Registered The newsletter of Charity the charity Number PORT-ER 1116594 No 1: 2011 www.PORT-ER.com Where mobility matters Small business training for wheelchair users in India PORT-ER is funding a small businesses initiative in India following a grant application by the Society for Women's Education and Awareness Development (SWEAD); a charity registered in India. You may already have read our announcement of the funding award in our Christmas news update. We were pleased to receive news that the project commenced early because the project team were keen to progress their work as soon as they received their requested funding from PORT-ER (see images, right). SWEAD had found out about PORT-ER from our website. This community project aims to empower wheelchair users to be more independent and “reduce discrimination and stigma of wheelchair users and enhance self-esteem, dignity and respect”. The SWEAD application described the following aims of the project: To educate wheelchair users on mobile handset service repairs To serve as a forum for wheelchair users to work together as a team. To enable wheelchair users to get involved in economic activities through access to their respective business ventures. To reduce discrimination and stigmatisation Participants on the skills training programme are able to access a combination of business training and physical therapy sessions in the Chidambaram Taluk area. SWEAD explained that some of the background to the project is a cycle of poverty: “As street beggars wheelchair users are exposed to high risks on the highways and streets and in the absence of an alternative means of livelihood, street begging has remained the only option for survival”. We look forward to the final report of the project The images show a stakeholders meeting on wheelchair users and which is due later in 2011. small business - one of the first project activities. UK Events An evening with Michael Caines MBE, Patron, PORT-ER and celebrity chef Thursday 3 March 2011 7pm-11pm Pimms on arrival, Canapes, Dinner, Coffee, Petit Fours Abode, The Royal Clarence Hotel, Cathedral Yard, Exeter. EX1 IHD Tickets £70 from 01392 223648 4th PORT-ER Running Master Class Sunday 20th March 2011, University of Bath, England. Limb users £20, health professionals £40 Email to register your interest [email protected] Are you a person suffering limb loss at any level? Have you longed to play footie with your kids, join the parent’s race on school sports day or long to play badminton or tennis? If these challenges appear impossible why not join our 4th PORT-ER Running Master Class? Here in a safe environment you can learn or re-learn basic running techniques without harming yourself or your pride!! If you have started to run and need to improve your technique, work with our team and a UKAthletics coach to do just that. The cost is only £20 for a whole day so is great value for money. Walk or run the South West Coastal path Several days in Spring 2011! If you would like to join prosthetic limb user and Trustee Colin Edwards please contact PORT-ER on 0845 850 9808 and if you would like to support his ambition by sponsoring the run, Colin has a fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/colinedwards-run Sports and Activity Day for Prosthesis Users Saturday 4 June 2011, Scotstoun Leisure Centre, Glasgow – an event brought to you by the Murray Foundation, University of Strathclyde and Scottish Disability Sport and sponsored by PORT-ER. Contact Susan Shaw at the Murray Foundation on 01691 680635 for more information or visit their website. One Life – Live It! the lifestyle exhibition for people living with limb impairment Friday 9th September 2011, Ashton Gate Stadium, Bristol, England. BS3 2EJ Entry £5 with pre-booking, or £7 on the door. Contact [email protected] to book or exhibit. PORT-ER, Exeter Mobility Centre, Lister Close, Wonford Road, Exeter, England, United Kingdom EX2 4DU Website: www.port-er.com Email: [email protected] Tel: 0845 850 9808 Registered charity no: 1116594 Company registration no: 5735089 (England) Patron: Michael Caines MBE .