Activate is available in a range of alternate formats on request. Please let us know what format you require by telephone 01332 295551, fax 01332 295580, Minicom 01332 295581 or email to: Activate@bcodp.org.uk © Copyright The British Council of Disabled People 2004 No items in this newsletter may be copied or reproduced without written permission from BCODP. BCODP, Litchurch Plaza, Litchurch Lane, Derby DE24 8AA Telephone 01332 295551, Fax 01332 295580, Minicom 01332 295581 Email general@bcodp.org.uk www.bcodp.org.uk www.disabilityinformation.com BCODP Newsletter July 2004– Issue 54 Does the Draft Disability Bill Go Far Enough? Haresh Sood, Development Officer, BCODP On the 24th of May 2004, the Report of the Joint Select Committee on the Draft Disability Discrimination Bill was published. After immense debate, discussion and many meetings between politicians and legal representatives and interaction with Disability groups, the Bill still has very much uncertainty about its true potential to achieve what all disabled people want; Full and comprehensive civil rights for disabled people. Therefore, to begin with, if we look at the positive outcomes before the detail is scrutinised. The Bill which amends the Disability Discrimination Act. Among its new provisions, it outlaws discrimination in many areas. It will make publishers liable who publish discriminatory job adverts, it also aims to simplify the coverage by the Disability Discrimination Act of group insurance. Transport services are also required to fulfil certain obligations to allow easy accessibility for disabled people. With certain exceptions Local Authorities will also be required to adhere to part 3 as will private clubs with membership over 25 people. Landlords will also be under an obligation to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for those they rent to if required. It will further give power to the Secretary of state to BCODP - Fighting for our human and civil rights! Contacts & Acknowledgements Head Office - Derby Acting Chair.....................................................Polly Smith Office Manager................................................Vicki Stowell Finance Officer................................................Sheila Blair Development Officer — Press, Campaigns and Parliamentary. .................................................Haresh Sood Administration Assistant ..................................Kevin Towler Website Manager/Editor of Activate ................Anastasia Kelly Transcriptions Officer ......................................Jayne Foulds Research Officer .............................................Margaret Bordogna Crane Address: BCODP, Litchurch Plaza, Litchurch Lane, Derby DE24 8AA Telephone: 01332 295551 Fax: 01332 295580 Minicom: 01332 295581 Email: Activate@bcodp.org.uk or general@bcodp.org.uk Websites: www.bcodp.org.uk www.disabilityinformation.com BCODP wish to acknowledge ‘CHANGE’ Picturebank and Access First by People First for the pictures used throughout Activate. Disclaimer: The material found within Activate is the opinion of the writer, and not necessarily the opinion of BCODP. Activate is available in other formats on request Advertisement Act Now or Lose Out! That’s the message from leading platform lift company Although the October 2004 deadline for Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act is fast approach ing a recent survey by the DRC found that over 70% of disabled people still find it difficult to ac cess goods and services, and many UK businesses are yet to make adjustments in order to make their premises accessible. ThyssenKrupp Accessibility are one of the countries leading suppliers of platform lifts, for use in public buildings to overcome changes in level. Over the last three years the company has taken it upon themselves to create awareness amongst service providers and industry professionals, through a series of seminars, ThyssenKrupp Accessibility has been educating on the DDA and other related changes in legislation and standards. Managing Director, Paul Coleman has been delighted with the positive effect the seminars have had he comments: “In today’s market it is essential to offer customers added value. We believe that by offering training and advice we have created a unique service as well as the added benefit of being recognised and respected for our knowledge, products and expertise on the subject.” Contact Vicky Palmer on 01642 750707 or email vicky.palmer@tke-accuk.com to find out more. ThyssenKrupp Accessibility A ThyssenKrupp Elevator Company 2 ‘Activate’ from BCODP ‘Activate’ from BCODP 43 Our Rights Now warmly thanks all its members for their participation, commitment and energy and sends very best wishes and all encouragement for all efforts toward freedom and rights for disabled Britons. For copies of the Charter please contact the British Council of Disabled People. National Theatre — www.nationaltheatre.org.uk or 020 7452 3000 National Theatre Update Sign Language Interpreted Performances A Funny Thing… . Saturday 7 £10 August at 2:00 pm Stuff Happens Saturday 16 £10 October at 2:00 pm His Dark Materials Part 1 Saturday 12 £12 February at 2:00 pm His Dark Materials Part 2 Saturday 19 £12 February at 7:15 pm Audio Described Performances and Touch Tours A Funny Thing… . Friday 20 £10 August at 7:30 pm Stuff Happens Friday 5 No-£10 vember at 7:30 pm ‘Activate’ from BCODP BCODP Newsletter July 2004– Issue 54 Inside: Does the Draft Disability Bill Go Far Enough ................ Front Page Contacts & Acknowledgements.....................................................2 Inside.............................................................................................3 Where is that Fully Comprehensive and Enforceable Anti- Discrimination Legislation..............................................................6 AGM Notice...................................................................................8 Disability Equality Training with BCODP.......................................9 BCODP Introduces a Job Finding Service for Disabled People..10 A Few Words….On Campaigning ........................ ……………….12 Is There a Need for a Commission for Equality and Human Rights ....................................................................................................13 Preserving the Disabled People’s Movement..............................16 The Accessible Property Register...............................................17 How Can BCODP Be More Relevant to Our Member Groups....18 Press Release: House Adaptations Advisory Service.................19 Press Release: Skill — National Bureau for Disabled Students..20 Advertisement: Maatwerk............................................................21 Events — European Social Forum UK 2004...............................23 Book Review: A Survival Guide to Later Life — Marian Shoard..24 The Demise of the British Council of Disabled People has been Greatly Exaggerated ...................................................................25 New Video: Living With Depression............................................27 The UK Disability Forum for European Affairs.............................28 Transcriptions Service — One Year On.. ....................................30 Advertisement .............................................................................31 Events: BDA Congress................................................................32 Feature on Travel: Accessible Leisure Group .............................34 Letters .........................................................................................36 Advertisement .............................................................................39 Don’t Bury Us Yet — BCODP Staff Response ............................40 Our Rights Now — Bids Farewell — Statement..........................41 National Theatre Productions .....................................................42 Advertisement .............................................................................43 ‘Activate’ from BCODP Does the Draft Disability Bill Go Far Enough? Cont’d rationalise existing exemptions for small dwellings. It will ensure that Public Authorities have a duty to eliminate discrimination against disabled people and promote Equality of Opportunity. This empowers the DRC to issue a code of Practice. There is a claims and complaints procedure also to be formulated. It also will make Police Officers (Chief) liable for negligent behaviour towards disabled people by any other member of their team. In addition, it will include people that have HIV Multiple Sclerosis and Cancer within the definition of disability. Therefore many would argue, although there is progress, the bill isn’t this going far enough. Whereas some of us and particularly some lawyers would say, isn’t all this already covered by various other laws particularly the Human Rights Act and existing Disability Acts? Therefore, what are the negatives aspects of the Bill? The Bill still uses the medical model definition of disability. The good news here is that the Joint Select Committee have recommended that the government changes to using a social model approach. This is a big positive step forward. Looking at the current “the Bill still uses definition of disability, there is a call for people the medicalsuffering mental health problems to be included, and that all standard setting bodies should be model definition included. Furthermore, transport inaccessibility of disability” may be improved, if the recommendations to include an end date of 2017 are accepted, but will there be any form of training available to the transport bodies to understand the nature of these changes? Reasonable adjustments monitoring by public authorities will also be of concern. Despite possible legal implications, will there be monitoring of these changes when people go for jobs, because this is where most discrimination takes place? What about private clubs with less than 25 members and what if premises are not let to one if they are disabled? Broader remedies in employment tribunals are also required, because of the experience of many disabled people trying to use this system. ‘Activate’ from BCODP Our Rights Now Bids Farewell — Statement Two years ago, Our Rights Now took up the banner, previously flown by Rights Now, to campaign for full and comprehensive civil rights for disabled people. However, at their meeting of May 12, 2004, Our Rights Now took the positive decision to pass on their campaign outcomes and experiences to the many organisations in membership - to aid their own activities. Our Rights Now looked at the enormous contribution that the collaborative campaigning has achieved over the years: defining institutional discrimination, fighting for non-discrimination legislation and identifying disabled people’s own demands and vision in the Rights and Freedoms Charter. We also looked at how member organisations had learnt from these experiences and were working on focused and ever more dynamic campaigning. We agreed a common anger at how low disability still is on the political agenda, how disablism is institutionalised but unacknowledged, how disabled people are rejected as human beings and only accepted as objects of charity. We agreed that new ways had to be found to make campaigns effective and better resourced - as well as repeating the tried and tested methods, friendships and collaborations. Acknowledging that disabled people’s organisations are still drastically underresourced and over-stretched, it was felt that the best that Our Rights Now could do in these changing times was to give our experience, our shared goals to British Council of Disabled People and all the other individual member organisations to use in their own campaigns. The most important gift is the Rights and Freedom Charter – which now belongs to all organisations of disabled people in the UK, if they wish to own it and use it as they wish. For copies of the Charter in plain text or alternate media, including for people with learning disabilities, please contact the British Council of Disabled People. ‘Activate’ from BCODP Don’t Bury Us Yet!! BCODP Staff Response The British Council of Disabled People is very much here and alive – that is the message from the staff here at BCODP. With the news of Andy Rickell’s departure, the Trustees and staff have agreed various structural changes, however, coupled with the demise of Our Rights Now, this undoubtedly prompted debate about the future of BCODP. But there is no demise of BCODP, only Our Rights Now, which gracefully retired! With a clear vision on campaigning, a priority identified by our membership and now successfully funded for three years by Comic Relief, BCODP aims to get itself known further a field for the ongoing work it does in the fight for Civil Rights Legislation for us all. Today, BCODP is known as one of the most important and significant bodies in the disability world having been the only organisation of Disabled people called to give evidence on the Draft Disability Bill to the Government Scrutiny Committee. Winning arguments regarding representation of disabled people in the debate about the Single Equality Commission on the Government Task Force, and meeting Marie Eagle in ministerial meetings on a regular basis, this shows the stature BCODP still retains. With a highly effective transcriptions department, the developing Disability Equality Training project and various other projects under it’s belt such as the Sustainable User Involvement project funded by the Department of Health, this further illustrates the high standard of work BCODP engages in. Despite claims that BCODP is now “in bed” with various other big charities, it is perhaps time that people stopped wasting their time arguing over inaccuracies, and work together to achieve what we all want – Full and comprehensive civil Rights for Disabled People. It is time, groups of disabled people stopped instigating low level debate from a viewpoint that is out of date, considering many of these groups stopped engaging in discussion with BCODP some time ago. It is time that people stopped knocking BCODP and unite with us in our continuing campaign. Whatever you think about the bill itself, it is the practicalities which are the issues we need to focus on. How well are disabled people, out there in the community and in work, going to be supported? Who will check that the way the bill is implemented actually meets disabled peoples real needs? We suspect this may end up being a job for disabled people and their organizations. At the moment there is no indication that the government intends to provide any funding to support this work. However, the opportunity to push the social model of disability is one that we cannot miss. We must press for this change and for a programme of social education to support that change, if it is going to have any real effect.” The British Council of Disabled People will continue its campaign for full and comprehensive civil rights for disabled people. This bill is now moving towards an open consultation. ..opportunity to push You can get copies from: http:// www.parliament.uk/ the social model of disability.. Look in the section under committees for the Joint Select Committee on the Disability Discrimination Bill. Please let us have your opinions. 40 ‘Activate’ from BCODP ‘Activate’ from BCODP 5 Where is that Fully Comprehensive and Enforceable Anti-Discrimination Legislation? Rachel Hurst, Disability Awareness in Action Currently, there is more debate in parliament about issues relating to us as disabled people than for many years. The main Bill is the governments draft Disability Discrimination Bill, which amends the Disability Discrimination Act in several important ways. For many years, disabled people have campaigned for a new piece of legislation introducing fully comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people. How far down the road have we come towards our original goal? Why didn’t disabled people like the original Disability Discrimination Bill? What does the new draft Disability Discrimination Bill offer us that’s new? How much can we welcome that and how much further would we like the legislation to go? What do we think of the debate on the social model of disability and the welcome new provisions giving public bodies the duties not to discriminate and to promote equally? Rachel Hurst of Disability Awareness in Action and someone who has been centrally involved in the heart of the campaign for civil rights for disabled people, from the very beginning, writes about her views. BCODP welcomes comments, contributions and debate as we go through the public consultation phrase of the governments new bill. This is how Rachel takes us through the issues surrounding current legislation and plans for new legislation. Below are just the main issues with regard to the DDA, the Draft Disability Bill and the Joint Committee recommendations to help you to discuss what you want to focus on when influencing your MPs and local authorities. The main areas that are wrong with the Disability Discrimination Act: • The definition of disability is based on the medical model of disability which prevents many disabled people from seeking protection from the law; • Actually justifying discrimination in some area; • Exclusion of transport— except stations; ‘Activate’ from BCODP • Easy installation Easy to install and operate • No additional monthly fee 24 hours intrusion, fire and gas leak (optional) monitoring • Notification along with a recorded voice message In case of an emergency situation, it calls the pre-stored phone numbers with a voice message • Calls up to 5 phone numbers You can register the phone numbers corresponding to each emergency situation (Intrusion/Fire/Emergency/Power Failure/Gas Leak/Help Request) • Remote Controller Operation of the SOS Phone and notification of an emergency situation • Help Request Function Elderly/patients can talk to the person in charge by pressing help button on the SOS phone • Emergency Notification You can call pre-stored phone numbers by pushing the emergency button on the SOS Phone • Hands-Free You can have a hands free conversation via high efficient speakerphone • 2-Way Communication Sound monitoring and direct warning to the intruder from outside • Remote Activation Can be operated from outside by calling and deactivation • Low battery indication Voice message for the battery replacement of optional sensors and emergency switch • Voice message guidance Notice with a recorded voice message Emergency Button, Urgent Talk, Life sensor, Wireless Motion Sensor, Wireless Smoke/Gas Detector ‘Activate’ from BCODP Transys Electronics Limited The complete Security Solution Transys Emergency SOS Phone It’s not always possible to reach the phone when you need help! SOS Phone Features Contact Details This product and more are available from www.bearstore.co.uk Telephone: 0121 776 6321, 0121 748 4200 Facsimile Order Line 0121 776 6997 Address/Postal Orders: Transys Electronics Limited, PO Box 11848, Birmingham, B46 1ZT ‘Activate’ from BCODP • Exclusion of education—this has since been taken up by the SENDA (Special Education Act); • Exclusion of landlords, private clubs and providers of insurance from Part 3 (Access to public facilities); • No duties on public sector authorities to promote equality— as the other equality legislation does; • Exemptions for the armed services, police, fire services and other public bodies; • DRC not given powers to take cases under the Human Rights Act; • Employers with under 15 employees, volunteers and elected members of local authorities etc are exempt from employment provision. What does the Draft Disability Bill do? • Cancer, MS and HIV infection are now included from the moment of diagnosis, within the definition; • It outlaws discriminatory advertising; • Providers of group employment insurance are no longer exempt; • It includes transport vehicles – but does not give any end date by which the transport, especially trains, should be fully accessible; • The exclusion of small businesses is now removed. (this was because of an EU directive on employment) as are private clubs with over 25 members; • They consider education to be covered by SENDA; • They have introduced duties on public sector authorities not to discriminate and to promote equality but have exempted the justice system, among others; • They have lifted the exemptions for the police and fire services but not the armed service;. • Strengthened the duties on landlords and small dwellings. Major issues that the Joint Committee of the House of Commons and House of Lords have recommended. • That the DRC should advise on how a social model definition of disability could be used and meanwhile to also include all progressive conditions and intermittent conditions and to include mental health on medical evidence – not just on ‘clinically well-recognised’ criteria. The Joint Committee felt that anti-discrimination legislation should be focused on the discrimination not the exact nature or extent of a person’s impairment. (This is a great breakthrough) .. Recommended that the Bill be more precise as to what is meant by a ‘Activate’ from BCODP public authority in order to ensure greater clarity and to ensure consistency with other anti-discrimination legislation. .. Felt that the provisions on housing are inadequate and that landlords should not unreasonably withhold consent to the making of physical alterations to a property. And that the government should introduce an accessible housing register. .. The Committee made several recommendations regarding transport, including an immediate setting of an end-date, which they feel should be 2017 and that improvements in access should be an integral part of the refurbishment process. .. They recommend that all statutory elected and appointed office and post-holders are included as well as disabled councillors protected from direct discrimination in appointments. As you can see, the Joint Committee recommendations are really moving things forward. It is particularly good that they have promoted the social model definition of disability. However, they still have not dealt with the justification element of the DDA or promoted the right of the DRC to take cases under the Human Rights Act. And the real problem is that we don’t know what the Government will do with the Committee’s recommendations. They may ignore them. The British Council of Disabled People Annual General Meeting Saturday 16th October 2004 The Haven Centre Hollybrook Way, Littleover, Derby To Start at 1:30 pm and 3:30 pm A Sandwich Lunch will be provided at 1:00 pm Your views are important to us and we hope that you will be able to attend. 8 ‘Activate’ from BCODP ‘Activate’ from BCODP 37 Letters This is your chance to have your say on anything about disabled people. It might be about a news item, something that makes you angry, a response to a previous letter or perhaps something about BCODP? Please send your letter to activate@bcodp.org.uk or see Page 2. Disability Equality Training With The British Council of Disabled People What will Disability Equality Training Teach You? .. The law says that if you provide services or goods to the public you must ensure that you make “reasonable adjustments” so that disabled people are able to buy your goods or use your services. For too long disabled people have been unable to access a variety of services or buy goods due to the barriers that society imposes. The Disability Discrimination Act now requires you, the PROVIDER, to ensure you make these adjustments. The deadline is October 2004. After this time legal action may be taken against you! The British Council of Disabled People’s Disability Equality Training Courses will provide you with the confidence and knowledge to make your ‘reasonable adjustments’ within your organisation so that disabled people will not only be able to access your premises with ease but we will also teach your staff how to communicate with disabled people and be aware of any barriers that could occur. Our courses include the following: .. We will talk about the Medical Model of Disability and explore some of the history behind this way of thinking and set the background to the different models of disability – medical model versus the social model. We will look at the myths about disabled people. .. We will look at etiquette, how to communicate with dis- abled people and identify barriers in the built environ- ment. .. We will do lots of participation exercises which will be thought provoking as well as enlightening. .. We will take you through responsibilities of the Service Provider under the Disability Discrimination Act. What the act means by disability. 36 ‘Activate’ from BCODP ‘Activate’ from BCODP 9 .. We will look at the barriers that dis- abled people face and find solutions to break down these barriers. .. We will look at Access and provide you with a checklist and help you to de- velop an action plan. .. Finally after all that we will look at how to make information in accessible for- mats, such as Braille, audio tape, large print, easy words and pictures and videotape with British Sign Language subtitles. Our Disability Equality Trainers are all disabled people and will share their experiences with you. They will deliver training to the highest standard. Our courses start from £550 per 1 day course plus expenses and we can pitch our courses to suit your organisation and its employees. For an informal discussion, please contact Jayne Foulds, telephone: 01332 295551, Minicom: 01332 295580, Fax: 01332 295581 Email:services@bcodp.org.uk The British Council of Disabled People Introduces a Job Finding Service for Disabled People The British Council of Disabled People is introducing an Internet based job finding service for disabled people. It’s designed to work for anyone and everyone, including people looking for part time work, occasional work and customers for self employed people. With so much recruiting activity on the Internet already, it’s a reasonable question to ask why the British Council of Disabled People is doing this? There are so many recruiting services on the Internet that some During the formative years of the company, much was learned about the ‘accessible travel journey’, how disabled people buy holidays and what their core needs are in the leisure and travelling environment. A level of knowledge and expertise has been established around these learnings, which remain, perhaps, unique. As the overseas travel business developed, it was clear that some kind of trusted resource was also necessary, which could service the needs of disabled people seeking accessible leisure and other services here in the UK. In an attempt to address this requirement, the Good Access Guide (GAG) was born. Based on the same principals, which had guided Accessible Travel & Leisure – everything visited, everything verified, the Guide would build to form the network of some 120+ geographic and generic websites, which we see today. Now the sites form an attractive platform from which all manner of product and service providers can promote their wares to those who want and need them. As Accessible Travel & Leisure and Good Access Guide grew and developed, it became clear that the October 2004 Disability Discrimination Act deadline would present enormous demands and opportunities for those aware of the issues and who were able to develop a range of solutions for the 2.1 million service providers who would certainly need them. In 2001, key products were identified as forming the core of the Accessible Leisure Solutions and Access Auditors brands. These would be: access audit training courses, tailored access audits, disability equality training, Disability Discrimination Act training and seminars, accessible website auditing and design. Today, all of these services are in place and we look forward to helping the UK’s businesses and organisations address their obligations under the Act. It is going to be a busy time. So there we have it. A raft of services, seven years in the making. For more information about any of them, please look at: http://www.goodaccessguide.co.uk 10 ‘Activate’ from BCODP ‘Activate’ from BCODP 35 Feature on Travel The Accessible Leisure Group Together, the services provided by the companies making up The Accessible Leisure Group, offer a comprehensive range of opportunities and solutions for disabled people and those aspiring to serve them. The genesis of the Group has been a challenging and inspiring journey for the three founding members – Richard Thompson, Andy Wright and Paul Derbyshire. Established leisure industry professionals in their own right, the trio experienced disability through trauma and fate in their early thirties. Chance and, perhaps, good fortune would conspire to have their paths cross and from thence the seeds of what we see today were planted and nurtured. The nucleus of activity has always been Accessible Travel & Leisure (ATL), for which Richard, Andy and Paul had a clear objective from the outset – establish a specialist tour operator, which could stand shoulder to shoulder with any mainstream company in terms of quality and range of holidays on offer. For the first time anywhere, the Accessible Travel & Leisure brochure will be seen in the UK’s leading consortium of high street travel agents. The 2004 Worldwide brochure has been made with wide acclaim both from industry professionals, existing Accessible Travel & Leisure customers and those for whom the dream of accessible worldwide travel has, until now been just that – a dream. From the outset it was clear that the issue of accessible travel and tourism – domestically and internationally, was simply not on the global tourism’s industry agenda, and that Accessible Travel & Leisure would have to ‘carve it’s worldwide operations out of stone’. In other words, this meant educating suppliers – and potential customers, as to what is possible. professionals are complaining about being submerged un der a tidal wave of Curriculum Vitae (story of my life). Most of this activity is driven by employment agencies and com mission-hungry sales people. It’s all pretty hectic and money driven and it works well for some people. If you are looking for a full time job at a high salary, it could serve you very well. If you are disabled, over 50, work occasionally, work part time, or in more informal types of employment, then you probably already know that things can be a lot more difficult. The rest of us need something new, particularly for disabled people and other groups for whom finding work is a major challenge. The British Council of Disabled People has partnered with an Internet database developer to introduce a new service that you can find online now. Go to www.bcodp.org.uk/candoindex to see what we have for you. CanDo index advertises what you can do directly to employers. That’s all it advertises, with nothing about what you can’t do, how old you are or anything else. You build your employment profile showing several aspects of what you can do. Only this is shown to employers – not who you are or how to contact you. There is no need to write a Curriculum Vitae. There is no charge to advertise until you get a reply from an employer. The system then asks you to subscribe at a cost of £5 a year for a British Council of Disabled People’s website user. As a subscriber the system sends you employers’ enquiries as soon as they are received. The details of the enquiry are sent to your email address and an alert goes to your mobile phone. The process is so fast that employers can receive replies to their enquiries within 5 minutes or so of making them. All an employer has to do is to go to the British Council of Disabled People’s website, enter what they are looking for and where, then the system shows them matching job seekers. The employer chooses people of interest, enters a short invitation to apply for the job and clicks the button. That’s it – no cost, no contract, no middleman, no delay. The same job seeker records can also be searched from the candoindex website, making them available to employers who may not be looking for a disabled person, just someone to do a job. Once the employer and the job seeker are in touch they can decide what’s practical and what isn’t. CanDo index can be added to any website supporting people who need the service. Resolute Systems, the developer, provides customised code for this 34 ‘Activate’ from BCODP ‘Activate’ from BCODP 11 free of charge. For more information see http://www.candoindex.co.uk/cdidev.html Try it out and let us know how you get on. Once we have a good pool of job seekers in the database we’ll be going out of our way to bring them to the attention of employers. CanDo index for job seekers: • Advertising direct to employers – no intermediaries choosing winners. • Free of charge until you get a reply, then a very low subscription cost. Advertising to the disability community via the British Council of Disabled People’s website and to the world at large via the CanDo index website. • No need to write a Curriculum Vitae. Build your profile from menu choices. • Employers’ enquiries are sent to subscribers immediately. • Advertises only what you can do, not what you can’t. • CanDo index for employers: • Free of charge. • Search for people to do anything by job and area • Review profiles and select applicants. • Immediate replies, directly from selected job seekers. A Few Words…. On Campaigning Haresh Sood, Development Officer, BCODP With the good news of winning the Comic Relief Bid, the British Council of Disabled People’s spirit is sky high with a clear focus on campaigning. By using the Freedom and Rights Charter (as it is now known) as a base to work from, the British Council of Disabled People is looking forward to instigating professional campaigns to achieve the full and comprehensive Civil Rights for Disabled People, which have been a dream so far. ‘Activate’ from BCODP in London should also look at BMI (British Midland) for Heathrow airport and Easyjet for Luton and Gatwick who do have cheaper options. In fact, why not make a week or two out of your trip to take a tour of the Highlands, or see if you can spot the famous Loch Ness Monster at the nearby Loch Ness? More local information about Inverness and its beautiful surroundings can be found at this website: http:// www.visithighlands.com/inverness-loch-ness/ Further information There is plenty of information, including details of Congress passes, for you to download at http://www.britishdeafassociation.org.uk/congress/2004/ To be kept up to date with Congress developments and to find out more information, contact: Nathan Smith Conference / Events Co-ordinator British Deaf Association 1-3 Worship Street London, EC2A 2AB. Voice (via TextDirect): 18002 020 7588 3529, textphone: 020 7588 3529, fax: 020 7588 3527, email: nathans@bda.org.uk Please state if you would like to receive email updates. Or: Laura McQuillan NW Cultural Officer British Deaf Association 33 Wilson Patten Street Warrington, WA1 1PJ. Textphone: 0800 6522965, voice (via TextDirect): 18002 0800 6522965, fax: 01925 232903, email: lauram@bda.org.uk ‘Activate’ from BCODP Events Book your flights now for the BDA Congress! This year's BDA Congress in Inverness, the capital city of the Scottish Highlands, is not to be missed! To be held from July 21-25, an action-packed programme and special offers are promised to you. The Congress theme will be 'BSL In Our Hands', and the programme links to this. One day will cover BSL issues and another day will focus on Deaf culture, followed by the latest news from the BDA itself. As well as Dr Paddy Ladd from the University of Bristol, Congress speakers include Dr Ben Bahan and Professor Harlan Lane from the USA, and EUD's Helga Stevens. Winnie Ewing from the Scottish National Party, Jim Kyle from the University of Bristol and Jonathan Ree, the author of 'I See A Voice' will also feature. More information coming soon! The Congress will be held at the same time as the Highland Games, which will also be in Inverness, so why not pay the Games a visit? Evening entertainments include an evening with Harlan Lane so that you can ask him informal questions, a theatre night from the London Deaf Drama Group/Deafinately Theatre, a quiz led by David Jackson (BDA Quiz Shield to be won!) and a traditional Scottish Ceilidh, complete with Scottish music and dancing. A youth programme and a crèche are also available for people who have children. All in all, it promises to be an exciting few days! So, what are you waiting for? Book now! If those of you who don't live locally are worried about transport, book your flight to Inverness now! The BDA has made a deal with British Airways for all return flights from London Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham to have special prices for BDA Congress-goers. See the BDA website at the address below for more information on this great offer! People The campaign about the Charter will have several parts to it. Member groups are encouraged to: 1. Encourage as many disabled people as possible to sign the petition. We suggest local groups use this as an opportunity to reach those disabled people we don’t usually reach in our work and draw them towards the movement. 2. Ask local authorities to sign the Charter and to set up local meetings with the local group of disabled people, voluntary sector, political parties and others interested in promoting rights for disabled people, to discuss how the local authority intends to implement the charter. This could be useful ground work if the new duties on local authorities not to discriminate and to promote equality become law next year. 3. To ask local authorities to sponsor members of the local group of disabled people to go to London in November to present the Charter to Downing Street. As always, the British Council of Disabled People encourages feedback from anyone to help us achieve our goals, and engage in discussion with us. If you are interested in liaising with BCODP and its campaign work, please do not hesitate to contact me at Email: haresh@bcodp.org.uk Is There a Need For a Commission for Equality and Human Rights Haresh Sood, Development Officer, BCODP Since the Governments announcement on 30th October 2003 to establish a single Commission for Equality and Human Rights, there has been much concern from the various existing Commissions that exist, the Disability Rights Commission, Commission Racial Equality, and Equal Opportunities Commission. Before the concerns are discussed, what are the benefits of this so called merger of all the Commissions? It aims to bring a strong authoritative voice for human rights and have in-depth expertise from within it. It also aims to have a cross cutting approach and give good advice and tackle discrimination on multiple grounds. This will provide a single access point for informa 32 ‘Activate’ from BCODP ‘Activate’ from BCODP 13 tion which should therefore help enforce effective discrimination legislation. The major aims and key role of the Commission is to promote equality of opportunity and challenge discrimination in a ‘cohesive society’ and above all promote human rights. This will then build partnerships between society groups and ultimately promote harmony) The new commission is supposed to work closely with organisations that represent the different groups that experience discrimination. Like the CRE, the new Commission will have local groups in every part of the country that are supposed to work closely with our own organisations. The commission will have a budget to support voluntary sector groups doing this work and to fund local projects aimed at developing harmony between the different parts of our society. It will also have the role of overseeing the governments new proposed duties for public bodies not to discriminate and to promote equality, especially among local authorities. With such wonderful objectives, it could be argued that nothing better could have come about for all the various activist groups that have fought for equality for so many years. However, there are many concerns. It could mean that the Disability Rights Commission (DRC) – which has fielded more than 144,000 helpline calls and has backed around four and a half thousand cases in the past two years – would effectively cease to exist and weakening the rights of 9.8 million disabled people. Bert Massie, DRC Chair, said: “We must ensure disabled people’s voices continue to be heard and their rights enforced. “A single Equality Commission should not precede a Single Equality Act,” he added. A spokesperson for the British Council of Disabled People (BCODP) said the organisation was “strongly opposed” to a unified Commission, warning “the equality of disabled people will drop down the government’s agenda as a result”. ‘Activate’ from BCODP are at present seeking funding to enable us to undertake this. We will of course be setting up a steering group to involve members from our diverse community. If you would like to discuss any of these issues please contact me at the British Council of Disabled People’s offices Tuesday to Friday 9.00am until 2.00pm. Do you have a disability? Do you live in London? Do you use buses? If the answer to these questions is YES please read on… . Transport for London wants to know how good or bad bus and taxi services in London are. TNS Mystery Shopping, the leading market research company in the UK has been commissioned to conduct a mystery traveller programme that will involve people like you making a series of specially arranged journeys using buses and taxis and giving feedback on how you are treated and what you observe. In order to carry out this research we need to recruit a team of people with a range of physical disabilities who are able to undertake journeys on both buses and taxis and complete questionnaires that record their experience. We are looking for people who are available for one or two days per month for which a fee will be paid. If you prefer to travel accompanied, we can also pay an accompanier for his or her tome (this could be someone that you already know). Full training and on-going support will be provided. Initial training dates have been set for the summer 2004 and you would need to be able to attend training dates to take part in this research. Transport for London values the diversity that exists in our city and their aspiration to reflect this diversity. If you would like to be considered for this team please send a Curriculum Vitae or brief description of yourself, including the nature of you disability to Westminster Employ Ability who are managing recruitment for this survey. Lisa Hughes, Westminster Employ Ability 219 Lisson Grove, London, NW8 8LW Tel: 07740635666 Email: lhughes@westminster.gov.uk Fax: 020 7641 1697 Minicom: 020 7641 4029 ‘Activate’ from BCODP Transcriptions Service — One Year On….. Jayne Foulds,Transcription Officer, BCODP The BCODP Transcriptions Department has now been successfully running for over a year. We have built on the expertise of our staff group and member groups to market and extend our skills to provide a much-needed service to make information accessible to disabled people. We have called upon the know how of our member groups and been able to promote there services in this area. We are aiming to improve the services we offer and are in the process of updating equipment for example we are now able to offer information on audio CD. We would like to take this opportunity to encourage our members if they have not already done so to let us know, what Transcriptions Services they can offer and any other service involving:- Disability Equality Training, Access Auditing etc Ask to be put on our list of contacts. We are approached frequently by organisations and by registering with us we can put your organisation in touch with income generating opportunities. We have used several member organisations to share this work that is offered to us. However we would like to expand this further to our members who have not yet taken the opportunity to become involved. The aim of the Transcriptions Service is to market the services we can all offer. If you would like further information please contact Jayne Foulds, at The British Council of Disabled People. Are you or your organisation able to offer Disability Equality Training? We have successfully completed a series of Disability Equality Training events for a number of organisations including The Royal Horticultural Society. If you are an experienced in Disability Equality Training and would like to join our register please contact Jayne Foulds at BCODP. We are hoping to accredit the BCODP Training pack in the near future and ‘Activate’ from BCODP Meanwhile Steve Winyard, Head of Public Policy at the Royal National Institute for the Blind said: "RNIB, like many other disability organisations, campaigned long and hard for the creation of the Disability Rights Commission." "We are not about to sit back and watch it being abolished by the back door 2 years later." Furthermore, there are grave concerns about the exact precision it will offer, with its claims that it will provide a good access point and good point of information. Would this not increase workload and lack of attention to one particular area? It is clear that the new Commission will be expected to carry out most of its work by promoting equality and human rights and by publishing guidance and examples of good practise. It will not have the power to take either individual or class cases using only human rights legislation. Therefore, do disabled people really want a Single Commission, especially bearing in mind that there will be only one disabled person on the Committee? Again our concerns would be how would this person be elected and to whom would they be accountable? It is not even clear that the one disabled commissioner who will be guaranteed to be on the commission will be allowed to speak out in public about issues relating to disabled people alone, as the government says that every commissioner will be expected to reflect the concerns of all the communities represented by the commission. The consultation period has now begun and BCODP wants to promote debate about this issue. With so may concerns, what do you think? You can get a copy of the proposals by going to this website http://www.dca.gov.uk/speeches/2003/2003fr.htm Advertise in Activate Advertise your job vacancy, event or report in Activate to over 130 organisations and 800 individuals for as little as £200. For more information contact Anastasia Kelly on 01332 295551, fax 01332 295580, Minicom 01332 295581 or email activate@bcodp.org.uk ‘Activate’ from BCODP Preserving the Disabled People’s Movement Brian Kokoruwe, Project Officer, GMCDP Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People (GMCDP) has successfully attracted funding for a 12 month project from the Heritage Lottery Fund. GMCDP is an organisation controlled by disabled people and seeks to demonstrate and promote good prac tice in everything it does. In September 2002, GMCDP conducted a detailed reappraisal of its aims, objectives, role, function, priorities and plans. The creation of an archive which properly records the history and ongoing development of the disabled people’s movement emerged as a high priority for the organisation. Similarly, in a recent survey of the staff of the British Council of Disabled People, the urgent need to collate and promote the history of the disabled people’s movement was identified by them as a key initiative which the organisation should take forward. The 12 month project entitled “Disabled People’s Archive and History Project” will be undertaken by Brian Kokoruwe – The Project Manager, who will; · Map the task of identifying and collating the history of the disabled people’s movement · Draw up a timetable and scheme to start and continue the planned, consistent and systematic collection of fresh data and existing material · Identify a suitable, accessible site and venue to host the substantial and diverse range of material and artefacts to be retained in this archive · Develop and implement detailed funding applications and proposals for a sustainable archive through which this valuable heritage can be shared Project Manager Brian Kokoruwe commented “This is an exciting and chal ‘Activate’ from BCODP The UKDFfEA has a web page where you can find out more about our work www.disabilityforum.org.uk or seek membership. We are always looking for new members especially young disabled people’s groups and black and ethnic minority groups. Structure of the UK Disability Forum for European Affairs The structure of the UK Disability Forum for European Affairs (should) mirror that of the European Disability Forum. An Executive Committee is elected annually, and the officers form the Finance and General Purposes subcommittee. There are currently nine other sub-committees: · Women’s · Universal Access · Employment · Social Policy · Human Rights · Complex Dependency Needs · Young Disabled People · Communication Unfortunately like many organisations it is suffering from a lack of funding and at the moment only three of these committees are active. The Women’s Committee of which I am chair has been funded for three years by Comic Relief. We have a web site www.edfwomen.org.uk and have produced an Information Pack to support women who have experienced violence and abuse and for voluntary organisations, local governments and the private sectors who work in this field. This pack is available in Braille, audiocassette, large print, sign language video and standard print – each format can be purchased separately or as the whole pack for £40. The UKDFfEA is very proud of the work of the Women’s Committee, as it is the only national voice of disabled women in the UK. Janet Seymour Kirk, British Council of Disabled People’s Vice Chair and myself (Anne Pridmore) are representatives from British Council of Disabled People on the UKDFfEA and we hope that the British Council of Disabled People members will respond to the work this organisation achieves by being active themselves in bringing work needed to be done at a European level to the attention of these two representatives. ‘Activate’ from BCODP The UK Disability Forum For European Affairs Anne Pridmore, Individual Member, BCODP The Disability Forum for European Affairs (UKDFfEA) is the National Council in the UK where disabled people and our organisations can discuss legislation with the government and a member of the European Disability Forum (EDF). The membership of the European Disability Forum consists of 66 representative European Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from the disability field, together with National Councils of disabled people from each European Union (EU) Member State. Through the UKDFfEA we make recommendations to the European Parliament/ Commission. This ensures that disabled people are represented in all decision-making processes. We believe that nothing, which affects disabled people, should be done without involving disabled people - nothing about us without us! What makes us different from The British Council of Disabled People? Because unlike the British Council of Disabled People we have members who are “of” organisations, “for” organisations and “Parents representing disabled children and disabled adults who are unable to represent themselves”. The UKDFfEA is democratically elected and has over 40 UK disability organisations as members, representing all impairment groups. The European Disability Forum (EDF) was launched on 1 January 1997. It exists to: · Advance disabled people's human rights in the institutions, international organisations and agencies of the European Union (EU) in line with the principles of non-discrimination. · Create a political environment in which disability is seen in the context of equality of opportunity. · Move away from the notion of disabled people as passive recipients of care and charity towards a model of independent living, empowerment and equality. · Direct involvement of disabled people and parents of disabled people unable to represent themselves. ‘Activate’ from BCODP lenging project. It is a unique project that charts our history; which is cross-impairment and which uses the social model of disability. This is a unique project because it is being pioneered by an organisation of disabled people. In our view, it is very important that we record and chart our own history”. Brian started work on this project from 1st April 2004. GMCDP welcomes support, co-operation and assistance from professional archivists, disabled people’s organisations and individual disabled and non disabled people across the UK who may possess archive materials and useful information about the history of the disabled people’s movement. If you want to contribute any useful materials or you would like to share your experiences of the movement, please contact: Greater Manchester Coalition of Disabled People Disabled People’s Archive and History Project Brian Kokoruwe Project Manager BEVC, Aked Close, Ardwick, Manchester M12 4AN Email: brian@gmcdp.com The Accessible Property Register Conrad Hodgkinson, Director,Accessible Property Register The Accessible Property Register (APR) is the first UK property website to specialise exclusively in accessible and adapted property. All advertisements contain detailed information about access features and adaptations. The Accessible Property Register (APR) accepts adverts for accessible and adapted property for sale or rent from any source - private individuals, estate agents, housing associations, developers, local authorities etc. All property advertising on the website is free of charge and adverts can be placed directly onto the site via an on-line pro-forma. For those who prefer to use an estate agent, APR is building a list of APR Accredited Agencies throughout the country. Accredited Agencies will have committed themselves to principles relating to inclusion and to the positive ‘Activate’ from BCODP promotion of information about access and adaptations. The site is now fully operational with around 60 properties currently available. A 'Property Wanted' section has been introduced and visitors to the site are encouraged to use this section to advertise their requirements, including details of access requirements and adaptations. This service is also free of charge. For those without access to the Internet, adverts can usually be placed by phone or e-mail. The owners of the Accessible Property Register have personal experience of the barriers faced by disabled people in relation to housing. For further information, contact: Conrad Hodgkinson conradh@accessible-property.org.uk 0114 2307058 Lindsay Yarrow lindsay@accessible-property.co.uk 01709 306500 www.accessible-property.org.uk How Can BCODP Be More Relevant To Our Member Groups Roy Webb,Vice Chair, BCODP The British Council of Disabled People is essentially a bringing together of the disabled peoples movement across the country, in its many diverse forms. We'd like to encour age member groups to feel you are the active and important parts of the British Council of Disabled People which we think you are. Here are some suggestions about how we can strengthen these links between the National Organisation and its member groups. You may have others to share, and we will be pleased to hear from you with any ideas you have. We will publish a selection of any suggestions we re- The British Council of Disabled People intends to set out a strong campaigning agenda and to work closely with our member groups and any group or organisation of disabled people interested in building the Disabled Peoples Movement, to set out clearly defined goals and objectives which we can all feel comfortable about working together to achieve. While respecting the differences within our movement, we would like to discover areas where we can successfully work together to increase the effectiveness of what we do. We would like to discuss and debate a way forward for the movement at our Annual General Meeting. At the moment, we don’t have the funding to sponsor such a conference, but if other organisations of disabled people would like to join with us, we’d be happy to host such an event. This will be an opportunity to work out common ground where we can work together effectively for future change for all disabled people. New Video Living with Depression Jason Pegler, Director, Chipmunkapublishing The project ‘Living with depression’ is a documentary film produced by Mascom Productions Limited, representing three individuals with depression who deal with it in different ways. The film consists of three intimate portraits of these individuals and questions how we all live with depression of varying degrees, and how this fits into our daily lives. The major aim is to bring these portraits to a wider audience in order to alienate discrimination and foster a better understanding of a widespread problem. The video includes a cartoonist, Jason Pegler and his book launch and a wedding. The video is 30 minutes long and priced at £35. Order online at http://www.chipmunkapublishing.com/films.htm or send a cheque made payable to Chipmunkapublishing, 12 Baddeley House, Vauxhall Street, Vauxhall, London, SE11 5NJ. 18 ‘Activate’ from BCODP ‘Activate’ from BCODP 27 the country, simply trying to keep their lives together against sometimes profoundly heavy odds, to join us in discussing how we can work together to achieve real change where it matters. At this time, the building of a strong, united, democratic and fully inclusive Disabled Peoples’ Movement is something we need to be talking about. It is something in which every disabled person has an important role to play. The British Council of Disabled People itself, with over 120 member organisations across Britain, has a key role to play in helping to bring this much needed connecting together of our many, strong and different strands about. The British Council of Disabled People is essentially its member groups. All those Centres for Independ ent Living and organisations of disabled people where we daily see the hard work of supporting dis abled people and campaigning for their rights, going on. Building the strength and ability to grow of these groups has to be a main priority area for the British Council of Disabled People . Making our organisations more democratic, more inclusive, more effective in delivering on the equalities agenda, reaching out to those many disabled people from every section of our diverse community, is something worth discussing more widely. I think the British Council of Disabled People is now well placed to others in the disabled peoples movement to make concrete reality of these objectives. Since our last Director left, the British Council of Disabled People has met with Angela Mason, the government officer heading up the governments work on the Commission for Equally and Human Rights, Paul Goodman, Shadow Minister for Disabled People, participated in the Government Task Force on the proposed new Commission and contributed to the debate on the Mental (In)Capacity Bill. The British Council of Disabled People’s name still opens the corridors of power and allows us to make sure that disabled peoples voice is heard loud and clear in the places where we can make a difference. Now we have three years funding to support our campaigning work, we have the ability to draw upon the many different strengths within our diverse community to help to create a strong and united voice for disabled people from whatever group they come. This is an opportunity for us to get involved in discussing the way forward for the disabled peoples movement. Together, we can make a difference! ‘Activate’ from BCODP ceive next time and every one will be valued. We would like you to discuss the British Council of Disabled People regularly at your executive committee meetings, so your members get to hear what's going on and you can tell us what you'd like us to do. We suggest you can begin by telling us two things which you would like the British Council of Disabled People to provide information about or campaign on. Then we would like you to think about two ways you can reach more disabled people through your organisation and how you can involve them democratically in your work. We would like member groups to report back to us about this discussion and we will publish some of the suggestions next time. An active and democratic organisation is healthy and strong. Our aim is to make British Council of Disabled People both of these, with your participation! Press Release Centre for Accessible Environments New Service to Help with Adapting Homes for Disabled and Older people If you need to adapt your home to enable you to live more safely, conveniently and independently as you grow older, or if you have a disability, then a new service, the House Adaptations Advisory Service (HAAS), will help you source a local professional with experience in designing for disabled and older people. If you, a friend or a relative are applying for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) to adapt your home and need to employ professional designers to plan and oversee the work, HAAS can help put you in touch with the right people. The House Adaptation Advisory Service (HAAS) is the only UK-wide register of health care professionals, architects, surveyors and other related professionals who have a demonstrable knowledge of the housing needs of disabled and older people. The HAAS database also contains details of members’ experience of other small-scale projects such as local churches, village halls and community and day centres. Users of the service are sent a list of all the members in their region, with details of their prior work, free of charge. ‘Activate’ from BCODP For further information on HAAS and to find a professional designer in your area contact Paul Highman, Principal Information Officer, Centre for Accessible Environments, Nutmeg House, 60 Gainsford Street, London SE1 2NY, tel/ textphone 020 7357 8182, fax 020 7357 8183, email paul.highman@cae.org.uk Skill — National Bureau For Disabled Students — Press Release Skill: National Bureau for Disabled Students is announcing changes to its 6,000 enquiries per year Information Service on disability and post 16 education that until recently has been operating with lottery funding support. From 5 April 2004, Skill's freephone telephone helpline (0800 328 5050) will be provided for the exclusive use of disabled learners, parents, personal assistants and key advisers in England and Wales. The service is available on Tuesdays between 11.30 am and 1.30 pm and on Thursdays between 1.30 pm and 3.30 pm. Skill's Chief Executive, Barbara Waters said "We are refocusing the service to reflect the resources available to us in the forthcoming financial year. The changes also reflect the key role that Skill has played in staff development in further and higher education institutions to ensure that the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act Part 4 are widely understood and that resources exist to support their interpretation. We are also acknowledging that other sources of dedicated support are being provided by the Higher Education Funding Council for England and the Learning and Skills Council to help staff working in higher and further education respectively." ‘Activate’ from BCODP Shoard's book will be an excellent guide to millions of people who find themselves with responsibilities for elderly friends and relatives. … This book will be a godsend to many a family." (Ann Widdecombe); “Official weak-spots are identified, routine scams and dodges by which the elderly are cheated of their entitlements are exposed. Practical guidance is infused with messianic zeal.” (New Statesman review); “Thoroughly researched, well referenced and includes examples of very recent developments in the field … a mine of information for older people and carers” (Community Practitioner review) . A Survival Guide to Later Life by Marion Shoard is published by Constable and Robinson, price £9.99, and is available from bookshops. The author is available to give talks. Her address is P O Box 403, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 1SA. Further details of her activities can be found on her web-site, www.marionshoard.co.uk The Demise of The British Council Of Disabled People has been Greatly Exaggerated Roy Webb,Vice Chair, BCODP Like the rumours of the death of writer Mark Twain, the recent rumours going around the movement of the demise of the British Council of Disabled People may yet prove to have the same level of accuracy. The British Council of Disabled People has been facing a number of difficulties and has been going through a period of transition and development. However, these mainly reflect what is happening around us in general. In the meantime, the British Council of Disabled People is alive and well and continuing to make a contribution to the struggle for the rights and freedoms of all disabled people. I would like to take this opportunity to invite every disabled person, every organisation of disabled people, who believe in struggling to change the reality of life for the millions of our brothers and sisters out there, across ‘Activate’ from BCODP Book Review A Survival Guide to Later Life Author — Marian Shoard Marion Shoard was thrown into the world of support for elderly people when her mother acquired various impairments. Finding no adequate guidance to help her, she has written the book she felt she needed at that time. Although A Survival Guide to Later Life is aimed primarily at older people and their relatives, it contains much of value to disabled younger people too. Topics covered in the book’s 640 pages include help in the home (including sections on hiring help independently and direct payments), gadgets and aids, maintaining and adapting one’s own home, sheltered housing, mobility (including how to get around the urban environment if you have some disability), exercise, diet, incontinence, exercise, the state care machine, the voluntary world, making the most of your GP, making the most of your faith group, representation (in the medical as well as the legal and financial spheres), state benefits (including a clear explanation of disability benefits), private financial matters, hospitals (including hospital discharge, NHS Continuing Care, keeping in touch, befriending schemes, falls and a large section on care homes (covering short-term as well as long-term stays). As well as providing practical guidance, the book explains the changes to the body which inevitably occur with ageing together with the changing physical, psychological and spiritual needs of elderly people. It ends with 30 pages of addresses of useful or- ganisations, covering the whole of the UK. Comments to date include: “An excellent book” (Jon Snow); “Marion ‘Activate’ from BCODP Skill's highly respected policy development work, recently described by Lifelong Learning Minister Alan Johnson as "invaluable", and its consultancy services, publications, conferences and events will continue as before. Skill Scotland and Skill Northern Ireland services will also remain unchanged. For more information contact Peter Breen at Skill, Tel: 0207 450 0645 (office hours), Tel: 07976 290428 (out of office hours), Email: peter@skill.org.uk Advertisement Maatwerk On Disability or Health related Benefit? Want to get a job? Don’t know how? Don’t know if it’s worthwhile? Talk to us. We can help you. 0800 085 1556 Maatwerk provides a New Deal job finding service for disabled people. The service is entirely voluntary and supports people on disability or health-related benefits in finding and keeping paid employment. ‘Activate’ from BCODP What Services can Maatwerk offer you? Every person has his or her own individual needs. We offer a service completely tailored to your needs and requirements to help you find the right job. We personalise the job finding process to your needs. A personal coach will help you from the day you register until well after you have started your job. With our hands-on approach we will help you overcome all those barriers that prevent you from returning to work. Our service aims to find your ideal career – perhaps even a career that you hadn’t thought about. We will provide as much assistance as you need, from dealing with housing organisations, banks and medical services, to selecting companies, writing letters, interview skills training, interview assistance, on- the-job assistance and more. We will even come to you if you are unable to come to us. We will find the company that is right for you and do most of the work in order to secure you a position. Once you’re in the job we’ll even help with job related issues. Where can you meet us? Normally at one of our local offices, at one of our partner organisations or you can phone us between 8 am and 6 pm on 0800 085 1556 to arrange to meet us somewhere in a place more convenient for you. What is so different about the Maatwerk approach? Our counsellors are much more than job specialists. They will remove all the barriers that keep you from returning to work. Nothing is a problem for us! One counsellor will stay with you during the whole process, whatever the duration. No one else will be involved. We will look at what you can do, not at what you can’t do and we will tailor our job finding approach accordingly. What training can we offer you? We will train you on a one-to-one basis in the skills that you will need to secure a job. Alternatively we can find other training courses and secure a place for you. What success have we had with placing other clients into work? ‘Activate’ from BCODP Maatwerk has been providing ‘back-to-work’ services all over Europe since 1991. We have pioneered new approaches since our start and have helped tens of thousands of people back into sustainable work. If you want to work, we will find you a job whatever barriers you are facing. We will make it happen for you. All you need to do is contact us. 0800 085 1556 nddp@maatwerk.co.uk Events 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th October, London The European Social Forum comes to London between 14th and 17th October 2004. Part of the World Social Forum, the ESF brings together all those groups and organisations which are run and organised by people from within the local communities across Europe. Under the banner "Another Europe is possible" the Forum offers a weekend of debate, discussion, music, food, theatre and a celebration of the many different cultures and communities of Europe to share our experiences and work towards a different future. London based groups o disabled people have been meeting together to try and co-ordinate interest from disabled people into the Forum. If you want to contribute by taking active part or by speaking at meetings or simply being there, contact : David Morris at David.Morris@london.gov.uk who is co-ordinating the London Group. ‘Activate’ from BCODP