News & resources
Our round-up of the latest news, events and resources in the learning disability community...
Inspire Me ambassadors takes over the press!
Throughout November and December Young Ambassador Volunteers from Mencap’s Inspire Me project will be using their journalist skills as part of the Childrens Commissioners Take over.
Young Ambassadors, age 14-25 with a learning disability, will be interviewing young people, and speaking with local youth centres and colleges to find out about their experiences. Young Ambassadors are hoping to give a fresh perspective to the Press, as well as give other young people the opportunity to see what being a Young Ambassador can involve.
The Childrens Commissioner is inviting organisations across the sector to get involved. If you would like to get involved in their event, or get more information please visit Takeover day
For more information on Inspire Me and please visit Inspire Me
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Kidz up North – FREE event
Kidz up North is holding a free exhibition for children and young adults with disabilities and special needs, their parents, carers and the professionals who support them.
Although tickets are not compulsory they do save time on registration if completed beforehand. Tickets also include a full timetable of all the free CPD seminars taking place throughout the day.
For the full programme & free entry ticket click here
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Learning Disability Wales training courses
Learning Disability Wales runs training courses and events for people who work with or may come into contact with people with a learning disability.
Their courses are part-time and most are open to anyone without prior qualifications. They are held during the day and led by trainers with expert knowledge on the subject.
To find out more about courses available from October to April, visit the Learning Disability Wales website
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More helping hands at Eureka! for disabled kids
Eureka! The national children's museum in Halifax, West Yorkshire, has announced the next round of free Saturday and Holiday Clubs for disabled children and their families, as part of their award-winning Helping Hands Project. The clubs kick off on 7 September with three saturdays dedicated to children with autism up to the age of 5.
Helping Hands clubs are free of charge, including a free packed lunch and a Eureka! annual pass. They offer fun, playful activities run by specially trained staff, followed by a guided visit to a different area of the museum each week.
Clubs with year will also include hearing impaired clubs in October and Downs Syndrome clubs in November & December. For a full list of activities visit Eureka.org.uk
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Turned down for DLA, AA or PIP? Read this...
Advice Now has produced a guide for anyone who thinks the Department for work and Pensions (DWP) have made the wrong decision about their claim for Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance (AA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The guide will take you step-by-step through the whole appeal process and will be particularly helpful for people who don't have an adviser. Read the guide
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Free Personal Independence Payment (PIP) info
Hft will be running free half-day sessions to help family carers prepare for when their relative with a learning disability will need to apply for PIP.
By giving practical tips for filling in the form and information to help people through the face to face assessment, as well as looking at how people will be scored to receive the different rates, family carers will be able to support their relative with their application for PIP, armed with more information and more confidence.
If you would like Hft to run a free PIP session for a group of family carers in your area, or to find out more, contact:
Family Carer Support Service, Hft
0117 906 1751
[email protected]www.hft.org.uk/familycarersupport
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FREE wills & trusts info events in July
Mencap is offering the following free wills and trusts information events in July:
Tuesday 9th July, 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Jurys Inn Brighton, 101 Stroudley Road, Brighton, East Sussex, BN1 4DJ
Wednesday 10th July, 12.30pm – 2.30pm
Kent Life, The Village Hall, Lock Lane, Sandling, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 3AU
Thursday 11th July, 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Guildford YMCA, Bridge Street, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 4SB
A specialist local legal professional will talk at the events about how best to leave money behind to someone with a learning disability. The events are free and are a great opportunity for families and carers to get straightforward, face-to-face advice.
To book your place at any of the events please use the Online booking form or call 020 7696 6925.
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Cheap PC and broadband for family carers
Get Online @ Home, the government scheme run in partnership with Microsoft which aims to get more people using the internet, has dramatically lowered the prices on refurbished PCs.
For people on certain eligible benefits, an internet-ready PC is just £24, plus £2.99 per month for broadband.
Customers must be a registered UK charity or receive at least one of the following benefits to qualify for the cheaper price: Housing Benefit, Income Support, Jobseeker's allowance, Pension credit, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance / Constant Attendance
Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Incapacity Benefit / Employment and Support Allowance, Disability element of Working Tax Credit.
To benefit from this offer, call 0800 090 1297, or visit getonlineathome.org.
You can also find out more on the Go On UK website.
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Jobs for people with learning disabilities
The Quality Company is looking for new staff, with and without a learning disability.
The Quality Company pays people to visit people with a learning disability, ask them questions and write a report on the quality of their support. Quality Assessors have a learning disability or autism and use their experience of the quality of support to support others to speak up.
They are supported by quality supporters who provide whatever support they may need such as travel, writing reports and attending meetings. quality assessors and quality supporters can work when they like and can work flexibly around what benefits they may receive.
The Quality Company is looking for quality assessors and quality supporters in Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Essex.
If you are interested in applying or finding out more about The Quality Company please contact [email protected] or call her on 07740042085. Or visit www.thequalitycompany.co.uk
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New guide for fathers from Contact a Family
Contact a Family have produced a new guide for fathers who have a disabled child.
It includes tips for dads from other dads, and personal stories from fathers, as well as updated sources of support and useful resources.
Click here to read (622.6 KB) the guide online. Or call 0808 808 3555 and ask for a free copy.
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Safeguarding family carer questionnaire
The National Family Carer Network (NFCN) is seeking funding for workshops for family carers on safeguarding, using the 'Making Sure Your Relative is Safe' resources – Top Tips and Essential Guides resources.
They have been successful in getting to the third stage of the funding process, but need to be able to show hard evidence that there is a demand for the workshops.
If you would like to support the NFCN in their funding campaign, please complete the attached questionnaire (234.6 KB) and share it with your networks.
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New clubs for over 40s with Down's in N Ireland
The Down's Syndrome Association of Northern Ireland is launching a number of new social clubs for adults over the age of 40, funded by the BIG LOTTERY – connecting older people fund.
With two clubs currently running in South Belfast and Newry, the charity plans to extend that number to six by the end of the year. The clubs offer a range of activities, from dance, yoga and Boccia to cooking and arts & crafts.
The clubs are free and run as part of the Harvest project, which provides free social groups, befriending, residential weekends and information days.
To find out more contact Hannah McGrath on 02890665260 or 079746 938892.
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Care Inspectorate is looking for volunteers
The Care Inspectorate is looking for volunteers with experience of using a care service to act as lay assessors and help with inspections.
The aim of the Care Inspectorate is to ensure that care services provide good quality care and support.
Lay assessors may be asked to go on inspections and find out what people think of the care service they use, or carry out telephone interviews or attend meetings. Expenses will be covered, including travel, food, overnight accommodation and extra support worker costs.
For further information please call 01382 207217 or email [email protected]
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Thinking Ahead: a planning guide for families
The foundation for People with Learning Disabilities (FPLD) has launched a new campaign, Thinking Ahead, to highlight the anxiety felt by parents about the future when they are no longer able to support their son or daughter.
FPLD's research shows that over 80% of parents worry about what will happen after they die. However there is no requirement for local authorities to support people with learning disabilities and their families to think about the future and put plans in place.
As part of the campaign, FPLD has produced a planning guide with a step-by-step approach to supporting people to plan effectively for the future. It covers topics such as housing, building friendships & support networks, emergency planning & financial planning.
To download a copy of the guide or find out more about the campaign visit learningdisabilities.org.uk
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Let's talk about sex
CHANGE has launched a new Sexual Health & Relationships resource containing over 100 photos and 500 illustrations to help support people with learning disabilities talk about sexual health issues.
The resource has been developed following research carried out with the University of Leeds Centre for Disability Studies (2007-2010), “Talking About Sex and Relationships”.
Download CHANGE's new Sexual Health & Relationships resource from the CHANGE website or call 0113 388 0011.
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Easy read guide to benefit changes
United Response has published an easy read guide to the forthcoming benefit changes.
The guide was written for people supported by United Response, to help them understand how the changes may afect them, and it is tailored to their needs, but they are keen to share it with other organisations, support workers and individuals. You can download the guide here.
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Down's Syndrome Pilot health book project
The Down's Syndrome Association is looking for people with Down's syndrome, families and supporters to take part in a pilot health book project.
They would like to post 250 copies of their easy read health book to adults with Down's syndrome, families, carers and GPs for feedback. They are only looking for people over the age of 18.
Feedback will help shape the finished product, which will be posted to their 3,000 adult members with Down's syndrome in 2014. If you would like to take part, please email [email protected] For further info click here
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Postcards from the edge
Disability charity United Response has launched a campaign called 'Postcards from the Edges' which is all about giving a voice to disabled people or people affected by disability.
The project will help disabled people tell the rest of the world about their lives. United Response is asking anyone who has anything to say about disability, illness or mental health to write or draw a postcard to say what they think or tell people about their lives.
The most interesting and creative postcards will be displayed in an exhibition in London later this year.
People can either make a postcard online at www.postcardsfromtheedges.org.uk or email [email protected] for blank postcards to be sent to them.
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Netbuddy's Special Needs Awareness Calendar
Want to know when carers' week is this year ... or world health day? There are so many important dates to remember, so we've created a Special Needs Awareness Calendar, full of handy reminders.
You can download the calendar here (2.1 MB) for free ... so why not print out a copy and keep it next to your desk!
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New information resources from the NCB
The National Children's Bureau has recently revised and updated its early support materials, to include guides on Autistic Spectrum Disorders, Multi-sensory disorders, and living without a diagnosis, amongst others.
You can download the updated, extended versions of a wide range of information resources here.
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Pensioners miss out on millions in benefits
An estimated 40% of people with learning disabilities are cared for by a parent over 60 years old, yet retired people are failing to claim an average £676 in state benefits, according to a survey by Just Retirement Solutions.
Many are not claiming at all says the organisation, which says that more than half of the people contacting them for information on equity release, fail to claim any or all of the benefits they are entitled to. Full story
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We're living well but dying matters
A new film, called We're living well but Dying Matters has been produced by CHANGE for Dying Matters and the National End of Life Care programme, with the aim of including people with learning disabilities in discussions around death and bereavement.
In the film, people with learning disabilities tell their stories and share their wishes to support other people with learning disabilities to become more comfortable talking about dying, death and bereavement. To see the film, click here
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Autistic Zebra tackles bullying in schools
A new series of children’s books written by Wendy Usher of The Play Doctors aims to raise awareness of unseen disability and inclusion through animal characters who happen to be disabled.
The book is designed to give children aged 4-8 in mainstream education an insight into what autism is and how they can help classmates with the condition.
The author offers strategies for children who want to make friends, for example playing games they can all engage in. Picture symbols on each page enable children of all abilities to read and enjoy the books.
Usher says, “I noticed that when a child has a hidden disability such as autism, other children did not understand why they behaved or acted differently.
"I wanted to write a book that was non-threatening and did not point the finger at the disabled child, so chose to use animals. By giving animal characters a disability such as Zak the Zebra who happens to have autism, children can learn more about the condition and how to include others to ensure everyone is included.” To find out more visit www.theplaydoctors.co.uk
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New guide to internet safety launched
Cerebra, Mencap and Ambitious about Autism have launched a new guide for parents to help keep people with learning disabilities or autism safe online.
Learning Disabilities, Autism and Internet Safety: A Parent's Guide aims to help parents limit the risk to their child from having negative experiences online, and how to react if they do.
Research has shown that children with special educational needs are 16 per cent more likely to be persistently cyber bullied over a prolonged period of time. The guide also suggests resources that will help children and young people get the most out of the internet. Download the guide here (1.1 MB)
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Turn your phone into a laptop
Autism All Stars have teamed up with the Hearts & Minds charity to run a scheme to recycle old mobile phones into laptops, iPads and iTouches for children and adults with autism.
To find out how to donate your old mobile phone – or to apply for your FREE iPad, iTouch or laptop, go to heartsandmindsphones.co.uk
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Personal health budgets DVD available now
The NHS has produced a DVD for people being offered a personal health budget or staff training, entitled: Personal Health Budgets: Stories from the pilot programme.
In the DVD, people in the Department of Health's personal health budget's pilot programme share their experiences so far. They describe in their own words what the process is like, what they spend their money on and how they decided this.
The stories also include the perspectives of family carers and an interview with health and social care professionals.
NHS organisations can order the DVD free of charge from the DH orderline, or by calling 0300 123 1002 and using the code PHBDVD. Voluntary organisations who would like copies can email [email protected]
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Banking Made Clear
Barclays have developed a suite of accessible Barclays Money Skills resources – Banking Made Clear – aimed at helping people with learning disabilities build the understanding, skills and confidence they need to manage their money.
Banking Made Clear was developed in partnership with the British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD) to address some of the issues that people with learning disabilities face every day when managing their own money.
It consists of a comprehensive guide and a 'quick guide' to banking, a DVD with step-by-step instructions on various banking transactions, and a teaching pack to enable volunteers to run successful money management sessions.
To find out more, click on the 'Resource Centre' here: www.barclaysmoneyskills.com
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Know your rights
Know your rights is a new website which offers clear and simple advice to people with learning disabilities in a range of areas: Housing, social and health care, making decisions, money, fair treatment, protection and liberty.
Each section has a clearly written explanation of what the law covers in that area and broadly what it says. There are also practical examples and links to further sources of information.
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Carers Matter – Everybody's Business
Skills for Care and Skills for Health have produced Carers Matter – Everybody's Business, guidance to help employers and organisations support carers better through learning and development of staff.
The guidance is based on a set of common core principles for working with Carers that were developed in consultation with carers and people working with them. Read more
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Doing sport differently
Doing Sport Differently is a guide written by and for people who have experience of disability or health conditions. It covers the benefits of sport and fitness, and how disabled people can get involved – whether playing, watching or coaching. To download the free PDF, click on this link: Doing sports differently
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Safeguarding resources
In the wake of Winterbourne View, the Hft and the National Family Carer Network have launched two new publications, with information about safeguarding specifically aimed at carers of people with learning disabilities. The materials can be found at http://www.hft.org.uk/safeguarding
If you would like a set of the safeguarding materials – ‘Top Tips’ and ‘The Essential Guide’ (weighing 94g combined), please send an A4 self-addressed envelope with £0.90 worth of stamps on it to:
Safeguarding resources
Hft’s Family Carer Support Service
5-6 Brook Office Park
Folly Brook Road
Emersons Green
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NHS Continuing healthcare
The Foundation for People
with Learning Disabilities has produced a booklet for family carers,
providing practical information about NHS Continuing Healthcare,
including what it is, how people are assessed for it and how decisions
are made.
Download it here (248.1 KB)
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An extra pair of hands
Eureka! The
National Children's Museum has launched a new free service for disabled
children and their families, allowing them to book 'An Extra Pair of
Hands' during their visit. Find out more
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An autism-friendly world
AuKids magazine has created this autism-friendly leafllet for people to download and pass on to places they visit.
Download it here (254.2 KB)
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