Useful Information

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) update 13/5/13

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) started to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from 8 April 2013 for people aged 16 to 64 with a long-term health condition or disability.

PIP helps with some of the extra costs caused by long-term ill-health or a disability. What you’ll get is not based on your condition, but how your condition affects you.

You’ll need an assessment to work out the level of help you get.

Your award will be regularly reassessed to make sure you’re getting the right support.

Check how Personal Independence Payment (PIP) affects you- PIP-checker

Updated information on Aster Living Care & Repair and The Winter Warmth Campaign

As you are aware the WHHP funding expires on the 31^st March. We thought this would be a good time to send a quick note out to confirm what is still going on and what will be continuing after the 31^st March deadline. Services may still be available from these organisations but they will rely on alternative funding.

Aster Living Care and Repair, British Red Cross still have funding left; we can also confirm a small top up has been made to the Community Foundation Surviving Winter Grants. In addition Warm and Well still have a number of Green Deal Assessments to give away. All of these services end on the 31^st March so call them now!

• Aster Living Care and Repair, Crisis Fund: Call 01380 829 009 or email wcr@asterliving.co.uk.
• British Red Cross, Healthy Homes Visits: Call 01173 012 611 or email H&SCWAG@redcross.org.uk.
• Warm and Well, Free green deal assessments subject to funding and availability; Call 0800 500 30 76 or text WARM to 83010.

The Winter Warmth Campaign may be coming to an end but a number of services continue after the WHHP funding runs out. We would like to draw your attention to services which may be relevant to clients/ customers of the Winter Warmth Campaign. The Warm and Well Energy Efficiency Advice Line, Wiltshire Citizens Advice Energy Champions, Ready to Switch collective energy switching and the Community First oil bulk buying scheme. All of these schemes are available for the foreseeable future.

• Warm and Well Energy Efficiency Advice Line. Call 0800 500 30 76 or text WARM to 83010.
• Age UK.
• Wiltshire Citizens Advice is training eight volunteers across the four main offices to provide energy market advice and support their colleagues in passing on this information.
• Ready to Switch provides collective energy buying with the aim of reducing the costs for consumers register for a no obligation quote at www.readytoswitch.co.uk.
• Community First Bulk Oil Buying. Go to www.communityfirst.org.uk and select CF oil bulk buying from the left hand menu or call 01380 722 475.

Refresher training in spotting fuel poverty and what to do about it is available. Although the winter is coming to an end the effects of high energy bills will remain in many households. Bespoke talks are on offer to help those delivering frontline services spot the warning signs and what can be done to help people still struggling to clear winter fuel debt. For more information contact Greg Jones at Wiltshire Citizens Advice; 07 706 013 753 or email gregjones@cabwiltshire.org.uk

Thank you for your continued endeavour. It is a pleasure working with you on this project we hope the next week is productive.

Kindest regards,  Greg Jones – Warm Homes Officer
Mob: 07706 013 753
C/O Wiltshire Citizens Advice, 1 Mill Street, Trowbridge BA14 8BE

 

University of Bath Health MOT

Researchers at the University of Bath are offering free health checks to manual wheelchair users aged 18-60 years as part of a wider study examining the role of physical activity in metabolic health

For more Information, click here

 

Access to Work – advice and support to starting or keeping a job

Click below for more information

Access to Work Update February 2013

Emergency text service for Deaf people and Speech impaired people

What is the Service?

80999 is an SMS service for Deaf people and Speech impaired people.

This service is provided as a specific access service for people who cannot use voice telephony and is not an additional service for general contact. Voice contact to the 999 service remains the choice for those able to access it.

For more information on this service please click here

10 Top Tips for Warmer Homes

To read more click here 

Wiltshire Money – Welfare Reform Bill Infographic

Please click here to watch the video on the Welfare Reform Bill

 

Local Home Visiting Optician

A home visiting Optician offering a personal, professional eye test and spectacle choice in the comfort of your home. Free NHS sight test and visit.

For more information please click here.

 

 

 

Day Opportunities

Supporting adults with disabilities to spend time on community focussed activities, developing and maintaining friendships in the Salisbury and Amesbury areas.

How day services are                                                    Come and join our
changing                                                                               community activities . . .

To read more, click here

 

 

 

Thousands of people need the Changing Places toilets that would help them to enjoy the day to day activities many of us take for granted.

The Changing Places Consortium has launched its campaign on behalf of those people who cannot use standard accessible toilets.This includes people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their carers, as well as many other disabled people.

They need Changing Places toilets with enough space and the right equipment, including a height adjustable changing bench and a hoist.

To find out more please visit the Changing Places website www.changing-places.org

 

Helping people to make informed financial choices and be in control of their money

Wiltshire Money is a partnership of organisations working together to tackle financial exclusion in the county.  This means taking action to develop the ability of people to manage their money, working with credit unions to provide low cost loans and to encourage saving, and holding regular events to support front-line staff.

Financial Inclusion is about Access to Benefits Advice, Basic Banking, Affordable Credit, Debt advice, Financial Education and reducing Fuel Poverty.

Wiltshire Money is closely involved with the new Wiltshire Community Bank, an umbrella organisation of all the credit unions (community based local savings and loan schemes managed and run by trained volunteers). You can find lots of information about financial inclusion, including local services which can help you manage your money, on www.wiltshiremoney.org.uk.

New patient Summary Care Record

Residents in Wiltshire are being asked if they want a new health record intended to help in unscheduled, emergency and out of hours medical situations. The Summary Care Record scheme holds a summary of patients’ medications, allergies and any previous adverse reactions to drugs on a centrally held computer system that can be accessed nationally.  The Summary Care Record will be used by doctors and clinicians to make safer decisions, improve communication and speed up the time between consultation and treatment when GP records are not available.

Patients attending an A&E department or Out of Hours service will be asked permission for a doctor or nurse to view the Summary Care Records.  If a patient is unconscious, their record can still be viewed, but it will generate an alert that is later investigated by the organisation responsible for GP care provision.  Extensive security arrangements have been put in place and the Summary Care Record is now considered more secure than internet banking.

People will have up to 12 weeks to ‘Opt Out’ by completing the form sent with the letter.  Full details, including Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and opt out forms are available on NHS Wiltshire’s web site http://www.wiltshire.nhs.uk/Public/Your-health-wellbeing/summary-care-record.htm or by ringing the NHS Care Records Service information line on 0300 123 3020.

Wiltshire Campuses

Please click here to find out more about the Wiltshire Campuses

 

Wiltshire Youth Disabled Group

Would you like to make a difference?

Are you a young person aged between 11—24 years old

If you are a young person with a disability (or know someone with a disability) who wants to have your views listened to and represented please get in touch.

For more information on the group or for other opportunities of getting the voice of young disabled people heard please contact   Sonia Nicholls on 01373 859485/07500064003 or email sonia.nicholls@wiltshire.gov.uk

Six Steps to Library Service for Blind and partially sighted People

There are almost two million blind and partially sighted people in the UK that need library and information services just like everyone else.

To read more click here

Locality leads in Swindon

Following on from Lyn McDermot’s presentation on Tues 17th April @ Meadowcroft.

Please find listed below the locality leads in Swindon:

North: (Blunsdon/Haydon Wick/North Swindon)

Kathryn Langdown & Kati Wood

North Central: (Penhill/Pinehurst/Moredon)

Andy Reeves & Michelle Matthews

North East: (Stratton/Highworth)

Pam Gough, Andrea Barrett & Mark Pritchard

South: (Chiseldon/Wroughton)

Jackie Moyles & Tracey Scott

East: (Parks/Walcot/Dorcan)

Naz Ali & Chris Smith

West: (Toothill/Shaw/Freshbrook)

Paula Harrison & Gail Light

Town Centre: (Broadgreen/ Eastcott)

Mark Walker & Francis Barrone

New Life for Transplantees

– New  Group — New Life for Transplantees – New Group –

Our aim is to help pre and post transplanted individuals to stay fit and healthy by providing informal exercise classes, swimming sessions, nutritional/dietary advice and physical activities such as: Walking and Cycling Trips – all subject to a person’s medical consultant approval.
Newlife for Transplantees is run by the founder (Chair), who had a liver transplant at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham in 2009, the Secretary who is a qualified gym instructor and nutritionist and the Treasurer who will look after all the finances donated to the charity.

The group offers information and support to help people to be/stay fit and healthy pre and post transplant and to give members a purpose and goal in life.

Anyone wanting more information should contact Terry Sell (Chair)( 07526 811341 (mobile) /

: newlife-terry@hotmail.co.uk , www.newlifetransplant.org

Alabaré Include

Alabaré Include is working in partnership with NHS Wiltshire and Wiltshire Council to provide a Wiltshire wide community service for adults with mental health issues.  Community Bridge Builders offer 1:1 support to help people to identify their goals and plan their individual journey of recovery.  Alabaré offers courses, activities, support groups, accredited training, befrienders, E-support (via website) and support to access local activities.  “Beth was referred to Alabaré by the Community Mental Health Team.  It took her a long time to trust staff but now she has received a qualification and is planning to take up a voluntary position in a local nursing home.”  If you would like more information, please contact Alabaré Include:
Telephone: 01380 738602
Email: include@alabare.co.uk
Website: www.alabareinlcude.co.uk
Address: Office C, Unit 1A, Bath Road Business Centre, Devizes, SN10 1XA

Carers UK Latest News

E-action: Add your voice

Success in Tax Credit fight

What will the budget mean for carers?

For more information click here

New Telephone Number to the Wheelchair Service

From the 1st April 2012, please call 01225 899130 for all your queries, repairs, deliveries and collections.

Improving Mental Health Services

Accessing specialist mental health services – A new primary care liaison service is being set up to work alongside a new intensive service to ensure effective 24/7 access, reflecting local requirements and able to respond to evolving local needs.

Click here to find out more

Statement from BA14 Culture Group following the announced closure of the Arc Theatre as a professional venue – Feb 2012

Following the recent announcement by Wiltshire College of the decision to close the Arc Theatre as a professional arts venue BA14 Culture Group would like to express its disappointment and dismay that Trowbridge will lose its only professional theatre.

BA 14 Culture Group was heartened by the strong support expressed by Trowbridge people for retaining the Arc Theatre . We now need to build on this and look at alternative ways to ensure professional performing arts can be brought to Trowbridge in future . A proposal is being actively prepared .

Looking to the future, we are calling for a strong partnership of all those people who want to restore professional theatre in Trowbridge  – including Wiltshire Council, Trowbridge Council, BA14 Culture , local schools and all interested individuals and groups .

If we look at the wider cultural picture inTrowbridge there are several reasons to be encouraged :

• the first Trowbridge Arts Festival will be held in Sept 2012
• the rebuilt Civic Hall has just opened
• a new library is being built for opening later this year
• the revived Village Pump Folk Festival will take place in July 2012
• the Cloth Road Arts Trail will continue

There is a strong likelihood of a multiplex cinema coming to Trowbridge town centre – funded proposals are now with the planners .

BA14 Culture Group is keen to strengthen and widen its membership to allow more voices and ideas to be heard in support of the arts for our area.  So I would like to invite you to our next meeting, scheduled for Monday 30^th April, 7.30pm at the Civic Centre, Trowbridge.       Come along with your ideas and enthusiasm .

If you are able to attend and would like to be included as a BA14 member, please email tcaf@trowbridge.gov.uk

 

Thanks for your time.

The Signs of Dementia

Please click here to read some information on the signs of dementia

 

Golden-Oldies in Wiltshire

Due to popular demand the Golden-Oldies Charity started new monthly open access singing sessions in Chippenham, Trowbridge, Melksham and Devizes with more sessions starting in Westbury and Bradford-on-Avon early next year.

If you are interest in finding more information about these then please contact Emma or Abbey on 01761 470006, www.golden-oldies.org.uk.

 

 

The Money Advice Service

the Money Advice Service, set up by Government to offer you free, unbiased money advice. Click here to find out more.

Employment and Support Allowance

Between October 2010 and Spring 2014, members who receive Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance and Income Support paid on the grounds of illness or disability will be assessed for Employment Support Allowance. Click here to read more.

 

Physical & Sensory Impairment Strategy

Click here to download the Physical & Sensory Impairment Strategy 2009-2014

 

Home Insulation Grants Now Available

Warmer Wiltshire is working with Wiltshire Council to increase substantially the number of well insulated homes in the area by offering a range of grants for loft and cavity wall insulation. Please click on the link below to find out if you are eligible for the grant:

Home Insulation Grants Now Available

If you are interested in this then you can contact Warmer Wiltshire on 01225 904420 or call free on 08000 190702 and quote Ref WWS. You can also apply online at www.warmerwiltshire.co.uk.
Wiltshire & Swindon Users’ Network do not take any responsibility for any of the information on this page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page last updated: May 13th, 2013 at 3:26 am