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Disability Essex News
Fire Safety Demonstration at Disability Essex
A training programme to help save people's lives when a minibus or taxi catches fire could be rolled out across Essex.
Canvey-based Safety First Travel Ltd held a demonstration last Thursday of how to evacuate disabled passengers from a minibus at Disability Essex in Rochford.
The demonstration showed that operators of such vehicles can now train to NVQ2 standard for their jobs and part of the course involves fire training.
Richard Robinson, training director and the firm, was asked to devise the fire training course by Southend Council. He said: 'This will not only make drivers more confident they can deal with these situations, but will also reassure passengers that they are in safe hands.'
Yellow Advertiser, w/e 26 July 2008
Major European Award for Disability Essex
The European Council of the Regions hosted an international conference at their HQ in Brussels, on 24th June 2008. The subject was "Climate Change and the Challenges for Public Health". Co-sponsors were the European Regional and Local Health Authorities (EUREGHA) and the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL).
Part of this high profile event was the presentation of two awards. (One, in recognition of outstanding innovation and mitigation to deal with climate change was awarded to Disability Essex) and the second, for health adaptations, went to the Municipality of Tatabanya in Hungary. 38 projects were considered by the judging panel of international experts, from throughout the European Union. All, except that from Essex, were prepared by regional governments, city or state councils, or public health and transport undertakings. In fact, Disability Essex was the only charity in the competition.
The award certificate was presented to Richard Boyd (CEO of Disability Essex) by Dr. Bettina Menne on behalf of the European Office of the World Health organisation (WHO). Genon Jensen, Executive Director of the Health and Environmental Alliance, congratulated the charity and its architects on the design of the eco-building and the unique health and retraining projects which will take place within it. "You are an example to other organisations, far larger and richer than you, who have yet to address the issue of climate change and its impact on vulnerable people. " she said.
Sixty representatives from regional and local authorities, and health organisations, attended the conference. Members of the European Parliament, Permanent Representatives from 6 countries, plus University, and Governmental authorities from 18 EU states were joined by delegates from Taiwan, Australia, and Switzerland.
After the award ceremony, Richard Boyd said “The kindness and warmth shown to the work and aspirations of our charity, by the hosts and delegates, has made this award truly memorable. The organisers even paid for all our travel costs, recognising that we are a tiny organisation compared to all the other players here today. Our experience, to date, was that our efforts to create this unique building had been a struggle where no-one appeared to care how much we were spending to meet the bureaucracy hurdles put in front of us.” He thanked the organisors by saying “This is the first European award that our charity has ever achieved. I thank you on behalf of my team, most of whom are disabled, and the 12,000 individuals in Essex who are part of the Disability Essex network".
Full details of the award can be found at www.env.health.org and www.euregha.net.
Disability Essex Press Release, July 2008
Essex Policy Diversity & Community Engagement Programme
Disability Essex is proud of its ongoing involvement with the Essex Police Diversity & Community Engagement programme - by providing placements for student officers.
Now, with the help of their TV and Media Unit, Essex Police have produced a Diversity & Community Engagement Programme promotional DVD. A website illustrating the achievements of the programmes also contains an internet version of the DVD.
This short (4 mins 42 seconds) promotional video is an interesting view, shot in a modern style that epitomises just what the placement programme is all about. If you would like to see this, go to www.essex.police.uk/communityplacement. (Please note that to do this, you will need sound.)
Email from Essex Police, 3 June 2008
BUPA Great South Run 2008
Location: Portsmouth Date: Sunday 26th October 2008
This October, our Fundraiser Claire Hammond and her partner Tom Addis will be running the BUPA Great South Run along with three other supporters of Disability Essex – Gareth Hunter, Matthew Addis and Lynsey Van Praag.
They will be pounding the pavements of Portsmouth in superhero outfits to complete the fast 10-mile coastal race and they aim to raise around £1,500 if not more.
Claire told us, “We are all really looking forward to the challenge of the race but also the task of raising as much money as possible for Disability Essex. As fundraiser I am often asking other people to undertake daunting events in order to support such a worthwhile charity so I thought it was about time I did something myself!”
“I’ve never run 10 miles before but Tom and I are starting training this month and will be asking for tips from Matt in the team as he has run marathons all across the world including London and New York.”
Could you support our running team by sponsoring them for this event?
Every penny raised will be used directly to provide services that improve the lives of people with disabilities in Essex. We are so proud of our runners and would like to thank anyone in advance for supporting them with sponsorship, however much you can spare.
To support Disability Essex you can visit JustGiving where you can donate online safely and securely. Or if you prefer you can send a cheque for the total of your collected donations direct to Disability Essex at the Centre for Disability Studies, Adult Community College, Rocheway, Rochford, Essex, SS4 1DQ.
Thank you for your support!
June 2008
'Over the Rainbow', 3 July 2008
Thurrock Operatic Society is raising funds for Disability Essex with a production of 'Over the Rainbow' - taking place at the United Reform Church Hall in Grays on Thursday, 3 July 2008.
Please download the flyer giving full details of this event - we hope you will come along and support us!
You will need Adobe Reader or an alternative PDF reader to view the flyer.
June 2008
Volunteers' Week 1 - 7 June 2008
Volunteers' Week is a national celebration of volunteers and volunteering which takes place from 1 - 7 June of each year. It plays a huge part in raising the profile of England's 22 million volunteers while encouraging others to get involved.
When Disability Essex began in 1947 it relied heavily on the work of volunteers to achieve its aims and objectives helping local people with disabilities. Much of our work today would not be possible without the support of our volunteers - our helpline, for example, is run entirely by volunteers and without them would cease to operate.
Disability Essex has chosen to use this event to publicly thank all their volunteers and highlight their contribution to all the charity's beneficiaries and the wider community in Essex. We can't say thank you enough!
Volunteering is fun, rewarding and challenging. The skills, opinions and experience of each volunteer are valued and volunteers become an integral part of the charity. If you are interested in volunteering with Disability Essex and would like to find out more, please contact us on 0844 412 1771 or email info@disabilityessex.org. Volunteering opportunities are varied and flexible, so why not get in touch and find out how you could make a difference!
To find out more about Volunteers' Week in general, why not visit www.volunteersweek.org.uk.
June 2008
Investors in People, 4 April 2008
We are proud that our recent Investors in People re-assessment resulted in Disability Essex retaining this accreditation for further three years.
The opinion of the assessor was that 'Disability Essex totally embraces the spirit and ethos of Investors in People - not only with regard to its own staff, volunteers and directors but also within the context of the people it supports by training and re-skilling.'
April 2008
BUPA Great South Run 2008, 26 October 2008
Want to feel exhilarated by sea air in your lungs as you participate in one of England’s biggest road runs? Disability Essex needs superheroes to join the race and make a real difference to disabled people’s lives!
The Great South Run covers a fast 10-mile coastal route which is becoming increasingly popular every year both with beginners and the international elite. The course is flat and you can enjoy the sights of the wonderful historic city of Portsmouth coupled with beautiful sea views.
We would love you to join our superheroes team and support people with disabilities in Essex. We can give you all the support you need to enjoy a day you will never forget – and if you want to make it more fun why not choose your favourite superhero and dress up as them?
Why not take a look at our Fundraising page for more information?
January 2008
Disability Essex AGM
Invitations are being sent out for our 2007 AGM, being held on Wednesday 14 November 2007. This year, the event will take place at the Rochford Adult Community College - adjacent to the site of our new Eco-Building Training HQ, which is being built in 2008.
Our new Patron, Lord Petre, will be attending and our guest speaker will be Cllr Gerard McEwen, Chairman of Essex County Council.
October 2007
The future looks bright for our Centre for Disability Studies!
We are pleased, and relieved, that Government Office in Cambridge have decided there is no need for our planning application to be referred to the Secretary of State.
We are now confident that formal approval will be forthcoming and are looking forward to work commencing on our new HQ in the near future.
September 2007
Centre for Disability Studies
Although we are pleased that the Rochford Planning Committee decided to support our planning application at their meeting on 21 June, there are still potential hurdles to overcome.
The decision now has to go to Government Office in Cambridge, for a decision as to whether our project has a local or regional remit. If Government Office decides that the project is regional, there could be further delays while it is referred to the Secretary of State.
However, our commitment to build a bespoke, eco friendly HQ for Disability Essex remains as firm as ever and the decision of the Rochford Planning Committee has brought us closer to realisation of our objectives.
July 2007
Essex Youth Orchestra - 50 years of music!
To celebrate their fiftieth anniversary, Essex Youth Orchestra has joined with Disability Essex to host a celebratory concert at the Mill Hall, Rayleigh on Sunday 8 July at 7.30 pm.
This is a fully accessible venue, so come along with family and friends for a fantastic evening listening to the Essex Youth Orchestra Brass Ensemble.
Tickets for the event are only £5.00 and can be obtained from Disability Essex.
Call us on 0844 412 1771 for details.
June 2007
Safety first for mobility scooters
Disability Essex remains concerned at lack of regulation for users of mobility scooters. Following a recent accident in the Southend area, Chief Executive Richard Boyd reflected that this was not an uncommon event.
‘The current regulations, or to be more exact, the chaos of lack of cohesive regulation, have featured in the media for many years.
Many scooter drivers carry no specific insurance, are not tested before they drive and the vehicles are subject to no regular checks.
We have suggested to the Government some simple cost effective solutions:
- All scooters should be registered (in actual fact some classes are required to register with Swansea but no-one enforces it).
- All drivers should have a permit to drive and the testing should be done by qualified registered charities.
- All drivers should carry insurance, not just for themselves, but for the people who may be injured by them.
- Scooters should be checked by qualified registered charities.
The result would be safer drivers, safer pedestrians, better equipment, and a quality service provided by the voluntary sector at a fraction of the cost of further Government administration.’
Printed in the Southend Standard, 2.5.07
Service of Celebration
Our Service of Celebration at Holy Trinity Church, Rayleigh, on Saturday 24 February was indeed a happy and joyous occasion.
The event was attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Essex, Lord Petre, together with County and Borough Councillors, representatives of Health Trusts, and of course partner charities and clubs.
Following an uplifting sermon from the Bishop of Bradwell, and the hearty singing of some rousing hymns, the congregation were able to partake of a substantial buffet and then take a look at the 13 display stands – of which the centrepiece was a 1:100 scale model of our proposed eco-building – the Centre for Disability Studies.
March 2007
Chelmsford Resident takes up Disability Charity Challenge
Oly Reeve, 22, is facing the challenge of a lifetime as he gears up to trek to Everest Base Camp in the Nepalese Himalayas. More commonly seen in his football gear, Oly will be donning his walking boots on 30 March to trek over 125 kilometres – at heights of up to 5,545 metres – to raise money for Disability Essex.
‘I’ve never done anything like this before’ says Oly. ‘I play a lot of football and squash, but now I’m getting up every day at 7 a.m. for a swim and rushing to the gym in the evening to get really fit. And I’ve had to knock the Chinese takeaways on the head – I must be mad!’
The hard work will be worthwhile for Oly, as he is raising £2,500 for Disability Essex. Although Oly admits he hasn’t had much personal experience of disability in his life, he has heard about the work of Disability Essex with disabled people, their families, friends, and carers. This has prompted him to support the charity, whilst enjoying the opportunity to undertake a truly life-changing challenge. ‘I still can’t believe I’m hiking to the base camp of the world’s highest mountain’ Oly told us, ‘I just can’t wait!’
Oly has so far managed to raise over £2,000 through a range of fundraising activities. You can help him raise his final £500 by sponsoring him at his online fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/olyreeve.
February 2007
Essex Police
Disability Training Workshops
Essex Police will be running the next series of their successful Disability Training Workshops during the week 23rd to 27th April 2007. They would like to make this training accessible to disability organisations across the County and are happy to select a location to suit you. If your organisation would like to take advantage of this training, and you meet in (or can use) a suitable venue, Essex Police will bring the training to you.
For details please telephone Sarah Synkiss at Essex Police on (01245) 452382.
February 2007
Mobility Scooters
Our programme for providing reconditioned, and fully serviced, mobility scooters, free of charge to disabled people in Essex, is proving to be a welcome service.
Each applicant is carefully assessed for suitability, in respect of individual need and also in respect of compatibility with the scooters we have available.
We currently have 2 x 3-wheel mobility scooters for delivery in the Rayliegh area only, together with 1 x Powertec 16x16 electric wheelchair for delivery to a disabled person in need anywhere in the County.
Interested applicants should contact Richard Boyd in the first instance by email on richard.boyd@disabilityessex.org or by phone on 0844 412 1771. Richard will need to know the applicant's height and weight and whether their eyesight is appropriate for use of a powered scooter or wheelchair. In respect of the wheelchair only, he will also need to know whether controls are required on the left or right-hand side.
January 2007
Computer Club
(Microsoft funded project)
We are pleased that our computer 'taster sessions', piloted in Chelmsford, have proved so successful. This offers, free of charge, 4 x 1-hour, or 2 x 2-hour sessions of computer training for disabled and/or frail elderly people.
This scheme is now being extended into the Maldon area. For further details, please contact Pet Thornton, the computer trainer and manager of the scheme, on 01245 472744.
January 2007
Disability Training Workshops : 10, 11 and 12 October 2006
Essex Police, in partnership with Disability Essex, is running a series of morning and afternoon sessions. These will be in an informal ‘café’ atmosphere for groups of between 2 and 10.
Essex Police has been seeking ways to encourage people with a disability or health issues to become employees. These workshops will describe the wide range of job opportunities with Essex Police (full or part time) together with the help available to support individuals in these work roles.
Attendees will be able to take advantage of the opportunity to take part in a ‘virtual interview’. This will demonstrate the way interviews are structured and show them how to prepare for a real interview. Other handy tips will be given, for example on CV presentation, and body language.
These workshops are part of an ongoing project by Essex Police, to help applicants discover what is on offer, and guide them towards a job where their ability is valued and any barriers relating to disability can be removed. If you are too late to attend the October workshops, use the Essex Police link from the Disability Essex website to find out when future events are planned.
If you would like to polish your skills ready for job application and interview (not just for Essex Police but any other job!) please contact Sarah Synkiss at Essex Police on 01245 452 382.
October 2006
DISABILITY ESSEX COMPUTER CLUB
Thanks to a recent grant from Microsoft, Disability Essex will soon be running a course of short IT 'taster sessions' for disabled people. Adaptive equipment (enhanced keyboards and specialist software) will be provided for those with special needs and internet access will be available.
This training opportunity will be taking place in the Acorn Centre at Thriftwood School, Chelmsford, the club will be held on one day each week. As emphasis is on close individual support, there will be a maximum of 4 people only at each two-hour session. Participants will be able to take advantage of a total of four hours' training, in sessions of one or two hours.
If you would like to take part, or need more information, please contact Pet Thornton at Anglia Training Service on 01245 472744.
(September 2006)
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