ENFIELD DISABILITY ACTION Community House 311 Fore Street Edmonton London N9 0PZ TEL:- 020 8373 6228 TEXTPHONE: 020 8373 6270 - Fax: 020 8373 6223 Email:- eda@e-d-a.org.uk Internet:-http://www.e-d-a.org.uk September 2008 EDA is a Registered Charity No.1082063 & Company Limited by Guarantee (England and Wales) No. 3937507. Registered Office: As above. EDA has an access to records policy. All information received and recorded is subject to the access to Personal Files Act 1987 and the Data Protection Act 1998. BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2007/2008 OFFICERS Chair Jacqui Slater Individual Member Vice Chair Janet Drinkwater Individual Member Treasurer Trevor Tott Enfield Parkinson Disease Society DIRECTORS James Finch Enfield Vision Anthony Kralik Individual Member Maruf Torkmani Individual Member WHO CAN USE ENFIELD DISABILITY ACTION? Any person with a disability living in the Borough of Enfield, their relatives or friends, voluntary organisations and the statutory authorities. --------------------------------- HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US? Barbara Litchfield, the Chief Executive, will be happy to tell you more about Enfield Disability Action. Dennis Spitz, Information / Development Officer, will answer your information enquiries on : General Enquiries 020 8373 6239 Benefit Enquiries 020 8373 6234 Answerphone in use outside office hours. Please leave your name and number and we will contact you as soon as possible. ENFIELD DISABILITY ACTION MEMBERSHIP FORM. I / We wish to become a member of Enfield Disability Action and enclose the annual membership fee of :- Free - individual membership for disabled people and their carers. £5 - group membership for disability / carer groups £5 - associate individual membership. £10 - associate group membership (Please tick which of the above is applicable) I am a disabled person / a carer Name __________________________ Address _________________________ _________________________ _________________________ Tel./Fax/Textphone: ________________ Organisation ____________________ EDA UPDATE from Barbara Litchfield Please, please come along to the AGM. We really need our members to support EDA by attending the AGM. This has been a difficult year. It has been hard work keeping all our projects running. It would be great to have a good turnout so that we can present the Annual Report and get your approval of how we have managed and spent the money. Designing a Centre for Independent Living for Enfield. This new and very important piece of work is being funded by the Department of Health. Aaron Dryden will be giving a presentation on our ideas that have already attracted interest from around the country. It is vital that we get your feedback and ideas so EDA gets the right design for Enfield. The AGM will be your opportunity to comment, perhaps even volunteer to help in the process? Added Attraction - a presentation on the Personalisation Agenda Our guest speaker is the new LBE Assistant Director for Strategy & Resources for Health and Adult Social Care - Mr. Bindi Nagra. Bindi is one of the officers who helped find the funding for the Deaf Project and has some really good ideas about future developments. Bindi's presentation will explain what the Personalisation Agenda will mean to disabled people and how Direct Payments will be extended to give disabled people even more control over services and how EDA fits into this agenda. Celebrate EDA's 20th Birthday As you know, EDA is 20 years old in November this year. EDA started out in one room at the old Southgate Town Hall, moved to Edmonton Portacabin and then into Community House in 1996. At each move EDA took on more projects and more workers. Where will we be and what will we being doing in the next 20 years? EDA needs you to help us plan for the future so make sure you come and celebrate the past 20 years and tell us your ideas for the future. Say Goodbye to EDA's Office Manager, Christine Duncan. Christine has been with EDA for nearly 20 years and has now decided to retire and move to the country. It has been Christine's voice answering the office telephone that was the first contact with EDA for so many people. This will be Christine's last AGM so please do come along to say goodbye. Get an update on SHOPMOBILITY. EDA will be reporting back from the first Working Group meeting with the Council to discuss the future for Shopmobility. Put the date in your diary and make sure you come along - bring a friend - we are looking forward to seeing YOU! THE DEAF PROJECT We always hope that our summers will be a quieter time, as we don't hold our Drop-Ins with the intention of being able to catch up on overdue office work. As always though we have an unexpected summer crisis. This year was no different and we found ourselves dealing this time with the local hospital, doctors, social workers and OT's to try and find a way to help a client who had suffered a heart attack, but didn't know because he couldn't hear what the doctor and staff were saying to him! They of course were quite adamant that he knew because they had told him. We were able to demonstrate that this was not so and that this patients needs things written down. In spite of this he was declared 'medically fit' and was discharged. Now in respite, we are working hard to make sure he will have adequate services thereafter. We are also working on paperwork and contracts around our new funding which has and will take considerable time. We hope to be able to build on the work we have already done, particularly to develop our work in the area of health, and we have some health sessions with the PCT planned for October and November. The PCT have provided a small amount of funding for this and we hope to be able to take this forward. The Drop-Ins are all starting again now and we have a good programme with excellent speakers booked, starting with social services and the equipment they provide to deaf and hard of hearing people. We are also encouraging people to book tickets for the local sign language (BSL) interpreted theatre shows. Snow White by St Monica's Players should be fun - it was through the Deaf Project that SMP secured funding from Data Connection for regular interpreted performances a few years ago. Data Connection has been brilliant in supporting access for Deaf people in this way. There is also ChickenShed who are performing The Twelve Days of Christmas and sign language is integrated throughout the performances. Both worth going to see and tickets are available now - easy to find from their websites. UPDATE ON HEALTH AND ADULT SOCIAL CARE SERVICES Transfer of Learning Disability Funding Historically the social care of individuals with learning difficulties was funded by the NHS. Enfield Social Services to their credit appreciated this was anomalous and steps were taken to transfer the social care of this group to the local authority to improve the services they receive. The actions taken were in fact anticipatory of government action. As from April 2009 local authorities will be responsible for the commissioning social care services. Funding will obviously be transferred to them by local primary care trusts. Enfield Primary Care Trust remains responsible for the healthcare needs. The sums councils will receive will be based on sums spent in 2007/08 with an increase for inflation. However, concerns have been raised by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Care that the sums transferred will be insufficient to meet the needs of people with learning difficulties in line with the current emphasis on the personalisation agenda i.e. services are provided to promote independence and wellbeing as opposed simply being provided in crisis situations. It is unfortunate that the switch of care from Primary Care Trusts to local authorities will proceed so quickly that a proper measure of the funding need to meet the aspirations of the personalisation agenda has not been achieved. Consequently it is unclear if the transfer will result in the hope for improvements in services for users or their carers. EDA will keep members posted on developments. Steve Brett DISABILITY INFORMATION & ADVICE PROJECT Employment Support Allowance (ESA) From 27 October 2008 Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) replaces Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid on incapacity grounds for new customers. The principle of ESA is that everyone should have the opportunity to work and that people with an illness or disability should get the support they need to engage in appropriate work, if they are able. For new claimants only: If you are a new claimant then ESA will replace Incapacity Benefit and Income Support paid on incapacity grounds. Existing Incapacity Benefit or Income Support customers will initially continue to receive their existing benefits, so long as they satisfy the entitlement conditions. Please contact DIAP if you need help or advice on ESA or on any disability Social Security benefits Changes to Income Support for Lone Parents Lone parents who currently receive a disability premium as well as Income Support may be affected by proposed changes to Income Support for lone parents from November 2008. If you are one of these lone parents and you have a health condition or disability, then you will have received a letter explaining the changes and that you may need to make a claim for Incapacity Benefit before the new Employment Support Allowance is introduced in October 2008. If you are eligible for Incapacity Benefit and do not make a claim before 27 October 2008, then you may receive less money on Employment Support Assistance that you did before. If you are not sure about what you need to do then please contact DIAP for advice and assistance: DIAP, Community House, 311 Fore Street, London N9 0PZ Tel: 020 8373 6234 or 020 8373 6239 Fax: 020 8373 6255 Email: dennis@e-d-a.org.uk Textphone: 020 8373 6270 Dennis Spitz Project Manager DIRECT PAYMENT SUPPORT SERVICE We would first like to thank all those service users that have taken the time to complete our questionnaire. The support service is constantly striving to achieve a high level of customer satisfaction and so regular feedback is vital. For anyone that has not completed the questionnaire yet, the closing date for our prize draw is the 15th September 2008. The winning tickets will be drawn from a sealed box at the Forum event on the 25th September 2008. Good luck everybody!! Our last Forum was well attended. The guest speaker for the business meeting was Kwabena Gyedu, Kwabena took questions from the meeting and was interested to hear service users difficulties and experiences within the system. The second part of the meeting was an aerobic session, which was enjoyed by some of our braver service users and all the Direct Payments team of course! Our forthcoming Forum on the 25th September will again have a two-part meeting. The business part will include a discussion on current local work around hate crime. After a short refreshment break we have two representatives from the Health Trainers service. They will explain how you can benefit from this free service. Whether you want to lose weight, give up smoking or eat healthier food the opportunity to have one to one support could help. So do try to come along it should be an interesting meeting. Thursday 25th September 2008. 11:00 - 1pm Community House. The service users steering group met in August unfortunately only two service users were able to attend. However, it was a productive meeting it was agreed that service users that had expressed an interest in joining the group would receive a personal invitation to attend the next meeting. It was also agreed that two members from the group would attend the November Direct Payments steering group that is attended by social services team managers and Direct Payments leads. This will be an invaluable opportunity for service users to have an insight as to how internal systems work and have an input to the agenda. If you would like any further information on any of the issues reported please contact the team on: Tel: 020 8373 6349 Fax: 020 8373 6223 Textphone: 020 8373 6270 Email: directpayments@e-d-a.org.uk Carol Pride CancerLIFE After a busy summer working with the NHS Health Promotion Officer to encourage bowel cancer screening within various hard to reach community groups and our on-going work raising cancer awareness and promoting healthy living for adults with learning difficulties, October approaches and it's Breast Cancer Awareness month. To be cancer aware it is really important to know your body and what is normal for you; know your bowel habits be aware of changes, watch moles and unusual skin blemishes, check for lumps and take up NHS screening. Information from Cancer Research UK indicates that breast cancer is now the most common cancer in the UK. In 2005 more than 45,500 women were diagnosed with breast cancer, that's around 125 women a day and each year around 300 men are diagnosed with breast cancer. Screening is essential as 80% of breast cancers are found in women over the age of 50 and the risk increases with age. Women between 50 and 70 are invited for screening every 3 years as part of the programme as long as they are registered with a GP. Women over 70 are still entitled to screening; just contact your breast-screening unit. You can find out where your local breast screening unit is by calling NHS Direct on 0845 4647 or by asking your GP. Breast Cancer Care promotes the breast awareness 5-point code: * Know what is normal for you * Know what changes to look for * Look and feel * Report any changes to your GP without delay * Attend routine breast screening if you are aged 50 or over For more information about breast cancer you can call the Breast Cancer Care helpline free on 0808 800 6000 (for Typetalk prefix 18001), or visit www.breastcancercare.org.uk CancerLIFE has booked display space in Edmonton Green library to promote breast cancer awareness from 6th until 30th October. Lots of information will be available so please have a look. CancerLIFE Drop-ins - Our friendly drop-ins are open to anyone living with cancer, their families or carers. They give you the chance to relax, meet other people, access information including benefits advice and to try taster sessions of complementary therapy given by our experienced therapists. Drop-in dates for the rest of 2008 are as follows: Community House 311 Fore Street, Edmonton N9 0PZ 15th September, 29th September 13th October, 27th October 10th November, 24th November 8th December (no therapies) Park Avenue Disability Resource Centre 65c Park Avenue, Enfield EN1 2HH 11th September 9th October 13th November 11th December (no therapies) Discussion Evenings - Recent speakers have included * Dr Naseem Mazhar talking about Positive Thinking, * Maureen Jackson, Hypno-psychotherapist, giving us information about how Hypnotherapy can help to bring positive changes to our lives * On Wednesday 24th September we will be welcoming Glenn Bassett and Joanna Kendall who will be talking about Neuro-linguistic Programming and the Lightning Process, techniques to reduce stress and promote well-being With the nights now drawing in, we will continue the discussion evenings in April 2009.If you would like more information about our activities or would like to be added to our mailing list, please telephone Deanna on 020 8373 6222 or email can@e-d-a.org.uk Deanna Roger HOLIDAYS / TRAVEL / EVENTS Holidays for disabled children There is a large amount of information available for families with a disabled member who want to organize their own holidays. Contact a Family, a charity for families with disabled children, publishes a leaflet on accessible holidays, leisure and play facilities. It has details of holiday centres and accommodation suitable for disabled people, and carries details of charities which can help with the organization or funding of a holiday, as well as other sources of funding. Helpline 0808 808 3555: Textphone: 0808 808 3556 Email:helpline@cafamily.org.uk For further information go to: www.thewheellifeguide.com is a directory of leisure and lifestyle activities for the wheelchair user. www.tourismforall.org.uk is a charity dedicated to making tourism accessible for all. www.acessibleguide.co.uk is a guide to accessible days out in Britain. www.disabledholidayinfo.org.uk has holiday information for wheelchair users. Short breaks for disabled children and their families Local parents are working with 'Enfield's Joint Service' for Disabled children' to find out your views on short break services for children with disabilities and their families. Come along to the one off Discussion Forum and have your say! Enfield is one of 21 local areas who have been awarded a substantial grant from Central Government as 'pathfinder' authorities to help develop their short breaks. This is your opportunity to get fully involved in developing these services for you and your children. When and where - Thursday 25 September West Lodge Park Hotel, Barnet 3.30am - 2.00pm Places are limited so book your place now! To book immediately call Raj or Charlotte on 020 8366 4203 Email: cheviots@enfield.gov.uk leave your telephone number and some one will call you back. Help with transport is available and a crèche for under 5s will also be on offer. Boating on the Broads One organisation bucking the trend in offering more innovative holiday experiences for disabled and disadvantaged young people is the Birkenhead branch of the YMCA, which has recently bought a narrow boat. Initially envisaged for use by young homeless people, organisers are keen to see other community groups and charities take it out and it has recently been used for short breaks by two youth groups and a charity for people with learning disabilities. Birkenhead YMCA Deputy Chief Executive Nigel Hughes explains the benefits of the boat. "The boat has been described as very restful; it has been designed to promote a peaceful and harmonious environment. There's something about the water - the restfulness and peacefulness - that gives people the chance to stop and take stock". HOLIDAYS / TRAVEL / EVENTS Cont-d Narrow boats are not the easiest of boats for wheelchair users but Nigel says that they have tried to make the boat as accessible as possible " for everyone" The group has another boat, based on the Norfolk Broads, which is wide beamed and much more suitable. Nigel is convinced the therapeutic effect of the water is one of the best ways of bringing some equilibrium into a troubled life. "Urban life today is pretty tough for some people. When you slow everything down to three or four miles per hour you have time to see and hear the sounds of the countryside". Holiday providers are: * www.ymca.org.uk Contact local groups for their own residential holiday facilities. * www.pgl.co.uk for information about PGL holidays * www.campbeaumont.co.uk for information about Camp Beaumont * www.3hfund.org holidays for people with disabilities * www.second-chance.org.uk * www.supercamps.co.uk can take disabled children if they bring their own carer * whizz-kidz.org.uk gives support to disabled children and young people London Sports Forum for Disabled people Run the Royal Parks Half Marathon for London Sports Forum for Disabled People. Date: 12th October Distance: 13.1 miles Venue: Start/Finish in Hyde Park Route: Through Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Green Park, St James's Park, along the Thames. Past Buckingham Palace, Houses of Parliament, Marble Arch, London Eye and Royal Albert Hall. Fundraising contribution: £250 per runner. Contact: ruth@londonsportsforum.org.uk More information: www.royalparkshalf.com Tel: 020 7717 1699 Mob: 078 7238 0511 Fax: 020 7928 1313 www.londonsportsforum.org.uk Enfield Sport Development Team Paralympic Handover Event Wednesday 17th September 2008 4pm - 7pm Lee Valley Athletic Centre, Picketts Lock Edmonton N9 Enfield Sports Development Team is celebrating the Handover of the Paralympics Games from Beijing to London with an amazing event. Sports include Athletics, Boccia, Judo, Football and Table Tennis All abilities welcome! Take on your friends, family or even some Great British Paralympics and Olympic athletes from the area. The evening includes: * Have a go sport sessions all welcome * Display sessions from gifted and talented disabled athletes * Races in 100m and 200m For more information call: 020 8351 2470 or Email: ian.reddington@enfield.gov.uk Free come and have a go session! MISCELLANY Apply for your passport over the phone Did you know that Identity and Passport Service at the Home Office have introduced a free phone service to allow people with sight loss to make their application over the phone. A member of staff will fill in the form and then post it for customers to check, sign and return with the relevant documents. The application guidance booklet is available in large print, Braille and audio. If you need this service please contact the freephone number 0800 138 88 08. (Source: Vision News) Fire Alarms Many of us have smoke alarms provided by the Fire Services. These alarms are intended to last for 10 years. If, however, a fault develops, contact the Home Safety Department of the Fire section on 0800 28 44 28 (Source: Vision News) Some useful numbers from Age Concern Home from Hospital Service Tel: 020 8375 4107 Six-week support package available to help people settle at home after a stay in hospital enabling successful rehabilitation to take place. Day Centre Service Tel: 020 8351 1131 For people with dementia, the centre also offers support to Carers'. Open daily 9am - 6pm My Time Membership Services Tel: 020 8375 4123 Offering a range of local benefits and discounts at local retailers and businesses in the borough of Enfield. Annual membership of 'My Time' starts from as little as £7.50. Footcare Service Tel: 020 8375 4106 Providing home visits or operating at centers around the borough (including Vincent House clinic in Ponders End). Disclaimer:- The inclusion of information of any kind in this newsletter does not imply a recommendation or guarantee of accuracy. Nor are the views or comments necessarily those of the Association. The Association endeavour to use non-discriminatory language but do not necessarily edit articles or contributions submitted.
. ENFIELD DISABILITY ACTION Tel. no. 020 8 373 6228 Textphone. 020 8 373 6270 Fax. 020 8 373 6223 vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv DISABILITY INFORMATION & ADVICE PROJECT General Enquiries. 020 8 373 6239 Benefits Line. 020 8 373 6234 Textphone. 020 8 373 6270 vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv COMMUNITY FORUM FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTIES Tel. no. 020 8 373 6226. vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv ADVOCACY PROJECT Tel. no. 020 8 373 6353. vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv PROJECT DEVELOPMENT Tel. no. 020 8 373 6229. vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv DEAF PROJECT Tel:- 020 8373 6237 Textphone 020 8373 6270. vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv DIRECT PAYMENTS SUPPORT SERVICE Tel. 020 8373 6349. vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv INDEPENDENT LIVING PROJECT Independent Living Project. Tel. 020 8373 6345. Occupational Therapy Action Group. Tel. 020 8373 6345. Wheelchair Users Forum. Tel. 020 8373 6227. Transitions Project. Tel. 020 8373 6345. vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv CANCER LIFE PROJECT Tel. no. 020 8 373 6222 - EDA September Newsletter 2008 4 - - 11 - EDA September Newsletter 2008