West Somerset
Disability Association

 

 

Hello everyone!  The next meeting is in the Seahorse Centre on Monday 28th September 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, our Facebook group now has ten members.  If you want to see the group page log into Facebook (www.facebook.com), type WSDA into the search box and there it is.  If you are not a member of Facebook, then you will have to register first.  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 are regular classes on Wednesday mornings, Thursday mornings and Thursday afternoons.
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 everybody
First many thanks to our Patron and all the businesses, who have supported our new leaflet and to Mary who has spent many, many hours preparing it.  Hopefully it will be off to the printer soon.
On August 7th there is an all-ladies cycle race through the centre of Minehead and we have been asked to have a scooter, electric wheelchair or buggy parade before the race.  If you want to join in, you will have to let me know.  The more the merrier.  We will be starting from the station at 5.30 pm.  Participation is not limited to members of our group but is open to anybody with a scooter buggy or powered wheelchair.
Thanks to Wendy Hilling and her dog Ted from Canine Partners, who came up from Barnstaple to give her talk at the monthly meeting.  Our advertised speaker, who is one of our members, was unable to come at the last minute.
Thanks to Sandra for cooking a delicious lunch when we went to Healeys.
Remember last month I told you that Sarah, our volunteer administration worker, won an award.  Here is a picture of Sarah, being presented with her award (Volunteer of the Year, under 25 years old) by Councillor Ian Galloway.
Do hope you all have a good break and keep free from the flu bug.
Jean.

 

Chairman’s Report

Hi everybody.
Sorry that I was not at the last meeting but we were away. I hope it was a good one. Don’t forget that there won’t be a meeting next month (August) and that the newsletter will also not be sent as we are only doing a print every other month now.
Well July is almost over, not a brilliant one as far as the weather was concerned was it, but let’s hope that August will be better. I look forward in seeing you all at the next meeting (end of September).
David Kendall

 

Hi Everyone
Well here we are again another month has gone doesn’t time fly, it will soon be Christmas, Ha-Ha!
Well I have been busy for the past two months designing a new leaflet to advertise the group hoping to attract some new members. It has been a very trying two months as I had to fit all the information and this time we were told by the trustees to put in some adverts into the leaflet as it would make it more interesting . Jean got nearly all of the adverts and they paid £10 each which will help with the cost of the printing.  It took lots of patience and many copies to see if it looks right  as the adverts were all different sizes and some looked better next to one advert more than another. I must say I was glad to have come to the end of this project as it was quite frustrating at times, though it was a real challenge.  It will soon be printed and you will all be able to see it for yourselves.

Vice Chairman’s Report

The meeting this month was very small and I mean very small!  I think we had about 16 members in total so I hope that after the summer break we shall have a full house. 
We had a very interesting talk with our guests from Canine Partners. Wendy brought her dog Ted and we had a very interesting story of his responsibilities to Wendy, as she has moments where she stops breathing in the night and Ted has to make sure that her husband is woken up to attend to her he pulls the pillow from under his head and that wakes him up.
That’s all for now folks.  Have a nice summer and look forward to seeing you in September.
Mary

Treasurer’s Report
The raffle raised £23 at the last meeting and £4.08 was collected for the Almoner’s Fund.  Thank you to everybody who contributed.

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:
Saturday, 1st August: Sailing on Wimbleball Lake, organised by Open DAWS.  Max no. 5.  Bring warm, water-proof clothing, packed lunch and hot or cold drinks.  Cost £21.00.
Tuesday, 18th August: Torre Cider Farm, Washford, for lunch.  Transport is now fully booked for this outing.

Thursday 10th September: There will be a trip to Asda in Taunton and there are four seats available.  Contact a committee member if you are interested.
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.

Articles, letters and e-mails

Birmingham Sight Village 2009
Sight Village had a new venue for 2009.  This year Sight Village was held in The New Bingley Hall, Hockley Circus, which was an improvement on passed years.  The hall is on one level, so there was no climbing stairs for a change.  It was nice to see all the usual stands in two halls altogether, but it did get a little crowded at times.  My only criticism this year was the cost of refreshments; £1.00 for a very small plastic cup of tea!  I did not dare to price the food.  The next day we had managed to get some tea and sugar and we made our own tea! Hot water was free!

There were the usual stands like Dolphin, RNIB, British Wireless for the Blind, British Computer Association of the Blind, to mention just a few exhibitors; all had very good accessible stands.   
If you have a sight problem and need the right technology then a visit to Sight Village is a must.
Esther & I were there because we were manning the Nystagmus Stand for the three days. 
Next year at Sight Village, the Network is hoping to hold one day when visitors will be able to try out our Internet Forum live.  There will be committee members all across the country answering your questions Live through out the day.  I will give you more information regarding this event as soon as I know more. 
Andy Machin.  The Nystagmus Network.

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
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
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 28th September 2009 at 2.00pm.  See you all there.