NewsLink November 2013

Disability Forum

NewsLink November 2013 Here to make Peterborough an accessible place to live Guess who’s coming to lend a hand at the Mayors Charity Committee, Sporting Saturday event on Saturday January 18th?

Only the baddest man on TV, Eastenders ! Actor Steve McFadden will be making a special appearance at Peterborough’s biggest sport and leisure event. Don’t tell anyone because we haven’t asked him yet but it’s hoped that Steve will host the Martial Arts World Record challenge for most participants, which takes place between 4 and 5pm. Master Parkers Serial Kickers (MPSK) will be leading the event and encouraging 500 participants to take up the challenge and become world record holders. Everyone is welcome. The more the merrier Also confirmed is GB Wheelchair Basketball star Sarah Grady

Aged 7, Watford born Sarah Grady was hit by a virus that damaged her spinal cord; aged 13, the BSc Business and Sports Sciences graduate (Brunel University, 2005) first tried wheelchair basketball at the National Junior Games at Stoke Mandeville; and, a mere three years later, at just 16, she travelled across the world to Australia to represent Great Britain in the 2000 Sydney Paralympics. The next five years saw Sarah called up for her nation countless times: in addition to the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games, the GB #5 was also selected to compete at the World Championships 2002 (Kitakyushu, Japan) as well as the European Championships in 2003, winning bronze, and 2005. After taking time out from international basketball to have her son Josh, Sarah returned to the GB squad in November 2011 where she played her way into selection for her third Paralympic Games: 2012. In front of a home crowd, Sarah helped the team secure a 7th place finish, Paralympics GB's best performance in women's since the 1996 in Atlanta.

More stars of sports, stage and television are being added to the programme for the Mayors Charity, Sporting Saturday event in January, keep a lookout.

So what is “Sporting Saturday and how can you get involved?

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NewsLink November 2013

The Mayors Charity Committee proudly presents Sporting Saturday

Saturday 18th January 2014 is the date for Peterborough’s first ever day of Sport, Leisure and Health and Wellbeing activities for people with disabilities, older people and their health carers and family members

The Main Hall will provide the stage for a day of sporting taster sessions. Amongst the “have a go” activities will be indoor cricket, static rowing, indoor archery, table tennis, goal ball and much more. Peterborough Police are offering Boxing taster sessions At 4pm Master Parkers Serial Kickers (MPSK) will be leading the way in our attempt at setting the World Record for the most participants in a karate class!

Later in the day, between 5.30 and 8pm, one of Peterborough’s leading DJs and producers will be hosting a disco. Our friends at the YMCA gym will be offering free gym and keep fit taster sessions throughout the day.

Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson, Mayor Cllr June Stokes, Peterborough City Council CEO Gillian Beasley and Council Leader Marco Cereste are amongst the confirmed guests along with leading sports stars and Eastenders star, Steve McFadden.

Physical exercise is not for everyone. Therefore, we will also be providing various art and craft activities for people to try, including music production sessions, dance lessons and poetry writing classes. The is the venue for the day and “Sporting Saturday” will be the showcase for organisations and clubs who provide accessible facilities and activities for disabled people in and around the Peterborough area.

10 am-4 pm: Sports, Leisure and health and wellbeing displays, activities and stands 4 pm-5 pm World Record karate class attempt. 5.30-8pm Disco Special thanks to the Cresset Peterborough, YMCA Gym, Vivacity, Living Sport, MPSK, the Mayors Charities, Inspire Peterborough, Parents United, Sue Ryder and Wednesday PHAB Club For more details contact Bryan. [email protected] Admission £2

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NewsLink November 2013

Carer tied woman, 88, up with her dressing gown cord so she could have cigarette break

Carer Susannah Carr tied up a lady, who suffers from dementia, because she did not want her wandering around the care home

A care home assistant used a dressing gown cord to tie an 88-year- old woman with dementia to a chair while she went outside to smoke a cigarette. A court was told that Susannah Carr, 43, restrained the pensioner because she had been wandering around the care home.

She told a colleague what she had done and was reported to police, but denied it when interviewed by officers. However, she later went back to the police station to admit her crime after being questioned by care home bosses at an internal inquiry.

When she was finally brought before a court, she pleaded guilty to a charge of ill-treating and wilfully neglecting a person without capacity. Carr was spared a jail sentence, however, when Judge Michael Addison gave her a 12-month supervision order.

When the offence came to light, she was dismissed from her job at Sutton Lodge. A Bupa care home where she had worked for about ten years. In a statement after sentencing, Graham Brittain, of Bupa Care Services UK, said: ‘The behaviour of Susannah Carr was clearly unacceptable. ‘We immediately suspended her and reported her to the appropriate authorities to ensure that vulnerable older people are protected. The court has now taken appropriate action.’

St Peters Arcade St Peters arcade will be undergoing some much needed modernisation and refurbishment work in the New Year. Some of the work being carried out is based on the findings of an Access Audit commissioned by the Peterborough Disability Forum and DIAL Peterborough. A new floor, new railings and new is amongst the schedule of works together with decorating throughout. Work begins in January and will last until mid-March. Please note that the arcade will be closed throughout the work. The nearest disabled toilets are at the Haven Car Park. Peterborough Disability Forum Town Hall Council Chamber 1-3pm Wednesday 27th November

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NewsLink November 2013

Another Christmas cracker

5000 hardy souls braved the winter chill to enjoy six hours of entertainment and fun culminating with Mayor June Stokes and Santa switching on the . For the fourth year running members of the Disability Forum joined Cllrs John and Judy Fox in marshalling the wheelchair area at the front of the stage. Well done to PCC Head of Commercial Operations, Annette Joyce, a great time was had by everyone Watch out Peterborough! It’s the Lava Lamp Christmas Disco! Enzo, Benny and the rest of the Lava Lamp team are promising a night to remember at Nightclub on Thursday 19th December from 8pm until 1am. All sorts of madness and mayhem is promised, wear your best fancy dress if you dare. Tickets are £5 on the door or £4 in advance. Go to www.lavalamp.me for more information or ring Enzo 07923 843177. All part of the “Stay up late” initiative. Peterborough Bus User Group (BUGs)

BUGs continues to go from strength to strength and service providers are definitely starting to listen to the concerns of passengers. The last meeting which took place on Wednesday 13th November was a full house with over thirty members of the public asking questions of Stagecoach and Peterborough City Council Transport officers. Helen Sismore from Guidedogs UK chaired the meeting. The next BUGs meeting has now been moved to the bigger Council Chamber and takes place on Wednesday 11th December. For more details contact Helen: [email protected] Congratulations to Sue Mitchell

Sue has joined Inspire Peterborough as Programme Manager following her retirement from Peterborough City Council where she was Associate Director of Public Health. Sue takes up her new post in early December, more details in Decembers NewsLink but Sue will be a fantastic asset for Inspire Peterborough and helping to provide more accessible sports and leisure activities for disabled people, their families and carers

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NewsLink November 2013

Access Audits are the way ahead

What is a Disability Access Audit? The purpose of an Access Audit is to establish how well a building or service provider performs in relation to access and ease of use by a wide range of potential users, including people with physical mobility and sensory impairments. Do you get fed up with the same lame excuses service providers churn out when you challenge them about poor accessibility and the lack of disability awareness training? We all know that too many organisations pay scant regard to the needs of disabled people. Next time you have an issue with accessing or using services, ask for a copy of the Access Audit. If it’s a new or recently refurbished building, don’t let them tell you they don’t have one, they should! Or how do they know that disabled people can access their facilities?

Santa is coming to the Mayors Coffee Morning Fancy a coffee and mince pie with Mayor Cllr June Stokes and Father Christmas? The Reception Room in the Town Hall on Thursday 5th December is the place to be. Tombola and stalls and the opportunity to talk to the Mayor and Santa. All welcome

Half of middle-aged men who have a attack have shown warning signs of it up to a month before. Many sudden heart attacks aren't always so sudden, new research suggests. In the four-week period up to a heart attack, researchers found more than half of the patients examined showed symptoms that could predict cardiac arrest. In the study, 56 per cent of the sample experienced chest pain, 13 per cent showed signs of dyspnea, or breathlessness, and 4 per cent reported dizziness, syncope, or loss of consciousness, and heart palpitations. Symptoms of a heart attack include chest pain - usually located in the centre of the chest and can feel like a sensation of pressure, tightness or squeezing - or pain in the other parts of the body. In this case, it can feel as if the pain is travelling from the chest to the arms (usually the left arm is affected, but it can affect both arms), jaw, neck, back and abdomen. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, feeling sick, being sick, an overwhelming sense of anxiety (similar to having a panic attack) and feeling light-headed. Over 40? Get a Health Check. Talk to your GP

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NewsLink November 2013

World War II mechanic who suffered a stroke left dying after care home refused to let paramedics into his room for half an hour'

Paramedics were prevented from tending to a stroke victim after care home managers refused to let them enter his room because it breached company policy. Leslie Coombs who was a mechanic in WWII collapsed while he was on the phone to insurers The AA after he called them about repairs to his car. The AA operator quickly dialled 999 and paramedics rushed to the 89-year-old's room at the Jubilee Court sheltered housing complex. However, when the ambulance crew arrived, staff would not let them enter the room, and they were made to wait for 26 minutes until a warden arrived with a spare key.

A telephone operator also refused to give paramedics the code for a wall- mounted safe which contained a master key because it was 'against company policy'. Frightened Mr Coombs was screaming for help through the letter box, while paramedics were forced to wait on the other side of the door. When a warden finally arrived with a master key, paramedics entered the room and rushed Mr Coombs, who served as an RAF mechanic in Singapore during WW2, to hospital where he died of a heart attack nine days later.

His family has accused the managers of the sheltered housing complex, run by Places for People, of endangering the lives of residents. His daughter Glenis Riley, 66, is considering taking legal action 'My father was fit and healthy for his age but I strongly believe the stress of being left on the floor in his room while paramedics were outside caused his death,' said Mrs Riley, a retired community care worker. He was on the phone to the AA about his car when he suffered a stroke. The operator called 999 and my father tried to get to the front door so he could open it for the paramedics.

“When the paramedics did arrive they were talking to my dad through the letter box. He was shouting ‘For God’s sake help me’ but they had to explain they had to wait. One of the paramedics called the operator of the complex to ask for the code to the key safe by the entrance but they wouldn’t give it to him. Both Nottingham City Homes and Places for People launched have investigations into the treatment of Mr Coombs.

Simon Cook, of the Stroke Association, said time was of the essence when dealing with stroke victims. He said: 'When a stroke strikes the brain is starved of oxygen and as a result brain cells in the affected area die. 'The sooner patients receive treatment; the more likely they are to make a better recovery.'

An East Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'Paramedics had problems reaching Mr Coombs. 'Paramedics would only break a door down to get to patients as a last resort.

FAST is an acronym used to help detect and enhance responsiveness to stroke victim needs. The acronym stands for facial drooping, arm weakness, speech difficulties and time For more details and information contact: www.stroke.org.uk

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NewsLink November 2013

Christmas dreams come true for Rudolf Fund charity Christmas is set to come early for some of the area’s most inspirational children thanks to a heart-warming Peterborough charity. The Rudolf Fund, which each year for the past 17 years has made dreams come true at Christmas for children with special needs, is off on its next overseas trip. On December 1, the charity - which has been facing a funding crisis in recent years - will take a party of 33 disadvantaged youngsters, together with their families, to Disneyland Paris.

Among their number will be seven-year-old Jack Moate, from March, who has three rare conditions and more than a dozen others. He is unable to sit, stand, walk or talk and the amount of medication and equipment needed to care for him means the family faces challenges in going on holidays. Mum Elizabeth said: “The good thing about this trip is I’m not limited by how much stuff we can take. It’s going to be magical for him.”

Also on the bus is Kadence Abbott (6), from Peterborough. Kadence has Goldenhar’s syndrome, a rare condition which can causes abnormalities in the formation of the face and head, is deaf in one ear and has partial vision, as well as a number of other conditions. She will be travelling with her sister Kayla (10) and mum Beverley. Speaking to the PT on Sunday at the Rudolf Fund’s annual Christmas Party, Beverley said: “These two found out about it today and they jumped with joy.” On her reaction, Kadence said: “I was screaming and saying ‘yeah!’.” The charity had intended for this year’s trip to be its last. However, thanks to large public support, in particular through last year’s Mayor of Peterborough Cllr George Simons picking the Rudolf Fund as one of two charities to benefit from fundraising during his mayoral year, another trip is planned for 2014. The charity’s secretary Cllr John Fox said Cllr Simons had “saved the day”, but thanked all those who had supported the cause last year.

Among the other major supporters of the charity have been The Ploughman and Dragon pubs in Werrington. Andy Simmonds, landlord of The Ploughman, said: “It touches so many young lives in ways they will never ever forget.”

Did you know?

 There are 9.4 million disabled people in England, 18 per cent of the population  45 per cent are males/55 per cent are females  The North East of England has the highest proportion of disabled people, accounting for 22 per cent of the population

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NewsLink November 2013

Tuesday 3rd December is the 21st annual International Day of Disabled People Are you doing something to mark the Day?

Each year the United Nations chooses a different theme for the Day. This year it's; Break barriers and open doors: to realise an inclusive society for all

Barriers that disabled people face can take a variety of forms - from the physical environment to information and communications technology (ICT), from legislation or policy to attitudes in society or discrimination.

The International Day is a great opportunity to celebrate the achievements of disabled people and their contribution to society. Are you using this year's theme to show case how your organisation is working to overcome the barriers and open doors? Did you know? 1 in 5 people aged 75 and over are living with sight loss and 1 in 2 people aged 90 and over are living with sight loss.

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NewsLink November 2013

Some useful numbers Age UK 01733 564185

Benefits (housing and council tax) 01733 452241

CareZone 01733 575083

Child Benefit 0845 302 1444

Crime stoppers 0800 555 111

Crisis Loans 0800 169 5198

Department of Work and Pensions (new claims) 0800 055 6688

DIAL Peterborough 01733 265551

Fire Service 01480 444 500

Housing Options 01733 864064

City Care Clinic 01733 293800

NHS Direct 0845 4647

Pension Credit Helpline 0800 991234

Pension Service 0845 6060265

Peterborough City Council Care and Repair 01733 742510

Peterborough Direct 01733 747474

Peterborough City Hospital 01733 678000

Peterborough Police 101

Samaritans 08457 909090

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