VOICE (April 2016)

Leicester Choice
Unlimited: No. 5
bigger and better
April 2016
Hidden Talent:
Shedding light on
Hidden Disabilities
Social Media Café:
First anniversary
attracts over 90 people
DMU Square Mile:
West End Centre
playing key role
E
E
R
F
VOiCE
News and views from LCiL, your local user led organisation for disabled people
P
O
ST S
S
E
PR
Meet Paul from TV’s
Employable Me at
Choice Unlimited
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Training
VOiCE Volunteering,
& Employment (VTE)
Choice Unlimited
Welcome to the April 2016
issue of the Voice newsletter
It has been a busy 6 months so have lots to share with
you in this issue.
I’ve always believed that innovation is not just about
technology and the continued development of our weekly
Social Media Café does seem to prove the point.
We are regularly attracting over 90 people per week to the
Friday café that recently had its first anniversary. As we go to
print there is a new addition to the programme and that is a
West End Café every Saturday!
With the opportunity for people to access a hot meal on
Thursday evenings, Friday lunchtimes and now on Saturday,
the footfall has passed 500 people per week accessing all of
the LCiL information, advice and guidance provision.
Following on from the large public consultation last summer
on perceptions of disability, we are launching the new
Volunteering, Training and Employment Programme or VTE
at Choice Unlimited.
By creating a clear, innovative pathway supported by
committed employers like CODE Students we aim to support
disabled people into a job they actually want.
Our first #LCiL24 newsroom to mark the UN International
Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3rd December 2015
created great interest from disabled groups across the world
and it was a real 24 hour marathon for the team of 5 who
skyped and emailed non stop.
Finally, you will probably be reading this issue after picking it
up at the 5th Leicester Choice Unlimited event to be hosted
at the Tigers. The aim was to make it bigger and better and I
hope we achieved that from your viewpoint. It would be great
to receive your feedback (as always) and hope you take the
time to share your thoughts with us.
John Coster
Editor
Congratulations to Laura Horton on becoming the new CEO
of LCiL. She doesn’t like having her photo taken so I’ve
hidden her somewhere in the Voice…can you find her? JC
Programme
LCiL will be launching a new programme called VTE at the 5th
Leicester Choice Unlimited event.
VTE will create a clear, innovative pathway supported by
committed employers who aim to support disabled people into
a job they actually want.
The first corporate partner to step forward with financial
support is CODE Students. Their involvement in the programme
will include valuable work placement opportunities and
administrative support to develop the scope of the provision.
In 2015 LCiL was given the opportunity to open a consultation
space inside the Leicester Highcross shopping centre. During
the 6 weeks over 3,000 people engaged with our Public
Engagement Team and took part in the largest consultation
around disability issues ever conducted in the city.
The 2 main themes that came out of the data analysis were
the following:
1. Employability – the genuine provision of work opportunities
from mainstream employers that includes provision of
reasonable adjustments under the Social Model of Disability.
2. Independent Living – access to services specifically
designed to support people with disabilities to have the
chance to live independently.
The Independent Living theme is catered for by our annual
Choice Unlimited event at the Tigers.
The main theme of Employability offered the LCiL team a real
issue to tackle based on the hard evidence of over 3,000
people and their response is the VTE Programme.
The ‘meaningful’ Volunteering opportunities will include the
Social Media Café, West End Centre Reception and outside
event stalls.
The ‘relevant’ Training courses will
include Personal Development through
confidence building, life skills and
talking in public alongside CV writing,
interview skills, networking and
customer service experience.
Finally, the ‘genuine’
Employment opportunities
will come from employers
who want to offer disabled
people real jobs but also
support them through the
Volunteering and Training
stages with their own staff.
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Young People
ENTERPRISE
ON
THE
RISE!
Ellesmere College 6th Form Social Enterprise
Ellesprint is a social enterprise set-up by a group of 6th
form students from Ellesmere College Leicester. We offer
design, printing and copying solutions to the public, publicsector, businesses and charities. We design posters, flyers,
greetings cards, leaflets, business cards, brochures and
bespoke products.
The students have experienced a number of different projects
both large and small-scale, delivering successful products
for individual customers, organisations and companies.
We have created our own Twitter account and can be found
at @ELLESprint at Twitter.com.
Our largest project with The Braunstone Blues
(@BraunstoneBlues) saw us design and produce 600 flyers
for their Healthy, Safe, Secure project, earning Ellesprint
our largest profit to date. This project delivered on-time
and very much to the customers satisfaction.
We have recently sold over 80% of our unique range of
Valentine’s Day cards, making £54 pounds profit and our
range of Mother’s Day cards proved equally successful. We
will continue producing cards for special occasions
throughout the year.
Our current projects include designing and producing a
high-end brochure advertising Ellesmere College 6th Form,
a safeguarding leaflet and a couple of poster designs for
external customers. We are in discussions with two local
businesses regarding producing marketing materials for
them.
We have established a great relationship with a supplier,
Specialist Crafts Ltd in Leicester. They are supporting our
learning and development around aspects of business,
sharing ideas and investigating work-placement opportunities.
The social enterprise model is allowing Students to
experience a wide-range of ‘real-life’ business situations
and they are developing and demonstrating a dazzling
range of new skills. It allows students to apply their
academic learning at College into actual situations and
under the guidance and tutelage of the structured
sessions, they can work through best practice and develop
and hone these skills. Students will be able to put this
experience on their CV’s and talk knowledgably and
authoritatively about the work they have been doing and
relate this to further aspects of College life.
We have had a brilliant experience so far and our social
enterprise continues to rise! 2016 promises to continue to
be an exciting year as we grow from strength to strength.
“The flyers you have designed are brilliant. Your team have such a great eye for detail and design”
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Highlighting the good work of Mesothelioma UK
Mesothelioma UK is a national resource centre dedicated to
providing specialist mesothelioma information, support and
improved care and treatment for all UK mesothelioma patients,
their carers and health care professionals.
The centre promotes the development of Specialist
Mesothelioma Nursing practice and funds 11 specialist
nursing posts around the UK.
In the UK, more than 2,500 people are diagnosed with
Mesothelioma each year and this number is increasing. Only
six per cent of the UK population have any idea what the
disease is, yet this deadly cancer kills one person every five
hours in the UK. The rising number of deaths from this
condition is linked to the continued use of asbestos in the
building industry up until the mid 1980s.
Mesothelioma is preventable, difficult to diagnose and treat,
debilitating and incurable.
Mesothelioma UK Charitable Trust is based at Glenfield Hospital
in Leicester. Our services are free of charge and we rely entirely
on donations, legacies, fundraising and sponsorship for
financial support.
For more information, visit www.mesothelioma.uk.com, email
mesothelioma.uk@uhl-tr.nhs.uk or call the freephone helpline
number on 0800 169 2409 (Monday - Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm).
DMU Square Mile
DMU Square Mile Students – pink shirts
Since October 2015 we have been working closely with international student volunteers from the DMU Square Mile project.
Every week a group comes along to the West End Centre at 11am and helps to set up the Social Media Café. They get
involved in conversations with the regular attendees and enjoy supporting Bobby and Alison of The Real Junk Food Project
in the kitchen on pot washing duty!
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Inkyworld in Print
THREE TIMES A WEEK
By Ineke Poultney
Whenever I think of LCiL and The Real Junk Food Project
(Leicester Battalion) one word comes into my mind. That word
is the Dutch "Verbinding". Don't worry - the English translation is
not as ominous as it sounds - "Verbinding" may read as though
it may mean "Binding" in English - it actually means "Connection".
There are three events per week which make me think of that
word. All three are held at the West End Neighbourhood Centre
on Andrewes Street, in the West End of Leicester.
Thursday evenings (7pm until 8.30pm) are when people turn up
for food at the "Pay As You Feel Cafe". Not only do you meet a
rather eclectic group of people - you are also helping to divert
perfectly edible food from landfill. The volunteers are a great
bunch of people too.
On Friday mornings (11.30am until 2.00pm) LCiL run something
called a "Social Media Cafe" (with food provided by The Real
Junk Food Project). In this case - the term "Social Media" has
what you might call a slightly more "human" element than
Twitter, Facebook, and the rest of the computerised "Social
Media" streams (although these do come into play on
occassion). This version of "Social Media" is more of a
"Human Newspaper" kind of meeting point. You can get
information or advice about different subjects - you can
sometimes hear interesting talks - or you can just sit and find
people to share your news and views with. The people who
attend range from the ones who "society" would consider to
be "normal" through to the "Disabled" - physical disability or
Mental Health issues.
Personally I have had discussions with people who I would
never have plucked up the courage to speak to otherwise on
subjects which "Society" can sometimes still treat as "Taboo" and felt absolutely comfortable. Seriously - the "Social Media
Cafe" is a great place for learning about issues which affect
different people - without having to worry about your personal
safety if you accidentally say the wrong thing. It is also a great
place for realising that even people with severe disabilities can
(and do) have a valid role to play in society.
Last Saturday was the start of an event called "Super Saturday".
This runs from 11.00am until 3.00pm. The best way to describe
it is a mix of both the Thursday "Pay As You Feel" Cafe and the
Friday "Social Media Cafe" with extras thrown in - in the form
of some kind of crafty-type stuff, table football, a small stage
where budding performers could entertain the crowd, etc.
Even the local Police turned up and joined in with the fun.
We hear so much about how Society is so fragmented with
different groups almost living in isolation from each other - as
well as how there is no such thing as "Community" any more.
All it takes is a couple of people to get together and organise an
event for everybody to attend - in a location which is accessible
for all - not forgetting the friendly people who help run it.
If you are in the West End of Leicester, on a Thursday evening,
Friday morning, or Saturday afternoon, come along and join us.
You will be given a very warm welcome.
If you would like to spend some time in my world please visit
www.inkyworld.co.uk and click on “Blog”.
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Choice Unlimited
TALENT MATCH LEICESTERSHIRE’S
HIDDEN TALENT PROJECT
SHEDDING LIGHT ON HIDDEN DISABILITIES
By Peter Colley
While unemployment is a universal
problem, young people with hidden
conditions face their own unique set of
barriers, from anxiety to lack of support.
In recent months, Talent Match
Leicestershire has been combating
these barriers with their new, diverse
project Hidden Talent.
Hidden Talent is the brainchild of Talent
Match Leicestershire Manager Emma
Southern, who identified that hidden
conditions present several challenges to
unemployed young people that needed
addressing. “Some of our most
committed and motivated young people
in our ‘talent pool’ were struggling with
the many recruitment practices that
exist”, explained Emma. “They were in
receipt of financial support but were
often ‘lost’ as to where to ask for help.
They wanted to do more with their lives.
It was not their ability holding them back,
but they were very unsure about what to
disclose around their conditions.”
The project was designed with various
aims in mind, including raising
awareness to the general public and
employers as to the various hidden
conditions out there, working out
possible support for people with these
conditions, while also helping people
with these conditions identifying their
individual strengths, and sometimes,
shedding light on the often-overlooked
benefits of some of these conditions.
The project officially made its presence
known at the Leicester Business Festival
in November 2015. Members of Talent
Match put together a presentation to
various employers from across Leicester
including Hammersons, the management
company that runs Leicester Highcross.
The event also gave several young
people with hidden conditions the
chance to share their own stories about
their struggle to find work.
The messages and ideas promoted by
the project clearly resonated with its
audience. Because within weeks of the
presentation, Hammersons got in touch
and offered Talent Match Leicestershire
the chance to host a pop-up shop in
Leicester Highcross itself over the
Christmas period – the first time Talent
Match Leicestershire had hosted an
event within the shopping centre.
The shop gave Talent Match
Leicestershire the chance to showcase
the general public its various
accomplishments, including a football
event, a music workshop, dazzling magic
tricks, and local businesses set up by
young innovators who have worked with
Talent Match Leicestershire.
The shop also featured a Hidden Talent
Consultation wall, with the double-aim
of raising the public’s awareness of a
variety of hidden conditions while also
gathering audience feedback on how
much the public already knew about the
various conditions out there.
With two events under their belt, Talent
Match Leicestershire are preparing to
expand their project even further,
exhibiting to employers and businesses
a series of activities designed to test
how hidden conditions can be translated
into hidden skills and forging a possible
career path. By taking the project
directly to employers, Talent Match
Leicestershire can begin breaking down
the barriers facing young people with
regards to disclosing their conditions.
It is hopeful that the project will
resonate on a universal level; to the
friends and family of someone with a
hidden condition, to an employer who
may employ someone with a hidden
condition, and to people with these
conditions and helping them find
something positive in being them. The
word ‘disability’ comes with a wave of
negative stigmas. It’s easy to hear the
word and associate it with ‘incapable’,
‘unskilled’ and ‘inadequate’.
This project is about getting people to
look past these terms and see that
having a disability does not have to be
the ultimate work barrier. It is about
showing them that behind the perceived
stereotypes can lie a talented individual
with much to offer. In some cases, it’s
about helping people with these
conditions see their individual positives
and proving that they have something
positive to contribute to society if given
the chance.
Having already gotten off to a
triumphant start, Talent Match
Leicestershire is determined to continue
spreading the project’s message to as
wider audience as possible. The
ultimate aim? To take the ‘Hidden’ out
of Hidden Talent.
Emma Southern commented, “We found
that there was no ‘best practice around
this’ and unless we raised awareness
with employers and asked for their
support on how to get these young
people back into the job market into
sustainable roles. We need employers
working with us to bring this issue to
notice and help us find local solutions.”
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LCiL
West End Centre
Training Courses
All sessions need to be booked. Please
contact LCiL:
Telephone: 0116 222 5005
Text: 07910 864 594
Email: events@lcil.org.uk
___________________________________
Employing Personal Assistants
and the Workplace Pension
Monday 9th May 2016
10am - 12noon
This event is aimed at disabled people
employing PA’s, health and/ or social
care professionals and independent
living support services. This workshop
is provided by LCiL, PSA (Financial)
Service and Castle Park Solicitors.
Applying for disability benefits?
Improving Safeguarding
Presented by DEAEP
Every Tuesday: by appointment
Every Friday: 10am - 2pm Drop in at
the West End Centre
Presented by LSAB
Thursday 12th May 10am - 12.30pm
Venue: Attenborough Room
(1.11 Main Hall) , City Hall,
115 Charles Street, Leicester LE1 1FZ
Applying for disability benefits is
becoming more difficult, our advisors
will help you with the forms, give you
understanding as to what is required to
make a positive claim and can support
you in Assessments visits at home or
department offices, Mandatory
Reconsiderations and Tribunals.
So if you need help and support, pop in
and talk with our friendly advisors.
Please contact deaep@deaep.co.uk
or visit the website www.deaep.co.uk
___________________________________
The Monday Club
Every Monday 7pm - 9pm
The event is a must to attend to get the
latest information on employer
obligations. We will also cover the use of
wills and trusts in inheritance planning
and also preparing for long term care.
The Monday Club is a social group
based in Leicester for adults aged 18 to
65 who have Asperger Syndrome. The
Club is now based at the Leicestershire
Centre for Integrated Living. We also
now run sessions on alternate
Wednesday evenings.
Places are limited and will be given on a
first come first serve basis.
___________________________________
Contact themondayclub@hotmail.co.uk
or visit www.themondayclub.co.uk
___________________________________
Food Safety (Level 2)
FREE Sport and Physical
Sessions for Disabled People
Monday 16th & 23rd May
9.30am - 2pm
Cost FREE or £65*
This course is accredited with the
Chartered Institute of Environmental
Health. It will teach the necessary good
practice in food safety and hygiene for
anyone wishing to work in places where
food is prepared, cooked or served.
*You may be eligible for a free course if
you live in the area and are on certain
benefits, please ask for details.
For more information and to enrol
please contact Tel: 0116 233 3164
www.leicester.gov.uk/adulteducation
___________________________________
Get involved! Come and play
table tennis with Activator,
Jason Prescott
Every Monday
5.30pm – 6.30pm
Free and open to all abilities aged over 14.
___________________________________
Every Wednesday 10am - 12 noon
LCiL, as part of the Get Yourself Active
Project are providing free taster
sessions that will let you try a range of
inclusive activities and sports on offer in
Leicester. We will encourage you to take
up regular sport and physical activities
through our new ‘Connect Me’ project.
For further information contact Dan Ball,
Sports Broker daniel.ball@lcil.org.uk or
call 0116 222 5005
___________________________________
Strides! Healthy Food Project
In partnership with TRJFP
Every Thursday 10am - 2pm
Strides! Is a group of people who have
experienced mental distress, whose
members help each other meet new
challenges, gain confidence and lead
independent and fulfilling lives.
If you would like to find out more please
contact strides@wetland.plus.com
___________________________________
The Leicester Safeguarding Adults
Board (LSAB) is making a video to
improve safeguarding. The video is to
help staff understand what people feel
like when safeguarding is happening to
them and their family.
We need volunteers to take part in the
video so we are having an information
day to answer questions about how
people can get involved.
Who should be involved?
Someone who has been through
safeguarding and is comfortable telling
other people about their experience
Someone who is a carer for a person
who has been through safeguarding
What does ‘safeguarding’ mean?
Safeguarding is when a worker
becomes involved with a person or
family because something harmful is
happening to them.
___________________________________
Counselling service
Presented by Leicestershire Counselling
By appointment
We are pleased to announce that Jane
Wildbore of Leicestershire Counselling
will be formally moving into the West
End Centre after a year of service
development.
Everyone experiences emotional
difficulty at some stage of their lives and
Counsellors will not advise you or offer
quick fix solutions but instead we explore
your experiences in a very private, nonjudgmental and interpersonal way
helping you to move forward.
Counselling is an opportunity to help
sort out a problem or difficulty being
experienced by talking about it freely
and openly in an atmosphere, which is
both supportive and caring in a way that
is rarely possible with family and friends.
Sharing a problem in this way enables it
to be explored safely and sensitively
bringing about greater understanding and
giving a clearer view of the way ahead.
To enquire about our counselling
service and to book an appointment
with Jane please contact the following:
counselling@lcil.org.uk or call 0116
222 5005
___________________________________
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Choice Unlimited
WHERE ARE THE MODELS OF COLOUR?
THE LARGER MODELS?
THE SHORTER MODELS?
THE MODELS WITH A DISABILITY?
THE OLDER MODELS?
At Leicester Choice Unlimited it could be YOU!
Models of Diversity is the campaign for more diversity in the
models we see every day. We call on the fashion, beauty and
marketing industries to recognise the beauty in people of all
races, ages, shapes, sizes and abilities. Our mission is to
change the face of fashion and modelling.
Clearly, not just anyone can be a model; a successful model
must have a special beauty, confidence, professionalism,
ability to take direction, even artistic awareness. But no one
with those talents should be excluded from the industry on
arbitrary grounds. And no one should feel shut out from the
modern presentation of beauty.
Angel Sinclair, the founder of Models of Diversity is a former
model herself. She founded the campaign after appearing on
Gok's Miss Naked Beauty in 2008. Angel was struck by the
great variety of beautiful women participating in the event and
how that contrasted with the narrow range we see in the
fashion industry. That's when she decided, to promote using
models that reflect the diversity in society, in race, shape, age
and ability.
So we campaign at fashion events, hold street surveys, offer
workshops and vigorously promote a more diverse range of
models in the media and social networking.
We know from our surveys that the public is in favour of more
diversity, so our ambition is to change how the fashion industry
thinks and responds to the needs of all the fashion-buying
public. For more details visit www.modelsofdiversity.org
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Better Care Together
Better Care Together is a partnership of local authorities and
NHS organisations. It is changing the way people – like you –
access and receive health and social care.
We want to support people to stay well and independent in
their own homes for as long as possible. When people do
have to go into hospital we want to reduce the amount of time
they stay, by supporting them to be cared for closer to, or even
in their own homes.
Like many places across the country there are a lot of
challenges to doing this – not least the amount of money we
have to provide excellent services.
One of the patients who used the service recently was
Marjorie Smith, 78, who attended the unit following a series of
falls. Her GP was unable to find anything clinically wrong with
her, but was still concerned, so referred her on to the unit for
further tests.
Marjorie said: “I fell and couldn’t get up and it wasn’t the first
time, I’ve had a couple of falls in the last few weeks. I went to
the doctor this morning, and he couldn’t find anything wrong.
He wanted a more in-depth examination though, he’s been my
doctor for a long time and he thinks I’ve fallen too often. I
came straight to the unit and I’ve been seen really quickly. I
didn’t expect that, there’s been no waiting.”
We've begun to make some changes and these are already
improving care for many people. However we need to do
more. We will be carrying out a public consultation to find out
what you think about the most significant changes.
The Loughborough Older Persons’ Unit at Loughborough
Community Hospital which was launched in the autumn 2014
offers a range of tests and diagnostics directly targeted at older
people. The unit provides a comprehensive assessment, as
well as onward referral to specialist services. Following referral
to the unit patients can be seen on the same day, or offered
an appointment within 48 hours depending on their needs.
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Learning
?
K
S
A IC
ER
Access
for ALL
From Adding to Icing,
and Digging to Signing
Come and try something new
We have been talking to John Coster about his plans to extend the range of
opportunities available to users of West End Neighbourhood Centre. We’re in!
Leicester Adult Skills and Learning Service has put together a day of taster courses
for you to come in and try. These will take place on Friday 6th May, morning and
afternoon sessions. These will be free, and you’ll be impressed by the range and
choice. We want you to try something new, learn a new skill and have some fun!
We will be offering a chance to try:
• Digital Photography – Still Life
• Wire Sculpture
• Family Learning – Maths in a Box
• Family Learning – Fun with Icing
• Spanish Taster
• BSL Taster
• Beginners’ guide to Archaeology
• Painting – Seascapes in Acrylics
We recently had an enquiry from a GP's
surgery about our Access Audit service.
Access auditing involves an inspection
of the building to appraise its
accessibility and is judged against
predetermined criteria.
It's about Access for ALL - to establish
how well a building performs in relation
to access and ease of ALL users,
including people with physical mobility
and sensory impairments. The objective
is to identify areas of concern and to
make recommendations that resolve
access barriers for employees of a
company, their clients and members of
the public using the company’s services
and visiting their premises.
?
If you have any questions about access
please contact admin@lcil.org.uk
__________________________________
Zanna’s
DOG
BLOG
WOOF
We will also see this as an opportunity to listen to you. What skills would you like to
learn? Over the last year I have done yoga, singing and sewing and I looked forward
to them all week. Getting together with a group of people who are interested in the
same thing as you and working with them over a few weeks to improve your level of
skills is brilliant. It’s relaxing and energising at the same time! Go on, give it a try.
See you on Friday May 6th!
Now online at www.lcilvoice.com
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Research
Have you ever wanted to get involved in research? Yes! Well
now’s your chance. Rica, a national consumer charity wants
more older and disabled people in the UK to join its consumer
research panel. When you join, you may be asked to carry out
mystery shopping or focus group research or product tests. In
fact, Rica’s partially sighted panel members carried out usability
tests of the British Gas Hive 2 thermostat to make sure it was
easy to use.
Panel beaters
Members of the Rica panel are of all ages and disabilities
including: Blind and partially sighted people, Deaf people and
those who are hard of hearing, wheelchair users, people with
learning difficulties, autism and disabled people with
communication needs and older people. Rica’s research is
person-centred and panel members are only asked to carry
out research they are happy to do. Rica aims to improve
products and services, but we need your help! So what are
you waiting for? Join today online at www.rica.org.uk or phone
Rica on 020 7427 2460 for more details.
How does Rica make a difference?
Consumer research means finding out what the user wants or
needs. Rica believes that it is vital that products and services are
as easy to use for as many people as possible and accessible
in the full sense which means testing with people with specific
disabilities and conditions. Rica’s research is varied, from
surveys of peoples’ experience of using Passenger Assist on
train journeys to blind people assessing cookers and heating
controls. We cover all issues affecting all disabled and older
people and aim to show that inclusive design is the best design.
In fact, Apple has proved that beyond any shadow of a doubt.
Free, practical, unbiased information
Based on its research, Rica provides high quality information,
in print and also online on mobility and home and technology.
For example, there is useful, practical guidance on buying a
stairlift, based on research with Age UK and about riser recliner
chairs based on assessments by Occupational Therapists.
Rica does not sell products but you can use its information to
get advice and tips before you buy.
Mobility scooters - everything you need to know
If you’re thinking of buying a mobility scooter, then use Rica’s
online research and information to start looking. It lists those
smaller scooter models that can fit on buses, trains or trams
plus there is an online guide of what to look for when people
are choosing a scooter. Also on the website, there are blog
posts from scooter users giving tips and real life advice
including ‘I bought my mobility scooter online’ and ‘what price
for a scooter service?
Cars, driving adaptations and getting a wheelchair into a car
Rica has an online car measurement search, funded by
Motability where you can search on measurements such as
seat height or boot size to find a car to suit your needs. There
are also guides - Choosing a car, Car controls, Getting into
and out of a car and Getting a wheelchair into a car.
Rica has free print guides for specific groups of people: older
drivers, motoring for people with CP, MS, arthritis, and motoring
after an amputation or after a stroke and a guide to getting a
powered wheelchair.
To join our consumer research panel, go online www.rica.org.uk
or for more details, phone Rica on 020 7427 2460 or email
me chrislofthouse@rica.org.uk
Chris Lofthouse,
Outreach Manager, Rica
Rica:
disabled people’s
research charity –
join now!
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VOiCESPORTVOiCESPORTVOiCESPORTVOiCESPORTVOiCESPORTVOiCESPORT
LEGENDS CURRIE & HIRST
KICK-OFF VOLUNTEER SEARCH
FOR 2017 SPECIAL OLYMPICS GB
NATIONAL GAMES IN SHEFFIELD
The 2009 Special Olympics National
Games in Leicester does seem a
rather long time ago but we all
remember it fondly. Any chance we
get to put the flag up always brings a
crowd so combining our first birthday
last summer with a 6th anniversary
event was brilliant. So it is with some
excitement we followed the official
launch of Sheffield’s ‘Volunteers
Programme’ recently for hosting the
next National Games in 2017.
On Tuesday 5th April, Sheffield football
legends Tony Currie & David Hirst,
together with The Lord Mayor and
Deputy Lord Mayor of Sheffield,
officially launched the ‘Volunteers
Programme’ for Special Olympics GB’s
National Games. The Games will be
held in Sheffield in August 2017.
Currie, Hirst and the Sheffield Mayors
became the first of the National Games
Volunteers to sign up and get involved something available to all members of
the public!
In the region of 750 volunteers are
required to ensure the successful
running of the Games and Special
Olympics GB is hoping this launch will
encourage individuals, businesses and
their employees to come forward and
get involved.
The National Summer Games will open
on Monday 7th August, with an opening
ceremony the following day and
competition will continue until Friday
11th August 2017. In the region of 2,600
athletes with intellectual disabilities will
take part in 19 sports events.
It is the showpiece event every four
years for the organisation and its
athletes. Almost 1.5 million people in
the UK (2% of the population) have an
intellectual disability.
Special Olympics GB Games Volunteer
Ambassador and Sheffield United
legend Tony Currie, said: “Being so
associated with Sheffield, I am delighted
to support the 2017 National Summer
Games being held in the city.”
Karen Wallin, Special Olympics GB’s
CEO, said: “Volunteers will create a
backdrop of energy and enthusiasm to
fuel the National Games in Sheffield
from start to finish.
“I am sure our 2017 Volunteers will
create a spirit and atmosphere that will
encourage all of our athletes to compete
and achieve their potential and personal
best.
“The Special Olympics GB 2017 National
Summer Games will be the largest
multi-sport event in the country in the
year with over 2,500 athletes with an
intellectual disability travelling to the City
of Sheffield to compete in 19 different
sports. They will be supported by around
800 coaches and assistants.
“To achieve this goal, Special Olympics
GB needs volunteers for catering,
accommodation, administration,
transport, logistics, photography,
hospitality, athlete entertainment,
stewarding, information, merchandising,
volunteer liaison and communication.
“From today we will be actively recruiting
a team of 750 volunteers for the five day
period of the Games and are very
excited at the prospect of welcoming
new volunteers to Special Olympics GB
from all sections of the community."
If you would like to find out more about
volunteering at the Special Olympics GB
National Summer Games or you would
like to complete the online registration,
please visit our website
www.sheffield2017.org.uk
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A Glo-ball success!
Get Yourself Active with accessible sports sessions
By Joanna Gravett
When you’ve swum with giant sea turtles, braved an army of
poisonous jellyfish and skydived over Ayers Rock, it’s fair to
say that you don’t shy away from a challenge. As Dan Ball
walks into the room with a huge grin, you wouldn’t think that
the serial traveller had just started a new job and taken on one
of the biggest projects of his life.
As the LCiL Sports Coordinator, the plucky 24-year-old is on a
mission to help more disabled people access sporting
opportunities, because thanks to Sport England funding, and
partnership working with Disability Rights UK the Get Yourself
Active scheme is coming to Leicestershire, breaking down
barriers and challenging prejudice.
But who is the new face of the LCiL team? “Sport increases
your confidence so much,” says Dan, whose ambitious nature
has taken him across the globe. “I hardly spoke up during
school English lessons and felt like I couldn’t write.”
Like many super role models, including Keira Knightley,
Richard Branson and David Beckham, Dan has dyslexia, but it
didn’t stop his desire to achieve. With some Midlands
determination, the local lad joined Leicester Knighton Fields
Swimming Club aged 8 and went on to the City of Leicester
Swimming Club, representing the county from ages 9-16.
“If you know anyone who is committed to sport, you’ll know
how hard the hours are!” he laughs. “But I enjoyed competing
and even made it as Head Coach for Knighton in 2011.”
Freedom came in the form of Leeds Metropolitan University,
where Dan studied Sport Coaching BSc (Hons). As well as late
night McDonalds, Dan put his nose to the grindstone and
graduated in July 2012 with a 2:1, celebrating with a tour of ten
European countries.
Once back in Blighty, after a quick spell as a teaching
assistant, in October 2013 he took on the role of Sports
Development Officer at the University of Sunderland. “My job
was very rewarding and we ran sessions focusing on
everything from substance misuse to disabilities,” he says.
“My most memorable case was working with a young lad who
had previously been involved with crime. However, he
completely turned himself around, becoming a mentor for a
young offenders charity.”
But having sorted so many others onto a good pathway, Dan’s
wanderlust was tugging at his rucksack. In September 2014
the intrepid graduate decided it was time to hop down under,
travelling for fifteen months in Australia and its surrounding
countries.
Time off took him to New Zealand, Fiji, Thailand and beyond,
with the adventurer witnessing an infamous Full Moon Party, a
heady Thai concoction of 24-hour dancing and special
sleeping areas full of pillows for partied-out guests. “In Laos
there was a river you could sail down and keep stopping at
bars for drinks,” he smiles. “The landscapes were just
amazing – everything was!”
Sadly, the excitement wasn’t to last and after picking up a
“random stomach bug” in Asia, Dan spent last Christmas Eve
and Day in hospital. But recovery was in sight.
After recuperating, he applied for the job here at LCiL, taking
everything in his stride. “On April 20th we’re holding Choice
Unlimited at the Leicester Tigers Stadium,” Dan explains. “Our
Get Yourself Active scheme will have a zone where we will be
raising awareness about accessible sports sessions.”
There are over 168,348 disabled people in Leicestershire and
Dan and his team wish to encourage more sports clubs and
organisations to cater for disabled people, and explore ways
that they can use their Personal Budgets to access them.
For those 14+ it will be looking at ways that their Educational
Healthcare Plans can be used and their personal budgets
used towards activities and Get Yourself Active want to
increase these opportunities.
“I love sport and I love projects that help get others involved
too,” says Dan. “Without sport I wouldn’t have gone to
university, so if I can carry on sport development into the
future, then great!”
The event is looking to bring a mighty roar to Leicester, with
over 2,000 expectant guests, cricketer Paul Nixon and an
inspirational appearance from Leicester wheelchair athlete
Paige Murray and LCiL’s patron Matt Hampson.
Choice Unlimited, which is a market place for independent
living, will be running from 10am - 6pm, while wheelchair
basketball, rugby, cricket, tennis and other sports will be
available to try.
And as Dan continues to work tirelessly to make this event a
huge success, what’s next in store? “One day I’d like to travel
again - I’ve never been to South America…”
What can we say. Look out world,
because Dan Ball has arrived!
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READY
TO GO!
Image courtesy of Imaan Garcia Bailey Hakeem
LCiL
Empowering Disabled People
Paige Murray Athlete
goes live for third season
Paige has been training hard and developing her
sporting career as a T34 Wheelchair Athlete training
weekly and competing for the Coventry Godiva’s.
There is no doubting her commitment and dedication
to her sporting career and after two competitive
seasons she is now ready to write the next chapter of
her story. With the fantastic support and sponsorship
funding from the Matt Hampson Foundation she has
secured a new racing chair and the necessary spares
to compete in a third season of competitions.
Join in the official launch at Choice Unlimited 11am on
Wednesday 20th April at Leicester Tigers
LCiL, West End Centre, Andrewes Street, Leicester LE3 5PA • Tel: 0116 222 5005
SMS: 07910 864 594 • Email: admin@lcil.org.uk • Twitter: @LeicesterCIL
Web: www.lcil.org.uk • Registered Charity Number: 1072345 • Company Number: 3271124
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