In the last week or two, coinciding with the approach of the festive season, calls have slowed a little so that the charity is currently able to respond very quickly if someone needs them – indeed several sons and daughters have already taken the opportunity to treat their parents to a couple of hours of the handyman’s time as a present!

The contact number for enquiries is:
0116 299 2254.

Peter Ralphs « Less

The effects of acquired dual sensory loss can be catastrophic in many ways and can lead to depression, isolation and loss of confidence and independence. Imagine not being able to hear what is said and not being able read what is written. Imagine not being able to communicate your feelings. How would you get about, especially outside the home? You can’t drive but dare you venture onto public transport, or even risk walking in the street?

With a single sensory loss, the other senses can be used to a degree to compensate. However, the loss of both sight and hearing presents massive problems for the individual. People in such situations therefore have a vital need for support services that can help with their losses.

Fortunately, there are answers to many of the difficulties. With support, help to learn a few new skills and with special equipment, many people adapt successfully. Older people with sight and hearing loss can carry on many of their previous activities with support, but can be isolated without it.

Sense are able to visit people who have been identified to them as having problems due to dual sensory loss. We can assess the degree of hardship being faced and advise and support individuals to get the help they need. There is a lack of awareness that older people with sight and hearing loss are entitled to support and this support can dramatically improve their quality of life.

Please contact Burt McNeill from Sense if you know of an older person who is having difficulties due to loss of both hearing and sight. Telephone 0773 908 4111 or burt.mcneill@sense.org.uk « Less

Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people over 65 who are beginning to require a little more care and support due to deteriorating physical or mental health. It is not means tested and does not affect any other income someone receives – it is based solely on need. It is £44.85 a week for the lower rate and £67 a week at the higher rate, and this is paid direct to the beneficiary to spend as they see fit for their care.

There are also important means-tested benefits designed to help older people on low incomes:

Pension Credit – is additional money for people with modest savings or who have a low income.

Housing Benefit – money to help pay rent.

Council Tax Benefit – this can reduce or cover Council Tax bills.

In Leicestershire a partnership has been set up to try and increase take-up of benefits. It involves all the major agencies who work with older people locally: Leicestershire County Council, The Pension Service, District Councils, Health service providers and voluntary sector agencies. If you would like to find out more, please contact:
· Age Concern 0116 299 2233
· Pension Service 0845 60 60 265
· Your local Citizens Advice Bureau
· Your District Council Benefits Office

Additional information is available from www.leics.gov.uk/index/social_services/general_information/welfare_rights.htm « Less

· Come and have your say about local services, initiatives and proposals.

Area Forums (known as Community Forums outside of Charnwood) can make a difference. Following a Community Forum on 22nd May at which the main focus had been safeguarding the future of the Longslade Community College swimming pool in Birstall, there has been a very positive response, including practical support from Voluntary Action Charnwood.

Leicestershire County Council has provided a new boiler. A subsequent ‘Sponsored Swim’ has raised almost £2,000, and a new fund-raising group is being established. A new swimming club has been formed and uses the Pool each Friday lunchtime. Longslade Community College is very pleased with the support that has been generated since the Area Forum meeting, which is helping to keep the Pool afloat!
I hope to see you at an Area Forum meeting in Charnwood soon. Have a look at www.leicestershireforums.org

Richard Downing « Less

The holidays have proved very popular with many booking several trips a year, and to quote some of the ‘regulars’: “ We don’t know what we’d do without them.”

For more information or a free brochure, call in and see Doreen at the Travel Desk on Thursday morning at John Storer House or telephone 01509 631750. « Less

The high-light of our present celebration was the visit of the Mayor, Councilor Stephen Campbell, and a delightful presentation by the ex-Chair, now County Councillor Mike Jones and his wife Marj. Their presentation was on their previous ‘Year in Office’, adding to the enjoyment of the whole occasion, and was followed by an afternoon of complementary therapies. Many thanks to all our volunteers and members ‘past and present!

Charnwood Mental Health Forum has now been given a flying start for the future, to plan further `well-being’ events’, talks and World Mental Health Day activities for October 2009 (watch this space!).

There is also the serious job of campaigning for better services at a time of change and funding cutbacks.
We warmly invite you to our future meetings and events. We are holding a pre-Christmas Coffee Morning on the 15th of December from 10am until 12pm, at John Storer House, Loughborough. There will be light refreshments and the opportunity to chat, relax and unwind.

Our next Forum meeting will take place on January 12th, 10am, at John Storer House, and we extend out a warm welcome to both current and future members.

For further details, please contact Sallianne Bishop, Health and Social Care Worker at Voluntary Action Charnwood on 01509 631785.

Hilary Cramer « Less

The pack also has tips from other young parents and answers to many questions. There are real -life case studies from young people about the problems they faced.

The pack is being distributed through health visitors, midwives, Sure Start, Connexions, the Youth Service, Children’s Centres and the Job Centre. It is specifically geared to those living in Charnwood, but with a possibility of distributing it county-wide if funding can be secured.

If you would like us to send or email a pdf copy of the pack, please call Emma at the Bridge on 01509 220565 or email her on emma.bull@bridgehousingservices.co.uk « Less

This is obtained through v Awards, by logging the hours spent and getting them signed off by the v team. It is also possible to work towards a v50 certificate, officially recognising the valuable time spent helping others.

If there’s a group of young people who need funding for a volunteering project, Abby can talk about vcashpoint where it is possible to get up to £2,500 to turn dreams into a reality.

Right now I’m also looking for enthusiastic, energetic volunteers who want to be part of the local Youth Action Team. This team of young people will help to develop and influence the future of youth volunteering, as well as ideas about opportunities and local issues.

This is a unique opportunity to have young people’s voices heard and have a real impact on volunteering in your area.

Interested? Please contact Abby Heath, Youth Volunteer Advisor, at Voluntary Action South Leicestershire, on 01858 432 014 or aheath@vasl.org.uk

For more information about v check out the website www.vinspired.com « Less

Beryl Wilby says: “I am the treasurer for CLASH. As I knew nothing about computers, I was very apprehensive about going to the Leicester Centre for Integrated Living (LCIL) for tuition. I needn’t have worried! The staff there are all very helpful and, after being given basic details, I am now doing simple exercises and looking forward to having my own computer on which to practise. In time, hopefully, this tuition will be of benefit for our group.”

“Lynda and I have attended the LCIL three times now and we are working through lots of learning situations on the computer, how to go on the internet etc. We moved on to send emails and what to do when we receive an email. We hope we can only get better as the weeks go by and become more efficient for our work with CLASH. There is still a lot to learn, so we will continue to learn as much as we can.”

Monthly meetings for Adults are held on the second Wednesday of the month: Wednesday January 14th, 7.00pm–9.00pm at Longslade Community College, Wanlip Lane, Birstall LE4 4GH.

Meetings for Children, Young People & Families are held the first Sunday of the month: Sunday 7th December 10.00–12.00pm at Sunday 4th January 10.00am–12.00pmat Peepul Centre, Orchardson Avenue LE4 6D

To visit the website, please go to: www,leicestershirevillages.com/birstall/clash.html « Less

To see the document log on to www.charnwood.gov.uk/charnwood2026
The closing date is, or was, 5th December so hurry if you’ve anything you’d like to say
There are further stages to follow during 2009 and years to come, but do get your view heard now, if you so wish. « Less

Older Persons’ Consumer Panel – a way for people to express their views and be consulted on issues relevant to older people without having to attend meetings. Please let Liz know if you would like to be included and to find out more.

Liz would love to hear from anyone in the Voluntary Sector or from our community of older people regarding issues affecting older people.
Liz can be contacted on 0116 233 4243 or liz@ccp.org.uk. More information can be found via the Health and Social Care section on the website www.ccp.org.uk « Less

We will celebrate Carers’ Rights Day with a Crafts Event on 5th December, and also have a Christmas Buffet (bookings only) on 19th December. Both events are at John Storer House.

For further information about these events, or the service, please contact us on 01509 631783 or nita.patel@voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk amina.wadup@
voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk

Nita Patel « Less

The deadline for receipt of applications is 26 January 2009. « Less

Our sub-regional economy faces a number of challenges, particularly as we are currently in an economic downturn and entering an economic recession.

In the short to medium term, our MAA aims to safeguard our economic stability and minimise the impact of the global economic downturn. In the medium to long-term we want our MAA to help achieve our ambitious economic vision for Leicester and Leicestershire.

Impact and Performance
In order to measure the impact and performance of our MAA we will agree targets for the following indicators with Government. These indicators feature in both the City and County Council’s LAAs and will provide the MAA with a clear focus on economic development. These indicators have been selected because they have direct links to the key outcomes that our MAA aims to deliver:
· Increasing employment and reducing worklessness
· Improving skills levels
· Stimulating business growth
· Increasing efficiency

The governance model proposes a separation of ‘strategy’ and ‘delivery’ activity. The strategy will cover the full range of economic development and environment issues for the sub-region, including the MAA. It is proposed that the strategy for the sub-region will be held, monitored and reviewed by a new Leadership Group. This will be the strategy holding body where priorities for economic development, regeneration, transport, housing and the environment will be determined.

Current economic development activity is organised at County, City and District levels and a range of existing agencies are operating across different geographies and pursuing various strands of economic development related activity. In view of these complexities, the City and County Councils along with the support of the District Councils and emda, have agreed to establish an Economic Development Company (EDC) to lead economic development delivery in the sub-region. It is proposed that the EDC will form part of a wider delivery structure focusing on specific themes.

Alongside the EDC, a range of other agencies will be responsible for delivering other aspects of the economic development and environment theme.

We propose to implement our MAA from 1st April 2009 to 2020. The MAA will undergo frequent reviews and refresh at intervals to be agreed with Government. This timeframe will enable the MAA partnership to make a positive impact on sub-regional economic performance. By April 1st 2009, we will have prepared a detailed MAA Implementation and Investment Plan underpinned by a Sub-Regional Economic Assessment. We will also have established new governance and delivery arrangements, in the form of a Leadership Group and Economic Development Company (EDC).

Edited from proposal to Government, Nov 2008.

For more information, please contact Neil Lambert on 01509 631750. « Less

We are negotiating with the County Council to seek as much control as possible over as much resources as possible for the future benefit of the residents of Charnwood.

It could be that the specialised support from a central location will provide better and more consistent services across the county, and so we hope that voluntary organisations and community groups in Charnwood will not lose out.

Other local services such as Carers Development work, and Community Transport, and the use of rooms in John Storer House are not affected by these changes.

As more information becomes available we will let you know, including whether any of the staff, who you know here now, are transferred to the new service providing organisation. For all the latest news and development please check the web site:
www.voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk

If you have any immediate queries or comments, please do get in touch with me, neil.lambert@
voluntaryactioncharnwood.org.uk « Less