Children are the stars in the latest, hot-off-the-press issue of your FREE and favourite All Together NOW!
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p11 p9 p5 p7 p14 p20 TAKE ME HOME! TAKE ME HOME! TAKE ME HOME! TAKE ME HOME! opening doors . . . broadening minds When you’ve finished reading this paper please pass it on to a friend or neighbour When you’ve finished reading this paper please pass it on to a friend or neighbour 420,000 READERS! FEBRUARY-MARCH, 2012 TILLY’S TILLY’S MINT! MINT! FIVE SUPER SEED PACKS TO BE WON WIN! WIN! WIN! STRETCH YOURSELF! TV’s Hilary is a very caring Dragon . . . Alesha joins in the fight for kids RAFA’S STARS RAFA’S STARS STEVE’S STARS STEVE’S STARS Morgan Foundation make a dream come true Morgan Foundation make a dream come true p27 p10 p12 p11 p9 p21 p15-18 page 11 420,000 READERS! Supermarkets help to distribute YOUR favourite charity paper! TILLY’S MINT! READ ALL ABOUT IT! From skiing, to sailing, to safaris, she’s done it all . . . Now comes HER book! p3
Transcript
p11p9p5 p7 p14 p20
TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!opening doors . . . broadening minds
When you’ve finished reading this paper please pass it on to a friend or neighbourWhen you’ve finished reading this paper please pass it on to a friend or neighbour
420,000 READERS!
FEBRUARY-MARCH, 2012
TILLY’STILLY’S MINT!MINT!
FIVE SUPERSEEDPACKSTO BE WON
WIN! WIN! WIN!
STRETCHYOURSELF!
TV’s Hilary is a verycaringDragon . . .
Aleshajoins inthe fightfor kids
RAFA’S STARSRAFA’S STARS
STEVE’S STARSSTEVE’S STARS
Morgan Foundation makea dream come trueMorgan Foundation makea dream come true
p27
p10p12p11
p9
p21
p15-18
page 11
420,000 READERS!
Supermarkets help todistribute YOURfavourite charity paper!
TILLY’S MINT!
READ ALL ABOUT IT!
From skiing,to sailing,to safaris,she’s doneit all . . .Now comesHER book!p3
All Together NOW! is exceptionally well received by its readers.210,000 readers DO NOT see any other local paper — The Murray Consultancy‘
n All Together NOW! is aregistered charity set up toprovide a tip top news servicefor anyone whose life isaffected by disability, long-term healthcondtions or age.n The charity reliesentirely on supportfrom its sponsors,advertisers andfrom general subscriptionsand grants.n You can contact us on
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NEWS p2-8
HAVE YOUR SAY p6
BANK WORKERS CHARITY p7
THE MORGAN FOUNDATION p9
GETTING ON p10
UNITED UTILITIES p11
CAREZONE p12
FAMILYZONE p13
MERSEYTRAVEL p14
MOTORZONE p15-18
SUPRMARKET NEWS p19
SKILLZONE p20-21
HEALTHZONE p22-23
THEATRE GUIDE p24-25
ASTRALZONE p26
GARDENING p27
PUZZLEZONE p28-29
CONTACT BOARD p30
SPORTZONE p31-32
bring moreCuts will
ACCESS improvementsare to be carried out at18 North West railwaystations.
Accessible toilets areto be built at Bebington,Birkenhead Park,Bromborough,Cressington, EasthamRake, Fazakerley,Freshfield, Green Lane,Leasowe, Manor Road,Moreton, Old Roan,Orrell Park, St Michael’s,Seaforth & Litherland,Spital and Town Green.
A new footbridsge andtwo lifts will be installedat Birchwood,Warrington.
Pupils with head teacher John Parkes (front) Cllr Jackie Harris (rear, left), and visiting teachers
CHILDREN with specialneeds handed outsome important
lessons to teachers fromEurope.
It was all part of a visit to findout about the exciting programmeof outdoor education for pupilswith physical disabilities andcomplex needs at SpingfieldSchool, Kirkby, Merseyside.
Twelve teachers from Estonia,Spain and Turkey had a packeditinerary that included meetingpupils from the school’s Duke ofEdinburgh group who all recently
achieved their bronze award –and trips to nearby Acorn Farmand Bendrigg Outdoor EducationCentre in Kendal, which theschool uses for residential trips.
Pupils also demonstratedhorticultural skills they havelearnt through tending theschool’s garden and visits to thePark Haven Trust’s extensivegardens in Maghull.
Head teacher John Parkes said:“Special education is in itsinfancy in many partner countriesand children with profound andmultiple learning difficulties are
often cared for at home and don’tattend school.
“Seeing first-hand the range ofoutdoor education on offer atSpringfield School has reallyinspired the group who plan to goback and share ideas in their owncountries.
“It’s also been a greatopportunity for our pupils whohave enjoyed showcasing theirskills and talents and meetingpeople from overseas, which hasbeen a first for many of ouryoungsters.”
Pupils show teaches hoe it’s done!
CHEERS to everyone atCheshire’s Tunnel Toppub for their new beer
brewed by a team of disabledworkers.
Priory Ale – fermented next tothe walled gardens of NortonPriory Museum – is the lateststage in a council project whichhas seen adults with disabilitiesrunning a cafe/restaurant at thePriory and a hairdressers salonin Runcorn.
Moira Johnson, landlady of theTunnel Top, in Dutton, nearDaresbury, said: “The pub hasgained recognition from CAMRAfor the quality of beer served,and we are really pleased to be
able to offer this excellent newbeer to our customers.”
Over the past three yearsHalton council’s services foradults with disabilities has beensteadily adding to its range ofbusinesses.
Disabled people are alsoinvolved in catering, marketgardening, cake and
confectionary production, eggproduction, and bicycle renting.
The latest brewing venture is incollaboration with Wigan’sProgress Brewery.
Cllr Marie Wright, Halton’sexecutive board member forhealth and adults, said: “We arevery proud that we are leadingthe nation in this type of work.”
CHEERS: Tunnel Top landlord Kevin Johnson, left, with Andy Griffin,brewer; Neil Warburton, master brewer; and landlady, Moira Johnson
New beer isthe perfectcheer forus workers!
THE Government’s latestdecision to carry onregardless with theircontroversial welfarereform bill, despite aseries of defeats in theHouse of Lords, meanseven more misery on theway for lots of disabledfamilies.
Disability Rights UK, amembershiporganisationrepresenting over 500organisations across thecountry, say one-third ofall disabled peoplealready live in poverty –and that the new Bill willenforce destitution forsome families andindividual disabledpeople.
The Bill will cut 280,000disabled people fromreceiving out of workbenefits altogether and500,000 disabled peoplewill be made ineligiblefor a benefit designed tohelp with disabledpeople’s higher costs ofliving.
Neil Coyle, at DisabilityRights UK, said: “TheGovernment hascompletely failed toanalyse the full impactand cost of proposals.
“Cuts haveconsequences fordisabled people andtheir families, but willalso mean the NHS andcouncils experiencehigher costs throughhigher health, care andpoverty needs.”
TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!
Us On:Centrally Located In Town Centre At Rear Of ‘Wilkinsons’58 Claughton Street, St. Helens Town Centre
SALES, REPAIR & SERVICING
OF ALL MOBILITY & DISABILITYPRODUCTS
Hop to it – Frogtasticcomes to Chester!
All change at Lifehouse
Bad guy, good guysACTOR Andrew Lancel, who playsCoronation Street’s bad guy FrankFoster, is to host a new awards night foryoung people.
The Wirral Youth Heroes Awardspresentation evening, taking place atThornton Hall Hotel on February 24,recognise some of the region’s mostinspirational young people.
The nine categories includeovercoming illness/disability.
n Contact Wirral Youth for Christ, tel0151 647 8400 www.youthheroes.org.uk
FROGTASTIC, the club night for adultswith learning disabilities – run byManchester-based The Heroes Project –is launching a new event in Chester inMarch.
Terry Snowden, principal at the HeroesProject charity that run the club nights,said: “Since we started six years ago,Frogtastic events in Manchester andPreston have proved to be hugelypopular. Now we want to establish asuccessful sister club night in Chester.”
The club nights are staged in tightlycontrolled and safe environments andwith a strict over 18 admissions policy.
The first Frogtastic Chester Club Nighttakes place on Wednesday March 7 atThe Laugh Inn, Station Road, Chester.
Admission to all Frogtastic events isstrictly by advance ticket only (£6).Contact The Heroes Project on 07875142233 or visitnwww.heroesproject.org.uk
YOUNG Jai Harrison Howellis ready to tell his life storyat a big launch day – not
bad for someone who’s just 12years-old and unable to talk.
Jai, who has cerebral palsy anduses an electronic aid tocommunicate, is a special guest atthe start-up event for the Cheshireand Merseyside branch of 1Voice, acharity that brings together peoplewho talk through AAC (augmentativeand alternative communication)systems.
Jai, together with his teacher,Amanda Voller, will be discussing theuse of AAC within a schoolenvironment.
Jai’s father Greg, who helped set up thenew branch, said: “Ever since we went to a1Voice Christmas weekend in Blackpool five
years ago, Jai’s whole attitudetowards his communication aidchanged,
“It was all due to meeting otherusers in a similar situation to himself,”said Greg,
Jai, a pupil at Foxfields, Moreton,also uses his AAC for surfing the net.
Disabled dance workshop leaderAlan Martin, who starred in BBC3’scomedy I’m With Stupid, will also bediscussing his life with – and without –AAC at the launch.
The open day takes place onFebruary 14, (1pm-4pm), at NewBrighton’s Floral Pavilion.Contact Gregg on 07537 49911Email: [email protected]
www.1voice.info
LIVERPOOL’S Disabled Living Centre isto be run by Warrington DisabilityPartnership.
The new service, which gets underway at the Lifehouse in BrunswickDock in April, will offer a range of highquality mobility and independent livingproducts at competitive prices, similarto the charity’s Centre for IndependentLiving Showroom/services inWarrington.
Dave Thompson, founder andchairman of WDP, said: “We aredelighted to have the opportunity towork with Liverpool City Council,Liverpool Community Health and localdisability organisations andindividuals.”
Hello!THE Big Lottery Fund – and supermarketbosses across the North West – have givenyour FREE and favourite All Together NOW!paper the perfect start for 2012!
Our unique charity has been handedalmost £10,000 from the Big Lottery’sAwards for All scheme to get more freecopies of the multi award-winning paper intoGreater Manchester.
And 39 supermarket chiefs at Asda,Sainsbury’s Tesco and Booths are placingnow our distinctive “pick-up” boxes in theirstores.
It all means that 110,000 papers are rollingoff the presses every two months – almostdoubling last summer’s figures ANDsignificantly more than any other regionalnewspaper in the North West!
The Lottery funding is in recognition of theinnovative way that the charity is gettingnews and information to the vast numbersof people who are affected by disability andage – and the way the newspaper is helpingthe public to better understand the issuesthat surround disability.
Supported by Merseytravel, UnitedUtilities, Park Group, The MorganFoundation, The Bank Workers Charity, andLiverpool Community College, All TogetherNOW! is the only paper of its kind in theUK.
A big thanks to everyone who is helping tomake the paper such a success.
We’re back in the spring – Tuesday 3 Aprilto be precise.
280,000 – two-thirds of All Together NOW! readers – DO NOT readany other disability or health publication — The Murray Consultancy‘
for life insurance
Seeing the light
Shaw Trust merger?
Big changes on way
‘The Games:who gains?
CELEBRITY chef Tony Singh has teamed up withchildren from the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh tocreate a special Braille recipe book.
Dishes such as Haggis Pakora, Blood Bay Scallopswith Lemon Galette and Rioja Cake with Figs are amongthe 43 mouth-watering recipes included in the book,which is also available in large print.
Tony, who owns exclusive Edinburgh eatery Olorosoand has appeared on TV’s Ready Steady Cook, said:“Cooking is about creating and enjoying delicious mealstogether and visual impairment should not act as abarrier to this fundamental, fun part of life.”nThe special Braille cookbooks are available fromRoyal Blind by calling 0131 229 1456 or from theBraille press shop: www.royalblind.org/shopLET’S COOK: Tony Singh with (from left) Bilal Iqbal, Natasha Stevens, Jake
Murray and Christina Tytler
Braille cook book
HOME lights are stopping us feelingsleepy - with serious consequences forour health, researchers have found.
The evening light we are exposed toindoors suppresses the rise of thesleep-inducing hormone melatonin,making us more inclined to delaybedtime.
But many of us still have to get upearly in the morning – leaving us tocope with the affects of sleepdeprivation on our well-being.
Researchers at University of Surreyand at the Surrey Sleep ResearchCentre found that by reducing overalllight intensity or using yellow light withminimal blue content, or both, thedisruptive effects of evening light canbe greatly reduced.
The research will be used in thedebate about double summertime, laterschool start times and other decisionsto be made about when we sleep andwake.
PLANS to allow more people to insurethe lives of those on whom they aredependent are being considered.
The existing law is based on the LifeAssurance Act 1774, which prohibitspeople from insuring the lives ofothers without an “insurable interest”.
This means that you can insure yourown life or the life of your husband,wife or civil partner – but you have noautomatic right to insure the life ofsomeone else, such as a live-inpartner, parent or child.
Now the Law Commission of Englandand Wales and the Scottish LawCommission are seeking views onwhether the existing rules should bechanged to allow people to insureanother’s life where:nThere is a real probability that thepolicyholder will benefit economicallyfrom the continued life of the insuredor suffer economic loss if they die, ornWhere a couple have lived togetherin the same household as spouses forfive years before the start of thepolicy.nThe consultation paper is availableat: www.lawcom.gov.uk
DESPITE the millions beingspent on the LondonParalympics, disabled people
remain sceptical about the impactthe Games will have onattitudestowards disability.
Only one-third of disabled people planto watch all or most of the events – andone-fifth say that the Paralympic Gamesmake them feel patronised and secondclass.
And while the wider public isenthusiastic about the potential impact ofthe Paralympics only 18% are excitedenough that they intend to watch most orall of the Games.
Parents of disabled children are themost likely to say that they will watch allor a lot of the Paralympic events (45%).
The findings come from a Scope-commissioned poll, and suggest that theParalympics has a crucial role to play at atime when attitudes towards disabled peopleare getting worse.
Alice Maynard, chair of disability charityScope, said: “The games need to be aboutmore than just the athletes – they need toengage all disabled people.
“Changing attitudes is about visibility andincreased familiarity in everyday life.
“But if the only disabled people to get anyprofile out of the games are Paralympians –and their feats of sporting success – then it isunlikely that the games will do much tochange people’s perceptions of ordinarydisabled people.
“The challenge for London 2012 is to makesure disabled people are involved not just ontrack and field but throughout the games andthe celebrations before and afterwards.”
Tim Hollingsworth, chief executive at theBritish Paralympic Association, said: “No onedisputes that the Paralympic Games has acrucial role to play in changing perceptions ofdisability.
“The Paralympics is already the secondlargest sporting event in the world, andLondon will see it take another huge leapforward in terms of awareness andunderstanding.
“We are working hard, along with Channel 4,the BBC and the London 2012 Organising
Committee, to raise the profile of the Games,our sports and athletes. “While there is anagenda in terms of attitudes and perceptionsof disability, the BPA wants as many peopleas possible, both disabled and non-disabled,to watch the Paralympics because it is aworld- class sporting event in its own right.”n The Paralympics: Aug 29 to Sept 9 .
nThe survey is the fifth in a series ofattitude polls commissioned by Scope tobuild a clearerpicture ofdisabled people’slives in Britaintoday.
TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!
Why disabledpeople havea downer onParalympics
LONDON DATE: Oscar Pistoris is set for theParalympics, but Scope says the Games needto be much more about changing attitudesthan raising the profile of disabled athletes
nDISABLED people experienceddiscrimination on a daily or weeklybasis, according to a Scope pollcarried out last May.nAnd more than a third felt thatpublic attitudes towards them havegot worse over the past year.nThis new survey suggests thingshave got worse since then.n47% said people’s attitudestowards them have got worse overthe past year (May 2011: 37%)n66% of disabled people say thatthey have experienced aggression,hostility or name calling (May 2011:41%)nAlmost half (46%) of the disabledpeople questioned said theyexperience discrimination on eithera daily or weekly basis – a slightdrop on the previous survey, butthis remains alarmingly high (May2011: 50%)n73% of disabled people said theyfelt others presumed they did notwork (May 2011: 50%)
ATTITUDES WORSEN
Mylittle sister is
disabled and it isgreat to get to know
about all the different thingsthat are happening that could
help her. All Together NOW! is apositive influence that helps togive independence to everyone.
Thanks — David Nicolson,Memorial Avenue,Stornoway, Isle of
Lewis
Why I love this paper
TWO of the UK’s leading employmentsupport charities, Shaw Trust andCareers Development Group, areconsidering a merger.
John Briffitt, chairman of Shaw Trust,said: “For the last thirty years, ShawTrust has worked at the heart of thecommunity, helping thousands ofdisabled or disadvantaged people tobuild confidence, motivation and theskills to find and sustain work.
“That mission continues but we alsofully recognise the ever-growingchallenge of delivering vital services toour clients with the realities of a morecommercially driven welfare state.
“We think that a blending of ShawTrust and CDG may potentially bettermeet this challenge.”
“I’m on a mission to get the nation saving” - Coleen Nolan
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Scenting victoryScenting victoryTHE NHS could save at least £280mover 10 years and improve the livesof hundreds of young people if itimproved referrals for epilepsysurgery, charity Young Epilepsy hasclaimed.
Evidence collected by the charityindicates that 400 people aged 18 oryounger should be referred forpotentially life-changing epilepsysurgery each year but in reality only100 are.
Of those that undergo surgery, 70%lead seizure-free lives afterwardswhile a further 20% see a reduction inthe number of seizures they have.
Surgery costs £20,000 perpersonbut the charity says that onaverage this would be repaid in three-and-a-half-years.
Young Epilepsy suggests that moreyoung people be referred for surgery,something that would not onlyimprove the lives of the individualsbut also save the NHS money.
Savings would be made in benefitspayments, supported living costs,social care services, use of mentalhealth services and loss ofproductivity to the UK economy.nwww.youngepilepsy.org.uk.
SALFORD and Eccles MP HazelBlears has been finding out howsmells are being used to help
children with sight and hearing loss.Ms Blears visited a world-leading project in
Manchester aimed at helping children withsensory loss to communicate better by usingfragrances.
Working together, the Seashell Trust charity,which provides services for children withsensory impairments, and PZ Cussonsfragrance house are investigating howolfaction – or, put simply, smelling – can helpdeafblind young people.
The work has attracted interest fromAmerica and Denmark. Now Ms Blears hopesshe can apply the results of theirinvestigations to her involvement with the all-party parliamentary group on dementia.
She said: “The innovation shown both byCussons and the Seashell Trust is fantasticand shows just how by working together amajor company and a charity can usesomething like smell to change people’slives.”
Anne Gough, Deputy Head of Royal SchoolManchester, the Seashell Trust’s residentialspecial school, said: “Simple things likemaking food or drink choices based on smell
have been successfully introduced into ourcurriculum.
“In addition, research aimed at enhancingmulti-sensory experiences for students hastaken place. A simple example is releasingthe scent of burning wood at Bonfire Nightcelebrations.”
Brandon Leigh, fro PZ Cussons, said:
“We are delighted to have forged such closelinks with the Seashell Trust and that ourexpertise in fragrance is helping with theamazing work the Trust does.
“We are looking forward to exploring withthe Seashell Trust and Hazel Blears how wecan link into the work which is being done bythe parliamentary group on dementia.”
AROMA THERAPY: Hazel Blears and Kate Williams, PZ Cussons perfumer
Registered Company Ltd by Shares No. 07491504VAT Registration No. 104 8436 30
DISABLED people are beinginvited to help shape futureGovernment policy to help
break down the barriers to socialmobility and equal opportunities.
Minister for Disabled People, Maria Millersaid: “The Government is committed toenabling disabled people to fulfil theirpotential and have the opportunity to playa full role in their community.
“Some of the barriers in society whichstop that happening have been removedover the past 40 years but there is farmore to do, even at a time when thecountry’s finances are under greatpressure.
“Working with disabled people I nowwant to ensure that there is a clear focusin place across Government so that themoney that is available takes full accountof disabled people.
“By working together we can ensure thatthis country remains a worldwide leader indisability equality.”
A discussion document – FulfillingPotential – outlines three main areas fordiscussion: realising aspirations,increasing individual control andchanging attitudes and behaviours.
You have until March 9 to have your say. www.odi.gov.uk/fulfillingpotential
University honour for Dave
ALL SMILES: Ruth Gould and DaDa chair Gary Timperley,left, receiving the award from Paul Lee and Geoffrey Piperfrom North West Business Leadership team
Have YOUR say!
PEOPLE who murder disabled ortransgender people in hate crimeattacks will face life sentences with astarting point of 30 years.
The Ministry of Justice plans to amendthe Criminal Justice Act 2003 so thatmurders motivated by hatred orhostility towards disabled ortransgender victims will have the samestarting point as for murdersaggravated by race, religion and sexualorientation.
This will double the current startingpoint for disability and transgender hatecrime murders.
The Act will also be updated so thatwhere any offence is shown to bemotivated by hostility towards thevictim on the grounds of transgender,as well as race, religion, sexualorientation, and disability, sentencesmust be made more severe.
This will mean all five monitoredstrands of hate crime will be reflectedequally in these provisions.
Hate crime and students – Page 21
LIVERPOOL-based DaDa, whoorganise DaDaFest, the annualdisability and deaf artsfestival, have scooped thisyear’s £10,000 Lever Prizeaward.
The Lever Prize, launched sevenyears ago, is judged by the NorthWest Business Leadership Team,which comprises seniorrepresentatives of the 30 largest
companies, in partnership with Arts& Business North.
Ruth Gould, chief executive ofDaDa, said: “We are delighted theNWBLT have acknowledged theunique work DaDaFest does inrepresenting disability and deafculture in the North West andinternationally.”
DaDaFest 2012 takes placefrom July 13 September 2.
DaDa wins £10,000 award
ONE of the North West’s leadingdisability champions has beenhonoured by Chester University.
Dave Thompson, founder and chair ofWarrington Disability Partnership,received a Master of BusinessAdministration for his outstandingcontribution to the promotion of disabilityawareness.
In his acceptance speech, Dave paidtribute to his family and colleagues atWDP.
Dave is currently assistant director ofinclusion and partnerships at the 5Boroughs Partnership NHS Trust.
In June 2001 he received an MBE forservices to disabled people and theNHS; in 2004 he received the PaulHarris Fellowship, aninternational awardfrom the RotaryFoundation.
In 2006 Dave wascommissioned aDeputy Lieutenant ofthe County ofCheshire.
NEW HONOUR: Dave Thompson and ProfessorTim Wheeler, vice chancellor and principal,Chester University Picture: Ede & Ravenscroft
nBARONESS Tanni Grey-Thompson, left, provided aninspirational talk to almost 200 people who attended anInternational Day of Persons with Disabilities event atLend Lease’s Regent’s Place, Warrington. nWDP have organised another fundraising scuba divingevent at Woolston Leisure Centre on Saturday February25 from 5.30pm - 8.00pm.WDP, tel 01925 240064
Health rallyHUNDREDS of health service workersfrom across the North West will betaking part in a London rally to stop theHealth and Social Care Bill.
Andrew Lansley’s Bill is hugelyunpopular with employees and patients,who fear the private sector could takeover NHS services.
TUC Deputy General SecretaryFrances O’Grady said: “Peers mustlisten to the concerns of the people thatknow the NHS best - the staff who workin it.
“We hope our rally (March 7) willprovide the opportunity for NHSworkers and patients to send a loudmessage across Parliament Square toconvince the House of Lords that thisBill would be a disaster for the NHS.”
REGULAR readers will probablyalready know about me and theBank Workers Charity.
But in case you’re new to this great paper,I’ll tell you a bit more about us.
I’m Fred Payne, theChief Executive of theBank WorkersCharity (BWC) – along establishedcharity, providinghelp and supportfor current andex-bank workersacross the country.
It will be a year in Maythat we changed our namefrom the Bankers Benevolent Fund to theBank Workers Charity which was the start ofa new ambition to help more people withlife’s challenges than ever before.
Since then we’ve been updating ourwebsite with new services, like our BeatingStress Interactive. This is an online tool tohelp you get to grips with stress.
If you’re got access to the internet it’s
worth having a look by visitingwww.bwcharity.org.uk/services/beatingstress
We are continuing to expand our servicesto be able to offer more practicalinformation, advice, specialist services -plus financial support to help people throughdifficult times.
We’re also looking at further opportunitiesto support people, for example, in areassuch as breast cancer, dementia, youthunemployment and mental health.
Yes, we’ve been pretty busy!Our research shows that up to 50,000
people with banking connections in the UK– 5,000 in the North West – have to copewith different challenges.
Balancing the stresses and strains of workand family pressures, perhaps relating tocaring for children or other relatives, mightnot be easy. Then there are any financial orhealth problems.
Our partnerships with experts continues tobe a great way to bring you many of ourservices, so that help and support is tailoredto your specific needs.
One such partnership is with Arthritis Care.It’s proving to be another great success andtogether we might be able to help you or
someone you know.With one third of our clients suffering from
arthritis or mobility related conditions, thepartnership with Arthritis Care, was anobvious choice.
We’re now a year into our 18-month pilotscheme, aiming to help 200 people witharthritis. Our support provides people with adedicated client manager who guides themthrough a wide range of services, includingaccess to a confidential helpline run byqualified counsellors, a tailored pack ofpublications on living with arthritis,understanding the condition, practicalsupport and treatment information.
There’s also one year’s free membershipto Arthritis Care and access to an onlinecommunity of over 15,000 active members.And through Arthritis Care’s pioneering self-management training courses, clients canachieve long lasting benefits in pain control,symptom relief and quality of life.
The service has recently expanded toinclude access to specialised services suchas welfare benefits advice, physiotherapyand telephone counselling (dependent onthe BWC eligibility criteria).
ANJALI Walker is an employeeof HSBC on long-termdisability.
She is severely affected bymusculoskeletal problems includingosteoarthritis in her knees, andrepetitive strain injury in her arms,hands and fingers.
Anjali has benefited in the past fromsupport from the Bank WorkersCharity but recently she was also ableto get a grant for a specialist chair thatgives her with much needed relief.
In addition, through our partnershipwith Arthritis Care, she now getstailored information to help her learnmore about her condition, and how tomanage it.
Anjali says: “It was depressing tofind that I had osteoarthritis at arelatively young age and to know I’llbe in pain for the rest of my life.
“But the support I’ve received fromBWC and Arthritis Care has beenwonderful, both practically andpsychologically. I don’t feel so alone,and I’m more motivated.
“There’s a lot of information to takein, but I can call Adele, my clientmanager at Arthritis Care, and I knowshe’ll do her best to help.
“Pain isn’t much fun, but it helps toknow someone understands andcares.”
SINCE our partnership began withArthritis Care, the feedback fromclients has been great . . .
Here’s how we arehelping people . . .
100%of clients
felt their needswere
completelyunderstood
81%of clients
had previouslynever heard ofArthritis Care
81%of clients
are receivingongoingsupport
THE Bank Workers Charity existsto help anyone currentlyworking, or who has worked, in
the banking industry who has hithard times.
We know there are thousands ofAll Together NOW! readers whocould benefit from our supportservices – we just need to know whoYOU are!
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We will also keep you regularlyinformed about the kind of supportwe are giving to people across theUK, and keep you posted on any newinitiatives (ours, or those of othercharities) which we think you mightbenefit from.
We’ll even enter you in our specialprize draws to win £50 Marks &Spencer gift vouchers.
So register now – you haveabsolutely nothing to lose andmaybe lots to gain.
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In the past year All Together NOW! has increased its readership by 20%due to its availability in MAINSTREAM outlets — The Murray Consultancy‘
CYCLING adventurerAndrew Wright did notplan any old charity bike
ride for his new money-raisingeffort.
John O’Groats to Lands End?He’s been there, done that, boughtthe T-shirt.
No, not only is Andrew – who hasbi-polar disorder – cycling alonethrough east Africa, but along theway he will travel among some ofKenya’s 40 tribes, cross theSerengeti National Park, pass overthe Aberdare Mountains, andspend five days climbing Africa’shighest mountain, 5,895 metre-Kilimanjaro.
Most people would feel exhaustedthinking about it but for Andrew,from Pickmere, Knutsford,Cheshire, this is just the latestinstalment in a quarter of a centuryof cycling that has covered anastonishing 26,000 miles, rangingfrom all over Europe, to NorthAfrica, Sri Lanka, and the MiddleEast.
His lone journey in east Africa isto raise funds for The AfricanSupport & Assistance Project,based at Mid-Cheshire College inNorthwich, where Andrew recentlystudied computer applications andbusiness.
The aim of the project is to raise£50,000 to build a new school in a
remote village in Lesotho insouthern Africa. It is hoped thatbuilding will begin in October.
Andrew, 49, was diagnosed as bi-polar in 1997 and spent time in themental health unit at LeightonHospital in Crewe. His condition isstabilised by various prescribedmedications.
He said: “It is a long standingdream to travel to East Africa andto see the wonderful sights,
landscapes and people. I want tostand with one foot in bothhemispheres, and thus in the wordsof the poet A E Houseman I will fora brief moment ‘wear the turningglobe’.
“One of my heros is the great20th century traveller WilfredThesiger. Thesiger lived amongthe Samburu tribe in the Marsabitarea in the later part of his life andI hope to reach Marsabit.”
Before returning home on March12, Andrew also plans to visit acharitable project, near Mombasa,Kenya, which is the work of theMethodist Church of Northwich.
THE first and onlydisabled person in theworld to leadexpeditions to both theNorth and South Poleswas among top UKexplorers andadventuers honouredby the Queen.
Michael McGrathjoined Sir DavidAttenborough, SirChris Bonington, SirRanulph Fiennes andMichael Palin at theBuckingham Palacereception timed tomark the 100thanniversary of CaptainRobert Scott’s finalexpedition to the SouthPole.
Michael said: “It wasa real honour to havebeen invited andterrific to hang out withso many legendaryadventurers.”
Michael wasdiagnosed with thegenetic muscle-wasting diseaseMuscular Dystrophywhen he was 18. Hefounded the MuscleHelp Foundationcharity in 2005, whichprovides unforgettableexperiences, known asMuscle Dreams, forchildren and youngpeople with thedisease.
ADVENTURER Michael at the South Pole – and with daughter, Gemma at the royal reception
YOUNG men livingwith DuchenneMuscular Dystrophyare to benefit from a£500,000 Big Lottery-backed scheme thatwill help them preparefor life after school.
Nick Catlin, head ofAction Duchennecharity, said: “TheTakin’ Charge schemewill offer an accreditede-learning programmethat will help equipyoung people withDuchenne to becomeadvocates forthemselves, openingthe door to newopportunities ineducation andemployment.
Life classes
Michael’strek to thePalace ...
ADVENTURE
Ride of his lifeRide of his life26,000 milesand counting
A GROUP of young disabledcampaigners told cinema bosses someof their own horror stories at many UKvenues – and demanded action to endthe “second-class service” they face.
After presenting a petition with morethan 1,000 signatures to 10 DowningStreet, the Muscular DystrophyCampaign Trailblazers group, grilled theheads of Odeon, Vue and Cineworld ontheir commitment to overcoming majorinconsistencies in the experiences oftheir disabled customers.
Trailblazer Tanvi Vyas, 28, who led thecampaign said:“When you have had towait weeks to see a new release at yourlocal venue – as it isn’t being shown onan accessible screen, when you areunable to book your seat online, whenyou have to turn up on the day withyour fingers crossed, hoping that thedisabled spaces will be available, whenyou are unable to sit with your friendsand you have an uncomfortable view ofthe screen, it is hard to accept that youare getting the same service for theticket price as everyone else.”
What the survey revealednOne in three of the major chaincinemas have bad or very bad views ofthe screen from the wheelchairaccessible seating area.nMore than half of all major chaincinemas have uncomfortable accessibleseating areas.nOne-third of the major chain cinemashave poor access between the ticketoffice and the auditorium.nOne in three of the major chaincinemas have bad or very bad staffdisability awareness.nAlmost half of independent and majorchain cinemas did not offer an onlineticket service for disabled customers
Earlier this year Trailblazers produceda documentary, Lights, Camera, Access,that highlighted some of the problemsthey encountered at 125 UK cinemas.
Their campaign is being backed byfilm industry figures including SimonPegg, Nick Frost, Miranda Richardsonand Sigourney Weaver.
nwww.mdctrailblazers.org
TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!
HERE at the Morgan Foundation we want tohelp organisations who share our philosophy– Making a Difference.
Over the past decade we have helped hundreds oforganisations across the region, committing morethan £9 million.
And this year we will be giving away to good causesa whopping £1.5 MILLION!
Created in 2001 by businessman Steve Morgan OBE,founder and chairman of Redrow plc, chairman of theBridgemere Group of Companies and WolverhamptonWanderers FC, the Morgan Foundation supportscharities across North Wales, Merseyside, WestCheshire and North Shropshire.
Our aim is to provide funding for small to medium
sized organisations who are addressing specificneeds in these regions. We are particularly keen tosupport those who have already begun to make animpact, but need a helping hand to expand their workand increase their effectiveness.
We focus our help mainly on those who work directlywith children and families but we recognise that manywider issues may also affect their welfare, so we areinterested in any project that contributes to the qualityof life in our region.
If you, your group or charity is based within ourgeographical area (see map, right) and you think wemight be able to help with your project then pleasecall our administrator, Jane Harris, BEFORE sendingyour application. Contact Jane on 01829 782800
Simply SPLASHING!A very specialdreamcomes trueALONG-STANDING dream to
build a hydrotherapy pool tohelp disabled children has
come true for pupils and staff at aspecial school in Wrexham.
When The Morgan Foundation heard ofthe painstaking efforts being made to raisefunds to build a pool at St Christopher’sschool they stepped in to help.
Not only did they donate more than£250,000 – they also teamed up withRedrow plc who masterminded the project.
Speaking at the opening of the state-of-the-art facility, Steve Morgan, founder andchairman of The Morgan Foundation, said:
“We are delighted with our associationwith St Christopher’s. I’m so proud ofeveryone who has been involved in thisproject, so proud of my colleagues atRedrow and proud of all the other peoplewho have been part of making this dreamcome true.
“To see the children’s happy, smiling facesin the pool today was just fantastic.
“The staff and all the children’s familiesare doing such a fabulous job here.
“With the Euro crisis and with what’shappening in the financial world, we maythink we have problems but take a look atthese children and think of the challengesthey are facing in their everyday lives.
“They are real superstars.”Mrs Maxine Pittaway, head teacher at St
Christopher’s, said: “We have been tryingto raise the funds for the pool for over tenyears and were starting to think that it wasa dream that would never be realised.”
During that time staff, families and friendsof the school all undertook a variety of
fundraising events but their goal seemedunattainable.
And along the way there were other crisesto deal with.
Mrs Pittaway continued: “We had a fireand the school buses were burnt out. Thenwe had a flood. But out of the gloom cameThe Morgan Foundation – and we just can’t
thank them enough.“The pool is going to make a big
difference to our pupils.“It’s really hard to imagine what it’s like to
be unable to move your legs and having torely on someone else to do it for you.
“Hydrotherapy sessions give the childrenthe chance to be in control of their own
body. The sessions help with their balance,confidence and gives them a sense offreedom and movement that they would nototherwise ever enjoy.”
After the opening of the pool, pupils puton a top class nautical themed concert forguests with plenty of singing, dancing androck ‘n’ rollin’ from the school band.
Simply SPLASHING!nSt Christopher’spupils includechildren with severe,complex andprofound learningdifficulties; highfunctioning autism,Down’s syndrome,extreme emotionaldisturbance andphysicalimpairments.nThe schoolexplores everypossible avenue ofopportunity toenhance the lifeexperience of eachchild. nPupils are preparedfor adult life andequipped with skillsthat may help withfuture employmentby working in theschool’s manyenterprises, whichinclude a communitycafé, a car valetingservice, a charityshop, nursery andvegetable gardens,hair and beautysalon, and theopportunity toachieve the Duke ofEdinburgh’s Award.
Schoolreport
Celebration time at St Christopher’s
OPEN FOR ACTION! Sophie Lay cuts theribbon helped by Steve Morgan, right,and Ian Lucas MP (Wrexham)
MOVING into a care homecan be an anxious time.But a new guide from
national charity Counsel andCare could take away a lot ofthe worries.
The Care Home Handbookcontains 56 pages of vitalinformation and guidance forolder people, their families andcarers, and involvedprofessionals
Supported by the Department ofHealth, it clearly sets your rights,the choices you can make, andthe control and independence
you should be able to retain. Theguide covers areas such as:n Who can help you to decidewhat would be the best care foryou.n Getting your needs assessedby the local council.n What alternatives there may beto going into a care home.n Will you have to pay anythingyourself?Living in a care home.
n To order a free copy call 0207241 8522.www.counselandcare.org.uk
Thinking of a care home?
QI ALWAYS enjoyed being afather but the going is not soeasy now I have moved in to
live with my daughter and teenagegrand-daughter.
My son-in-law walked out on them a yearago.
My daughter said I wasn’t eating properly,but I bitterly regret giving up my home,although I admit I am now better lookedafter.
I pay my way and when I moved in I tooksome good furniture and ornaments,thinking she would appreciate them.
In particular, there are some brasscandlesticks that I thought she would like.They were always in pride of place in ourold home – but they are still languishing inthe packing case with other things.
My teenage grand-daughter is quitedifferent from the smiling little girl I used toknow. She has no consideration for hermother who has to work hard and little timefor me. But my daughter just turns a blindeye when she brings in her badly behavedfriends who play loud music and turn thehouse upside down. I can’t help worryingabout how she will grow up.
AA three-generation householdoften presents problems and thetwo females in this one are
under stress, just as you are.But first, the candlesticks! You have
moved into your daughter’s house but thatdoesn’t mean she wants to have imposedon her the patterns of the past.
She wants her home to mirror her owntaste, and if she’s going out to work,cooking nice meals and doing threepeople’s washing, not to mention trying tokeep the peace, she might not have theenergy or enthusiasm for cleaning brasses.
Your grand-daughter is at the worstpossible age to cope with parental break-up.Hurt and angry, she could just have beenadjusting to a two-woman household whenanother person moved in.
A loved relative, yes, but not her dad. Shecould subconsciously be holding this againstyou and it is reflected in her behaviour.
Conflict over TV programmes and loudmusic is the norm with teenagers, and yourgrand-daughter is probably finding hermusic and her friends are helping to easethe pain, and her mother understands this.
Your daughter insisted you move in withthem and this indicates you were a gooddad. Try and see things more from theirpoint of view and you will be a model ofgood grand-parenting.
IT’S never too early, or too late, toprepare for later life, says nationalcharity Age UK.They have just come up with a recipe for
a long and healthy life – with top tips forageing better from expert researchers.
With genes only thought to make a 25%contribution to the length of life andfactors like lifestyle and nutrition makingup the remaining three quarters, followingthe tips can really make a difference.
One top tip comes from Professor ChrisGriffiths, of the University of Manchester,
whose research has shown that avoidingexcessive exposure to the sun canmaintain more youthful skin and preventwrinkles.
Professor Griffiths said: “There are waysin which we can maintain a more youthfuland less wrinkled skin.
“Not smoking, avoiding excessive sunexposure and using sunscreen can allprovide important health and beautybenefits to our skin.”
Age UK celebrity ambassador andfitness guru Rosemary Conley said: “The
older I get, the more convinced I am thatage is just a number.
“Through eating well, exercisingregularly and having a positive outlook Ifeel as young as ever. Everyone facesdifferent challenges with age and generalhealth and fitness differs from person toperson.
“However, I really believe that to a greatextent you’re in charge of your owndestiny and that if you look after yourself,and follow Age UK’s top tips, you will giveyourself a great chance of ageing well.”
Professor JamesGoodwin, head ofresearch at Age UK,said: “With the numberof people aged 60 orover expected to passthe 20 million mark by2031, these top tipsare really important.
“By bringing togetherglobal experts inageing research, weare aiming to showthat the message isclear: whether you are25 or 85, you can havea positive impact onyour life as you growolder.”n Age UK Advice, tel0800 169 65 65www.ageuk.org.uk
SENIOR MOMENTS . . . with FRANK HARRIS
1. Take regularexercise2. Engage sociallywith others3. Have a positiveattitude about ageing4. Eat a healthy diet5. Protect your eyes6. Don’t smoke7. Get regular healthcheck-ups8. Avoid excessivesun exposure9. Get sufficient,good-quality sleep10. Pay attention toyour pension, and getexpert financial
TOP TENTIPS . . .How to
stayyoung
Stretch yourself
LAST year was another poor year for pensions, withannuity income falling for a fourth consecutive year.
Over the course of 2011 the average income generated by astandard level without guarantee annuity (based on a £10Kpurchase price) fell by 8.4% for a 65-year-old male and 7.7%for an equivalent female.
This was a sharper reduction than in 2010 when the averagestandard annuity rate for both a male and female fell by 2.7%.
Richard Eagling, editor of Investment Life and PensionsMoneyfacts, said: “Unfortunately, by increasing the demand forfixed income instruments such as UK Government Bonds, theongoing Eurozone crisis and the Bank of England’sQuantitative Easing programme have driven gilt and corporatebond yields down over the last 12 months, both of whichunderpin annuities. Short term, a successful resolution of theEuropean debt crisis is crucial to stabilising annuity rates.”nwww.moneyfacts.co.uk
TV celebrity Alesha Dixon isbacking a new campaign to helpfamilies of the 770,000 disabledchildren in the UK.
Alesha said: “My younger brother hascerebral palsy so I understand how easy itcan be for close family members of adisabled child to feel isolated and alone –not because there aren’t enough peoplearound, but because no one you know canrelate to your experience.”
Alesha’s support comes in the wake of areport revealing that three-quarters offamilies with disabled children are becomingmore and more isolated and stressed out.
Research fromnational charityContact a Familyshows that social,emotional andfinancial isolation iscausing people tosuffer poor mentalhealth such asanxiety, depressionor breakdown.
Almost half of the1,100 families whotook part in the surveyreported feeling so badthat they have asked their GP for medicationor to see a counsellor.
Contact a Family is now calling on localauthorities to provide sufficient earlyintervention services such as key workers,children’s centres, support groups and shortbreaks.
Srabani Sen, the charity’s chiefexecutive, said: “Isolation is having adevastating impact on the health andwell-being of some of society’s mostvulnerable families.
“We are extremely concerned that this isgoing to get worse because of a lethalcombination of cuts to statutory andvoluntary services as well as a reductionin families’ income due to welfarereforms.”n Helpline: 0808 808 3555www.cafamily.org.uk
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FAMILYZONE
TILLY Griffiths is livingproof that life is whatyou make it – whatever
your circumstances.Despite having the progressive
muscle-wasting disease, spinalmuscular atrophy, Tilly hasmixed with celebrities, jetted offon safari and skiing trips, raisesfunds for charity, and has nowwritten her autobiography –aged 11.
Oh, and that’s besides a busyschool and social life thatincludes solo sailing, dance andtheatre.
Her autobiography – filled withpictures and poems reflecting alife lived to the full – is Tilly’s
latest effort to make money forfellow children living withdisability while inspiring themwith her dynamic attitude.
Mum Jackie Griffiths, fromLeek, Staffordshire, said: “Whenour very young daughter wasdiagnosed with SMA, it wasdifficult to see what incrediblejoys and delights lay ahead forour family.”
Tilly’s charity work led to thelaunch of the book, Tilly Smiles -The Story So Far . . ., which willraise essential funds for theJennifer Trust for SpinalMuscular Atrophy.
The JTSMA, based inStratford-upon-Avon, provides
support and information tofamilies, individuals andprofessionals involved with SMAand promotes research intocauses, treatments and apossible cure.
Jackie added: “Tilly has nofear of the future and the bookreflects such a positive outlookon life, which hopefully willinspire many less able childrenand their parents.”
Tilly’s active lifestyle is greatlyhelped by use of an Etac BalderF280 Junior powerchair whichhas an extensive range ofmovements and among thehighest levels of functionalityavailable in the world.
“Without my Etac Balderpowerchair, I would never havebeen able to enjoy such a smile-filled life so far. My powerchairlets ‘me’ be ‘me’ and without itI’m sure I would be lost.
“I have so many plans for thefuture and I hope my book fillsother children with belief thatyou can experience a reallyrewarding life when living withSMA.”nTilly’s book is available fromThe Jennifer Trust, £10, andcan be ordered by visiting:www.jtsma.org.uk. Or ring01789 267520. Tilly’s latestnews can be found at: tilly-house.blogspot.com
REACH
420,000READERS
0151 230 0307
Parents alsoneed help,says Alesha
My life story – aged 11My life story – aged 11
ALESHA DIXON
On safari,skiing,charitywork . . Tilly’sdone it –and more!
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Call us on 0161 793 7631 or 07775 525 108Now at Albion Street, Swinton
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.
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.
For further information call the service you require or contact our main reception for alist of Open Days.ifehouseLifehouse
PEOPLE needing special aidsto help them with theirindependence are to get a
better dealThe first ever Code of Practice for
community and other disabilityequipment will help improve thesupply of 12 million pieces ofequipment to four million people everyyear in the UK.
The Code, which for the first timestandardises regulation of the service,will be administered by CECOPS, a
not-for-profit social enterprise It’schairman is the former head of theDisability Rights Commission, Sir BertMassie.
Sir Bert, who lives in Liverpool, said:“Community equipment is a life saverfor hundreds of thousands of people inthe UK and is used every day inhomes, hospitals, care homes, daycentres and special schools.
“This is about providing the rightequipment at the right timewhether it’srelated to self-determination,
independence, rehabilitation, earlyintervention and prevention, or end oflife care.”
According to the Medicines andHealthcare products RegulatoryAgency (MHRA) every year in the UKthere are over 30 deaths and 1,500serious incidents as a result ofinappropriate and unsafe equipmentsupplied in the community.
Sheila Brown, chief executive ofchildren’s charity Newlife and a non-executive director of CECOPS, said:
“At Newlife we hear hundreds ofshocking and upsetting stories everyyear as a result of equipment not beingprovided, and we are regularly bailingout a system that is not working.
“For example, we found out recentlyabout a grandmother who had toshower her 13-year old grandson in apaddling pool in her garage becauseshe couldn’t get the proper disabilityequipment she needed from her localauthority. “n www.cecops.org.uk
WINTER brings theincreased risk of slipsand falls – which for
older people can bedevastating, both physicallyand emotionally.
After a fall, an older person has a50% probability of having theirmobility seriously impaired – and a10% probability of dying within ayear.
The emotional effects can beequally distressing. Joanne Lowe, ofOccupation Matters, says loss ofconfidence can lead to socialisolation, with over 70,000 people inthe UK afraid to leave the housedue to a fear of falling.
But it’s important to remember thatmany falls are preventable.
Here are some tips to help you toreduce your risk of falling:
Outdoorsn Ensure you wear apropriatefootwear for the type of weathern If you use a mobility aid, check forwear on the rubber feet. If the treadsare worn get them replaced.n Have some grit/salt which you canspread on your own drive/pathwaythe night before frost is expected.n Take extra care on unevenpavements.
n Do not go out if the weather isvery bad unless you absolutely haveto.
Indoorsn Reduce clutter and ensurewalkways are clear from obstacles.n Do not leave items on the stairsthat could be tripping hazards.n Are you catching your feet on yourrugs? Do they ruck up when youwalk on them? Could they be tapeddown or even removed to reducethe risks?n Make sure you do not have anytrailing wires where you walk.n If you are caring for someone witha visual impairment, ensure there isadequate lighting in high risk areassuch as in the kitchen, bathroomand on the stairway.n Ensure you have non-slip mats inthe bath or shower.Joanne adds: “At OccupationMatters we can help people to re-build their confidence after a fall.By working closely with otherexperts we can also advise andorganise equipment oradaptations. Tel. 01244 369703. Mob.07968825507. [email protected]
TV’s Dragons Den star Hilary Devey is backingThe Princes Royal Trust for Carers.
Hilary, who is the charity’s patron, has justhanded over another £15,000 to the charity,making a total of £150,000 in just four years.
The money was raised via her company’sPall-Ex ‘Penny-a-Pallet’scheme, devised by theHilary in 1996.
The scheme sees one penny being donated tocharity for every pallet delivered by Pall-Ex.
Hilary said: “I’m lucky enough to be a patron ofThe Princess Royal Trust for Carers and havewitnessed first-hand the vital work that thisorganisation does.
“When I first started the ‘Penny-a-Pallet’ scheme,I wanted an initiative that would grow in line withthe business and enable us to donate more andmore each year to worthwhile causes.”
United Utilities is calling on all customers to protect themselves from doorstep criminals.
Statistics show that around 20 bogus caller crimes are committed every day in the UK, but this might only be 10% of the total that actually take place as victims often feel too embarrassed to report it to the police.
Bogus callers often claim that there is an emergency and that they need to check the water supply; they will use this as an opportunity to trick themselves into customers’ homes claiming to be from United Utilities or ‘the water board’. Once inside, they will distract the homeowner while they or an accomplice helps themselves to money and valuables.
Genuine United Utilities’ employees always carry an ID card and are happy to show this to you. They will never put pressure on you to get into your home and are happy for you to phone United Utilities
to check their identity. And genuine employees won’t refer to ‘the water board’ as this hasn’t existed for more than 30 years!
Bogus callers can be very persuasive, but our advice is to never feel under pressure to let someone into your home.
To help you, we operate a ‘password protection’ scheme. Joining the United Utilities password scheme is easy.
It takes just one call to 0845 746 1100. We simply need your details and your choice of password. Then, whenever someone claiming to be from United Utilities calls at your home, you can ask them for your password. Only a genuine visitor from United Utilities will know what it is. It’s a simple deterrent that really does work and will give you the confidence to turn people away.
Most gas, electricity and telephone companies will operate a similar scheme – see a recent bill for further details and contact numbers.
Don’t fall victim to bogus callers!
Beat the bogus caller• LOCKHome or away – keep alldoors LOCKED
• STOPIs anyone EXPECTED?Is the back door LOCKED?
• CHAINPut the CHAIN ON beforeopening the door
• CHECKAsk for caller’s ID cardCheck it by PHONING0845 746 2200Or ask for your PASSWORD
03/11/SD/4574
Weoffer a range of free services to help customerswho:• are older• have a disability• have a serious illness• have sight, hearing or learning difficultiesOur services include:• personal notification of water shut-offs• large print, Braille and talking billsWe also offer a free password scheme for all our customers.
Need a little ExtraCare?
To find out more call 0845 746 1100 or textphone 0808 143 1195
0871 200 22 33Calls costs 10p per minute fromland lines, mobiles may vary
Merseytravel is making sure that Public Transport on Merseyside is easy for everyone to use
We care about the accessibility of our buildings, vehicles and information. All of our staff are trainedto be courteous and considerate, particularly when our customers have special requirements.
Whether it be automatic door openers in our head office, availability of textphones 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:
with disabilities
developed in partnership with our local authorities and bus companies
Textphone users can dial 18001 then 0871 200 22 33 for a text relay assisted call
MERSEYTRAVEL
Onyouryourbike!
THE WINNERS of Merseytravel’s thirdannual Art on the Network Competitionhave been announced.
The competition, whichfocused on poster art,offered artists thechance to showcasetheir work to thousandsof commuters, with thewinning entries beingincorporated into limitededition Merseytravelpublications.
The winner of theModes of Transportcategory was DanielLindsay, ofSkelmersdale, forhis piece entitled‘Connectingpeople’. LawrenceLangton, from HaleVillage, won theInformation categorywith his submission‘Hale Village 82A’ – andDavid Williams, fromWallasey, took theAttractions and Days Outcategory prize for hiswork ‘DiscoverLiverpool’.
Each of the three winners receives a £500cash.
The 2012 Art on the Network competitionwill be launched in April.
MERSEYTRAVEL staffhave raised aphenomenal £30,000 forClatterbridge Your CancerCentre, their chosencharity of the year for2011.
They threwthemselves behind thecampaign, donatingtime, effort and money,from forming a knittinggroup to competing inan Ironman challenge.
Councillor Mark Dowd,chair of Merseytravel,said: “This has been themost successful year ofstaff fundraising sincewe started choosing acharity in 2003.
“Staff are alwaysthinking up differentand ingenious ways ofraising money andgetting other colleaguesinvolved.”
Merseytravel’s nextcharity of the year for2012 is Calder KidsAdventure Playground.
CYCLING is on the upand up. OnMerseyside, there are
25 per cent more peoplecycling than there were fiveyears ago.
And to help encourage evenmore people to join in the fun,Merseytravel’s TravelWise hasteamed up with Liverpool NHSPrimary Care Trust for the 2020Decade of Health andWellbeing, offering Merseysideresidents FREE cycle skillssessions and bike maintenancecourses.
Hundreds of people have
already signed up – so don’t beleft behind.
Each ‘freewheeling’ course isbased on the three levels of thenational standard Bikeabilitytraining and are ideal for allabilities.
Level 1: Learning the basicslike staying upright, signalling,looking behind and using yourgears.
Level 2: Turning right and leftat junctions into quiet roads andovertaking parked cars etc.
Level 3: More advanced skillsand manoeuvres for cycling onbusier roads.
If you can’t ride a bike or
haven’t ridden for many yearsthere is also a ‘learn to ride’session, which will get you readyfor the Level 1 course.
If you want to get to knowmore about your bike, then theFREE bite size maintenancecourses are perfect.
All sessions are based at afully equipped Merseysidetraining centre and are availableduring the daytime, earlyevenings and at weekends.
For more information call theMerseyside Training Centre on0151 482 5700 or to bookonline, visitwww.LetsTravelWise.org
DISABLED people mustplay a part in efforts tocut the misuse and
abuse of blue parking badges,according to leading activists.
New measures to cut abuse ofthe disabled people’s blue badgeparking scheme came into force atthe beginning of the year, with theintroduction of an electronically-produced badge, which is harder toforge or copy than the previoushandwritten, cardboard version.
To pay for improvements to thescheme, the maximum fee thatlocal authorities in England cancharge for a badge has risen from£2 to £10, the first increase for 30years.
And a new central database -another measure campaignershave been demanding for years -will allow checks on the badges tobe made from anywhere in thecountry.
But disabled people’s details willonly be added to the database -which is being run by a privatecompany - as they are issued withone of the new badges over the
next three years. The Government hopes changes
to the scheme will cut its runningcosts by up to £20 million a year.
Another measure, to beintroduced from April, will seecouncils forced to use moreindependent mobility assessments- instead of asking GPs to carrythem out - of applicants who do not
qualify automatically for a badge.Helen Dolphin, director of policy
and campaigns for DisabledMotoring UK, welcomed thechanges, which she said wouldmake the scheme fit for the 21stcentury, and would make it easierfor traffic wardens to detect forgedbadges, and genuine badges thatwere being misused.
But she said: “This is only goingto work if disabled peoplethemselves start taking moreresponsibility for their own badges.”
She said enforcement andawareness-raising of how thebadges should be used were key tocutting abuse, while councils mustensure their parking attendantschecked badges and took legalaction against those guilty of fraudand misuse.
Last August, Disabled MotoringUK released the results of a surveywhich showed that many localauthorities were doing nothing tocombat blue badge fraud andmisuse.
The survey found that, across the79 local authorities in England andWales that provided answers to aFreedom of Information Actrequest, the average annualnumber of prosecutions for fraudand misuse of blue badges wasjust 2.9 in 2009-10, and 4.5 in2010-11.
Mary Grace, chair of The BlueBadge Network, which representsblue badge-holders, also agreedthat badge-holders needed to takemore responsibility for how theirbadges were used, and added:“Blue badge-holders ourselves canabuse the system.”
Other improvements to thescheme mean disabled people inEngland and Scotland can nowapply for and renew their badgesonline, using the Government’sDirectgov website, while those inWales will be able to apply onlinefrom April.
Badge-holders in England canalso use a new national helplinenumber, 0844 463 0213, and willbe able to report lost and stolenbadges through the website fromApril.
AAbbuussee iitt –– lloossee iitt!!Warnings from disabilitycampaigners as parkingbadge changes take effect
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AS a new survey reveals one in nineyoung drivers has driven on illegaldrugs in the past year, the
Government is being pressed to change thelaw.
The survey found that 3% of youngdrivers (aged 17-24) said they get behindthe wheel after taking drugs once a monthor more.
Road safety charity Brake and DirectLine car insurance want to see a new lawmaking it an offence to drive while on illegaldrugs.
Currently, it is only an offence to drivewhile impaired by drugs, meaning policemust prove impairment to prosecute.
Ellen Booth, Brake senior campaignsofficer, said: “The risks of driving on drugsare huge, and the consequencesdevastating - yet a huge proportion ofyoung drivers are taking this appallinggamble with their own and others’ lives.
“We need all drivers to pledge to nevermix drugs and driving, and we need theGovernment to follow through with its
commitment to tackle this problem.“We need a ban on driving with illegal
drugs in your system, and we needroadside drugalysers. The longer this takes,the more lives will be violently and tragicallylost.”
Killer factsn In the UK, around 18% of peoplekilled in road crashes have traces ofillegal drugs in their blood, withcannabis being the most common.n Young drivers are much more likelyto take illegal drugs and drive thantheir older counterparts.n Drivers under 25 are nearly fourtimes as likely to drive on illegal drugsas older drivers.n Researchers at the UniversityClaude Bernard in Lyon, France,found taking cannabis almost doublesthe risk of being involved in a fatal carcrash while mixing cannabis withalcohol increased crash risk 16-fold.
THE New Year got offto the best possiblestart for a family in
need of a wheelchairaccessible car.
TV celebrity Noel Edmondsand the owner of one of theUK’s top companies makingwheelchair accessiblevehicles got together to springa huge surprise on BenWalton.
Big-hearted David Constableagreed to give the Waltonfamily a £14,000 vehicle whenhe heard about the amazingfundraising Ben had beendoing for charities like WhizzKids.
David said: “When we wereapproached by Noel’s teamand told about Ben’sincredible generosity towardsothers and how his own familydesperately needed a betterway to transport their disabledfour-year-old son, Zac as hegrows heavier, we agreed tohelp.
“Having one of the cars
we’ve adapted for wheelchairusers and their families andfriends will make a hugedifference to Zac and hisfamily and give them thefreedom to travel easily andcomfortably.”
Ben, from Andover, onlyfound out about the surprisegift when he attended arecording of Noel’s ChristmasPresents believing that hisfriend Howard would bereceiving a gift from NoelEdmonds.
He was moved to tearswhen Noel approached himduring the recording and toldhim that Constables Mobilityhad agreed to donate aCitroen Berlingo converted forwheelchair passengers with alowered floor and a gentlysloping ramp.
Until then Ben was finding itincreasingly difficult to lift Zacin and out of their ordinarycar. Life had just becomeeven more challenging withthe arrival of Zac’s babysister, Lara.
The Constables car was theanswer to the family’s prayersas it allows them to transportZac safely and easily in hiswheelchair.
Ben said: “I’m the only onewho could get Zac in and outof a normal car. He’s quite tallfor his age and can’t use hislegs.
“It meant all sorts ofawkward positions like havinghis legs over my shoulders –it wasn’t good for either of us.
“The new car will make ourlives so much easier and saveus so much time – I can’tthank Constables Mobilityenough.”
Zac was 10 weekspremature and spent nineweeks in a neo-natal unitbefore being allowed home.He weighed just 5.5lbs whenhe was allowed to leavehospital.
Just before Zac turned one,Ben and his wife, Abby, weretold the devastating news thattheir little boy had cerebralpalsy.
Since then, Zac has hadseveral operations and therehas been a constant stream ofappointments to see doctorsand specialists about hiscondition.
nALL Constables Mobility conversions are designed forthe comfort and safety of the wheelchair user, driver andother passengers.nConstables’ Berlingo is perfect for families because itsflexibility offers seating options for up to five peopleincluding a wheelchair user and driver.n In addition, there is a choice of optional folding seats.Access for wheelchair users is up a gentle, lightweightramp – so gentle that it rarely requires a winch.nThe vehicle is also fully certified to the most up-to-dateEU standards for safety and the environment.
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All together now_Feb12_Half:Layout 1 02/02/2012 09:19 Page 1
TERESA Hyland enjoysnothing more than a littleretail therapy.
Unfortunately for Teresa,shopping trips were few and farbetween due to transportdifficulties with her wheelchair.
But now, thanks to a newPeugeot Horizon wheelchairaccessible vehicle from AlliedMobility, Teresa and her carer,Linda, enjoy regular outings.
Teresa has cerebral palsy andhad never owned a wheelchair carbefore.
But with her condition affecting
her mobility more and more,Teresa asked Linda to hlep herfind a more accessible vehicle.
Linda got on the case and hersearch led her to Allied Mobility.She explains: “When we beganour search we weren’t really sureof our options so I was delightedwith how helpful Allied Mobilitywere.
“In no time at all we’d arranged ahome demonstration of thePeugeot Horizon. Allied’s mobilityconsultant, Peter, brought the carto Teresa’s home in Wirral,Merseyside, for a full demo.
“Teresa loved the car. It hadeverything she needed – theaccessibility was great and the caritself was really nice.
“Less than a week after thedemonstration, Teresa placed herorder.
“Since taking delivery of the carTeresa enjoys days out muchmore often than before.
“She loves to shop so owning acar with wheelchair access makesshopping trips so much easier.
“I have no problem using theramp and wheelchair securingsystem. Within a matter of minutes
we are in the car and ready to go.It’s great!”
The Peugeot Horizon is the UK’smost popular wheelchairaccessible vehicle.
Based on the Peugeot PartnerTepee, this versatile car offersfirst-rate accessibility whileremaining a stylish and practicaleveryday car.
The vehicle comes with alowered floor, full Peugeot originalrear seating, parking sensors anda FlatFold wheelchair ramp, thatcan fold flat to the vehicle floorwhen the wheelchair passenger
space is not in use, creatinghandy extra space for shoppingand other bulky items.
Linda adds: “It’s not just Teresawho loves the car, I really enjoydriving it and there’s plenty ofroom inside for shopping!
“It’s great that now we can justnip out to a coffee shop or go tothe library. It’s just little trips likethat which make Teresa’s daymore enjoyable.
“The service we received fromAllied Mobility was great, all thestaff were accommodating,friendly and polite.”
nPEUGEOT Horizonwheelchair accessiblevehicles are availableto buy, rent or throughthe Motabililty Scheme.nMotability AdvancePayments start fromjust £695 - the loweston the scheme for awheelchair accessiblevehicle.nAllied Mobility: 0800916 3018, [email protected] visitwww.alliedmobility.com
HAPPY SHOPPERS:Teresa and Lindaready to hit town inthe Peugeot Horizon
RReeaacchhiinngg NNEEWW hheeiigghhttssRReeaacchhiinngg NNEEWW hheeiigghhttssIn the 10 yearswe have beenconductingnewspapersurveysnothing comesanywhere nearto thestandardsbeing set by All TogetherNOW!The results arehugelyimpressive— The Murray Consultancy
winners, 2006BIG European MarketReaserch Award
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ASDA customers have chosen thename Nila – meaning “to inspire awe”– for one of the rare Sumatran tigercubs born recently atChester Zoo.
The zoo invited Asda customers toname one of the three cubs - and Nilawas the runaway top choice in an onlinepoll on the Your Asda website.
The Sumatran tiger cubs hit theheadlines when they were born at the zooat the end of October.
There are only around 400 of theendangered species left in the world.
To mark the 10th anniversary of itsfamous Tiger bread Asda donated£40,000 so the zoo could build a newviewing platform at the tiger enclosure.
It means visitors can now get a fantastichigh-level view of the little cubs and theirmother, Kirana, and father, Fabi.
COMIC Relief will end the year with amulti-million pound Christmas presentfrom Sainsbury’s.
The supermarkethas pledged supportfor the charity for another six years, whichwill see the total raised by Sainsbury’s, itscolleagues and customers, soar past the£100m mark.
Sainsbury’s chief executive Justin Kingsaid: “We’ve been working with ComicRelief for over a decade and haveachieved an incredible amount in thattime. Our customers and colleagues haveraised a huge amount of money, providingessential support and investment,benefiting thousands of people in the UKand the world’s poorest countries.”
Having raised nearly £60 million since1999, Sainsbury’s is Comic Relief’slargest corporate partner, accounting fornearly 10 per cent of all the money raisedby the great British public for Comic Reliefover the past 12 years.
Sainsbury’s Manchester Mile – p32
OLYMPIC medalist Colin Jackson hasundertaken his own marathon schoolrun to promote this year’sTesco Great School Runprogramme.
Now in its 8th year, the Tesco GreatSchool Run encourages 5 - 11 year oldsand their parents to get fit through healthyeating and exercise. The programmefinale is a 2k fun run which last year wasundertaken by 1.2m children.
Ruth Girardet, Tesco CorporateResponsibility and Community Directorsaid:“Since its launch in 2005 over fivemillion children have taken part. It’s anamazing event that both educates andencourages healthy lifestyle choices forkids”
Teachers can register their school to takepart by visiting www.greatschoolrun.orgbefore Friday May 25.
A BIG thanks toJames Pembertonand colleagues atBooths for helpingus to get morecopies of AllTogether NOW! topeople at Media City,Salford
Programmes forbetter prospects...Thinkingabout...
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Let us prepare you for work with relevant training and helpmatch your skills to current vacancies in security, hospitality,business administration, care, retail, and many more.
We also provide training in how to set up your own business
For further information contact:
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Ourfuture.It’s inour hands
Liverpool Community College‘Working with Business’
36, who has a spinal injury,and Huw Thomas, 64, whohas muscular dystrophy, werejoint winners of the 2011Stelios Award for DisabledEntrepreneurs in the UK.
The competition run by SirStelios Haji-Ioannou, theStelios PhilanthropicFoundation and the charityLeonard Cheshire Disability.
Rob’s business, The ActiveHands Company(www.activehands.co.uk),designs, manufactures andsells gripping aids which allowdisabled people with limitedhand function to grip a widevariety of items.
He sustained a spinal injuryafter falling 40 feet down a cliffin 1996. Later, he realisedthere was a gap in the marketfor equipment that would allow
disabled people to live moreindependently.
With the help of his mother,Marion, he began to designproducts and they set up thecompany in 2007.
Rob said: “The Active HandsCompany started out when Iasked my Mum to make agripping aid I had designed tohelp me grip weights to do aworkout.
“Friends from wheelchairrugby saw me using the aidand asked for some to bemade for them. After a fewmonths we decided to startour own company.”
Huw’s business, PromoveUK (www.promove.uk.com),designs, manufactures and
Huw said: “After designing asling for my own personal use,I realised there was a marketfor this kind of equipment.
“In running my business Iface challenges every day. Butbeing disabled has itsadvantages – providing uniqueexperiences and insights.”
Jane Jutsum, director ofstrategic partnerships andinnovation at LeonardCheshire Disability, said:“Disabled people in businessexperience disadvantage anddiscrimination everyday –largely through ignoranceThis must change.
“Our partnership with SirStelios is helping the charityhighlight the barriers disabledpeople face in the workplaceand recognise the outstandingachievements of disabledentrepreneurs.”
High fliers!High fliers!Rob andHuw win£50,000businessawards
Cashing in
the marketon gaps in
LIVERPOOL’S Lord Mayorvisited Breakthrough UK’scity offices and found out
how the lives of hundreds ofdisabled adults acrossMerseyside are transformedeach year.
The not-for-profit organisationsupports disabled people to findemployment, work-related trainingor further education.
Cllr Frank Prendergast said:“Breakthrough UK is doing a trulyfantastic job supporting disabledadults to find employment andtraining opportunities.
“I’ve heard first-hand how people’s lives arebeing greatly enhanced.”
Tracy Ferguson, 32, who has learningdifficulties, said: “I want to work full-time inretail and Breakthrough UK’s team is helpingme achieve this.
“I’ve recently completed a voluntaryplacement working for the WRVS inBroadgreen Hospital – which was a greatexperience – and I’m now filling in applicationforms for employment.”nBreakthrough UK, Liverpool, tel. 0151236 1030. Manchester, tel. 0161 273 5412.
. . . EDUCATION . . . TRAINING . . . JOBS . . . EDUCATION . . . TRAINING . . . JOBS . .
equality programmes call 0151 230 0307
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NEW HORIZONS: Rafa with students and staff at Thornton College
College Studentsin fearof hatecrime
wins top quality
FORMER Liverpool FC boss RafaBenitez has been giving hisbacking to another team on
Merseyside.The man who brought a fifth European
Cup to Anfield opened an innovative newcollege for young people with learningdifficulties and physical disabilities.
Thornton College, a partnership betweenSefton Council, Sefton special schools andHugh Baird College, can accommodate 60students.
With multimedia facilities, a horticultureroom, kitchen and even a small apartment,students can learn how to live asindependently as possible.
Rafa said: “I was really impressed with thefacilities – they are fantastic. I’m very pleasedand proud of the centre and I wish all thestudents and the staff the very best.”
Cllr Ian Moncur, from Sefton Council, said:“This is a wonderful facility for local students,many of whom may have previously travelledoutside the borough, away from their homes.”
Jim Brown, chair of Governors at Hugh
Baird College, said: “The college combinesthe teaching and learning knowledge of HughBaird College, with the expertise of Sefton’sspecial schools which are closely involved inthe project.”
Rafa’s newproteges . . .
A NEW degree is set todeliver a fresh breed ofscientists to address thelinks between diet anddiseases includingcancer, diabetes andcardiovascular disease.
Nutri-genomics is anemerging area of scientificresearch which looks at therelationship between whatwe eat, disease and ourown individual geneticmake-up.
The Masters programme inMolecular Nutrition at theUniversity of Aberdeen will
deliver graduates in thisspecialism, to work withinhospitals, academicinstitutions, and industry.
Dr Janice Drew,programme coordinator,said: “We know that themajority of cancers andmany chronic diseases,such as diabetes andcardiovascular diseases, arecaused by the choices wemake in our diets andlifestyle.
“In order to understandhow we can prevent thesediseases, we need tounderstand exactly what is
happening in the tissuesand cells when we eatcertain foods, and how andwhy this contributes to theircause and development.
“The programme willdevelop a new breed ofscientists with the potentialto forge breakthroughs inour understanding of howwhat we eat impacts on usand ultimately comprehendhow we can take stepstowards preventingdiseases.”Full details: [email protected], call
ABOVE: Rafa with (from left) MattWilson, manager, Thornton College;Peter Morgan, Sefton Council; JimBrown, chair of governors, HughBaird CollegeFRONT PAGE picture: Rafa withstudent Chris Booth and Matt Wilson
New degree tackles diet and disease
LIVERPOOL CommunityCollege has been giventhe highest possiblerating for the way itdelivers highereducation programmes.
The Quality AssuranceAgency for HigherEducation, the bodythat protects academicstandards, the qualityof learningopportunities, and thepublic informationprovided by universitiesand colleges deliveringhigher education,awarded the Liverpoolcollege a ‘confidence’judgement.
It also concluded that‘reliance’ could beplaced in the publicinformation that thecollege provides.
Liverpool CommunityCollege delivers 11Foundation Degrees inpartnership with fiveawarding bodies – DeMontfort University,Edexcel, Edge HillUniversity, LiverpoolHope University andLiverpool John MooresUniversity.
Working withemployers
Jenny Steer, directorof higher education atthe college, said: “Wehave been providinghigher educationopportunities forstudents for over 20years.
“The confidencejudgement confirmswhat we believed – thatwe are a qualityprovider of highereducation thatcomplements the workof our partneruniversities andextends theopportunities forstudents.
“We were particularlypleased that our workwith employers ishighlighted as an areaof good practice – weare committed toextending andexpanding work-basededucation.”
honour NEARLY one in fourstudents with aphysical impairmenthave been victims ofanti-social behaviouror crime motivatedby prejudice.
And the figure isnearly one in sevenfor students with asensory impairment,according to asurvey from theNational Union ofStudents.
Now the NUS isurging universitiesto do more to tacklethe problem.
The survey alsofound 43% alteredtheir behaviour,personal appearanceor daily patterns toavoid hate incidents.
Rupy Kaur, of theNUS, said:“Hatecrime can have aprofound impact onstudents’ mentalhealth, affectingtheir study andsocial life.”
BABIES are dying needlessly – or areat risk of being permanently disabledbecause expectant mothers are not
being given tests – or the facts.Tests routinely offered in many other
countries for the commonest cause of life-threatening infection in newborn babies canonly be obtained privately in the UK.
A new report reveals that every year 340babies develop Group B Streptococcus (GBS)within seven days of birth.
Of those, one in 10 will die while around onein five will be permanently disabled.
“This is needless because with properinformation, testing and treatment – as is routinein the US, Canada, Australia and many Europeancountries – most of these tragic cases could beavoided,” said Jane Plumb, chief executive of theGroup B Strep Support charity
“The Government should introduce a nationalscreening programme for Group B Strep at theearliest opportunity.”
A recent survey conducted by ComRes onbehalf of the charity revealed that while morethan half (54%) the women aged between 20-35surveyed had heard of Group B Strep, only 20%knew what it was.
The survey also showed that once youngwomen are made aware of the dangers theoverwhelming majority believe that pregnantwomen should always be offered information,tests and, when the bacteria is detected,antibiotics in labour.
TV doctor Dr Chris Steele backed the calls. Hesaid: “At present there is no national testing forgroup B Strep in pregnancy.
“The tests that are done are not designed todetect GBS and give a high level of falselynegative results, meaning women think they arefree from GBS when they are not.
“Tests are available for GBS which pose no riskto mother or baby, but they are only availableprivately. They should be offered on the NHS.
“The Government should act now to ensurewomen get the very best advice and supportduring their pregnancy.
“This should include information on the seriousnature of Group B Strep infection, the offer oftesting, followed by appropriate antibiotics duringlabour to protect the baby from infection.”
“THE consequence of Group B Strepinfection is devastating,” says CharlotteCheshire.
“When Adam was born last Marchhe appeared a happy and healthylittle boy.
“However, by the morningafter his birth he wasgrunting and not feeding andthe staff quickly realisedsomething was wrong,” saidCharlotte, from Telford,Shropshire.
“Adam stopped breathing, beganto have seizures and was running ahigh fever.
“He was placed on a cocktail ofantibiotics while the staff confirmed thediagnosis of Group B Strep infection.
“We were told he was not expected tolive and if he did survive he could beseverely disabled.”
Adam survived but was in intensive care
for the first 23 days of his life and willrequire intensive, on-going monitoringthroughout his childhood.
At present, his only identifiedlong term problem is severe
hearing damage.“It could have been so
much worse,” saysCharlotte.
“All this could have beenaverted. If I’d had a
sensitive GBS test late inpregnancy, it would almost
definitely have found GBS and,with antibiotics from the start of
labour, Adam could have been protected.“I am Canadian and if I had chosen to
have Adam in my native country,sensitive testing for GBS is routine as itis in many other western and Europeancountries.
“I believe a national programme shouldbe introduced as soon as possible.”
A NEW app inventedby experts in theNorth-West couldmake the differencebetween life anddeath for many burnsvictims.
The development meansthat all medical staff,regardless of specialistknowledge, will have theability to assess burninjuries quickly andaccurately – dramatically
improving their chancesof recovery.
Staff at the MerseyRegional Burns andPlastic Surgery Unit cameup with the award-winning application – foruse with an iPad oriPhone – which calculatesthe total body surfaceaffected and the amountof fluids the patientrequires.
The app has beenshown to significantly
improve assessment andcould be used by outlyinghospitals withoutexpertise in burn care, torelay vital information toburns specialists, prior tothe patient arriving.
It was developed byProfessor Paul McArthur,clinical director for burnsand plastic surgery, andRowan Pritchard-Jones,with programming byChris Seaton at theUniversity of Manchester.
One simple test cansave so many lives
New burns app is really cool
LIFESAVERS: Professor Paul McArthur,left, and Rowan Pritchard-Jones
FIGHTING BACK: Baby Adam and mum Charlotte Cheshire
THERE have been manyinquiries and reports into thecare of the vulnerable and
elderly across the health andsocial care sector.
It’s a real wake-up call for servicesthat should be responding effectivelyto the needs of a population which isliving longer and will inevitably bemore prone to age-related conditions.
So I was delighted to hear the goodnews that an independent inspectionof one of Mersey Care’s specialistdementia inpatient services has justaccredited it as “excellent” by theRoyal College of Psychiatrists.
Dementia describes different braindisorders that trigger a loss of brainfunction - these conditions areusually progressive and eventuallysevere.
One local response to it is a pocketof excellence on Clarence Ward,based at Stoddart House in Aintree,Liverpool, set up in its present form18 months ago as a dementiaassessment ward for up to 17 olderpeople at any one time.
Set against the bigger picture thatby 2025 there will be over one millionpeople in the UK living withdementia, the work of Clarence Wardmay seem insignificant to some.
Patients’ feedbackBut feedback from patients and
family members quizzed by theindependent inspection panel reflectsthe impact of the care they received;comments such as... “a warm andfriendly environment” ...”nothing istoo much trouble” ...”informedregularly by staff about day to dayissues”.
A key element is nursing staff onClarence expressed a preference towork with older people.
This genuine interest builds on theprinciples that should underpin allcare in a way that reflects not justquality, but brings real compassionand understanding of the needs ofpeople, who happen to be theirpatients.
Somewhere along the way someparts of our health and social caresystem seemed to have lost sight ofwhat really matters in caring for themost vulnerable in our society.
I would suggest the one wordanswer should simply be: people.
MOST cancers have shown majorimprovements in survival rates in thelast 40 years – with one major
exception.Pancreatic cancer – which recently claimed
the life of computer wizard Steve Jobs –remains stubbornly resistant to treatment.
Survival rates are well under 12 months, saysa new study by the Macmillan charity.
Six cancers now have average survival times ofmore than 10 years and some, such as coloncancer and non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, have seendramatic improvements.
Only 10% of patients are diagnosed in timefor surgery, currently the only potential for acure, and average life expectancy is three tosix months. Only three per cent survive fiveyears.
Despite being the fifth biggest cancer killer in theUK, with over 22 people per day dying, pancreaticcancer has been underfunded for decades andcurrently receives a dismal one per cent of totalcancer research funding.
According to Pancreatic Cancer Action charity,as well as increasing the amount of investmentinto the disease, the focus needs to be on earlierdiagnosis so more people can be diagnosed intime to be operated on.
Ali Stunt, the charity’s founder – and a raresurvivor of the disease – said: “Despite the grimstatistics, many more people can survivepancreatic cancer but in order to do so they needto be diagnosed in time for surgery.
“Those diagnosed in time have a chance ofliving beyond five years – that is ten times greaterthan the overall average for the disease.
“Decades of limited funding has meant thatresearch into pancreatic cancer lags behind othercancers but there are many dedicatedresearchers in Britain trying their best withmeagre resources.
“However, even if a novel therapy weredeveloped for pancreatic cancer in a laboratorytoday, it could take at least 10 to 15 years toreach the clinical environment and possibly longerto benefit patients.”
PANCREATIC cancer affects men andwomen equally and over a third ofpatients are under the age of 65.
While the causes of pancreatic cancerare not fully understood, approximately25% of cases are attributable to cigarettesmoking, 5-10% are hereditary and it isthought that obesity, diabetes andexcessive alcohol consumptionincreases the risk of contracting thedisease.
Classic pancreatic cancer symptomsare persistent or significant abdominalpain and/or back pain, painless jaundice
(yellow skin/eyes, dark urine), significantand unexplained weight loss.
Other common symptoms are newonset diabetes not associated withweight gain, pain in the upper abdomenthat typically radiates to the back,indigestion or abdominal discomfort,loss of appetite or nausea and vomiting,pain when eating and steatorrhoea (fattystools, often pale and smelly).
n Pancreatic Cancer Action, tel 01428656269n www.pancreaticcanceraction.org
VICTIMS of pancreatic cancerinclude Head of Apple SteveJobs; Hollywood actor PatrickSwayze; opera star LucianoPavarotti; Gareth Hunt (NewAvengers Actor); MagnusMagnusson (Broadcaster); SirNigel Hawthorne (actor); BillOwen (“Compo” in Last of theSummer Wine); Joan Crawford(actress); Sir James Goldsmith(founder of The ReferendumParty); Rex Harrison (actor);and Sir Alan Bates (actor).
What to look out for . . .
CAMPAIGNER: Early diagnosisis so important, says Ali Stunt,founder of the PancreaticCancer Action charity
Victimsof thedisease
PATIENTS at Mid CheshireHospitals NHS Foundation Trusthospitals can be safe in theknowledge that they have amongthe lowest rates of MRSA in thecountry.
And staff are confident that thehigh standards of infectionprevention at Leighton Hospital,Crewe, Victoria Infirmary, Northwichand Elmhurst Intermediate CareCentre in Winsford will continuethrough 2012 and beyond.
Meanwhile, efforts to get hospitalstaff fit and healthy have won a
second award inside a year.Olympic gold medallist Jonathan
Edwards joined a ceremony torecognise the efforts to improve thewellbeing of its workforce.
NHS chief Sir David Nicholson haschallenged the health service to usethe inspirational power of the 2012Olympics to get employees activelyengaged in sport or physical activity.
A bronze accreditation wasawarded to the Trust for its “energyand enthusiasm in meeting thechallenge and getting staff moreactive”.
MEMBERS of the Health and Wellbeing Strategysteering group, with Rachel Alcock, director ofworkforce and organisational development (centre left),and Tracy Bullock, chief executive (centre right)
Hospitals’ clean sweepTesting times
Weather factor
Good news on MS
Shot in the arm
CHILDREN are now developing earinfections (also known as Otitis Media –OM) about two months later than in pastdecades, say Deafness Research UK.
A major consequence of OM is glue ear– the retention of fluid in the middle ear,causing hearing loss and problems withcommunication and behaviour.
“It is known that overall global warminghas been slower recently, but the autumnrise in ear infection consultations in theUK has still been happening later andlater,” said Professor Mark Haggard.n www.deafnessresearch.org.uk
THE ultimate flu vaccine may havecome a step closer thanks to newresearch.
If you get vaccinated against the fluand then become infected with thevirus, your body mounts an immuneresponse that stops you getting sick.
However, that pressure from theimmune system can make the virusmutate into a more infectious formwhich can spread to people who havenot been vaccinated.
But now researchers in the US haveidentified which amino acids in thevirus are most likely to mutate.
And that will make it easier forscientists to produce vaccines thatdon’t allow those stronger forms of fluto develop.
PATIENTS at Wythenshawe andManchester Christie hospitals are amongthe first in the country to demonstratehow genetic tests could help matchcancer patients to the most appropriatetreatment.
The aim is to establish a world-classNHS genetic testing service in the UK.
Up to 9,000 patients will participate inthe first phase of the programme, whichwill cover six different tumour types:breast, bowel, lung, prostate, ovary andmelanoma skin cancer.
Patients will be asked to give consentfor a small sample of their tumour to besent to one of three leading NHS genetictesting labs where DNA will be extractedand analysed for a range of molecularfaults linked to cancer.
PEOPLE with multiple sclerosis may beset to benefit from new research thatshows it’s possible to reverse an effectof ageing.
In MS, the insulating layers that protectnerve fibres in the brain - known asmyelin sheaths - become damaged. Earlyin the disease, the myelin sheaths areregenerated but as MS sufferers growolder, their bodies lose that ability.
However, a new study in mice showsthat the age-associated decline in theregeneration of the nerve’s myelinsheath, or remyelination, is reversible.
Professor Robin Franklin, from theUniversity of Cambridge, said: “Forindividuals with MS, this means that intheory regenerative therapies will workthroughout the duration of the disease.”
MEDICAL NOTES
Cancer blowCancer blowTreatment blocked byyears of underfunding
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Tel: 0151 230 0307
One advert goesa long, long wayOne advert goesa long, long way
Feb 9-Mar 10: Oliver! ManchesterPalace Theatre. Dickens’s classicstarring Neil Morrissey as Fagin.Feb 11: Carnival du Vampires Rock.Preston Guild Hall. New Rock andRoll musical.Feb 12: Grimethorpe Colliery Band.New Brighton Floral Pavilion. Theband featured in Brassed Off.Feb 13-18: Yes, Prime Minister.Llandudno Venue Cymru. Stageversion of the sitcom.Feb 14-16: Star of Wonder. BlackpoolGrand Theatre. Featuring internationalmagician Paul Dabek.Feb 14-16: Chinese State Circus.New Brighton Floral Pavilion.Traditional Chinese circus.Feb 14: The Animals and ChildrenTook to the Streets. Blackpool GrandTheatre. Original new thriller.Feb 15-16: Elektro Kif.Manchester Lowry. New style ofshow blending comedy, streetdance and theatre.Feb 15-16: Circus Shorts. BlackpoolGrand Theatre. The best in modernday circus acts.Feb 16-18: Service with aSmile 2. Manchester Lowry.Sense of humour required.Feb 17: Australian Pink Floyd Show.Preston Charter Theatre. The greatestPink Floyd tribute act in the world.Feb 17: Ida Barr’s Variety Parade.Blackpool Grand Theatre. Popularvariety show hosted by Ida.Feb 17: Spaghetti Western Orchestra.Manchester Lowry. A fistful of EnnioMorricone classics.Feb 17-19: Chinese State Circus.Manchester Lowry. TraditionalChinese circus acts.Feb 17-Mar 10: A Streetcar NamedDesire. Liverpool Everyman.Tennessee Williams’s hit play. AudioDescribed, Mar 9. Captioned, Mar 10Feb 18: Vive La Cabaret. ManchesterLowry. Cabaret hosted by DesmondO’Connor.Feb 18: The Vagina Monologues.Blackpool Grand Theatre. EveEnsler’s smash hit is back.Feb 18: Elkie Brooks - Live inConcert. New Brighton Floral Pavilion.One of the greatest British voices livein concert.Feb 19: Fireman Sam. BlackpoolGrand Theatre. The hero next door isback in town.Feb 19: There Was an Old WomanWho Swallowed a Fly. New BrightonFloral Pavilion. Family fun in thetheatre, featuring games and animals. Feb 20: Steve Hackett - BreakingWaves. New Brighton Floral Pavilion.The Genesis guitarist with a 6-pieceband, showcasing his extraordinarytalents. Feb 21-25: The King and I. TheLowry, Salford. Captioned, Feb 22.Feb 21: John Doughty – The PendleWitches. Bolton Octagon. The Pendlewitch expert tells the whole tale.Feb 21: BalletBoyz. Stoke RegentTheatre. All-male ballet. Feb 21: Swan Lake. WolverhamptonGrand Theatre. Ballet from theRussian State Ballet.Feb 21-25: Up ‘n’ Under. Runcorn
Brindley. An ex-pro takes up the taskof managing the ‘Wheatsheaf Arms’Rugby League team. Feb 22: Madama Butterfly. StokeRegent Theatre. Puccini’s opera.Feb 22: Sleeping Beauty.Wolverhampton Grand Theatre. Balletfrom the Russian State Ballet.Feb 23-Mar 10: The Daughter in Law.Manchester Library Theatre. The DHLawrence play. Audio Described, Mar1. Signed Performance, Mar 2. Feb 23: La Traviata. Stoke RegentTheatre. Verdi’s opera.Feb 23-Mar 17: Macbeth. BoltonOctagon. ‘The Scottish Play’ fromShakespeare. Feb 24: Barry Cryer - ButterflyBrain. New Brighton FloralPavilion. ‘Sit-down’ comedy.Feb 24: The Chuckle Brothers.Southport Floral Hall. Swashbucklingadventure from the duo.Feb 25: The Rat Pack VegasSpectacular. New Brighton FloralPavilion. The ultimate tribute to thepurveyors of cool.Feb 26: Chuckle Brothers. StokeRegent Theatre. Swashbucklingadventure with the duo.Feb 26: Russell Kane - Manscaping.
Blackpool Grand Theatre. Stand-upcomedy.Feb 27-Mar 3: Spamalot. StokeRegent Theatre. The musicallovingly ripped off MontyPython.Feb 26: Gaz Jenkins - Love/Life.Blackpool Grand Theatre. Live musicshow.Feb 28-Mar 4: Joseph and theAmazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.Llandudno Venue Cymru. The familyfavourite is back in Llandudno.Feb 29-Mar 2: The Prince ofDenmark. Blackpool Grand Theatre.An original play set before the eventsof Shakespeare’s Hamlet.Feb 29-Mar 3: Crown Matrimonial.Port Sunlight Gladstone Theatre.Royce Ryton’s gripping drama.Mar 1-3: All the Single Ladies.Blackpool Grand Theatre. Ahilarious new comedy.Mar 1-31: A Doll’s House.Theatr Clwyd. Audio Described, Mar17 & 22. Captioned, Mar 24Mar 4: Beating Berlusconi. BlackpoolGrand Theatre. Based on the truestory of the Liverpool fan who was satnext to Silvio Berlusconi at the AtaturkStadium in Istanbul.
Mar 6: La Boheme. BlackpoolGrand Theatre. Puccini’s opera,performed by the UkrainianNational Opera of Kharkiv. Mar 6-10: South Pacific. StokeRegent Theatre. Breathtakingreproduction of the Rogers andHammerstein musical.Mar 7-8: Red Riding Hood.Blackpool Grand Theatre. Thefamous children’s story.Mar 8-9: Naughty KnickerKnight. New BrightonFloral Pavilion. Adult-onlycomedy.Mar 9: Harold ‘Dickie’ Bird.Blackpool Grand Theatre. Thefamous cricket umpire tellingcricket stories. Mar 9-11: Horrible Histories.Liverpool Empire. The hitchildren’s book series on stage.Mar 10: Real Diamond - The JazzSinger. New Brighton FloralPavilion. Britain’s leading NeilDiamond tribute act.Mar 10: Kings of Swing. BlackpoolGrand Theatre. Live big bandplaying classic swing music.Mar 11: Fireman Sam. New
Brighton Floral Pavilion. The heronext door is back in New Brighton.Mar 12: Russian State Ballet’sGiselle. Liverpool Empire.Classical Ballet.Mar 13-17: Travelling Light. TheLowry, Salford. Captioned, Mar16. Audio Described, Mar 17.Mar 13-14: Russian State Ballet’sSwan Lake. Liverpool Empire.Classical ballet.Mar 13-17: South Pacific.Manchester Palace Theatre.Breathtaking reproduction of theRogers and Hammerstein musical.Mar 15: Dave Spikey.Liverpool Empire. Stand-upcomedy.Mar 16: Madama Butterfly.Liverpool Empire. Puccini’s opera.Mar 16-17: The Works. BlackpoolGrand Theatre. Interactiveworkshop.Mar 17: Motown’s Greatest Hits.Preston Charter Theatre. Theultimate celebration of Motown.Mar 18: Sleeping Beauty.Blackpool Grand Theatre. RussianState Ballet.Mar 19: Giselle. Blackpool Grand
Theatre. Russian State Ballet.Mar 19: Paul Merton.Liverpool Empire. The HaveI Got News For You starlive.Mar 19-24: Chicago - TheMusical. Manchester PalaceTheatre. The hit musical based onreal events.Mar 20: Sally Morgan - ‘PsychicSally’ on the road. LiverpoolEmpire. TV medium.Mar 21: Sally Morgan - ‘PsychicSally’ on the road. SouthportFloral Hall. TV medium.Mar 22-24: Dara O’Briain -Craic Dealer. LiverpoolEmpire. Stand-up comedyfrom the host of Mock The Week.Mar 23: Joe Brown. BlackpoolGrand Theatre. Rock ‘n’ rolllegend.Mar 25: Paul Merton.Blackpool Grand Theatre.The Have I Got News ForYou star live.Mar 27-31: Anne Boleyn.Blackpool Grand Theatre.Comedy featuring greats fromEnglish history.
REASONS To Be Cheerful, thebrilliant stage show aboutthe life and music of Ian
Drury and the Blockheads, has hitthe road!
As the original disabled activistand musician, Ian Dury was apatron, staunch supporter andadvocate of Graeae, the allinclusive theatre company behindthe production.
The extraordinary wit and wisdomof Dury’s music and lyrics arebrought to life by an exceptionalcast of 13 actors and musicans.
Part gig, part play, this grittyproduction is set in 1979 whenLabour lost to the Tories, strikesrocked the nation, and Ian Duryand the Blockheads’ Reasons tobe Cheerful (Part 3) climbed thecharts.
All performances includecaptioned dialogue, BSL-interpreted songs and audiodescription.
No Regrets by Dr Peter Hawkins,published by Vermilion, £10.99
ACAREER expert who overcamesevere eyesight problems tobecome an internationally
renowned motivational guru has writtena guide to help others transform theirown lives.
Dr Peter Hawkins says: “Most of us crawlout of bed on Monday morning to dragourselves through the week until we heave asigh of relief on Friday night. Then, just whenwe’ve finally started to relax, the SundayBlues kick in as the reality of Mondaymorning’s treadmill looms.
“This book will change that and is theperfect choice for anyone looking to make afresh start in 2012.”
Peter, who lives in Formby with his wifeand children, was diagnosed with maculardegeneration, at the age ofseven. Doctors told him that hewas considered to be registeredblind, and that he would neverbe able to drive.
“As I grew up, I would watchas my friends passed theirdriving tests, leaving me feelingincreasingly frustrated with myown abilities.
“It wasn’t until years later that Icame to appreciate that themore friends with licences, themore people I had to drive meabout - and that I was the onewho could enjoy a drink at thepub when they couldn’t.
“With this realisation came theknowledge that my greatestdisability wasn’t the loss of myeyesight, but the way I copedwith it.”
Peter completed a PhD inIndustrial Management at theUniversity of Liverpool, beforegoing on to create theUniversity’s Graduate IntoEmployment Unit, which is stillused as a flagship model acrossEurope.
His work brought him to theattention of Ian McCartney,former Government minister atthe Department of Trade andIndustry, and Peter regularlyadvised on issues aroundgraduate employment.
In 2009 he helped set uppersonal and careerdevelopment companyWindmills which deliversprogrammes across the UK tobusinesses, individuals, schools,FE colleges and localauthorities.
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A Sex Goddess’s Guide for peoplewith back pain, by Constance Reidand Oliver Melllors, £6.99,published by BackCare.IF YOU’VE ever suffered withback pain, the last thing on yourmind is sex, but this book is setto change all that.
Research has shown thathaving an orgasm floods yourbody with one of the mosteffective natural painkillers, thehormone oxytocin, which canhelp you in coping with backpain.
Packed with common senseadvice and illustrations, thebook is published by BackCare,the charity for healthier backs.BackCare, tel.020 8977 5474.
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210,000 of our readers DON’T see ANY other newspaper
ARIESMarch 21st - April 20thCriticising a colleague in early February willwin you a bitter enemy. It becomes mucheasier to rest, relax, and rejuvenate. Workingalongside a loving partner sets the scene fora super Valentine’s Day. Pamper yourcreative side on the 19th; your inner artist iscrying out for expression. And a secret loveaffair will take flower on the 21st. If you arein work, your boss will give you a greatermeasure of independence at the end of themonth.Your ideas gain traction in the days over thefirst few days of March. Resist the urge togossip. A difficult work project comes to aconclusion, giving you more time to exercise.Step up your fitness regimen - the results willbe impressive. The last week of March isperfect for taking a bold risk, such as takingon a more public role or asking for a firstdate.
TAURUSApril 21st - May 21stRomantic misunderstandings abound in earlyFebruary. The full moon on the 7th putsstress on your home life, but be sure to takea friend’s advice on having a greatValentine’s Day and don’t betray a lover’ssecret. The 18th is perfect for planning along distance trip. Dream big and expressyour artistic side. Resist the urge to rush aromance. At the end of the month, anoverseas business deal will put more moneyin your bank account.Keep your thoughts to yourself in the earlydays of March. Don’t expect much supportfrom friends. The full moon on the 8th marksan exciting turning point in a romance. Atmid-month, you will get a golden opportunityto travel, write, or study. Do somethingspecial for yourself around the 21st, even if itmeans going off on your own. A secretenemy will try to undermine your confidencearound the end of March.
GEMINIMay 22nd - June 21stYou’ll have to choose between a family andwork event in the early days of February. Thefull moon on the 7th may force you to cancela trip or class. You’ll have a chance toshowcase your expertise in the dayssurrounding the 13th but don’t mix financewith romance on St Valentine’s Day. A rise,promotion, or high profile job can be yoursnear the 19th.Working with a team proves rewarding in theopening days of March. The full moon on the8th is ideal for concluding a property deal.Trust your instincts with regard to a sexualrelationship in the days surrounding the 13th.An intimate relationship demands all of yourtime over the ides of March while the 18th isideal for pitching an unusual idea. You’llmake friends with an impressive intellectualbut don’t let a manipulative person influenceyour decisions as March turns to April.
CANCERJune 22nd - July 23rdAvoid controversial subjects like religion andpolitics. The full moon on the 7th brings anend to a source of income; you’ll have totuck into savings. An older relative has goodadvice regarding a relationship in the dayssurrounding the 13th. A power strugglebreaks out between you and a lover or
business partner during the middle of themonth. The New Moon on the 21st is perfectfor doing something new, and let your bestfriend or lover take you out of your comfortzone as February turns to March.March opens with a fantastic careeropportunity. The full moon on the 8th givesyou the answer to a burning question. Acherished dream will be granted to you bythe middle of the month so don’t look a gifthorse in the mouth. The closing days ofMarch find you in a power struggle with anarrogant authority figure.
LEOJuly 24th - August 23rdCompromise is impossible with your bestfriend, lover - you’ll just have to go your ownway. The days surrounding the 8th areperfect for travel, exploration, and mindexpansion. The 13th is the best day of theentire year for signing a business contract orforming a serious partnership. Get treatmentfor a nagging health problem by the middleof the month. The new moon on the 21stenriches your bank account with aninheritance, refund, or dividend. The finaldays of February are favoured for jobhunting; send out a slew of CVs.Early March sees a strict, authority figurewho won’t appreciate your whimsical ways. Alegal decision will be made in your favour inthe days surrounding the 5th. The full moonon the 8th yields a big payment or profit. Thenew moon on the 22nd is perfect for doingsomething new.
VIRGOAugust 24th - September 23rdAn unexpected inheritance, refund, ordividend reaches your bank account inFebruary. An admirer confesses their crushon Valentine’s Day. A business alliance witha foreigner is highly favoured in the dayssurrounding the 16th. The new moon on the21st launches a creative partnership. Aneducational, religious, or cultural institutionopens its doors to you as February turns toMarch.Confide your deepest feelings to a friend inthe first few days of March - and hold yourground with a pushy person. Avoid buyingexpensive luxuries you can’t afford. The fullmoon on the 8th yields exciting results.Someone extremely sexy joins your socialcircle on or around the 13th. The new moonon the 22nd is ideal for opening a newsavings or investment account. The finaldays of March warn against giving your heart
to an unreliable lover who has disappointedyou in the past.
LIBRASeptember 24th - October 23rdA friendship is about to becomes strained;you’re no longer willing to humour thisdelusional pest! But cheer up - romance isset to bursts into flower! Wear somethingspecial on Valentine’s Day, when yourcharms will be irresistible. An overbearingrelative will try to take advantage of yourgenerosity in mid-February. A dividend orinheritance allows you to indulge your love ofluxury on the 25th.Negotiating the terms of a contract is highlyfavoured in the opening days of March. Thefull moon on the 8th sheds light on amysterious situation. Someone will confess acrush on you in mid-March, much to yourdelight. Your best friend, lover, or businesspartner has an exciting surprise for youaround the 18th. The new moon on the 22ndbrings news of an engagement or marriage.The final days of March force you to dealwith an unpleasant domestic situation.
SCORPIOOctober 24th - November 22ndFebruary demands you strike a healthybalance between your platonic and romanticrelationships. The full moon on the 7th bringsan abrupt end to an uncomfortable careermatter; it may be time to leave a toxic job. Anadmirer gives you a gift that speaks to yourheart on Valentine’s Day. Stand up to a bullyat work in mid-February. The New Moon onthe 21st is perfect for getting engaged,married, or even starting a family.The first days of March are great forimproving your diet and exercise routine.Don’t let friends interfere with a romanticrelationship. The full moon on the 8th bringsthe successful culmination of a group project.The new moon on the 22nd attracts anexciting job offer. The closing days of Marchwarn against speaking your mind to atroublesome colleague.
SAGITTARIUSNovember 23rd - December 21stThe beginning of February warns againstpatronising a boss or authority figure. Homelife provides a welcome haven from careerpressures. The full moon on the 7th forcesyou to cancel travel plans. And romance isabout to burst into flower. Open your heart toa lover on Valentine’s Day; you won’t bedisappointed. The new moon on the 21st is
perfect for buying a place to live, finding aroom-mate, or moving in with a lover.March begins with you taking up a newhobby or sport. The full moon on the 8thforces you to face off with an aggressivefigure. Launch a fitness regimen in the dayssurrounding the 13th; you’ll be thrilled by theresults. A glamorous job could be yours forthe asking, and a small windfall could putextra money in your pocket. The new moonon the 22nd is great for launching a creativeproject.
CAPRICORNDecember 22nd - January 20thThe full moon on the 7th forces you tochange your lifestyle in order to save money.Exciting news about your family is cause forcelebration on the 10th. A sexy voicemail,text message, or letter makes you flush withpleasure on Valentine’s Day. Don’t be tooharsh with a sensitive relative over themiddle of the month. You’ll get favourablepublicity for a creative project in the closingdays of February.The opening days of March are favoured fornegotiating a property deal or signing alease, but try amd avoid controversialsubjects like religion and politics. The fullmoon on the 8th brings a successfulconclusion to a legal case. Your sex appealis irresistible on the 13th; use it to get all thefavours you can. Stand up to an overbearingrelative at the end of the month.
AQUARIUSJanuary 21st - February 19thA strong warning about mixing finance withromance. The full moon on the 7th triggers afight between you and your best friend orlover. Don’t let your inner critic prevent youfrom taking a creative risk during the middleof the month. Explore ways of donating yourtime, money or energy to a charitable cause.The new moon on the 21st is perfect forfinding a fresh source of income.March brings more time for domesticpleasures. The full moon on the 8th marksan exciting sexual encounter. A loved one orneighbour has exciting news on the 18th; goout and celebrate. The new moon on the22nd prompts you to get a refreshing changeof scenery. Don’t fall prey to your worst fearsas March turns to April.
PISCESFebruary 20th - March 20thFebruary opens with an upsetting argumentbetween you and a loved one; it’s time tovent your frustrations. Your powers ofpersuasion will be irresistible on Valentine’sDay; make your needs known on thismagical day but don’t try to impress a friendwith an expensive purchase. Your creativework gets lots of favourable publicity near the19th. The new moon on the 21st is perfectfor getting a makeover or transforming yourappearance.Develop a business idea in the early days ofMarch. Put your design skills to work on the6th; you’ll be very satisfied with the results.The full moon on the 8th brings a closerelationship to a whole new level of intimacy.The new moon on the 22nd invites you toacquire some cuttingedge technical skills.Defend your beliefsto a pushy friend asMarch turns to April.
Just look atwhat’s instore for YOU!
by RUSSELL GRANT
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HELPING HANDS Disabled and need advice on gardening? Contact national charity THRIVE.Tel. 0118 988 5688. www.thrive.org.uk or www.carryongardening.org.uk
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CHECKLISTFLOWERS: Trim back some ofthe leaves of hellebores so theflowers can be seen clearly.One of the most attractivehellebores, the pure white‘Christmas rose,’ can bespoiled by drips from overheadtrees after rain so protectblooms, especially for cutting,with a sheet of glass or plastic.SHRUBS: Prune winterjasmine when the yellow star-like flowers die. Cut back all theside shoots which haveflowered, leaving 3cm-4cm(1.5in) of shoot. Towards theend of March, prune thebutterfly bush, buddleia, downto 30cm (12in) from the ground.Strong new shoots will flowerthis year.LAWNS: Keep lawns clear ofwormcasts and other debris bybrushing them off. Do not walkon lawns when frost is on theground. If new growth isbeginning, give a trim towardsthe end of March with themower blades set high.PONDS: Check electricalequipment and cables. Removeslippery algae from paths anddecking. As the weatherbecomes milder try fish with alittle food but if they ignore itremove the food and waitanother fortnight.VEGETABLES: Sow broadbeans and plant onion andshallot sets if there is a mildspell in February; otherwisewait a few weeks. Sow peas,carrots and beetroots in March.FRUIT: Prune gooseberriesand redcurrants if you missedthem in the autumn, aiming toproduce a goblet shaped bushon a single stem.HERBS: In March, sow a fewherb seeds in pots in agreenhouse or indoors on awindowsill. Start with chivesand tarragon.GLASS: Greenhouses andcold frames containing plantsneed a good airing on sunnydays but make sure they areclosed by late afternoon. Thetemperature can zoom up veryquickly yet the nights are stillcold and, if you don’t trapdaytime warmth, plants couldrot.HOUSEPLANTS: Removefading flowers and dyingleaves. Give plants as muchlight as possible but in mostcases only water when thecompost surface is starting todry out. Exceptions includeazalea, cyclamen andmaidenhair fern, which prefermore moisture.
WHEN we moved housemany years ago, a newfriend greeted us just
inside the gate. She was well-dressed, her name rolled off thetongue and she soon became afamily favourite at this time ofyear.
We forgave her when she seemeda little prickly because she was ashrub, Mahonia aquifolium, and thespines were part of her glossy,evergreen leaves.
While some other shrubssuccumbed to drought or frost, orsulked about their soil or situation,Madame Mahonia grew steadily tooptimum size – around 1.5 metrestall and across (5ft x 5ft) – with thehelp of only an occasional top-dressing of general fertiliser.
Every winter, however hard theweather, she took top honours in thegarden, producing pale yellowracemes of flowers with a gentlefragrance.
That’s when I used to trim off anyoverlong stems and take themindoors to scent the house.
These were suckers – shoots putup directly from the roots – theplant’s way of spreading and veryeffective too for suppressing weeds.
It was the only pruning this obligingshrub needed to prevent itoverhanging other plants orencroaching over lawns or paths.
Mahonia aquifolium is morecommonly if less attractively knownas the Oregon grape – it comesfrom North America and the flowersare followed by purple berries likemini-grapes.
Mahonias are named for BernardM’Mahon, a prominent US
horticulturalist,and although hedied in 1816 theplant’spopularity haslived on.
The best of them all now is ahybrid of Chinese parentage,Mahonia x media ‘Charity’ (pictured),which I have planted in my presentgarden.
For the first few years it can lookout of proportion because the leavesand flowers are too big and dramaticfor a small, young shrub. However, itgrows quite quickly if properly fedand sheltered – sometimes up to 3m(10ft) tall. Its lily-of-the-valley scentis superb.
Other species of mahonia, mostly
from theFar East,havesimilarqualities.
Mahoniajaponica grows over 2m (7ft) tall andproduces lemon-yellow flowers onracemes which can extend to 30cm(12in) and, not surprisingly, tend tohang down under their own weight.Again, the scent is lovely.
Mahonia bealei is similar but theracemes are shorter and erect, whileMahonia lomarifolia grows taller, has20cm (8in) racemes and needsprotection from severe weather.
Mahonias demand little in returnfor their long-lasting display. Anyreasonable soil will meet their
needs, even in sandy or chalkyareas.
Mix some slow-release generalfertiliser with the soil when plantingand water thoroughly in any dryspells for the first two years.
For a second or third specimen,take hardwood cuttings in summer,insert them in gritty compost in a potcovered in film and kept in a shadyplace, and they should root by thefollowing spring.n If you should be down Windsorway in the next few weeks, dropin to the Great Park, the bestplace in Britain to see mahonias,where the National Collection ofscores of types are grown, manyof them in spectacular displayssweeping down to Virginia Water.
Prime Ballerina – Thompson &Morgan’s new sweet pea
FORGET winter and settle down with a goodbook – Thompson & Morgan’s seed catalogue,full of colourful flowers and delicious producefor summer.
For FIVE winners in this competition, the 200-page catalogue comes with £30 vouchers whichcan be exchanged for any items listed or online.
Choose from hundreds of varieties, includingthese new delights:
Sweet pea ‘Prima Ballerina,’ T&M’s exclusive‘flower of the year’ producing beautiful bloomsin a blend of soft pink, mauve and cream.
Nasturtium ‘Flame Thrower’, with fringedpetals in a sizzling range of colours from brightyellow through orange to crimson.
Petunia ‘Diamond Pearly Shades’, a cascadingpetunia with large, pearly-pink flowers, ideal forcontainers.
A tasty range of vegetables including Shiraz, a
new purple mangetout pea; Lettony, a frilly-leaved lettuce with in-built resistance to badweather; and Bajaja, a trailing cherry tomato forpatio tubs.
To enter the competition, answer thisquestion: What is T&M’s ‘flower of the year’?
Send your entry with your name and addresson a postcard or sealed envelope, stating whereyou picked up your copy of All Together NOW!,to T&M Competition, All Together NOW!, TheBradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L142EP, to arrive by Friday March 23.
You can also enter online atwww.alltogethernow.org.uk
Our winners will receive a copy of Thompson& Morgan’s catalogue.n Free copies are available to everyone onlineat www.thompson-morgan.com or by phone on0844 573 1818.
WIN! £30 to spend on seedsWIN! £30 to spend on seeds
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:Which craft was piloted by the animated puppet Colonel Steve Zodiac?A StingrayB Thunderbird 2C Red DwarfD Fireball XL5
QUESTION 2 – for 2 points:How many squares are on a Scrabble board?A 64B 144C 225D 324
QUESTION 3 – for 3 points:Which of the following might use a jess?A ShepherdB CarpenterC FalconerD Angler
QUESTION 4 – for 4 points:What are courgettes known as in the USA?A CucumbersB MarrowsC SquashesD Zucchini
QUESTION 5 – for 5 points:What are Codling, Braeburn and Russets?A Young fishB ApplesC MarblesD Moths
QUESTION 6 – for 6 points:Which 1960s TV comedy show featured a character called Uncle Fester, played by former child star Jackie Coogan?A The Addams FamilyB BewitchedC The MunstersD I Dream Of Jeannie
QUESTION 7 – for 7 points:When was the first successful manned balloon flight over the Atlantic Ocean?A 1878B 1923C 1953D 1978QUESTION 8 – for 8 points:Which 19th century novelist is credited with designing the first Post Office pillar box?A Anthony TrollopeB Rudyard KiplingC Arthur Conan DoyleD H.G. WellsQUESTION 9 – for 9 points:What do the initials TGV refer to in France?A National sales taxB The stock exchangeC An express train serviceD Computerised voting system
QUESTION 10 – for 10 points:Where in Great Britain is the 15th century cannon Mons Meg displayed?
A The Tower of LondonB Dover CastleC Donegall Quay, BelfastD Edinburgh Castle
QUESTION 11 – for 11 points:How far away from Earth must an object be to go into orbit?
A 125 milesB 220 milesC 355 milesD 525 miles
QUESTION 12 – for 12 points:Of which country is Rupert Murdoch a citizen?
A The United KingdomB AustraliaC The USAD Canada
QUESTION 13 – for 13 points:Which nuts are used to make pesto?
A AlmondsB WalnutsC ChestnutsD Pine nuts
QUESTION 14 – for 14 points:Which French playing card is represented by the letter V?
A QueenB JackC AceD King
QUESTION 15 – for 15 points:Who was the first Welsh-born actor to win an Academy Award for best actor?
A Anthony HopkinsB Hugh GriffithC Edmund GwenD Ray Milland
Media mogul Rupert Murdoch. See Question 12
1. Inhabitant (8) 5. Incentive (4) 9. Well-liked (7)10. Great pain (5)11. Move quickly (3)12. Small cave (6)15. Perfect (5)17. Long-necked bird (4)19. Former Spanish currency (6)22. Against (6)24. Florence’s river (4)26. Opponent (5)27. Respond (6)30. Small barrel (3)32. Slack (5)33. Courageous (7)34. Stitch (4)35. Extra material (8)
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 DOWN
The Accumulator QuizSTARSPOT CROSSWORD
SUDOKU
4 7 8 3 18 3 2 66 9 1 5
8 1 4 54 1 7 26 9
2 7 1 4 9 86 8 3
5 2 7
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 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.
10 29 9 14 26 1523 8
11 21
6
3 15
17
2132
6
7 1730
12
MEDIUM
KAKURO
6 83 2 1
88
1 3 56 4 9 7
1 9 35 2 97 1 4 2
Our prime purpose in this lifeis to help others.And if you can’t help them, atleast don’t hurt them
— Dalai Lama
Live as if you were to dietomorrow.Learn as if you were tolive forever— Mahatma Gandhi
I’d rather regret thethings I’ve done thanregret the things Ihaven’t done
— Lucille Ball
Good friends are likestars . . . You don’talways see them, but youknow they are alwaysthere — Epicurus ‘‘‘ ‘
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 8?
A
B
C
D F
E
1 2
3 4
5 6
CROSS CODE
SPOT CHECK
I S E C A R C S T A L
L V E R L E R Y L R P
C A H C D P D L W A E
O N I A L A P O O O L
T T E R P E R G L Y R
N O M O P I V A E B U
S A E C Y R O T L K P
P P T I U R E H I A L
H T E E R F O D S T I
I S D L O N O R A L N
R E I A M D W O C M U
Starting from the central shaded letter, move one letter at atime (up, down, right or left, but not diagonally) to find 22wedding anniversaries.
PATHWORDS
DIALLING CODES
PETASUS
Here is anunusual wordwith threedefinitions, onlyone of which iscorrect. Can youidentify the rightdefinition?
WORD WIZARD
1) A skininflammationcommonlyaffecting thelower limbsbutoccasionallyfound on thearms;
2) A hat with alow crownand broadbrim, worn inancientGreece;
3) A small bonefound in theinner ear.
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?
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 a handtool.
HOT – – – – STAND
WITHIN – – – – – – ABLE
NO – – – RESULT
FALSE – – – – LET
CRYSTAL – – – – – OFF
KNOW – – – NOW
MISSING LINK
In which year did all three of these significanthistorical events take place?
1. The first steam-powered passenger lift ispatented by Elisha Otis.
2. Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert,dies of typhoid at the age of 42.
3. Abraham Lincoln takes office as Presidentof the United States.
WAS IT? a) 1837; b) 1843; c) 1849; d) 1855; e)1861.
MAKE A DATE
TRANSFORMERAdd the given letter to the first word to make a new word.
Word WizardNo 2 is correct. A petasus is a hat worn by the ancient Greeks.Dialling Codes1. Arnold Schwarzenegger; Brad Pitt;Dustin Hoffman; Tom Cruise; MichaelDouglas; Richard Gere; Mel Gibson.2. Perth; Auckland; Brisbane;Melbourne; Sydney; Christchurch;Darwin; Fremantle; Adelaide;Rotorua; Canberra.3. ginseng; oregano; aniseed;rosemary; basil; marjoram; sage;parsley; thyme; aloe; coriander;fennel; tarragon.4. aluminium; zinc; brass; silver;copper; platinum; bronze; chromium;cobalt; mercury; pewter; tin; iron;lead.
5. Alamo; Leningrad; Sebastopol;Lucknow; Troy; Yorktown;Constantinople; Syracuse; Grenada;Jerusalem.6. cockroach; dragonfly; cicada; stagbeetle; grasshopper; mosquito;water boatman; ladybird;leatherjacket.Spot CheckA = 3; B = 4; C = 6; D = 2; E = 5; F = 1.Missing Linkwash; reason; end; note; clear; how. Tool: wrench.Make a DateThe year was 1861.TransformerRogue + B = Brogue.
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
14 15I
16 17M
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25S
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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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 716971n SHREWSBURY. Tel 01743236900n SOUTHPORT. Tel 0151 2886885n ST HELENS. Tel 01744 613388n STOCKPORT. Tel 0161 6661100n WARRINGTON. Tel 01925240064n 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 CILTel 01606 782760
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 Coalition ofInclusive Living.Tel 0151 260 4001nNEUROSUPPORT 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 448552
ORGANISATIONS 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 2983222n 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) Tel0800 587 2252nWIGAN Tel 01942 242891nWIRRAL Tel 0151 652 8877
ORGANISATIONS 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 Deaf Association,
Tel 01492 542235
THE TEN lucky winners ofour super Christmasgardening competition are:
BRIAN KNOWLES, WallaseyVillage, Merseyside. He says:“Excellent paper. I look forwardto every issue”. (Brian picked uphis copy of All Together NOW!at Clatterbridge Hospital).
RUSSELL LEIGH, TowersRoad, Poynton, who saysAll Together NOW! is a “greatand informative mag”. (ASDAStockport).
TANYA EASTWOOD, DevonAvenue, Lancs. “Veryimpressed with the numerousinteresting and informativearticles on such a variety ofsubjects.” (Ormskirk Hospital).
WENDY ATKINS, MarshallsLane, Northwich. “I love thepaper, loads to read and it’sfree!” (Disabled Centre,Northwich Tourist Info Centre).
Ms A HIND, Chatsworth Street,Syke, Rochdale. “All Together
NOW! contains information thatisn’t available anywhere else.”(Rochdale General Library).
LORRAINE FIELD, FirswoodRoad, Latham, West Lancs. “Iparticularly enjoy your ‘GettingOn’, Carezone and Healthzonesections”. (Formby Hospital)
MRS P ATKINSON, AinsdaleClose, Bebington, Wirral.“Wonderful paper – lots of infoand reading. Keep up the goodwork.” (Wirral Met College).
MRS P M DAVIES, BentleyDrive, Kirkham, Preston. “AllTogether NOW! is packed with
interesting news.” (Subscriber).
JANE ORFORD, Thomas Lane,Broadgreen, Liverpool. (ASDAHuyton)
MRS P WALKER, SomervilleStreet, Crewe, Cheshire. “IthinkAll Together NOW! is fabwith lots to read in it.” (LeightonHospital).
Each winner will receive acopy of the book How DoesMy Garden Grow(Dorking/Kindersley/RoyalHorticultural Society) PLUS acollection of seeds fromJohnson Seeds.
Were you one of our ten winners?Were you one of our ten winners?
Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball . . . www.gbwba.org.uk
Stay ahead of the game . . . www.alltogethernow.org.uk
SuperleagueFeb 11/12 : Owls v Steelers. Feb 11/12: Rhinos v Capital City.Feb 25/26: Owls v Capital City. Feb 25/26: Steelers v Rhinos. Mar 17/18: Steelers v Capital City. Mar 17/18: Owls v Rhinos. Mar 24/25: Steelers v Owls. Mar 24/25: Capital City v Rhinos.
1st Division North
Feb 11/12: Owls 2 v Steelers 2.
Feb 18/19: Lothian v Steelers 2. Feb 18/19: Percy H v Steelers 2. Feb 25/26: Owls 2 v Lothian. Feb 25/26: Mavericks v Lothian. Mar 10/11: Mavericks v Spiders. Mar 17/18: Owls 2 v Mavericks. Mar 17/18: Steelers 2 v Spiders. Mar 24/25: Spiders v Owls 2. Mar 24/25: Knights v Lothian.
2nd Division North
Feb 11/12: Wheelblazers v Vikings. Feb 18/19: Bulls v Percy Hedley 2.
Feb 18/19: Vikings v Percy H 2. Feb 18/19: Wheelblazers v West ofScotland. Feb 25/26: Vikings v Greenbank. Mar 10/11: Warriors v Bulls. Mar 17/18: Warriors v West ofScotland. Mar 17/18: Greenbank v West ofScotland. Mar 24/25: Bulls v Greenbank. Mar 24/25: Warriors v Wheelblazers.
3rd Division North Feb 11/12: Spiders 2 v Whirlwinds.
Feb 11/12: Maulers v Panthers. Feb 18/19: Lothian 2 v Whirlwinds. Feb 18/19: Panthers v Whirlwinds. Feb 18/19: Steelers 4 v Spiders 2. Feb 18/19: Cardinals v Mavericks 2. Feb 25/26: Steelers 4 v Maulers. Feb 25/26: Whirlwinds v Spiders 2. Mar 10/11: Steelers 4 v Cardinals. Mar 10/11: Maulers v Whirlwinds. Mar 10/11: Panthers v Spiders 2. Mar 17/18: Whirlwinds v Panthers. Mar 17/18: Steelers 4 v Panthers. Mar 24/25: Steelers 4 v Whirlwinds. Mar 24/25: Spiders 2 v Mavericks 2.
Great Britain Wheelchair Basketball . . . www.gbwba.org.uk
THEY’RE OFF . . .Above, Nigel Holland’sprize-winning entry inthe first national On theMove competition fordisabled photographersand right, Ann Hulme’sgreat shot of carriageriding.
Nigel, who hasCharcot-Marie-Toothdisease - a conditionthat affects the nervesin his legs and arms -won the over 18scategory with his TopFuel Bike action shot.
“This is the firstcompetition I haveentered so I amespecially thrilled towin,” said Nigel, fromWellingborough, Northamptonshire.
“Drag racing is a big passion and I was tryingto get a good panning shot. But this is noteasy to achieve with my disability so I amdelighted it pleased the judges.”
Ann’s dramatic picture also impressed thecompetition organisers, the DisabledPhotographers’ Society and Mobility Choice,
the charity behind the annual MobilityRoadshow.
Wheelchair-user Ann, from Birmingham, hasmultiple sclerosis and operates her camerawith her mouth. She has been fanatical aboutcameras and horses since she was 11.www.disabledphotographers.co.uk www.mobilitychoice.org.uk
HOT SHOTS!HOT SHOTS!
ONE of the UK’s top disabilityexperts - currently working to ensurethe best possible access fordisabled fans at the UEFA Euro 2012tournament – has received an OBE.
Joyce Cook, chair of Level PlayingField, a UK charity representingdisabled sports fans and providingguidance to football, cricket, rugby andother sports including the Olympics andParalympics 2012.
Joyce is also the founder andmanaging director of CAFE, (Centre forAccess to Football in Europe), whichpromotes and delivers inclusive footballstadiums across Europe and ensuringthat all can access the game.
In addition, sheis a boardmember atFARE (FootballAgainst Racismin Europe) andsits on the boardof The FootballAssociationDisabilityEqualityAdvisory Group,Women InFootball and Kickit Out’s Equality Advisory Group.
Joyce said: “I am deeply honoured tohave received an OBE but the award isreally a reflection of the hard workshown by everyone at Level PlayingField and the Centre for Access toFootball in Europe as well as oursupporters and partners who arehelping us change the landscape fordisabled fans.
“While we have made a lot ofprogress we still have much to dobefore we can claim true inclusion andequal access for all disabled fans.”
Former Paralympic table-tennis goldmedallist Neil Robinson was alsoawarded an MBE.
Neil, who retired after the Beijinggames in 2008 and is now a nationalGB disability table-tennis coach.
He first represented GB in 1981 andcompeted at six Paralympic games,winning seven medals, and is a formerworld number one and Europeanchampion.
JOYCE COOK
Honours forsports heroes
MERSEYSIDE’S JamieBurdekin took the quadsigles wheelchair title at theMelbourne Open on a daywhen British players pickedup three titles on the NECWheelchair Tennis Tour.
World No. 6 Burdekin,playing in his first tournamentof the season, won the pointsthat mattered to edge outSouth African world No. 10Lucas Sithole 6-3, 6-4.
It was Burdekin’s fourth ITF 2singles title of his career - andhe did it without dropping a setthroughout the tournament.
Louise Hunt and JordanneWhiley also came through atough match to claim thewomen’s doubles while MarcMcCarroll and Gordon Reidwon the men’s doubles titlecourtesy of a walkover.
Australian OpenPETER Norfolk had anothermemorable time in Australia,winning his fifth AustralianOpen quad singles title, andtaking the quad doubles eventwith Andy Lapthorne.
Norfolk came from a setdown in the singles final tobeat defending champion andworld No. 1 David Wagner ofthe United States 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.
It was Norfolk ‘s sixth singlesGrand Slam title, adding to hisfirst Australian OpenWheelchair TennisChampionships crown in 2004before the event was classifiedat Grand Slam level.
Junior MastersALFIE Hewett became just thesecond British player to winthe Cruyff Foundation JuniorMasters boys’ singles title asthe world’s premier tournamentfor wheelchair tennis playersaged 18 and under came to athrilling climax in Tarbes,France.
Hewett, 14, upset theArgentinean top seed AugustinLedesma to take the title 2-6,6-2, 7-6(7) in front of 3,000spectators.The Tennis Foundation’sWheelchair Tennis Camps for2012 get underway at SouthRibble Tennis Centre, nearPreston, on February 18-19.Other camps are taking placelater in the year at Swindon,Welwyn Garden City, Stirling,Edinburgh, Swindon,Nottingham and Sunderland.
TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!
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Liverpool L14 2EP — THANKS!
All Together NOW! is helping andinspiring tens of thousands ofpeople whose lives are affectedby disability. But the charityneeds to find ways to balance thebooks.You can help in a big way bybecoming one of our loyalsubscribers. For a suggested £12donation (or more, if you canafford it!) we will send you thenext SIX editions.
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YOUNG disabled peopleare set to benefit from a£1 BILLION national
programme aimed at gettingeveryone – whatever level ofability – to play sport for life.
With the London 2012 Gamesfast approaching, the five-yearyouth and community sportstrategy will deliver on Lord Coe’spromise to inspire a generation toget involved in sport.
Barry Horne, chief executive ofthe English Federation ofDisability Sport, said: “We willsupport Sport England and otherpartners to ensure this strategydelivers fully inclusiveprogrammes to benefit everyone.
“Young disabled people requirea more positive, meaningful and
accessible experience of sport.” Three elements included in the
new strategy should have aparticularly positive impact onyoung disabled people’sparticipation.
Firstly, there is the chance totackle the significant post-16 dropoff rate.
The promise of fully inclusiveschool games will also make adifference – nearly half of theschools in England will offercompetitive sport for disabledpeople for the first time.
And the strategy will also placesignificantly greater expectationand responsibility on NationalGoverning Bodies to increase theparticipation rates of disabledpeople in sport. www.efds.co.uk
THE FootballAssociation andRiding for the
Disabled Associationhave promised to doeven more for peoplewith learning disabilities
Both have signed aMemorandum ofUnderstanding with SpecialOlympics GB to encouragechildren and adults –regardless of ability – to puton their boots and get ontheir saddles!
Jeff Davis, FA nationaldisability developmentmanager, said: “Both the FAand Special Olympics arecommitted to ensuring thatanyone who wants to playCAN play, no matter of theirability level.
“This understanding willhelp to create a playerpathway from local tointernational competition forour current and futurelearning disabledfootballers.”
All abilitiesMore than 1,800 learning
disabled footballers currentlytake part in the nationalprogramme which provides aclear player pathway fromlocal to national andinternational competitions atall ability levels.
“The FA’s membership willcreate fantastic additionalcompetition opportunities forpeople with learningdisabilities.
“Over the next three yearswe hope to double thenumber of footballers withinour programme.””
Speaking about thepartnership with the Ridingfor the Disabled Association,Karen Wallin added:
“This is a fantasticopportunity for us to expandour equestrian programme.”
The RDA currently has 500member groups and morethan 30,000 riders andcarriage drivers – and morethan half have learningdisabilities.
TEAMING UP:Left, Karen Wallin (chiefexecutive, Special Olympics),Lawrie McMenemy (president,Special Olympics), athlete PaulFallon and Jeff Davis (disabilityofficer, Football Association)Right: Special Olympic ridersKaty Crouch and HayleyTallentire with Bob the Horse andEd Bracher, chief executive, RDA
Boots on— andsaddle up
£1 billionboost!
Major plansto get moreyoungpeopleinto sport
SPOKES flew as Manchester’s ownwheelchair ballroom dance groupquickstepped a mile to warm up for theSainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile on SundayMarch 25.
The Strictly Wheelchair dance group gracedthe Wythenshawe Forum Hall with a fantasticdisplay of Strictly-style ballroom moves.
Ray Bulpitt, the Strictly Wheelchair danceteacher, said: “It’s already been a fantastic yearfor Strictly Wheelchair Dancing. Roll on theManchester Mile!”To enter the Manchester Mile, or one of dozensof Mile events happening all over GreaterManchester, visit www.sportrelief.com
