased charity WIRED, was on air 24 hours a day throughout National Carers’ Week.

Many carers would have been unable to attend thewide-ranging events taking place during the week and Carers FM 87.7 ensured that they did not miss out on finding out what help is available.

RNID Typetalk – the specialist telephone service for people with communication difficulties – has a free guide to making and receiving calls to someone deaf or speech impaired.

The guide has been launched after a survey revealed nine out of 10 hearing people would have no idea how to handle a call from a deaf person.

Lorna Hammerstein, customer care manager at the Liverpool-based RNID Typetalk, says: “We are aware that there are a lot of people who would like to make calls to friends or relatives affected by deafness but they are often put off because they are unsure about how the service works.

“We want to emphasise that a Typetalk call is just as straightforward as an ordinary phone call. The guides are simple to follow and will hopefully encourage more people to try.” n For a copy of the guide call 0800 7311 888 (voice) or 18001 0800 500 888 (text), or visit www.typetalk.org

ON AIR: John Cotcher with Viv Smith and Paul Wilshaw at the Carers FM console The station was on air through the Wired website and 800 people logged on during the week, listening for an average of four and a half hours each.

“It went very well,” said WIRED’s carers’ officer John Cotcher. “People tuned in on the website from places like London and even the United States.

“A lot of listeners contacted us to say they had enjoyed it and asking why we couldn’t broadcast all the time.

“The aim was to reach all those thousands of people who do not get the information or support they need.

“Many people are often isolated with little social contact, and with it being National Carers’ Week, we wanted to highlight the kind of TARGET TELEVISION specialises in help that’s available.” capturing those special moments and Programmes covered a occasions whether it is for training or range of subjects and there were details about support promotion to create a masterpiece for groups, voluntary sector you to share with others. services and issues that affect UNDERSTANDING: Stephanie and Rosie get an idea carers. what life is like with hearing and sight impairments Many of the shows were Information via video is far more produced and presented by effective than by any other means. carers.

We video and edit in accordance with John added: “We are now your requirements to create various raising funds for a rolling TWO million people in the impairment in old age can be training programme. We intend UK aged over 60 have both depressing and isolating. types of content. to include interviews on our hearing and sight “However, as Sense’s website and Carers FM 87.7 impairments. campaign shows, with TARGET TELEVISION has worked will be back next year.

And not enough is done to training in mobility and “The carers involved with the help them, say Sense, the alternative methods of alongside and for many of the North broadcast got a real boost charity representing communication, people can West’s leaders in the field of from it.” deafblind people. continue activities they community events and special needs Age Concern Wirral, Citizens Helping Sense to highlight enjoyed in the past and Advice Bureau, Local their new Filling the Gap remain independent.” services. The right visual message can Solutions and The Princess campaign is actress Sue Brown at Sense said: help you achieve many objectives.

Royal Trust for Carers are Stephanie Beacham and “We hope our campaign will Special funding is also available for among the organisations West Lancs MP Rosie lead to more services being involved in the project.

Cooper, who both grew up delivered to older people promotions so give us a call and let us with parents affected by with sight and hearing PUT YOU IN THE PICTURE. deafness and blindness. problems and the gap Stephanie said: “My father between what support PROMOTIONAL VIDEOING CINE FILM TO DVD EVENTS VIDEOING VHS TO DVD lost his sight and hearing. people are entitled to and TRAINING VIDEOS DVD DUPLICATION “I’ve seen first hand how what they given is closed.”

INFORMATION VIDEOS NTSC TO PAL n www.sense.org.uk developing a dual sensory

Air we go!

Beacham’s powers

Tel: 0151 230 0307

Call Us Now

0870 350 1077

www.target-television.com TARGET TELEVISION, PO Box 926, Warrington, Cheshire, WA4 9AQ

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All Together Now!

August/September 2006

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

NEWS

Ready for the Challenge Child’s play . . .

DISABLED youngsters at Winsford’s Hebden Green School are designing their dream playground.

The pupils will visit accessible playgrounds in other parts of the country as part of the Let’s All Play Playground Project being carried out

by Central Cheshire Primary Care Trust and Vale Royal Council.

A project spokesman said the children, with learning disabilities, autism and wheelchair users, will feed their findings back to councillors, planners and leisure services.

He added: “The aim is to encourage the council to try to improve the parks and to make them more user friendly for disabled young people.”

That cutting edge . . .

WINNER of the Garden Groom Midi hedge-cutter competition, as featured in the June/July edition of All Together Now!, is: Mrs A Beardwood of Sale, Cheshire.

Mrs Beardwood picked up her copy of All Together Now! at the Sale branch of the Cheshire Building Society.

THREE North West schools have won through to the finals of the annual Kielder Challenge.

New Bridge (Oldham) Argoed (Mold) and Range High (Formby) will make the trek to Northumberland’s Kielder Forest in September.

They fought off competition from more than 250 other schools in the national environmental competition for youngsters with and without disabilities.

Now in its 21st year, the Challenge is run by access charity, the Fieldfare Trust. n Tel: 0115 9486926. n www.fieldfare.org.uk

£1.5m to secure schools access ALMOST £1.5 million is to be spent making 24 Liverpool schools accessible for disabled youngsters.

PULLING TOGETHER: Pupils from Argoed high school, Mold in one of the regional heats of the Kielder Challenge

Vital help for deaf children N

EW help is available to parents of deaf children. Two invaluable publications provide provide much-needed information and advice.

Hearing Aids: Information for Families and Cochlear Implants: A Guide for Families have been produced by the National Deaf Children’s Society.

The Hearing Aids booklet contains practical information and advice on what to expect at an audiology clinic appointment as well as useful tips from parents of deaf children.

Rather than simply amplifying sound like conventional hearing aids, cochlear implants are surgically inserted into the Harris says: ”Finding out Jack inner ear, directly stimulating was profoundly deaf was a big the auditory nerve which shock. We realised hearing carries sound to the brain aids weren’t helping him that using electrical signals. much and we started thinking The new cochlear implant about a cochlear implant. leaflet explains what they are, “We were very conscious that how they work and how they it’s a major operation, and a can help deaf children. decision which would affect Audiology specialist Vicki our son for the rest of his life.

Kirwin says: “For profoundly “Our decision was the right deaf children who get little or one, and Jack’s cochlear no benefit from traditional implant is working really well hearing aids, a cochlear for him. But we needed as implant can offer them the best much information as possible, chance of hearing sounds and and the NDCS leaflet, with help them learn to speak. further support available “But implants are not suitable through their helpline and staff, for everyone and the decision will be invaluable to other parents have to make is parents.” complex. The external part of The publications can be the implant is usually removed downloaded or ordered online for things like swimming or from the NDCS website, or sleeping, so the child and email: helpline@ndcs.org.uk, family will still need extra or write to: Information Team, support at home and school.”

NDCS, 15 Dufferin Street, Jack, aged three, from South London EC1Y 8UR Wales, had his implant fitted n NDCS Freephone Helpline just over a year ago. Dad Will 0808 800 8880.

New guides are greeted by parents

Ramps, lifts and automatic doors, as well as accessible toilets and changing rooms are to be installed A total of 21 infant, junior and primary schools and three secondary schools will benefit from a share of the £1.42 million Schools Access Initiative Fund.

The city council has worked with schools to identify problems with access for pupils with particular physical or medical needs.

Councillor Paul Clein, executive member for children’s services, said: “It is absolutely vital that schools are accessible to all pupils, whether or not they are able-bodied.

“This funding will enable youngsters to get around school much more easily and make going to school a much more pleasant experience.”

An equipment ‘pool’ is also being established, which will provide a store of equipment which can be made available to schools including stair climbers, mobile hoists and slings.

Several schemes will be completed during the summer, with the remainder finished before April 2007.

Schools to benefit are: Anfield Juniors; Anfield Infants; Blackmoor Park Juniors; Blackmoor Park Infants; Breckfield Primary; Booker Avenue Infants; Booker Avenue Juniors; Croxteth Primary; Dovedale Junior; Gilmour Infants; Gwladys Street Primary; Hope Valley Primary; Knotty Ash Primary; Lister Junior; New Park Primary; Roscoe Juniors; St Michael in the Hamlet Primary; St Silas CE Primary; Stockton Wood Primary; Wavertree CE Primary; Woolton Infants; New Heys Comprehensive; Broadgreen Comprehensive, and Holly Lodge Comprehensive.

To advertise call 0151 230 0307

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together Now!

August/September 2006

7

Your guide to the good things in life — the arts, the countryside, gardening, travel, and much, much more

Norton Priory at the double

Missing out on mi££ions T

OURISM businesses across the North West are were missing out on millions of pounds worth of business – just because they are not improving their access for disabled people.

Mr Chris Brown, chief executive of Cisit Chester & Cheshire, said: “We’re missing out on millions of pounds worth of business and that is something that should concern us all.

Mr Brown was addressing a conference supported by all the Northwest tourist boards, and by

Cheshire County Council and Chester City Council at the Mollington Banastre, Chester.

He said: “There are as many as 45 million people throughout Europe with some form of disability or physical restriction. If we can demonstrate that we can meet their needs and expectations, a major Europewide market will open for us.”

Mr Brown urged businesses to do more to attract the massive untapped market of people who have difficulty accessing the full range of services and facilities because of their age, health or disability.

Felicity Goodey, chair of the

STAFF and volunteers at Norton Priory Museum & Gardens are celebrating after winning - for the second year running the “Tourism for All” Award 2006 at the ‘Visit Chester and Cheshire’ Tourism awards.

Judges’ recognised the Trust’s efforts to make Norton Priory accessible for all visitors, with very good facilities for those with a disability - including free loan wheelchairs, induction loops, accessible toilets and large print versions of the site.

Especially noted was the positive and welcoming attitude of the staff.

The standards achieved by this year’s Tourism Forum for England’s winners were described by Visit Chester Northwest, said: “The & Cheshire chairman Mike Cooksley as Government wants Britain to ‘outstanding’. become the most accessible destination in Europe. That’s not n PICTURED: Nick Nairn, Tracey Crutchley from Norton Priory) and John only good practice, it makes Giffith, managing director, Chester business sense.”

Chronicle, who sponsored the awards.

NORTH WEST

YOUNG PERSONS GROUP! An exciting new group for young people aged between 16 and 24 with neurological conditions is being set up.

LIGHT UP

Q WHEN? Tuesday August 22 (1pm-3pm) Q WHERE? Glaxo Neurological Centre, Norton Street, Liverpool.

YOUR

LIFE!

Q

BE THERE!

It's a fantastic chance for and we want

YOU to "MAKE IT HAPPEN"

YOU to be with us right from the start.

supported by

To find out more, call Gerry Tyrrell on 0151 298 2999 The Glaxo Neurological Centre

8

All Together Now!

All Together Ad

14/7/06

09:56

August/September 2006

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Page 1

Walk for the kids A

www.croxteth.co.uk 0151 233 6910 Croxteth Hall Lane, Liverpool L12 0HB

SERIES of fundraising, family friendly walks are being set up to raise money for children’s cancer charity, CLIC Sargent.

The walks take place during the Ramblers’ Association’s Welcome to Walking Week and CLIC Sargent’s Yummy Mummy Week (Sept 16-24).

For more details, or to register to take part call: 08451 202232. n BOLTON: Saturday 16 September, 2pm. Grade: Easy.

Car free walk, 2 miles, possibly for the adventurous buggy user, linking Turton Tower with the Jumbles Reservoir. Meeting place: Turton Tower, Chapeltown.

Contact: 01204 692458 (eve).

Suitable for people with young children. Dogs permitted. n LIVERPOOL: Saturday 23 September, 10am. Grade: Easy.

Suitable for people with young children and wheelchair users. A walk through Calderstones Park to Woolton via the footpaths to Camp Hill then Woolton. Meeting place: Mansion House, Calderstones Park. Contact: 07980 856101 n PRESTON: Sunday 24 September, 2pm. Grade: Leisurely. Special children’s walk the pace set by children: 2 miles.

Suitable for people with young children and wheelchair users.

Dogs permitted. Meeting place: Ashworth Grove / The Boulevard, near Walton Bridge, London Road. Contact: 01257 270348 n ROCHDALE: Sunday 24 September, 1pm. Grade: Easy. 4 miles: In conjunction with Bamford Chapel-United Church. Stop for refreshments at Millford Tea Gardens. Not suitable for small

children. Meeting place: Bamford Chapel Private Car Park, Norden Road, Bamford, Rochdale.

Contact: 01706 365404 n WARRINGTON: Black Bear Park. Sunday September 16, 2pm. Grade: Easy. Car free walk, 4 miles along the Black Bear Linear Park, along banks of River Mersey and back across Victoria Park to Black Bear. Meeting place: Morrison’s supermarket Bottle Bank, Wilderspool Causeway. Suitable for wheelchair users. Dogs permitted.

Contact: 01925 265230. n WALES: Bethesda. Saturday 16 September, 10am. Grade: Leisurely. 9 miles. Suitable for people with young children.

Bethesda to Dadarn Country Park with free visit to Slate Museum.

Meeting place: Bethesda top car park. Contact: 01286 880188

WIDNES MARKET Est. 1875 MARKET OPENING DAYS Market Hall Mon - Wed - Thurs - Friday - Saturday Outside Market Monday - Thursday - Friday - Saturday Fleamarket Wednesday OVER 250 STALLS, LOTS OF FREE CAR PARKING, FULLY ACCESSIBLE FOR DISABLED VISITORS.

Traditional shopping the modern way Widnes Market Office, Bradley Way, Widnes, Cheshire WA8 6UE Tel No. 0151 471 7340

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together Now!

August/September 2006

This guide can help you find the right break THE Parkinson’s Disease Society has published its new Holiday and Respite Care Guide.

The guide contains information on respite facilities, hotels, guest houses, holiday centres, self-catering accommodation and tour operators that cater for the needs of people with

Parkinson’s and other disabilities.Copies can be ordered from Sharward Services - Tel: 01473 212 115, Fax: 01473 212 114, or email services@sharward.co.uk.

Alternatively it can be downloaded from: www.parkinsons.org.uk/publications

Your super what’s on guide for the summer

ND TOUR

MUSEUM A

ESTER THE MANCH WARD TOURISM A

005

WINNERS 2

00 than 200,0 why more d tour every lf e rs u o y see for seum an Come and chester United Mu or not, n a United fan r M te s e h c ay out n visit the a packed d r old, M o n g fu n a u o is Y e year! perienc rafford ex the Old T . the family dicated to for all the f Fame de ton, Law and o ll a H s d arl egen uch as Ch See the L Trafford s ld O f o ts grea e few. ate footag me just a g up-to-d Best to na in s u t e n ur nU ith the Ma nology to re-live yo d Interact w h an c t te s a n p e re h sc nts from e m o ect in m with touc re rd ion to fl Old Traffo le Exhibit b other re favourite y T n e a th m t nd see amongs n o s a e s present. A 9 of the 98-9 ments. the glory mo d ur e it n U r r United to Mancheste Mancheste e th n o 9 e 9 42 1 4. our plac call 0870 4 n To book y o ti a rm re info or for mo

Aug 5-6: Wirral Show, New Brighton. One of the UK’s biggest and FREE family shows. Tel 0151 677 8943 Aug 5-6: Woodvale Rally, Royal Air Force, Southport Aug 5: Castlefield. Manchester’s biggest music festival.

Aug 15-16: Anglesey County Show, The Showground, Gwalchmai, Holyhead. Tel: 01407 720072 Aug 17-20: Southport Flower Show, Victoria Park, Rotten Row, Southport. Tel 01704 547147 Aug 17: Denbighshire and Flintshire Agricultural Show, The Green, Denbigh. Tel: 01352 712131 Aug 19: Family Fun Day, Biddulph, Cheshire.

Aug 19: Bat Talk and Walk, Marbury Country Park, 8pm.

Tel: 01606 77741Aug 19-20: Wind In The Willows, Beeston Castle, Cheshire. 11.30am and 2.30pm.

Aug 19-20: Caribbean Carnival of Manchester, Alexandra Park. Vibrant celebration of music, dance, theatre.

Aug 25-28: Bryn Terfel Faenol Festival, Faenol Estate, Bangor, Gwynedd.

Aug 26-28: Mathew Street Music Festival, Liverpool.

Aug 26: Denbigh Flower Show, Denbigh.

Aug-26-28: North Wales Summer Garden & Countryside Festival, Bodelwyddan Castle, email: Bodelwyddan, Rhyl, Denbighshire. Tel: 01704 212734 info@alltogethernow.org.uk Aug 27-28: Wirral Food and Drink Festival, Old Clatterbridge Road, Wirral. Tel 07811 169138 Aug 27: Proms in the Park, Haydock Park Racecourse.

Aug 28-29: Hoylake Lifeboat Open Day, the Promenade, Hoylake. Promenade closed to cars.

Aug 31-Sep 2: Continental Markets, Williamson Square, Liverpool. Tel 0151 233 2008 Sep 3: Continental Markets, Croxteth Country Park, Liverpool, 11am-4pm. Sample the flavour of Europe without the travelling! Tel 0151 233 6910 Sep 8: Anglesey Beer Festival, The Showground, Gwalchmai, Holyhead.

Sep 9: BBC Proms in the Park, Heaton Park, Manchester.

69 Bedrooms - Superb Disabled Facilities Sep 9: Southport Chrysanthemum Society Flower Show, Botanic Easy Ramp Access - Electronic Entry System Gardens, Southport Two Passenger Lifts - Disabled Parking Bays Sep 10: Craft & Gift Fair, Floral Hall, On Site Coach Parking - Stunning Sea Views Southport Balconies - Level Position - Direct Dial Telephones Sep 13: Conwy Honey Fair, Conwy Regular Live Entertainment - Oasis Cabaret Bar High Street and Lancaster Square, Beautiful Chandelier Restaurant - Ocean Bar Conwy. Tel: 01492 650851 Non Smoking Lounge - American Pool Table Sep 6-23: North Wales International Music Festival, St Asaph Cathedral, Denbighshire. Tel: 01745 584508 Sep 9-10: Leasowe Lighthouse Heritage Weekend.

Tel: 0151 678 5488 Sep 16-24: Step Into Cheshire. A week festival of walks, bike rides and outdoor activities. Tel: 01606 541825 Sep 16-17: Port Sunlight Founders Weekend. Family fun celebrating the birth of William Hesketh Lever, Sunlight Vision Museum, 2pm-4pm.

Tel: 0151 644 4803 Sep 16-17: Truckfest North West, Haydock Park Racecourse, Tel 0870 1211223 Sep 25: Isle of Anglesey Motorbike Show, The Showground, Gwalchmai, Holyhead. Tel: 01656 841639 Sep 30-Oct 1: Wallasey Motor Club Tel: 01803 328728 / 326591 Fax: 01803 314649 Promenade Stages Rally.

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August/September 2006

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August/September 2006

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THE GREAT OUTDOORS . . .

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2006

All Together Now!

21

. . . words and pictures by JOHN DEMPSEY

Bliss on a bike!

APPLYING FOR A GRANT?

A CYCLE route through some of North Wales’ most beautiful countryside has been named as the third best UK’s family bike rides.

Thee 11-mile route from Barmouth to Dolgellau was singled out for its stunning scenerey and its accessibioity for disabled people.

Starting at Barmouth station, the ride follows the route eight signs over the Mawddach railway viadduct toll bridge.

Once across the bridge riders are surrounded by the waters of Afon Mawddach and the impressive peaks of Cadir Idris.

The route goes through Penmaenpool where there is a pub and a RSPB reserve.

Visit Chester & Cheshire Tourism for All winner 2005 and 2006

Experience 800 years of history amongst 38 acres of tranquil, beautiful gardens.

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ADMITS 2 FOR THE PRICE OF 1 FULL PAYING ADULT Norton Priory Museum & Gardens, Tudor Road, Manor Park,Runcorn, Cheshire WA7 1SX Tel: 01928 569895 Registered Charity 504 870 www.nortonpriory.org Junction 11, M56 follow signs for Warrington, then brown Norton Priory signs

IRTON HOUSE FARM Holiday Breaks in the Lakes near Keswick

Self catering apartments for 2-6 people.

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For a colour brochure

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www.disabledholiday.net email: almond@farmersweekly.net Book now for 2006

Those hazy, crazy nights of summer I

’M sitting down to write this on a warm summer’s evening, cloudy with a hint of thunder in the air . . .

It’s calm, and white-tailed bumblebees are still buzzing around the garden.

Swifts are screaming around the house and it looks a perfect night for mothtrapping.

If you’ve never tried the latter, you really should give it a go. With a relatively cheap mercury bulb and trap you can catch the most spectacular visitors to your garden, no matter how large or small.

Anyone can do it – the moths simply enter the trap under the bulb, where they “roost” and the next morning they can be identified and released without harm.

The bulbs can be very bright, so you may need understanding neighbours. Mine gave up trying to understand me years ago and don’t bat an eyelid if they find me wandering round a blazing moth trap in the early hours.Even common moths can be spectacular (see pictures), but beware, this pastime can be very compulsive!

By the time you read this, many of our wonderful swifts will be preparing to leave –

Watch out for the ‘devil birds’ as they set off for Africa our screaming “devil birds” head to winter quarters in Africa earlier than a lot of summer visitors, so enjoy while you can.

Apart from migrating birds, most will have gone by the middle of August, leaving our town skies oddly empty for me.

Many of our summer migrant visitors start to get itchy feet, or rather claws now, and begin to prepare for the long journey south – willow warblers, with their beautiful lilting spring song, start to move south along our coastline now, with lemon yellow youngsters often moving through shoreline vegetation in quite large numbers.

Early morning and evening are the best times to look for them, and they can be encountered anywhere from Southport, right round Liverpool Bay to Anglesey.

All this migration gives me itchy feet too, and we are lucky in the north west to have

any number of budget airline services available from Liverpool, Manchester and even Blackpool.

Cheap flights can take you to so many parts of Europe, where a whole wealth of wildlife can be enjoyed, often dramatically different from our own flora and fauna.

With a bit of planning and early booking you can find yourself enjoying a week watching elusive woodpeckers, dramatic eagles in even more dramatic scenery, or exotic flamingos striding through the shallows of a Spanish saltpan.

Usually it works out a whole lot cheaper than spending a week in the UK, and with a bit of a surf on the internet, you can find local guides who will show you the most stunning wildlife – and great accommodation and transport deals.

Being an anti-social sort, I tend to just

AIR SHOW: Clockwise from far left, a grey headed woodpecker, a Latvian specialty; an Elephant Hawkmoth, a common visitor to traps; a willow warbler, moving south now; a middle spotted woodpecker, a continental treat for birdwatchers; small angle shades, common but beautifully marked

book a flight and wheels with a few friends and lose myself in the wildlife of another country when I need a break.

Budget air flights mean I’ve managed to enjoy trips to Spain (three times), Finland and Latvia in recent years, and I can’t recommend the experience enough.

And you don’t have to venture miles out of city areas. Monk parakeets can be watched flying around the harbour end of the famous Ramblas in the centre of Barcelona at any time of year, and you don’t get much more exotic than a squawking green, yellow and blue parrot in the middle of European city!

I saw eight species of woodpecker in Latvia on a four-day break this year. The people were great, and the unspoilt wilderness of floating alder forests, peat bog and lagoons, just fascinating – and only a two-and-a half-hour flight from Liverpool!

If exploring abroad isn’t for you, don’t worry, the spectacle of bird migration brings a whole world of travel to us in the north west for the next few months – clouds of waders on our estuaries, geese on our farmland, and seabirds passing off the coast – so get out there and enjoy it!

CHECK OUT OUR AWARD-WINNING WEBSITE: www.alltogethernow.org.uk

Let us help you promote your project to

200,000 readers All Together Now! is the perfect place to advertise your facilities and services.

We can provide you with written estimates to include in your group’s grant applications. For full details of our advertising rates and sponsorship packages call Chris Groves

0151 230 0307

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together Now!

August/September 2006

EDUCATION . . .TRAINING . . . JOBS . . . BUSINESS . . . RIGHTS

New flexible work rights for carers B

RITAIN’s six million carers have won the right to request flexible working.

Carers UK, the leading carers’ charity, has campaigned long and hard for the new right – the most far reaching that carers have gained so far.

The groundbreaking Work and Families Act 2006 will come into effect in April 2007 and will enable carers to better juggle work with their caring role.

Imelda Redmond, chief executive of Carers UK, says: “Gaining the right to request flexible working will have a huge impact on the 4.8

million carers in the UK of working age, three million of whom already combine work and care.

“We know that the vast majority of working age carers want to work.

“This helps provide them with a life outside their caring role, and a valuable source of income.

“Having this right to request some flexibility will make it easier for carers who are currently in employment to stay in work, and for more carers to take that vital step into employment.

“It is also crucial for employers that carers remain in the

workplace, as demographic changes mean that the economy will need two million more carers and 2.5 million more people in the workforce over the next 20 years.

“Giving carers the right to request flexible working is one way of helping employers meet that demographic challenge.”

There are six million carers throughout the UK. Their support is worth £57 billion a year, which is equivalent to a second National Health Service. n www.carersuk.org n North West Carers Centres — See Page 31.

JUST THE JOB: Debbie Green, left, with Kathie HareCockburn, the integrated services officer at JET Eastern Link

DISABILITY is no barrier to having a job at Tesco – as Debbie Green and Kerry Finnigan will confirm.

Debbie, 26, who is profoundly deaf, and Kerry, 27, who has multiple sclerosis, were among the first to be recruited at Tesco’s new superstore on the former Deysbrook Barracks site in West Derby, Liverpool.

And Liverpool’s mayor, Councillor Alan Dean was quick to praise the

Deysbrook Partnership, which helped recruit them – and 83 other local unemployed people.

Councillor Dean said: “This proves that people can open up new horizons for themselves when they are given a real opportunity to change their lives.”

Tesco group personnel manager Samantha Cookson said that more than 1,000 people had applied for the 200 new jobs at the store.

CALLING HR MANAGERS . . . RECRUITMENT AGENCIES . . . WIDER PARTICIPATION/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT OFFICERS . . .

Is

DIVERSITY

high on your agenda?

Let our charity deliver your message to TENS of THOUSANDS of disabled and older people who are eagerly awaiting your announcements To advertise in these pages — AND on our sensational website —call Chris Groves

0151 230 0307 sales@alltogethernow.org.uk

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www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2006

Choose Cheshire...

Come and work with us Cheshire County Council employs over 23,000 staff in hundreds of different disciplines across the whole of Cheshire.

So, whether you're seeking employment, or to change your job, Cheshire is a good place to start.

What makes Cheshire special? Diversity is the key to our success. We want to ensure our workforce reflects the full range of people in our population.

We are particularly keen to attract people with disabilities and people from ethnic minority groups to work in the Council.

Check out local press, specialist press and our website for current vacancies.

www.cheshire.gov.uk/jobsandcareers

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

Families win childcare

A

LL families with disabled children are to be entitled to childcare, thanks to a campaign to amend the Childcare Bill led by Mencap president and crossbench peer Lord Rix.

The Government had planned to give local authorities a duty to secure childcare for non-disabled children under 14, and disabled children under 16.

But it agreed to amend the Bill to cover disabled children right up to the age of 18 after Lord Rix and Mencap presented evidence to show that many parents of older disabled children find it difficult or impossible to continue to work due to the lack of appropriate childcare.

Lord Rix, who gained cross-party support for his amendment, said: “I am absolutely delighted that the Government has listened to our arguments and agreed to make this improvement to the Bill.

“This will make a huge difference to the lives of young people with a disability

LORD RIX: “Delighted” and their families who currently have great difficulty getting appropriate childcare.”

The Childcare Bill aims to ensure that enough childcare is available for families, so that they can combine working with their parental responsibilities.

At present, 84% of mothers of disabled children are out of work, compared with 39% of mothers of non-disabled

HUGH BAIRD COLLEGE

Taking you further

children; 55% of families with disabled children are living in poverty or at the margins of poverty.

The new amendment will help parents who have disabled children to keep their jobs longer, or to enter or return to the workforce.

Older disabled children find it particularly difficult to access appropriate childcare.

Parents with disabled children are often forced to give up work when their children get too old to access childcare, but are still too young to use adult services.

Mencap found that only one in 20 local authority Children’s Information Services in England was able to identify suitable childcare for a 17-year-old with a learning disability whose mother needed to work full time.

The charity’s chief executive Jo Williams said: “We’re very pleased the Government recognises that this must change if all families are to have the opportunity to participate in the workforce.” n www.mencap.org.uk

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Not sure if you will manage?

Hugh Baird College is here to

help.

Hugh Baird has a highly developed system for supporting students at college, which the recent OFSTED inspection found to be “excellent” and “outstanding”.

Right from the start, our professional specialist lecturers are able to discuss with you your support needs, no matter how small, and then put a support plan in place so you know what to expect.

We have dedicated teams of care assistants and academic support workers who work with you – outside as

well as in class – to make sure that you are able to keep up with your work and to help to make break times and lunches an enjoyable time.

If you need specialist equipment or software we can arrange for that, too, and with our partnership with the RNIB and other local support agencies, we make sure that between us we can work out what is best for you to succeed at the college.

If you need any further information about the college and the help that is available, then please contact our Student Advice Centre on 0151 353 4444 or the Inclusive Learning Coordinator on 0151 353 4593.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together Now!

August/September 2006

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

Unions are the key to enforcing new rules U

NIONS are being called on to make discrimination against disabled people in public sector jobs a thing of the past.

An equality guide, published by the Trades Unions Congress, looks at the new duties that take effect in December in public sector organisations and urges unions to get their act together.

The guide, Disability and Work: A Trade Union Guide to the Law and Good Practice, sets out how unions can work with employers to make the new Disability Equality Duty become a reality.

The TUC says that the government has pledged to end discrimination against disabled people by 2025 but stresses that it will take much to end the disadvantage and unfair treatment experienced by so many disabled people.

‘We are in a perfect position’ The new Disability Equality Duty that comes into force at the end of the year will force the public sector to actively promote true equality not only for its disabled employees but also for disabled people in receipt of its services.

The Duty, part of the Disability Discrimination Act 2005, means that public bodies, including government departments, local councils, NHS Trusts and police authorities will have to: n Promote equality of opportunity between disabled people and other people. n Eliminate unlawful discrimination.

n Promote positive attitudes

towards disabled people, and encourage disabled people to participate in public life.

TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: “Unions have already proved themselves to be very effective campaigners at highlighting unfair treatment at work and tackling discrimination wherever it surfaces.

“With the new Duty, there is a real chance to end discrimination against disabled people.

“Using the new guide, unions are in a perfect position to work with employers on the development of policies that have the potential to transform the lives of disabled people.”

A copy of Promoting Disability Equality is available at: http://www.tuc.org.uk/extras /disabilityandwork.pdf

L i v e r p o o l C o m m u n i t y C o l l e g e s t u d e n t s re c e i v e t h e L e a r n i n g & S k i l l s B e a c o n A w a rd

support for students is

outstanding Ofsted 2005

Over 26,000 learners Over 900 staff 6 centres of vocational excellence 21 drop-in centres throughout the community 13% of learners with a learning difficulty or disability Supported by the following teams:

Keeping IT in the family THREE generations from one family found out what it’s like to return to learn at Liverpool Community College.

Nan and mother, Margaret Cuddihy, 73, wants to study genealogy and was encouraged to study a new CLAIT course by her daughter, Siobhan.

Siobhan has attended various courses at the college over the past 16 years and is currently studying CLAIT + with

• • • • • •

dyslexia; specific learning difficulties; visual impairment; hearing impairment; personal care team; physical disabilities.

For further information contact:

son Sean, aged 18.

His first introduction to college was 16 years ago via the on site creche.

Sean said: “I loved the relaxed, mature atmosphere at college and would recommend it to anyone.”

Now it’s time for some sun and fun . . . until September when all three will be back studying at the college!

0151 252 3000 www.liv-coll.ac.uk

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August/September 2006

All Together Now!

EDUCATION . . . TRAINING . . . JOBS . . . BUSINESS . . . RIGHTS . . . FINANCE . . . EDUCATION . . . TRAINING . . . JOBS . . . BUSINESS . . . RIGHTS . . . FINANCE . . .

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career in Sport Starts January 2007 (subject to validation)

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Welfare Reform Bill will break down barriers to work.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, John Hutton said in July: “For too long people have been written off by the system. This will change. We are putting in place more tailored help and support for individuals to help them get back into work. In exchange for this additional help we will be asking for people to engage with us and take the necessary steps to get back into the work place.

This is not about forcing people back into work where it is not appropriate. We know that some need the extra help and assistance that only the welfare state can provide and they will continue to receive their benefits without conditionality.

Alongside the Bill’s publication, Minister for Welfare Reform, Jim Murphy announced the national roll-out of Pathways to Work. The pilots have already helped to get 25,000 people back into work and this programme will be available to all new Incapacity Benefits claimants by April 2008.

Jobcentre Plus are also working with Employers to ensure that they are aware of the valuable pool of people who are available to fill their vacancies. Organisations like The Merseyside Coalition are working with Jobcentre Plus to support local employers who want to develop an equal and diverse workforce and have recently held an event bringing together employers and working age people with a health condition or a disability. Hilary Boyle Jobcentre Plus Employer Engagement Manager explained “The Nurturing Talent event, held recently at The Crowne Plaza in Liverpool was to inform and influence local employers to provide job opportunities for local people, it was also an excellent opportunity to celebrate the success of individual people who had successfully found work with the support of Jobcentre Plus and a range of Agencies who work with people claiming Incapacity Benefit”.

The work you want the help you need.

August/September 2006

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

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

‘We have to educate employers’ T

HE GOVERNMENT must do more to encourage employers to take on disabled people, say organisations representing the UK’s 10 million people with wideraging disabilities.

Ministers have announced details of their plans to shake up the benefits system, which could see one million sick or disabled people being helped into employment, saving up to £7bn each year.

The plans will end incapacity benefit and pave the way for an employment and support allowance from 2008. And those severely disabled people would be exempt and entitled to receive more money.

But Bert Massie, chairman of the Disability Rights Commission, said ministers needed to do more to encourage employers to do their bit.

“Three out of five employers say they wouldn’t employ someone with a mental health problem,” he said.

“Given the increasing numbers of people on

Incapacity Benefit who have a mental health problem these attitudes need tackling.

“Only half of working age disabled people in Britain are employed.”

Kate Nash, chief executive of the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, said: “Whether a disabled person works is often about the attitudes of employers, the accessibility of their working environment, the support they receive to overcome societal barriers, and finally, their ability to manage their impairment.

“This last issue is where many get stuck, based on an illinformed medical profession and inadequate personal capability assessment.

“Two further issues need to be addressed: the Government needs to do more work with employers to ensure that they see the business case for employing disabled people.

“Many disabled people who can and want to work need to have the opportunity to do so.

“Secondly, to achieve a successful new approach to incapacity benefit and to get one million more disabled

people into jobs, the Government must not let the progress outlined in the Bill mask some of the deeper inequalities for disabled people in Britain today – poverty and social exclusion.”

John Wheatley, from Citizens Advice, said: “We want to see proper individual support for people who can move into work; ongoing support once in work; and a smoother transition back to benefits if their health makes work impossible to sustain.

“In particular, Jobcentre Plus will need to improve the quality of support and advice it offers and get more benefit decisions right first time.”

Meanwhile, Professor Mayur Lakhani, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: “As a practicing GP I know that some people who are disabled would like to return to work but there are barriers to this.

“If such reforms are to be successful then they must be accompanied by a change in the attitude of employers and the attitude of society more generally.”

Technology failing millions

D

ISABLED people are fast being left behind by the quickening pace of technology’s development, say the British Computer Society.

For more information contact your local Jobcentre Plus office

www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

In particular, mobile phones, i-pods, microwave cookers and websites – every day appliances for the majority – are identified as seriously failing the disabled user, especially those with visually impairments.

Chris Mairs, a spokesperson for the Society’s disability specialist group, said: “The UK’s ageing population means a significant proportion of people will eventually be classified as disabled, particularly with some visual impairment.

“Added to which, this sector of society also represents an annual spend of £87 billion, a figure likely to grow annually by over 10 per cent.

“Failure to cater for this enormous market is a major oversight by British business.”

Mr Mairs continued: “While modern technology has bought great benefits to many visually disabled people, giving them control over their lives and access to things they might otherwise be denied, advances also threaten to alienate them by making some equipment too complex to be of use.

“Voice technology has really opened up the world to the visually impairedd.

“We have talking

newspapers, easy access to online music with speech synthesized catalogues, email reading and writing and a speech interface with GPS, but on the other hand, other inventions which are heavy on technology have disenfranchised the disabled.

“Microwave cookers, mobile phones, iPods and most websites are particularly difficult to use if you have a visual impairment.”

Despite an inherited eye disease, Mr Mairs runs his own business that creates business software for blind people. He is also an international water skiing champion. n www.bcs.org.uk

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together Now!

August/September 2006

Making a

real

contribution to the

community The Cheshire is the largest regionally based mutual Building Society in the North West.

Playing an active role in the communities in which we operate, our aim is to have a positive impact on people and the environment.

Working together with local support

As a mutual we are committed to providing a comprehensive range of financial services to our members, including:

• mortgages • savings and investments • insurance • credit cards • pensions and much more

groups, charitable organisations, educational projects and many others, we aim to improve the communities in which we live and work.

Find out more about the Cheshire and our commitment to social responsibility at thecheshire.co.uk

Visit your local branch, or call FREE on 0800

195 1514 or visit us online at thecheshire.co.uk Head Office: Castle Street, Macclesfield SK11 6AF Lines open 8am – 8pm weekdays, 9am – 4pm Saturdays.

For security and training puposes, telephone calls may be monitored or recorded.

Cheshire Building Society is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (registration number 206102). The Society represents only the Norwich Union Marketing Group members of which are also authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Designated investment products and services offered will relate only to the Society and Norwich Union Marketing Group.

thecheshire.co.uk

0800 195 1514

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August/September 2006

RIGHTS . . . EDUCATION . . . JOBS . . .

Mersey Care NHS NHS Trust

Greenbank launch sports degree A NEW sports degree course is being set up on Merseyside.

From next January (subject to validation) Greenbank College, working in partnership with Liverpool John Moore’s University, will offer a Foundation Degree in Disability Sports Development.

The three-year course combines vocational and practical training with academic learning and is ideal for

people wanting to combine work, or other commitments, and study.

The degree can be used as a stepping stone to year 3 of JMU’s BA (Hons) Sports Development.

Students will also have the benefit of the superb sports facilities at the Greenbank Sports Academy and the opportunity to gain work experience. n Contact Mark Palmer, Greenbank Sports Academy. Tel 0151 280 7757.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

would like to welcome you to its Annual General Meeting

Date:

Wednesday 27th September 2006

Time:

6pm to 7.30pm

Venue:

Metropolitan Cathedral The Crypt Mount Pleasant

Holiday firm in disability case pay out A

MANCHESTER man, who is a permanent wheelchair user and who represented Great Britain in the 1988 and 1992 Paralympics, has won a landmark case against a holiday company for disability discrimination.

Dean Cavanagh, 36, who works for Manchester City Council and comes from Stockport, brought a claim against Thomas Cook Holidays after trying to book a hotel with access for disabled people, only to have his efforts repeatedly hindered and frustrated.

Dean Cavanagh claimed Thomas Cook Tour Operations representatives gave him a worse standard of service than a nonwheelchair user would receive and placed numerous barriers in the way of him booking a family holiday with them between December 2003 and May 2004.

Mr Cavanagh originally went to the company’s shop in Great Ancoats Street, Manchester, to arrange a holiday in Egypt.

Having booked a hotel with good wheelchair access, he was then told it was not accessible.

He then had to spend many more hours trying to get information from the company on which holidays would be accessible for a wheelchair user. He raised concerns that Thomas

Company must pay £5,500 Cook’s internet and retail booking system was not accessible. From that point, the service deteriorated further.

The company has now admitted that they discriminated against Mr Cavanagh, provided him with a worse standard of service than to other members of the public, and failed to make reasonable adjustments to their service. They also apologised to him and agreed, in an out of court settlement, to pay compensation of £5,500 and all of his legal costs.

Paul Daniels, a leading disability lawyer at national law firm Russell Jones and Walker who represented Mr Cavanagh, said: “People will be amazed at the lengths disabled people like Mr Cavanagh are being forced to go to when booking a holiday, something non-disabled people take for granted.

“We showed in this case that Thomas Cook breached the Disability Discrimination Act by providing a worse standard of service than it provides to other members of the

public and for failing to make reasonable adjustments to its services.

“The internet booking service was inaccessible to Mr Cavanagh and the company also refused him access to another member of staff after he raised concerns about the service received from the Great Ancoats Street branch.

“Mr Cavanagh was also told to accept a refund or try another company, which made him feel like a second class citizen.

“In short, the service fell very short of what Thomas Cook would surely offer non-disabled customers.”

Mr Cavanagh said: “Access to hotels and other facilities does not just affect disabled people because access is for everyone.

“If their website was possible for me to use and carried relevant accessibility information then I could have used that, but again the company fails to cater for disabled people by not having the right information online.

“Eventually I was told I had to make my booking via the company’s customer service department but that was not open when it was convenient to use it so I could not access it.

“Non-disabled people have access to out-ofhours booking services, but I did not. That is not fair.”

Liverpool L3 5TQ (Please note the Crypt is entered via Brownlow Hill).

Please join us for an enjoyable and informative experience; hear about Mersey Care's progress and future plans as a provider for mental health and learning disability services for Liverpool, Sefton and Kirkby; and collect your copy of our Annual Report.

Light refreshments will be available from 5.30pm.

Free car parking is available below the cathedral, entered from Mount Pleasant. Disabled access.

Mersey cares

NEWS ON THE WEB

22

All Together Now!

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2006

Adventure and plenty of good

Plant, Gift & Craft Centre LARGE PLANT CENTRE SUPERB GIFT SHOP OUTDOOR LIVING garden furniture, water features, chimineas, picnic set…

CRAFT STUDIOS / WORKSHOPS

Heroics

Tina Holley – artist, stained glass, chocolatier…

No admission charge to Bodnant Plant, Gift & Craft Centre.

Open all year. Tel: (01492) 650731

G

Garden Superbly located above the River Conwy looking towards the Snowdonia range, the 80 acre Garden at Bodnant is one of the finest in the world with colour, beauty and interest throughout the seasons.

Our delightful Pavilion Tearoom offers a varied menu of home-made and locally produced food.

Garden open mid March to early November, daily 10am–5pm.

Tel: (01492) 650460

ARDENING is good for you – that’s official! It’s both physically and mentally beneficial.

More and more garden centres and horticultural events are opening their doors, and their minds, and coming up with all sorts of ingenious ways to get people growing their own plants and flowers.

But how much advice does the world’s top horticultural event, the Chelsea Flower Show, offer to gardeners who become less mobile – or to disabled people wanting to take up gardening?

I asked that the question at this year’s show and received promising answers.

Among organisations working for those with disabilities, Thrive (formerly Horticultural Therapy) and the RNIB have both taken part in the past.

This year the Arthritis Research Campaign, Cancer Research UK and Mencap featured their specially designed gardens.

But I started by visiting the garden of this year’s show sponsors, Saga, which provides services to the over-50s – eight million of them – who naturally include people with different degrees of mobility.

Garden designer Cleve West hit an optimistic note: “I was inspired by the dictionary definition of ‘saga’ as, ‘a story of heroic achievement or marvellous adventure’,” he said.

“Making a garden is certainly an adventure and often a heroic achievement.”

So was the accomplishment of the guest of honour at the Saga garden opening, footballer Geoff Hurst, hat-trick hero of England’s 1966 World Cup victory.

As well as dispensing soccer wisdom to the

Extra help just a call away THERE were plenty of exhibitors handing out good tips to make life easier for those less mobile. Here are a few: Bulldog Tools, whose factory is in Wigan, makes a set of lightweight tools – an extendable pole with interchangeable heads, such

as trowel, rake, etc (you can win a set of these in our competition, opposite page).

Darlac produces several helpful gadgets including the Grabba-rake which has a long handle and sliding rod – on the same principle as a squeezy-sponge – for gathering up grass cuttings, leaves, etc.

Contact: 01753-547790.

Burgon & Ball, from Sheffield, have a small pair of quality secateurs needing only gentle pressure, and small topiary shears, also for

smooth, single-handed operation.

Contact: 0114-233-8262.

MEANWHILE, Greycoat Placements, a jobs agency that recruits gardeners, cooks, chauffeurs, etc for the seriously wealthy, will help suitably qualified disabled people find work. Director Jane Urquhart said: “We don’t discriminate. If people are honest about their problems, we do our best to find them a suitable vacancy.

Contact: 020-7233-9950

Help us to grow . . .

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together Now!

August/September 2006

advice at world’s greatest horticultural event n IF HARD

23

CHECKLIST IN AUGUST, take cuttings of bedding geraniums (pelargoniums) from your best plants. Select strong, healthy, short-jointed side-shoots and cut just below a leaf joint so the cutting is 8cm-10cm (3in-4in) long. Remove buds and foliage leaving three or four leaves at the top. Insert the cuttings to half their depth into individual 7cm (3in) pots and place them in a light, cool place out of direct sun. Keep the compost barely moist and they will root for planting out next spring.

evidence was needed of the benefits of gardening, Dr Richard Sullivan, head of clinical trials for Cancer Research UK, provided it at the body’s goldmedal winning exhibit. n He said: “Half of all cancers diagnosed in the UK could be prevented by changes in lifestyle – including diet and exercise, both of which can be closely connected with gardening.”

SHRUBS AND TREES: Prune shrubs that flowered earlier in summer, such as philadelphus (mock orange) and weigela. But don’t prune bushes grown for their berries.

LAWNS: Spread grass clippings on the compost heap in layers up to 15cm (6in) thick. They are rich in nitrogen which breaks down other material.

in the garden assembled guests, he was emphatic that “gardening is one of the best hobbies you can have to keep active.”

Cleve explained that their exhibit had lowmaintenance aspects that could be helpful to people with disabilities aiming to improve their gardens.

It was easily accessible with no changes of level, plenty of smooth paving and low walls which made convenient seats.

He said: “Drought-resistant plants are not only useful in the hosepipe-ban areas of the south but cut down on watering everywhere.

“It’s easy to spot plants that like it dry –

they often have spiny, glossy, silvery, sticky or fleshy leaves. Lavender and rosemary are good examples.

“Gravel is a wonderful foil for these plants,” he said. “It can also replace a lawn, saving the effort of mowing, and reduce moisture loss. That way, plants look good and stand more chance of surviving.”

Cleve, whose Saga garden won a gold medal from show organisers the Royal Horticultural Society, added: “Even plants that do not especially like it dry can be helped by using mulch to reduce moisture loss.

“When the ground is thoroughly wet after rain, spread a couple of inches of wood chippings, manure or leaf mould over the ground between the plants. In pots and hanging baskets, add water-retentive gel.

“The problem is different if you have

naturally damp soil. Irises and primulas should love it there.”

There was no denying the heroic achievement of Alex Hart, a 33-year-old garden designer from Sussex who has reactive arthritis and was still recovering from the severe pain of an attack as he worked up to 16 hours a day creating a garden for the Arthritis Research Campaign and Seven Seas, producers of fish-based medications.

Alex, who has suffered attacks since he was 26, won a silver-flora medal for his efforts.

Elaine Ingram, ARC’s marketing manager, said: “The worst thing with arthritis is to give into it. It is best if people can keep exercising, maybe taking gentle exercise such as light gardening.”

PONDS: Remove dying blooms and leaves of water lilies and other plants.

If allowed to decay, they will use up oxygen needed by fish.

VEGETABLES: Gather courgettes and runner beans as soon as they are big enough – the more you pick, the more they’ll grow. Sow spring cabbages in early August.

FRUIT: Control mildew on the tips of gooseberry bush shoots by pruning off the affected parts. If cherry or plum trees need pruning, do it now in a dry spell to minimise the risk of infection.

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

GLASS: Water and feed tomatoes and other crops regularly. Plants in growing bags or pots may need watering twice a day. In tomatoes, splitting and blossom-end rot are caused by irregular watering.

HOUSEPLANTS: They need extra water even in late summer but don’t water until the compost starts to dry out. Feed those that are due to flower later in autumn or in winter.

WIN Three Switch & Reach tool sets HERE’S a chance fto extend your limits – literally — with a set of wonderfully designed, interchangeable tools.

The Switch & Reach set, from the long-established Wigan firm Bulldog Tools, is all you need to carry out a vast range of gardening tasks without carting around numerous tools.

The heart of the system is a telescopic handle, adjusting from 55cm to 76cm (1ft 10in to 2ft 6in).

A wide range of tool heads can be

screwed into the handle. If after planting you need to hoe the area, simply unscrew the trowel and attach the Dutch hoe. Each tool head is very light. The trowel, for instance, weighs only 200g (7.5oz).

We are giving away THREE £47.30 sets of Bulldog Switch & Reach tools – telescopic handle plus these nine tool heads: trowel, ‘weed ‘n’ hoe, Dutch hoe, fork, mini-rake, fan rake, patio weeding knife, transplanter (a long trowel) and daisy grubber.

For more information on these

and other helpful Bulldog tools check out www.bulldogtools.co.uk or phone 01279-401572.

To win one of our great prizes, answer this question: What is the maximum length of the Switch & Reach telescopic handle?

Entries please with your name and address on a postcard or sealed envelope, stating where you picked up your copy of All Together Now!, to: The Editor, All Together Now!, The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP, to arrive by Friday, September 22.

SIMPLE: Peter Surridge fixes a trowel to the telescopic handle

. . . ask your garden centre manager to place an advert with us

24

All Together Now!

August/September 2006

ARIES (March 20 - April 19) The positive energy of the Sun boosts your house of love and good fortune until 23rd August, bringing one or two lucky breaks and constant reminders that there are some very good people around, including one or two who think you’re very special. If you’re to benefit fully, you must balance the Aries need for independence with the deep desire to share your life. However do not neglect a legal, financial or professional matter, which will need careful monitoring once Mars, your forceful planetary ruler, moves to oppose your birth sign on 8th September. At the very least, this will bring the moment of truth in a situation that has to be settled eventually.

TAURUS (April 20 - May 20) In one way or another you have been put to the test and one particular achievement seems to have cost you dearly. The good news is that a sparkling New Moon on 23rd August is one of several cosmic indicators that something uplifting and beneficial will come out of the events of this period. Indeed, if there is something you want to change, and it is in your power to do so, you can’t choose a better time to set the wheels in motion! However, what takes place around September 4th, when powerful Pluto turns direct in the zodiac, will make it apparent that it is off with old and on with the new to some extent.

GEMINI (May 21 - June 20) The intriguing planet Neptune suggests that there will be a cloak of mystery surrounding certain events at the end of August. This plus an eclipse of the Moon on September 7th warns you to judge others by what they do rather than what they say. Whether or not you have realised it, you are winning a certain battle and later in the year you will see a marked improvement in the way things go!

Meanwhile, a six-week visit of the passionate planet Mars to the love section of your chart begins on 8th September. This is designed to make affairs of the heart incredibly exciting or, at the very least, extremely thought provoking.

CANCER (June 21 - July 22) There are some good times around the corner and August promises to be a particularly interesting and rewarding month so be receptive to all news, ideas and opportunities and don’t feel guilty to chop and change your plans in order to take advantage of last minute invitations or opportunities. At the same time, a procession of planets moving through the section of your chart governing family, property and personal matters urges you to remember that ‘charity begins at home’, which may mean saying “no” more than once to a certain individual.

LEO (July 23 - August 22) The Sun, the ruler of Leo, is in your birth sign until 23rd August providing you with the chance to play a winning hand. Therefore, be prepared to stake a claim for whatever it is that you believe you could or should have. Others will tend to value you according to the way you value yourself, so let it be known that you are your own person. As September approaches, several planets start to

contact and include in their plans, which is just what the doctor ordered, because you appear to be in need of some sort of boost to your spirits. This is not surprising because although you may have received the odd acknowledgement from those in positions of authority, you must wait until October for some of the results you want.

On a positive note, the forward turn of Pluto in early September could bring a refund or some money you thought was lost forever.

The lunar eclipse on the 7th marks the turning point for a dilemma of personal and private nature.

June Baker-Howard

What do the stars have in store for you?

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 - December 21) Be absolutely sure that you know the full implications before ringing the changes in either your domestic or business world because two New Moons and an afflicted Full Moon are at odds with your birth sign, denoting that you could make a bad decision in the period between August 23rd and September 22nd. Despite this, you are sailing into calmer waters and the chances are you have already met the person (or persons) who will help your ship to come home.

activate the financial angle of your chart prompting you to do one or two calculations and balance spending with outgoings for a new reason. However, Saturn continues to remind you to protect your future security and save for that proverbial rainy day!

CAPRICORN (December 22 - January 19) By tradition travel and overseas interests are emphasised at this time of the year so it’s a good idea to check your passport and other relevant documents to ensure that they are up to date and in order. At the very least expect more contact than usual with people from overseas and places that lie further afield. The real aim of the planets is to make you expand your horizons, so go with the winds of change and welcome new adventures, propositions and possibilities, and don’t hesitate to ask for all that you want in September, when someone who possesses influence or authority is due to come onto the scene.

VIRGO (August 23 - September 22) The theme for the main part of August is one of tying up loose ends, recharging your batteries and closing doors in readiness for others to open once your birthday is here, when the Sun visits your birth sign to boost your confidence and start a new phase of experience. This has special significance because there are two New Moons in Virgo this year, promising two equally important opportunities or choices to consider. On 7th September, an eclipsed Full Moon puts partnership matters on the agenda. This could coincide with the end of an arrangement or way of thinking, and also clear the air.

AQUARIUS (January 20 - February 18) Holidays or not, you can expect a period of intense activity which will become increasingly more rewarding as it goes along. However, until 23rd August, the Sun is as far away from your birth sign as it can be in the zodiac, which indicates that you may feel as if you are on your own at times, yet find that opposite numbers seem to have the controlling vote over what comes to pass.

Your best bet is to wait until after September 8th, when Mars becomes more supportive, to tackle any project that could be controversial, highly emotional or in need of luck on its side to succeed.

LIBRA (September 23 - October 22) A fantastic link between the fortunate planet Jupiter with unpredictable but exciting Uranus bodes well for your financial affairs. However, where work and duty are concerned, you appear to have divided loyalties so it may be prudent to start disentangling yourself from one particular situation altogether. Have faith in your own convictions because the fiery planet Mars enters Libra on 8th September to back you to the hilt and provide you with a renewed sense of purpose and direction.

PISCES (February 19 - March 19) Uranus, a planet associated with sudden happenings, dominates your chart this year, suggesting that this phase is plagued with uncertainties and heartsearching moments.

Try to soldier on allowing for the unexpected, and endeavour to have a plan B ready if a course of action is important to you, especially around 7th September when a lunar eclipse in your birth sign suggests you may not be given all the bits of information you need to make a decision that cannot be postponed.

Money, especially loans and such like, and love, will be tied up together in more ways than one as autumn approaches when a beneficial home move, improvement or reorganisation is on the agenda.

SCORPIO (October 23 - November 21) August is liable to be a delightfully sociable month and the chances are you will be the one that everyone tries to

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

BOOKS

n WALKING ON WHEELS: 50 Wheelfriendly Trails in Scotland, published

by Cualann Press, price £10.99

NOT JUST her first book, but the first book of its kind, Eva McCracken has put together an excellent guide for wheelchair and electric scooter users who want to enjoy the Scottish countryside.

She has drawn on her own personal knowledge of the paths and trails to provide a practical guide to overcome the difficulties that many disabled people may face.

Eva had been a keen walker before multiple sclerosis resulted in occasional and then more frequent use of a wheelchair.

Six years ago she discovered the joys of exploring the outdoors using an electric wheelchair or an electric scooter. Since then she has collected information on trails accessible to wheelchair users and has selected the top 50 routes, all with varying degrees of difficulty.

POET’S CORNER Laughter in the Air – Pam Jones, Moreton Wirral I hear laughter drifting through the air Someone is having fun But where, where?

What is so funny, who can it be?

Then from my window I clearly see Tis three small boys Without any toys Aged seven, five and three Pretending to be riding a train Choo choo and giggles Choo choo and giggles What fun, what joy For any little boy I see arms waving in the air Who are they trying to scare Why is their father collecting the fare Choo choo and more giggles What fun you can have from a chair With a smile on my face The memory has left a trace Choo choo - tickets please!

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together Now!

August/September 2006

25

MERSEYTRAVEL

All aboard!

A

CCESSIBILITY has been a vital part of Merseytravel’s biggest project – the stunning £32 million Liverpool South Parkway (LSP) interchange.

LSP, which provides fast and efficient links to Liverpool John Lennon Airport, has a number of design features that make it accessible to everyone.

The interchange has easy access doors, colour contrasted design features to help people with low vision, variable height ticket counters for wheelchair users, fully accessible toilets, high visibility signage, an induction loop systems for people with impaired hearing and a highly visible staff presence.

Councillor Mark Dowd, chair of Merseytravel, said: “Making LSP accessible and usable for everyone has been very important.

“Everyone should be able to benefit from this great new facility.”

Neil Scales, chief executive and director general of Merseytravel, was the engineer in charge of the project. He said: “We are working

Access is just the ticket at new £32m station towards a fully integrated public transport network that is accessible to everyone. LSP is a great example of that.”

Merseytravel’s Access Officer David Finnegan, himself a wheelchair user, worked closely on the development of the project; giving support on access issues.

LSP links the two stations of Allerton and Garston. The major features include: n A single booking office, passenger information and enquiry

point for bus rail and airport journeys; n Integrated bus station and taxi rank n High frequency shuttle bus to Liverpool John Lennon Airport n A 240 space Park-and-Ride car park n Secure and safe environment with CCTV and customer information systems n Secure motor bike and cycle storage.

As one of Europe’s newest

interchanges, LSP is also pioneering new forms of sustainability in public transport and has won a string of awards and accolades, including a coveted Green Apple Award and a Network Rail award.

Initial services to LSP are included within the half hourly service from Manchester Oxford Road to Lime Street and an hourly service to Crewe and Birmingham as well as the regular Merseyrail network services.

Later this year, services to Sheffield and the East Midlands will be introduced and Merseytravel will be exploring further routes in advance of the 2008 European Capital of Culture Year.

Neil Scales added: “We’re proud of what we have achieved at Liverpool South Parkway. We’ve set a standard that we hope others in the transport industry and elsewhere will emulate.”

All Together Now!

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August/September 2006

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

. . . with JAN LOCKYER

Here’s a date for the memory

Q

MY Nan keeps forgetting what day it is.

Is there anything that would help her?

A: YOU can get large calendar clocks that display the day and date, as well as clocks that also speak the time and date on the press of a button.

These are also useful for people who have visual impairments.

Put this event in your diary – Practical Solutions for People with Memory Problems, taking place on November 21 (11am-3pm) at Liverpool Disabled Living Centre.

The aim is to promote awareness of products and services useful to people with all kinds of memory problems.

voice for more than 40 DLCs Assist UK has teamed up with All Together Now! to help readers of all ages and abilities to stay independent.

The DLCs provide independent advice and the opportunity to see and try equipment and they are there to help you make the right choice.

Remember some equipment can be provided free on loan from the NHS or

DO YOU have a problem with everyday activities such as bending, reaching, dressing, getting in and out of your favourite chair, using the bath or toilet?

If the answer is yes, your local Disabled Living Centre may have the answer for you.

Assist UK, formerly the Disabled Living Centres Council, is the national

social services departments and if you are buying equipment there may be grants available to help you.

Be a wiser buyer — it always pays to get impartial advice and there is the opportunity to test the item before you buy. There is also every chance your DLC will have the products you are interested in on display. So if you need help — please use us.

Reach for it Q

I CAN’T bend down to pick things up. Where can I get one of those long handled reachers?

A: THERE’s quite a range on the market including different weights, lengths and grips. If any of these factors are important then it would be a good idea to try before you buy.

Open Days at Liverpool Disabled Living Centre provide an opportunity for people to see and try over 2,000 products including a good range of long handled reachers.

Some have magnets, shoe horn attachments or clips for attaching them to walking aids.You can also get folding reachers – useful for when you’re out and about.

For details of retailers contact your local Disabled Living Centre.

Better service for children

Liverpool Disabled Living Centre Enabling people to choose the right equipment Over 2,000 products on display: G Bathroom and toilet aids G Chairs G Shower equipment G Kitchen and feeding aids G Stair lifts G Beds and bed accessories G Walking aids G Telephone equipment G Personal care products G Hoists G Equipment to help with dressing G Gardening aids G Moving and handling equipment G Ramps G Reading and writing aids and more...

Contact the centre for impartial advice and information on products to assist with independence and safety in daily living.

Visits are by appointment except on open days.

The centre does not buy or sell equipment.

G Telephone: 0151 298 2055 G Email: disabled.living.centre@liverpool.gov.uk G Fax: 0151 298 2952 G Website: liverpooldisabledlivingcentre.com G Liverpool Disabled Living Centre 101 Kempston Street, Liverpool, L3 8HE Liverpool Disabled Living Centre is part of Liverpool Community Equipment Service, a partnership between the NHS and Liverpool City Council.

CHILDREN and adults with muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular conditions will receive improved wheelchair assessments, thanks to new guidelines, published by the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

The guidelines are being sent to every UK wheelchair services department and provide crucial information about the needs of people with a neuromuscular condition.

Muscular Dystrophy Campaign director of care, Lyn Inman, said: “We find many wheelchair services do not come into regular contact with muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular conditions, and their expertise in assessing individuals for the correct wheelchair varies dramatically.”

Kids on the move A PRACTICAL demonstration of children’s mobility equipment including trikes, car seats, buggies and walkers takes place at Liverpool Disabled Living Centre on Wednesday September 13, 11 am - 2.30 pm.

All children, parents, carers and staff are welcome. Contact 0151 298 2055 Other Open Days at LDC: Tuesday September 5 (1pm-4pm) Wednesday September 20 (10am-1pm) Tuesday October 3 (1pm-4pm) Wednesday October 18 (10am-1pm)

Other way to spend a penny?

Q

URINE bottles are a bit bulky when travelling. Is there an alternative?

A: YES, you can get portable urinals for men and women.

These can be rolled up and carried in your pocket or bag.

There are disposable and re-useable versions available.

Contact your local disabled living centre for details (see contact list, right).

NEED advice about equipment that can help you or someone you care for? These centres may have the answers . . . n CREWE Leighton Hospital, Middlewich Road, Crewe CW1 4QJ. Tel 01270 612 343 n HALTON Collier Street, Runcorn, WA7 1HB. Tel 01928 582 920 n LIVERPOOL Disabled Living Centre 101 Kempston Street, Liverpool, L3 8HE. Tel 0151 298 2055 n MACCLESFIELD Macclesfield General Hospital, Victoria Road, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 3BL. Tel 01625 661 740 n MANCHESTER Assist UK 4 St Chads Street, Manchester, M8 8QA. Tel 0161 834 1044 n NORTHWICH Victoria Infirmary, Winnington Hill, Northwich, CW8 1AW. Tel 01606 79260 n STOCKPORT St Thomas’s Hospital, Shawheath, Stockport, SK3 8BL. Tel 0161 419 4476 n WARRINGTON Beaufort Street, Warrington, WA5 1BA. Tel 01925 638867 n WIRRAL St Catherine’s Hospital, Birkenhead.

Tel 0151 678 7272

Tables for wheelchair players

Q

OUR youth club needs a new table tennis table. Some of our members are wheelchair users who are keen players. Any suggestions?

A: YOU can get table tennis tables with the legs mounted further underneath the table than on standard tables.

You might also be interested in Polybat another game that would enable people of different abilities to use the table tennis table, too.

Liverpool Disabled Living Centre has

information on over 700 products to enable people to participate in sport and leisure activities.

From card shufflers to swimming pool hoists there is a huge range of equipment available. If a product you need is not commercially available the centre works in partnership with REMAP engineers to adapt or invent whatever is needed.

If you fancy taking up a sport for fun or more seriously then call 0151 298 2055 for a free copy of Merseyside Disability Sports Directory. www.remap.org.uk

To advertise call 0151 230 0307

Extracare blind advertorial

6/7/06

12:03 pm

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

If you or someone you know is visually impaired United Utilities is here to help. We offer a range of additional services for you under the umbrella of our ExtraCare service.

All you need to do is register as an ExtraCare customer to gain access to them.

If you have difficulty seeing we offer a number of services which can help. We can send you your bill in Braille or large print. We also offer a talking bill where we call you with details about your bill before we send it so you can ask us any questions.

Alternatively, we can send your bill to a friend or relative if you would prefer although you need to check with them before you give their details to us.

If you are blind we can also arrange for your meter to be read more regularly so that you can keep abreast of how much water you are using. Usually we read meters every year but we can send someone out to read your meter every three months as part of our ExtraCare service.

Many of our booklets are also available in Braille, large print and audio cassette – please just ask us for them.

From time to time we may need to carry out work on the water network which supplies your home. This may mean shutting off your water for a short time. If we have to do this we will put a card through your letterbox in advance to warn you of the shut-off.

But if you are registered with ExtraCare we will take additional steps to warn you about any changes to your water supply. If

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ExtraCare means less worry

you have told us that you are visually impaired we will contact you personally if we plan to shut off your water supply.

Unfortunately there are circumstances such as a burst water main, when it is not always possible to warn you in advance that we have to shut off your water supply quickly.

If this happens we usually tell you by using a loudspeaker in the street. If a large area is affected there will be an announcement on local radio.

If the water supply will be off for more than 12 hours we will put a water tanker nearby for you to collect water from.

However if you have told us that you are visually impaired we can provide a small amount of bottled water in emergency situations if you request it.

And if we do need to visit you our password scheme is here to ensure you only let genuine United Utilities personnel into your home.

All our employees carry identification cards with their photograph on and a telephone number on the back so you can verify who they are. To make it easier for our customers who are visually impaired, this number is also written in Braille on the back. Our password scheme is also available to Extracare

customers to provide extra peace of mind. All you have to do is let us know the password you would like us to use if we visit you and the password will only be known to you and us.

When any of our employees visit you, you just ask them to give you the password before you let them in.

Need a little extra help with your bill?

Our ExtraCare customers access extra help with understanding and paying their bill.

ExtraCare

Are you disabled, elderly, seriously ill or do you have sight, hearing or learning difficulties?

If so you could be eligible for a range of additional services which United Utilities offers free to customers with extra needs, called ExtraCare.

If you are visually impaired we can send you bills and letters in Braille or large print so they are easier to read. We operate a password scheme to stop Registering for bogus callers getting into your home.

ExtraCare is easy We will also take extra steps to warn you just telephone us on if we need to shut-off your water supply.

0845 746 1100 or register online at: www.unitedutilities.com/extracare 06/06/UUNW/DC/1691

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All Together Now!

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2006

New heart disease warning for people with diabetes

Bad hair ‘is worse than a bad back’ MOST people would rather spend their money on salon treatments or luxury toiletry products than on tackling a back or joint problem.

A survey by the British Osteopathic Association revealed 31% of respondents saying they would act more quickly to put right a bad haircut or a broken nail, compared to only 10% who saw a muscular or joint problem as a priority.

Most people responding to the survey (67%) spent up to £40 a month on toiletries compared to just 4.7% on complementary medicines, despite around 61% of the UK population experiencing back pain at some time in their lives. n www.osteopathy.org

Depressing facts PEOPLE who become deaf in adult life are five times as likely to suffer from depression as the general UK population, according to a new report.

“This stark finding is one of many that illustrate the devastating effect that becoming deafened in adulthood can have,” says Professor Ros Corney at the University of Greenwich. n Copies of the report are available from the LINK Centre or it can be downloaded from: n www.linkdp.org

DIABETES has an effect on the heart and arteries equivalent to ageing 15 years, a new study shows.

People with diabetes fall into the high-risk category for cardiovascular disease (CVD) 15 years earlier than those without the condition, say scientists.

They were also up to four times more likely to have CVD than otherwise healthy individuals.

The findings, published in The Lancet medical journal, concluded that for men, the change from moderate to high risk took place at about the age of 48. For diabetic women, the switch occurred at 54.

This black fruit can keep you in the pink

The study was carried out by the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences in Toronto, Canada.

Cathy Ross, cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, said: “This research supports evidence that diabetes is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease.”

B

LACKCURRANTS are claimed to help prevent Alzheimer’s disease, fight cancer – and combat heart disease.

Now this small but mighty home-grown superfood is set to become every woman’s favourite fruit as new research reveals blackcurrants can help beat cystitis and other urinary tract infections.

As most women know, urinary tract infections are all too common.

Most are caused by bacteria, such as E.coli, and can be treated with a range of medicines.

But prevention is better than cure and a recent study reveals that eating and drinking blackcurrants can help reduce the frequency, severity and duration of UTIs. British blackcurrants are high in healthpromoting compounds called proanthocyanidins that successfully interfere with the bad bacteria that cause UTIs, such as cystitis.

Derek Stewart, from the Scottish Crop Research Institute, says: “We know from a range of studies that proanthocyanidincontaining fruit like cranberries are great at reducing the incidence of urinary tract infections. However most people don’t know that blackcurrants are also packed with these compounds.”

At least 50% of women suffer a UTI sometime in their life. British blackcurrants are in season from September. n www.blackcurrantfound

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NEW studies also conclude that tomatoes contain a unique extract capable of helping keep a normal healthy blood flow – an important factor in maintaining heart and cardiovascular health.

“These conclusions are the result of many years of research and leave no doubt we have found a unique food ingredient which has proven blood health properties,” says Professor Asim Duttaroy.

Blood flow is partly regulated by components in the blood called platelets which look after the circulatory system.

After an injury, platelets stick together to create a barrier to help prevent bleeding. They also help wounds to heal. But platelets become more sticky as we get older and are affected by lifestyle factors like diet, smoking and stress.

This can lead to clotting of the blood inside the blood vessels themselves which can cause an unhealthy blood clot.

Tomatoes were already considered a heart healthy food but Professor Duttaroy and scientists at the Rowett Institute, Aberdeen, found and isolated a particular extract of ripe tomatoes that helps maintain normal healthy blood flow by helping to keep platelets smooth, and so unlikely to stick together.

The extract, named Fruitflow, is in the yellow fluid around the seeds of ripe tomatoes.

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2006

All Together Now!

29

TRUE GRIT: David Hillier who is raising funds for The Prostate Cancer Charity

by Stephen Hawkins chair, Mersey Care NHS Trust

T

Tour de Force F

OUR YEARS ago David Hillier was given two years to live.

He had been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer.

But he has defied the medics and after a gruelling bike ride he is now hoping his efforts will raise £20,000 for The Prostate Cancer Charity.

David, 41, took part in the Etape du Tour, an infamous mountain stage of the 2,272 mile Tour de France.

The major sporting event involves more than 8,500 amateur cyclists from across the globe, cycling 118 miles across three mountains, starting at Gap, in the south of France and finishing at the peak of Alpe d’Huez in the French Alps.

It was a huge challenge for David, Barclays Capital’s chief UK economist, who did exceptionally well to reach the halfway stage.

“It was really disappointing to be eleiminated,” he said. “I was told that I was not going fast enough. But I had plenty of energy left in the tank.”

Training for the race was also tough.

“I spent every weekend for the last six months cycling – usually around 80 miles a day. It was very intensive with many hours away from my family. But this was a challenge I had to meet.

“The doctor who diagnosed me said

that there wasn’t much he could do for me and that I would have around two years left to live – possibly even less.

“Fortunately, a more enlightened oncologist suggested some experimental treatment and that I would be able to put up a better fight against the cancer if I started to exercise. I’ve been cycling ever since.

David continued: “To be honest, no one knows how much time I have left. I’ve outlived a number of predictions, so now I just try to remain positive, stay active and give myself goals to aim for – things to stay alive for.

“One of the things I most want to achieve in the immediate future is to help raise awareness of prostate cancer and much needed funds for The Prostate Cancer Charity.

“I want all men to make sure they don’t let the disease go unchecked before it’s too late and for them to have the best possible treatment options.

“Prostate cancer isn’t as well supported as other cancers – possibly because it’s thought to only affect old men, but everyone should be aware of the disease and the possible symptoms as once diagnosed, the impact of the disease can affect everyone in the family.”

The Prostate Cancer Charity chief

executive John Neate said: “We cannot thank David enough for his tireless support of our charity and his incredible commitment to raising awareness of prostate cancer. He is a great guy and an inspiration to us all.”

The Etape du Tour was part of four sponsored rides David is planning to complete in 2006.

Last year he asked his close friends to join him in riding the 42-mile Five Boroughs Bike Ride in New York City, and raised over £200,000 making it the single most successful sponsored event the charity has ever had.

It is very rare to be diagnosed with prostate cancer at such a young age.

Most men diagnosed with prostate cancer will be over 60 but men from the age of 45 can be affected. The risk of getting prostate cancer increases as men get older.

If you would like to sponsor David please visit: www.justgiving.com/etapeprostate-cancer-charity n For further information about prostate cancer call The Prostate Cancer Charity’s confidential helpline 0845 300 8383, open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and Wednesdays from 7 - 9pm or visit: n www. prostate-cancer.org.uk

HE anniversary of the terrible 7/7 London bombings was a reminder that violence will ultimately always lose out to the democratic process.

Democracy is something that comes in all shapes and sizes, though.

Whether it’s the big issues like the right to vote, human rights and laws, or making other choices affecting our own lives, democracy is all pervading and significant within our society.

And so it is within the NHS, which has striven to increase choice as well as give patients and the public more of a say about the health services that serve them.

Within my own organisation, Mersey Care NHS Trust took the stance five years ago that service users and carers must be fully involved in this democratisation process.

We believe service users, carers and staff should all be treated with equal dignity and respect and as valued citizens – a facet incorporated in our ‘rights, respect and responsibilities’ approach and formally adopted by our Board.

Involvement It’s also why Mersey Care is committed to tackle social injustice and the stigma attached to those very people who we are here to serve and help to make well.

Service users and carers are actively engaged in every stage of our work – whether it’s choosing the right staff for new jobs (now in excess of 1,400 interviews), to specific aspects or reviews of our mental health and learning disability services.

But for this to work it has to be something more than just lip service.

It’s another reason why we coopted a service user/carer representative onto our Board to make a difference at the highest decision-making level.

The overall result of all these things has been that valuing people – no matter what their disabilities or problems – has had a significant benefit in providing the services that matter.

Aristotle once said: “Liberty and equality will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost.”

It’s a principle to which we should all aspire.

30

All Together Now!

MARKET PLACE Lifesaver on your key ring HERE’s a good idea that may help people with diabetes.

Scott Saunders has Type 1 diabetes and needs to carry rapid-acting glucose tablets in case his blood sugar levels drop too low.

But where do you put the tablets?

Scott’s answer – Gluco-Carry, a small plastic holder fitting on a key ring.

“You’re never far away from your keys so this is the perfect way to store the tablets,” says Scott, 28.

Nicola McConnell, a specialist diabetes dietician, said: “I think the

Gluco-Carry is a great idea.

“I see a lot of people who over-treat their hypos partly because they don’t know only three to four glucose tablets will suffice and more commonly they find that when hypo they can’t stop eating.

“This device containing just the right amount should really help.”

Gluco-Carry is £5.99 + 95p postage online from www.gluco-carry.com or with a cheque made payable to “GlucoCarry” 50 Jackson Road, Bromley, Kent BR2 8NS.

Phone keeps you in picture PICTURE this – a phone with a brilliant but simple solution for older people who struggle to remember telephone numbers.

Geemarc Telecom’s new photoPHONE comes with nine dedicated big speed dial buttons which can feature pictures or icons.

This allows the user to simply press the button which shows a photo of a loved one and it instantly dials the number.

The photoPHONE pack also contains specially designed icons that can be used for other priority numbers such as a carer.

The phone has all the amplified functionality for people who have some form of hearing loss. This central feature lets users adjust the amplification to suit their particular level of hearing loss. This allows them to hold a

HELP ON THE PHONE n

CHESHIRE Disabilities Federation: Tel 01606 888400 n CHESTER Dial House: Tel 01244 345655 n ELLESMERE PORT DICE: Tel 0151 355 1420 n HALTON Disability Service: Tel 01928 717222 n KNOWSLEY Disability Concern Tel 0151 480 4090 n LIVERPOOL Association of Disabled People Tel 0151 263 8366/Text: 260 3187 n Disablement Resource Unit, Local Solutions Tel 0151 709 0990 n Glaxo Neurological Centre: Tel 0151 298 2999 n Merseyside Society for Deaf People: Tel 0151 228 0888

n

CHESHIRE Unit 8, Albion Walk, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 5XU Tel 01606 330 853 n

KNOWSLEY 149 Cherryfield Drive, Kirkby, L32 8SE Tel 0151 549 1412 MANCHESTER Beswick House Beswick Row Manchester M4 4PR Tel 0161 835 2995 RUNCORN 62 Church Street Runcorn WA7 1LD Tel 01928 580182

conversation using the telephone without either party shouting to make themselves heard.

Geemarc Telecom predicts that photoPHONE is likely to be purchased by people with older parents or relatives. They can programme the phones with up to nine numbers and then insert

near passport size pictures under the plastic covers of each button. photoPHONE has a recommended retail price of £39.99. It is available from retailers and websites including Maplin Electronics, Miller Brothers, Bennetts Retail, Jegs Electrical and the KC Phone Shop.

TEN lucky readers win Flipklip reading aid Birchall, All Saints Court, Church Road, Rainford, St Helens; Mike Connor, Clifton Drive, Marple, Stockport; Mrs J Wilson, Northwood Road, Prenton, Birkenhead; Mrs C Guy, St Georges Mount, Wallasey; Andrew Kay, The Willows, Mawdesley, Ormskirk; Mrs M Lucas, Crosby; Mrs M A Williams, Calderstones, Liverpool. n Flipklip details: tel 01422 883396 n www.bookhelp.co.uk

n GREATER MANCHESTER Coalition of Disabled People: Tel: 0161-273 5154 / 5155 / 8141. n WARRINGTON Disability Partnership: Tel 01925 240064 n WIRRAL WIRED: Tel 0151 670 1500 n SKELMERSDALE West Lancs Disability Helpline: Freefone 0800 220676 n ST HELENS DASH: Tel 01744 453053

NORTH WALES: n ANGLESEY CIL: Tel 01248 750249 n DENBIGHSHIRE: 01745 354445 n MOLD Flintshire Disability Forum: Tel 01352 755546 n RHYL: Tel 01745 350665 n WREXHAM: Tel 01978 262955

CARERS’ CENTRES

n

THE FlipKlip book holder – featured in All Together Now! – is the smallest and lightest of its kind on the market, letting you read without holding the pages.

The device costs £6.97 including postage, but we had 10 to give away.

The lucky readers are: Mr S Cooper, Sneyd Street, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent; Ms P Rock, Hasfield Road, Liverpool; F W Hookham, Knowsley Road West, Clayton-le-Dale, Blackburn; Mrs C

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

August/September 2006

WIDNES Unit 16 Windmill Centre Widnes WA8 7TN Tel 0151 257 7767 n

SALFORD 1 St Philip’s Place

Salford M3 6FA Tel 0161 833 0217 n

SEFTON Third Sector Technology Centre, 16 Crosby Road North, Waterloo, Liverpool, L22 0NY Tel 0151 285 4000 n ST HELENS Millennium House, Bickerstaffe Street, St Helens, WA10 1DH Tel 01744 675 615 n

WARRINGTON The Bungalow, Garven Place, Warrington, WA1 1GP Tel 01925 644 212

n

WEST LANCS 49 Westgate, Sandy Lane Centre, Skelmersdale, Lancashire, WN8 8LP Tel 01695 733737

n

WIGAN & LEIGH 27 Charles Street Leigh WN7 1DB Tel 01942 683711

NORTH WALES: ANGLESEY 27 Church Street, Llangefni LL77 7DU. Tel 01248 722828 n

n

BANGOR Carers Outreach 60 Fford Deiniol, Bangor, LL57 1AA Tel 01248 370 797

n

CONWY 74 Conwy Road, Colwyn Bay, LL29 7LD Tel 01492 533714

n

DOLGELLAU Swddfa Ganol, Plas y Dre, Dolgellau, LL40 1AD Tel 01341 421167

n

PORTHMADOG St David’s Building, Lombard Street, Porthmadog, LL49 9AP Tel 01766 513 975

SHOPMOBILITY CENTRES n n

ALTRINCHAM: 0161 929 1714 ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE: 0161 339 9500 n BARROW: 01229 434039 n BIRKENHEAD: 0151 647 6162 n BLACKPOOl: 01253 349 427 n BOLTON: 01204 392946 n BURY: 0161 764 9966 n CARLISLE: 01228 625950 n CHESTER: 01244 312626 n CHORLEY: 01257 260 888 n COLWYN BAY: 01492 533822 n CREWE: 01270 580 031 n ELLESMERE PORT: 0151 355 1420 n KENDAL: 01539 740 933 n LEIGH, Wigan: 01942 777 985.

Minicom: 01942 777 986 n LIVERPOOL: 0151 707 0877 n MANCHESTER Trafford Centre: 0161 747 8046 n MANCHESTER Arndale Centre: 0161 839 4060

n n

NELSON: 01282 692 502 NORTHWICH, Vale Royal: 01606 353525 n ORMSKIRK, West Lancashire: 01695 570055 n OSWESTRY: 01691 656882 n PENRITH: 01768 895 438 n PRESTON: 01772 204 667 n RHYL: 01745 350665 n ROCHDALE: 01706 865 986 n RUNCORN, Halton Lea: 01928 717445 Minicom: 01928 717999 n SHREWSBURY: 01743 236900 n SOUTHPORT: 01704 546 654 n ST HELENS: 01744 613 388 n STOCKPORT: 0161 666 1100 n WARRINGTON: 01925 231941 n WARRINGTON, Birchwood: 01925 822 411 n WIGAN: 01942 776 070 n WINSFORD: 01606 557550 n WREXHAM: 01978 312390

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

All Together Now!

August/September 2006

31

in association with . . .

All you need is a bit of courage, says blind record breaker

Mark: The master of the deep

ATHLETICS

UK team to take on the world UK ATHLETICS have announced the Great Britain squad for the IPC Athletics World Championships in Assen in September.

Paralympic medalists Tanni Grey-Thompson, David Weir, Kenny Churchill and Stephen Miller are among the 49-strong team who will be looking to secure qualifying places for the Beijing Paralympics.

Also in the squad is Paralympic champion Danny Crates, who recently won gold in the Visa Paralympic World Cup in Manchester.

Young guns

WHAT A DIVE!: Mark Threadgold sets the new world record. Inset, celebrating his power boat success on Windermere

A

FORMER soldier has set the world record for the deepest dive by a blind person after plunging to a depth of more than 100 metres in Egypt’s Red Sea. Mark Threadgold, 38, beat his previous personal best by more than 30 metres to record 103 metres below sea level.

The feat puts him in the elite one per cent of divers worldwide to pass the 100m mark.

The former Royal Corps of Signals sergeant, who lost his sight in 1999 after suffering head injuries in an accident, was elated after securing his record, which marks the latest stage in a remarkable personal story.

Mark, originally from south Yorkshire but who now lives in Brighton, rebuilt his life with the help of St Dunstan’s, the charity for blind exservicemen and women.

As well as being a record breaker he lives self-sufficiently in his own home, thanks to an intense programme of rehabilitation.

Speaking after his latest triumph, Mark, who completed the two-hour dive with a team of four sighted divers but controlled his own equipment at every stage, said: “I’m thrilled to have achieved this record – but it will take a while to sink in! I was a bit nervous beforehand but things couldn’t have gone more smoothly.

TOP TEAM ON BOARD A TEAM of sighted divers joined Mark in his successful record attempt.

Among them were Mark Elliott, 41, from Nantwich, Cheshire, a diver for 14 years. He said: “What Mark has done is amazing. If it makes other disabled people go out and do it, or something like it, then so much the better.”

Sally Cartwright, 36, from Stoke, is chairman of the Liverpool-based SubAqua Association. She said: “It is a big achievement for any diver, let alone someone who cannot see.”

“I have to thank all of my team, St Dunstan’s and my other sponsors for making this possible.

As with any challenge in life it only takes a bit of inspiration, courage and support from those around you and the world is your oyster – disability really doesn’t have to be an obstacle to achievement.”

His latest feat keeps up the momentum behind an impressive run of record breaking.

Three years ago, father-of-two Mark broke the world record for the fastest blind man on water

after speeding across Lake Windermere in a power boat at 99.19 mph. He also holds the blind speed record for circumnavigating the Isle of Wight.

Mark was joined for his record breaking diving celebrations by proud parents Jan and Joe, from Sykehouse near Doncaster, who surprised their son by turning up at the last minute to cheer him on.

Joe, aged 62, a mobile crane operator, said: “It is a great achievement and I hope it will provide inspiration to others. He has already surprised us so much with what he has achieved since he lost his sight and St Dunstan’s have been central to him achieving all these things.

“Not only have they given him the opportunity to do these kinds of things but they have helped him rebuild his life.”

Jan, 60, a part-time secretary, added: “I am so proud of him. St Dunstan’s have given him the opportunity to do everything he has wanted since he went blind, but to have the courage to do what he has done is phenomenal.” n St Dunstan’s has helped thousands of blind people and their families.

Tel 020 7723 5021 www.st-dunstans.org.uk

As well as the experienced Paralympians, several youngsters have also been selected, including 18 year-old Bridgend athlete Nathan Stephens; 16 year-old wheelchair racer Mickey Bushell, from Telford; and 20 year-old wheelchair racer Brian Alldis, from Bury-St-Edmunds.

London marathon wheelchair race runnerup Shelly Woods, from Blackpool; Ben Rushgrove, from Bath; and visually impaired Edinburgh sprinter Elizabeth Clegg are also included in the squad.

Beijing goal UK Athletics performance director Dave Collins said: “In selecting this team we considered a number of factors, particularly in light that this is the last global championships to take place prior to the Beijing Paralympics.

“The usual emphasis on medals is there but so too is the need to qualify as many athletes in the top four places as possible in order to secure as large a competitor quota as we can for the Paralympics.”

Send us your sports reports: news@alltogethernow.org.uk

32

All Together Now!

JUDO PARALYMPIC silver medallist Ian Rose won bronze at the IBSA Judo World Championships in France.

Rose was part of a squad of five Britons who battled against more than 200 blind or partially sighted competitors from 40 different countries.

The British squad also managed two 5th places from Rochdale’s Simon Jackson and Ben Quilter (Brighton).

The event was one of three qualifiers for the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. The top six men and top four women per weight category will qualify.

British Judo High Performance Director Colin McIver said: “I am happy with the results achieved in France. However, we need to aim to win medals across the entire team in the remaining qualifiers in order for all our players to be fully secure in the final rankings for Beijing places.” n www.paralympics.org.uk

TENNIS BRITAIN’s Jayant Mistry and Michael Jeremiasz (France) lost their defence of the Wimbledon Men’s Wheelchair Doubles title.

Reigning Paralympic champions Shingo Kunieda and Satoshi Saida (Japan) came away 7-5, 6-2 winners – and picked up a purse of £2,600.

Mistry and Jeremiasz’s beaten finalists’ purse amounted to £1,800.

Next stop for Mistry is Nottingham where he teams up with Dutchman Robin Ammerlaan for the Btitish Open championships.

Meanwhile Cheadle Hulme’s Darren O’Donnell has his eyes set on the British Open Deaf Championships in Nottingham (August 8-13)

FENCING PARALYMPIC hopeful Lee Fawcett showed improved form by taking bronze in the individual sabre at the Fencing World Cup in Turin.

Hopes are high now for Middlesbrough-based Fawcett in the World Championships in Turin in September,

August/September 2006

www.alltogethernow.org.uk

RUGBY

Lessons for Scots MICHAEL Barker – Everton’s disabled player of the year – scored four goals in the club’s 6-1 win over the national Scottish cerebral palsy team.

The Everton CP team were soon in control and it came as no surprise when England international Barker scored the opener with a well struck shot into the top corner from 25 yards, followed by a second before the interval.

Barker completed his hattrick midway through the second half, and grabbed his fourth after rounding the keeper.

John Kelly powered home an unstoppable long-range effort for Everton’s fifth, and while Scotland claimed a consolation goal minutes from the end, Everton fired in their sixth after Barker set up Gary Atherton to finish with a low shot into the corner of the goal.

THE SIGNS are looking good for Great Britain’s wheelchair rugby team who head for the World Chamionships in New Zealand in September.

HOTSHOTS: Everton CP team too good for Scotland

Everton scheme attracts Chinese attention

World class EVERTON captain Phil Neville presented Michael Barker with the 2006 Disabled Player of the Year award at the club’s annual presentation ceremony at Goodison Park.

It is the first time Everton have made their awards night fully inclusive for players of all abilities.

The award for Everton Ladies’ Footballer of the Year was won by Jodi Hanley.

E

VERTON’s trailblazing disability football programme is attracting attention from all over the world.

Set up at Goodison Park seven years ago, and now a registered charity, the Everton Football In The Community scheme encourages people with wideranging disabilities to take up the sport.

During the pre-season they sent teams to compete in Scotland and in a tournament in Kasposvar, Hungary.

And they have just held preliminary talks with the Shanghai Disability Federation regarding the possibility of setting up their revolutionary programme in China.

Everton FITC’s disability officer Steve Johnson says: “It’s all hugely exciting and demonstrates the potential for us to develop our programme not just here in the UK but all over the world.

“Everton’s reputation as being the top club in the world for offering football opportunities for disabled people led to the discussions with the Shanghai officials.

“Hopefully, we will be able to forge strong links with the Chinese who are determined to get more disabled people playing football. Their goal is to build a team capable of competing against the best in the world.”

Rotarian boost for sailors SAILABILITY, the charity that gets disabled people sailing, has received funding from the Rotarians to set up this year’s Access Dinghy National Disabled Sailing Championships.

More than 70 disabled sailors from all over the UK are exected to take part in the event on September 2-3, hosted for the first time by Frensham Pond Sailing Club near Farnham, Surrey.

Competitors will race in single or two-handed access dinghies specifically designed for sailors with wide ranging disabilities. n Brian Grimwood, 01252 850089 or email: brianmag@btinternet.com

The GB team have just returned from North America where they were narrowly beaten 31-26 by the USA in the final of the America Cup in Birmingham, Alabama, and finished fifth in the Canada Cup in Burnaby.

Team manager Mark Fosbrook said: “We now go into weekly training camps with the English Institute of Sport and are confident that we will be fully prepared for the World Championships in New Zealand in September.”

The GB team: Andy Barrow (London), Troye Collins (London), Alan Ash (Wolverhampton), Ross Morrison (Fareham, Hants), Justin Frishberg (London), Jason Roberts (Oswestry), Steve Palmer (Bexleyheath), Paul Shaw (Birmingham), Johnny Coggan (Chelmsford) and newcaomer Bulbul Hussain.

BASKETBALL GREAT Britain’s wheelchair basketball team finished in fifth spot in the world championships in Amsterdam.

Earlier in the summer the GB team clinched the runners-up place in the North America Cup in Birmingham, Alabama, after going down 76-67 to Canada.

GB team: Kevin Hayes (Rotherham), Matt Byrne (Nottingham), Steve Caine (Leeds), Colin Price (Sheffield), Jon Pollack (Wigan), Ade Oregbemi (Liverpool), Sinclair Thomas (Shropshire), Simon Munn (Manchester), Joe Bestwick (Nottingham) and Terry Bywater (Cleveland).

Keep us afloat A HUGE thanks to all our partners and advertisers who are helping to keep this unique and award winning news service alive and kicking!

It is advertising revenue that will ensure the charity’s long-term future.

— Tom Dowling, editor

Tel 0151 230 0307 news@alltogethernow.org.uk