West Somerset
Disability Association

Hello everyone! The next meeting is in the Seahorse Centre on Monday 26th January 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 and Heidi Morse; Sue Horne; Tim Poat; 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  01643 708025 Mobile 07971 285878
Seahorse Centre IT room   01643 702021 or 07971 285878   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.  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 £2.00 per hour.  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
So sorry about missing talking to you all last month. The eye operation has been a success, but I am still not driving.

Have had a really busy month on the phone talking to service suppliers; I think word got out: ‘Jean’s at home’! Had to miss 3 meetings this month, because it’s difficult to read, but as someone pointed out (male) it need not stop me talking!

We have got 3 grants in, so fingers crossed. We have a date from Tesco for our collection in the supermarket to raise money for WSDA: it is Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th January and I want all hands on deck please for that collection as this money goes towards your outings.

All members must have bus passes to go on AtWest buses.  These forms are available from the West Somerset Council office in Summerland Road (By WH Smiths).

Good luck Peter with your recovery from your operation. Mary, good luck with your eye operation.

Marlene: hope everything has been successful with your stay in Musgrove Hospital for your Polio.

Looking forward to seeing most of you for the Xmas dinner on 16th December. The bus is booked and will be in touch with you regards time to be picked up. Please bring some money with you as there will be a Xmas raffle.

Jean

Chairman’s Report
Hello to you all!

How very nice to see so many of you at the last meeting (my first as your chairman), and thank you all for making it easy for me. For those of you that could not be there we had a chap called Roy Gosden, who is deaf but had a hearing dog, and he talked about his relationship with the dog and how he helped him, and I think I speak for everybody who was there, thanks very much Roy.

Our next meeting’s speaker will be Richard Newby from the council and I think he comes from The Highways’ Agency so come to the next meeting with plenty of questions.

I look forward in seeing most of you at the Christmas party, but for those of you that will not be there, on behalf of all the committee, we wish you a very happy Christmas and look forward in seeing you at the monthly meetings. For those of you that will be spending Christmas on your own for the first time, all our thoughts will be with you.
Best wishes to Jean and those of you that are not too well at the moment, get well soon.

David Kendall

Vice-Chairman’s Report

Hi Mary here again, yes I am still here.  I hope all that attended the meeting found it very interesting. There were quite a lot of members missing but for those who turned up I am sure they found it interesting.

Roy gave a talk about his dog called Sky who is a hearing dog and as Roy is totally deaf he relies very much on his dog. He gave a very good talk and everyone seemed to be interested which was a change as usually most people are talking while someone is speaking. I have known Roy for some time and find him very interesting and charming man.

We have had two new members this month who I hope will find us of some help in more ways than one. “Welcome” to you both.

I believe a few of us have both been into hospital for Cataract operations. I hope we all end up seeing more than we did before.  I know that Jean and I have to have the other eye done. I hope we do not have to wait too long as I find it a bit of a nuisance with only one lens in my glasses and having to wear clip-on dark glasses to keep the wind and sun out of my eye.

I do hope that everyone who is ill or not feeling well gets well soon.

I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all A Very Merry Christmas and A Very Prosperous New Year, I know it is early but I won’t see some of our Members until the next meeting.  So Goodbye and God Bless until the next time we meet.

Mary

Treasurer’s Report
We collected £41.00 for the raffle and £9.30 for the Almoner’s Fund at the November meeting.

Events’ Committee Report
The Events Committee:
Sandra Kendall 01643 863505, Shirley Williams 01984 632265 and Peter Kilner 01643 821464

Forthcoming Trips and Events
Monday 15th December: The Seahorse Centre Christmas Fair from 1.30 to 4.00 pm.  Raffle, stall, refreshments, Father Christmas
Tuesday 16th December: Christmas Dinner at the Allerford Inn, Norton Fitzwarren.  The cost will be £10.00 for members.
Saturday 20th December: One of Ireland’s favourite Singers, Curtis Magee, at the Royal Ordnance Factory Social Club, Puriton, near Bridgwater.
There is the possibility of a trip to an Ice Show in Exeter next year, some time between 17th and 22nd February to see Holiday on Ice.  Anyone interested should contact Sandra or Shirley, whose phone numbers are listed above and on page 2.

Announcements
Speakers at our monthly meetings:

January 2009: Richard Newby from Somerset County Council will be talking about Highways and answering your queries.

Articles, letters and e-mails
Five day Coach trip to the Lake district – 17th to 21st November
It was a murky cold Monday morning at 7.30am when the coach collected us from the bus stop in Minehead for our journey to Grange Over Sands in the Lake District. We were a party of five friends out to have a jolly holiday. Soon we were on the M5 and M6 motorways heading for Cumbria. The murky cloudy weather persisted all day.

Tuesday saw the sun shining brightly and we were able to take our drive through the breathtaking Kirkstone Pass and along Ullswater to Keswick where we had time for lunch and sightseeing. The day finished with a visit to Grassmere. The drystone walls everywhere were very interesting. They went up the hills to infinity. In the fields were many sheep in particular a local breed called “Herdwick” quite different in their appearance. They are born black and each year they change to a shade of grey until they become nearly white.
Wednesday saw us on the coach once more this time travelling to Kendal and the K village outlet shopping centre, like nearly everyone else I managed to find something to buy. Once again after lunch we travelled to picturesque Hawkshead, retuning to the Hotel via Coniston Water.
Thursday morning soon came round and today was spent in Windermere and on the lake, a bit damp and windy to start with but it stayed bright enough for a super boat trip around the lake. Wonderful homes and boathouses made for an interesting viewing and admiration. We stopped at the town of Grange Over Sands for a final look at the gift shops before returning to the hotel for the last dinner with music and dancing until the early hours.

Friday came round all to quick and we were soon back on the motorway heading for home. Everyone on the coach said what a great time was had by all. The five of us enjoyed it so much that we are going to try another five-day trip in February next year, but this time in Llandudno.
Alan Stevens

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
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
Piper Lifeline (Cynthia Lewis) 01643 709234
Prestige Mobility (Customer Focus Team) 0970 787 1975 www.prestigemobility.com
Samaritans 08457 09090 www.samaritans.org.uk
Sky Helpline for the Disabled 08442 410333
Somerset Association for the Blind 01823 333818 www.sab-fund.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 26th January 2009 at 2.00 pm.