Wednesday 12th March 2014 - FREE TO ATTEND! Working with Skills for Care, Ruils is delighted to announce that we are hosting a National Conference aimed at Personal Assistants. The conference will take place on Wednesday 12th March at the Friend’s Meeting House in Euston, London. As a Personal Assistant you will be able to [...]

Did any of you catch the TV news last night? We were delighted to see young Natasha Lambert being awarded for her outstanding solo sailing accomplishments. Despite being labelled 'disabled' and born with athertoid cerebral palsy, Natasha was just 16 when she completed her solo journey across the English Channel in a 21ft-long (6.4m) boat. [...]

[caption id="attachment_115" align="alignright" width="340"] Katy receiving her AoC Gold Award in 2012[/caption] As a previous recipient of an AoC Gold Award, Katy and PA Pool are delighted to support the AoC Charitable Trust with a new fundraising initiative they are piloting this year, in aid of student funds. The purpose of holding a silent auction [...]

Members of PA Pool will know that, as a not-for-profit organisation, we very much reply on external funding, such as advertising, to help us to develop the website and continue to provide a viable and valuable service. One our members – John Burke – suggested the great idea of selling Christmas Cards as another means [...]

Disability Rights UK are urging the Government to rethink its support programmes aimed at helping disabled people find paid work, following a recent survey where it found “63% of those surveyed said the government support they received did not help them get a job”. Moreover the research found that “more than 500 disabled people in [...]

The hashtag ‘Heard Whilst Disabled’ is currently trending on Twitter, as reported by the BBC News this week. Apparently the hashtag is being used by disabled twitterers giving us a brief insight into just some of the thoughtless comments made to them directly or overheard.  Read the full story here:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-ouch-24064300.  You may or may not [...]

At the end of July 2013, the Anniversary Games celebrated a year since London 2012!  Who can forget the heart-swelling pride we all felt during those momentous two weeks! If you missed out on visiting the Olympic Park last year, now’s the time to make a date in your diary to visit the renamed Queen [...]

Regular visitors to our website will know that every month we try and update this news section with something interesting and informative.  We consider matters raised by our members and search Google for articles.  This month we have tried to find something inspirational after all the doom and gloom about benefits and PIP. As a [...]

If you receive the Higher Rate Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance, the Enhanced Rate of the Mobility Component of Personal Independence Payment or the War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement, you can exchange your weekly payment to lease a new car through the Motability Scheme. What’s more, insurance, servicing, RAC breakdown assistance and replacement tyres [...]

We have been keeping an eye on the comings and goings of the judicial review between six ILF users and the Department for Work and Pensions, as we’re sure you have. A decision on the case was delayed until late April and we have included the judgement on the attached, should you wish to read [...]

As many of you will no doubt be aware, PIP is the new replacement for the DLA (Daily Living Allowance) awarded to individuals at different rates subject to your needs. The DLA is a non-means-tested, non-contributory benefit which was introduced in the UK in 1992. The PIP roll-out commenced on 8 April 2013, however, most [...]

The Department of Health have recently launched a consultation on changes to the regulations for direct payments, for healthcare. Even if you don't receive a Direct Payment for your healthcare needs currently, you may want or be able to have one in the future, and therefore you may have a view on these proposals. Direct [...]

National charity, Hearing Dogs for Deaf People, will be launching a special free ‘app’ in time for Valentine’s Day, to raise vital awareness of the organisation’s life-changing work. The Charity hopes those looking for a Valentine’s gift with a difference will download the affectionate ‘app’ and encourage others to do the same ahead of 14 [...]

The Disability Law Service, which provides advice to disabled people facing cuts this April, is expecting a surge in demand for its services in 2013. Unfortunately, 2013 looks like being a historic year for disabled people, but for all the wrong reasons! Read the full article by Patrick Butler and Abby Young-Powell in The Guardian, [...]

On Human Rights Day 10 December 2012, Stephen Bowen, Director of the British Institute of Human Rights, amongst 72 civil society groups, including Disability Rights UK, sent an ‘open letter’ to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister. The letter expresses the concerns over the lack of political leadership of the Human Rights Act in [...]

You may or may not be aware that the following research was launched recently at the NCAS Conference 2012. The report and supporting material, including good practice case studies, can all be found via the Skills For Care website:www.skillsforcare.org.uk/how_can_we_help_you/personalassistantsframework.aspx. You can read the full press release below: Skills for Care, the Association of Directors of [...]