Disability Essex News

Important information!

Disability Essex is moving into its new HQ during week commencing Monday 8 March 2010. Please bear with us if you find us hard to contact during this period; phones and computers are being moved and there may be some disruption in service.

The Helpline is out of operation for the week of the move but any emails or messages received will be answered by our advisors the following week. Calls to our main telephone number 0844 412 1771 will be answered but it could still be difficult to get through.

Normal service will resume week commencing Monday 15 March.

Disability Essex, March 2010

Disability Essex HQ featured on EEDA Inspire East website

A comprehensive review of our new build project, together with design details, can be found on the EEDA Inspire East website.

Our new HQ is now in the final stages of completion and we plan to move in during March.

Disability Essex, 12.2.10

A common-sense solution to the present 'mobility scooter free-for-all'?

Since the fatal accident of a lady mobility scooter driver, at Clacton in 2004, Disability Essex has campaigned to get the safety issues regularised.

Since then, TV interviews - and a full proposal to the Department of Transport - have followed at regular intervals. In 2005, BBC Look East featured Disability Essex's campaign in a 10-minute feature.

Our latest submission of evidence has been sent to the Transport Committee, at the House of Commons. A pdf version of the full document can be viewed via the link below.

Please note that you will need Adobe Reader or an alternative PDF reader to view this document.

Transport Committee, Evidence and Submission (770Kb)

Disability Essex, 28.12.09

Visit of Chinese delegation : 17 December 2009

Chinese delegation visits Disability Essex

The delegation, from Jiangsu Province, was in London as part of an information exchange on paralympic and disability issues - clearly of interest in the light of the forthcoming 2012 Paralympics, some of which will be taking place in Essex. Jiangsu Province is twinned with Essex County Council.

The Delegation leader, Gao Xiaoping – President of Jiangsu Provincial Disabled Persons Federation – and 5 leading provincial government representatives, are pictured with Disability Essex Project Leader Stuart Kirk and Clive Durdle, CEO of Redbridge Disability.

Their visit to Disability Essex focused on our unique bespoke eco-training centre, now reaching completion in Rochford. On a guided tour of the new building, the delegation demonstrated interest in the building’s very low energy requirement (only 5% of that of an equivalent traditional building) and they were impressed by the adaptability of the interior to meet the needs of a full range of disabilities.

The visitors were particularly interested in the retraining concepts of Disability Essex, together with the charity’s current outreach services for health and well-being. They were intrigued that these services were funded by grants and charitable donations, rather than by the government.

Disability Essex press release, 18.12.09

Disability Essex Annual Review 2009

To honour our Diamond Jubilee, we have produced a full colour Annual Review for 2009, celebrating the achievements of Disability Essex over the past 60 years. A pdf version of the review can now be downloaded via the link below.