#TalkAboutTakingPart Posted on in News

WheelPower, the national charity for wheelchair sport located in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, provides opportunities for disabled people to participate in sport and lead healthy, active lives across the UK. You can find out more about WheelPower via their website here. This new survey aims to find out what activities wheelchair users currently take part in, what [...]

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Last opportunity to apply for funding with Skills for Care Posted on in News

Personal health budget (PHB) holders can still apply for funding from Skills for Care to pay for training for themselves or their PAs before the 31 March. The funding can also be used to meet the cost of travel or hiring replacement support if a PA attends training during working hours. So far over 30 [...]

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Direct Payment Payroll Posted on in News

You might have seen the advert on the home page of our website this month from Smart Support Services, specialising in Payroll, Law, Pensions and Managed Accounts for Direct Payments. If you have access to Flash*, then you can view their video here. Alternatively, take a look at their website to learn more. *Please note [...]

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PA’s Needed for Personal Assistance Study Posted on in News

This month we are once again assisting the University of East Anglia (UEA) with their studies and research activity… Have you ever worked as a PA (personal care assistant)?  If so, then researchers at the University of East Anglia would like to hear about your experiences. The study looks at personal care assistance relationships – [...]

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Take Part in Channel 4's Rescue Dogs to Super Dogs Posted on in News

Do any of these apply to you? Are You a Dog Lover? Do you have a challenging condition or disability? Could you give a rescue dog a permanent home? Have you ever considered that a dog could transform your life? If so, Channel 4 need you! This new series on Channel 4 will see abandoned [...]

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Money for training – Skills for Care Posted on in News

Did you know that if you employ a PA (Personal Care Assistant), you can ask for a grant to pay for training and qualifications for both you and/or your PA(s)? This funding comes from Skills for Care’s individual employer fund and easy read guides, full details and application forms can be found on their website [...]

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PAs Needed for Personal Care Assistance Study Posted on in News

The disability research team at the University of East Anglia (UEA) are researching the experiences and attitudes of Personal Care Assistants. To be a participant in their confidential telephone interviews and for more information (including the voucher), just visit their website here.

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Right Chair, Right Time, Right Now Campaign – Pledge Your Support Today Posted on in News

No doubt you’ll have seen the recent news articles of Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson in the press highlighting how few disabled people are being provided with the right wheelchairs to meet their needs by the NHS.  But have you pledged your support yet for the new Charter? [row] [column md="6"] The Wheelchair Leadership Alliance (WLA) has [...]

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Transforming Lives Through Sport Posted on in News

This month we’d like to introduce you to the charity WheelPower. WheelPower is the national organisation for wheelchair sport in the UK, and aims to help people with disabilities improve their quality of life through sport, and of course its also a great way of meeting new people! You might be more familiar with its [...]

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New Independent Living Fund Posted on in News

The transfer of the ILF (Independent Living Fund) to local authorities is due to take place at the end of this month. In the meantime, the ILF, ADASS (the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services) and the LGA (Local Government Association) have updated their guidance to local authorities. If you are an ILF recipient, [...]

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Mobility Roadshow Posted on in News

The longstanding and extremely popular Mobility Roadshow will be returning to Donington Park in Derbyshire from Thursday 25 to Saturday 27 June 2015. The Mobility Roadshow is a really friendly and well-attended event, providing you, your carers and your families with the opportunity to talk to a variety of suppliers and test drive a wide [...]

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New Care Act 2015 Posted on in News

The new Care Act came into force this month - April 2015. Norman Lamb, the current Minister of State for Care and Support at the Department of Health, is responsible for older people, adult social care, carers, and mental health services, amongst others. Lamb described the new Act as, “the most significant reform of care [...]

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New Disability Rights Handbook 2015-16 (Edition 40) Posted on in News

Now in its 40th year, the new Disability Rights Handbook (Edition 40) is now available for pre-order from £18 and will be published in April 2015. Its regarded as the number one guide to both disability benefits and independent living. The Handbook provides a clear and concise guide to information on the benefits and independent [...]

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The Cinema Exhibitors’ Association (CEA) Card Posted on in News

We have recently been introduced to the CEA Card – a national scheme set up in 2004 for participating cinemas in the UK - and wanted to help share the word, so that more people can benefit from this offer. You can visit the CEA website here to find out more. The CEA Card allows [...]

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General Election 2015 – What should you do? Posted on in News

You’ll no doubt be aware that we’ve got a general election coming up in May – Thursday 7th to be precise. The polling booths will be open between 7am and 10pm. The likes of bedroom tax, ILF (independent living fund), learning disabilities and welfare cuts, to name just a few, are all regular features in [...]

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