all together now magazine - issue 31 _ june 2010

YOUR AWARD-WINNING CHARITY MAGAZINE THAT’S BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERSAWARD-WINNING

When you have finished reading this magazine please pass it on to a friend or neighbour

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JUNE-JULY 2010

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TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!

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NEWS

Advertise with us NOW! 0151 230 0307

Peoplereadyto workafter 65

n All Together NOW! is aregistered charity set up toprovide a tip top news servicefor anyone whose life isaffected by disability, long-term health condtions or age– and raises awareness abouthow people can overcomepersonal challenges.n The charity relies entirely onsupport from its patrons,advertisers and from generalsubscriptions and grants.n If YOU or YOURorganisation can help, we’dbe delighted to hear from you!

AFASCINATING exhibitioncelebrating the positivecontributions being

made to the Anglican Churchby people with wide-rangingdisabilities was a resoundinghit at Liverpool Cathedral.

‘Celebrate Differences’ featurednine case studies of disabledpeople who take an active role inministry in the Diocese ofLiverpool.

They included Alex Galbraith,the vicar of St Francis of Assisi inKew, Southport.

Rev Galbraith is registeredblind. As well as being vicar atthe parish, he is also theAnglican and Free Churchchaplain to Queenscourt Hospiceand Southport and OrmskirkTrust.

The exhibition also featured layreaders, an ordained localminister, a cubs’ leader and amusician.

Ruth Reed, diocesan disabilityawareness officer from theDiocese of Liverpool, said:

“Having a disability is no bar toworship or to being included inthe church community.”

Rev Dr Hannah Lewis, teamleader for work among deafpeople in the Diocese of

Liverpool, added: “This was agreat opportunity to show thatdisabled people don’t just receiveministry in the Diocese ofLiverpool, but they also carry itout. We all have our own rangeof gifts that we bring to our localcommunities and this exhibitionhelped us to showcase that.”

CUBS’ leader Rita Skett and youth club worker Keith Steen wereamong the people taking ‘star roles’ at the cathedral’s disabilityexhibition.

Rita works with cub groups at St Michael of All Angels Churchand Wigan Parish Church.

A wheelchair user for 24 years following a car accident, Ritasaid: “A friend of mine was involved with the cubs and neededsome help with craft activities, which I have always enjoyed. Isaid I’d help for six weeks and I never left!”

Keith, 40, has Downs Syndrome and helps at St Matthew andSt James Church youth club, Liverpool.

He also works part time providing administration support atthe offices of the Diocese of Liverpool.

At your serviceStarring roles . . .

ALMOST three out offive people planningto retire this yearwould be willing towork beyond thenormal retirement ageto guarantee moreincome.

A quarter would behappy to work fiveyears more, with sevenper cent willing to goanother 10 years,according to researchfrom Prudential’s Classof 2010 retirementsurvey.

The researchhighlights changingattitudes to retirementas people come toterms with increasedlongevity – as well asthe financial effects ofthe credit crunch andrecession onretirement savingplans.

The average 65-year-old man is expected tolive to 83 and a 65-year-old women isexpected to reach 85.

The research shows itis the over-65s who arethe most willing tokeep working, withmore than three-fifths(62%) saying theywould stay inemployment to boosttheir retirementsavings.

Vince Smith-Hughes,head of retirementincome at Prudential,said: “I think a lot ofpeople may well cometo realise quite quicklythat 65 is an artificialhorizon and thatstopping workaltogether at this agewon’t be possible.”Prudential analysisshows that working anextra five years fromage 65 and paying £100a month into a pensionof £100,000 couldboost a retirementsavings by anadditional £53,000.Paying in £200 a monthover five years couldyield an extra £62,000.


SHOWSTOPPERS:Cubs’ leader RitaSkett and youthclub worker KeithSteen who tookpart in theCathedral event

HEAR, HEAR!: Children celebrate the first cochlear op

Work ofchurchheroesput onshow

Party marks a special anniversary DEAF children and young people fromall over the country came together fora very special birthday party.

Twenty-one years ago the first cochlearimplant for a child in the UK was fundedby The Ear Foundation and carried out atthe Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham.

Today the majority of children bornprofoundly deaf go on to have a cochlearimplant and are able to hear, and attendmainstream schools.

Marian Batt, mother of Michael, the boywho received the first implant in 1989,said: “The change in 20 years isunbelievable. Now the amazingopportunities Michael has are open to alldeaf children and their families.”n www.earfoundation.org.uk

33wwwwww..aallllttooggeetthheerrnnooww..oorrgg..uukk JJuunnee//JJuullyy 22001100 AAllll TTooggeetthheerr NNOOWW!!

Who would YOUgive an award to?

Get World Cup wise

NEWS

YOUR favourite All Together NOW!magazine was up there again withthe very best of the North Westmedia.

The free lifestyle magazine thatraises awareness about disabilityand health issues was shortlisted –for the third year running – in theBest Magazine category of theannual How Do media awards atManchester’s Palace Hotel.

We didn’t quite come home with theprize – Lancashire Life beat us to it– but it was very encouraging tohear all the positive feedback aboutthe All Together NOW! charity fromsome prominent people in the mediaindustry.

AWORLD Cup guide

in large and giant print,Braille and audio format is

available from the Royal NationalInstitute of Blind People.

John Whytock, RNIB’s productmanager, said: “Now blind and partiallysighted football fans won’t have toscrabble for second-hand information.There’ll be no excuses for pub quizignorance now!”

Get the £2.99 guide fromwww.onlineshop.rnib.org.uk

GOING camping or caravanning thissummer? Then check out thecamping website www.pitchup.com

The site provides an easy way tofilter through 5,000 accommodationoptions to select sites that havespecial facilities – including those tohelp campers with disabilities.

There are currently more than 611campsites around the UK listed ashaving disabled facilities onsite.

Carry on camping

DO YOU know of an employer,organisation or individual deservingof recognition for their workinvolving disabled people? If so haveyou heard about the Positive ActionAwards?

Organised by Warrington DisabilityPartnership and supported by theNorth West Regional DevelopmentAgency, the awards aim to promoteexemplar practice here in the NorthWest.

This year’s awards will bepresented on September 30 at TheHalliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington.Nominate online atwww.positiveactionawards.org.uk orcall Warrington Disability Partnershipon 01925 240064. See Page 16-17

MANCHESTER Airport’s adventurous firefighters NeilGyllenship and Dean Jagger had just set foot on dryland after rowing across the Atlantic Ocean – and letslip their next ambition . . .

“This trip was magnificent,” said Neil, from Wirral.“It’s probably the best thing I’ve ever done and in anice way probably the worst thing I’ve ever done, too.

“But now I’m already thinking of what it would belike to walk across Antarctica to the South Pole . . .”

Neil and Dean’s 3,000-mile Atlantic row raised fundsfor Claire House Children’s Hospice, St Anne’sHospice and children’s charity, Childflight.

As for Neil’s South Pole expedition, watch thisspace – and kep an eye on their website:www.teamheatwave.co.uk

Atlantic rower Neil now looks to the South Pole

ATLANTIC CROSSING: Neil, left, and Dean

BLACKPOOL will soon beinvaded by tens of thousandsof Premiership fans, thanks to

the football club’s memorablesuccess in the Championshipplay-offs.

Also set to hit the streets of theseaside town – and the Fylde region –is your award-winningAll Together NOW! magazine.

“I stumbled upon the magazine on theInternet,” says John Kelly, who with hisson, Tom, runs the Access Networkwebsite.

“The publication is absolutely brilliant,”says John, who is now championing ourcause in the Fylde region.

“I just can’t get over how much newsand information there is in every edition.It’s fantastic for anyone – whether theyare disabled or not.

“I am now going to try and get copiesinto lots of venues across the region.”

Chris Bevridge, volunteer disabledofficer at Blackpool FC, is also verycomplimentary about the magazine.

“I think All Together NOW! is great!”

he said. “The magazine is full of veryinteresting information, a great read andit’s FREE!

“I am really looking forward to getting

a regular copy in Blackpool.”Anyone in the Fylde region wantingcopies delivered free to their venuecan contact John on 07974 610 703

NEW FANS: John Kelly on the Blackpoolpromenade. Inset, son Tom with Chris Bevridge

What a fantastic gift . . .A WARM welcome tothis, the FIFTHanniversary editionof All Together NOW!-– and a HUGEthanks to all oursupporters andadvertisers forhelping us get this far!

It won’t need me to tell you howtough it is to make ends meet . . .

The economic downturn is hittingeveryone.

And charities like ours are havingto look at every possible way ofbalancing the books.

Usually it’s bills that are droppingthrough the letter box, but on anunusually gloomy morning in May

we received something thatreally brightened up our day!

A reader, who chose toremain anonymous, sent us amost generous donation –enough to almost cover theprinting costs of our nextedition!

It’s moments like this that spursus on. So to our kind heartedbenefactor please accept our mostsincere and heartfelt appreciation!

Our August-September edition willbe on you!

Meanwhile, I hope you – and allour readers and supporters – enjoythis issue.THANKS! See you in August.

Tom Dowling, editor

Blackpoolhere we come!


NEWS

Plea to share yourworst moments . . .

Breaking bar-riers

New care minister

ONE in three requestsfor grants fromcharities in the lastyear failed.

More than 361,000 outof nearly a millionapplications wererejected because theydid not meet thefunder’s stated criteria,says the Directory ofSocial Change.

DSC’s Director ofPolicy and ResearchBen Wittenberg said:“This research is part ofour Great Givingcampaign to improverelationships betweencharities and theirfunders. We wanted toget a sense of the scaleof the problem in orderto start some debateabout causes andpotential solutions.

“We know that a maincause of poorly targetedapplications is that toooften funders aren’tclear about what theywant to fund and howtheir applicationprocess works – leavingit up to the prospectiveapplicant to guess.

Research“But funders will also

tell you how theyreceive manyapplications whichdon’t show anyknowledge of theguidelines or criteriawhich are available.

“Fundraisers need tocarefully research whothey apply to and readany guidelinesthoroughly. Makingcontact with the funderprior to submitting anapplication is alsogenerally a good idea.

“We think this isimportant becausefewer ineligibleapplications couldmean quickerresponses to theeligible ones, betterengagement withapplicants, and possiblymore resources toallocate as grants.”

PEOPLE with learningdisabilities whetted theappetite of the Princess Royalwith their cooking skills whenshe attended a reception at theNational Geographic Society.

The event, which celebrated theculmination of the IDEA project, aEuropean cultural initiative forpeople with learning disabilities,brought together people with

learning disabilities from the UK,Cyprus, Spain and Germany toshare their cultural heritagethrough learning new skillsincluding cooking, communicationand cultural appreciation.

One of the outcomes of theproject will be an accessiblecookery book containing recipesfrom the participants andtranslated into the languages of

the host countries. The Princess,is patron of Hft, the nationalcharity for people with learningdisabilities and their families.

She said the IDEA project wasan exciting initiative which hashelped to increase awareness ofdisability within the communitiesof all participating countries,raising the self-esteem andconfidence of those involved.

All in the mind

FAILED!One in 3grantrequests

Princessapplaudsculturalproject

MEET AND GREET:The Princess meetsthose taking part

A NEW law could force many pubsand clubs in Scotland to providedetails of how accessible they are todisabled drinkers.

Local councils would publish thestatements on their websites, sodisabled people could check outaccess at a pub or club.

The new law has been proposed asan amendment to the criminal justiceand licensing (Scotland) bill byLabour MSP George Foulkes, andshould be discussed within the nextmonth by the full Scottish parliament.

Mr Foulkes took up the issue afterbeing approached by wheelchair-userMark Cooper, from Edinburgh.

Mr Cooper launched a successfulFacebook campaign – Barred! – afterbeing told by an Edinburgh pub that ithad no accessible toilet, even thoughit had level access.

All Together NOW! readers are beingasked to write about their mostembarrassing ‘disability’ momentswhich could be featured in a new play.

Leatherhead-based theatrecompany, TheFreewheelers,want to hear fromdisabled readerswith examples oftimes when they have been made tofeel like they were from a differentworld!

And non-disabled readers are beingasked to tell about occasions whenthey’ve not known how to behavewhen meeting a disabled person.

The Freewheelers own membershave already shared some of theirstories, which can be heard on theirwebsite. n www.freewheelerstheatre.co.uk


MEDICAL science hastaken a giant leapforward with the

successful fitting of a mind-controlled arm.

Young Austrian ChristianKandlbauer, who lost both armsin a high-voltage accident, hasbeen fitted with a uniqueprosthetic limb on his left side,which he can control using thepower of his mind.

Christian’s is the first and onlysuch case in Europe and he isthe only person in the world tohave passed his driving testwith the use of a mind-controlled, prosthetic limb.

Dr Hubert Egger, of makers

Otto Bock Healthcare, said theresults of its research wouldnow be shared with surgeonsaround the world so that thelimbs can be put to everydayuse.

“This is a huge milestone inprosthetic technology which hastransformed Christian’s life,”said Dr Egger. “It has given himan exceptionally high degree of

independence and autonomy tolive life as he once did, enablinghim to return to work and evenpass his driving test.

“The knowledge obtainedduring this pioneering projectwill be communicated tosurgical centres across theworld and we look forward towitnessing its continuedsuccess.”

TMR (Targeted MuscleReinnervation) is therevolutionary technique used tomake a mind-controlled armpossible so that when a patientperforms movements intuitively,the prosthesis can directlyconvert the thought commands.

Artificial armcontrolledby thoughts


OPEN SESAME: Christian Kandlbauer whose life has been transformed by the limb

LIBERAL Democrat Paul Burstow hasappointed the new care servicesminister.

Mr Burstow was a former LiberalDemocrat spokesman on olderpeople, is a member of the all-partyparliamentary group on disability, anda vice-chair of the all-party socialcare group.

He is also a former shadow healthsecretary and has spoken out in thepast on mental health issues.

In 2005, he criticised the Labourgovernment’s mental health bill,which he said would furtherstigmatise people with mental healthconditions, stating that compulsorytreatment should be the “last resort”rather than the “first step”.

And in 2002, he published a reportsuggesting that more than 80,000older people in nursing and carehomes were being kept sedated withanti-psychotic drugs for no goodmedical reason.


NEWS

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10_19880_ATN.qxd:all together now 11/3/10 13:57 Page 1

APIONEERING ‘Summer ofAction’ is being launched byMerseyside Police’s Diversity

Team to help tackle hate crime. The programme of events will raise

awareness of how to identify and reportsuch offences, as well as conveying themessage that hate crime is unacceptableand will not be tolerated.

As part of the initiative, the team will visitcommunities across Merseyside betweenMay and September to talk to minoritygroups and organisations which offersupport to those who may have beenvictims of hate crime.

Any offences involving disability, race,religion, sexual orientation or transgenderconstitute hate crimes and will be treatedseriously by the Force.

The visits will give the team theopportunity to show how the Forceinvestigates hate crime and targetsoffenders, with such crimes beinginvestigated vigorously by MerseysidePolice’s dedicated Sigma Hate CrimeInvestigation Unit.

One of the issues being addressed in thetalks is the under-reporting of disabilityhate crime.

Superintendent Kevin Johnson, pictured,said: “We know that people withdisabilities, as well as those in other

minority groups, are oftentargeted for mistreatment,bullying and victimisationbecause offenders believethey will not report the matterto the police and see themas easy targets.

“We also know thathistorically many cases arenot reported because victims are afraidand are not aware that what is happeningto them would constitute a hate crime.

“Merseyside Police recognises the impactthese kind of incidents can have on victimsand officers take such crimes extremelyseriously.

“We are committed to supporting victimsand witnesses and working effectively withour partners such as witness care units,

the Crown Prosecution Service and localauthorities.”

One of the aims of the Summer of Actionis to make people aware of the definition ofa hate crime, what can be done, who canreport a hate crime, where they can reportit to and who can help.

Supt Johnson added: “We want themessage to be clear that offences involvingdisability, race, religion, sexual orientationor transgender will not be tolerated byMerseyside Police.

“Our aim is to make communities awareof the action they can take if they are avictim of hate crime or witness suchoffences, or any other offence that maytake place.”

In addition, as part of Merseyside Police’scommitment to engaging with diverse

communities during the Summer of Actioninitiative, officers from the Diversity Teamwill be highlighting current recruitmentopportunities within the police support staffsector.

Merseyside Police is part of the positiveabout disabled people scheme ‘Two Ticks’and is passionate about being an equalopportunities employer.

Through its Positive Action programme,the Force aims to offer the best possibleplatform for new employment opportunitiesfor disabled people, those from the LGBcommunity, different racial groups andtransgendered people.

The assistance can be in the form ofapplication assistance and practicaltraining for any assessment centre andsubsequent interviews.

HATE CRIME . . . If YOU witness it or experience it, REPORT IT!

Police campaign sends clear message to the bullies

We’ll beatWe’ll beathate crimehate crime

n If you feel youhave been avictim, or havewitnessed ahate crime, or just want advice call theDiversity Team on 0151 777 1680, [email protected] n To contact the Sigma Teamcall 0151 709 6010.n And always in an emergency dial 999.

DISABILITY HATE CRIME AWARENESS WEEK — June 21-28

Supt Johnson


NEWS

Sounds great . . .

Deaf student wins£25K compensation

LEADING disabled people’sorganisations (DPOs) have raisedserious concerns about the prospectof major cuts to public services,following the creation of the coalitiongovernment.

As part of the coalition document drawnup by the Conservatives and the LiberalDemocrats, the parties have agreed that£6 billion worth of cuts to “non-front lineservices” would be made in this financialyear.

The Liberal Democrats had warnedduring the election campaign that furtherspending cuts should wait until theeconomic recovery had gathered steam.

But as part of the coalition agreement,the Liberal Democrats have now backedimmediate moves to start tackling theUK’s budget deficit.

Sue Bott, director of the National Centrefor Independent Living, said: “We areconcerned that public expenditure cutsmay adversely and disproportionatelyaffect disabled people.”

She said NCIL was keen to work withthe new coalition government “in apositive way to ensure that disabledpeople’s rights and opportunities aremaintained and improved”.

But she said that even though all thepolitical parties had pledged to protect

frontline services during the electioncampaign, there was “plenty of evidencethat services on the ground are alreadysuffering”.

She added: “What we are finding is thatpeople are already experiencing cutbacksin their care packages, some by as muchas 25%.”

She said if this was to continue it wouldmake a mockery of what was said aboutprotecting frontline services.

And she said NCIL’s fear was that the“invisibility” of disability issues in theelection could mean that disabled peoplewould “continue to be disproportionatelyaffected by the cutbacks”.

Cuts could make mockery of election pledges

HARD of hearing people can nowbuy a new range of Sennheiseramplified TV listeners from deafcharity, RNID.

TV listeners enable people to listento their television more clearlywithout turning up the sound foreveryone else. They are cordlessand extremely simple to set up anduse.

Director of RNID Products, MarkCatling, said: “There are thousandsof people struggling to listen to theirtelevision or listening at a volumethat is uncomfortable for others, andthese simple-to-use devices willmake a significant difference to theireveryday lives.”n Details: 01733 232607 or textphone01733 238020. [email protected]/hearingsolutions

RICKSHAW record breaker TimMoss gave a welcome lift tomembers of Cheshire East

Special Olympics squad when he rodeinto Crewe – half-way through hisepic 1,000-mile journey round GreatBritain.

Tim was raising money for SpecialOlympics GB as well as raising theprofile of the organisation.

“Special Olympics is a greatorganisation and does so much givingchildren and adults with disabilities theopportunity to take part in a whole rangeof sports,” Tim said. “I was really pleasedwith the great reception that theCheshire East Special Olympics and theCheshire Academy put on.

“It raised my spirits no end since earlieron in the day I had officially passed the500-mile mark.”

Tim runs his own websitewww.thenextchallenge.org andspecialises in organising expeditions tofar off places such as the South Pole.

He is the brains behind the InspireProject, which hopes to take a SpecialOlympics athlete, Paralympic athlete andmainstream Olympic athlete to the SouthPole during 2012 on what will be the100th anniversary of Captain Scott’sexpedition to the Pole.

Jane Whetnall, from Cheshire EastSpecial Olympics, said: “The InspireProject is such an innovative and great

idea. The athletes will ski to the SouthPole and will have to help and assisteach other and will be totallyinterdependent.”

CESO athlete Alex Hitchings, fromSandbach, has been shortlisted and iswaiting to hear if he has beenselected for theadventure of alifetime. TAKE ME HOME!

TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!

A DEAF student who accused auniversity of failing to ensure herdegree course was accessible to herhas received £25,000 incompensation.

Rosie Watson quit heranthropology degree last year afterclaiming the university repeatedlyfailed to comply with an assessmentof her access needs.

Mrs Watson, a mature student fromDarlington, said: “I just wanted to betreated as a normal student but Ididn’t get the support. Every daythere was another attitudinal barrieragainst me. They just made itimpossible for me to continue.”

Mrs Watson described a string ofexamples in which tutorials, lecturesand assignments were not madeaccessible even though she keptasking her tutor for help.

Her case was taken under theeducation section (part four) of theDisability Discrimination Act (DDA),and was settled out of court,although the university did notaccept liability.

Mrs Watson had soughtcompensation for tuition fees, thecost of student loans, injury tofeelings, loss of careeropportunities and damage to hermental health.

Solicitor Chris Fry said it was thefirst time he had known of a studentsuccessfully taking such a caseagainst a university.

Mr Fry said: “While there has beenno formal court judgement, we thinkthere will be a wide response to itacross other educationalestablishments.”

Michael Gilmore, DurhamUniversity’s academic registrar,said: “The university has agreed asettlement with Mrs Watson withoutadmission of liability and it wouldnot be appropriate to make anyfurther comment.”

Padraig joins the teamn TOP GOLFER Padraig Harrington has become anew ‘Global Ambassador’ for Special Olympics.n “I believe golf can inspire Special Olympics athletesto reach for their goals and enjoy the benefits thegame brings,” said Padraig. “I look forward to playingan active part in the exciting times ahead.”n An army of 2,600 Special Olympics volunteerscoach and support over 8,000 athletes in 19 regionsacross England, Scotland and Wales.n In Great Britain, there are over 1.2 million peoplewith a learning disability.n www.sogb.org.uk

Rickshaw challenge raises awarenessRickshaw challenge raises awareness

All aboard,says Tim

RICKSHAWRALLY:Tim Moss(with cyclehelmet)andmembersof theCheshireEastSpecialOlympicsteam



HANDS UPTO STOPHATE CRIME

Merseyside Police

SUMMEROF ACTION

HATE DISABILITYRACERELIGIONSEXUALORIENTATIONTRANSGENDERTHERE’S NO ROOM FOR HATE

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Wheechair skills . .

Brighter outlook forchildren with autism

SCIENTISTS behind thefirst software of its kindto enable disabledchildren withcommunicationdifficulties to conversebetter have beenawarded more fundingto continue theirresearch.

Experts from theUniversities of Aberdeenand Dundee havedeveloped an artificialintelligence technologysystem that usessensors and recordingdevices attached towheelchairs to trackwhat the child hasexperienced at schoolthat day.

The information is thentranslated into a storythat can be shared whenthey get home.

Now additional fundingof £285,000 by theEngineering andPhysical SciencesResearch Council isallowing the scientists toexplore how thesoftware, called HowWas School Today? couldbe further developed–even by using a mobilephone application.

Mobile phonesDr Ehud Reiter, from

the University ofAberdeen’s School ofNatural and ComputingSciences, said: “Theoriginal prototype of thesystem involved heavyequipment – including asensor around the sizeof a phone book –meaning it could only betrialled by wheelchairusers.

“We will now belooking at how we canmake the deviceaccessible for nonwheelchair users.

“We are also looking attranslating the softwareinto more compactformats – for example,whether it could bedeveloped into a mobilephone application wherethe phone would act asboth the sensor to trackthe child’s movements,and the means by whichthey would communicate


A SCHEME delivering wheelchairskills training to children and youngpeople with disabilities is one ofdozens of initiatives taking a shareof £11.8 million in lottery good causefunding from the Big Lottery Fund.

Whizz-Kidz (The Movement forNon-Mobile Children) are planning toexpand their project deliveringspecialist wheelchair skills trainingto children and young people.

BIG’s grant of £496,783 will fundschemes throughout England,consisting of five individualsessions for everyone involvedusing a combination of games,sports and group activities.

Topics will include spacialawareness, accuracy when turning,route planning and road safety.

Whizz-Kidz training manager RuthGiller said: “A vital part of providingdisabled young people withwheelchairs is making sure theyknow how to use them to have funand to be safe.

“This grant will give 1,800 disabledchildren and young people theopportunity to attend a localwheelchair skills training scheme.”

A goodday atschool?

Connordesignshis ownhouse –aged 16!YOUNG BRICKIES:Connor and Lukewith Nick Atkin,Mike Hill, and HaltonMP Derek Twigg

THE new Academies Bill, announcedin the Queen’s speech, could drivevital improvements in the choiceand quality of education available tochildren with special educationalneeds (SEN), says the NationalAutistic Society.

Chief executive, Mark Lever, said:“Getting the right educationalsupport for children with autism isoften a huge battle.

“The Government’s plans for newacademies could present an excitingopportunity to improve parentalchoice and create a transparentsystem where parents, schools andcommunities all understand theirrights and responsibilities.

“Parents and academies must worktogether to respond to local needand deliver the best possibleeducation for all children.

“The NAS was set up by parents ofchildren with autism moved toaction by inadequate local educationprovision for their children. Today,we run five independent schools inEngland – many of which werejudged as outstanding in their lastOfsted inspections.”

Two thirds of parents say theirchoice of school is limited by a lackof appropriate education placementsin their area; and more than half ofchildren with autism are not in thekind of school their parents believewould best support themn NAS Autism Helpline: 0845 0704004.www.autism.org.uk

SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLDConnor Hill has laid thefirst bricks at a house he

helped to design.The purpose-built property has

been created with the aim ofmaking life easier for Connor andbrother Luke, five – who bothhave a rare muscle wastingdisease.

“I never thought I’d get to buildmy own home,” said Connor, whorelies on a wheelchair to getaround.

“Halton Housing Trust came andtalked to the family and listenedto what we needed to help withour condition. We workedtogether to design a purpose-builthome that is exactly what me andmy brother need.

“The fact that I now get to helpstart the building work reallymakes it feel like this is my veryown house.” Connor and brother

Luke have Duchenne MuscularDystrophy.

They have worked witharchitects to create their ownpurpose-built house at HaltonHousing Trust’s new developmentat Clarke Gardens in Widnes.

The house will be completelywheelchair accessible, with aspecially adapted bathroom andceiling hoists.

The brothers will be moving totheir new home with their parentsDonna and Mike Hill, and theirtwo-year-old brother Adam.

Connor’s dad, Mike, said: “It’sgoing to make a big difference.Connor needs much more spacethan we have in the currenthome. He can’t get up stairs andwe’re always struggling for spacefor things like spare wheelchairsand medication.”

The Truist’s chief executive,Nick Atkin, said: “Working with

the Hill family has been aninspiration.

“Mike, Donna and the childrenhave been great to work with andwe have tried to create a homethat will have a massive impacton their lives.

“The Trust is always looking atways that we can improve thelives of our customers and this isa fantastic example of us goingthe extra mile to do exactly this.”

Connor and Luke’s home will bepart of a £2.3mdevelopment atClarke Gardens which will helpbring more affordable homes toWidnes.

The Trust is building 12 two-bedroom apartments and sixbungalows on the formerbrownfield site, which was oncehome to an unpopular shelteredhousing scheme. n Halton Housing Trust: 0151510 5000 www.haltonhousing.org

My space!

ONE of the North West’s new Youth Parliament members hasset out his hopes for the next year and what he hopes toachieve – as long as his voice computer holds out!

Owen Ashworth, 17, campaigns on issues as varied as sexual health,inequality and education for young people.

But his work was put on hold recently when his Dynovox – whichallows him to communicate – broke and he had to wait to get areplacement.

Owen, who has cerebral palsy, said: “My Dynovox recently broke (as itdoes quite often). This is a disaster for me. How can an MYP do his jobproperly with no way to communicate?

“Thankfully, I managed to secure funding to have a brand newDynovox!

“My hope is to see world class and improved quality of sexual healtheducation throughout all schools because STI and teenage pregnancyrates are one of the highest in the North West.”

Owen studies at Riverside College, Kingsway, Widnes.

Young politician findshis voice . . . again!

CAMPAIGNER: Owen Ashworth

The family pageWould your

organisation like tosponsor this page?

Call: 00115511 223300 00330077

www.morganfoundation.co.uk Tel. 01829 782800www.morganfoundation.co.uk Tel. 01829 782800


CLASS ACTCLASS ACT

Schools tobenefitto thetune of£200,000

Rock legend helpsMorgan Foundationstage a charityday to remember

SO CLOSE: The Macbryde Homes’ team who finishedrunners-up to Walter Forshaw Ltd in the golf tournament

LEFT, celebrityauctioneer Stuart Hall.Right, Robert Plantjoined by LindseyMorgan and backedby The Underdogs

Steve Morgan, daughter Lindsey, and Robert Plant

Will YOUbe oneof ourwinners?

SUCCESS STORY:Steve Morgan withLiz Howard, one oflast year’s prizewinners

St CHRISTOPHER’S(Wrexham) and GreenPark (Wolverhampton)are the two schools tobenefit from TheMorgan FoundationCelebrity Golf Day.

Both are all-agespecial schools forpupils with severe,complex and profoundlearning difficulties –and physicalimpairments.

St Christopher’sdream is for a much-needed hydropool.

Green Park,meanwhile, wants tocreate a soft play roomwhere children withlimited physical skillsand poor balance canlearn motor controlwithout risk of injury orharm.

£100,000 in prizemoney – plusprofessionalservices forbuddingentrepreneurs inbusinesses,charities and socialenterprises!

That’s what’s onoffer in this year’sMorgan FoundationEntrepreneur Awards,being launched onTuesday, June 22, inLiverpool and onWednesday, June 23,in Wolverhampton.

Entries will beaccepted on-line fromJune 23 toSeptember 10.

The finalists’ judgingpanel will be held onMonday and Tuesday,October 4-5.

The Awards’evening will beThursday November11 at Carden ParkHotel near Chester.

n To register forupdates, go towww.mf-awards.co.uk

SINGER Robert Plant was amongthe star attractions at TheMorgan Foundation’s CelebrityGolf Tournament and GalaCharity Ball, which raised morethan £200,000 for two schools.

The Led Zeppelin frontman thrilledthe audience with a performance atCarden Park Hotel, Cheshire.

Joining him on stage was LindseyMorgan, daughter of Steve Morgan,chairman of the The MorganFoundation, and The Underdogs.

Earlier in the day, 26 teamsplayed golf on the stunningNicklaus Course, with prizesgenerously donated by EdencroftFine Wines.

The Walter Forshaw Ltd teamwon the tournament, closelyfollowed by Macbryde Homes, withDeloitte in third place.

Nearest the Pin was won byMartin Hughes, while Simon Drurypicked up The Longest Drive prize.

RIGHT, ex-Englandgoalkeeper GordonBanks, Didy Morgan,wife of Foundationchairman SteveMorgan, and Wolvesmanager MickMcCarthy


Merseytravel is making sure thatPublic Transport on Merseysideis easy for everyone to use.

AD346A

0871 200 22 33Calls cost 10p per minute fromland lines, mobiles may vary

Textphone users can dial 18001 then 0871 200 22 33 for a typetalk assisted call.

We care about the accessibility of ourbuildings, vehicles and information.

All of our staff are trained to be courteous and considerate, particularlywhen our customers have specialrequirements.

Whether it be automatic door-openersin our head office, availability oftextphones for main points of contact,or producing timetables in large print,we want to make public transport easier for everyone to use.

Among our services and facilities are:Merseylink – a door to door fully accessible transport service for peoplewho are mobility impaired.ree concessionary travel for over

48,000 people with disabilities.Modern, low floor, fully accessiblebuses, which are developed inpartnership with local authorities andbus companies.Information in a variety of formats,including the Merseytravel AccessGuide – containing access details for allbus and rail stations on Merseyside.

YOUNGSTERS and theirparents from Wirral-based charity

Sundowns were given the redcarpet treatment at the launchof Merseytravel’s Wallace andGromit in Space Exhibition atSpaceport in Wallasey.

Sundowns, recently chosen as theMerseytravel corporate charity for

2010, provides support and advicefor people affected by DownsSyndrome.

They also arrange social eventsfor the whole family and offersupport for siblings of people withDowns Syndrome.

Merseytravel chief executive anddirector general Neil Scales said,“For the past eight years our staffhave voted for a good cause to

become our corporate charity foreach year and this year we arepleased to be supportingSundowns.

“Sundowns are celebrating their10th anniversary this year and wehope to mark the occasion by notonly fundraising, but also offeringour support where we can.”

Radio Merseyside broadcasterRoger Phillips added: “Sundowns is

a great charity, doing very valuablework with a limited budget andresources, so the support of anorganisation such as Merseytravelwill be invaluable to them.”

The charity’s chief executive LisaMasters said: We would like tothank the staff of Merseytravel forchoosing us as their charity of theyear! This is a huge honour and weare all very excited.”

TO BOLDLYGO . . .Parents andchildren fromSundowns withRoger Phillipsand Neil Scalesat the Wallaceand Gromitexhibition atSpaceport, inWallasey

boost forboost forSpaceportSpaceport

SundownsSundowns


HELP . . .

CHECKLIST

Disabled and need advice on gardening? Contact national charity THRIVE.Tel, 0118 988 5688. www.thrive.org.uk or www.carryongardening.org.uk

FLOWERS: Cut off some ofthe seed-heads of flowers thatself-seed, such as foxglovesand English marigolds, tosave effort thinning the youngplants later on. Plant autumnflowering bulbs such ascolchicum and autumn crocus.SHRUBS: When trimmingany hedge – particularlycypress - shape it so the baseis wider than the top, allowinglight to reach the lower leavesand avoid dieback. Snip offthe dead heads of roses andrhododendrons.PATIOS: Dead-headcontainer flowers regularly.Make sure the compost doesnot dry out and give a liquidfeed once a week.LAWNS: Lawns sufferingfrom dryness will benefit if themower setting is raised.PONDS: Control blanketweedby removing as much aspossible and treating thewater with Tetra AlgoFin whichis harmless to fish, wildlifeand ornamental plants. Thinother rampant water plants.FRUIT: Peg down strawberryrunners to produce newplants. Fix them into smallpots of compost. This makesplanting out easy with littledisturbance to the roots.VEGETABLES: Pick runnerbeans and courgettes whilethey are young and tender toencourage more crops. Sowendive, the hardy wintersubstitute for lettuces.HERBS: Take cuttings ofshrubby herbs such as sage,rosemary, thyme and cottonlavender.GREENHOUSE: Astomatoes ripen, keep feedingand watering regularly. Pinchout the sideshoots fromcordon (single-stem)tomatoes, tie in the stem as itcontinues to grow, and pinchout the growing tip once fiveor six trusses of flowers haveset fruit. Cherry tomato typescan be allowed to grow taller.HOUSEPLANTS: Repot ifroots are showing through thebase holes in the pot or onthe compost surface. Replantin a pot at least 2.5cm (1in)wider and deeper.WILDLIFE: Clean bird tablesand feeders now that thespring rush from young birdsis over. Scrape or scour off

decaying food, which canattract disease, then scrubwith a mild solution ofbleach. Wash thoroughlywith clean water, dry offand then put out freshfood.

BRIGHTEN your home with ourstreptocarpus prizes –houseplants which are elegant,long-flowering and colourfulwith blooms ranging from deeppurple through shades of blue,red, pink and white.

You can win one of SIX £20collections of five young plantsof the finest streptocarpus. Theycome from the family firm ofDibleys Nurseries at Llanelidan,near Ruthin in North Wales,holder of the nationalstreptocarpus collection andwinner of an amazing 100 goldmedals at Chelsea and otherRoyal Horticultural Societyshows.

The species from which modernhybrids have been producedcome from South Africa and havefoliage similar to primroses,

hence theirmisleadingnickname ofCape primroses.

Our prizeplants includefour beautifulnew ones bredby Dibleys andonly justreleased:Scarlett (pictured), a free-flowering variety which hasblood-red veined flowers with adarker eye; Harlequin Blue, withpale blue petals and deep purplethroats; Harriet, deep pink withspeckles; and Myfanwy(pictured), smothered in whiteflowers with a prominent pinkmark merging with yellow stripesinto the throat.

The other two, already popular

with houseplantenthusiasts, areFalling Stars,with hugenumbers ofsmall flowers inpale blue with awhite throat; andAlissa, primrose-coloured and thefirst yellowstreptocarpus.

These are well-establishedyoung plants, individually grownand labelled in Jiffy plugs, readyfor planting into pots. They comewith cultural advice and will livefor several years in goodconditions.

To win one of our prizecollections, answer this question:Which new streptocarpus isblood-red?

Send your entry with your nameand address on a postcard orsealed envelope, stating whereyou picked up your copy of AllTogether NOW! – and what youlike or dislike about the magazine– to: Streptocarpus Competition,All Together NOW!, The BradburyCentre, Youens Way, LiverpoolL14 2EP, to arrive by Friday July23, or enter online atwww.alltogethernow.org.ukn Until the end of August,Dibleys’ shop, nurserygreenhouses and 10-acregardens are open to the public10am-5pm every day, thenweekdays only in September andOctober. A mini-railway offersrides for children on manyweekends. n For a catalogue, phone 01978-790677 or visit www.dibleys.com

NOW’S the time whenthe scent, colour andform of roses should

delight every garden-lover.If yours do not quite fit that

description, follow this three-parthealth check to give them backthat touch of class.

I don’t want to give theimpression that roses needconstant and expensive care.They don’t. Most will look healthyand produce flowers freely insummer and again in autumn withlittle special treatment. But it’sworth checking . . .

First, look at general vigour. Theflowers should be held erect onstrong stems. Drooping bloomsindicate weakness which isprobably because the bush ishalf-starved, especially if theblooms are smaller than in thepast. So feed with a quick-acting,soluble fertiliser such asPhostrogen or Miracle-Gro,watering generously round theplant and also spraying theleaves. Repeat this process everyfortnight throughout summer.

Spraying, for whatever purpose,is best carried out in the evening,so bees are less likely to beaffected and the moisture isabsorbed slowly. Use a spray witha fine rose and always drench theundersides of the leaves as wellas the tops. Branded rosetreatments combining fungicide,insecticide and foliar feed areavailable but check that theymeet your roses’ particular needs.

Next, look closely at the leaves.They should be a rich green ormaybe reddish or bronze-green insome varieties when foliage isyoung. Leaves that are pale orhave black, brown or yellowmarkings indicate disease ornutrient deficiency.

Large yellow areas, particularlyon young leaves, indicate ironshortage, the most commondeficiency. Water thoroughly and

spray with a feed containingsequestered iron, such asSequestrene, regularly throughoutthe growing season.

Yellow areas between the veins,specially on older leaves, arecaused by inadequatemanganese.

Brown patches on the edges ofleaves suggest a phosphateshortage, while brittle brown stripson the leaf edges signify a lack ofpotash. Watering regularly withthe soluble fertilisers mentionedabove will correct any of thoseproblems.

Pale, weak leaves with small

reddish spots point to nitrogendeficiency, which can becorrected by watering with usinga liquid nitrogen feed such asChempak Formula 2 or bydissolving four tablespoonfuls ofsulphate of ammonia into a two-gallon watering can, appliedfortnightly during summer.

Badly developed leaves withpale, dying centres, fallingprematurely, suggest amagnesium shortage. Waterfortnightly with two teaspoonfulsof Epsom salts to a two-galloncan.

Finally, check for pests anddiseases. Greenfly around thetips of shoots and buds weakenthe shrub so should be squashedor sprayed with an insecticide.

The most common diseases areblackspot and mildew.

Blackspot is what it says – afungus that causes round black orbrown marks on the leaves, whichdie and fall prematurely. Pick offinfected leaves and bin or burnthem, then spray the bush with afungicide.

Mildew manifests itself as greyor white powder at the tips ofshoots, often associated withaphids.

Again spray with a fungicide. Ifyour bushes are affected by thesediseases every year, start aregime ofspraying once afortnight as soonas the leavesunfurl next year.

GARDEN PEACE: The beautiful old rose variety Peace


WIN! WIN! WIN! Perfect way to brighten your home

Keep ‘em rosy!


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Tel: 0151 230 0307

Your guide to theatrelandYour guide to theatreland

Tell 250,000

your venues and services

readers about

Jun 1-19: Hairspray, Grand Theatre,Wolverhampton. Jun 5-Jul 3: Oscar Wilde’s TheImportance of Being Earnest, LibraryTheatre, Manchester. BSLperformance, Jun 24. Audiodescbribed, Jul 1, Jul 3. Captioned,Jul 2.Jun 7-12: Nightfright - TheNightmare of Your Life, BlackpoolGrand Theatre. Ingenious murdermystery Jun 7-12: Girls’ Night Out,Manchester Opera House. Jun 7-12: Columbo, The Lowry,Salford.Jun 8-12: The Hobbit, LiverpoolEmpire. Dramatic performance of thebest-selling novel Jun 8: We’ll Meet Again, FloralPavilion, New Brighton. Jun 8-12: Mum’s the Word, PrestonCharter Theatre. Jun 8-12: Wife Begins at 40, TheatreRoyal, St Helens.Jun 8: National Youth JazzOrchestra, Regent Theatre, Stoke. Jun 9: Beyond the Barricade, CreweLyceum.Jun 9: Bernasesaties, Floral Pavilion,New Brighton. Singalong with Disneyfavourites.Jun 9-12: On Your Hounour,Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight. Jun 9: The Jumble Book, TheBrindley, Runcorn. Jun 9-12: Derren Brown: Enigma,The Lowry, Salford. Jun 10-Jul 3: The Hired Man, BoltonOctagon. An emotional love triangle.BSL performance, Jun 17. Audiodescribed, Jun 23 Jun 10-12: Dad’s Army Marches On,Venue Cymru, Llandudno. Jun 10: The Pretty Concerns, TheBrindley, Runcorn. Jun 10: One Night In Vagas, RegentTheatre, Stoke. Jun 11-12: Tales From theBlackjack, The Lowry, Salford. Jun 11: Diversity, Regent Theatre,Stoke. Jun 12: The Magic of Mowtown,Manchester Palace. Jun 12-13: Alice in Wonderland, TheLowry, Salford. Jun 12: Magic - A Kind of Queen,Floral Hall, Southport. Jun 12: High School Musical 3:Singalong, Regent Theatre, Stoke. Jun 13: Forever in Blue Jeans,Crewe Lyceum. High energy, hit songsand hilarious comedy Jun 13: John Bishop, LiverpoolEmpire. The multi-award winningcomedian performs his hilarious showin his home town.Jun 13: Patrick Monahan - TheLadyboys of Iran, Venue Cymru,Llandudno. Jun 13: The Classic Motown Show,Rhyl Pavillion. Jun 13: Eric’s Tales of the Sea, TheLowry, Salford. Jun 13: Strictly Swing, TheatreRoyal, St Helens. Jun 14: Joe Longthorne, LiverpoolEmpire. Jun 14-15: The Best Bits ofLipService. The Lowry, Salford. BSLperformance, Jun 15.Jun 14-19: Whistle Down the Wind,Venue Cymru, Llandudno. Jun 14-19: Dreamboats and

Petticoats, Manchester Palace. Jun 14-15: The Best Bits ofLipService, The Lowry, Salford. Jun 14: Suzanne Vega, The Lowry,Salford. Jun 14-16: Dancing Queen, RegentTheatre, Stoke. Jun 15: The Hairy Bikers, TheatreRoyal, St Helens. Jun 16-18: La Boheme. Puccini’sromantic masterpiece. The Lowry,Salford. BSL performance, Jun 18.Jun 16-19: The Man from Stratford:Being Shakespeare, LiverpoolPlayhouse. Jun 16-19: Fame, Gladstone Theatre,Port Sunlight. Jun 16-19: Footloose, PrestonCharter Theatre. Jun 16: Lionel Blair: Tap & Chat,The Lowry, Salford. Jun 17: Rusalka. Spellbinding operabased on The Little Mermaid. TheLowry, Salford. Audio described,5.45pm.Jun 17: The Cavern Beatles,Liverpool Empire. Jun 17: The Drifters, Floral Pavilion,New Brighton. Jun 17-Jul 10: The RaggedTrousered Philanthropists, LiverpoolEveryman. Captioned, Jun 26, Audiodescribed, Jul 9.Jun 17-19: Wind in the Willows,Crewe Lyceum. A rip-roaring musicalride along the road of friendship Jun 17-19: The Odyssey, The Lowry,Salford. Jun 18: Jane McDonald in Concert,Liverpool Empire. Jun 18: Bat the Symphony,Manchester Opera House. Jun 18: La Boheme, The Lowry,Salford. Jun 18-19: Jaleo Flamenco, Salford:The Lowry. Jun 18: Mutton, Theatre Royal, StHelens. Jun 19: That’ll Be the Day, LiverpoolEmpire. Jun 19: The Hairy Bikers’ Big Night

Out, Preston Guild Hall. Jun 19: Maria Stuarda/Mary Stuart,The Lowry, Salford. Jun 19: Saturday Night Live, StHelens: Theatre Royal. Jun 20: That’ll Be The Day,Manchester Opera House. Jun 20: One Night Only. Liverpool,Liverpool Empire. Leanne Campbell,Jennifer Ellison and Pete Price.Jun 20: The Magic of Odissi, TheLowry, Salford. Jun 20-21: When I Grow Up to be aMan, Salford: The Lowry. Jun 21-26: Dad’s Army Marches On,Blackpool Grand Theatre. The boysare back in town! Jun 21-26: Inside Job, CreweLyceum. A story of theft, murder andintrigue.Jun 21-26: Strictly Come Dancing:The professionals, Liverpool Empire. Jun 21-26: Dinnerladies, ManchesterPalace. Stars of Victoria Wood’s BBCsitcom recreate their roles for thestage.Jun 21-22: Once Upon a PrestonGuild, Preston Charter Theatre. Jun 22-26: Small Worlds, LiverpoolPlayhouse. Jun 22-23: Crime of the Century,The Brindley, Runcorn. Jun 22-26: The Harder They Come,The Lowry, Salford. Jun 22-26: Britain’s Got Bhangra.Glitzy new musical. The Lowry,Salford. Audio described, Jun 26.Jun 22-26: Brassed Off, RegentTheatre, Stoke. Jun 23: Tony Stockwell, ManchesterOpera House. Jun 23: Sally Morgan, PrestonCharter Theatre. Jun 23-26: Toxing It, The Lowry,Salford. Jun 24: Acker Bilk, The Brindley,Runcorn. Jun 25: The Hairy Bikers’ Big NightOut, Venue Cymru, Llandudno.Jun 25: Buddy Holly and theCricketers, Floral Hall, Southport.

BLACKPOOLGrand Theatre: 01253 290190BOLTONOctagon: 01204 520661LLANDUDNOVenue Cymru: 01492 872000MOLD:Theatr Clwyd: 0845 3303565CREWE:Lyceum: 01270 537333STOKE:Regent Theatre:0844 871 7627MANCHESTER:Library Theatre:The Lowry: 0843 208 6000Opera House: 0870 401 9000Palace Theatre:0870 401 3000LIVERPOOL:Empire: 08444 999 999Everyman & Playhouse:0151 709 4776

Royal Court: 0870 787 1866NEW BRIGHTONFloral Pavillion: 0151 666 0000PORT SUNLIGHT:Gladstone Theatre: 0151 643 8757PRESTON:Charter Theatre: 0845 344 2012RHYL:Pavilion Theatre: 01745 330 000RUNCORNThe Brindley: 0151 907 8360SOUTHPORT:Floral Hall: 0844 847 2380ST HELENS:Theatre Royal:01744 756000Citadel: 01744 735436WOLVERHAMPTONGrand Theatre:01902 429212

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Jun 26: In the Spotlight - Songsfrom the Musicals, ManchesterOpera House. Jun 26-27: Peppa Pig’s Party, FloralPavilion, New Brighton. Jun 26: Homeward Bound – Simonand Garfunkel Tribute, GladstoneTheatre, Port Sunlight. Jun 26: Saturday Night Live, RhylPavilion. Jun 27: The Little Big Club – Live InConcert, Blackpool Grand Theatre. Jun 27: A Song & Dance forChristie, Crewe Lyceum. Starring BenMills (X factor) & Voices with Soul (Xfactor) Jun 27: The Wiggles, ManchesterOpera House. Jun 27: Penguin, The Lowry, Salford. Jun 27: Comedy for Christies, TheLowry, Salford. Jun 28-Jul 3: Murdered To Death,Blackpool Grand Theatre.Jun 28-30: Dinnerladies, PrestonCharter Theatre. Jun 28-Jul 1: MAPAS Showcases,The Lowry, Salford. Jun 29-Jul 17: Chitty Chitty BangBang (Touring), Liverpool Empire. Jun 29-Jul 3: George’s MarvellousMedicine, Manchester Opera House. Jun 30-Jul 3: Romeo & Juliet, TheLowry, Salford. Jul 1: Joe Longthorne, The Brindley,Runcorn. Jul 1-2: Roy “Chubby” Brown, FloralHall, Southport. Jul 1: Dolly the Show, Floral Hall,Southport. Jul 1: The Drifters, St Helens:Theatre Royal. Jul 2: Jools Holland and hisRhythm and Blues Orchestra, VenueCymru, Llandudno. Jul 2: The Drifters, Preston CharterTheatre. Jul 2: Peter Karrie and Friends, RhylPavilion. Jul 2-Jul 4: Moving Pictures andOther Work, The Lowry, Salford. Jul 2: EPOCHalypse, Citadel, StHelens.

Jul 3-4: The Hub, Crewe Lyceum.Diverse, exciting pieces performed bypupils attending the Hub Jul 3: Don’t Stop Believing: Aconcert for Gleeks, ManchesterPalace. Jul 3: Brotherhood of Man,Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight. Jul 3: Off the Wall: The Music ofPink Floyd, Preston Guild Hall. Jul 3: Bertrand’s Toys, The Lowry,Salford. Jul 4: Noddy in Toyland, PrestonCharter Theatre. Jul 4: Adrian Edmondson & TheBad Shepherds, The Lowry, Salford. Jul 5-10: It’s Never Too Late,Blackpool Grand Theatre. RonAldridge’s comedy Jul 5-10: Wife Begins at 40, CreweLyceum. Delightful comedy about awoman turning 40.Jul 5-10: Spamalot, ManchesterOpera House. Jul 5-10: Joseph and the AmazingTechnicolour Dreamcoat, The Lowry,Salford. Jul 6: Dolly the Show, The Brindley,Runcorn. Jul 6-10: Inside Job, Grand Theatre,Wolverhampton. Jul 8-10: Mum’s the Word,Manchester Palace. Jul 8-10: Four Girls and a Caravan,Theatre Royal, St Helens. Jul 9-10: The Tansads, Citadel, StHelens. Jul 10: What Would Helen MirrenDo? The Lowry, Salford. Jul 10: Showstopper: TheImprovised Musical, The Lowry,Salford. Jul 11: Mike Smith Orchestra, RhylPavllion. Jul 11: Salford Community Dance,The Lowry, Salford. Jul 12-14: Au Revoir Review 2010,Blackpool Grand Theatre.Jul 12: Meter, The Lowry, Salford. Jul 13: Hairspray, Manchester OperaHouse. Jul 13-17: Stepping Out, Floral

Pavilion, New Brighton. Jul 13-17: Girls Night Out, RegentTheatre, Stoke. Jul 13-17: The Late Edwina Black,Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton. Jul 15: A Servant To Two Masters,Blackpool Grand Theatre.Jul 15: Snooker Legends, VenueCymru, Llandudno. Jul 15-16: Plus One...? Salford: TheLowry. Jul 16 - Aug 7: Council DepotBlues, Royal Court, Liverpool. Jul 16: The Gary Murphy Band,Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight. Jul 17: Ken Dodd and hisHappiness Show, Blackpool GrandTheatre. The longest stand-up comedyroutine.Jul 17: Tenorissimo, GladstoneTheatre, Port Sunlight. Jul 17: RISE, The Brindley, Runcorn.Presented by LIPAJul 17: A Celebration, The Lowry,Salford. Jul 17: High Tease, The Lowry,Salford. Audio described, Jul 17Jul 17-18: Peppa Pig’s Party, FloralHall, Southport. Jul 17: Rubberneck, Citadel, StHelens. Jul 18: React 2010, Crewe Lyceum. Aday of acting, singing and dancing.Jul 18: Domini Public (PublicDomain), The Lowry, Salford. Jul 19-24: Keeping UpAppearances, Blackpool GrandTheatre.Jul 20-Aug 2: The Gruffalo(Touring), Liverpool Empire. Jul 20-24: It’s Never Too Late, GrandTheatre, Wolverhampton. Jul 21-24: Billy Elliot: The Musical,St Helens: Theatre Royal. Jul 21-24: Billy Elliot: The Musical,Regent Theatre, Stoke. Jul 22-24: Starlight Youth Theatre:The Buddy Holly Story, FloralPavilion, New Brighton. Jul 22: Snow White, Rhyl Pavillion. Jul 22-24: Eight, The Lowry, Salford. Jul 23: The Searchers in Concert,Rhyl Pavillion. Jul 24: The Dreamboys, PrestonCharter Theatre. Jul 24: Noddy in Toyland, RhylPavillion. Jul 24: In the Spotlight - Songsfrom the Musicals, Floral Hall,Southport. Jul 25: The Gruffalo (Touring),Liverpool Empire. Jul 25: Postman Pat: A Very RoyalMission, Floral Pavilion, NewBrighton. Jul 25: Raymond Froggatt andBand, Rhyl Pavilion. Jul 26-31: Keeping UpAppearances, Regent Theatre, Stoke. Jul 27-28: The Gruffalo, BlackpoolGrand Theatre. Musical adaptation Jul 27-31: Murdered To Death,Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton. Jul 28-31: Wife Begins at 40, RhylPavillion. Jul 30: The Lowry Summer SchoolShowcase, The Lowry, Salford. Jul 31: Dolce Via, The Lowry, Salford. Jul 31: That’ll Be The Day, FloralHall, Southport. Aug 2-7: Spamalot, Regent Theatre,Stoke.

JOSEPH’S BACK . . . at The Lowry, July 5-10


AN ONLINE guide lists morethan 800 disabled-friendlyhotel rooms in London.

The guide – complete withimages – is based on anindependent access auditscarried out by Direct Enquiriesand describes the visit fromarrival by car or public transportto reception, the restaurant, otherpublic areas plus the rooms andbathrooms.

Details are also listed of otherfacilities such as low level

counters, hearing inductionloops, services for visuallyimpaired guests, and adjoiningrooms for carers.

Visitors can search for a hotelby area (north, south, east, westand central London), bypostcode, by hotel name, orsearch for specific facilities andservices by clicking on theaccess icons.

Carolyn Smith, of the LondonDevelopment Agency, said: “Ashost of the London 2012 Olympic

and Paralympic Games, we wantLondon to be a truly accessiblecity, and to provide completereassurance to our disabledvisitors.”

A total of 114 hotels wereaudited around the city. PremierInn, Travelodge, and Holiday Innand Express by Holiday Inn, bothpart of the InterContinental HotelGroup (IHG), offer the largestselection of accessible rooms.n You can log on to the guideat: www.directenquiries.com

Online guide to London’s hotels

Jun 12: Caerwys AgriculturalShow, Gatehouse Fields, Babell,Holywell. Adult, £5. Concs, £3. Jun 12: The Secret Garden,Dunham Massey Outdoor theatre. Jun 12-13: Wirral InternationalKite Festival The Dips, NewBrighton. Jun 13: Perfect K9 4U DogShow, Bodelwyddan Castle.Jun 13: Dragon Boat FestivalRiver Dee, Chester. Jun 13: Wirral Bikeathon, ArroweCountry Park. Cycling event in aidof Leukaemia Research Fund. Tel.0151 632 0548.Jun 14-20: Refugee Week,MOSI. Activities celebratingManchester’s multicultural nature. Jun 18-20: Middlewich Folk andBoat Festival.Jun 19: Bugs Life, Rivacre Valley,Ellesmere Port. Discover the bugsliving in the valley. Tel. 0151 3571991Jun 19-21: North Wales Festivalof Military Transport and Militaria,Caerwys.Jun 19-20: Clwyd Veteran &Vintage Machinery Society’svintage vehicle rally & craft fair,Oswestry Showground.Jun 19-20: North Wales Festivalof Military Transport and Militaria,

near Caerwys, Flintshire. Tel.01492 530745.Jun 19-20: Medieval Fayre atthe Old Hall Tatton Park. Tel.01625 534400.Jun 19-20: A King’s Treasure,Beeston Castle. Tel. 0870 3331181.Jun 20-22: Manchester DayParade. Outdoor carnival. Jun 20: Guided walk,Shugborough Hall Estate, Staffs.Jun 20: Classic MotorcycleShow, Gawthorpe Hall, Padiham. Jun 22-23: Cheshire CountyShow, Tabley, nr Knutsford.Jun 24-July 4: Lymm Festival.Music, dance, comedy, visual arts. Jun 26: Diesel Freight Day. WestLancs Light Railway. Diesel action;freight trains, workshop tours.www.westlancs.orgJun 26-27: Medieval World andCountry Show, Ruthin. Jun 26-27: Shropshire CountyShow, Shrewsbury. Tel. 01743289831.Jun 26-27: BASC WalesCountry Fair, Bodelwyddan Castle,St Asaph.Jun 26-27: Dunham 1810.Dunham Massey Regency dancingand characters. Tel. 01619411025.

Jun 26-27: Arley GardenFestival, Arley Hall, nr Northwich.Jun 26-27: Wings, Wheels,Speed & Steam Show,Shugborough Hall, Milford, Staffs.Jun 27 Rainey Day. Knowsley’sdisability awarenness day inmemory of the late John Rainey.King George V Sports Complex,Huyton.Jun 29: Ness Through TheSeasons. Monthly guided walkthrough Ness Gardens, Wirral.Jun30: MS Info Roadshow.Alsager Golf Club. Tel, 01270761570 Jul 1: Barnardo’s Big Toddle,Heaton Park, Manchester.Jul 1-3: Off The Ground YouthTheatre perform The Birds at NessGardens, Wirral.Jul 2-4: Gardeners and HomeLovers Weekend, ShugboroughHall, Milford, Staffs.Jul 3-4: St Helens Show,Sherdley ParkJul 3-4: Country Music And LineDancing Festival, Rhyl. Jul 3-4: Stars & Strips ClassicAmerican Car Show, Tatton Park.Cars from the 1950s & 1960s. Jul 4: Illyria Open Air Theatre:James and the Giant Peach,Tatton Park. Tel. 01625 534400.

WHAT’S ONWHAT’S ONWHAT’S ON

BLISTS Hill Victorian Town, one often Ironbridge Gorge Museums, isvery much worth a visit - whatever

your level of fitness!Set in 54 acres, the museum is a fascinating

portrayal of a typical town of the EastShropshire Coalfield around 1900.

Professional actors, costumed museum staffand volunteers help bring the place to life.

More than £12m has been spent on alandmark visitor centre, a new street ofshops, a clay-mining experience, a narrow

gauge railway and an incline lift. It’s allpaying off, too, with the museum beingshortlisted in this year’s £100,000 Arts FundPrize, the UK’s largest single arts prize.

Barrie Williams, chairman of The IronbridgeGorge Museum Trust, said: “We hope thatreaching the shortlist will inspire morevisitors to discover Blists Hill Victorian Townfor themselves along with our other ninemuseums situated within the beautifulIronbridge Gorge World Heritage Site.”n www.ironbridge.org.uk

‘Living’ museum in line for top prize

TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!To advertise, call0151 230 0307


Holiday Breaks in the Lakesnear Keswick

Self catering apartments for 2-6 people.Specially designed with the wheelchairin mind. No steps. Beautiful views in a

superb location. Friendly owners inresidence. Open all year.

IRTON HOUSE FARM

For a colour brochure

Tel: 01768 776380www.disabled-holiday.net

email: [email protected] now!

BlackpoolHOTEL

120, Bond Street,Blackpool, FY4 1HG

ACCESSIBLE HOLIDAYS

EASY ACCESS FOR WHEELCHAIRS CAR PARKEN-SUITE ROOMS ADJOINING ROOMS

ELECTRIC HOISTS OVERHEAD TRACKING HOISTELECTRIC BEDS COT SIDES COMMODESMODERN SPACIOUS BAR & RESTAURANT

SPECIAL DIETS CATERED FOR HYDROTHERAPY POOL CONFERENCE FACILITIES

LIVE CABARET SHOW EVERY NIGHTPICK-UP AND RETURN SERVICE

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St. AnnesHOTEL

HOLIDAY HOMES

3 G R E A T C H O I C E S !

Marton Mere Holiday Village

www.bondhotel.co.uk Booking hotline 01253 [email protected]

PARTY at the Bond Hotel Blackpool, where the great fun atmosphere is a very popular choice for many of our guests. The hotel has 65 bedrooms, most of which are wheelchair-accessible, and all the extra facilities that you might require during your stay. With great food, and nightly entertainment, this hotel offers the perfect Blackpool holiday!

RELAX in our sophisticated new hotel in St Annes. Recently refurbished to the highest possible standard, this stylish 26-room hotel overlooks the sea, and offers a choice of luxurious wheelchair-accessible accommoda-tion - from single rooms up to 3-room suites. The new Bond Hotel, St Annes is the ideal venue for those looking for the chance to unwind in style.

ENJOY our de-luxe holiday homes at scenic Marton Mere. If you would prefer a self-catering break, these superbly appointed holiday homes could be just the thing. They sleep up to six, have central heating and all mod cons, are fully accessible, and overlook the beautiful lake and wildlife area at this popular resort.

LUXURY travel wherever you choose to stay, you will have access to Bond Accessible Coaches Ltd who will pick you up and take you home at very reasonable prices

So come and explore a whole world of special holidays for very special guests. Whether it's a week with the stars of “Coronation Street or Emmerdale”, a break on a nature reserve, or a luxury room with a great sea view, we can provide it - and at a great price too!

Specialist holidays for carers & service users

ADVENTURES in the AustralianOutback, South Africa andCosta Rica are among dozensof hoidays for visually impairedpeople in the new holidaybrochure from national charity,Vitalise.

As well as exotic overseasadventures, people can try theirhand at a wide range of activities,from skiing to salsa dancing,horse riding to hill walking andtandem cycling to singing.

Other destinations include

Jordan, Cyprus, Gambia, Tunisiaand Andorra.

Closer to home, there are groupvisits to the Lake District, theWest Country, Loch Lomond,Snowdonia and County Antrim.

The holidays are made possibleby the addition of sighted guides,who provide support andcompanionship.

Vitalise holidays manager SamEarl said: “Visually impairedpeople who go on our holidaysgain as much, if not more, from

these amazing destinations andactivities as sighted people.”

The holidays cater for all tastesand are categorised intoadventure, activity, interest,sightseeing and leisure.

First-time holidaymakers andsighted guides can also samplesome of Vitalise’s activities, suchas canoeing and tandem cycling,on special subsidised ‘taster’weekends in the Lake District.n Vitalise Holidays, tel 0845 3300149, www.vitalise.org.uk

Chance for adventures of a lifetime

Jul 4: Sink or Swim RivacreValley, Ellesmere Port. Make yourown mini raft and test it out on thepond. Tel. 0151 357 1991.Jul 5-12: International MusicalEisteddfod, Llangollen. Jul 6-9: Barnardo’s Big Toddle,Chester Zoo.www.barnardos.org.ukJul 6: Barnardo’s Big Toddle,Knowsley Safari Park.www.barnardos.org.ukJul 10: Habergham Festival,Gawthorpe Hall, Burnley. Gardenparty, cheerleaders, bouncy castleand craft stalls. Jul 10-11: Denbigh CountryShow, Gwaenynog Hall, nrDenbigh. Adult £4, child £1. Jul 10-11: Children’s Festival,Wrexham. Magic show, fun fairrides, face painting, artworkshops. Jul 11: Disability Awareness Day,Walton Hall Gardens, Warrington.See pages 16-17.Jul 11: Guided walk,Shugborough Hall Estate, Staffs.Jul 11: Northern BMW Festival,Tatton Park.Jul 16-17: Bayfest: Cemaes BayRock Concert, Anglesey. Jul 17-26: Gwyl Festival,Caernarfon.

Jul 17-18: Tudor Festival,Stretton Mill, near Farndon. Free.Tudor-themed activities. Jul 17-18: CholmondeleyPageant of Power, CholmondeleyCastle. Celebration of the best inhistoric vehicles. Jul 17-18: Middlewich TransportFestival.Jul 18: Liverpool-Chester BikeRide. Tel. 0208 498 7389Jul 19-22: Summer HolidayFamily Fun Days, Wrexham. Lotsof family fun activities. Jul 20: Family Bat Night,Dunham Massey. Batty games,quizzes and fun. Jul 21-25: RHS Show Tatton,Tatton Park, nr Knutsford.Jul 21-22: Ancient Games, SaltMuseum, Northwich. Drop-infamily games session. Jul 22: Barnardo’s Big ToddleGullivers World, Warrington.www.barnardos.org.ukJul 23-25: Welsh NationalHorse Carriage Trials, Wrexham. Jul 23-29: Archaeology Week,Dunham Massey. Excitingexcavations for you to take part in. Jul 24: International SnowdonRace.Jul 24-Jul 25: CarnivalPrestatyn

Jul 24-25: Medieval Clash ofKnights, Beeston Castle. A seriesof thrilling living history displays. Jul 26-27: Summer Fun –Drawing the Past, Norton Priory,Runcorn. Archaeological familyfun. Jul 26-30: Plastic Fantasic,Catalyst, Widnes. Fun scienceworkshop for children. Jul 27: Ness Through TheSeasons. Monthly guided tourthrough Ness Gardens, Wirral.Jul 28: Nantwich Show, DorfoldHall Park, Nantwich.Jul 28: Roman Soldier Day, SaltMuseum, Northwich. Jul 28-29: Children’s Fun Days,Ness Gardens, Wirral.Jul 29: Mad Hatter’s Tea Party,Chirk Castle. Follow the WhiteRabbit’s children’s trail. Jul 29: Roman Salt-Making Day,Salt Museum, Northwich. Jul 30-Aug 1: North Wales BoatShow, Bangor. Jul 30: Sensory Awareness Day,Chester Zoo. Jul 31-Aug 7: Eisteddfod MusicFestival, Blaenau Gwent.Jul 31-Aug 1: Dunham 1910,Dunham Massey. Edwardianfamily fun with a brass band.

WELL WORTH A VISIT: Blists Hill Victorian Town is bringing history to life

TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!To advertise, call0151 230 0307

1166 AAllll TTooggeetthheerr NNOOWW!! JJuunnee//JJuullyy 22001100 wwwwww..aallllttooggeethernow.org.uk

FUN, FREE, INFORMATIVE-IT’S DAD TIMEIF it’s information about

independent living you are after –and a fun-packed FREE family day

out – then there’s only one place tobe on Sunday, July 11 . . .

The 19th annual Disability Awareness Day,or DAD as it is affectionately known, goesahead at Walton Hall Gardens, Warrington –and it’s already promising to be the best yet!

Come rain or shine, there will be plentygoing on from 10am right through until 5pm.

Three hundred exhibitors, including fromSpain and Cyprus, have booked places. Andmore than 100 voluntary sector groups willbe there to dispense advice and informationcovering physical, sensory and learningdisabilities, mental health issues PLUS helpfor carers – young and not so young.

“The event will have something for everyone of the expected 25,000 visitors fromacross the UK,” says Dave Thompson, chairof Warrington Disability Partnership whoorganise the event.

“DAD is Europe’s largest voluntary-led,pan-disability exhibition involving over 150volunteer stewards and assistants fromLions and Rotary Clubs, Sea Cadets, ThornCross Young Offenders Institute, plusdozens of family and friends.

“It just keeps getting better and better.“We have an absolutely fantastic team

who spend months working on the event toensure it all goes smoothly. I can’t singtheir praises too highly. It’s a terrific teameffort!”

It’s not surprising that the event receivedroyal recognition when the organising teamWarrington Disability Partnership werepresented with a Queens Award forVoluntary Services.

Inclusive Arts will be just one of the day’shighlights, featuring disabled artists fromacross the UK including Spaceships AreCool, who last year performed atGlastonbury.

An on-site cinema will host the “Slice ofLife” film festival which will highlight shortfilms made by, or starring, disabled peopleor written on a disability theme.

One of the 12 marquees will bededicated to alternative therapies andartwork produced by disabled artists.

There’s also a good chance for sportsfans to have a go at a variety of activitiesin the Sports Zone. Archery, rifle shooting,climbing wall, basketball are all on theagenda – and new for 2010 is ScubAbility,an exciting opportunity to try out scubadiving in their special on-site swimmingpool.

Children and families won’t be stuck forthings to do with a main entertainmentsarena and funfair.

With a free accessible Park & Rideservice and free bus from Warrington BusInterchange, British Sign LanguageInterpreters, a scooter and wheelchairloans service, trained assistants, the eventis built on promoting inclusion.

OVER the years the NorthwestDisability Awareness Day has helpedinspire individuals and groupsacross the UK and Europe to set upsimilar information events –including a DAD Gibraltar.The event was started in 1992 by

Dave Thompson and a tiny team ofvolunteers.Dave recalls that at 8am on the

morning of the first event his 12-year-old son, Gavin, helped mark outexhibitor spaces with a tin of paintand a two-inch paint brush.Dave is still event co-ordinator but

the team of volunteers known asDAD’s Army has grown, and sonGavin is now assistant headsteward.The strapline for this year’s event is

“promoting independencethroughout life and work”.“DAD is about what disabled

people can do, not what they can’t,”says Dave.

HOT SEAT: Dave Thompson co-ordinating events at Walton Hall Gardens

FUN, FREE, INFORMATIVE-IT’S DAD TIME

HOT NEWSSpaceships

Are Cool – who playedGlastonbury last year – will

be performing at DAD . . . and ifyou have ever fancied taking up

scuba diving then you will get thechance to find out all about what’s

involved from ScubAbility, theinternational association

for disabled divers

1177geetthheerrnnooww..oorrgg..uukk JJuunnee//JJuullyy 22001100 AAllll TTooggeetthheerr NNOOWW!!

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THE WEEK leading up to Disability AwarenessDay is always packed with supporting events.Here’s a taste of what’s to come . . .Sat, July 3: 11.30am-4.30pm. Golden SquareWarrington Town centre. Launch of DAD 2010. AnArts Showcase will be held in the Old MarketPlace, featuring disabled artists and friends ofDAD, including Autistic Superstars and AndrewColeman. Contact Maria or Tom, 01925 240064Tues, July 6: 9.30am-12.30pm. Positive ActionAwareness Event for schools at Walton Hall inWarrington. Contact Derek Jones, 01925 240064.1pm-4pm. Learning Disability and Employment atWalton Hall. Employers from the Warrington areaare invited to meet with local support agencies todiscuss solutions for the recruitment and retentionof people who have a learning disability. For moredetails contact Derek Jones, 01925 240064.6.15pm-9.00pm. Festival of Life in the ArtsMarquee and Walton Hall. Learning DisabilityServices and Liverpool Diocesan Board for SocialCare present an interactive evening of craft, song,chill-out and football workshop, culminating in atime of Christian Worship. Contact Rev PamLovett, 01925 664000.Wed, July 7: 10am-2.30pm. Storytelling Day.Adults with learning disabilities in Warrington andHalton can share their stories of how ‘person-centred planning’ has impacted on their lives. (Ajoint event between Mencap Person CentredPlanning Team and Warrington and Halton SpeakOut.) Contact Kate Williams 01925 5757641pm-4pm. Carer’s Party in the Park, Arts MarqueeWalton Hall Gardens. Organised by staff from thePrincess Royal Trust, Warrington Carers Centre.Advance booking required. Contact JennyReadman 01925 6442127.00pm-9.30pm. The Secret Garden by HeartbreakTheatre Company in the Arts Marquee. BSLinterpreter signed production. Tickets can beobtained from Box Office, 01925 442345.Thurs, July 8: 10am-4pm. Mental Heath andWellbeing Workshop in the Arts Marquee andMarquee 4, Walton Hall Gardens. The team fromthe nationally acclaimed Richmond Fellowship offera range of workshops and activities. Contact ChrisGreer, 01606 8638616.30pm-8.30pm. Party in the Park in the ArtsMarquee and Marquee 3, Walton Hall Gardens.The teams from Planet Blue disabled youth clubwill host a range of inclusive activities for disabledchildren and young disabled adults. ContactRachael Worrall, 01925 240064.Fri, July 9: Noon-3pm. ‘In Touch’ Sexual HealthProject is a national project from Leonard CheshireDisability (funded by GlaxoSmithKline and workingin partnership with a range of organisationsincluding WDP). An opportunity to find out aboutthis groundbreaking project aimed at teenagers.Contact Rachael Worrall on 01925 240064.Fri July 9: 7.30pm-11.30pm. Mega Quiz Night andBarbecue in the Park & Disco at Arts Marquee,Walton Hall Gardens. Teams of up to eight people,hundreds of pounds worth of prizes, food, licensedbar and a charity auction. Admission by ticket only£7.50 from DAD office. Includes top noshbarbecue. Book your tickets, 01925 240064.Sat, July 10: 10am-4pm. Wheelchair SkillsWorkshop for disabled children and young disabledpeople. For more details contact Dave Connor,01925 240064.Sun July 11: 10am-5pm. DAD at Walton HallGardens. Don’t mis it!

STREETWISE

SALFORD YOUNG CARERS

LIVERPOOL ONE

EVERTON FOUNDATION

Closing date Friday 23 August, 2010

What’s going on throughout the weekVE-IT’S DAD TIME


Each question has four possible answers and is worth from one to 15 points. Circle your

chosen answers and keep a record of your points total. Maximum total points 120.QUESTION 1 – for 1 point:According to folklore, which month is said to ‘come in like a lion and go out like a lamb’?

A FebruaryB MarchC AprilD MayQUESTION 2 – for 2 points:To which family of plants is bamboo related?

A Rushes and reedsB SedgesC GrassesD KnotweedsQUESTION 3 – for 3 points:What is the highest rank in the United States army?

A GeneralB Lieutenant ColonelC Brigadier GeneralD Lieutenant GeneralQUESTION 4 – for 4 points:Which pop group had a UK No 1 hit in 1964 with Do Wah Diddy Diddy?

A SearchersB KinksC Moody BluesD Manfred MannQUESTION 5 – for 5 points:Which TV detective lives in an old windmill?

A MaigretB Jonathan CreekC Inspector MorseD DCI WexfordQUESTION 6 – for 6 points:What type of creatures are schnauzers?

A DeerB HorsesC GoatsD Dogs

QUESTION 7 – for 7 points:Who hosts the Channel 4 TV show 8 Out Of 10 Cats in which Joan Rivers is often a panellist?

A Jimmy CarrB Paul O’GradyC Alan CarrD Dale WintonQUESTION 8 – for 8 points:What does a red triangle on an Ordnance Survey map signify?

A Youth hostelB Rendezvous pointC Pillar boxD Exposed mine shaftsQUESTION 9 – for 9 points:Which emblem is worn on the shirts of the New Zealand international Rugby team?

A KiwiB SheepC Fern leafD The Southern Cross stars

QUESTION 10 – for 10 points:Which novel has the alternative title ‘The Modern Prometheus’?

A DraculaB FrankensteinC The Hound Of The BaskervillesD The Portrait Of Dorian GrayQUESTION 11 – for 11 points:Who was the first explorer to cross the Antarctic Circle?

A Roald AmundsenB Richard ByrdC Abel TasmanD James CookQUESTION 12 – for 12 points:In which Verdi opera is the aria La Donna è Mobile sung by the Duke of Mantua?

A RigolettoB La TraviataC AidaD Il TrovatoreQUESTION 13 – for 13 points:Of which city was Laurence Olivier given the title baron?

A BlackpoolB BrightonC BournemouthD BristolQUESTION 14 – for 14 points:Which insects are classified as coleoptera?

A AntsB BeesC BeetlesD MothsQUESTION 15 – for 15 points:How many nations competed in the first modern Olympics in Athens in 1896?

A 11B 14C 22D 27

Comedienne Joan Rivers. See Question 7

1. Spouted vessel (6) 4. Self-centredness (6) 8. Annul (6)10. Clinging gastropod (6)11. Psalmist (5)12. Intelligent (6)14. Amalgamation (6)16. Tear asunder (4)17. Poetic name for Ireland (4)19. Chair (4)22. Sculpture of head (4)26. Cope with (6)27. Discomfort (6)28. Artist’s material (5)29. Disclose (6)30. Kitchen utensil (6)31. Narrative song (6)32. Fireside (6)

1

8

12

18

26

29

31

21

2

16

19

13

3

11

20

28

9

21 25

4

8

10

14

17

22

22

27

30

32

5

23

15

6

24 26

7

25

★ ★

★ ★

★★

★★

★ ★

★ ★

1. Cherry liqueur (6)2. Opera hat (slang) (6)3. Dull grey (6)5. Non-powered aircraft (6)6. Call in question (6)

7. Ripen (6)9. Cooking fat (4)

10. Citrus fruit (4)13. Irked (5)15. Wash lightly (5)18. Angelic being (6)19. Run at the nose (6)20. Woolly animal (6)21. Freshwater duck (4)22. Stopper (4)23. False (6)24. Rag (6)25. Quest (6)

Can you find the celebrity name hidden in this StarspotCrossword? Complete the crossword in the normal way thenmake a note of the letters contained in all the squares whichare marked with shaded stars. These letters will make ananagram of the name you are looking for.

ACROSS

The Accumulator QuizSTARSPOT CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

4 68 9 6 26 1 7 3 4

7 9 39 8 3 6 5 4 1 7

8 64 2 6 38 5 3

3 1 4 7 5

THERE is just one simple rule in Sudoku. Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, andso must each 3 x 3 box. This is a logic puzzle, and you should not need to have to guess.

EASY DIFFICULT

FILL in the blank squares in the grid with numbers so that each horizontal or vertical line adds up to the total given in the box either to the left or above it. Horizontal totals are given in the top right corners of the shaded boxes; vertical totals in the bottom left corners.You can use the numbers 1 to 9, but may not use the same number more than once in any run. The number may be used again, however, in the same row or column but as part of another run.

15 18 11 2211 4

74 19

22 1229 6

309 22

2122

16

16

MEDIUM

KAKURO

3 7 54

6 5 27 2 1

2 41 8

45 3 8 6

4 3 7 6 1


CALLING ALL CHARITIES . . . CALLING ALL COMPANIES . . .

AADDVVEERRTTIISSEE HHEERREE –– 00115511 223300 00330077 AADDVVEERRTTIISSEE HHEERREE –– 00115511 223300 00330077


SIGHTLINE VISION (NORTH WEST)

ARE YOU AFFECTED BY SIGHTLOSS?

Telephone Sightline Free on

0800 587 22526pm - 10pm every

Thursday, Friday, Saturday,Sunday & Monday

Support for you, your family and friendsfrom those who understand

17 22 1 11 17 25 22 17 22 2 9 11

5 13 24 20 9 7 16

11 20 17 21 11 7 16 20 2 10 13 21

16 21 11 22 25 10 11

11 26 18 8 21 17 8 11 20 14 11 7

20 20 24 3 10 9 6

4 13 16 26 9 11 11 6 10 21 22 5

26 11 7 22 15 16 21

15 11 20 17 9 11 17 23 11 20 17 21

13 15 10 9 7 9 22

17 19 13 20 24 20 15 20 12 22 16 26

22 17 11 16 22 11 11

5 3 11 11 7 11 1 9 13 16 20 7

Can you place the six dominoes (right) into the grid below in such a way that the number of spots in all four rows across and all four rows down totals 15?

A

B

C

D F

E

1 2

3 4

5 6

CROSS CODE

SPOT CHECK

F F O P S I F T T I S

E Y C B A T R U R E T

E R R E R T A L R B R

L O N L A U T O Y W A

E M F L I T E C M T B

A R U D N C H O I N A

N O E G A V S I P E N

G A T E R T T F F E A

E W L E M N A O T A N

N O O N R A C H I O B

D M L A R U C K C A L

Starting from the central shaded letter, move one letter at atime (up, down, right or left, but not diagonally) to find 16flavours of ice cream.

PATHWORDS

DIALLING CODES

SACATON

Here is anunusual wordwith threedefinitions, onlyone of which iscorrect. Can youidentify the rightdefinition?

WORD WIZARD

1) A type ofcoarseperennialgrass growingin alkalineregions of thesouthernUnited States;

2) A granulardeposit foundin thestomach;

3) A tomb ormonument inthe form of achapel withina church.

Telephone dialling pads combineseveral letters on one key. Herewe have encoded several sets ofwords or items by using numbersrather than letters. Then we havedivided them into groups of threecharacters and run all the namesone after another to make yourtask a little more difficult. Canyou crack the codes?

1. Languages

843 762 637 312 722 421 625 291 873 818 875 474 178 774 261 826 451 236 425 414 825 426 177 264 741 737 742 614 463 417

678 848 373

465 343 142 961 336 416 667 313 549 223 841 829 567 156 343 136 783 715 854 217 623 787 164 243 553 173 343 337 136 621

846 677 66

4. Film actresses

2. Ceramics manufacturers

769 251 967 237 837 176 925 136 858 661 666 727 638 193 349 663 122 758 661 276 961 337 291 787 431 266 737 164 686 612

527 423 125 433

522 672 867 917 296 455 127 393 791 788 346 173 346 379 136 743 127 326 379 136 259 273 126 678 783 846 617 483 178 277

919 427 3

5. Workplaces

3. Cakes and pastries

428 328 163 746 483 132 524 712 435 732 128 613 684 468 816 222 766 617 467 827 323 127 263 917 627 178 424 312 288 362

374

866 286 177 746 416 646 612 277 681 928 372 737 712 862 236 165 483 123 537 422 142 323 741 538 882 317 682 861 723 474

123 387 668

6. Salad vegetables and fruits

1[ ] ’ –

2ABC

3DEF

4GHI

5JKL

6MNO

7PQRS

8TUV

9WXYZ

Spaces and any punctuation marksare represented by 1.

Each pair of words has a missing word between them that actsas a link to both (e.g. FRONT – DOOR – MAT). The initial lettersof the six answers (reading downwards) will spell out the nameof an operatic character.

FAST – – – – CHAIN

RIGHT – – – – – – OUT

PLAY – – – – – – FLOOR

HOT – – – FIELD

ACID – – – – DROP

TURN – – – SMART

MISSING LINK

In which year did all three of these significanthistorical events take place?

1. The Hungarian uprising against thecountry’s Soviet satellite government isput down by military force.

2. Pakistan becomes an Islamic Republicwithin the British Commonwealth.

3. Elvis Presley records Heartbreak Hotel inNashville, Tennessee.

WAS IT?a) 1950; b) 1952; c) 1954; d) 1956; e) 1958.

MAKE A DATE

TRANSFORMERAdd the given letter to the first word to make a new word.

Clue: Get level by creating incident.

_ _ _ _ + T = _ _ _ _ T

Accumulator Quiz1 – B; 2 – C; 3 – A; 4 – D; 5 – B; 6 – D; 7 – A; 8 – A; 9 – C; 10 – B; 11 – D; 12 – A; 13 – B; 14 – C; 15 – B.Starspot CrosswordAcross – 1 Kettle; 4 Egoism; 8 Repeal; 10 Limpet; 11 David; 12 Clever; 14 Merger; 16 Rend; 17 Erin; 19 Seat; 22 Bust; 26 Handle; 27 Unease; 28 Paint; 29 Reveal; 30 Grater; 31 Ballad; 32 Hearth.Down – 1 Kirsch; 2 Topper; 3 Leaden; 5 Glider; 6 Impugn; 7 Mature; 9 Lard; 10 Lime; 13 Vexed; 15 Rinse; 18 Cherub; 19 Snivel; 20 Alpaca; 21 Teal; 22 Bung; 23 Untrue; 24 Tatter; 25 Search.Star Name: PETER GABRIEL

Word WizardNo 1 is correct. Sacaton is a type of grass.Dialling Codes1. Vietnamese; Arabic; Malay; Urdu; Turkish; Russian; Tamil; Bengali; Italian; Spanish; Persian; Hindi; Portuguese.2. Royal Worcester; Royal Doulton; Moorcroft; Wedgwood; Carlton; Crown Derby; Susie Cooper; Minton; Clarice Cliff.3. gateau; meringue; eclair; Chelsea bun; doughnut; macaroon; shortbread; brandy snap; quiche; Battenberg.4. Goldie Hawn; Demi Moore; Elizabeth Taylor; Jodie Foster; Julia Roberts; Michelle Pfeiffer; Emma

Thompson.5. laboratory; sawmill; brewery; studio; refinery; forge; creamery; dockyard; construction site; quarry; wharf.6. tomato; spring onion; carrot; watercress; avocado; olive; celeriac; iceberg lettuce; potato; radish; beetroot.Spot CheckA = 1; B = 5; C = 2; D = 4; E = 6; F = 3.Missing Linkfood; inside; ground; air; rain; out. Character: Figaro.Make a DateThe year was 1956.TransformerEven + T = Event.

D1

B2

H3

J4

C5

X6

R7

P8

L9

O10

E11

Z12

U13

K14

M15

N16

S17

Y18

Q19

A20

T21

I22

F23

W24

V25

G26

243675918871329546965481327587296431326514789194837652659148273712953864438762195

742365189835491672619728345567812934983654217421973856154286793278539461396147528

SUDOKU EASYSUDOKU DIFFICULT

CROSS CODE

15181122114

7419

2212296

30922

2122

16

16

6531

13289

42

18859

196

79

245731

8795

KAKURO MEDIUM

Pathwordschocolate; tutti frutti; strawberry; mint; banana; toffee; pistachio; blackcurrant; vanilla; raspberry; coffee; lemon; fudge; orange; watermelon; almond.

ALL THE ANSWERS

EACH number in our Cross Code grid represents a differentletter of the alphabet. You have three letters in the control gridto start you off.Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, thenuse your knowledge of words to work out which letters shouldgo in the missing squares.As you get the letters, fill in other squares with the samenumber in the main grid and control grid. Check off thealphabetical list of letters as you identify them.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14M

15 16 17 18 19 20 21I

22 23 24 25G

26

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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EDUCATION . . . TRAINING . . . JOBS . . .RRIIGGHHTTSS . . . BUSINESS . . .TECHNOLOGY

ONE of the world’s leadingacademic and educationalpublishers is to have its booksmade available in accessibleformats for blind people andthose with learning disabilities.

Cambridge University Press hasentered into a license agreementwith Bookshare, the California-based non-profit organisation thatspecialises in providing books inaccessible formats.

The deal means that disabledpeople around the world will beable to download the books for anominal Bookshare membership

fee and read them using acomputer or other assistivetechnology, with voice generatedby text-to-speech technology, aswell as options for digital Braille.

Kevin Taylor, director of strategyand intellectual property atCambridge, said: “Bookshareenables us to reach individualswith print disabilities in a secureway.

“Until publishers develop andcommercialise accessibleversions of their books forindividuals with print disabilities,Bookshare will provide a valuable

service by maintaining theinfrastructure and bearing theexpense of getting bookssecurely, with appropriate digitalrights management, to thisclientele. We provide the files andBookshare does the rest!”

Jim Fruchterman, boss ofBenetech, the organisation thatoperates Bookshare, said:“Cambridge’s titles expand theinternational content available toour worldwide members - adevelopment of tremendoussignificance.” n www.bookshare.org

A CHANCE to try learning signlanguage and sample sportssuch as boccia and inclusivebadminton were among thehighlights of Mid CheshireCollege’s equality and diversityweek.

Further Education Sports Co-ordinator, Malcolm Tudor said theweek provided all students – withor without disabilities – theopportunity to team up together.

“The feedback from all the

students that took part was great,”he said. “The events allowedeveryone to get involved and trysomething they may have nevertried before.”

As well as a wide-range ofactivities taking place throughoutthe college, there were culturallythemed menus with studentssampling Thai, Italian, Mexican,Moroccan and Hungarian food.

Graphics design students alsoexhibited their posters against

prejudice project – featured earlierthis year in All Together NOW!

Susan Treacy, head of equalityand diversity, said: “The week hashelped our students look at lifefrom a different point of view bygiving them the opportunity totake part in a diverse range ofactivities.

“It has given us all an insight intojust how much diversity there is inthe world and why we shouldembrace it in any way we can.”

Students see life from a different angle

Top academic books in accessible format

AS STUDENTS all over the countryreceive their A Level results andcompetition for university places

increases, it’s essential to know exactly whatto do on the day.

Applying to University – The Essential Guide,helps take the stress out of the equation.

Packed with the latest information and practicaladvice, this book doesn’t just help studentschoose subjects and select universities.

Its easy-to-read style also covers what to do ifyour results are lower than you expected, what todo if your results are better than expected, howto get through clearing and how to defer yourentry.

We have teamed up with publishersNeed2Know to offer TEN lucky readers thechance to win a copy of the guide.

To have a chance of wining just answe thisquestion:Who publishes Applying to University -–TheEssential Guide.

Send your answer, including your name and

address to: University Guide Competition, AllTogether NOW! Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP.

Please remember to tell us where you pickedup your copy of All Together NOW! - and whatyou think of the magazine.You can also email your entry by visiting ourwebsite at www.alltogethernow.org.ukClosing date: Friday, July 23.Applying to University – The Essential Guidecosts £8.99 including postage and is available bycalling 01733 898103 or [email protected]

n Need2Know is the imprint of People’s PublisherForward Press that focuses on overcomingproblems.n Founded by aspiring poet Ian Walton, thecompany’s ethos has always been to act as abridge to publication, rather than a barrier, andgive everyone the opportunity to see their poemsin print.n www.forwardpress.co.uk

Getting touni – theeasy way

WIN! WIN! WIN! We have TEN guides to give away

BREAKTHROUGH UK, the not-for-profit organisation whichspecialises in helping disabledpeople find employment, work-related training or furthereducation, has had its contractfor Liverpool renewed for fouryears.

Breakthrough will aim to findpaid employment for at least 29people and find voluntary work foranother 25. Eight people withlearning difficulties in Knowsleywill also receive support.

Chief executive LorraineGradwell said: “The Liverpoolteam has consistently achievedfantastic results for disabledpeople since it was established in2002.

“The renewal of this contract istestament to its success inhelping disabled peopleovercome the barriers toindependent living, and I’mdelighted that we will now beoffering an enhanced serviceacross Merseyside.”

Breaking news

NEW JOBS’HOPES: LorraineGradwell, chiefexecutive ofBreakthrough UK

wwwwww..aallllttooggeetthheerrnnooww..oorrgg..uukk JJuunnee//JJuullyy 22001100 AAllll TTooggeetthheerr NNOOWW!! 2211

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

Course information:

0151252 3000www.liv-coll.ac.uk

‘ The college has woven an intricate web oflearning opportunities and support ’ Ofsted, March 2009

The report highlights the following key strengths:

� high pass rates on most courses

� outstanding teaching and learning

� innovative and high quality partnership working

� exemplary responsiveness to the needs of thelocal community

� outstanding support for learners

� outstanding management of change by theprincipal and senior leaders

� outstanding curriculum management

� outstanding approach to equality ofopportunity and inclusion.

Liverpool Community College

‘This is anoutstandingcollege’

Summary of Ofsted inspection report, March, 2009

n STUDENTS andstaff at LiverpoolCommunity Collegecelebrated diversityand Adult LearnersWeek with aprogramme ofwide-rangingevents at its fivecity sites –culminating in aglittering awardceremony.

Marie Allen, thecollege’s viceprincipal, said:“LiverpoolCommunity Collegeis at the heart ofthe community andour diversity weekand these awardsrecognise theimpact learning hason people’s lives.

“It was a privilegeto celebrate theachievements of somany amazingpeople.”

Top jobs!DESPITE many

hurdles and lowexpectations, a

report has found peoplewith long-term healthconditions anddisabilities havemanaged to forgesuccessful careers.

And many have carvedout senior positions in theprivate, public andvoluntary sectors.

The report, DoingSeniority Differently,published by nationaldisability charity RADAR,reveals: n A pool of disabledpeople operating at thehighest levels exists with110 earning over £80,000and a further 186 earningfrom £40,000 to £79,999.n The findings contradictexpectations that disabledprofessionals are alreadysuccessful before theybecome disabled.n Over half of therespondents have hadsignificant impairmentssuch as paraplegia,multiple sclerosis and bi-polar disorder for over 20years.n Two facts contributedsignificantly to disabledpeople’s career

progression – mentoringand career-long supportfrom senior managers.

The report also highlightsbarriers and stigma arounddisability and mental healthstill holding disabledpeople back. n 75% of people whocould keep a disability orhealth condition hidden atwork did so ‘sometimes’ or‘always’.n People with mentalhealth conditions werenearly four times morelikely than other disabledpeople to be ‘open’ to noone at work, mainly forfear of being pigeonholed,stereotyped or stoppedfrom progressing.n Non-disabled people arethree times more likelythan disabled people toearn £80,000 or above andtwice as likely to be Board-level directors.

n Employers worried aboutwhat disabled people couldachieve and thereforeunder-estimated ability –and over-estimated therisks of disabled peopledoing particular jobs.n Some disabled peoplehad absorbed lowexpectations about whatthey could aspire to fromteachers or healthprofessionals (one hadbeen warned off the artsas too challenging for adeaf person).

Liz Sayce, chiefexecutive of RADAR andauthor of the report, said:

“The fact that no one hasdone a survey of theirexperiences before inBritain tells a powerfulstory – that expectations ofwhat disabled people canachieve have beenchronically low.

“But that is changing. Weurge Government,employers, HRprofessionals and disabledpeople themselves to learnfrom the disabled highfliers – to raise theirexpectations, to throw offfears and to understandfully that disability is notsynonymous withincompetence.”

Disabledworkers defybarriersand lowexpectations


Check out our 2010 programme of events . . . www.2010healthandwellbeing.org.uk Check out our 2010 programme of events . . . www.2010healthandwellbeing.org.uk

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CONNECT . . . with people around you KEEP LEARNING . . . try something new

EATING well and takingregular exercise are bothimportant for helping you

stay healthy.But to be in really peak condition you

need to think about more than justphysical wellbeing – you need to feelgood too!

Throughout 2010, Year of Health andWellbeing, people in Liverpool and thesurrounding areas are being encouragedto consider some manageable steps theycould take to lead a healthier, happier life.

From now until the end of the year avaried programme of events is takingplace across the city.

You can pick from a whole range ofdifferent activities, including nature walks,reading groups, danceclasses and concerts.

So whatever your age,interest or ability there’ll besomething that appeals toyou.

And if you fill in anevaluation questionnaire at a2010 event, you’ll be enteredinto a quarterly draw to win£100 worth of Liverpool ONE vouchers.

You can view a full calendar of events atwww.2010healthandwellbeing.org.uk

You can also use this website to highlight details of any healthand wellbeing-related events your group or organisation isputting on.

As well as sampling what’s on offer in the 2010 programme,we’d like people to make a special pledge for the year.

Whether you’re an individual, a business, a community groupor a school, you can make a commitment to improve thewellbeing of yourself and those around you.

From taking up a new hobby or spending more time with anelderly neighbour, to joining a local community group ordiscovering a sport you enjoy, there’s something we can all doto improve the way we feel about ourselves.n You can make your pledge online at our website:www.2010healthandwellbeing.org.uk

DURING 2010 we are focusing on theFive Ways to Wellbeing – five simplesteps to improving personal

wellbeing through small, achievablelifestyle changes.

In fact, evidence has shown that by buildingthe five ways into your routine you could addup to 7.5 years to your life.

Just think of it as the mental equivalent ofeating five pieces of fruit or veg each day.

The Five Ways to Wellbeing are:Connect . . . With the people around you.With family, friends, colleagues andneighbours. At home, work, school or in yourlocal community. Think of these as thecornerstones of your life and invest time indeveloping them.Be active . . . Go for a walk or run. Cycle.Play a game. Garden. Dance. Exercisingmakes you feel good. Most importantly,discover a physical activity you enjoy and thatsuits your level of mobility and fitness.Take notice . . . Be curious. Catch sight ofthe beautiful. Remark on the unusual. Noticethe changing seasons. Savour the moment,whether you are walking to work, eating lunchor talking to friends. Be aware of the worldaround you and what you are feeling.Keep learning . . . Try something new.Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for thatcourse. Take on a different responsibility atwork. Fix a bike. Learn to play an instrumentor how to cook your favourite food. Learningnew things will make you more confident aswell as being fun. Give . . . Do something nice for a friend, or astranger. Thank someone. Smile. Volunteeryour time. Join a community group. Look out,as well as in. Seeing yourself, and yourhappiness, linked to the wider community canbe incredibly rewarding and createsconnections with the people around you.

THE Year of Health and Wellbeingis the latest in a series of themedyears created to mark Liverpool’sEuropean Capital of Culturecelebrations.Although 2010 is being overseen

by Liverpool Primary Care Trust(PCT) and Liverpool City Council,a huge range of differentorganisations and businessesare involved in helping ensurethe year has a lasting impact.

Make thisa year toremember

Your feelgood factorIt’s time to lookafter YOU!

BE ACTIVE: Cycling is a greatway to improve your wellbeing


by Beatrice Fraenkelchair, Mersey Care NHS

THE Alzheimer’sResearch Trust haspraised the newCoalition Governmentfor its“groundbreaking”programme for offeringhope to the 820,000people in the UK wholive with dementia.

Rebecca Wood, chiefexecutive of the Trust,said: “Through thisgroundbreakingpledge, the newgovernment hasrecognised the urgencyof Britain’s dementiacrisis.

“The UK plays host tothe world’s finestdementia scientists –responsible for severalbreakthroughs in ourrace for a cure – butthey have sufferedfrom years ofunderfunding.

“Dementia is thegreatest medicalchallenge of our time,costing our economy£23 billion each year.”The Alzheimer’sResearch Trustprovides freeinformation onAlzheimer’s diseaseand related dementias:Tel, 01223 843899 orvisit www.alzheimers-research.org.uk

Parents’ fears

A NEW sex survey is underway to help menwith Multiple Sclerosis.

A spokesperson from the MS Trust charity said:“Sexual problems are a rarely discussed symptomof MS and many men are unaware of treatmentsthat might be available and how to discuss whatthey are experiencing with their partner or with ahealth professional.

“To help us make the contents and design of theresource as helpful as possible, we are askingmen to complete a brief, anonymous survey aboutthe problems they have encountered and how thenew resource might be best presented.”www.mstrust.org.uk

MS sex survey Watch the dietPEOPLE who eat lots of nuts, fish, poultry,salad dressing, tomatoes and greenvegetables, while avoiding high levels of fattydairy products, red meats and butter, appear tobe less likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease

The diets of 2,148 New Yorkers aged 65 orolder were examined over a four-year period. Ofthose, 253 went on to develop Alzheimer’sdisease.

The results of the research suggest aconnection between lower Alzheimer’s risk andhigher intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids,vitamin E and folate.

Diabetes is a HUGEworry for families

Asthma attacks: Do YOU know what to do?

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A NEW home healthscreening kit is beinglaunched in the UKthat enables anyonewith concerns aboutMRSA to testthemselves at home. The Blue HorizonMedicals MRSA HomeScreening Test Kitcontains instructionsand swab equipmentwhich is returneddirect to a laboratoryfor test results withina few days.The MRSA bacteria iscommonly found onhuman skin andmucus and can causedisease - particularlyif there is anopportunity for thebacteria to enter thebody.The kit is priced at£26.45. Contact BlueHorizon Medicals on0844 357 9845

MRSA kit

NINE out of ten adults in the UK would not becompletely confident about what to do if a childhad an asthma attack, according to new researchby the Asthma UK charity.

The lack of awareness about the condition washighlighted by the recent inquest into the death of 11year-old Samuel Linton, from Stockport, who was leftin a corridor at school for several hours aftersuffering an asthma attack.

The inquest found that school staff lacked vitaltraining on how to recognise an asthma attack and

what to do in an emergency situation.Neil Churchill, Asthma UK’s chief executive says: “Everyone needs to know the signs of worsening

asthma and what steps to take if someone suffers anasthma attack. “Not acting quickly enough can resultin needless deaths that shatter lives.

Asthma UK recommends that anyone unsure ofwhat to do in an asthma attack should order anAsthma Attack Card.

Call 0800 121 62 55 or get yours via thewebsite: asthma.org.uk

BETTER psychological support is needed for parentsand their children with diabetes, says a leadinghealth charity.

Parents who worry too much about their children’s diabetesand live in fear of them having hypoglycaemic attacks mighthave a negative effect on their child’sdiabetes control, says Diabetes UK.

A study published in the journalDiabetic Medicine found that parentswho showed high levels of emotionaldistress resulting from their fear ofhypoglycaemia had children with higherblood glucose levels. Potential long-term complications of poorly-manageddiabetes include heart disease, stroke,amputation, blindness and kidneydisease. The parents’ fear was alsoassociated with higher frequency ofproblematic hypoglycaemic episodes inthe past year.

Researchers in Norway, followed 200parents of 115 children with Type 1diabetes aged 1-15 years old.

n Hypoglycaemia (or a ‘hypo’)occurs when the level ofglucose in the blood falls toolow. If left untreated theperson having a hypo might,eventually, becomeunconscious.n Warning signs often includefeeling shaky, sweating,tingling in the lips, going pale,heart pounding, confusion andirritability.

Mothers of children with diabetesreported higher levels of fear thanfathers and parents who reportedan additional disease or mentaldisorder in their child also hadmore fear of hypoglycaemia thanparents of children without anadditional disease.

The study showed that parentswere more likely to use

inappropriate behaviour to avoidhypoglycaemia if their child usedinjections to control their diabetesrather than an insulin pump.

Dr Iain Frame, Director ofResearch at Diabetes UK said“Having a child diagnosed withdiabetes has major implications fora family. It can be a worrying time

and therefore it is crucial that thechild and their parents haveaccess to psychological support.

Although diabetes is a seriouscondition, it is also important toremember that having diabetesdoes not prevent a child fromhaving a normal, happychildhood.”

WHAT ISA HYPO?

NEEDLE TIME: Children withType 1 diabetes need dailyinjections of insulin

IT WAS good to see widespreadinterest and celebration of the40th anniversary of government

legislation that sought to changethe lives of disabled people.

Britain’s legislation was the first inthe world to recognise and give rightsto people with disabilities and morelaws and safeguards since that timehave contributed to equal opportunityand inclusion in so many ways, notleast within health and social caresettings.

BBC Radio Merseyside ran a seriesof programmes and I was pleasedthat during a studio debate intolearning disabilities, exploring issuessuch as access and inclusion, thatMersey Care was able to advocatefor better training, education andunderstanding among its healthpartners and the wider community.

A number of staff from our specialistlearning disability service talkedabout how the NHS can, using ourexperience and knowledge, make areal difference to the lives of patientswith a learning disability who want toaccess generic services, be it GPsurgeries or a hospital admission.

Down’s syndromeand dementia

For instance, Health Action Planshave been rolled out to localhospitals which spell out clear andspecific needs of each individualpatient so that busy nurses anddoctors do not make assumptionsbased on a norm.

Another of our projects seeks toaddress the wide-ranging healthneeds of people with Down’ssyndrome who develop dementia, arelatively new but growing issue aslife expectancy increases.

Only by listening to people can youthen act and it was good that JohnBooker, a man with Asperger’ssyndrome, spoke about his own“hidden disability.”

We welcome any debate that raisesawareness around these and otherissues relating to learning disabilityand mental ill-health – but wouldn’t itbe good if everyone saw these aspart and parcel of everyday life andtruly included in the mainstream.

Perhaps after 40 years we’ve stillgot some way to go before we getthere.


SKIN cancer patients livingin Wirral and across theNorth West will benefit from

the launch of a new specialistskin cancer service and theappointment of a surgeon skilledin this field.

Dr Olga Kerr leads the new Mohssurgery service at ClatterbridgeHospital, dealing with difficult skincancers. It will be the regionalservice for Merseyside, Cheshireand North Wales.

Mohs surgery, developed by DrFrederick Mohs, Professor ofSurgery at Wisconsin University,forms an important part of theNational Institute of ClinicalExcellence guidelines for themanagement of skin cancer.

“Mohs surgery is now widelyregarded as the gold standard

treatment for the total removal ofdifficult skin cancers,” explained DrKerr.

“Therefore this is an excitingservice development for the Trustand one which will bring significantbenefits to our patients.

“It is highly specialised,

microscopically controlled surgerythat is used to treat difficult skincancers. It is much more precisethan traditional methods and leadsto significantly smaller areas ofsurgical scarring and completeremoval of tumours.

“It has an extremely high cure rateand importantly it can be carried outin just one session, meaning thatpatients do not have to attend forrepeat appointments.”

Dr Kerr is one of only a smallnumber of doctors in the country tohave trained as a Mohs surgeonand general dermatologist and isone of the only female Mohssurgeons in the UK.n Clatterbridge Hospital ismanaged by Wirral UniversityTeaching Hospital NHSFoundation Trust.

ANORTH-WESTmental health Trusthas scooped two

prestigious awards at anational healthcareceremony.

Cheshire and WirralPartnership NHSFoundation Trust (CWP)won the coveted ‘PatientInvolvement Award’ andachieved the runner-upprize for ‘PartnershipWorking’, at the HealthcareQuality ImprovementPartnership national clinicalaudit awards 2010 at TheBelfry in the WestMidlands.

The first award, aimed athighlighting examples ofexcellence and innovationwithin clinical audit, went toCWP for acknowledging thecommunication needs oflearning disability serviceusers and involving them in

recording and mappingtheir experiences in anaccessible way.

Sheena Cumiskey, CWP’schief executive, said: “I’mextremely proud of the staffwithin the organisationwhose continueddetermination to provide thebest possible service forour users is the reason forthis success.

“The ‘Patient InvolvementAward’ is recognition of thefantastic can-do attitude of

our staff, but in particularthose providing learningdisability support.”

The Trust’s intensivehome treatment team,alongside NHS WesternCheshire, were alsoannounced as runner-up for‘Partnership Working’ bydeveloping a service thataddresses the issue ofcrisis intervention for olderpeople with dementia.

Ms Cumiskey added: “Our dementia services

are a credit to us as aTrust.

“Our staff consistentlydemonstrate ourorganisational values ofcare, well-being andpartnership in everythingthey do. Both accreditationsrecognise good practiceand high quality standardsof existing services on anational scale.”

New skin cancer service

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NORTH WEST Air Ambulance is looking forenthusiastic individuals to join them on their firstoverseas challenge to the Great Wall of China.

They are offering places to individuals whocommit to raising a minimum of £2,500. Flights,accommodation and meals are all included.

The trip, from March 26 to April 3 next year,includes:

Six days of trekking, taking in breathtakingscenery through watchtowers and battlements.

Helping to repair the wall on a watchtower, whereyour brick will ensure your place in history.

Conquering the 1,000 steps at Mutinayu – not forthe faint-hearted!

This year North West Air Ambulance needs toraise £3.9 million to fund the service of twohelicopters.

All participants will receive a T-shirt, training tips,fundraising advice, sponsor forms and professionalsupport on the trek.n Call Louise Lin-Hawkins, 0151 547 7844

Up the Wall?

n CWP is looking fornew members.n If you would like toshow your support,contact themembership team on01244 397411, [email protected] or visit the websiteat www.cwp.nhs.uk


Neurologicalinfo eventat Walton

Lounge gets SEAL of approvalANEW state-of-the-art unit that will

enhance the care of patientsundergoing planned surgical

procedures has opened at Arrowe ParkHospital.

The £1.3m Surgical Elective AdmissionsLounge (SEAL), incorporating a pre-operativeassessment facility, has welcomed its firstpatients.

Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHSFoundation Trust, which manages the hospital,expects that the lounge will improve theexperience of patients before surgery as it hastwo separate and distinctive functions – asurgical admissions lounge and a pre-operative assessment service.

Elaine Fessey, SEAL Manager at the Trust,said: “We are proud that the SEAL offersfacilities for our patients that are on a par withthe very best in the region.

“Creating a pre-operative assessment facilityallows us to provide greater continuity of carefor our patients. It means that the team that

meets a patient in their assessment andexplains the planned treatment would also bethe same team that provides the care on theday that they are admitted.

“This will help to reassure patients andreduce their stress and anxiety levels prior tosurgery.”

AN event for people andcarers affected byneurological conditions isbeing held in Liverpool.

The Merseyside andCheshire Governors of theWalton Centre NHSFoundation Trust are askingthe public to come along tofind out more about thework under way there andto hear their opinions of thehospital – the UK’s onlyspecialist neurological NHSFoundation Trust.

A host of neurologicalcharities and other healthorganisations will also bethere including MerseysideRegional EpilepsyAssociation; Parkinson’sUK; Alzheimer’s Society;Headway; StrokeAssociation; Motor NeuroneDisease Association; MSSociety; Huntingdon’sDisease Association;Liverpool LINk;Neurosupport.

The event takes place atthe Clinical SciencesBuilding on the UniversityHospital Aintree site (nextdoor to the Walton Centre)on Thursday, June 24,between 4.30pm and 7pm

St HELENS and Whiston Hospitals Trusthas been named in the top 40 chart for thequality of healthcare at both of its hospitals.

CHKS, the UK ‘s leading independentprovider of healthcare intelligence and qualityimprovement services, compile their chart byevaluating key performance indicators in theareas of safety, clinical effectiveness, health

outcomes, efficiency, patient experience, andquality of care.

Chief executive Ann Marr said:“We are delighted to be named as one of the

top performing Trusts in the country. Thishighlights our outstanding performance indelivering excellent patient care and is a tributeto the hard work and commitment of our staff.”

James Coles, Director of Research, CHKS,said:

“We are delighted that both St Helens andWhiston Hospitals are in our 40 Top Hospitalsfor 2010. These awards recognise outstandingperformance in 21 areas which we believe arecritical to delivering good patient care.”

Quality care earns hospitals top 40 spot

n NHS North West iskeen to hear fromreaders about yourexperiences of NHSservices.n They also want anyideas or suggestionsthat could improvetreatment and carefor others.n Please send yourcomments to:CommunicationsTeam, FREEPOST,NHS North West, 3Piccadilly Place,Central Manchester,M1 3BN

TELL USYOURVIEWS

PupilsfromPrentonHighSchoolwithgovernorsBernieHowden,JoyceJacksonandRichardAgar atthe newSEAL unit

ART projects have the potential to boostpsychological well-being and reduce anxiety anddepression.

That’s the finding of Dr Asiya Siddiquee who waspresenting her research at the BritishPsychological Society’s annual conference.

In a new take on this topic, the research focusedon people engaged in community art projects inthe North-West.

Dr Siddiquee and colleagues from the ResearchInstitute for Health and Social Change, ManchesterMetropolitan University, studied people involved ina diverse range of artistic activities such ascreative writing, photography and dance.

Across the projects there was a significantincrease in mental health, and improvements inanxiety and depression.

Participants’ feelings of being capable ofcontrolling their lives, their autonomy, and senseof purpose in life were also significantly enhanced.

A variety of people took part in the research,including those with mental health problems, theelderly and hospital staff.

The research indicates that community artsprojects play a significant role in addressingmental health and well-being.

Art is good for usArt is good for us- and that’s official- and that’s official

A NEW 10 bed in-patient eatingdisorder unit has opened atSpringview Hospital in Clatterbridge.

Both adults and young people from theage of 16 years with eating disorders willbe supported by the service, provided byCheshire and Wirral Partnership NHSFoundation Trust (CWP).

Val McGee, deputy director ofoperations, says: “It’s estimated that

over a million people in the UK have aneating disorder. CWP has beenproviding services to patients for over 15years and are currently the only NHSprovider of specialist in-patient care foreating disorders in the region.

“Oaktrees unit will ensure that peoplesuffering with an eating disorder haveaccess to the specialist care andtreatment they need.”

Eating disorder unit opensWINNING SMILES: Sheena Cumiskey, centre, and colleagues


. . . with JAN LOCKYER

n BLACKBURNIndependent Living Centre,Mill Hill St,Mill Hill, Blackburn.Tel. 01254 269 220n ELLESMERE PORTPool Independent LivingCentre, New GrosvenorRoad.Tel. 0151 337 6399n HALTONCollier Street, Runcorn.Tel. 01928 582 920n HANDFORTHEast Cheshire IndependentLiving Centre, RedsmereRoad, HandforthTel. 01625 374080n HARTFORDHartford IndependentLiving Centre, HartfordBusiness Park, ChesterRoad, Hartford, NantwichTel. 01605 881980n LIVERPOOLDisabled Living Centre,Lifehouse, Summers Road,Brunswick Business Park,Liverpool.Tel. 0151 296 7742Minicom 0151 296 7748n MANCHESTERAssist UK,4 St Chads Street,Manchester.Tel. 0161 834 1044n STOCKPORTSt Thomas’s Hospital,Shawheath, Stockport.Tel. 0161 419 4476n WARRINGTONBeaufort Street,Warrington.Tel. 01925 240064n WILMSLOWRedesmere Road.Tel. 01625 374080n WIRRALSt Catherine’s Hospital,Birkenhead.Tel. 0151 678 7272

MIDLANDSn BIRMINGHAM StMarks Street, Springhill.Tel. 0121 464 4942/9525n DUDLEY St GilesStreet, Netherley. Tel. 01384 813 695n SHREWSBURY TheLantern, Meadow FarmDrive. Tel. 01743 210820n WOLVERHAMPTONBell Street. Tel. 01902 553 648

DID YOU know there are over 20,000products designed to assist older anddisabled people on the market?

If you need equipment to help youstay independent how do you makethe right choice?

Disabled Living Centres provideindependent information and adviceand the opportunity to see and try a

vast range of products with the aid ofexpert advisors

From beds to bath aids, showers tostair lifts, local Disabled LivingCentres provide equipment infohelplines.

So for information on equipment andhow to get it contact your localDisabled Living Centre. Many

products can be provided free on loanthrough local Community EquipmentServices.

All Together Now! has teamed upwith Liverpool Disabled Living Centreto help readers of all ages andabilities stay independent. If you havea question contact the team on 0151296 7742. Minicom: 0151 296 7748.

20,000 ways to help you remain independent Help onthe line

Site for all eyes

In the summer of 2007 the following services moved to Lifehouse:an accessible, newly renovated building at Brunswick Dock.

Wheelchair Service 0151 296 7765 Fax: 0151 296 7764

Disabled Living Centre 0151 296 7742 Fax: 0151 296 7743

Moving and Handling Team 0151 296 7750 Fax: 0151 296 7749

Communication Aids 0151 296 7408 Fax: 0151 296 7764

Adaptations Team 0151 296 7757 Fax: 0151 296 7758

Falls Team 0151 296 7769

Lifehouse is a new approach to providing services for disabled and olderpeople in Liverpool. Having all these services under one roof will improveaccessibility.

Services will be able to work together to provide the independent information,advice and practical assessment people need to make the right choices aboutequipment. The existing services will be joined by others which will greatlyincrease the range of information and advice available.

LifehouseUnits 4–5 Dempster BuildingSummers Road, Brunswick Business ParkLiverpool L3 4BLMain Reception: 0151 296 7733www.liverpoollifehouse.org

Lifehouse is a new approach to providing services for disabled andolder people in Liverpool.

All these teams are now under one roof, working together toprovide the information and advice people need to be as safe andindependent as possible .

For further information call the service you require or visit a Lifehouse Open Day

Wheelchair Service Tel: 0151 296 7765Assessment for and provision of wheelchairs for people who live in Liverpool.

Disabled Living Centre Tel: 0151 296 7742 Minicom: 0151 296 7744Independent information, assessment and advice on choosing daily living equipment and how to get it.

Moving and Handling Team Tel: 0151 296 7750Practical advice for disabled people and their carers on moving and handling people.

Communication Aids Tel: 0151 296 7408Assessment and provision of communication aids for people who live in Liverpool.

Adaptations Team Tel: 0151 296 7757Installation of adaptations to safely assist people in managing in their own home.

Falls Team Tel: 0151 296 7769A multidisciplinary team providing practical advice and assessment for people who have fallen.

Telecare service Tel: 0151 296 7733Advice, assessment and installation of Telecare equipment.

LifehouseUnits 4–5 Dempster BuildingSummers Road, Brunswick Business ParkLiverpool L3 4BLMain Reception: 0151 296 7733www.liverpoollifehouse.org

0151 296 7748

0151 296 7782

ifehouseLifehouse

For further information call the service you require or contact our main reception for alist of Open Days.ifehouseLifehouse

WHEN trying to come up with ideas and solutionsto help people to retain – or regain – theirindependence, lots of care workers log on to

the Disabled Living Foundation’s excellent online adviceand information service.

Now, thanks to a whopping £182,741 grant from the BigLottery Fund, the website is about to be revamped with theaim of becoming a one-stop shop for anyone seekingimpartial advice on daily living aids.

Already on the site are plenty of examples of bathing aids,children’s equipment, kitchen gadgets and stairlifts.

The new funding means there will soon be information andhelp about toileting, eating and drinking, and communicationaids.

www.livingmadeeasy.org.ukn WHILE this is great news for internet browsers, there isnothing better than actually seeing and trying a gadget orpiece of equipment. Contact your local Disabled LivingCentre to see if they have something available that you cantry. See our list of DLCs on the right hand side of this page.

QI FIND it reallyfrustrating trying tofind clothing that is

fashionable, functional andfits.

AFROM the enquiries wereceive at LiverpolDisabled Living Centre’s

Information Service we knowthat many people havedifficulty finding clothing thatworks for them.

We’ve compiled a list of localtailors and dressmakers whowill make or adapt clothing andcan send you information onthe growing range of suppliersof adaptive clothing.

The Disabled LivingFoundation also publishes a

range of fact sheets on clothingfor people with different needs.

You can view these on line atwww.dlf.org.uk or call thecentre on 0151 296 7742 andwe’ll send you a free copy.

Rackety’s, supplier of theTanniandAnni range of clothingdeveloped by ParalympianDame Tanni Grey-Thompsonand designer Anni McMahon,want to find out more about thesubject of dressing when youlive with a disability.

Anni says: “The obviousplace to start is by asking thepeople who do it every day.”

So if you would be interestedin becoming part of Rackety’sclothing research projectcontact Anni on 01538 381430

QI HAVE just startedusing a three-wheeled walker to

get out and about. It’sgreat and helps me totravel much greaterdistances than before.

However, because I needboth hands to told andsteer the walker I can’tcarry anything. Any ideas?

ASOME three-wheeledwalkers have a traydesigned as an

accessory for that specificmodel.

Call your local DisabledLiving Centre with details ofyour model and they will beable to find out if a tray isavailable.

Wire baskets and vinylbags can also help. Theyhave to be removed whenfolding your walker but thereis a drinks tray that can beleft in place.

This attaches to either sideof the walker and has roomfor a cup, a glass andtablets. If your walker wasprovided by a CommunityEquipment Service you maybe able to get a tray, basketor bag free.

LOOKING for a gift for someone whois deaf or who has a hearingimpairment?

Ten get hold of a copy of the new Solutionscatalogue from RNID, the largest charityworking with hearing loss and hearing health.

One of the new products featured is thegroundbreaking Bellman Domino, an elitelistening device that delivers crystal clear

stereo sound without background noise.The system consists of a transmitter and a

receiver and the units have been designed tofit comfortably into the palm of a hand.For a copy of the catalogue contact RNIDProducts Customer Services, tel 01733361199, Textphone 01733 238020, [email protected] or order a copy onlineat www.rnid.org.uk/hearingsolutions

Clothing that suits

Gift ideas for your deaf friends

Site for all eyes

03/09/SD/3604

If you live on your own, have a smallfamily, or live in a house with a highrateable value, it is worthconsidering a water meter. And thebest news is that United Utilitieswill fit one FREE of charge.“If you don’t have a water meter

your bill is calculated on therateable value of your property,”said Simon Wilmot, MeteringManager at United Utilities.“This means that you are charged a

fixed rate every year, regardless ofhow much water you use.“For some customers this will be

the preferred option as you knowexactly how much your bill will befor the year and you can budgetaccordingly.“However, if you live on your own

or in a house with a high rateablevalue it is worth considering a watermeter as you may be able to reduceyour water bill.”If you have access to the internet,

United Utilities has an interactivecalculator that shows instantly ifyou could save money on your waterbill if you switched to a meter.“A lot of customers are put off

switching to a meter because theyare unsure if they will make asaving,” said Simon. “However, by

answering a few simple questionsabout how you use water in thehome and garden, you can find outwhat your bill could be with a watermeter.”You can access this calculator

by visiting:www.unitedutilities.com/metersand click on the section headed 'I amconsidering a water meter'.“Another thing to consider,” said

Simon, “is that if you are not happywith your charges after the meterhas been installed you have up to 13months to switch back to how weused to charge you for your water.So you really have nothing to lose.”Even if you live in a property with

communal facilities, United Utilitiesmay still be able to install a watermeter. However, this will be subjectto discussions between ourselvesand your landlord to put agreementsin place regarding billing andpipework arrangements.You can apply for a water meter

via our websitewww.unitedutilities.com/metersor by calling 0845 303 7744.Alternatively order an information

pack from our leaflet request line on0845 303 7711.

You couldbe betteroff witha watermeter

More people areswitching to watermeters in the NorthWest – and aremaking a saving ontheir water bills as aresult.

Help for householdcustomers with a meterusing large amounts ofwater for essential purposesIf you already have a meter fittedat your property, but have highwater bills due to having a largefamily or because you or a memberof the household has a medicalcondition which results in the useof significant amounts of water,then wemay be able to help.Our WaterSure scheme ensures

that your water charges arecapped at the same amount as theaverage household water bill(which this year is £378). So evenif you have to use a lot of water,your bill is never more than thatfor the average customer.To be eligible for the scheme you

or someone in your householdmust be in receipt of certainbenefits. To find out more, orderour WaterSure information packby telephoning our 24-hour leafletrequest line on 0845 303 7711 orvisit our website:www.unitedutilities.com/watersure

To find out more call 0845 746 1100or textphone 0808 143 1195

Need a littleExtraCare?We offer a range of free services to help customers who:• are older• have a disability• have a serious illness• have sight, hearing or learning difficultiesOur services include:• password scheme• personal notification of water shut-offs• large print, Braille and talking bills

If you already have a meter fittedat your property, but have highwater bills due to having a largefamily or because you or a memberof the household has a medicalcondition which results in the useof significant amounts of water,then we may be able to help.Our WaterSure scheme ensures

that your water charges arecapped at the same amount as theaverage household water bill(which this year is £378). So evenif you have to use a lot of water,your bill is never more than thator the average customer.To be eligible for the scheme you

or someone in your householdmust be in receipt of certainbenefits. To find out more, orderour WaterSure information packby telephoning our 24-hour leafletrequest line on 0845 303 7711 orvisit our website:unitedutilities.com/watersure

If you live on your own, have a smallfamily, or live in a house with a highrateable value, it’s worthconsidering a water meter. And thebest news is that United Utilitieswill fit one inside your home FREE ofcharge.

“If you don’t have a water meteryour bill is calculated on therateable value of your property,”said Neil Harper, meteringspecialist at United Utilities.

“This means that you’re charged afixed rate every year, regardless ofthe amount of water you use.

“Some customers may prefer this,as you’ll know exactly how much your bill will be for the year and can budget accordingly.

“But if you live on your ownor in a house with a high rateablevalue it’s worth considering a watermeter as you may be able to reduceyour water bill.”

“You might be put off switching to a meter if you’re unsure whetheryou’ll make a saving,” said Neil.

“There’s a calculator on our website

that shows instantly if you could save money on your water bill if youswitched to a meter. By answering afew simple questions on how you usewater in your home and garden, youcan find out what your bill could be witha water meter.”

The calculator is at:unitedutilities.com/meters

If you’re not happy with your charges after the meter has been installed, youhave up to 13 months to switch back tohow you used to be charged.

If you live in a property with sharedcommunal facilities, United Utilities maystill be able to install a water meter.This is subject to us reaching agree-ment with your landlord about billingand pipework.

You can apply for a water meteronline at: unitedutilities.com/metersor by calling 0845 303 7744.

Or order an information pack from ourleaflet request line on 0845 303 7711.



35%

I N S U R I N G Y O U R I N D E P E N D E N C E

Monday-Friday 9.00-5.00. Terms and conditions apply. Fish Administration is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Telephone calls may be monitored or recorded for security and training purposes. Fish Insurance is a trading style of Fish Administration Ltd. Registered in England No. 4214119

FREEPHONE 0500 432141

If you’re disabled driver you can drive a better deal with Fish Insurance. As the UK’s leading disability and Independent Living insurance

specialist, we know a disabled driver is a safer driver.

That’s why you can enjoy savings of up to 35% and take advantage of car insurance specifically designed for disabled drivers, including

wheelchair accessible and specially adapted vehicles.

So if you are disabled or drive for a disabled person, whether the vehicle is modified or not you can put the brakes on costly car insurance!

3130_Motor Ad 100x135.indd 1 24/9/08 11:27:59

Tell 250,000 readers about your products and servicesCall 0151 230 0307


it changedour lives!

Before joining the Scheme, it wasdifficult to get around but now Iam able to do a lot of things I wasstruggling to do before.

NNaammiikk OOzzttuurrkk

““

freephone 0800 093 1000 (MO157N)

or visit www.motability.co.uk for further details

Come and meet us at Disability Awareness Dayat Walton Hall Gardens, Warrington Sunday 11 July 2010

Registered Charity No. 299745

where will yours take you?use your mobility allowance to get mobile...

Simply exchange it for an all-inclusive worry-free mobility package, including:• New car, powered wheelchair or scooter• Insurance• Servicing and repairs• Tyres• Breakdown cover

7141_ALL_TOGETHER_ADVERT:Layout 1 18/5/10 10:35 Page 1

Road toTHERE’S good news

for disabled peoplelooking for a new

car this summer – withmore affordable makesand models availablefrom Motability than everbefore.

More than 300 cars areavailable with no advancepayment, and there aremany popular adaptationsincluded at no additionalcost.

The summer offersinclude:n A choice of over 4,000cars from 37manufacturers.n Over 460 low emissionoptions.n More than 70 automaticmodels available at niladvance payment.n A huge choice of over360 adaptations.n All models from Vauxhalland Mitsubishi now alsojoin Ford in offeringparking sensors fitted asstandard to cars leasedthrough Motability.

Mike Betts, chiefexecutive of MotabilityOperations, said: “Therecent stabilisation of thecar market meansMotability is able to passon more savings to ourcustomers.

“Not only have wefocused on loweringprices, but we’ve also

worked to include morefeatures, such asadaptations, included inthe cost.

“There is fantastic choiceacross a huge range oflarger cars, automatics anddiesels to ensure the exactcar, regardless of budget,mobility or lifestyle is asaffordable as possible.”

Highlights of the currentMotability price guide, allavailable with no advancepayment until the end ofJune, include:n Ford Fiesta 1.4 96 Zetecwith rear parking sensors.n Skoda Yeti 1.2 TSI SHyundai i30 1.6CRDiComfort.n Nissan Qashqai 1.5dCiAcenta.n Renault Grand Scenic1.5dCi 106 Dynamiquewith Carminat TomTom SatNav.n Vauxhall Insignia2.0CDTi Exclusiv with frontand rear parking sensorsn Seat Ibiza 1.4TDI

Ecomotive with low CO2emissions of 98g per km.

Other great value optionsinclude the prestigiousAudi A3 1.6 at £499advance payment, thesturdy Peugeot 30081.6HDI Active at just £199advance payment, and theseven-seater VolkswagenTouran 1.9TDI 105 S for£299 advance payment.

On the WheelchairAccessible Vehicle front,there are more than 600options with advancepayments from £395.

Models such as theNemo Multispace 1.4HDi70 from Allied Vehicles, theKangoo Extreme 1.6 fromAspect Conversions andthe Combo 1.3CDTi TourEZT from GowringsMobility, are all available at£395 advance payment.

The new price list seesthe scope of adaptationsavailable at no extra costincrease to 125.

For example push/pullhand controls withindicator switches can befitted at no extra cost.There have also beensignificant price reductionson wheelchair stowagesystems, swivel seats andelectronic accelerators.

Order the adaptations atthe time of ordering a carand it will be delivered withthem installed.

Accessibleaffordable-and loadsof choice

n ANYONE who receives theHigher Rate Mobility Componentof the Disability Living Allowanceor the War Pensioners’ MobilitySupplement (currently around£50 a week) can transfer theirallowance as a simple monthlypayment to Motability, inexchange for a new car.n Cars that have an advancepayment require one simple,upfront payment.Motability’s worry-free motoringpackage includes insurance,servicing and maintenance andfull RAC breakdown assistance.n There’s also a motoring

allowance of 60,000 miles overthree years as well as tyre andwindscreen replacement.n Around 550,000 disabledpeople and their families in theUK are currently enjoying thechoice and value on offer fromMotability.n The new prices apply until theend of June.n Motability, Goodman House,Station Approach, Harlow, Essex,CM20 2ET. Helpline 0845 456 4566 (voice),01279 632273 (text).www.motability.co.uk

Do you qualify for a car?


n Wrightington Mobility Centre,Hall Lane, Appley Bridge, Wigan,WN6 9EP. Tel. 01257 256409.www.mobility-centre.org.ukn The North Wales DrivingAssessment Centre, DisabilityResources Centre, Glan ClwydHospital, Bodelwyddan,Denbighshire.Tel. 01745 584858.n Regional Driving AssessmentCentre, Unit 11, Network Park,Duddeston Mill Road, Birmingham.Tel. 0845 3371540.n Motability, Goodman House,Station Approach, Harlow, Essex,CM20 2ET. Helpline 0845 456 4566 (voice),01279 632273 (text).www.motability.co.ukn National Association of Bikerswith a Disability, Unit 20, TheBridgewater Centre, RobsonAvenue, Urmston, Manchester,Tel. 0870 759 0603.www.nabd.org.ukn Disabled MotorcyclistsAssociation, Ada House, 77Thompson Street, Manchester,M4 5FY. Tel. 0161 214 8314, 07947 138303.www.thedma.org.uk

CONTACTS

FREEDOM!

QI AM of short stature and so I sitvery close to the steering wheelwhen I’m driving. I have

therefore always switched off thedriver’s airbag as I believed it was morelikely to cause me greater injury if itwas deployed. However, I’m now notsure if I’m doing the right thing – andI’m also worried that by doing this Imay be breaking the law.

ATHE Department for Transport say itis not illegal to turn off an airbag asthere is no legal requirement for

cars to have them.Airbags inflate very quickly with a

considerable amount of force which cansometimes cause relatively minor injuries,but serious or fatal injuries can be causedif an occupant is too close to an airbagwhen it inflates.

In your case it may be safer to switch itoff – but it is best to seek professionaladvice from a mobility centre who may beable to advise you of some equipmentwhich will enable you to sit further backfrom the wheel. n Freephone 0800 559 3636 or visitwww.mobility-centres.org.uk

QI RECENTLY received a PenaltyCharge Notice (PCN) for failingto display my Blue Badge. I

appealed to the local authority, statingthat my car was taxed in the ‘Disabled’class but still had to pay the fine. Is thisfair?

AWHEN using the parkingconcessions you must display thebadge on the dashboard or facial

panel, where it can be clearly read throughthe front windscreen. The front of thebadge should face upwards, showing thewheelchair symbol.

If you receive High Rate MobilityComponent Disability Living Allowance orWar Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement youcan apply for exemption from VehicleExcise Duty (VED) and your car would beregistered in the disabled class.

But remember: the Blue Badge is for aperson and can be taken from vehicle tovehicle to obtain the concessions,whereas the road tax exemption is specificfor a single vehicle.

So it could be possible that if the vehiclewas being used by another person, but forthe benefit of the disabled person, thedriver might not have a Blue Badge. In thiscase the Civil Enforcement Officer wouldbe quite right to issue a PCN.

A number of local authorities areincreasingly only granting parkingconcessions to vehicles taxed in thedisabled class.

HHOOTT SSTTUUFFFFDeals galore onmany new modelsSUMMER STUNNERS: Right, the Seat Ibiza. Below, fromleft, Nissa Qashqai Acenta, Renault Grand Scenic,Hyundai i30, and the Skoda Yeti — all available Motability

VROOM, VROOMn MOBILISE, thenational disabilitymotoring charity, has teamed up withAll Together NOW! to provide readerswith a tip-top motoring news andinformation service.n For full details of membership

including members’concessions contact:

Mobilise Organisation, NationalHeadquarters, Ashwellthorpe, Norwich,NR16 1EX. Tel: 01508 489449. Email:[email protected]


SHOPMOBILITY CARERS’CENTRES

Email your news to us at [email protected] .uk

HELP AT THE END OF A PHONE

nACCRINGTON Tel 01254 387 444

n BLACKBURN with DARWENTel 01254 688www.bwdcarers.org

n BLACKPOOLBlackpool Borough

Council,Tel 01253 477 716

nCUMBRIACarlisle. Tel 01228 542 156

Penrith.Tel 01768 890 280

Barrow-in-Furness. Tel 01229 822 822

Kendal. Tel 01539 732 927

Whitehaven,Tel 01946 592 223

n CHESHIRE Helpline: 0800 085 0307

nKNOWSLEYTel 0151 549 1412

n LANCASTER Tel 01524 66475

nLIVERPOOLTel 0151 705 2307

n MANCHESTER Tel 0161 835 2995

n MORECAMBE Tel 01524 833456

n PRESTON Tel 01772 200173

n RUNCORN Tel 01928 580182

n WIDNES Tel 0151 257 7767

n SALFORD Tel 0161 833 0217

n SEFTON Tel 0151 288 6060

n ST HELENS Tel 01744 675 615

n STOCKPORTTel 0161 456 2808

n WARRINGTON Tel 01925 644 212

n WEST LANCS Tel 01695 733737

n WIGAN & LEIGH Tel 01942 683711

MIDLANDSn BIRMINGHAMTel 0121 675 8000n SOLIHULLTel 0121 788 1143n WALSALLTel 01922 610 810

NORTH WALESn ANGLESEY

Tel 01248 722828n BANGOR

Tel 01248 370 797n CONWY

Tel 01492 533714n DENBIGHSHIRE:NEWCIS,

Tel: 0845 603 3187nDOLGELLAU

Tel 01341 421167n FLINTSHIRE: NEWCIS,

Tel: 01352 751436

n ALTRINCHAM. Tel 0161 9291714n ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE. Tel0161 339 9500n BARROW. Tel 01229 434039n BIRKENHEAD. Tel 0151 6476162n BLACKBURN ANDDARWEN. Tel 01254 690566 or07757 502217n BLACKPOOL. Tel 01253 349427 n BOLTON. Tel 01204 392946n BURY. Tel 0161 764 9966n CARLISLE. Tel 01228625950n CHESTER. Tel 01244 312626n CHORLEY. Tel 01257 260888n COLWYN BAY. Tel 01492533822n CREWE. Tel 01270 580 031n ELLESMERE PORT. Tel 0151355 1420n KENDAL. Tel 01539 740 933n LEIGH, Wigan. Tel 01942 777985 n LIVERPOOL. Tel 0151 7070877n MANCHESTER TraffordCentre. Tel 0161 747 8046n MANCHESTER ArndaleCentre. Tel 0161 839 4060n NELSON. Tel 01282 692 502n NORTHWICH, Vale Royal Tel01606 353525n ORMSKIRK, WestLancashire Tel 01695 570055n OSWESTRY. Tel 01691656882n PENRITH. Tel 01768 895 438n PRESTON. Tel 01772 204667n RHYL. Tel 01745 350665n ROCHDALE. Tel 01706 865986n RUNCORN, Halton Lea Tel01928 717445n SHREWSBURY. Tel 01743236900n SOUTHPORT. Tel 01704 546654n ST HELENS. Tel 01744 613388n STOCKPORT. Tel 0161 6661100n WARRINGTON. Tel 01925231941n WARRINGTON. BirchwoodTel 01925 822 411n WIGAN. Tel 01942 776 070n WINSFORD. Tel 01606557550n WREXHAM. Tel 01978312390

MIDLANDSn BIRMINGHAM. Snow HillRailway Station. Tel 0121 2368980. Level 2, Centre CarPark, Bullring. Tel 0121 6162942n STAFFORD. Tel 01785619456n STOKE ON TRENT. Tel01782 233333n SUTTON COLDFIELD. Tel0121 355 1112n TAMWORTH. Tel, 01827709392 n WALSALL. Tel 01922 650781n WEST BROMWICH:Sandwell. Tel 0121 553 1943n WOLVERHAMPTON. Tel01902 556021

nANGLESEY: TARAN Tel 01407 721933

nBLACKPOOL Disability Information and Support. Tel 01253 472 202. Textphone 01253 476 450

nCHESHIRE Dis Federation Tel 01606 888400

nCHESTER Dial House Tel 01244 345655

nDENBIGHSHIRE Tel 01745 354445

nELLESMERE PORT DICETel 0151 355 1420

nHALTON Disability Service Tel 01928 717222

nKNOWSLEY DISABILITYCONCERN. 0151 480 4090

nLANCASTER DISCTel 01524 34411

n LIVERPOOL Association of Disabled People. Tel 0151

263 8366. Text 0151 260 4076nMERSEYSIDE Inform.

Tel 0151 260 4076. nNEUROSUPPORT Centre

Tel 0151 298 2999nMANCHESTER (GTR)

Coalition of DisabledPeople

Tel 0161-273 5154nMOLD Flintshire Disability

Tel 01352 755546nNELSON: Pendle Pakistan

Welfare Association. Tel 01282 603 616

nPRESTON DISC: Tel 01772 558 863. Textphone 01772 204 787

nRHYL Tel 01745 350665nSTOCKPORT: Disability

Stockport. 0161 480 7248

nWARRINGTON Disability Partnership. 01925 240064

nWIRRAL WIRED Tel 0151 670 1500

nWEST LANCS HELPLINE Freefone 0800 220676

n ST HELENS DASHTel 01744 453053

nWREXHAM Tel 01978262955MIDLANDSBIRMINGHAM DisabilityResource Centre Tel 0121789 7365Disabled People’s NetworkSolihull Tel 0121 788 1544STOKE: Disability SolutionsTel 01782 683800WOLVERHAMPTON Elderand Disabled Group Tel01902 448552ORGANISATIONS FORPEOPLE WHO ARE BLINDnACCRINGTON

Tel 01254 233332nBARROW Tel 01229 820698nBIRMINGHAM Action forBlind Tel 0121 665 4200nBLACKBURN

Tel 0125 554143nBLACKPOOL

Tel 01253 792600nBURY Tel 0161 763 7014nBURNLEY Tel 01282 438507nCARLISLE: Action for Blind

People Tel 01228 595121CHESHIRE & N WALES:Vision Support. Tel 01244381515nCUMBRIA (West)

Tel 01946 592474nCUMBRIA (Sth Lakeland)

Tel 01539 726613nGUIDE DOGS Tel 0118 9835555nHENSHAW’S 0161 872 1234

Tel 0151 227 1226nLIVERPOOL: BradburyFields.Tel 0151 221 0888:Action for Bind Tel 0151 7089008n MANCHESTER: Action for

Blind Tel 0161 787 9252nPRESTON: Action for Blind

People Tel 01772 320550n OLDHAM Tel 0161 682 8019nROSSENDALE

Tel 01706 873256nSIGHTLINE (North West)Tel 0800 587 2252nWIGAN Tel 01942 242891nWIRRAL Tel 0151 652 8877ORGANISATIONS FORPEOPLE WHO ARE DEAFnBIRMINGHAM Institute forDeaf Tel 0121 246 6101nCHESHIRE Deaf Society

Tel 01606 47831nCUMBRIA Deaf Society

Tel 01228 606434nLANCASHIRE (EAST)

Deaf SocietyTel 01282 839180

nMANCHESTER Deaf CentreTel 0161 273 3415

nMERSEYSIDE Society for Deaf Tel 0151 228 0888

nST HELENS: DeafnessResource CentreTel 01744 23887nWOLVERHAMPTON Centrefor Deaf Tel 01902 420904nN WALES Daf Association,

Tel 01492 542235

NEED a powered scooter for yourholiday? West LancashireShopmobility may be able to help . . .

They have just been given a donationto buy two new scooters - specially forholiday hire.

Lightweight and easy to dismantle,the scooters can be hired for one dayand for up to a month - and can betaken to any destination in the UK.Call them on 01695 570055

THE fourth annual Rainey Day event -aimed at raising awareness of aboutdisability - takes place at King GeorgeV Sport Complex in Huyton,Mereseyside on Sunday June 27.

Organised in memory of Knowsley’sformer access officer John Rainey, theevent is free to attend, and will runfrom 11am-3pm.

Activities will include music, dancing,football and volleyball coaching fromEverton in the Community, wheelchairbasketball and boccia.

Holiday scooters

Rainey Day

AT YOUR SERVICE: Scooters for hire


Stay ahead of the game – www.alltogethernow.org.uk

High standards

CONGRATULATIONS to the 25 winningreaders in our recent gardeningcompetition.

All 25 readers win a pair of mini‘Deadhead’ trimmers, courtesy of MrFothergill’s Garden Essentials, which areideal for cutting off dead flower heads.

Winners should receive their prizes withinthe next 28 days.Posted entries:Mr R P Mawdsley, Kew Road, Formby,who says All Together NOW! is “verygood and interesting.” He picked up it upat Southport Hospital.Mrs K Thompson, Dunraven Road,West Kirby, Wirral. “Excellent magazine”(Burton Garden Centre)Mrs J R Peters, Vanderbyl Avenue,Spital, Bromborough. “Interesting andinformative. Looking forward to the nextedition. Will pass on this issue to a friend.”(Burleydam Nurseries).Ms L Leadbetter, Bretherton Court,Junction Lane, Burscough. “I think it’s abrilliant magazine and full of usefulinformation.” (Ormskirk Hospital)Mr G Grieve, Vicarage Road, Formby.“Very good read for anyone.” (BlackburnLibrary)

Mrs H Shelmit, Grasmere, Macclesfield.“Great Magazine!” (Bridgemere GardenCentre)Mrs G Carter, Cranborne Avenue,Warrington. “A great publication with lotsof useful information!” (Stockton HeathLibrary)Mrs J Alcock, Red Lane, Bolton. “Ahandy and easy to read magazine.”(Manchester town hall)J Ridgard, St. Dominics Mews, MorrisGreen, Bolton. “A paper I can sit downand enjoy reading in detail.” (BoltonLibrary)Mrs S Byron, Ralph Drive, SneydGreen, Stoke on Trent. “What a brilliantpublication!” (Stapeley Water Gardens)Mrs L Smith, Staghills Road,Newchurch, Rossendale. “Veryinteresting and informative reading.”(Rawtenstall Library)Mrs C Snape, Campbell Road, Stoke onTrent. “Absolutely fantastic, could notbelieve it was free!” (Stapeley WaterGardens)Mrs A Gannon, Dingle Road, Upholland,Skelmersdale. “Brilliant and informative.”(Ormskirk Hospital)H Jones, Francis Avenue, Rhos on Sea.

“Colourful, informative and interesting -especially for TOURISTS!” (LiverpoolMaritime Museum)

Online entries:Ms C Boston, Mallee Crescent,Churchtown, Southport. “I found it veryinformative with lots of features on manyconditions, services and events in thearea.” (The Range, Southport)Mrs S Griffith, Burnt Hill Way, OultonBroad, Lowestoft. “All Together NOW!makes me feel part of a community thatcares.”Ms J Wells, Great Coates Road,Healing, Lincs. “I find the magazine veryinformative.”Ms A Wood, Bridge Farm, Spring Lane,Swanley, Nantwich. “I think it makesgreat reading and best of all it’s free!”(Nantwich Library)Mr T Winstanley, Overpool Road,Ellesmere Port. “All Together NOW! is abreath of fresh air.” (Ellesmere PortLibrary)Ms S Laycock, Tavistock Road, Fleet,Hants. “Fantastic diversity of subjectmatter – easy to read with eye catchingimages.”

Ms A Coghlan, Bartholomew Road,Morecambe, Lancashire. “Thanks for thegreat website, some really usefulinformation.”Mr G Capper, The Green, RathmoreRoad, Oxton, Wirral. “The paper is veryinteresting, informative and helpful.(Burleydam Garden Centre)Mr F Heaton, Ruskin Close, Tarleton,Preston. “I enjoy visiting your website – itis always packed with information.”Mrs H Evans, Elizabeth Crescent,Chester. “All Together NOW! is anexcellent magazine with a wide variety ofsubjects, printed in a way that is easy tounderstand.Ms T Singleton, Alder Close, Newtonwith Scales, Preston. “I throughly enjoyyour newspaper. I have read this paperfrom front to back and found all thesubjects so interesting, with so muchadvice and help.” (Dobbies Garden

WINNERS: Everton FC captain Phil Nevillewith players and coaches at The EvertonFoundation which has become the first in thecountry to achieve the FA Charter StandardCommunity Status.Recognised across the world for its excellentdisability football programmes, theFoundation has created, and oversees, 23affiliated teams for players who are blind,deaf, and those with physical and learningdisabilities.

MARTIAL arts star AmyTruesdale hasbettered her

impressive bronze medal atthe inaugural 2009 WorldChampionships by takingsilver at the World Para-Taekwondo Championshipsin St. Petersburg, Russia.

Amy, who was born with thelower part of her left armmissing, regularly competesopposite able-bodied athletesand took a bronze in thewomen’s under 63kg category at the 2010 National TaekwondoChampionships in Manchester in January.

With the majority of her training taking place at the Stoke UTATaekwondo Club, Amy also spends time with the British team atthe National Taekwondo Academy in Manchester prior to majorevents.

Whilst Para-Taekwondo is not yet a paralympic sport and only

recently became officiallyrecognised, there is a chancethat it will be present at theLondon 2012 Olympics as atrial exhibition sport with amore official involvementlikely at Rio 2016.

Amy, 21, from Poole,Chester, said: “It’s a shamethat London came too earlyfor the sport as it would havebeen amazing to be part ofTeam GB in 2012 but eventssuch as the World Para-

Taekwondo Championships show that there is a real support forthe sport internationally.

“It was fantastic to make the podium again and hopefully I cango one better again next year to take my first world gold.”

The British International Open takes place in ManchesterSeptember 25-26.n www.britishtaekwondo.org.uk

DISABLED young people in Halton arebeing given the chance to try theirhands at various wheelchair sports.

Halton council have placed ten top sportswheelchairs at Chesnut Lodge school foryoungsters to use.

Paralympic silver medallist MarkEccleston, Halton council’s disabled sportsofficer, said: “We have young disabledpeople with real potential. These chairs willhelp them to have fun and maybe go on toachieve great things.”

The wheelchairs, which cost £20,000,were funded from thegovernment’s AimingHigh for DisabledChildren fund.


Amy steps it up! GREAT Britain’s men’s wheelchair tennisteam of Marc McCarroll, David Phillipsonand Gordon Reid joined the women’s andjunior teams in finishing fourth at theInvacare World Team Cup in Antalya,Turkey.

Fourth place for GB

Sports chairs

Silver medalfor Truesdaleat the WorldChampionships

A cut above the rest – here are our 25 winners


Please send this coupon and a cheque payable to All Together NOW! to:Subscriptions Dept., All Together NOW! The Bradbury Centre, Youens Way,

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All Together NOW! is helping andinspiring tens of thousands ofpeople whose lives are affectedby disability. But the charityneeds to find ways to balancethe books.You can help in a big way bybecoming one of our loyalsubscribers. For a suggested £10donation (or more, if you canafford it!) we will send you thenext SIX editions.

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Blind captainblasts TV ad

Champions!

Footballcrazy

Opportunities for disabled footballers

HUNDREDS of new disability football teams will becreated all over the country over the next twoyears.

The proposals – part of the FA’s new disability football strategy for2010-2012 – include setting up 140 new male and 150 new femaledisability teams by 2012, adding to the existing 400 male and 26female teams.

Plans also include creating 34 new disability county leagues by2012, on top of the existing 14.

The FA will also develop a network of full-time county disabilityfootball officers to develop disability football, increase participation,raise coaching and playing standards, and develop local clubs andcompetitions.

Fifty new disabled referees will be trained over two years; 10% ofyoung people selected for an FA youngcoaches programme will be disabled; andall skill tests for five to 11-year-olds will beinclusive.

The strategy pledges that the FA willcontinue to support six elite nationaldisability football squads: for players whoare amputees; deaf; blind; partially-sighted;have cerebral palsy and learning difficulties.

The FA’s goal is for each team to beranked in the top four in Europe.

An FA spokemans said: “Disabled sportneeds to be in a position to reap themaximum benefits from the exposure that itwill receive from the London 2012 Olympicand Paralympic Games.

VICTORIA Perez and Omar Haddad produced a scintillatingroutine to win the wheelchair title at the national sportsacrobatics championships.

Victoria, who is also profoundly deaf, said: “Sportsacrobatic is especially difficult for me as a wheelchair useras the routines are performed on a sprung floor which canadd quite a lot of bounce to the chair. This causesdifficulties when performing a wheelie on two wheels.

“You have to correctly judge the softness of the mat or itis so easy to tip over. Omar also has to balance on thefootplate during the routine, and when he jumps off it cancause the chair to tip on the soft mats.”

THE captain of England’sblind football team hascriticised a TV advert thatfeatures a blind footballeraccidentally kicking a cat.

More than 400 peoplecomplained to the advertisingwatchdog about the advertfor the Irish bookmakerPaddy Power, which featurestwo teams using a ball with abell inside it.

When the ball is kicked outof play, a cat with a bellaround its neck runs onto thepitch, and is accidentallykicked into a tree by one ofthe players.

The Advertising StandardsAuthority (ASA) has nowlaunched an investigation.

Some viewers wereconcerned about the advert’sdepiction of blind people,while some complained thatit encouraged or condonedanimal cruelty.

David Clarke, captain ofEngland’s blind football team,who has more than 100 capsfor his country, declined to beinvolved in the advert, whichhe said was “at best a cheapgag” and “in no way doesjustice” to the standards andfitness levels of England’sinternational players.

He added: “The peopleplaying the game at thehighest level are very, very fitand playing to a very, veryhigh standard. The people onshow were not really thatathletic.”

A Paddy Power spokesmansaid the company hadreceived a huge amount ofpositive feedback from theblind or partially sightedcommunity” following theadvert.

Couple lift acrobatics title

FA plansfor 290new teams

AMONG the starattractions at this year’sNaidex was this impressiveParaGolfer on the OttoBock Healthcare stand.

The specially constructedmulti-terrain poweredwheelchair allows disabledgolfers to stand and play.

Its robust yet agile designmeans players can easilymove across variousterrains, and be at eyelevel with other players.Price, £16,500.n Call Helen O’Brien, OttoBock: 01784 744927.

Tee-up time!

GREAT Britain’s disabledathletes produced theirbest ever performances atthe Paralympic Wold Cupin Manchester.

The men’s wheelchairbasketball team took goldafter beating Canada.

In the Football 7-a-sidetournament, GB collectedthe bronze medal, courtesyof an 8-4 thumping over theUSA.

And our swimmers wonTEN gold medals from 12events.

Full results:www.btparalympicworldcup.com

all together now magazine - issue 31 _ june 2010

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