Please note that there will be no Support Group meeting in December due to Christmas holidays, the next meeting will be on
Tuesday 31st January 2012,  from 11 – 12 noon. At the Lock Works Cafe Bar, Light House, Chubb Buildings, Fryer Street, Wolverhampton

The Awakening is being Audio Described on Wednesday the 14th December at 2.15pm at the Light House Cinema. Chubb Buliding. Fryer Street. Wolverhampton. [more..] Continue Reading

Come Christmas Shopping with Activeyes to Merry Hill shopping Centre. With the festive season fast approaching, on Monday 12th December we will be heading off to Merry Hill to  do some Christmas shopping. This is the perfect opportunity for you to buy a gift for a relative or loved one. We shall be taking a Mini bus from the Beacon Centre at 10am (for which there will be a small charge) returning at approx 3pm. Book now to reserve your place on this festive trip. Please contact Tim Jukes on 01902 880111 or Email: tjukes@beaqcon4blind.co.uk

Join us for lunch in the pleasant surroundings of the Pavilion Lounge Bar, which offers a wide and varied bar menu at great prices. On Tuesday the 6th December at 12.30 at the stafford Road, Wolverhampton. For further information please contact Tim JukesTele: 01902 880111 or Email : tjukes@bgeacon4blind.co.uk

One Voice is hosting a focus group for the council to give disabled meeting a chance to have a say about the budget cuts.

A lot of money as to be cut from the council budget and we need to make sure that those cuts dont fall to heavily on disabled people in the City.

So we are asking disabilied people from disabiled grouos in the City to come and let the council know where they think the cuts should be made.

We have booked the board room at the Molineux Stadium on Thursday the 8th December from 11:00 until 1:00. Taking on board your comments, I have booked refreshments on arrival and then at 12:00 so we can have a break. Molineux assure me the room is fully accessible and that there is an accessible toilet right by the board room.

If people can arrive through the main entrance staff will direct them to the room. Hope that’s enough information to go on for now. Please contact One Voice on 01902 810016 or text 07932 017007 or Email: mail@1voice.org.uk

Susidised holidays for people with learning disabilities

We are a ‘not for profit’ organisation that provides holidays and activities for people with learning disabilities, respite for carers, and training and volunteering opportunities for the community

FUNNY NAME We wanted people to think wonderful travel and happy times rather than anything to do with the song

HOW DO THE HOLIDAYS WORK
Each month we have scheduled short breaks led by 2 staff and 2 volunteers going to various ‘FUN LOCATIONS’. We take groups of up to six people with similar interests – we hope participants will have a good time on holiday and also ‘MAKE NEW FRIENDS’

Additionally we can also help organise a ‘BESPOKE HOLIDAY’ designed just for you, and if you likeyour friends as well.

WHAT TO EXPECT
For our group holidays we usually stay in a ‘LARGE COTTAGE’ where you either have your ownroom or share a twin room. in the evenings we make tasty MEALS TOGETHER, watch films and usually do some kind of art project, quiz or game.

In the day time we do activities such as site seeing, visiting ATTRACTIONS, bowling and the odd visit to the pub, day and night we always seem to drink lots and lots of CUPS OF TEA and coffee.

IS IT EXPENSIVE
Once you add up transport, accommodation, food and staff support then holidays do seem to cost a lot. We recognise this and do our best to make holidays AFFORDABLE. We fundraise so that the cost is SUBSIDISED and we also have grants available for people with out financial assistance wouldn’t have a holiday.

I’M INTERESTED – WHAT NEXT
Our upcomimg holidays are on our website or if you call we’ll send a brochure. We will always COME AND MEET YOU to discuss further

CALL 01865 249662 to learn more or visit www.yellowsubmarine.org.uk

£16,000 Million in unclaimed benefits and tax credits. The DWP have published research showing millions of people who are entitled miss out on benefits and tax credits every year.  The main means tested benefits- £6,300 – £10,500 million was left unclaimed in 2007- 08.  Tax Credits- £6,000 million was left unclaimed in 2007-08. In particular- Housing Benefit £1,350 – £2,470 million goes unclaimed each year. 600,000 – 990,000 people lose out. Pension Credit has seen a 10% rise in those claiming since 1997 probably due to the Governments pro active approach to encouraging claims.

We are now providing a regular fortnightly service to four groups tailored to different levels of need. We have just opened a new group for those on the severe end of the autism spectrum. Spurgeons Chill &  Chat project at The Workspace. All Saints Road. WV2 1EL. Please contact Laura or Eve on 01902 877550

New sensory room at Bricklin Centre. Contact Short Breaks for more information on 01902 557936

Autism friendly Film Screenings. At Odeon Cinemas (in partnership with Dimensions) monthly screenings with lower volume, option to take own food/drinks etc. Next screening on Sunday 13th November at 11.30am showing Arthur’s Christmas. Contact autismfilms@dimensions-uk.org

If you require any more information on Chill and Chat or anything in this newsletter do not hesitate contact either, Laura Plant 01902 877550.  or Email: lplant@spurgeons.org or Eve Ravenscroft Email: eravenscroft@spurgeons.org
At the Activities and Short Breaks Support networks

I wanted to take this opportunity to brief you on developments regarding our estates portfolio and proposed changes to the opening hours of some front offices as part of an ongoing commitment to modernise the force.

The force is committed to maintaining officers in neighbourhood roles and to maintaining accessible public enquiry offices. We are also determined that they should be located at the very heart of the communities they serve.   However, for reasons already outlined, we are exploring new ways of running front offices and working with our partners to share buildings, reduce costs and make services more joined up.

The estates review has found that some of our buildings are no longer suitable or fit for purpose – many are either too expensive to maintain or are in the wrong location to provide the best service to our communities. None of the buildings being considered are open to the public and the cost of running them could be better spent on front line policing.

The review of front offices found that public demand is very low in the evenings and overnight and recommended that staff be redeployed back into contact centres to increase the efficiency of call handling.  As a result of the review, in January next year we are proposing changes to the opening times of 12 front offices, nine of which are currently open 24/7, with three open between 7am-10pm. Over the next 12 months we are also proposing to cease working from some buildings across the force.

The opening hours in our area is as follows: Wednesfield, Wolverhampton 24/7 10.00am to 18.00pm

Under the proposals, 11 front offices will remain open 24/7, 21 will open between 10am-6pm, one will be open 8am-8pm daily and a further 22 will remain open to the public at other times, dependent on local needs.
In total, West Midlands Police will continue to provide 65 front offices open to the public; a service to local communities far wider than most other police forces offer across the country. Under the new arrangements, the households will never be more than four miles from a 24/7 police station across the region.

The Council has written a document on Proposed Changes to how much you pay for Adult Social Care.

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