30th December 2011

Our New President

Lady Hazel Rutter who suffers with both a spinal injury as well as MS and hearing difficulties has agreed to be our next president.

She hails from the Cardigan area of Dyfed in Wales and comes with many years of experience with several well known organisations:- She has been a member of the Girl Guides reaching Queens Guide and receiving a Silver in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, no mean feat! She was a social worker for Shropshire Council working in the deaf, blind and physically disabled fields, a job she is very proud of and very much enjoyed. Since receiving her back injury she became, for a while, a member of Spinal Injuries Association. After being diagnosed with MS this condition became dominant and she changed her membership to the Ceredigion MS Club. She is a member of Mutual Support for the Armed Forces, and although she doesn't work for them is obviously very active in this field. More recently she has addressed the Welsh Senedd in Cardiff on the subject of Direct Payments and the Independent Living fund. She has been an Associate member of the DMF for about 14 months. With all this experience we are sure that her expertise and contacts can only enhance the work of the Federation and the membership, the Trustees and managing Committee welcome her with much pleasure.

19th October 2011

Three Questions for the Deputy PM

About a couple of months ago I had the chance to ask three questions of the Deputy P.M Mr Nick Clegg. The three questions were:-

1. Is it right or fair that a person who has, for instance, a stroke at 64 which leaves him severely disabled should qualify for a Motability vehicle, road tax exemption and VAT exemption on a new vehicle if it has to be modified for his use, while somebody who has a similar stroke with similar results at the age of 66 gets nothing?
2. The new rules on the Blue Badge are badly needed, but does he seriously think that councils, who have failed to enforce the law in the past are suddenly going to start enforcing this one unless it is impossible for them not too?
3. Can he do anything about the post code lottery in equipment services, especially wheelchair services? In some parts of the country the waiting time for a wheelchair is so long that children have grown out of them before they can be delivered and in many the waiting time can run into six months or more.

You can read the reply I have recently received from his office below:-

Rory Belcher, Oct-19 15:03 (BST):
Dear Mr Killick,
Many thanks for contacting Nick Clegg. I’m replying to letters and emails on his behalf. Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying, but due to the volume of correspondence Nick receives it can take some time to respond.

I fully understand your concerns and frustration at the situation you have brought to our attention. The Liberal Democrats want everyone to have the opportunity to get on in life in a society founded on fairness.

In terms of qualification for the higher rate of mobility allowance, I understand your concern for people over the age of 65. As you mentioned, the cost of expanding this scheme would be very high, and due to the deficit inherited by the Coalition Government some difficult decisions have to be made. We are however committed to ensuring that policy is constantly reassessed. We need to create a fair and sustainable system that fully supports disabled people, giving them the choice and control over their own lives that they deserve. That is why next year the Government will consult with disabled people and local authorities about how we can best support existing users of the ILF through a social care system, perhaps based on a system of personalised budgets. The care system must be simpler and more responsive to the needs of disabled people, and the Government will inject an extra £2 billion into it each year by 2014 to help achieve this.

Also, as pensioners, disabled people over the age of 65 will benefit from the improvements to the pension system that has been implemented by the Coalition Government. In recognition of the fact that many pensioners have contributed enormously to society, yet are struggling to make ends meet, the Government is keeping universal benefits for pensioners. This includes free eye tests; free prescription charges; free bus passes; free TV licenses for the over 75s; and Winter Fuel Payments will remain exactly as budgeted for by the previous Government. The State Pension is also planned to rise to a flat-rate £140 a week per person within this Parliament, which is over 20% higher than the current Basic State Pension.

In respect to wheelchair services, the waiting time for your wife and others to receive a wheelchair is unacceptable. The fact you have become so involved as an appointed special advisor should be commended. In terms of an enquiry, I have forwarded your email and letter to the Department of Health. I cannot guarantee that an investigation will result from it, but making the department aware of the situation is important.
On the enforcement of abuses of the ‘blue badge’ scheme, I again understand your frustrations. The new policy was implemented in order to get tough on Blue Badge misuse, modernise the system and extend eligibility to other groups such as disabled children and severely disabled war veterans and service personnel.

Enforcement does still rest with the council but we have taken steps to ensure that this can be done in an easier and more efficient way. We are implementing a new badge design that is harder to copy, forge and alter. This is in addition to devolving more powers to local authorities to tackle abuse and fraud.

Finally, can I thank you for your email and assure you that your comments and concerns will be passed to the Department for Work and Pensions, in addition to the Department of Health.

Many thanks and best wishes,

Rory Belcher
Office of Nick Clegg MP

28th September 2011

Team Sirus raise money for Black Country MS Society

Staff members from Sirus Automotive, leading vehicle conversions and adaptations company are running the Bupa Great Birmingham Run on Sunday 23rd October. Simon Pearson, company director, Keri Whaley, customer services manager, and Marcus Whaley, transport manager have all been in training for the 13.1 mile run. Simon commented "The MS Society is our chosen charity and has been for almost 2 years now. All of our fundraising goes to one of our local branches, Birmingham or the Black Country. Its extremely important to us to offer our help to those affected by MS, and to be able to offer support on a local level means a great deal to us. Our aim is to raise over £500". 
Kerry Lloyd Support Officer for the Black Country branch also commented "we really appreciate the work Sirus does for people with MS. Though their ongoing fundraising we have been able to help a number of people affected by MS and their families. Thanks to Simon, Keri and Marcus for their efforts, we really appreciate the hard work you have put in. Good luck!"

Look out for their times and pictures of the Great Birmingham Run on www.sirusautomotive.co.uk
If you would like to show your support and donate, please go to http://www.justgiving.com/team-sirus/

For further information on Sirus, please call 0121 505 7777

27th September 2011

Disability North is delighted to announce the following events, “I Sound My Horn” and the “Tyne Bridge Zip Wire” taking place this autumn.

I Sound My Horn - 2nd November 2011
This is an evening of music featuring Chris Griffiths and Ben Woolley playing horns and a harpist from the Northern Sinfonia. The performance will also feature Percy Grainger Songs, folk songs and spirituals performed by the Northern English Singers. I Sound My Horn takes place at 7:30pm on Wednesday 2nd November 2011 at St James’s United Reformed Church, Northumberland Road, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Tickets cost £10.00 and are available from Disability North. To find out more call us on 0191 284 0480 or E-mail us events@disabilitynorth.org.uk

Disability North - Tyne Bridge Zip Wire, 30th October 2011
Are you ready for a new challenge? Then join us as Disability North takes to the wire to raise £5,000 to support disabled people in the North East. If you wish to take part please hurry as we only have a limited number of places available, the registration Fee is £35.00.
To find out more call us on 0191 284 0480 or E-mail events@disabilitynorth.org.uk

Please forward this e-mail to any interested organisations.

Kevin Wright
Marketing & Events Manager
Disability North
Tel: 0191 284 0480
Fax: 0191 213 0910
E-Mail: kevin.wright@disabilitynorth.org.uk

19th September 2011

15th December 2010

Every year, thousands of people are killed on roads across Europe. Many of these deaths are caused by blind spots on lorries that mean drivers simply cannot see nearby cyclists and pedestrians.

Luckily, there is a simple solution. Sensors similar to those installed in most modern cars would eliminate the blind spot – warning drivers that someone was close by.

Fiona Hall, Leader of the Lib Dems in the European Parliament, has tabled a Written Declaration calling for such sensors to be made mandatory on Heavy Goods Vehicles.

If more then half of all MEPs sign Written Declaration 81 before February 17th 2011, the European Commission will be forced to come forward with proposals to implment this change.

Fiona is urging people throughout the EU to write to their MEPs, asking them to sign WD 81. You can download a standard letter here: http://bit.ly/cEOo9M to send to your MEP.

With your help, we can save thousands of lives.

Thursday 4th November 2010
Nick Smalley, the ex editor of the no longer regrettably in publication Scottish magazine 'Can Do' has published a short and very amusing novel, profits from which are going to the Ayre branch of the MS Society. It is based on his experiences as a reporter with a small seaside local paper and is entitled 'North'. Any one wishing to receive a copy can obtain it by sending a cheque made out to Nick Smalley for £7.95 inc. pp to Nick Smalley, 3 Five Roads, Killwinning, Ayreshire, KA13 7JX
We at the DMF would highly recommend this book as an excellent and very amusing read.