Edinburgh Ambassador
get2gether is looking for an Edinburgh Ambassador.
The successful candidate will
- Have direct experience of living with a disability.
- be passionate about sharing get2gether’s vision for an inclusive world
- believe that everybody is entitled to love and friendship.
If you feel this applies to you contact us for an application form.
Tel: 07867 179023
This is a paid position.
Closing date for applications is Monday, 20th August 2018.
Interviews will take place on Wednesday, 29th August 2018
At Thistle Foundation in Craigmillar
For more information ring Kirsteen on 07867 179023.
CPAG Legal Action – Underpayments of Employment and Support Allowance
We are delighted to share the news that the Department for Work and Pensions will now correct underpayments of employment and support allowance for all disabled people affected following CPAG legal action.
Employment and support allowance (ESA) came in as a new benefit for people with disabilities in 2008. From 2011 the coalition government started moving people over from incapacity benefit to ESA. However, many people who were moved onto ‘contributory ESA’ were not assessed for entitlement to ‘income-related ESA’, which is means tested. These people therefore missed out on additional support such as the enhanced and severe disability premium – which helps them manage the additional costs associated with their disability.
When the government started to correct their error, they limited backdated payments to a date in October 2014.
CPAG issued a legal challenge earlier this year against this course of action – the government should have been correcting the underpayments to the date when they began in 2011. And yesterday the government conceded that CPAG was correct. As a result, many thousands of people with disabilities will receive money they should have had all along – money that will help support them and their families.
Our legal challenges ensure low-income children and families get the support they need.
Leadership training for disabled people and parents of disabled children
If you haven’t heard of Partners in Policymaking, it’s a fantastic leadership development programme for parents of disabled children up to the age of 18 years and for disabled adults (self-advocates) 18 years and over. The next programme starts on 2 November 2018 in Stirling and there are 40 places available. Information including the information pack is available to download here: (please insert PDFs attached).
If you are interested in the programme contact: June Dunlop, In Control Scotland, c/o Neighbourhood Networks, Pavilion 5A, Moorpark Court, 25 Dava Street, Glasgow, G51 2JE, Tel: 0141 440 5250, Email: [email protected]
For more information: Partners in policymaking 2018 – 2019 Poster V2, Partners in Policymaking Application – 2018 – 2019, Partners in Policymaking Programme Descriptor – 2018 – 2019 – Final
Learning Disability Strategy Consultation
The Learning Disability Strategy Consultation is now live – https://consultationhub.edinburgh.gov.uk/hsc/learning-disability-strategy-consultation
Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership want to hear views on the outline learning disability strategic commissioning plan – there is an on-line survey on the consultation hub.
What happens next – the initial consultation is running until September, following that a fuller strategic commissioning plan will be published in October . The outline strategic commissioning plan, easy read version and survey questions are available on the consultation hub.
The Scottish Government have now begun the recruitment process to appoint up to 4 new Non-Executive Members to the Executive Advisory Body of Social Security Scotland.
The Executive Advisory Body will perform a key role in assisting the Agency in the delivery of its functions. Members will:
- Provide strategic advice, scrutiny, and constructive challenge to the Chief Executive and his management team;
- Encourage performance improvement and promote good governance;
- Help ensure the Agency delivers on its purpose and principles underpinning the delivery of social security in Scotland, and
- Provide independent advice on risk and governance.
As we are keen to make sure as many people as possible are aware of these opportunities we would appreciate if you could highlight the vacancies to your wider networks and anyone who may have an interest. More information on these roles can be found by accessing https://jobs.socialsecurity.gov.scot/ or http://www.appointed-for-scotland.org/
Danceability and Strictly Silver Classes
Edinburgh Leisure are running Danceability Classes and Strictly Silver Classes at the Royal Commonwealth Pool.
The danceability class is for young people (16+) with additional support needs and their friends, family or carers – explore movement and dance in your way, to your music.
The strictly silver class is for older adults (50+) to dance ballroom and latin to gain mobility, balance, have fun and recall the big band, silver screen era of jive and swing. This class is suitable for older adults with additional support needs and their carers.
For more information click on links: Danceability Class Information, Strictly Silver Class
Edinburgh Crisis Centre
Due to essential maintenance being carried out the Edinburgh Crisis Centre, will not be able to receive or respond to emails between 5-12pm on Monday the 28th May and 10am-6pm on Sunday the 10th June. Please remember you can still contact us by text on 0797 442 9075 or on the helpline 0808 801 04014 during these times. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Digital Drop In
The digital drop-in takes place at the Edinburgh Community Rehabilitation and Support Service on the first Tuesday of every month by appointment only.
For more information please click here.
Participants wanted: Research on women’s reproductive health
Engender are undertaking research on “Disabled Women: Our Bodies, Our Rights”. Disabled women and girls have the same rights as non-disabled women and girls but these rights are often not realised. We want to find out what needs to change to make the experiences of disabled women in Scotland better, so we’re working with disabled women to learn more about their experiences of reproductive and parenting services (everything from sexual health to parenting to the menopause). We will be sharing our findings with decision makers in healthcare, education and social work, as well as policy-makers, disabled people’s organisations, disabled women and their families. There isn’t a lot of research on this out there so we’re looking to fill that gap.
As part of this, we ran two consultation events last winter, and we are currently in the process of organizing some smaller focus groups to be held around Scotland in June to further explore the subject. We are also sending out a survey which disabled women can fill out and return to us.
Our survey is here and we would be super grateful if you shared it in your networks and encouraged disabled women to fill it out – it’s anonymous and confidential, and written in an easy read format: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HKJ2R8N
Midlothian Transport Guide 2018
The guide to transport in Midlothian has been produced by Forward Mid – Midlothian’s Disability Equality Forum, (with appreciation of co–working with Midlothian Council Travel Team).
Transport can be such an essential component in determining the day to day quality of people’s lives. Whether it be a trip to see a good friend, getting along to a local group or club or attending an appointment at the hospital or GP surgery, getting there efficiently and safely can be so important. Suitable transport can be a contributor to overall good health and well-being. Every person’s needs differ so we have tried to collate as much information from individual companies and their services. It’s not easy to find all the correct information in one place.
What we’ve done is bring together all the various transport options and choices that are available across Midlothian. For more information click here.