Midcounties Cooperative – Vote for us!

We are happy to announce that we have been shortlisted by The Midcounties Cooperative for people to vote for in April this year!

We would like to invite as many of you as possible to vote for us between the 11th – 24th April for a chance for us to become a Regional Community Charity Fundraising Partner.

As soon as we have more information about this, we will update everyone on our website and social media with the details on how you can vote!

Volunteers Urgently Needed!

Are you looking for a volunteering opportunity to help build your CV? Maybe your looking to do something from the comfort of your own home or out in the community?

We are urgently looking for volunteers to join our charity, and currently have the following opportunities available:

  • Newsletter Editor
  • Secretary (Experience required)
  • Fundraising Lead
  • Fundraisers
  • Bloggers
  • Photographers (Urgently required for a new project we are working on)

If you or someone you know maybe interested in applying for any of the above volunteering roles, then please get in touch with our Volunteering Lead (Daniel Watkins) by emailing: volunteering@shropshire-disability.net.

If your an organisation that would like to advertise these opportunities, then please also get in touch with Daniel Watkins using the email above.

All our latest opportunities can also be found by clicking here.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Have you recently received disappointing news from the Department for Work and Pensions in relation to a PIP claim? Have you had some experience with a PIP review, do you have on going concerns in relation to PIP either in a professional or personal experience capacity?

If so, then we would like to hear from you about your views on Personal Independence Payment as we understand there has been a recent surge with individuals suffering from bad experiences (including the loss of a PIP claim) in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

Please share any information you may have by completing the form below. (Please note that the deadline for submitting your information has now been extended to Friday 28th April 2023).

Review of Members Meeting February 2023

The first Members Meeting of 2023 was held of 15th February at Freemasons Hall Shrewsbury which saw a good number of members attend to hear three very interesting guest speakers. The business update of the Management Committee involved a detailed update by Webmaster Dan Watkins on how he was progressing the development of a brand-new web site for SDN which will solve many of the historic problems we are experiencing with site and will ensure we have a fresh modern site for members to easily interact with.

The Chair Russell Price outlined the progress the committee had made in recovering from the Covid Pandemic and reported the fantastic news that SDN had received a £2,000 donation from the Salopian Lodge of Charity.

The first speaker was Sara Buckley who gave an interesting talk on the proposed Health & Wellbeing Hub and the current consultation process. Sara was closely questioned by members on the implications for people with disabilities and its impact on how they could access important health care. Further details are contained in this link. https://www.shropshiretelfordandwrekin.nhs.uk/get-involved/current-work/shrewsbury-health-and-wellbeing-hub/

Sara Buckley was also asked some questions by the members the current consultation being carried out. Please see the questions and answers below:

  • Is there any representation on the Stakeholder Reference Group from those representing those with disabilities?
    • Yes, we have representation from the Shropshire Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly which bring together groups including those with disabilities, and they feedback information from these meetings to their groups.

 

  • Can the group be involved in inputting/contributing to plans for the hub?
    • We are engaging with groups including disability groups and want to continue to engage with all groups and welcome their ongoing input.

 

  • What is the timeline for the consultation/hub?
    • This is not known at this time.

The second speaker was Richard Pulford who is the Disability Support and Liaison Officer at Shrewsbury Town Football Club. He detailed a long list of initiatives he was driving forward with the club to make match days more easily accessible. He also invited SDN members to join him for an exclusive open day session at the club to see first-hand what happens on match days. Further details will be posted on the SDN web site when known.

The third and final speaker was Wendy Marston, the Community Engagement Lead for the Shropshire Community Leisure Trust who manage leisure facilities across the County including the Quarry Swimming Baths and Sundorne Sports Village. Wendy outlined the existing facilities on offer that cater for a wide range of abilities and provided insights into the current uptake and users of the leisure services. This included new activities such as a Quiet Gym, Chronic Pain management groups and Social Prescribing.

In summary all three speakers gave very interesting and informative talks that were enjoyed by all present. There are certainly lots of new initiatives happening in the County for SDN Members to get involved with.

Sunday Lunch 20th March 2022-all proceeds for SDN

Salopian Lodge of Charity 117 are hosting this event to raise essential funds for our charity. You, Your family and friends are invited to a relaxing and leisurely Sunday Lunch on Sunday 20th March (12 noon for 12.30pm) at The Corbett Arms. A delicious 3 course lunch (can be chosen as listed on the attached leaflet downloadable in “Word” or as a PDF file), enjoy good company, amiable conversation, and raffle. This event is being held by Salopian Lodge Charity 117 in aid of the Shropshire Disability Network.

Dress Code: Smart Casual
Cost: £25 per person

RSVP by Thursday 10th March 2022

Download the Menu/Booking form by clicking here for a word document FlyerRussellPriceSunday Lunch2022 (1) or if you prefer to this as a PDF document please click this link FlyerRussellPriceSunday Lunch2022 (1) 

Please return your completed booking form with your chose of menu to:
Nick Wright, 7 Lexington Avenue, Shrewsbury, SY2 6SR Telephone: 01743 248 341Together with your cheque for £25 per person, made payable to: Salopian Lodge of Charity 117 or use Bank Transfer: Account  SLOC 117 No:00182906 Sort Code 30-97-62.

SDN Members an event for you! Learn to love Moths!

Many of our members will know about “Caring for God’s Acre” Beautiful Burial Ground Project. Shropshire Disability Network have been fortunate to be included in various sessions they have hosted for our members ie “Archives Department at Shrewsbury, Small Mammals event, looking at wildlife in Longden and Bridgnorth cemeteries. We have always had a great time and learnt a lot from these sessions.

Now you are being offered another session so “Join the Beautiful Burial Ground Project and Moths expert Charlie Bell in the Churchyard of St Bart’s part of the National Trust’s Benthall Hall near Much Wenlock”.

This event will take place on Tuesday 24th August 2021 from 10 am – 12 noon to learn to love Moths!

Overnight Charlie will set a harmless moth trap and in the morning will show us what has been found before they are released. 

Be prepared to discover the world of moths is more interesting and colourful than you first expected!

This session is free to attend but places do need to be booked, please book yours by contacting  George george@cfga.org.uk or info@shropshire-disability.net

This session is planned with accessibility in mind and will have seating and BSL interpretation available. 

Please let us know if you have any specific access needs that we need to know about in advance to accommodate. Also if you need help with transport, please let us know.

We hope many of you will join this FREE event.

Click here for Information on Benthall Hall https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/benthall-hall

Image courtesy of Unsplash.

Dan Watkins – #CovidLeadersList Winner

Dan Watkins, a new volunteer with Shropshire Disability Network won the Coronavirus Learning Disability and Autism Leaders’ List award in December 2020. He is very passionate about listening to those with a Learning Disability and/ or Autism to see how they have been affected throughout the pandemic.

Dimensions UK, Learning Disability England and VODG partnered together to create the #CovidLeadersList as they wanted to recognise the amazing people who have inspired others to do great things throughout the pandemic.

You can read more about Dan’s award by clicking here!

Virtual Art Competition invitation to SDN members

With the lockdown having an impact on a lot of people’s mental wellbeing, The Bobath Centre feel it is so important to allow people to explore their emotions and feelings through the process of creating, painting or drawing. 

They are hosting a virtual art competition and would love to invite as many people to take part in the event, so they have contacted SDN asking that we share details of the competition with Shropshire Disability Network members.

How to enter the competition:

To enter the competition each participant will need to pay £1 and then send their art work digitally to our marketing team at fundraising@bobath.org.uk by 20th February 2021. *When sending your art work The Bobath Centre will need the participants full name and a contact email address.

To pay your £1 to enter the competition, click this link: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/virtual-art-competiton-tickets-137791109919?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch

Further details:

  • The competition will be judged and there will be 4 prizes up for grabs.
  • There will be the opportunity for individuals to sell their art work should they wish and part of the donation will go to The Bobath Centre.
  • Winners will be announced on Thursday 25th February 2021 at 1 pm

What is the Bobath Centre?

Bobath are a specialist treatment and training centre, and a charity dedicated to supporting children and families living with cerebral palsy and similar neurological conditions. They are based in Watford.

They are the UK’s premier teaching centre who have contributed to the training of NHS and other health professionals. This has allowed thousands of children, who are unable to travel to the Centre at Watford, to benefit from the Bobath approach in their local community.

For further information, click here to visit their websitehttps://www.bobath.org.uk/

Covid-19 vaccination roll-out in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin

Kate Manning, Communications and Engagement Manager at Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Sustainability and Transformation Partnership has asked that we share with you the following information on the Covid-19 vaccination roll-out in this county.

  •  The NHS vaccination programme is underway in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin as part of the national rollout.
  •  The NHS will contact people in the priority groups when it is their turn to receive the vaccine. People are being called forward who meet the criteria based on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s recommendations.

The public have an important part to play:

  •  please don’t contact the NHS to seek a vaccine, the NHS will contact you;
  •  when we do contact you, please attend your booked appointments; and
  •  please continue to follow all the guidance to control the virus and save lives.
  •  The vaccine cannot give you COVID-19 infection, and it will reduce your chance of becoming seriously ill. We do not yet know whether it will stop you from catching and passing on the virus. So, it is important to follow the guidance in your local area to protect those around you.

Whether or not you have had the vaccine you still need to:

  •  practice social distancing
  •  wear a face mask
  •  wash your hands carefully and frequently
  •  follow the current guidance

Vaccination started in the county on 8th December and as of 7th January the following vaccination centres are in operation:

o   Hospital Hub at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital run in partnership with Shrewsbury Primary Care Network

o   Local Vaccination Centre at Bridgnorth Medical Centre being delivered by GPs from the South East Shropshire Primary Care Network (group of local GP practices)

o   Local Vaccination Centre at Malinslee Healthcare Centre being delivered by GPs from the Teldoc Primary Care Network (group of local GP practices)

o   Hospital Hub at The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital run in partnership with North Shropshire Primary Care Network

  •  Care home residents are also now receiving the vaccine in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin with the ambition that all older person care home residents and staff will have had the vaccination by the end of January. GP practices will contact care homes directly to plan the rollout as soon as they are ready. 
  •  The vaccine will be offered to more people and at other locations as soon as possible. These will include local vaccine services provided by GPs and pharmacists, in people’s homes for those who are housebound and new dedicated vaccination centres to make sure that everyone who needs a vaccine is able to get one.
  •  By the middle of February, in line with the Prime Minister’s announcement on 4th January, it is our ambition to deliver the vaccine to the four top priority groups. These include all residents in a care home for older adults and their carers, everyone over the age of 70, all frontline health and social care workers, and everyone who is clinically extremely vulnerable.

For more information about the Covid-19 vaccine please visit:  https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine/

Below are a number of helpful documents to read and/or download to print:

Covid19 Easy Read Leaflet: Covid-19_Easy-read_leaflet

Covid19 Vaccination -A guide for adults in large print PHE_Covid19Vaccination_AGuideForAdults_LargePrintLeaflet_WebAccessible_2020_FINAL3

Why do I have to wait for my jab leaflet:  PHE_11920_Covid-19_AZ_Why_do_I_DL_leaflet_02_WEB

Covid19 Priority List Poster: PHE_11895_COVID_vaccine_priority_poster

Covid19 A Guide for AdultsCOV2020312_Covid-19_Guide_for_Adults_A3_poster_02_WEB (3)

Telford and Wrekin Customer Strategy Consultation-Deadline extended to 23 October

Telford & Wrekin Council are asking residents and stakeholders for their views on the Council’s new Customer Strategy and new Customer Contract, which outlines their aims for how they want to serve their customers and sets out the standards of service that customers should expect to receive.

The consultation will give customers the opportunity to tell them about their previous experiences of contacting the Council, which will help them understand what they are currently doing well and what areas they need to improve.

The consultation starts on 25 September 2020 and was to end on Friday 16th October 2020 but the deadline has now been extended by one week. Note the deadline for this consultation has now been changed to 23rd October 2020 as Telford & Wrekin Council wish to receive as much feedback as possible.

To take part in this consultation please visit www.telford.gov.uk/customerconsultation .’

If you or someone you know would like to receive this survey in an alternative format, please email customer.insight@telford.gov.uk or telephone 01952 382006. Telford & Wrekin Council want this survey to be inclusive and would like to hear from SDN members.

To review the draft Customer Strategy and Customer Contract please visit   www.telford.gov.uk/customerconsultation this page also contains a link to the online survey.

For further general information about the consultation or would like to receive the consultation in a different format please email customer.insight@telford.gov.uk.