Extracts
from Issue 23
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Disability
Sport
By the time you read this, a first meeting to form the West
Norfolk Disability Sports Forum will have been held. It is hoped
that this will become a formally constituted body to oversee and
co-ordinate the development of sporting opportunities for people
with disabilities in West Norfolk. Further information from the
Sports Development Officer on 01553 616638.
Connexions
Connexions is the new support service for all young people aged
13-19 which is being rolled out nationally and is to provide a 'handrail'
of advice, information and guidance and advocacy through teams of
Personal Advisers. This will include Careers guidance, but also
information on leisure and other opportunities, as well as ensuring
that vulnerable young people access specialist help eg drug counselling,
help with accessing housing etc.
Norfolk
Connexions will start in September 2002 and it is important that
the needs and views of young people with learning and physical disabilities
are incorporated. Paul Morse, the Managing Director of Norfolk Careers
will be talking about Connexions at the SNLG meeting on 22nd February,
but if you want to know more then please contact Jill Stracey at
NVS (01603 878304) or James Kearns at NCVYS on 01603 740141 who
are the voluntary sector representatives on the Shadow Connexions
Board.
Three
projects to pilot different aspects of the service are taking place.
In South Norfolk a community project will be piloted covering the
Diss, Harleston and Long Stratton areas. Referrals can be made to
the team on 01603 222172 or 07979 706233.
Older
mentors
For the first time, Help the Aged is running a Mentoring programme
by and for older people. Applications will be accepted from Jan
1 2002 - Jan 31st 2003. No previous Mentor experience is required
from volunteers, who must be 55+.
The
Mentor Scheme is part of a wider Help the Aged Awards programme
that is offering older people (55+) the opportunity to receive funding
to set up community projects. Mentors will receive training and
funding to cover their expenses.
A
Mentoring Co-ordinator is based at Help the Aged to run the project
and oversee the recruitment and matching of Mentors to Mentees.
More information from Ruth Walker on 020 7239 1475 weekdays 9.30am
- 3.30pm. Mencap Norfolk Norfolk Mencap now has its own Learning
Disability Website at www.norfolkmencap.org
Disabled
Persons' Travel Guide
The Rural Transport Partnership is beginning to produce a Norfolk-Wide
Disabled Person's Travel Guide. This will provide information on
accessible transport and the various travel schemes for people with
disabilities. Contact Susan Saxby, Rural Transport Partnership Officer
on 01760 725794.
Recycle
your computer
South Norfolk Council provides a free collection service from
homes or businesses in South Norfolk for computers not more than
five years old, laptops or printers. These can then be recycled
cheaply for those unable to afford a new one. Call 01508 533706
for collection or Recycle IT on 01553 772524 to buy one.
Stairlift
hire
Straight stairlifts are available on a rental basis from Associated
Stairlifts for an installation cost of 艙350 and a rental cost of
艙10 per week. Rented lifts are also supplied with full warranty
cover and a 24 hour call out service if needed. Small curves at
the top or bottom of the stairs can also be catered for, subject
to a site survey. Associated Stairlifts also sell and install new
and fully reconditioned stairlifts. Tel: 0116 278 7979; Fax: 0116
278 4646;
email: info@associatedstairlifts.co.uk
Dereham
Positive People
Meetings for the first part of 2002 will be held at the Albert
Myhill Meeting Room, Dereham from 2.00- 4.00pm on January 14th &
28th, February 11th & 25th, and March 11th & 25th. Further information
from Julian King on 01362 692425.
What
is Aphasia?
It is the loss of the ability to speak, write and understand
language. Aphasia is caused by many things: stroke, brain tumour,
neurological conditions, multiple sclerosis and many others.
If
you have this condition, why not come along to one of NASH's fortnightly
meetings on Wednesdays 10.30am - 12.30pm at the Greenhouse, Bethel
Street, Norwich. More information from Catherine Turner, NASH (Norwich
Aphasic Self Help) on 01603 441874.
Access
to Dereham
Dereham and District Access Group has published a new edition
of its guide detailing access and facilities for disabled people
and parents with push chairs. It lists ease of access to all the
Dereham shops and business premises.
Copies
available from the library and shops across the town. Dereham Access
Group is also funding a scheme to help partially sighted people
in the town - it is offering free fluorescent orange tape to shops
and businesses to put on door handles to make it easier for people
to get in. Contact Julian King on 01362 692425.
New
Forums
Making Sense and the Norfolk Coalition are working together
with Social Services and the local Southern Primary Care Trust to
establish two new forums for people with physical and/or sensory
disabilities.
The
new forums are to be user run. The people attending them will be
users and carers as decided by the forum. The forum can invite speakers
or advisers to join them if they want or need any input. The forum
will be able to be consulted on new planned, services at the design
stage and policies before they are drafted or on paper.
South
Norfolk District Council has pledged £1,000 towards the budget
which the users will manage. In return, SNDC will ask for consultation
with the forum and local users on particular issues and plans. There
are to be meetings in each district to set up the new forums. In
Breckland the intention is to have a meeting for users and carers
on Wednesday 6th March in Dereham (venue to be advised) and in South
Norfolk on Thursday 14th March at South Norfolk Council's offices
in Long Stratton.
If you are interested in knowing more about either of these forums,
please contact Sandy Griffiths at Making Sense (01493 722131), Andrew
Smith at NCODP (01553 673188) or Sarah Day at Social Services (01842
754484). One of the purposes of the new forums will be to feedback
views of users about the draft joint strategy and its action plan.
Contacts
for The Great Yarmouth Disability Forum are the Chair, Lindsay Seward
on 01493 859597 and the Outreach Worker, Geraldine Hills on 01493
733362. In West Norfolk the Healthy West Norfolk Partnership Disability
Work Group contact is Dr Carol Lascelles on 01553 616381.
Access to the OU
The Open University is launching a high-tech mobile assessment
unit designed to help hundreds of disabled students and prospective
students each year.
The
Access Bus will visit students at their own homes to assess what
specialist technology and support they will need to enable them
to study with the OU. It will travel throughout the UK and Ireland
assessing disabled students and will also be on display at certain
disability and higher education events.
New
age kurling
This sport can be played on ice or any indoor smooth flooring
and by disabled and able-bodied players on an equal basis. For a
free video or demonstration telephone 01303 873270 or visit www.whatsthebigidea.ltd.uk
For
Sale
Parker bath, used but in very good condition. 艙500 ono. Tel:
01603 270256. Acorn stairlift, straight run, standard size (13 steps),
remote controls. Free to anyone able to collect and install it.
Call Tanya Spelacy on 01603 872399
Contact
a Family
CaF now has a Local Representative for Norfolk. Lorraine Cook
is available to give information, advice or just chat on 01362 687155
Every
effort is made to ensure that the content of NDIS News is correct,
however we cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions. Goods
and services featured do not carry any recommendation from NDIS
or Norfolk Social Services NDIS NEWS is available free of charge
in standard print, Large Print and on audio cassette. Copy for the
March issue should be submitted by Mar 11th 2002.
Produced
by Heather Davy NDIS The Vauxhall Centre Johnson Place Vauxhall
Street NORWICH NR2 2SA Tel 01603 763295 Fax 01603 610632 E-mail:
heather.davy.socs@norfolk.gov.uk
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