Copeland Disability Forum
Newsletter
“TRANSFORM”
Autumn 2012
Chairman’s Report
Welcome everyone to our latest newsletter.
I don’t have much to report, a quiet time for CDF, just the usual meetings, consultations etc.
I am going to have a great big moan about the weather – I am sick of the cold, wind and rain and was lucky enough to be able this year to fly to Ibiza to see my family. Well, would you believe it I was TOO hot !!!! . Leg swelled up, mosquito bites, too hot to sit in the sun and too muggy at nights. Glad to be back in good old England !!!!. At least when it’s cold you can wrap up warm with layers of clothes, when it’s too hot you can only take so much off, well I can at least !. Right that’s off my chest – here’s to a cold, wet, windy winter – I promise not to mention it again.
We are eagerly awaiting further developments on the new Whitehaven Hospital – things seem to have gone very quiet – hope all is well.
I have spent a great deal of the last months filling my ESA forms in, going through a review of Care hours and reassessment for ILF – a bit of a nightmare [ for us all, I’m sure] – next to come, we have the reform of DLA to PIP – please read the article in the newsletter. It will affect EVERYONE on DLA and it’s worth being forewarned about what’s to come.
Don’t forget Cumbria Advice Network wants to hear from anyone who has had their Care hours cut – they are doing a campaign here in Cumbria. contact http://www.cumbriaadvicenetwork.org.uk
Mandy Pfleger - 01900 604735.
Many thanks to CDF members for their continued support and all that’s left to say is Have a great Christmas and we’ll be back in the New Year.
Anne Bradshaw
If anyone is looking for a small van removal for a single item, I have used this company. They were quick, reliable and reasonable. Davidson Removals – Tel:- 07884-472085. They’ll give you a quote. They were really friendly and helpful.
SAILABILITY-CUMBRIA
Sailability-Cumbria are a registered charity (No: 1092920) and we are based in Maryport Marina, Cumbria. We are affiliated to the Royal Yachting Association (the RYA)and we are foundation members of RYA Sailability.
We offer adults and young persons a chance of Sailing on the Solway on our yacht — Solway Adventurer. Our sailing trips are open to Youth groups, Local Organisations and people with disabilities. All of our Skippers are RYA trained to Day Skipper level or higher.
ABOUT THE YACHT
She is a 38 foot Bavaria yacht, purchased from new in 2004, specifically for this purpose. We operate on the basis of one crew member per passenger, plus the Skipper of the boat. This limits us to a total of three passengers, as the boat is licensed to carry up to eight people.
CREW TRAINING
The skippers of the boat all hold RYA sailing certificates and most of our crew are trained in First Aid, VHF Radio and Sea Survival. There is also an ongoing training programme throughout the sailing season to keep everyone on their toes.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Many of our visitors who sail with us have never been to sea before, let alone on a yacht. It is a sport that can be tried at any age with almost any disability. You will be treated as an individual and your specific needs (if any) will be considered; including accommodating your Carer if you have one. Our sailing season runs from April to October so if you wish to book please contact our Coordinator JulieRolle on: 07871 771442 or email us at:
If you feel able, you will be welcome to steer the boat yourself in open waters. Experience has shown us that very seldom is disability a barrier to enjoying a sail out to sea. We suggest that if you are unsure of your ability to cope you contact your GP to make sure that this sailing activity is suitable for you and please remember to bring along any medication you may need.
FACILITIES
The facilities on board include three sleeping cabins and a main cabin with modern cooking facilities, refrigerator, sink etc. There is a separate toilet (the heads) with a wash hand basin and a shower.
OUR TRIPS
These can be varied to suit our guests. They can be as short as a circuit around Maryport Marina or up to a 4 hour trip sailing on the Solway. As a visitor you can say when you have had enough, we can turn around at any time to return to the Marina.
WHAT YOU NEED TO BRING
Yourself with some warm clothing and any food you may require for the duration. We strongly suggest that a hat and some gloves may be needed but we will supply all the weather and safety gear you may need to wear whilst on board. Tea and Coffee are always available on board.
TRANSFERS
An on board transfer hoist and sling can be used to transfer anyone who is physically unable to transfer themselves from the pontoon to the boat and back again. This way we are able to offer our sailing adventure to everyone.
COME AND HAVE A GO
It’s all so different when you are afloat. Your perspective on life and the world around you changes, things never seem so bad and life takes on new dimensions. At sea it can be tranquil, it can be exhilarating and of course it can be rough. If rough weather is expected then we don’t go out (the Skipper will make this decision), but if it were to come unannounced the boat is well built to take it in its stride and the crew are competent to handle the conditions.
We also have a Tack Tick compass system on board to help those visually impaired enjoy Sailing in Cumbria.
We operate out of the Maryport Marina, Marine Road, Cumbria, CA15 8AY. The Marina is located some way from the bus and train station, so if you need transport remember to ask for help when booking.Come and visit us to enjoy Sailing in Maryport.
TO BOOK A SAIL
Please contact our Co-Ordinator:
Julie Rolle
Email:
Tel: 07871 771442
PRESENTATIONS
We also have a PowerPoint Presentation that we could show you at an evening meeting, just contact one of the following:
Chairman & Crew Master: Ged Doran Tel: 07871 771442
Email:
Secretary/Treasurer:
Rod Mostyn
‘Amberlea’, Kirkbride, Wigton, Cumbria, CA7 5JR.
Tel: 01697 352708 & 07871 771442
Please visit our website at:
www.Sailability-Cumbria.moonfruit.com
QUICK GUIDE - Personal Independence Payment – Key
Information
This Quick Guide summarises key messages about the introduction of
Personal Independence Payment
An overview of Personal Independence Payment
Personal Independence Payment will replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people of working age from April 2013
It retains the key features of DLA – non means tested and non taxable payable both in and out of work but introduces a more objective assessment process
Awards will be based on the
Individual circumstances of the person claiming
Impact of their disability / health condition
Extent to which they are able to live independently and participate in society
A basic timeline
Personal Independence Payment is being introduced in stages:
April 2013: Initially take a few thousand new claims in areas including
Merseyside, North West England, Cumbria, Cheshire and North East England
During this period new claimants in all other parts of the country will continue to claim Disability Living Allowance as now
June 2013: We plan to take new claims from all claimants in all parts of the country
October 2013: Begin to reassess about 30,000 mostly randomly selected existing DLA cases
January 2014: Full national reassessment likely to begin
March 2016: All current DLA claimants of working age will have been contacted about claiming Personal Independence Payment
Key elements of Personal Independence Payment
Personal Independence Payment is made up of:
a Daily Living component
a Mobility component
Awards will be made up of one or both of these components.
Each component will have two rates:
Standard
Enhanced
The amount for each rate is still to be decided.
Which components or rates claimants are entitled to will be based on an assessment of individuals’ circumstances and their ability to carry out a range of key everyday activities.
The assessment process
Assessment for Personal Independence Payment will involve health professionals considering the evidence provided by the claimant and any professional that may support them on a regular basis.
Most people will also be asked to a face to face consultation with this health professional as part of the claim process
The health professional will provide advice to a benefit decision maker at the Department for Work and Pensions
The benefit decision maker will then use all of this information to decide your entitlement to Personal Independence Payment
Where to get more information
We have published briefing notes to set out key elements of policy and delivery about Personal Independence Payment. All these notes can be found at: www.dwp.gov.uk/pip
There is a list of frequently asked questions, including some ‘myth busters’ at:
www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/personal-independence-payment-faqs.pdf
Look out for regular updates in Touchbase:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/touchbase-magazine/
Regular updates will also be available in the Senior Stakeholder Bulletin:
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/adviser/dwp-stakeholder-bulletin/
Welfare Reform [Note from Chairman]
A lot of people now on Disability Living Allowance [DLA] are not aware that starting in April 2013 all new applicants or reassessments will have to apply for Personal Independent Payment [PIP]. This is a new benefit that is replacing DLA
Existing DLA claimants will start to be assessed for PIP six months after the benefit has been introduced - so from sometime in October 2013. Initially, this will only be DLA claimants whose fixed-term award is ending and claimants who report a change of circumstances.
Assessing all current DLA claimants is likely to take at least three years, so is unlikely to be completed before October 2016.
However all claimants must be aware that even those people who have been awarded DLA for LIFE will not automatically transfer to PIP and MUST apply for the new benefit or risk losing DLA, including mobility allowance and thus a car if you use Motability..
It will be a completely new form with different “descriptors” The disabled person will have to get a certain amount of points to get the new benefit.
I have some extremely useful documents which explain the whole process and give a detailed description of what information will be needed to qualify for this new benefit.
Please be prepared – it is completely different for DLA.
If anyone would like me to email them copies of the documents please email me at
Anne Bradshaw
Chairman Copeland Disability Forum
Whitehaven Community Trust
Serving the local community since 1990
The Whitehaven Community Trust is a local charity whose range of projects has always evolved to meet the changing social needs of the community. It began in 1990 as The Whitehaven Youth Trust, to educate and support young people with training and development but changed in 2001 to The Whitehaven Community Trust because it had widened its activities to include the needs of the community as a whole.
Over the years the Trust has built on the success of the Market Hall Café, for delivering sustainable projects that meet social needs.
The café returns all profit to the Trust funds, so the more you eat and drink there…the more you’ll help, just as importantly you will get great, tasty food at competitive prices.
The Senhouse Healthy Living Centre offers space of all sizes for hire. Many projects, activities and services linking to health and wellbeing are provided from the centre each week and it has enabled over 40 people to set up business in various complimentary therapies and counselling while helping other sustained charities and organisations continue.
The two supported accommodation projects offer 15 beds to young, homeless people to help them to learn to live independently. As well as offering work experience throughout the other projects.
The Whitehaven Pottery is a social enterprise and like all the projects is linked to the overall aim. So investing in products from the Whitehaven Pottery or utilizing our Happy Craft Workshop serves a dual purpose.
Since 1993 the Trust has helped:
§ 671 young people with training and work experience
§ 178,262 people access health and wellbeing services
§ 488 homeless young people with supported accommodation
If you are interested in any of the projects offered from the Trust or would like any more information please contact the main office on 01946 590590.
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Who’s that knocking at my door?
It has been brought to the attention of Cumbria Police that blind, partially-sighted and vulnerable people are often reluctant to allow police officers and police staff into their homes following a report of a crime, anti social behaviour or even whilst they are conducting door to door enquiries because they were unable to verify their identity.
Arrangements are in place with the communication centre staff who will verify the officers identity via telephone.