Here's your August Poole LINk update !
Free Money – Apply Now
We’re accepting applications up until 16th September for this year’s Poole LINk Community Grants. If you support a Poole group that needs a small pot of money to get an idea off the ground, please get in touch. We have £5000 to give away to local groups, 10 grants of £500 each. Applying for a grant is easy, full details are available on our website (just look for the pink pig!): www.poolelink.org.uk or call Louise on 0300 111 0102.
LINk Visit to Poole Central Library
We are working with Poole Forum (local learning disability support group) to create a joint visiting team. Trained volunteers from the LINk and Poole Forum work together, to check out local services and find out what people really think of them. As part of this project we asked local services to invite us in for a pilot visit. Poole Central Library responded and they were keen to find out how they could improve library access for people with learning disabilities. Read the report of our visit to Poole Central Library on 28th July 2011, together with our recommendations: www.poolelink.org.uk
Breaks for Carers
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Crossroads Care have launched a new campaign aimed at ensuring that Primary Care Trusts use their allocated government funds for carers breaks. Investing in support for carers can reduce delayed transfers of care, demand on other health and social care services and improve health outcomes for the carer and the person they are caring for. Poole LINk has asked our local NHS how they plan to spend their allocated government funds for carers breaks and we will publish their response next month. For more details go to: www.poolelink.org.uk
LINk Question?
If you are a carer, or if you know someone who is, please answer this LINk question to be in with the chance to win a £10 shopping voucher:
I’m a carer and the kind of break I need is . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Send your reply to contact@makesachange.org.uk by 19th September and you’ll be entered into our free prize draw, Good Luck
Local NHS runs Palliative Care Events
Do you want to have a say about the future of Specialist Palliative Care Services? If so, you are invited to attend a discussion group workshop where your feedback will help the NHS to improve health and provide better care and better value services. Two events are being held locally: Tuesday 6 September 2.30pm – 4.30pm (Merley House, Wimborne) and Monday 12th September 2.30pm – 4.30pm (Christchurch Hospital, Board Room). For more details ring: 01202 541569.
Stone Carving Course for disabled adults
Holton Lee is introducing stone carving courses for disabled adults this Autumn. The courses will require learners to have sufficient upper body strength and mobility and each applicant will be provided with individual tuition appropriate to their ability. Please help ‘spread the word’ to any interested individuals or organisations and if you are interested in the courses contact Geoff Jones at Holton Lee for an application form and more details: Tel: 01202 625562 or go to www.holtonlee.co.uk
Wonderland Weekend for Julia’s House
A special fundraising weekend in aid of Julia’s House will be hosted by Adventure Wonderland in Hurn on 3rd and 4th September. The charity weekend will host lots of fun activities with discounted entry for families and youngsters. Julia’s House looks after seriously ill children, giving parents a much needed break. For further information go to www.adventurewonderland.co.uk or call 01202 483444.
Mental Health Carers Course
Richmond Fellowship & the Community Mental Health Team are running evening carers’ courses at Poole Day Centre in September & October. These events are aimed at people supporting a friend or family member with mental health difficulties, but everyone is welcome and the courses may be of interest to students, staff and volunteers who encounter mental health issues in those they support. For more information view the flyer.
NHS Reforms
The government has launched a new phase in their listening exercise, designed to inform the development of NHS reforms. The Future Forum wants to gather views on education and training, information and the NHS’s role in the public’s health. To ensure that your views help shape the Future Forum’s advice to the Government, contact them by 18 October 2011: http://healthandcare.dh.gov.uk/say/
Consultation on funding for HealthWatch
This consultation is asking for your views on options for distributing the new funding for Local HealthWatch, NHS Complaints Advocacy and PCT Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS). Closing date is 24th October: www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_128429
The Low Review – Call for Evidence
Lord Low has been asked by Leonard Cheshire Disability and Mencap to chair an independent review into the mobility needs of people living in residential care. The governments Welfare Reform Bill contains powers to remove the mobility component of Disability Living Allowance, soon to become Personal Independence Payment, from people living in state-funded residential care. The mobility component enables thousands of disabled people to go to the shops, visit family or socialise with friends. Without it disability support groups are worried people will become trapped in their own homes. To have your say please email your views to info@lowreview.org.uk or fill in the call for evidence online. The deadline is 10 October 2011, results will be published at the end of October and key recommendations will be made to the Government.
Poole Food Bank needs your help
Poole Food Bank is short of supplies and the following items are needed: Tinned goods, instant mash, UHT/powdered/evaporated milk, instant coffee, tea bags, sugar, rice, pasta, long-life fruit juice, squash, jam, honey, tinned/packet puddings, custard, biscuits, snacks, sauces, pickles, spreads, spices. Toiletries: toilet rolls, toothpaste, shampoo, cleaning products. If you can help please call the Poole Foodbank 01202 669566 or take them to Longfleet United Reformed Church, Tuesday to Thursday (9.30am to 2pm) and Friday (9.30am to 12noon).
Fun 4 Kids event
The next Fun 4 Kids event is on Saturday 17 September at Sterte Esplanade in Poole from 11am to 3pm. Featuring crafts, games and activities for all ages. Please contact Alison Dalton on 07908 110121 for more information.
Free Open Day at Oakdale Centre, Poole
Skills & Learning Bournemouth & Poole are holding an Open Day on Friday 2nd September 1-4pm at the Oakdale Centre in Poole. Pop down to find out more about adult learning opportunities and join in with the free workshops on Jewellery Making, Make-Up, Art and Computers. To register for more information or to enrol please telephone on 01202 262300 or email infopal@poole.gov.uk
Do you know what COPD is?
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious lung disease that over time makes it hard to breathe. It kills more people in the UK each year than either bowel, breast or prostate cancer. Our local NHS is running events in Bournemouth & Poole over the next couple of months to raise awareness of COPD. Please view the poster for dates and details.
Volunteers Needed
Leonard Cheshire Disability charity shop on Ashley Road in Poole is desperately in need of more volunteers. Anyone who can help out should call Tracey Fudge on Tel: 01202 715914.
FREE Self Management Courses
The Expert Patients Programme Community Interest Company (EPP CIC) is running two Self Management courses in Poole. One at Poole Adult Learning, Oakdale in September 2011 and one in Hamworthy Library in February 2012. Both courses are designed for adults living with long-term health conditions and help you take more control of your health by learning new skills. Both courses are FREE and are run over six weeks with each session lasting two and a half hours, to book call FREEPHONE 0800 988 5520.
Reminiscence Day
Do you have any memories, stories or old photographs of Lagland or Skinner Street, or would you like to learn more about how this area used to be? If so, this Reminiscence Day is for you! Saturday 3rd September 2011 at Skinner Street United Reformed Church. Drop in anytime between 11am and 4pm. For further information contact Carol Parr (working on behalf of Poole Museum Service), Tel: 01483 283181, or email carolmparr@btinternet.com
Winter Summit
The local NHS would like to invite you to take part in a Dorset-wide Winter Summit on Thursday 8 September at the Life Centre in Winton from 9.30am. The summit is designed for anyone in Dorset who works with or supports elderly and vulnerable people and is interested in seeing how we can all work together to help them stay healthy and safe in their homes. Please forward this information on to people who you think will be interested in attending this event, for more details go to: http://www.bp.nhs.uk/yourhealth/winter-summit.htm
Thanks for your help, LINks can't work without you!
We're always looking for volunteers to get involved in LINk projects and your comments direct the LINks work - so tell us what you think about local health and social care services. Contact Louise Bate, Poole LINk Development Officer: