Cambridge Alliance for Independent Living's Summer Newsletter

1. YOUR VOICE
Summer 2013
Welcome to the summer edition of the Alliance
newsletter. It feels a bit strange writing ‘summer’
when many of us still have our heating on, but I
am assured that the longest day of the year still
is in June!
As well as news of what we have been up to
during the past few months, we have decided
to introduce you to one of our board members in
each newsletter, so you get to know a bit more
about us.
Our Website goes live!
We are delighted to say our website is now up
and running so do please check us out on
www.cambridgeshirealliance.org.uk
Our website has a great deal of information and
links that are designed to help people with
disabilities, their carers, and those who work in
care. We want everyone to become a member
of the Alliance and register, so we can keep you
informed about events and ask your opinion
about local issues. Joining the Alliance is free
and only takes a few minutes.
Along with the usual news and information, our
website has two special areas of interest:
Our Support Community has various options.
Direct payment employers can register their
vacancies and PAs can list their availability
(both services are free). There are both
employer and PA forums, and lots of other
information. We also have a shared care
opportunities forum.
The Voice Community forum, will give you the
opportunity to let us know what issues are
occurring in your area of the county, (more
details on page two).
Direct Payments Training
Our first round of our new Self Directing
Support ‘choosing the way you live” training
has been very successful and we are
preparing for the next course. We have space
left on the remaining sessions (listed below). If
you would like to join us, please contact our
course director, Debbie Drew, by email
otway@sky.com or call 0300 111 2301.
The Hub Cambourne, 11:45 - 3pm
26th
June, 3rd
July, 10th
July.
Abbey Meadows Community Room.
6:30 – 9pm. 8th
,15th
,22nd
July.
St Mary’s Community Hall, Sawston.
12:30 – 3:30pm. 25th
Sept, 2nd
, 9th
Oct.
In this issue: page number
News about our website 1
Dates for Direct Payments training 1
Developing our Partnership Boards 2
Our ‘Voice’ Project 2
Introducing Ruth Rogers 3
Focus on transport 3
Motability scheme 4
What’s On? 5
Did you know? 6
New Carer’s Working Group 6

2. 2
Partnership Boards
We are working with the Cambridge County
Council (CCC) helping them to organise their
partnership boards. The aim is to highlight
issues and feed them back to the service
providers.
Physical Disability and Sensory
Impairment Partnership Board
The Physical Disability and Sensory
Impairment Partnership Board (PDSI) was
re-established this year and had its first
meeting on 16th
May in St Ives. Our ongoing
support of this board ensures it’s
independence from the County Council.
The PDSI board works with people with
physical disabilities, or sensory impairments
who are between 19 and 64 years old. The
board is comprised of lead officers for
Physical Disability and Sensory Services,
partner agencies such as Healthwatch,
service users, and relevant voluntary sector
organisations. Service users will elect the
Chair and Vice Chair in the near future.
The aims of the PDSI board are;
1. To enable people with disabilities,
sensory impairments and long term
health conditions, their representatives
and the public and voluntary sectors, to
work together in order to ensure the
highest quality and best value services
possible are delivered to the people who
need them.
2. To work closely with the other
Cambridgeshire County Council
Partnership Boards (Learning Disabilities,
Carer’s, Mental Health and Older
People’s ) to identify and solve common
areas of concern and need.
3. To act as a critical friend to CCC, other
public authorities, and services that are
operating within the county to ensure that
all people are treated as full and equal
citizens.
There are two ways you can contribute to
work of this board;
1. Full membership – This involves
attending and contributing to the board
meetings, reading the relevant paperwork
and participating in relevant sub-groups
as required.
2. Corresponding membership – This
means you will be on the email circulation
list for the group and can contribute your
views by email.
The PDSI Partnership 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 Alena Taylor
alena@cambridgeshirealliance.org.uk
or call 0300 111 2301.
Our Exciting Voice Network
Project
We are leading on a project, funded through
the Big Lottery’s Reaching Communities
Fund, that will give people with disabilities
and their carers a stronger voice across
Cambridgeshire.
We aim to have five Voice Networks one in
each area. They will be run by volunteers,
known as Change Makers.
Our Change Makers will talk to local people
and collect as many of their experiences as
possible. We know most people have
wonderful stories to tell about how someone,
somewhere has helped them to have a
better quality of life. Some people though
also have stories about problems that have
not been resolved. We want to share those
positive and negative experiences, and,
The Physical Disability and Sensory
Impairment Partnership Board is
looking for new members.
Would you like to join us?

3. 3
where appropriate, raise any problems and
concerns through the appropriate channels to
help get long term resolutions. The Change
Makers will be supported by our Voice
Network Coordinator, Karen Walker.
The first stage of our Voice
Network Project is now
underway
This massive outreach programme already is
making contact with people, community
groups and organisations. We are telling
people about the Cambridgeshire Alliance ’
and our work on our Voice Project.
So How Can you help us?
There are many ways in which you might help
us. Perhaps you could put up a poster your
village notice board or in the reception area of
your office (they are on our website for you to
download), you may be interested in
becoming a Change Maker, or know of
someone who might like more information; or
you might want our Voice Network
Coordinator, Karen Walker to visit your group.
There are plenty of opportunities to become
involved.
One easy way you can help is by passing
this newsletter through your email
networks, to make sure that as many
people as possible know about our
project.
If you belong to an existing organisation that
already provides local services to local
people, we would like to meet you so we can
explore ways of working together or simply
get to know about on another.
It is undoubtedly an ambitious project, but
one that will make so much difference to the
lives of people living with a disability.
Contact Karen Walker Tel 0300 111 2311
email voice@cambridgeshirealliance.org.uk
Meet our
board member
Ruth Rogers
I have been a member
of the Alliance board
since it was formed in
2009. Originally I was asked to join because
of my knowledge of older people’s services at
the time was then working for Age UK,
Cambridgeshire. My fellow board members
kindly allowed me to stay on when I moved
to become Chief Executive of Red2Green, a
local charity providing a range of services for
people with disabilities.
As well as working in the voluntary sector, I
have held leadership roles in the public sector
for 11 years. I was Chair of Cambridgeshire
Police Authority for three years until the
Authority was abolished in November 2012.
In January I was delighted to be appointed as
Chair of Healthwatch Cambridgeshire.
Healthwatch is a powerful consumer voice for
those who use health and social care
services. I see my links with the Alliance and
my work at Red2Green as being key to
ensuring that Healthwatch takes account of
the experiences of people with disabilities.
Focus on transport
Transport has always been an issue for
people with disabilities and although some
effort is being made to improve accessibility
there is still a long way to go.
Bus Travel
The Stagecoach guided buses are all
accessible now, allowing people to get
from Huntingdon to Cambridge and even from
Cambridge to
Peterborough. This is
somewhat good news
BUT they only have one
wheelchair space
available on each bus.

4. 4
Unfortunately when you wait for the bus, you
don’t know if the wheelchair space is already
occupied.
The X5 route between Oxford and
Cambridge is also advertised a wheelchair
friendly BUT to guarantee your space
Stagecoach ask that telephone them 24
hours in advance to you book your space.
Like the guided buses, they have only one
wheelchair space and if you just turn up at
the bus stop, the space may already be
taken. In addition, we have been told of
instances when people with power chairs
have not been allowed on board because
their wheelchair can’t be locked down.
If you live out of town, busses are generally
not accessible to get to the main towns.
Train
Journeys
The Department of Transport’s ‘Access for
all National Station Improvements’ project is
spending hundreds of millions to upgrade
stations.
Since 2006, 72 stations have been improved,
24 were upgraded in 2011/12 and in 2012/13
another 32 upgrades are expected. They
plan to have made 150 more “step free”
stations by 2015. If you would like
assistance when making a journey, such as
help getting on or off a train, or ramps for a
wheelchair, please contact the Train
Company that manages the station you are
departing from. You can contact them via
their website http://www.nationalrail.co.uk or
calling 08457 48 49 50.
This has to be good news and long overdue.
Nevertheless with only 60 London
underground stations accessible. Travelling
to your destination in London may well mean
that you have to leave the underground
several stops before or after your intended
destination and then travel the last bit of your
journey by taxi. Be careful, though and insist
that the taxi driver locks you wheelchair in
place otherwise you will have a very bumpy
ride!
If you have access to the internet, you can
download a step free tube map from http://
www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/ or you can
call Transport for London on 0343 222 1234
Having talked to members who have recently
travelled on the underground we are sure
most people would not be happy to attempt a
trip on their own.
Motabilty Scheme-News
Update
This week the DWP announced it would be
holding a further consultation on the mobility
component of Personal Independence
Payment (PIP).
The department has received significant
feedback from people with disabilities and
their organisations. who want a further
opportunity to comment on the finalised
assessment criteria rules around the mobility
component of PIP. That is why they are now
giving notice of a further consultation to be
launched in late June. Minister for Disabled
People, Esther McVey said:
“Throughout the process of
developing the new benefit we have
listened to the feedback we have
received and made significant
changes to the assessment as a
direct result of this feedback. This
includes holding one of the biggest
consultations ever at DWP.
We have listened to disabled people
and their organisations who wanted a
further consultation, so that is what we
are doing.”
DWP has already announced they will be
carrying out an independent review in 2014
and will consider its findings before

5. 5
reassessing the majority of existing DLA
claimants.
Until 2015 PIP is only applicable to new
claimants or those with a change of
condition. The implications of these changes
will not become totally apparent until late
2015/ 16.
Claims for PIP will continue to be processed
under the current benefit rules until the
outcome of the consultation are decided.
If you own your own car and get exemption
from vehicle excise duty (road tax), once you
are receiving PIP you will only get this
exemption if you receive the enhanced
mobility element of PIP. However if you
receive the standard mobility element you
will be able to get a 50% reduction in your
road tax.
Sunday 30th June 2013: Roll and Stroll,
This year the Papworth Trust are organising
the 'Roll and Stroll' at Hinchingbrooke
Country Park.
It will be family a fun day. People of all ages,
with or without wheels, are welcome to take
part. You can choose between two, three
and six miles rout around lakes, meadows,
woodlands and wildlife. The 2 mile route is
fully accessible. Well behaved dogs are also
welcome, making it a suitable outing for the
entire family.
At the finish line there will be a number of
activities and entertainment. Children will be
able to enjoy the adventure play area while
the grown-ups relax in the café.
A BBQ and arts and crafts shopping stalls
will add to the festive atmosphere.
Although the price of the registration will go
to Papworth Trust. The sponsorship money
you raise can be allocated to your
designated charity. If you register online, you
must also tell them by email or phone
beforehand you are doing it for your charity.
If you register on the day you have to write it
on the sponsorship form.
Advance registration costs £8 for adults, £3
for under 16s and £20 for families of 4.
Prices for entry on the day are £10 for adults,
£5 for children and £25 for families of 4.
Registration will be open from 9am, with
stalls and entertainment from 10am. The
sponsored walk will start promptly at 11am.
Entertainment, BBQ, stalls and children's
play area open until 3pm. To find out more
and buy tickets, please visit
www.rollandstroll.eventbrite.com or call the
Papworth fundraising team on 01480
357206.
27-29th June Mobility Roadshow
This year it is being held in Telford
International Centre. If want to make a
weekend of it you can visiting the nearby
Ironbridge (approx. 3 miles away). Entry is
free.
Saturday 13th July: Get Going Live !
This is an exciting all day driving experience
organised by Motability, for young and newly
disabled people taking place at Donington
Park.
Did you know that young people with
disabilities could get their driving licence at
16 rather that 17? That could mean no more
relying on friends or family for lifts. Driving
can open up lots of new opportunities for
work, studying – and, of course, a social life!
This is a unique event for young people with
disabilities who want to find out more about
learning to drive and acquiring their first
vehicle. It is also a great event for people of
any age who are returning to driving after
becoming disabled.
http://getgoinglive.co.uk/
What’s on
In response to feedback from our members
we want to create a regular ‘what’s on’
feature. If you have an event you want to
promote, please sent us an email on
admin@cambridgeshirealliance.org.uk,
Or via our website.

6. 6
Sunday 14th July Disability Sports Festival
Huntingdonshire Disability Sports Forum's
Annual Outdoor Sports Festival offers people
with disabilities the opportunity to take part in a
an number of different sports and other activities.
The Festival will be held at One Leisure St Ives
Outdoor Complex, from10:30am to 4pm, with
four different activity blocks followed by some fun
races and presentations.
Spaces on activities are limited, so please
complete a booking form to avoid
disappointment. Booking forms are available at
www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk/disabilitysport
or call 01480 388842,
Sunday 14th
July Disability Awareness Day
Walton Hall Gardens, Walton Lea Road, Higher
Walton, Warrington. WA4 6SN.
Disability Awareness Day is the world's largest
'not for profit' voluntary-led disability exhibition. It
is held annually in a huge tented village within
the grounds of Walton Hall Gardens. The theme
this year is "Promoting Independence
Throughout Life & Work". The show opens at
10am and finishes at 5pm, Entrance and
programme are free.
Helping hand - Did you
know?
Theatre discounts
Most theatres around the UK offer people with
disabilities and their carers’ discounts on their
tickets. You often have to book tickets in
advance by phone because many of the internet
sites can not discount tickets online; be careful
with the London theatres - some are not
wheelchair accessible so you may be asked to
transfer to a seat.
Do you have a Cinema Exemption Card?
Anyone who receives DLA can apply for one.
This allows your carer in for free to the majority
of cinemas in the UK. It costs £5.50 per year.
Apply www.ceacard.co.uk. They will need a
photo for the card.
Or Disabled persons railcard ?
It allows you and a companion to travel with a
third off most ‘off peak’ train fares. It costs £20
year or £54 for three years. Be alert though! On
some journeys, if you are travelling with three or
more companions, it may be cheaper not to use
your railcard.
Extra Tax Allowance
People who are registered blind are entitled to
an extra personal tax allowance. The personal
allowance at present is £9440 and an extra
£2160 for those registered blind. If their earnings
are not enough to use all the tax allowance the
HMRC can transfer some to a spouse or civil
partner.
Carers Working Group
Thursday 25th July 10am – 12.00pm
Horizon Centre, Coldhams Lane, Cambridge, CB1 3HY
If you provide unpaid care to a family member, friend or neighbour, we need your help. The Alliance
is working with Cambridge County Council to organise a working group to review the results of their
recent Carers survey. We want your thoughts on what the survey results mean and how we can use
that information to improve services for Carers.
For further information, or to get involved, please contact:
Alena Taylor Telephone 0300 111 2301, email: Alena@cambridgeshirealliance.org.uk
Send your comments and suggestions
for the next newsletter to:
Cambridgeshire Alliance for
Independent Living
Lower Pendrill Court, Ermine Street North
Papworth Everard, CB23 3UY
0300 111 2301
www.cambridgeshirealliance.org.uk