West Somerset
Disability Association

Hello everyone! The next meeting is in the Seahorse Centre on Monday 29th June 2009 at 2.00 pm.  As usual, sign the attendance book and if you visit The Seahorse Centre at other times sign in at Reception and wear a visitor badge.  There is no smoking allowed inside or in the vicinity of the building. 

Our address:
The Seahorse Centre, Stephenson Road, Minehead, TA24 5EB

West Somerset Disability Association Trustees:
Martin Greenwood; Peter Hughes; Peter and Heidi Morse; Sue Horne; Terry Venner.

Transport
Dave Willett organises a taxi for partially-sighted people to come to the Monthly meetings.  This must be booked with him. If you can’t make it, PLEASE RING HIM, to cancel it. 
If you cannot access other transport you can register with Atwest community transport 01643 707090 and use the SLINKY bus to come to meetings.  You must have a bus pass.
PLEASE HELP US TO HELP YOU!!!  Transport queries about outings should be addressed to the Events Committee.

Useful Telephone Numbers
West Somerset Disability Association Committee Members
President:  Jean Gilbert  01984 641197
Chairman:  David Kendall  01643 863505
Vice Chairman: Mary Court   01643 702129
Secretary:  Marlene Saunders 01643 702972
Accts/Treasurer: Molly Newstead  01984 634739
Transport for the monthly WSDA meeting only:
   David Willett  01643 708592
Welfare:  Margaret Bruford  01984 656367

Events Committee:
   Shirley Williams  01984 632265
   Sandra Kendall  01643 863505
   Peter Kilner  01643 821464

IT Tutor:   Chris Brinkman  Mob 07955 486105 or 07971 285878
Seahorse Centre : IT room   01643 702021 or 07971 285878
(Monday and Tuesday mornings, all day Wednesday and Thursday)  Messages (Reception)   01643 705000
E-mail: wsomersetdisability@tiscali.co.uk or wsomersetdisability@yahoo.co.uk
Web Site: www.westsomersetdisability.org.uk

Computers
The newsletter is also on our website with news of our activities and forthcoming events.  For the computer literate among you, (and those interested) Mary uses Facebook (www.facebook.com) and has started a group there for the West Somerset Disability Association.  It is very early days so far but we might get more members to join, who use this site.  So far we have just seven members.  If you want to join but are not sure how then ask Chris or Mary for details.  Phone numbers are given above.
Please tell us your e-mail if you have one, as an e-mailed newsletter is free but we must pay to post them.  Help us to help you!
If you would like computer training, please let us know or talk to Chris our IT instructor.  You must be a member of our association (£10.00 per annum) before you can have lessons, which cost £10.00 per month, payable in advance and non-refundable.  There is a new IT class started on Friday mornings for a small group to learn together as well as the regular classes on Wednesday morning and Thursday.
If anyone has a problem with their computer at home and would like help from Chris, he will tell the committee of the problem and they will then decide what to do.

Disability Advocacy Service
The service is provided by A4e.  Contact Jackie Churchill at 07841250277.  The A4e website is www.a4e.gov.uk.  Their address is A4e, 2nd Floor, Victoria House, Victoria Street, Taunton, Somerset TA1 3JZ. The service will offer help if you need assistance with care arrangements, equipment, housing, blue badges, etc. 

President’s Report
Hello everyone.
Great news!  Engage has been organizing their ‘Volunteer of the Year Award’, which comes in three categories.  I put Sarah (our deaf admin worker) forward, and lo and behold, she has won it!!  She has worked hard and thanks to Chris, our IT tutor for training her.  She is young and is a volunteer.  Thumbs up, Sarah!  (That is how I communicate with her.)
Canine Partners are coming to talk to us in July.  Jean, I hope you will be able to be there with Nellie.
Two new numbers for the Police if it is not an emergency: 0845 456 7000 or 0800 555 111 (Crimestoppers).
See you all soon.
Jean.

Chairman’s Report
Hi All.
 
Well what lovely weather we are having at the moment, and long may it stay. Well there was not a lot of you at the last meeting, maybe it was because we had it so early in the month because of the Bank Holiday week-end. Anyway hope to see more at the next meeting. The last speaker was Tom from the council so thanks to him. The next speaker will be talking about the TV change over and all about going digital so if any of you are uncertain about what you will have to do come along to the next meeting with all your questions and hopefully it will be explained to you.
 
Two important Notices
(1)  After this newsletter we will be sending out newsletters every other month so your next newsletter will be at the end of July then the end of September then November and so on.
 
(2) As of the 2nd June all those that go for computer lessons will be asked to pay four weeks in advance, so if you go for a one hour lesson once a week we would like you to pay £8.00 in advance or £16.00 if you have a two hour lesson. Thank you for your cooperation.
 
Both of these notices were discussed at the last committee meeting and have the full backing of the committee.
 
Thank you
 
David Kendall

Vice Chairman’s Report
Hi Everyone
This is just a quick note to tell you about a Red Cross car service to hospitals.  They need a week’s notice and it will cost 50p per mile.  (Eg about £9.00 to visit Williton hospital from Minehead.)  The phone number to book transport is 01872 267961.
See you at the next meeting
Mary

Treasurer’s Report
The raffle raised £ at the last meeting.  Thank you to everybody who contributed to it.

Events’ Committee Report
The Events’ Committee:
Sandra Kendall 01643 863505, Shirley Williams 01984 632265 and Peter Kilner 01643 821464
Forthcoming Trips and Events:
Buses are booked for the following dates:
Thursday, June 11th: Cricket St Thomas has had to be cancelled.
Thursday, June 18th: Longleat (organised by Healeys, Porlock.)  The coach will pick up at Porlock at 9.00am, Bastins (Minehead), Dunster and Williton
Tuesday, June 23rd: Selworthy for a cream tea.  We need more people to come to this, so book now if you would like to come.  Transport by AT West.
Thursday 25th: Cream Tea and Table-Top Sale at Healeys, Porlock at 4.00pm.  Entry:  £2.50  
Thursday, July 2nd: Weston-super-Mare.  Transport by AT West.
Friday 3rd July: BBQ at Healeys, Porlock at 1.00pm. Entry: £3.50
Tuesday, July 21st: Knightshayes Gardens, near Tiverton.  Pick up at 9.30 from the Seahorse Centre, and en-route in Dunster and Timberscombe.  Transport by Ridlers Coaches.
Thursday, August 6th: Bristol Zoo.  Pick up at 9.30 from the Seahorse Centre, and en-route in by arrangement.  Transport by Ridlers Coaches.
Tuesday, August 18th: Torre Cider Farm, Washford, for lunch.
We will try to fit in other events if the weather is in our favour.  If you are interested in going on any of our outings or the Healeys’ ones, please contact one of the Events’ Committee members.

Announcements
Speakers at our monthly meetings:
June: Tanya will talk about the changeover to Digital TV.  She will be here to speak and answer our questions before the changeover date next year.
July: Canine Partners are coming to talk to us. 

Articles, letters and e-mails
From Sylvia Griffiths:
Website of the Month
Do you rely on Google for finding out everything?  Switch to www.hoongle.com instead – the search engine works in exactly the same way as Google but for every search you do, 20 grains of rice are donated to malnourished children around the world through the UN World Food Programme.  You’ll be making a difference to starving children with every click of the mouse.
If you have a BT LINE for your phone and have a fault on your line do not say you have a mobile as it does not say it is an emergency. I was waiting SIX days when I had a fault because I said I had a mobile so they did not treat it as a priority.
For Sale
Self-propelled shower chair, which doubles as a commode with pan provided.  Comfortable padded back and seat.  Foot rest and rising arm-rests.  Grey and white.  Excellent condition.  £450.00 new, will sell for £100.00. 
26” wide x 30” deep.
Can be delivered in west Somerset, if required.
Mr and Mrs Morse, 01984 639119

Handy Numbers
A4e Disability Advocate: Jackie Churchill 07841 250277 www.a4e.co.uk
Age Concern Information Line 0800 00 99 66 www.ageconcern.org.uk
Arthritis Care 0808 800 4050 www.arthritiscare.org.uk
A Taste of Exmoor: Home cooked food delivered to your door! 01643 709856 or 07919 816197
AT West Community Transport 01643 709701
Blue Badge (Disabled Parking Scheme) 0845 3459133 or 01823 335285.  Renewals at 01278 437255
Breast Cancer Care 0808 800 6000 www.breastcancercare.org.uk
CVS (Council for Voluntary Service) Minehead 01643 707484
Compass Disability Advocacy Service 0330 333 0089 (or 0844 984 2828) www.compassdisability.org.uk
Cruse Bereavement Care 0870 167 1677 www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk
Depression Alliance 0845 123 2320 www.depressionalliance.org
Diabetes UK 0845 120 2960 www.diabetes.org.uk
Free Directory Enquiries (with adverts) 0800 100 100
Help the Aged 0808 800 6565 www.helptheaged.org.uk
Hospital Transport 01278 727444
NHS Direct 0845 46 47 www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
MIND (National Association for Mental Health) 01643 708 765 deborah.melmoth@mindinwestsomerset.org.uk
Open DAWS (Cathy McGill) 01643 821112
PALS (Patient Advisory and Liaison Service) Ruby Haq 01278 437013 www.somerset.nhs.uk/pals
Prestige Mobility (Customer Focus Team) 0970 787 1975 www.prestigemobility.com
Samaritans 08457 909090 www.samaritans.org.uk
Sky Helpline for the Disabled 08442 410333
Somerset Association for the Blind 01823 333818 www.somersetblind.org.uk
Stroke Association 0845 303 3100 www.stroke.org.uk
Talking Newspapers 01984 640 471
West Somerset Advice Bureau (similar to a Citizens’ Advice Bureau) 01643 704624
Winter Warmth Helpline 0800 085 700 www.dh.gov.uk

Next Meeting
The next meeting will be in the Seahorse Centre on Monday June 29th 2009 at 2.00.  See you all there.