The Cambridgeshire Alliance for Independent Living's Autumn newsletter 2013

1. Your Voice
AUTUMN 2013
Welcome to our autumn newsletter and I must
The meeting was successful with N and
say compared to the last time I wrote we have
K sharing their interests and J finding
had an amazing summer. I hope you have all
new information from the PA about things
enjoyed some sunshine over the last few
available in the community. They have
months. With this newsletter we hope to keep
all now met for a second time and plan to
you up to date with what we are doing and
try and do something on a regular basis.
what else is happening around the county.
This is exactly how we envisaged the shared
care or arrangements working and hope to
Website
hear other success stories. Sometimes
Our website is up and running with lots of
sharing an activity can make costs cheaper
useful information. Our Support Community and introduce people to others who they may
pages allow PAs to advertise their
not have met any other way.
availabilities as well as employers being able
to their vacancies. We have a success story to
share with you from our “shared care” element Training
of the support community.
Carer D had advertised that her daughter We have run two lots of our training so far this
year with funding from Cambridge Community
(N) and PA would like to meet other
service users and their carers for lunch or Foundation and have two more to do.
other outings. J ( the mother of K ) got in Additionally we are pleased to offer a couple
of drop in sessions for people who may have a
touch and thought this sounded like a
great idea. N her PA , J and K met up for question or to ask about their care package,
their direct payment or employing staff.
lunch.
Training
Drop In Sessions
1) Orwell House – Cambridge
(please note change of venue)
25th Sept, 2nd and
1) Papworth
Monday 21st Oct 10 -1pm
9th Oct 12.30am – 3.30 pm
2) Pendrill Court – Papworth
2) Papworth
Monday 28th Oct 10am – 4pm
Tuesday 12th Nov 1am-4pm

2. Older People’s Partnership
Board
Cambridgeshire Older People's Partnership
Board exists to ensure that there is a coordinated multi-sector approach from all
stakeholders to enable people aged 50 plus to
live active, satisfying and independent lives
whilst ensuring that the needs of the most
vulnerable people in Cambridgeshire are met.
The Older People's Partnership Board is made
up of representatives from Cambridgeshire
County Council, Cambridge and Peterborough
Clinical Commissioning group, Healthwatch,
and relevant voluntary sector organisations.
The Board is facilitated by the Cambridgeshire
Alliance for Independent Living. This ensures
the independence of the board from the
County Council.
It is vital that older people are not labelled as
one single-issue group. The age range alone
is very significant even before we consider
differences arising from gender, race, ethnic
origin, disability, actual or perceived sexual
orientation, gender identity, marital status,
nationality, religious belief or any other
characteristic which may impact upon a
person’s opportunities in life.
Older people (50+) have a lot to offer and the
Older People's Partnership Board recognises
this, as well as working to ensure that their
needs are met. Cambridgeshire Older
People's Partnership Board is fully committed
to recognising and celebrating that diversity,
and treating everyone with dignity and respect.
The Partnership works particularly hard to
include those people who are disadvantaged
because of their difference.
The Board tries to directly influence the
priorities, commissioning and service
developments of the different agencies and to
work together to ensure the highest quality
and best value services for older people in
Cambridgeshire.
Reminder!
It also shares information and good practice
across agencies and identifies gaps in
services and highlights areas of concern to
older people.
Current priority areas of work for the board
include:

Dementia

Community transport

Lifelong learning

Winter issues

Information, advice and guidance
There are two ways to be involved in the work
of this board;
Full membership – This involves attending and
contributing to the board meetings, reading the
relevant paperwork and participating in
relevant sub-groups as required.
The Older People’s
Partnership Board is looking
for new members. Would you
like to join us?
Corresponding membership – This means that
you will be on the email circulation list for the
group and can feed in your views and
comments in this way.
The Board meets quarterly at venues around
the county. All venues are fully accessible and
a loop system will be provided. All expenses,
such as travel costs are reimbursed to
members.
If you would like more information about the
work of this board please contact Nadeem
Ahmed
nadeem@cambridgeshirealliance.org.uk or
call 0300 111 2301.
If you are a Blue Badge holder, make sure you regularly check the expiry date!
I just got a £40 parking ticket because my badge was out of date in July !

3. Intro to our Board Member
Judith Margolis
I’ve met loads of new people and made lots of
new friends, The conversations always start
with ‘what a cute dog’, and ‘what does he do?’
As well as being one of the Directors of the
Cambridgeshire Alliance, I am a Trustee of
Disability Cambridgeshire and Disability
Huntingdonshire. We all share an office in
Papworth where once a week I work as a
telephone advisor for DISH.
Previously I was head of the Centre of
Strategy and Marketing at the Open University
Business School. In 2008, after two
encounters with breast cancer, I developed
Cerebella Ataxia and had to retire early. Now
I use an electric wheelchair most of the time
and have a great life.
Whilst it’s easy to dwell on the negative, there
are many good things that have happened to
me as a result of my disability. The best is my
wheelchair! Before I had it, I found life very
hard to cope with my condition. I was
exhausted all the time and was so unsteady
on my feet that people thought I was drunk.
Once I sat down, life became much easier.
My work for the ‘Alliance’ brings me into our
office several days a week. Presently I am
working on the rebranding project, making
sure our new publicity materials and website
are changed to our new name, logos and
house colours. It’s funded by the Office of
Disability Issues which helps user-ledThe next best thing was that I got a chance to organisations (like us) develop and grow.
learn how to fly an aeroplane. In 2006 I won a I am determined to make our website reach
disabled flying scholarship, and went to flying the ‘gold standard’ of accessibility.
school in South Africa for six weeks, it was
We are a pan-disability organisation and
absolutely brilliant.
should have a website that is accessible to
When I applied to have my little dog Alfie
everyone. It’s a tall order, and may take a
trained as an assistance dog, I naively said
while, but I am determined to achieve it.
‘if I can fly a plane I should be able to train a
In my spare time (!) I work for the Huntingdon
dog’. The Support Dogs Charity specialises in
and District branch of the MS Society as their
training dogs owned by people with
lead support volunteer, answering their advice
disabilities. When Alfie was two, he went to
line and helping with welfare claims. Multiple
boarding school for four weeks and we had to
Sclerosis has very similar symptoms to
practice for a about year before we graduated.
Cerebella Ataxia and I find that I can
It was hard work I soon found out that
understand the problems our members face.
aeroplanes do exactly what you tell them to
In all these activities I am supported by my
do, whilst dogs have a mind of their own!
husband who has become an excellent cook,
But seriously, Alfie has changed my life; as
and Alfie the dog. Anyone attending meetings
well as all the jobs he does for me, such as
with me usually can find him doing his bit,
picking things up and bringing me the phone, actively sleeping under the table. (that’s the
he gives me the confidence to go into strange dog, not the husband).
places and try new things.

4. Getting Around Town
Shopmobility Opening Hours
With the introduction of many pedestrian only
town centres, getting around with a mobility
impairment can be really difficult. That’s
where a Shopmobility scheme can come in
handy.
In Cambridgeshire we have four schemes
that have a selection of motorised scooters
and wheelchairs for you to borrow.
All the local schemes are registered with the
National Federation of Shopmobilty and as
many schemes throughout the country, some
run by donation and some ask for a small fee
to join.
Ely: 01353 666655
Thursday & Friday:
10.30am - 4.30pm
Cambridge
Grafton Centre: 01223 457452
Monday - Saturday:
10:00am - 4:00pm
Grand Arcade: 01223 461858
Monday - Saturday :
Sunday :
10:00am - 5:00pm
11:00am - 4:00pm
Peterborough: 01733 313133
It’s always advisable to call ahead to the local
Monday - Friday:
Shopmomility office to ensure that suitable
Saturday :
aids are available.
10:00am - 4:00pm
09:00am - 5:00pm
Huntingdon: 01480 432793
Monday - Saturday :
09:00am - 3:00pm
Did you know?
Many supermarkets and National Trust properties
have scooters that you can loan too. Locally,
Hinchingbrooke Park has a pair of Tramper
scooters that you can loan free of charge. These
rugged, battery powered wheelchairs, can go
around the Park on the harder paths. They have
simple hand controls and can be used after a short
training session.
Hinchingbrooke Park also lend out adapted bikes.
One is for 2 people to ride the other has a seat in
front for passenger to be carried around. We
suggest you 'phone to book your ride in advance as
they are very popular; 01480 451568

5. Would you like to raise some
money for your favourite
charity?
On Thursday 7th November 12- 6pm
Huntingdon Shopmobility is organising a
“Sponsorthon” in the Commemoration Hall
Huntingdon.
You can choose to do a sponsored jigsaw-athon or a knit-a-thon. There is a £5 entry to
cover the hall costs but any sponsorship you
raise will go to YOUR chosen charity. Jigsaws
will be provided but you can bring your own.
You can be sponsored by the hour or by the
number of jigsaws you take part in.
and Madame Tussauds; Calumet photographic
accessories and £150 cash. Closing date is
31st Oct 2013. Up to four JPEG images can
be sent to
obcomp@disabledphotographers.co.uk with a
completed entry form.
Stepping Stone
Free advice, support and funding are available
to help you get involved in local sporting
opportunities.
The project, Stepping Stones, offers children
and adults with a disability or long-term health
conditions; information, advice and support to
help them engage in regular sporting activities
If you would rather knit you can bring your own within mainstream sports settings, clubs and
knitting or knit squares with wool and provided organisations.
knitting needles (limited numbers) and again be They also offer free training and advice to
sponsored by the time taken or by the square. coaches, officials, administrators and
Squares will be used to make blankets for a
volunteers so they can support you effectively.
Ugandan Orphanage.
The initiative is one of 44 projects
Contact Debbie on 01480 432793 or
nationwide and is being delivered by Action
shopmobility@huntsforum.org.uk
For Children and co-funded by Sport England
and Cambridgeshire County Council.
Get your cameras ready
“ON THE MOVE 2013”
Stepping Stone will run during the next 18
months and hopes to help about 200 people.
If you or anyone you know can benefit from
On the Move is the annual photographic
Stepping Stone, please contact either, Emma
competition for people with disabilities and is
Yates or Ryan Armes; at Action For Children on
organised by Mobility Choice and The Disabled
01223 301756 or e-mail
Photographers Society.
ryan.armes@actionforchildren.org.uk
This year's theme of Travel & Leisure offers
opportunities to capture the atmosphere of
MOTABILITY- update
being out and about, whether to destinations
First All-Electric Vehicle through
near or far, holidays or short breaks, the
transport to get you there, the people you meet. Motability
There are three age categories: under 12, 1218 and over 18 years. Winning and shortlisted
images will be printed, mounted and displayed
at a public exhibition and award ceremony at
Calumet Photographic in London. Each
category winner will receive a Merlin Annual
Pass for a disabled person and carer, offering
entry to a range of top UK attractions; such as
the London Eye, LEGOLAND Windsor
The Nissan Leaf plug-in vehicle is available on
the Motability scheme, the first time that an
all-electric vehicle has been offered.
You can see the Nissan Leaf, which has a
£999 upfront payment on the Motability
scheme, here. The freephone number for
Nissan Mobility, if you would like to find out
more: 0800 731 9633 or you can email
nissan.mobility@nissan.co.uk.

6. Useful telephone numbers
Websites
Adaptations for Council owned property:
www.reallyusefulstuff.co.uk
Cambridge City Council
Housing Department
01223 457833
East Cambridgeshire Hereward Housing Properties
0800 9161422
South Cambridgeshire (Shire
Homes)
08450 450 051
Fenland Housing Department
01354 654321
Huntingdonshire Housing
Partnership - (Home
Improvement Agency)
Addenbrooke’s Advice Line
www.independentliving.co.uk
01480 388720
01223 217 397
Blue Badge
0345 045 5204
Cambridgeshire Alliance for
Independent Living
0300 111 2301
Cambridgeshire Direct
General enquiries
0345 045 5201
Children’s Disability Team
01223 568 808
Children’s Services
0345 045 5203
Countywide Physical
Disability Team:
Disability Cambridgeshire
Take a look at this useful gadget. An
egg cracker and separator for cracking
eggs one handed.
0345 045 5202.
01480 839192
Disability Huntingdonshire
01480 830833
Occupational Therapists
0345 045 5205
PALS
01223 216 756
Papworth Trust Helpline
0800 952 5000
Pension Credit Help line
0800 991 234
Personal Independent Payments
0800 917 2222
Red Cross Mobility Aids &
Equipment Loans
01480 213376
Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
0345 045 5202.
Social Services
Adult & Older People
0345 045 5202
Village Benefits Service
01353 666 990
Independent Living have got a good
article on wheelchair passports and the
benefits of having one of these. If you
are a wheelchair user get a look at this
site
www.fixmystreet.co.uk.
If you have problems with uneven
streets, potholes or dropped kerbs. You
can report your issues on this site and it
will go straight to the CCC highways
team. You can even track the progress
of your complaints.
http://www.openbritain.net/
When looking for information on
accessible holidays or travel the
information the information always
seems to be scattered in lots of different
places,
This new website may be the answer
and is the brainchild of the charity
Tourism for All UK, Open Britain aims to
bring together information from a variety
of sources, VisitEngland and
DisabledGo are major partners in this
venture. They have carried out access
inspections and have given award
ratings for accommodation under the
National Accessible Scheme. If you
want extra assurance, inspected
venues carry the logo of the
organisation who visited them.
Some of the information is
provided by the venues
themselves and the listings carry
the ‘i’ sign.