Here's your July Poole LINk update !
We’re giving away Money!
Poole LINk is offering £5000 as Community Grants, to support local projects. If you support a Poole group that needs a small pot of money to get an idea off the ground, get in touch today. Applying for a grant is easy and we’re accepting applications up until 16th September 2011. Click here to download our Community Grants poster, please display it to help promote the grants. For more information, contact Louise on Tel: 0300 111 0102 or go to www.poolelink.org.uk
Hamworthy to get New Dentist
People living in Hamworthy could soon be getting easier access to a dentist, thanks to Poole LINks campaign. NHS Bournemouth & Poole are advertising for someone to provide the new NHS dental service and the outcome of the tender process is expected by the end of October 2011. Thanks to everyone who took part in this LINk project, together we can really make a change. We’ll keep you updated and in the meantime, please view the press release. If you produce a newsletter or e-bulletin, please use our press release and if you need any more information call Louise on 0300 111 0102.
LINk Discussion Forum
We’d like to invite you to take part in our latest online discussion about the proposed NHS reforms. Go to Area Discussions on Poole LINks webpage: www.poolelink.org.uk to join in the debate. Thanks for taking part and if you’d like any help please contact Louise on 0300 111 0102 or email: louise.bate@makesachange.org.uk
Poole
LINk Needs Your Help
Poole LINk wants to find out what younger people think of health and social care services. We’re designing a survey to gather feedback from young carers, local schools and youth groups and we need your help. If you are under 18 or if you work/volunteer with young people and you’d like to be involved – please get in touch with Louise on Tel: 0300 111 0102.
Poole
LINk Research into Social Care Cuts
We’d like to say a big Thank You to everyone who took part in our research project in June / July 2011. Local people who’ve been affected by the cuts to social services were interviewed and given the chance to take part in a LINk survey. We worked with independent researchers, Poole Forum, PRO Disability and Rethink on this project and our final report will be made public in September 2011. There’s a ‘wordle’ image of the comments we gathered in our Day Centre Survey available to view at the end of this e-update.
LINk ‘Leaving Hospital’ survey
We’ve received a small number of LINk ‘leaving hospital’ surveys back so far. If you or someone you know is an older person who’s recently left Poole Hospital, please complete one of our surveys – it only takes 5 minutes and the information we gather will be used to improve local services. Closing date for responses is 16th September and our survey is available online: www.poolelink.org.uk
Healthpoint
Healthpoint is based in Poole Central Library and has been providing free, confidential, consumer-based health information direct to the people of Dorset, for over 21 years. Healthpoint has an up-to-date reference/study collection of books, magazines, fact sheets, leaflets, DVDs and CDs. The centre has staff on duty Monday-Friday 9.30am-5pm who are happy to help you look for the answers to your questions. They are also part of the PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) team. Healthpoint can be contacted on 01202 675377, Healthpoint@poole.gov.uk. or visit their website at www.boroughofpoole.com/healthpoint
Nursing Care at Home Survey
The Queen’s Nursing Institute (QNI) is running a survey to gather the views of patients, carers and family members about their experiences of receiving nursing care at home. The findings from this survey will help the QNI to find out what works well and where improvements could be made. They will use the information collected to work with decision-makers to make sure that good quality nursing is available at home for everyone when they need it. To take part, go to: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/D39CCV2
NHS Choices
Would you like to take part in a 5 minute survey about the NHS Choices website? The aim of the survey is to get your feedback on how easy it is to complete certain tasks, as well as your thoughts on the website as a whole. Your feedback is important and will be used to improve the NHS Choices site for the future. To take part just click here: http://webeffective.keynote.com/v.asp?inv=3734BF05ED444B57B788E6E3EA21BDE0
Poole's Budget Simulator Is Back
Poole's budget simulator gives local people a chance to say how they want the council to spend its budget in 2012/13. The web-based budget simulator tool shows how much Borough of Poole spends on local services and gives you the chance to suggest ways to spend that budget. The consultation closes on 15 August and the results will help inform the council's decisions when it comes to finalise the 2012/13 budget early next year. Please complete the budget simulator here.
Survey of Family and Friends Carers
Family Rights Group is conducting a major survey of family and friends carers. This aims to be the most far reaching survey ever to examine the experiences, views and circumstances of family and friends carers in the United Kingdom. Family Rights Group hope to have a response rate of over 500 family and friends carers ie. people bringing up a child/ren who is not their son or daughter but is connected to you e.g. a grandchild, sibling or friend's child. For more information and to take the survey please click here.
Free Eye Tests
Book a child for a no-cost NHS eye test at Vision Express and get a £25 adult test free. Click here for more details: http://www.visionexpress.com/offers/free-eye-test-kids/ Free eye tests are also available at Tesco Opticians, call 0845 601 3479 to book.
Poole Mela at Baiter Park,
30th July from 10 - 8pm
Don’t forget Saturdays Multicultural Mela Festival which will include crafts, leisure activities, stalls and fun for all the family! The Mela supports Asian and Oriental cultures to showcase their artistic, gastronomic and literary heritage for everyone living in and around Poole and Bournemouth. For more details go to: http://saazaurawaaz.co.uk/doc/Multicultural_Arts_Festival_a5_POOLE_may_2011-3.pdf
Celebration Day at Pelhams Park, 6th August from 12 – 4pm
Dimensions (supporting people with learning disabilities and people with autism) are holding this celebration day for friends, families and children and you’re invited to come along! There will be fashion shows, karaoke, games, face painting and food stands. Or you can take part in the free drama workshops, provided by Curious Arts from 12.45pm. Dimensions will also be launching this year’s ‘Everybody Counts’ for Dorset. For more details:www.dimensions-uk.org
Epilepsy Action Bus in Hamworthy, 26th August from 11 – 3pm
Join your local Epilepsy Action branch on 26 August at Hamworthy Park, Poole. Have a free coffee and find out more about epilepsy. African drumming workshop will run between 12.00 noon and 2.00pm and children can get involved with face-painting, decorating gingerbread men, a bouncy castle, and giant games. For more details call the Epilepsy Helpline freephone number: 0808 800 5050.
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: