Directions

Issue 49

Summer 2011

The Rowan Organisation
Supporting independence through choice

Contents

• Corrections
• National minimum wage increases 2011
• New legislation in Wales regarding consenting to direct payments
• Enlightening and inspirational Youtube
• National Rail & National Express discounts
• Costa Supported Holidays in Spain
• TV analogue switch over to digital
• Disability Football
• The Rowan Organisation's gift policy
• Reader writes

Note from the editorial team...

Dear Readers,

Welcome to this our Summer edition of Directions newsletter.

Warmth, sunshine, blue skies and more daylight hours are all things we associate with summertime. Hopefully they will be in abundance if the weather in April was any indication.

We have a good mix of articles in this edition of Directions from improvements in legislation in Wales for direct payments recipients to eye opening short positive videos on Youtube, which aim to help stop discrimination.

We hope you all enjoy this edition of Directions and wish you all an enjoyable Summer.

Corrections

As far as we are aware there were no corrections to be made to the last issue of Directions. If any of our readers did spot an error, please do not hesitate to inform us. Contact details appear on page 1 and on the back cover.

Increases to the National Minimum Wage

There are different levels of National Minimum Wage depending on your age and whether you are an apprentice.

Below are the current rates and what they will rise to from 1st October 2011:

Level Current Rate Rate rise 1st Oct 2011

21 and over £5.93 £6.08

18-20 £4.92 £4.98

16-17 £3.64 £3.68

Apprentice £2.50 £2.60

Direct Payments now available to people in Wales who lack capacity to consent

Below is a section from the Wales Direct Payments Guidance, updated in 2011. It explains that people in Wales who lack capacity to consent to Direct Payments can now receive them if they have a suitable person willing to manage and receive them.

"1.7. The most significant change introduced by the Regulations is the extension of direct payments to groups which were previously excluded due to a lack of capacity to consent to them. This will include, for example, some adults with head injuries, some people with dementia, and severely disabled children moving into adulthood (who would lose their direct payment under the previous legislation). Under the new arrangements, direct payments may be made to a ‘suitable person' who can receive and manage the payment on behalf of the person who lacks capacity. One of the key beneficiaries will be young adults with learning disabilities and their parents, who will now continue to be eligible for direct payments once their child reaches 18 years of age".

If someone wishes to access Direct Payments under this new legislation they should contact their local Social Services Contact Centre or Social Worker.

Eye opening Youtube

If you are not aware already there is a channel on Youtube created by The Disability Rights Commission.

The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) is an independent body which aims to stop discrimination and promote equality of opportunity for disabled people and those with long term health conditions. Their goal is: "A society where all disabled people can participate fully as equal citizens".

The videos are well acted, thought provoking and really hit home and strike a chord in people who have ever experienced being in these situations. For people who have not experienced these situations it gives them a very good insight into the way people who face these situations feel and what they experience.

Below is a brief explanation of just a few of the clips featured on the Youtube channel:

Talk

The award-winning 'Talk' portrays a society in which non-disabled people are a pitied minority and disabled people lead full and active lives. Jonathan Kerrigan, of BBC's 'Casualty' fame, plays a business executive whose negative preconceptions of disability are dramatically shattered.

Nice Day

'Nice Day' features actor Russell Ramsey, who has Down's Syndrome, and highlights the negative attitudes, verbal abuse and hostility that many people with learning disabilities face on the streets every day.

The Appointment

The film explores how attitudes to disability and long-term health conditions can affect people's chances of getting and keeping a job. And how the reactions of those around us: family, friends and work colleagues can make us fearful of revealing important aspects of our lives.

To find the channel, logon to Youtube (www.youtube.com) and search for the channel called ‘Disability Rights Commission'.

Discounts on Coach and Rail

Half price fares for over 60s

When you're over 60, you automatically qualify for concessionary fares on National Express coaches. Concessionary fares apply all year round on coach services to destinations within England and Wales. Coach services to and from Scotland, where your departure point is in England or Wales, are also included.

How to get the discount

You will not have to apply for a card to get the discount. You can buy your tickets at the station or online www.nationalexpress.com. Once you have paid for the tickets all you will need to do is show proof of your age to the driver on departure.

The Senior Railcard

The Senior Railcard will save you one third (1/3) off Standard and First Class fares across Britain for a year. The discount also extends to Advance fares - providing they're booked before you travel.
The card costs £26. To Purchase the card online www.senior-railcard.co.uk you will need:

• A valid passport number or a valid UK driving license to prove your identity
• A debit or credit card

To buy the card at a staffed rail station you will need the following:

• Birth certificate,
• valid passport or
• valid driving licence.

Costa supported holidays

Costa supported holidays provides supported holidays for guests with learning disabilities and mental illness.

Costa supported holidays is situated in the southern region of Spain only a half hour drive from the beaches on the Costa del Sol, Spain and an hour's drive from Malaga Airport. The location is apparently ideal for guests who wish to take advantage of the peace and quiet whilst still being close to the lively towns and beaches of Torre del Mar and Nerja.
Their Mission Statement is "to provide meaningful holidays for our guests which promote their choice and independence".
Website: www.costasupportedholidays.co.uk

Disclaimer: The Rowan Organisation cannot endorse or recommend any services presented in this Newsletter.

TV analogue switch over to digital

An initiative has been launched which aims to make sure elderly and disabled people are not caught out when analogue television ends.

The initiative is called ‘The Helping Hand scheme'. The scheme urges people to tell those aged over 75 and disabled people about the assistance available for switching to digital.

Disabled people and anyone aged over 75 can get one TV converted to digital by an approved installer, a demonstration and aftercare for £40.

If you are eligible for help, they will explain digital TV to you clearly and simply, install what you need in your home and make sure you're happy with how it all works.

It is free for people on
certain benefits and
allowances.

You can get help to convert your TV to digital if you:

• Are aged 75 or over or
• get or could get Disability Living Allowance,
• Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or mobility supplement or
• have lived in a care home for six months or more or
• are registered blind or partially sighted.

To find out more information visit:

www.helpscheme.co.uk or
Call free on 0800 40 85 900. Phone lines are open 8am-8pm Monday to Friday and 8am-6pm Saturday and Sunday.
Contact free via fax on 0800 40 86 045.
Textphone users call free on 0800 40 85 936.
Email info@helpscheme.co.uk
Send a text message to 80002

Source: http://digitaluk.co.uk

Disability football

If you're interested or know someone who maybe interested in becoming part of a disability football team then take a look at the Disability Football
Directory's website: www.disabilityfootball.co.uk.

The website has information about teams in all the regions of the UK which will help you find your nearest team and become involved.

The team categories are: amputee, cerebral palsy, hearing impaired, learning disability, visually impaired and wheel/power chair. All categories have senior and junior teams.

The teams are banded according to ability to ensure that the players are evenly matched. It means that you don't have to be the best to be able to take part and you will be able to compete against teams and players of a similar ability.

CONTACT DETAILS
Mark Summers
Mobile: 07940 509757

E-Mail:
marksummers@btinternet.com

The Rowan Organisation's gift policy

We're very grateful for the kind messages and thanks from people who have received support from the Rowan Organisation over the years.
Occasionally, some people with good intent, buy a gift or offer to buy a gift for the person who has supported them. However, the Organisation has a policy which does not allow any member of staff to accept personal gifts or money and so we would please ask you not to take offence when such an offer is refused. Should anyone however, wish to make a monetary donation, this would need to be to 'The Rowan Organisation' and marked as 'Donation' and sent to our Head Office address.

Readers Writes

Unfortunately for this edition we had no contributions from our readers. If you would be interested in contributing an article for our next or future editions please see details below, thank you.

Contributions

If you would like to share any aspect/experience of using your direct payments please email me at info@therowan.org and title your email readers writes contribution for newsletter. Thank you and I look forward to receiving you contribution.

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