Pedal Power Visit

Peter Hain, Welsh Secretary visited Pedal Power earlier this month, to see for himself how it is helping young people find employment in Wrexham. Following the visit Mr Hain said ’Disabled people can often face difficulties when it comes to participating in physical activity but through the Pedal Power Project they are getting the help and support they need to enjoy the health benefits of cycling’. “With 700 people benefiting from the project over the past three years it’s clear to see how successful the project has been. Now, thanks to the Future Jobs Fund, Groundwork has been able to employ an extra member of staff to help meet the demand for the project”.  Groundwork is committed to supporting local young people by creating 72 new jobs across North Wales over the coming months.

Friendly Resources

A new website brings together free easy-read information.
Friendly Resources is the new website from Speak up self-advocacy-an organisation run by and for people with a learning disability.  Visitors to the site can access health and parenting information, as well as accessible DVDs on a range of subjects including the Mental Capacity Act, advocacy and support during pregnancy can be found at; www.friendlyresources.org.uk

Bi-lingual DVD

Standing up for your rights is a new bi-lingual DVD from Partners in Politics, Mencap Cymru’s project that aims to make politics accessible to young people with a learning disability. The DVD offers solutions to issues such as bullying and exclusion from facilities. It is free and will be sent to all mainstream and special schools in Wales. Call 029 20747 588 or email mencap.org.uk

Dates for your diary

Understanding People with Learning Disabilities- March 2nd 2010
This one day course aims to help understand more about the issues affecting people with learning disabilities and how people and services can heave a negative impact on their lives.
More details can be obtained by contacting Learning Disability Wales Email: training@learningdisabilitywales.org.uk

Coedpoeth and District Care Group
We are a group of people that meet every Saturday morning for games and socialising. Some of our members have physical and/or learning difficulties.  We meet to enjoy activities such as carpet bowls, indoor skittles and other floor games, plus table top games such as dominoes, etc., together with art and craft sessions.

We plan numerous outings throughout the year, summer and winter, with a great favourite every Christmas being the Santa train at Llangollen and the Pantomime.
If you would like to become a member of our group and if you live in Coedpoeth-why not come and see us. The committee would also welcome anyone interested in becoming a Volunteer to help maintain our Club.

We meet at the Coedpoeth Parish Hall, every Saturday from 10.00 – 12.00 noon. We meet all year round with the exception to the month of August when we close down for a whole month. We hope in the future to put in details of forth coming events.

Footballers Wanted
Footballers are wanted to Represent Mencap Cymru at the tournament in Switzerland. Mencap Cymru and Mencap National College at Pengwern will be teaming up to enter a team in the 2010 football tournament in Geneva Switzerland.

Trials will take place at the Pengwern College in North Wales in February. To get details about the trials please call the Wales Learning Disability Helpline on 0808 808 1111.
To take part in the tournament players must:
Be male and over 16
Have a learning disability
Be a member of Mencap or belong to a Mencap affiliated group
Play at novice level
The 15 footballers selected at the trials will travel to Geneva for the tournament from 20-24 May.

Niahm Reilly, Mencap Cymru’s PhD student who is responsible for the development of the football team in Wales, has developed the partnership with Pengwern College. Niahm will spend 3 years at Bangor University looking at how to develop the motor skills of people with a learning disability to help improve their training for sport and work.

Get My Vote

A campaign to involve people with a learning disability in voting

Mencap’s ‘Get My Vote’ campaign is about making sure more people with a learning disability can use their right to vote at the next general election. A general election will take place in 2010. At the last general election only 2 out of 10 people with a learning disability used their vote, compared to 6 out of 10 of the whole UK population.  Mencap wants the government to make sure that accessible information about how to register to vote is available and is also calling for the main parties to make their manifestos in easy read.  An Early Day Motion in Parliament means MPs can show their support for the campaign too. You can use Mencap’s website to ask your MP to sign the Early Day Motion. The All Party Parliamentary Group on Learning Disability will focus on this issue. Representatives from the main parties will have the chance to explain the steps they are taking to engage people with learning disability.
Go to www.Mencap.org.uk/getmyvote

Leonard Cheshire Disability Review

Almost half of disabled people ‘less confident about the future’ than a year ago.
The Leonard Cheshire Disability review published at the end of last year and is drawn from surveys of 1,253 people across the UK, which includes people with a learning disability. The survey covers a range of areas, including health and social care, education and training, citizenship and housing.
This year’s review highlights the impact of the recession on disabled people with 42% of respondents saying that they are finding it difficult or very difficult to manage on their current income, a 6% rise since 2008. More than half  of respondents (55%) do not have any savings, compared to 12% of the UK population as a whole.

John Knight, director of policy and campaigns at Leonard Cheshire Disability said: ‘With disabled people entering a recession on a profoundly unequal footing to non-disabled people, the need for a dedicated government strategy to tackle disability poverty is more urgent than ever.’ Nearly half (47%) of respondents are less confident about the future than they were twelve months ago.  The funding of social care is also a key concern, with 46% of respondents stating that the current system is unfair. More than a third of respondents (34%) with social care needs and a total weekly income of less than £100 have to fund their own social care. And 60% with social care needs rely on help from relatives or friends to help meet those needs, a rise of 4% from 2008. For the first time, this year’s review also included a question about hate crime, with 9% reporting that they have been a victim of disability hate crime. John Knight said that the statistic was “deeply worrying”. “There is a clear need for more robust identification and recording of disability hate crime, better support for disabled people who are victims of crime and improved access to justice.”

Are You In Control?

The International Big Event 2010 will take place at the BT Convention Centre, Liverpool on the 16 March.
‘Supporting People to get a life, not just a service’ Each year, In Control hosts its unique Big Event, the largest international convention focused on personalisation in the health and social care sectors.

The event brings together a host of people, all united by a common aim-to help people to be fully in control of their lives. Last year’s event was a huge success but this year we’re making it even bigger and doubling it in size. With the international theme, 2,000 delegates, 100 exhibitors, 50 workshops, as well as high profile key speakers, live entertainment and performances, the event  it is set to be better that ever before.
The convention is being held in the purpose built BT Convention Centre in Liverpool in the heart of Liverpool.
Who Should Attend? In Control believes that to gether we really are better, and the Big Event is open to everyone. Unlike other events catering solely for professionals, the Big Event encourages people from all walks of life to attend, including family members and carers, key influencers from local authorities, government agencies and providers as well as professionals from health and social security.  It’s an invaluable opportunity to network, explore the support and services on offer, hear real-life experiences, and to find out the latest developments in this fast changing world of personalisation.
Anyone interested please contact the Forum office (01978) 264146 for a booking form.
Admission prices : £20 inc. VAT for families, individuals, and micro-providers (free for personal assistants and supporters) £135 +VAT for statutory, providers and organisational members of In Control. (Buy 3, get 1 free)
£200 +VAT for non-members (ask about joining as this may bring discounts).

Award for Ray

Ray Jarvis, Chair of  Wrexham Forum, was presented with a cut glass vase as a recognition of achievement award for services to people with learning disabilities in Wales 2009.
Ray was presented with the award at Glyn Llyfion College, Caernarvon by Rhodri Morgan, Minister for Wales (retired).

Ideas For Days Out

The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain (edition 2) has a range of reviews by disabled people and over 175 ideas for days out. £6.99 or free to Blue Badge holders. Call 9899 953 7070 or go to www.accessibleguide.co.uk

FPA’s Learning Disabilities

A new edition of FPA’s Learning Disabilities, sex and the law covers subjects such as capacity of consent intimate care, record keeping and contraception. It also includes new information on key legislation. £14.99 Call 0845 122 8600 or go www.fpa.org.uk

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