all together now magazine - issue 32 _ august 2010

YOUR AWARD-WINNING DISABILITY MAGAZINE THAT’S BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERSAWARD-WINNING

When you have finished reading this magazine please pass it on to a friend or neighbourWhen you have finished reading this magazine please pass it on to a friend or neighbour

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NEWS

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How youmight beentitledto more

n All Together NOW! is aregistered charity set up toprovide a tip top news servicefor anyone whose life isaffected by disability, long-term health condtions or age– and raises awareness abouthow people can overcomepersonal challenges.n The charity relies entirely onsupport from its patrons,advertisers and from generalsubscriptions and grants.n If YOU or YOURorganisation can help, we’dbe delighted to hear from you!


FILM and television stars Bill Nighy and NickFrost got a new fundraising project off to aflying start . . .

British Airways has launched ‘Flying Start’, itsnew global charity partnership with Comic Relief,which aims to raise up to £8m for vulnerable anddisadvantaged children in the UK and around theworld.

An aircraft with ‘Flying Start’ emblazoned on itsfuselage was unveiled to kick off the fund-raisingventure and actors Nighy and Frost flew to Kenyato visit projects that Comic Relief supports.

Nighy, whose roles include Valkyrie, Pirates ofthe Caribbean, and Harry Potter and the DeathlyHallows, said: “Meeting some of the mostimpoverished and vulnerable children in the worldhas been a humbling experience. Yet, despite theadversity these children face, optimism and hopeis strong.

“Just seeing how Comic Relief has alreadymade a difference has been incredibly inspiring.”

HUMBLED: Bill and Nick and, top, childrenform one on of the projects they visited

Film star BillFilm star Billon a flight toon a flight tofight povertyfight poverty

A TEAM of star performersfrom West End shows and TVtook time out from theirschedules to take part in theASICS British 10K London Runin support of the MS Trust.

Russell Walker, who is currentlystarring in the hit show Dirty

Dancing, wanted to raise moneyfor the MS Trust as his father,Ray, has been living with MS for31 years.

Also included in ‘Ray’s WestEnd Runners’ were Tim Stanley(in Mamma Mia), Richard Frame(from the National Theatre),

Michael Xavier (Spamalot) andJo Boland (Holby City and BeingErica).

More than 120 people ran onbehalf of the MS Trust, whichhopes to raise £25,000 tosupport people living in the UKwith MS.

INTERMISSION: From left,Jo Boland, RichardFrame, Tim Stanley,Russell Walker, andMichael Xavier

Stars put on a long-running show!

MORE than threequarters of Britishadults aged 55 andover are unaware ofmedical conditionsthat could entitlethem to a higherpension.

Millions of people arepotentially missing outon a higher income intheir retirement becausethey are not takingadvantage of the higherrates that come withenhanced annuities ifthey suffer from certainmedical conditions,according to research.

Fifty nine per cent ofpeople aged 55 andover claim they have, orhave had, a medicalcondition that couldqualify them for anenhanced annuity. Butonly one in four people(20% of women and26% of men) are awarethat they could get moreincome, says a surveyby MGM Advantage

Losing outFour fifths of British

adults over the age of55 claim to have had ahealth check within thepast year and 65%claim to have had onewithin the past sixmonths but it seemspeople are not sharingtheir results with theirannuity providers.

The retirement incomespecialist warns thatpeople who don’tmention any underlyinghealth issues could risklosing out financially asenhanced annuities payout on average 24.09%more for men and22.69% more forwomen.

For the first five yearsof retirement forexample, the differencebetween the amountpaid out by an averagestandard and enhancedannuity is £3,823.50 fora man buying an annuitywith £50,000, and£3,407.65 for a woman.

HAVE you been the victim ofharassment because you aredisabled, or close to someonewho is disabled?

Have you complained about itto a council, school, or thepolice, and found theirresponse wanting?

Has a bus, train or othertransport provider failed toprotect you, or a disabledperson you know, from abuse?

If so, you can give evidence –easily and directly – to aninquiry set up to hold publicbodies to account over theirduty to disabled people.

The Equality and HumanRights Commission isinvestigating whether publicbodies and public transportproviders are fulfilling theirlegal obligations to preventdisabled people from beingharassed.

Councils, police forces,schools and other publicbodies failing in their dutiescould face enforcementaction.nwww.equalityhumanrights.com/disabilityharassmentfiEngland: Tel: 08456 046 610.Textphone: 08456 046 620Wales: Tel: 08456 048 810.

A MAJOR reform of disabilityliving allowance (DLA) is to takeplace - with tighter eligibility, anew medical test andreassessments for all claimants.

The new medical test would beapplied to new and existing DLAclaimants from 2013.

The announcement was one of aseries of measures designed to dealwith what Chancellor GeorgeOsborne said was the “staggering”increase of £60 billion in the welfarebudget over the last ten years. Hesaid the annual cost of DLA hadquadrupled to more than £11 billion.

Benefit reviewHarassment: time to hit back

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Tom tunes up forBluecoat gig

John joins Aspire

NEWS

TV sports broadcaster John Inverdalehas beeen appointed president of thespinal injury charity, Aspire.

John said: “Duringmy involvement withAspire over the past 10years, I have seen howfar too many people’slives can be devastatedby spinal cord injuries.

“It is the essentialand practical supportfrom charities like Aspire that reallyhelps people regain theirindependence.”

Aspire supports people who haveincurred a spinal injury, with aspecific focus on helping them regaintheir independence after beingdischarged from hospital.

DESCRIBED by many top musiciansas one of the unsung heroes of thebottleneck lap-style acoustic guitar,Tom Doughty is back on stage at theBluecoat, Liverpool, on FridaySeptember 3.

It’s a difficult enough instrument toplay under any circumstances, buteven harder if you are paralysed fromthe neck with minimal use of yourfingers . . .

Tom was just 17 when he sufferedhorrific injuries in a motorbikeaccident in 1974, putting a temporarystop to his guitar playing days. Butafter ten years of frustration hetaught himself to play again - using alap slide guitar.

Since then he has recorded threealbums, built himself a terrificinternational reputation, and is alsothe proud owner of a huge range ofhistoric guitars.

Last year’s globetrotting included athree-week tour of the west coast ofthe USA.

“It’s been a fantastic period in mylife,” says Tom, who lives nearNorthwich, Cheshire. “All hard work,but thoroughly enjoyable. I just hopethat the people who come and see meenjoy my music. I want people to hearand appreciate what I can play – itdoesn’t really matter how I actuallydo it.”

Tickets, £8, £5 concessions.Bluecoat, tel 0151 702 5324

ChristmasChristmascomes earlycomes earlyAll our sponsors renew their support;we’ve a huge hamper to be won — and a very generous readerpays our print costs for TWO editions!

THOUSANDS more copiesof All Together NOW! arenow being picked up fromour Lottery-fundeddispenser units, situatedin nearly 100 gardencentres, hospitals andmuseums across theNorth West!

It now means that almost60,000 copies of everyedition are being picked up– that’s 360,000 a year!

The increased readershipis also leading to increased

business for ouradvertisers.

Joan Almond, owner ofIrton House Farm, Isel, nearCockermouth, called to tellus how delighted she waswith the response to heradvertisement:

“We’ve had a hugeincrease in callers who tellus that they have seen ouradvertisement inAll Together NOW!

“We are delighted with theresponse.”

LAST November All Together NOW!lost one its most loyal andpassionate supporters.

Thomas Anthony Owens (Tony tohis friends) was the first person tooffer help when efforts were beingmade to set up theAll Together NOW! charity.

He also became one of the charity’strustees.

Golf was one of Tony’s otherobsessions and he was a regularearly morning player at Upton byChester Golf Club – right up until lastsummer when he was diagnosed withan incurable brain tumour.

He was 61.

Now his wife, Tania, daughter, Alex,and countless numbers of friends arestaging what promises to be a fittingmemorial golf day for Tony – withproceeds going to ClatterbridgeCentre for Oncology.

The Tony Owens Memorial Daytakes place on Friday September 3 atthe Upton club.

Details: Teams of four – stableford –3/4 handicap (best two scores tocount – all four scores on par 3s).Gents, ladies or mixed teams. Entryfee, £35 per player (to include two-course carvery meal)Want to get involved? email Alexat: [email protected]

A very

roundfor

special

Tony

Dispensers are a big hit

Hello!

IT’S good to be back, and great topass on more upbeat news aboutyour trailblazing magazine!Lots of exciting things have happened

since our last edition . . .Despite the economic uncertainty, all

our sponsors are continuing theirsupport for the next year. This isfantastic news and will enable us to geteven more copies out across theregion.

Park Savings Club have also provideda magnificent £517 hamper for anothersuperb Christmas competition (see p5)

And there was even more for us to getexcited about . . .

THREE separate donations have beensent to us from an extremely generousreader (who wishes to remainanonymous) – enough to cover theprint costs of TWO editions!

This really is a tremendous boost toour small, but fast-growing, charity,and is very much appreciated!

We’ve also been out and about,meeting hundreds of readers at theCheshire Show and at Warrington’sDisability Awareness Day.

There have been plenty of phone callscoming our way, too, all singing ourpraises. Two have come from prisonofficers in Leeds and Wealstun, bothasking for hundreds of copies ofAll Together NOW! for their libraries.

Keith Pitt, at the Prison and ProbationServices in Yorkshire and Humberside,said: “Many libraries within our prisonscurrently stock publications to cater forthe diversity of those we look after, aswell as out staff. But we do not haveany publication on disability. It would beexcellent if we could provide copies ofAll Together NOW! ”

Copies are on the way to you, Keith!I hope you all like this latest, info-

packed edition – and hope you enjoythe rest of the summer. We’re back inOctober. See you then!

Tom Dowling, editor


NEWS

Feeling the pinch

Just the job

Coalition‘betraysnation’scarers’

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NEW disability ministerMaria Miller has called forthe barriers to disabled

people’s ambitions to be torndown.

In her first ministerialappearance, Ms Miller, right, said:“It can’t be right that in the 21stCentury, disability can play such adetermining role in limitingpeople’s life chances.

“Disabled people should havethe same choice, control andfreedom as any other citizen. Butall too often in our country, theopposite is true.

Mrs Miller was speaking at thethird annual Independent LivingAwards, held at Manchester townhall, and set up by employmentand training charity, BreakthroughUK.

The minister said: “22% of

individuals wholive in families withdisabled memberslive in incomepoverty.

“Compare thiswith the number ofindividuals living inincome poverty infamilies where noone is disabled: it is just 16%.”

Mrs Miller, who was elected asan MP in Basingstoke in 2005,has campaigned for extending theBlue Badge scheme, improvingaccess for disabled people, and isan ambassador of Deaf ParentingUK.

“My new areas of responsibilitygive me a great opportunity tomake sure the people andfamilies who are the mostmarginalised in our society don’t

feel excluded, and do feel fullysupported.

“Meaningful employmentrepresents a significant steptowards delivering independentliving for disabled people.

“It isn’t good enough that almost40% of disabled people who arenot in work would like to be.

“These people aren’t limited bya lack of aspiration, or will, ortalent. These people are limitedby a system that isn’t equipped todeal with their needs – a systemthat puts up barriers, when itshould be tearing them down.

“If a society doesn’t properlysupport its disabled people, itdoesn’t just hurt those individuals– it hurts their families. It hurtstheir communities. And it hurtssociety itself.”

THE OLYMPIC Development Authority scoopeda prestigious award for empowering disabledpeople at Breakthrough UK’s third annualIndependent Living Awards 2010.

The public body, which aims to ensure that the2012 London games will be open to everyone,scooped the ‘accessible public transport’ categorywhen North West-based Breakthrough UK held its

black-tie awards ceremony in Manchester.Other winners include: Pathway Associates,

Accrington, Lancashire; Advanced Housing andSupport, Witney, Oxfordshire; GGI Office Furniture,Darwen, Lancashire; Lawn and Leaf, SaffronWalden, Essex; and the Norfolk Coalition ofDisabled People.n www.breakthrough-uk.co.uk

Olympics access body scoops award

barriers now!’barriers now!’‘Tear down the‘Tear down the

SCHOOLGIRL HollyMoggridge’s bright idea tohelp young people withhearing problems has won anational competition.

Holly’s brainwave could endfeelings of self-consciousnessfelt by children who use standardhearing aids.

Her winning entry is an IPodhearing aid device which, iftaken up commercially, could

overcome worries thatconventional hearing aids areeasily noticed and look uncool.

“I want to change the style ofhearing aids to make them moretrendy and cool,” said Holly, whowon Ready Willing & MobileCompetition – organised by theMobility Roadshow.

Holly, from Upminster, Essex,added: “Nearly every youngperson has an IPod or MP3

player. My specially designedbox contains a special circle thatpicks up sound, which travels upthe headphones into the ear.”

Runner-up was Morgan Coy,11, from Bromley, Kent, with her‘Crawling Caterpillars’ entry, afun adventure trail designed tohelp young disabled wheelchairusers enjoy all the activities of atrail, together with their non-disabled friends.

YOUNG INVENTORS: HollyMoggridge (right) and MorganCoy with EastEnders starDavid Proud at the awardspresentation

Holly hasthe coolsolution todeafness

THE nation’s onemillion unpaid carers –many over 60 – havebeen abandoned by thecoalition government,says a leading pressuregroup.

During the electioncampaign, the LiberalDemocrats pledged tointroduce a week’s break,every year, to unpaidcarers providing more than50 hours of care weekly.

But the government’snew programme does notinclude any mention of theproposal.

Dot Gibson, the NationalPensioners Conventiongeneral secretary, said: “Itseems the first casualty ofthis new grown-up politicsis the million unpaidcarers.

“These are among ourmost dedicated and yetpoorest members of oursociety, many of whom arepensioners, and theproposal to have a week’sbreak from their caring roleseems to have beendropped.

“If this is thegovernment’s idea offairness, they need to thinkagain.”

Reward ‘em!

A WEBSITE for people living withpolio to share their memorabilia andstories has been set up by The BritishPolio Fellowship.

The charity wants readers tocontribute memorabilia and create alasting anthology of the conditionsand difficulties experienced by thosewho contracted polio when there wasno vaccine to prevent it.

Dr John Hooper, chief executive ofThe British Polio Fellowship, said:

“Capturing this information shouldhelp us to provide an interesting andenlightening insight into an importantpart of our social history.”email [email protected] orvisit www.heritage-britishpolio.org.uk

A NEW £30 million England-widefunding programme has beenlaunched by the Big Lottery Fund toprovide vital support for youngcarers as well as other vulnerablegroups such as young peopleleaving youth offending institutionsand young people leaving care.

The funding will support projectsthat give these young people a voiceand help them to access the adviceand services that can support theirday-to-day lives.

There are currently 175,000 knownyoung carers across the UK wholook after a family member or lovedone suffering from physical ormental illness, though it is thoughtthere are thousands more hiddenyoung carers.www.biglotteryfund.org.uk

CHARITIES in the North West saw a15% drop in donations during the sixmonths to the end of June, accordingto a new survey.

About 23% of people admitted theydonated less money to charity duringthe six months to the end of Junethan in the same period in 2009, withonly 10% of people saying theyincreased the amount they gave.

A quarter did not give any money tocharity during the first six months,while 48% gave up to £50, accordingto Investec Bank.

Among those who had reducedtheir donations, 6% gave nothing,while 5% had more than halved theamount they handed over.

Overall, the group estimates thatcharities have suffered a 9.6% dropin the donations they received duringthe first half of the year.

Jack Jones, of Investec Bank, said:“Our findings suggest that, in thisage of austerity, charities aresuffering from falling donations aspeople have less money. On top ofthis, many of the cash accountstargeted at them are paying derisoryrates of returns.”

New £30m fundingpot for young carers

DO YOU know of anemployer, organisationor individual deservingof recognition for theirwork involving disabledpeople?

The North West PositiveAction Awards aim topromote exemplar practicein making life fairer fordisabled people.

Nominations will beaccepted until FridayAugust 23.

This year’s awards willbe presented onSeptember 30 at TheHalliwell Jones Stadium,Warrington.

You can nominate onlineat:www.positiveactionawards.org.uk or call WarringtonDisability Partnership on01925 240064.


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ALL you have to do to stand a chanceof winning your dream hamper isanswer these two questions:1) What company operates the UK’sbiggest Christmas savings club?2) What is their web address?

The first correct entry drawn out ofthe hat on Friday, November 12, willwin the hamper.

Send your answers on the back of apostcard – telling us where youpicked up your copy of All TogetherNOW! AND what you think of thepublication – to: Park HamperCompetition, All Together NOW!, TheBradbury Centre, Youens Way,Liverpool L14 2EP

You can also enter online atwww.alltogethernow.org.uk

ENTER NOW!

CHRISTMAS is coming earlyAGAIN for All Together NOW!readers.

We’ve teamed up with Park – the UK’snumber one for Christmas savings – togive you another chance to win their topof the range Christmas hamper.

The Empire hamper is worth £517.50– and it could be all yours if you win oursuper competition.

Last year’s Park Hamper competitionwas a resounding success so don’t missyour chance to win!

This monster of a hamper contains a

huge amount of Christmas food anddrink goodies to keep even the biggestfamily fed over the festive period.

It’s filled with top brand confectionery,desserts, soft drinks, beers, wines,spirits, pasta, soups, vegetables, freezerfoods and the finest quality meat.

You even get six crystal wine glassesso you and your loved ones can offer atoast to your finest Christmas dinnerever!

For more than 40 years Park has beenproviding top quality hampers forhundreds of thousands of customers

across the country.Founder and Park Group chairman, Mr

Peter Johnson said: “We are delightedto offer All Together NOW! readersanother chance to win our top-of-the-range Christmas hamper.

“Last year’s competition caused plentyof excitement. We are confident that ournew competition will be even morepopular with readers.”Why not save with Park for a debt-free Christmas. Get your FREEcatalogue now atwww.getpark.co.uk/ATN10

— worth more

than £517!By entering the competition you confirm that youunderstand and agree that the information youprovide will be held on a Park Group database andthat it will be shared by all companies within the ParkGroup. A full list of those companies is available bywriting to the Data Controller, Park Group Plc, ValleyRoad, Birkenhead, CH41 7ED. Park Group plc shallbe the data controller for the purposes of the DataProtection Act 1998. The information you provide willbe used by Park Group and any necessary thirdparties to provide you with the goods and servicesyou request. Companies within the Park Group maywish to contact you for customer care purposes or tokeep you informed about the latest offers,promotions, prize draws, and competitions, usingpost, telephone, e-mail, SMS and any otherappropriate means, including new technology. If youwish to be contacted via email or SMS, pleaseprovide us with your e-mail address and/or yourmobile telephone number as appropriate.If you donot wish to be contacted by any member of the ParkGroup for marketing purposes, please indicate thison your entry.

WIN A HAMPERWIN A HAMPER


Bedroom allowance

Building forthe future

Roof justice

ALEADING campaignerfor making homes moreaccessible has called on

the Government to ensure thatgood quality and affordablehousing is a priority.

Speaking in a House of Lordsdebate, Baroness RosalieWilkins, patron of the LifetimeHomes and NeighbourhoodsFoundation, said: “It is difficult toexaggerate the importance of ourhome in the lives of most people.It is normally the foundation forour personal wellbeing – and forpeople with impaired mobility Ithink this is all the more true.

“Yet we face a housing crisis ofan unprecedented scale andurgency.

“We need to keep remindingourselves of the devastatingimpact which poor housing canhave on people’s lives. Living ingood quality affordable housingimproves people’s life chances,means they have better health, itremoves the scourge of fuelpoverty and enhances children’s

opportunities to learn.“People living longer are not

just people living into old age butmore people are surviving atraumatic birth, chronic illness oraccident which previously wouldhave killed them to live intoadulthood. This is to becelebrated as an outstandingachievement of modern society.

“Yet, in surviving, people aretoo often faced with ongoingliving requirements that are notmet by the average house today.

“The delivery of affordablehomes must be a priority. But wemust take care not to rush in ourdesire to cut unit costs now andso build houses that fail currentand future generations due totheir small size.”

Kate Henderson, chief

executive of the housing andplanning charity, the Town andCountry Planning Association,said: “The Association stronglycommends Baroness Wilkins fordrawing attention to not just thedesperate housing crisis, butalso the need to ensure that weare designing and buildinghomes that will meet the needsof generations to come.

“There is a huge housingchallenge posed by the 10 to 11million people – including800,000 children – withdisabilities and our country’schanging age profile.

“In 2008, the Government wasexplicit that all new homes builtafter 2013 should be LifetimeHomes. Importantly, this wouldnot just enable more people tolive independently, but alsoreduce personal and publicexpenditure costs for health andsocial care, as well as boostpeople’s quality of life.”

n www.tcpa.org.uk

URGENT PLEA: Baroness Wilkins

A decenthome forall must be priority

Poor housingdevastatespeople’s lives‘

The association’s planshave been turned into acomputerised 3D“walkthrough” by CalebButler, an architecturestudent at the University ofLiverpool, who is gainingexperience by working withlocal based architects BDPand Broadway MalyanArchitects.

The former care homehas been empty for fiveyears.

Subject to planningpermission, the pupils will,from September, be able towatch the building takeshape as it is transformedinto its new role.

The school’s designworkshop, which includeda visit to the site, was heldas part of the NationalHousing Federation’s ‘Careand Support Awareness’month and allowedchildren to gain an insightinto the everydaychallenges faced by somedisabled people andunderstand how well-designed homes cansupport theirindependence.

ChallengesThere was also an

opportunity to learn aboutthe challenges of adaptinga listed building.

Geoff Redhead, chiefexecutive of CosmopolitanHousing Group, said: “Weare pleased to have hadthe opportunity to involvelocal children in thisexciting new project.

“We aim to not only teachthem about the waysupported living works butto give them anunderstanding of disabledpeople and their needs.”

If Cosmopolitan gets thego ahead the building willbecome home to ninetenants with supportprovided by L’ArcheLiverpool, an internationalChristian basedorganisation.

GRAND DESIGNS: Pupils with teacher Mrs Hagan and AngelaDodson, Cosmopolitan Housing Association (right)

PRIMARY school children were given a special lessonin 3D – explaining how homes are designed forpeople with disabilities.

Pupils at St Sebastian’s catholic school in Kensignton,Liverpool, were shown how Cosmopolitan HousingAssociation is hoping to convert a grade II listed building– situated next to the school in on Holly Road – intosupported living units for people with learning andphysical disabilities.

NEW RULES will allow disabledpeople who need an extra bedroomfor a personal assistant to claimhousing benefit for the additionalcost.

Chancellor George Osborneannounced that the governmentwould, from next April, “cover thecost of an additional room for thoseclaimants with a disability who need acarer”.

Liz Sayce, chief executive ofdisability charity RADAR, welcomedthe decision but warned there wasstill a “real housing crisis facingdisabled people”.

ROBOTS, internet video-calls andeven virtual reality “avatars” arelikely to play an increasing role insupporting disabled and older peopleto live independently, according to asenior government adviser.

Speaking at the Smart Livingconference, Professor Brian Collinssaid the next generation of hand-heldnavigation aids would allow people topinpoint their location to about 10cm, making it easier for blind peopleto navigate obstacles.

A wheelchair-user’s hand-heldelectronic device will soon be able totell a bus to lower its ramp – withoutneeding to ask the driver – whileJapanese scientists have developed arobot that can use chopsticks, to helppeople with arthritis.

Professor Collins even suggestedthat “avatars” - virtual reality imagesof people - could soon be providing“social well-being support” in aperson’s home.”

Peter Ball, strategic researchdirector for BRE, which carries outresearch, testing and consultancy onthe built environment, also pointed toexamples of future use of smarttechnology, such as wallpaper thatcould be set to influence a person’smood, and motion sensors thatmonitor the movements of someonewith a long-term health condition.

Mr Peter Bonfield, chief executive ofBuilding Research Establishment,said: “By 2050 half of us will be ofpensionable age in the UnitedKingdom.

“The homes and communities webuild and retrofit today have to meetthe needs of our future population.Our industry must begin to addressthe ‘smart living’ agenda andembrace the technologies that willkeep us all living independently forlonger in our own communities.”

The conference came days after thegovernment-funded TechnologyStrategy Board announced a £10million funding pot for research thatwould encourage investment inassisted living services andtechnology.

Robots and ‘avatars’in future homes


www.mf-awards.co.uk Tel. 01829 782800www.mf-awards.co.uk Tel. 01829 782800


CHARITIES who are coming upwith ideas to beat the recessioncould be in line for a major cash

boost. Launching The Morgan Foundation

Entrepreneur Awards 2010,businessman Steve Morgan said: “Theseawards are very different from most otherawards.

“Not only are there substantial cashprizes, but in line with the ethos of theMorgan Foundation, there are alsocategories aimed specifically atentrepreneurial charities andorganisations that make a social oreconomic contribution to the region.

“With Government cut-backs imminent,such organisations are even moreimportant in their local communities andneed all the encouragement they canget.”

More than £100,000 of cash prizes –and a tailored programme of businesssupport – are expected to be competedfor by charities, social enterprises,businesses and entrepreneurs fromMerseyside, Cheshire, Shropshire, North

Wales and the Wolverhampton area. There are five categories, including one

specifically for charities and socialenterprises in the Liverpool area(sponsored by Liverpool Vision), plus apackage of valuable professionalservices, including free banking advicefrom the main sponsor Barclays.

Mr Morgan added: “These awards reallydo make a difference to the organisationsand individuals who take part.

“Last year’s winners and runners-up

have said that winning has helped themin many ways – from a much neededcapital injection into their business toimproving staff morale.”

John Powell, relationship director atBarclays Corporate, said: “Barclays isproud to support the Morgan FoundationEntrepreneur Awards for the fourth yearrunning.

“We continue to support and lend toviable small-to-medium enterprises duringthese challenging and unprecedented

economic conditions. In 2009, wesupported over 89,000 businesses instarting-up. This is more than in any yearsince 2003.

“Every single one of them aims to be apositive influence on their localcommunity.

“I hope this year’s entrants and theirstories will inspire other buddingentrepreneurs to come forward and turntheir own business dreams into a reality.”

The awards are free to enter and it’ssimple to apply.

A panel of independent businessleaders and experts will select thefinalists, who will then have theopportunity to present in person at thefinal judging in October.

Winners and runners-up will beannounced at a gala dinner at CardenPark Hotel, Cheshire, on November 11. Closing date for entries: September 10.

n Full details, Jane Harris, The MorganFoundation Administrator,tel 01829 [email protected]

Best New Business – less than 4years old. Winner, £20,000. Tworunners-up, £5,000Best Entrepreneur or BusinessProviding Economic or SocialContribution to its Region withinthe past 3 years. Winner, £12,500.Two runners-up, £5,000Best Entrepreneurial Charity orSocial Enterprise. Winner, £12,500.Two runners-up, £5,000

Best Entrepreneurial Charity orSocial Enterprise in Liverpool (areacovered by Liverpool City Council).Winner, £10,000Best Young Entrepreneur – under25 years old. Winner, £10,000. Tworunners-up, £2,500Against All Odds – Person, business,social enterprise or charity overcomingthe greatest difficulties to succeed.Winner, £10,000

The categories . . .

£100,000 up for grabs!£100,000 up for grabs!

WINNERS: Steve Morgan, third left, and JohnPowell, centre, with representatives of last year’swinning entries, the Nessie Club, Runcorn, andGreengrape Solutions, Liverpool

One oftheseawardscouldchangeyour lifeforever


Merseytravel is making sure thatPublic Transport on Merseysideis easy for everyone to use.

AD346A

0871 200 22 33Calls cost 10p per minute fromland lines, mobiles may vary

Textphone users can dial 18001 then 0871 200 22 33 for a typetalk assisted call.

We care about the accessibility of ourbuildings, vehicles and information.

All of our staff are trained to be courteous and considerate, particularlywhen our customers have specialrequirements.

Whether it be automatic door-openersin our head office, availability oftextphones for main points of contact,or producing timetables in large print,we want to make public transport easier for everyone to use.

Among our services and facilities are:Merseylink – a door to door fully accessible transport service for peoplewho are mobility impaired.ree concessionary travel for over

48,000 people with disabilities.Modern, low floor, fully accessiblebuses, which are developed inpartnership with local authorities andbus companies.Information in a variety of formats,including the Merseytravel AccessGuide – containing access details for allbus and rail stations on Merseyside.

ARTISTS acrossMerseyside are beingoffered the chance to

showcase their work tothousands of commuters.

This year’s Art on the NetworkCompetition 2010 – which is notrestricted to a transport theme –is open to all Merseysideresidents aged 16 and over.

Judged by internationallyrenowned contemporary artists,the Singh Twins, there will betwo submissions chosen: thewinner will receive a £500 cashprize and the runner-up £250.

Both pieces will go onpermanent display, for thebenefit of travellers, at locationsacross Merseytravel’s transportnetwork.

Neil Scales, chief executiveand director general ofMerseytravel, said: “Our PublicArts Programme has caught thepublic’s imagination and we hada tremendous response to ourfirst competition last year withthe three winning entries now onpermanent display at LiverpoolCentral, Waterloo and WhistonRail Stations.

“Merseysiders have areputation for creativity, last yearthe standard of entries was very

high and we are looking forwardto seeing the ideas that comeforward this year.”

Artists are asked to submit amaximum of two pieces of two-dimensional artwork, which can

include painting, pastels,photography or collage.

Artwork must be the originalwork of the entrant and must nothave previously been awarded aprize in any other competition.

Closing date for entries isSeptember 21, with judgingtaking place in October. Thewinning entries will beannounced in November.

Merseytravel has also

launched a dynamic newwebsite dedicated to Art on theNetwork, promoting their highlysuccessful Public Art strategyand increasing the awareness ofthe strategy to a wider audience.

The website contains detailedinformation and images oncommissions and projects, andgives the viewer the opportunityto plan their journey using theon-line Art Map. It also includesthe latest news, featured artists,calls for artists and more.

n www.artonthenetwork.co.uk

ART ON SHOW: Grand National at South Parkway; Ken Dodd meets Bessie B raddock at Lime Street

Platform for art


HELP . . .

CHECKLIST

Disabled and need advice on gardening? Contact national charity THRIVE.Tel. 0118 988 5688. www.thrive.org.uk or www.carryongardening.org.uk

FLOWERS: In August, takecuttings of beddinggeraniums (pelargonium)from your best plants.Select strong, healthy,short-jointed side shootsand cut just below a leafjoint so the cutting is 8cm-10cm (3in-4in) long. Removeflower buds and foliageleaving three or four leavesat the top. Insert thecuttings to half their depthinto individual 7cm (3in)pots and place them in alight, cool place out of directsun. Keep the compostbarely moist and they willroot for planting out nextspring.SHRUBS AND TREES:Prune shrubs that floweredearlier in summer, such asphiladelphus (mock orange)and weigela. But don’t prunebushes grown for theirberries.LAWNS: Raise the mowerblades in dry weather.Spread grass clippings onthe compost heap in layersup to 15cm (6in) thick. Theyare rich in nitrogen, whichhelps break down othercomposted material.PONDS: Remove dyingblooms and leaves of waterlilies and other plants. Ifallowed to decay, they willuse up oxygen needed byfish.VEGETABLES: Gathercourgettes and runnerbeans as soon as they arebig enough – the more youpick, the more they’ll grow.Sow spring cabbages earlyin August.FRUIT: Control mildew onthe tips of gooseberry bushshoots by pruning off theaffected parts. If cherry orplum trees need pruning, doit now in a dry spell tominimise the risk of silverleaf infection.HERBS: Take cuttings ofshrubby herbs like sage,rosemary and thyme.GLASS: Water and feedtomatoes and other cropsregularly. Plants in growingbags or pots may needwatering twice a day. Intomatoes, splitting andblossom-end rot are causedby irregular watering.HOUSEPLANTS: Theyneed extra water even inlate summer but don’t wateruntil the compost starts todry out. Feed those that aredue to flower later inautumn or in winter.

SO MANY flowers fade bylate summer that the rich,fresh colours of mophead

hydrangeas are doublywelcome as they bring a touchof class to the garden, whetherin a border, on a shady bank orin a large tub.

The basic species grows to 1.8m(6ft) in height and can span 2.4m(8ft) though most varieties aresmaller.

The flowers, in large, roundedheads, are either blue or pink,though the colour, particularly itsintensity, can be influenced by soiltype – acid for blue, alkaline forpink.

To check whether hydrangeasare likely to retain blue flowercolour in your garden, buy a basicsoil pH test kit. The reading willshow a pH figure, probablybetween 5.0 and 8.0.

A reading below 6.0 means yoursoil is acidic and thereforesuitable.

Otherwise you’ll need to waterregularly with a proprietaryblueing agent.

Some of the best varieties are:Altona, with deep pink flowers ona 90cm (3ft) shrub; Hamburg, abig bush with large flower headsof bluish-pink; Blue Bonnet, brightmid-blue blooms; Bouquet Rose,delicate pale pink; Goliath, aslarge and vigorous as the nameimplies with soft pink or pale blueflowers.

There are also white varieties,such as Lanarth White, in whichthe colour is not affected by soiltype.

Apart from the mopheads, thereare lacecaps, less spectacular buthighly elegant.

Each flowerhead is flat with a

central group of small, vivid fertileflowers surrounded by larger,sterile blooms of a paler shade.

Among the finest are: BlueWave, normally azure and paleblue but mauve or pink on alkalinesoil; White Wave, pink or bluefertile flowers surrounded by white

sterile flowers; Blaumeise orBluetit, with pale blue centralflowers and dark ones round theoutside; Lilacina, mauve-pink.

All hydrangeas are long-lived,hardy, deciduous shrubs that likerich, moist but well-drained soil,preferably on the acid side butcertainly not very chalky. Theythrive in full sun or partial shadeand need shelter from cold, dryingwinds.

They require pruning only once

a year – but you must be ruthless.And do it in spring when the worstfrosts have passed.

To see them at their best, visitHolehird Garden, Windermere(01539 446008), or the GardenHouse, Erbistock, Wrexham(01978781149),both ofwhich growhundreds ofvarieties.


GIVE your garden a summer scent with newlavender bushes to be won in this competition.

Each of FOUR winners will receive a £25voucher redeemable through the new mailorder lavender and herb catalogue justreleased by Norfolk Lavender, one of Britain’sleading lavender suppliers.

The winners can choose a selection ofdifferent kinds in shades of blue, pink andwhite, or an identical group to make a beautifullow hedge or border edging.

The range includes Old English, Lavandulaangustifolia, a large bush with wonderfullyfragrant flowers; French, smaller withbutterfly-like bracts on top of the flowers(pictured); compact shrubs with purple flowersMunstead and Hidcote; the dwarf white formNana Alba, and many more.

To enter the competition, answer thisquestion:

What are the ‘butterflies’ on top of Frenchlavender flowers?

Send your entry with your name and addresson a postcard or sealed envelope, statingwhere you picked up your copy ofAll Together NOW! to: Lavender Competition,All Together NOW! The Bradbury Centre,Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EP, to arrive byFriday, September 18.

You can also enter online atwww.alltogethernow.org.uk

For the full range of Norfolk Lavender plants,go to www.norfolk-lavender.co.uk or requestthe new lavender and herb catalogue fromNorfolk Lavender, Caley Mill, Heacham, King’sLynn, Norfolk PE31 7JE. Tel. 01485-570384.

— and so is the lavender hill mobFOURSUPERPRIZESTO BEWON!

Mopheads are backCLASSIC MOPHEADS:Blue and pinkhydrangeas


Your guide to theatrelandYour guide to theatreland

www.�oralpavilion.com0151 666 0000

Mon 27th Sep to Sat 2nd Oct, 7:30pm.Wed and Sat Matinees, 2:30pm.

Aug 7: An Unexpected Musical,Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Aug 9 - Aug 14: Spamalot, EmpireTheatre, Liverpool. Based on MontyPython and the Holy Grail.Aug 9 - Aug 14: Calendar Girls,Venue Cymru, Llandudno.Aug 10 - Aug 14: Oklahoma,Blackpool Grand Theatre.Aug 10 - Aug 21: Les Miserables,The Lowry, ManchesteAug 11 - Aug 14: The Wizard of Oz,Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl.Aug 11: Forces Sweethearts, FloralPavilion, New Brighton. Aug 12 - Aug 14: Guys and Dolls,Palace Theatre, Manchester.Aug 12 - Aug 25: Corrie, The Lowry,Manchester. Five decades ofCoronation Street.Aug 13: Mercury (Queen Tribute),Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Aug 14: The Loveliest Night of theYear, Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Aug 14: Chris Clayton Elvis Show,Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Aug 14: China Crisis, The Citadel, StHelens. Aug 15: Hazel O’Connor & The BlujaProject, Floral Pavilion, NewBrighton. Aug 15: Ken Dodd’s HappinessShow, Venue Cymru, Llandudno. Aug 17 - Sep 4: Hairspray, EmpireTheatre, Liverpool. Michael Starkeand Les Dennis star in the feel-goodmusical.Aug 17: Shakin’ All Over, BlackpoolGrand Theatre. Aug 17: Remember When, PalaceTheatre, Manchester. Aug 18 - Aug 19: Black Vegas,Blackpool Grand Theatre. Aug 19 - Aug 21: Dancing Queen,Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl. Aug 19: The Glenn Miller Orchestra,Venue Cymru, Llandudno. Aug 21: Reach out to Mowtown,Floral Hall, Southport. Aug 21: Show Me Chris and Pui,Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Aug 21: Sinatra Live at the Sands,Venue Cymru, Llandudno. Aug 22: Just Joe - Joe Pasquale’sSummer Tour, Blackpool GrandTheatre. Aug 22: That’ll Be The Day, VenueCymru, Llandudno. Aug 23 - Aug 24: Guess How MuchI Love You, Grand Theatre,Blackpool. Aug 24 - Aug 25: Peppa Pig’s Party,Theatre Royal, St Helens. Aug 24: Houghton Weavers, FloralHall, Southport. Aug 24: Snow White, PavilionTheatre, Rhyl. Summer pantomime Aug 25: Forever In Blue Jeans,Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Aug 25: Paul Carrack and Band,Palace Theatre, Manchester. Aug 25: Ollie Wiva Twist, The Lowry,Manchester. Aug 26: Shakin’ All Over, GrandTheatre, Blackpool. Aug 26: Danger Mouse, RegentTheatre, Stoke.

Aug 27 - Aug 28: Parade, TheLowry, Manchester. Dark, ambitiousand thrilling musical.Aug 27 - Aug 30: Faenol Festival,Venue Cymru, Llandudno. Westlife,Opera Gala, Tan Y Ddraig, Battle ofBritain, Al Murray.Aug 27: Buddy Greco’s SwingingLas Vegas Show, Floral Pavilion,New Brighton. Aug 27: The Bon Jovi Experience,Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl. Aug 28: The Voice of Roy Orbison,Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Aug 28: Bootleg 60s, PavilionTheatre, Rhyl. Aug 29: Postman Pat, VenueCymru, Llandudno. Aug 30 - Aug 31: The Signalmanand Moving on, The Lowry,Manchester. Two original thirtyminute musicals.Aug 30 - Sep 1: Cirkus Cirkör’sInside Out, The Lowry, Manchester.A wildly eccentric circus show tosteal your heart.Aug 30 - Sep 4: Blood Brothers,Venue Cymru, Llandudno. Dramaticmusical set in Liverpool.Aug 30: Postman Pat, Floral Hall,Southport. Aug 31: Uncle David, The Lowry,Manchester. Sep 1: An Evening with Peter Alliss,Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Sep 2 - Sep 11: Don’t Stop Believin’,Grand Theatre, Blackpool.

Sep 2: Peter Grant in Concert, FloralPavilion, New Brighton. Sep 2: Busting Out, The Lowry,Manchester. Sep 3 - Sep 4: Rhod Gilbert, TheLowry, Manchester. Sep 3 - Sep 4: Julian Clary - Lord ofthe Mince, The Lowry, Manchester. Sep 3 - Sep 4: Love and other MagicTricks, The Lowry, Manchester. Sep 3: The Texas Tenors, Guild Hall,Preston. Sep 3: Off The Wall - The Music ofPink Floyd, Theatre Royal, StHelens. Sep 4: The Beatles - A MusicalCelebration, Floral Pavilion, NewBrighton. Sep 4: Dreamboys, Theatre Royal,St Helens. Sep 5: James Last Tribute Concert,Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl. Sep 6 - Sep 18: Evita, The Lowry,Manchester. Bringing to story of EvaPeron to the stage.Sep 6 - Sep 19: Faulty Towers - TheDining Experience, The Lowry,Manchester. Sep 7 - Sep 8: Joel Hall DanceCompany, Floral Pavilion, NewBrighton. Sep 7 - Sep 11: The Odd Couple,The Brindley, Runcorn. Highlypopular comedy.Sep 7 - Sep 11: Teechers, TheLowry, Manchester. Back to theclassroom of a typical British school.

BLACKPOOLGrand Theatre: 01253 290190BOLTONOctagon: 01204 520661LLANDUDNOVenue Cymru: 01492 872000MOLD:Theatr Clwyd: 0845 3303565CREWE:Lyceum: 01270 537333STOKE:Regent Theatre:0844 871 7627MANCHESTER:Library Theatre:The Lowry: 0843 208 6000Opera House: 0870 401 9000Palace Theatre:0870 401 3000LIVERPOOL:Empire: 08444 999 999Everyman & Playhouse:0151 709 4776

Royal Court: 0870 787 1866NEW BRIGHTONFloral Pavillion: 0151 666 0000PORT SUNLIGHT:Gladstone Theatre: 0151 643 8757PRESTON:Charter Theatre: 0845 344 2012RHYL:Pavilion Theatre: 01745 330 000RUNCORNThe Brindley: 0151 907 8360SOUTHPORT:Floral Hall: 0844 847 2380ST HELENS:Theatre Royal:01744 756000Citadel: 01744 735436WOLVERHAMPTONGrand Theatre:01902 429212

BOX OFFICE NUMBERS

Advertise with us – 0151 230 0307 . . .


Tel: 0151 230 0307

A night

One advertgoes along, longway . . .


wwwwww..aallllttooggeetthheerrnnooww..oorrgg..uukk AAuugguusstt//SSeepptteemmbbeerr 22001100 AAllll TTooggeetthheerr NNOOWW!! 1111

in the great North Westin the great North West

SPOTLIGHT ON: PSYCHO

WELCOME to ScreenTest - my firstcolumn in All Together Now!

Over the next year I will befocusing on some of the majorblockbusters – and some of thefamous personalities of the silverscreen – and testing YOURknowledge.

I’m kicking off with Psycho, AlfredHitchcock’s horror masterpiece.

Watching this for the first time afew weeks ago (by the way, I’ve justhad my 18th birthday) I can see whyaudiences were terrified when it wasreleased in 1960.

Shot entirely in black and whiteadded to its feel, giving it an edgerarely matched nowadays.

Overall, I’d give this film 8.5 out of10.

If you haven’t seen it yet, put it onyour to-do list.

If you have seen it, watch it again!Now here are some questions to

see how much you actually took infrom the film – assuming, of course,that your nerves didn’t get the betterof you!

All answers, apart from the lastone, are printed on Page 20.

If you know the answer to Q13send it to me on a postcard. I willsend a DVD of the film to the firstcorrect entry drawn out of a hat onFriday September 23.You can also email your answer to:[email protected]

1. What was the name of JanetLeigh’s character? 2. How much money did she steal?3. Who played Norman Bates?4. What was Norman’s hobby?5. In which scene does Hitchcockmake his trademark appearance?6. Which of his family members alsoappears in this scene?7. Who said: “We all go a little madsometimes”?8. Who wrote the book on which thefilm was based?9. How many rooms were there atthe Bates Motel? 10. What month was the film set in?11. What room does Norman allocateto Sam and Lila?12. What weapon did Norman use?13. Between which two towns wasJanet Leigh’s character travelling?

Answers: Page 20

ScreenTest

with DAN SANDERS

THERE’S a chance to go backstageat Liverpool’s famous Everymantheatre.

Each tour will be followed by a shortpresentation of plans for the theatre’sfuture.

The proposals include a 400-seatauditorium, community, rehearsal andoffice spaces and a pavement café,theatre bar and basement bistro. Thework is scheduled to be finished in2013.

The review panel of CABE, theCommission for Architecture and theBuilt Environment, has said of theplans: “We welcome the sensitivitydemonstrated in maintaining thecharacter and spirit of the much-lovedEveryman façade, auditorium andbistro in the new building, while makingsignificant technical improvements.

“This difficult balance has beenachieved with ease and grace . . . thisbuilding promises to make Liverpoolproud.”

PLACES are free but limited to 15people per tour and can be booked viathe Everyman and Playhouse box officeon 0151 709 4776 orwww.everymanplayhouse.com Fri Aug 6: Drop in - 1pm-5pm. Tours,followed by short presentation at 1pm and4pmFri Aug 13: Drop in - 1pm-5pm. Tours,followed by short presentation at 2pm and

3pmFri Aug 20: Drop in - 1pm-5pm. Tours,followed by short presentation at 1pm and4pmFri Aug 27: Drop in - 1pm-5pm. Tours,followed by short presentation at 2pm and3pmFri Sep 3: Drop in - 1pm-5pm. Tours,followed by short presentation at 1pm and4pm

FREE TOURS!

Sep 7 - Sep 18: Brick Up: TheWirral Strikes Back, EmpireTheatre, Liverpool.Sep 8 - Sep 11: The Graduate,Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight. Sep 8: An Evening With RickyHatton, Guild Hall, Preston. Sep 8: Off The Wall - The Musicof Pink Floyd, Venue Cymru,Llandudno. Sep 9: Kit Holmes Trio, TheBrindley, Runcorn. Sep 9: Joe Longthorne, VenueCymru, Llandudno. Sep 10 - Sep 11: Jason Manford,Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Sep 11: Tony Christie, OctagonTheatre, Bolton. Sep 12 - Sep 12: One Man LordOf The Rings, Grand Theatre,Blackpool. Sep 12: Tony Christie, CharterTheatre, Preston. Sep 12: The Little Big Club,Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Sep 12: Billy & Wally and TheBradshaws, Gladstone Theatre,Port Sunlight. Sep 12: Variety Night, TheBrindley, Runcorn. Sep 12: Danny Bhoy, The Lowry,Manchester. Sep 13 - Sep 18: Up ‘n’ Under,Grand Theatre, Blackpool.Award-winning comedy starringAbi Titmuss.Sep 13 - Sep 18: Dreamboats

and Petticoats, Pavilion Theatre,Rhyl. 60s feel-good musical.Sep 13 - Sep 18: Blues Brothers,Regent Theatre, Stoke.Sep 13: Extravaganza on Ice,The Brindley, Runcorn. Sep 14 - Sep 18: The SilverTassie, The Lowry, Manchester.Thrilling wartime spectacle.Sep 14: Ga Ga, Floral Pavilion,New Brighton. Sep 14: Dennis Loccoriere &Band, The Brindley, Runcorn. Sep 15 - Sep 16: Phoenix DanceTheatre: Declarations, PlayhouseTheatre, Liverpool. Sep 15: Remember When, FloralPavilion, New Brighton. Sep 15: Halfway to Paradise -The Billy Fury Story, The GrandTheatre, Wolverhampton. Sep 16 - Sep 18: Territory, TheLowry, Manchester. Touching andhumourous reminder of what it isto be young.Sep 16 - Oct 9: A StreetcarNamed Desire, Octagon Theatre,Bolton.Sep 16 - Oct 30: Tis a Pity She’sa Whore, Everyman Theatre,Liverpool. One of the mostshocking and powerful storiesever.Sep 16: Masters Of The House,Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Sep 16: Kenny Ball & HisJazzmen, The Brindley, Runcorn.

Sep 17: The Ragged TrouseredPhilanthropists, The Brindley,Runcorn. Pre-wartime classic.Sep 18: Last Night At TheProms, Floral Pavilion, NewBrighton. Sep 18: Vision of Elvis,Gladstone Theatre, Port Sunlight. Sep 19: Celebration, TheBrindley, Runcorn. Sep 20 - Sep 25: Love’s ALuxury, Grand Theatre,Blackpool.Sep 20 - Sep 25: The RockyHorror Show, Venue Cymru,Llandudno. Sep 21 - Sep 25: The Ghost andMrs Muir, Charter Theatre,Preston. Romantic thriller.Sep 21 - Sep 25: The Game,Playhouse Theatre, Liverpool. Sep 21: Verdi’s Falstaff, FloralPavilion, New Brighton. Sep 22 - Sep 24: RambertDance Company, The Lowry,Manchester. Sep 23 - Oct 3: The Play ThatKilled Me, The Lowry.. A story oftwo entertainers during wartime.Sep 23 Oct 9: Arcadia, TheLibrary Theatre, Manchester.Comic literary detective story.Sep 23: Tango Pasion, FloralPavilion, New Brighton. Sep 23: Billy & Wally and TheBradshaws, The Brindley,Runcorn.

Sep 24: The Johnny Cash Story,Floral Pavilion, New Brighton. Sep 24: Autumn CelebrityConcert, The Brindley, Runcorn. Sep 24: Joe Longthorne, TheatreRoyal, St Helens. Sep 25: Buddy Holly’s TributeShow, The Brindley, Runcorn. Sep 26 - Nov 7: Ken Dodd andhis Happiness Show, GrandTheatre, Blackpool. Sep 27 - Oct 2: Dreamboats andPetticoats, Charter Theatre,Preston. Sep 27 - Oct 2: Calendar Girls,Empire Theatre, Liverpool. Sep 27 - Oct 2: Annie, FloralPavilion, New Brighton.Sep 27 - Oct 2: Lark Rise toCandleford, Grand Theatre,Blackpool.Sep 27 - Oct 9: Our Day Out,Royal Court, Liverpool.Sep 28: The Blues Band, TheBrindley, Runcorn. Sep 29: Vampires Rock, FloralHall, Southport. Sep 29: Kevin Bridges, TheBrindley, Runcorn. Sep 30 - Oct 23: Dancing atLughnasa Theatr Clwyd, Mold.


to remember

250,000 readers across the North West


Aug 9-Aug 29: Summer at the Farm,Tatton Park, Cheshire. Donkey grooming,make a scarecrow, farmyard collage and afun quiz. Meet newly-born chicks andducklings. Entry fees apply. Tel, 01625374435Aug 9-Aug 30: Roman Festival,Senhouse Roman Museum, Maryport,Cumbria. Festival to celebrate the Romanoccupation of Britain and especially theWestern end of Hadrian’s Wall. Aug 9-Aug 31: Ingenious Egyptians,Ironbridge Museum, Coalbrookdale.Sailing boats, glass, paper, honey and the365-day calendar were all thingsdiscovered by the Egyptians. Learn evenmore amazing facts about them atIronbridge museum in Coalbrookdale.Aug 9-Sept 5: Summer Holiday Fun,Stapeley Water Gardens, Cheshire. Meetthe Keeper sessions every Monday,Wednesday and Saturday from 1pm until3pm. Feeding Time Talks every Sunday(various times).Aug 9-Sept 15: Rhino Mania! Find up to70 stunning rhinos decorated by artistsand community groups around the streetsof Chester. Aug 9-Sept 25: Tatton Park Biennial:‘Framing Identity’, a showcase ofcontemporary art. Entry fees apply. Tel,01625 374435.Aug 10, 24: Mad Hatter’s Tea Party,Rheged Centre, near Penrith. Story time,wacky activities, arts, crafts and afabulous tea party. £6.50 per accompaniedchild includes lunch. Tel. 01768 868 000.Aug 11, 18, 25: Wednesday AfternoonSummer Fun at Gawthorpe Hall,Lancashire. Range of activities from papermaking to minibeast hunting. Chargesapplied per activity, children must beaccompanied. Tel. 01282 771 004Aug 14: Ruthin Flower & Country Show,Parc Glasdir, Ruthin. Shire horses, RuthinYoung Farmers competitions, a tractorsection, shoot for goal, floral artdemonstrations and trade and charitystalls. Café and live entertainment.Aug 14: Farmer’s Market, BridgemereGarden Centre, Cheshire. More than 20 ofthe finest producers from across the NorthWest selling wares to thrill your tastebuds.Aug 14-15: Detective Weekend at BlistsHill Victorian Town, Ironbridge GorgeMuseum, near Telford. Budding amateursleuths and would-be private detectiveshave the chance to help Sherlock Holmesand Dr Watson solve a mysterious crime.Admission prices apply. Te., 01952884391Aug 15: Wirral Flower and VegetableShow, Birkenhead Park (1pm-4pm).Aug 15: Viking Sunday at the Old Hall,Tatton Park. Join in the battle, try onarmour and experience domestic life as aViking. Entry fees apply. Tel. 01625374435Aug 17: Summer fun at Brockhole,

Cumbria.Aug 17: Fun inthe Park, PeelPark, Little Hulton,Greater

Manchester. Free afternoon of funactivities. Aug 18: A Trip to Silver Bay, starting atPatterdale Hotel, Glenridding. Bootsessential, walking equipment required.Suitable for people with hearingimpairments. Tel. 01539 724555Aug 18: Fell Foot Flora Family ActivityDay, Fell Foot, Windermere. 10.30am to3.30pm. National Trust parking chargeapply.Aug 19: Sandcastle/Sandsculpturecontest, Imperial Hotel, Llandudno. Smallentry, proceeds going to Ty Gobaithchildren’s hospice, Conwy, and St David’sHospice, Llandudno. Tel. 01492 877466Aug 20: The Lancashire Witches,Lancaster Castle. Chris Goodier gives anin-depth look at the background to thestory of the Lancashire Witches - all onthe 398th anniversary of the executions.Starts at 7pm. Adults £2.50, Concessions£1.50. Tel, 01524 64998Aug 20: G-Factor, Heat One; G-Casino,Bury New Road, Manchester. Have yougot the G-Factor? G-Casino TalentContest. Tel, 0161 831 6370Aug 21: Have a Go at Archery, LakeDistrict Visitor Centre, Brockhole.. Get togrips with the techniques involved in usinga bow and arrow. Ages 8+, £3.

Aug 21: Congleton Craft and Gift fair,Masonic Hall, Mill Street, Congleton(10am-4pm)Aug 21-22: Party in the Park, SevernPark, Bridgnorth, Shropshire. Stalls,funfair, live music and an interactivefalconry display and a performance andmeet & greet with CBeebies Star JustinFletcher. Also Live music on three stagesall weekend! Adults £3, children £1.Aug 22: West Park Family Fun Day,West Park, Macclesfield. Non-stopentertainment in three arenas, side shows,fun fair and trade stands all with FREEadmission. Aug 23: Walk With a Hawk. Lake DistrictVisitor Centre, Brockhole. Take a walkaround the grounds with a hawkaccompanying you. Suitable for peoplewith limited mobility.Aug 23, 24, 26: Accrington MarketTreasure Hunt, Accrington Market Hall. Afun treasure hunt for all the family aroundAccrington’s famous Victorian market, witha tasty prize for the winner. Aug 27-30: Bolton Food and DrinkFestival, Victoria Square, Bolton.Aug 28-30: Medieval Weekend withKnights of the Damned Joust, HawkstonePark Folies, Shrewsbury. All thingsmedieval including jousting on the 30th.

Tell 250,000 readers about your event


IT’S TIME to get on that bike and starthaving fun!

And if you need a trike that can becontrolled with your arms rather than yourfeet, don’t worry – there are plenty ofadapted cycling centres around the NorthWest (tel. 01925 234213).

Every Wednesday (10am-1pm), startingAug 11, and every Saturday (1pm-3pm),from Aug 14: Wythenshawe Wheelers arestaging specially adapted cycling events fordisabled people and their friends and familyat Wythenshawe Park, Manchester.

WHAT’S HOTWHAT’S HOT

Travel insurance: AreYOU covered . . ?

WHAT’S HOT

ON YOURON YOURBIKES!BIKES!

Sept 4/5: Spooky Happenings atWhittington Castle, Shropshire. Investigatethe unknown in one of the UK’s spookiestand most haunted castles. People havereported seeing a dark figure of a manstanding behind them and when they turnaround the figure slowly disappears. Not forthe faint hearted! Tel. 01691 662397.

Ghosthunting

HUNDREDS of thousands of Britishholidaymakers are jeopardising theirinsurance by failing to tell insurers oftheir medical conditions, according toresearch.

Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance foundthat over half a million Britonstravelled abroad last year with a long-term medical complaint but did notinform their insurer, potentiallyinvalidating any claim they may haveneeded to make.

Many travel insurance policies offercustomers the opportunity to covermost medical conditions. But despitethis, about 245,000 holiday makersfailed to inform their insurer despitesuffering from severe back pain,110,000 people travelled abroad lastyear with a respiratory conditionwithout informing their insurer, and astaggering 50,000 people are alsoestimated to have gone on holidayabroad whilst keeping their insurer inthe dark about their heart condition.

An estimated 340,000 people,equivalent to 8% of those who travelledabroad with a medical condition in thelast 12 months, did so with no travelinsurance whatsoever.

Country walksA NEW Walks for All brochure isavailable detailing accessiblepathways in West Cheshire.

Woodland paths, lakeside strolls andgreat views are on offer in theselection of walks at various locationsincluding Anderton Nature Park,Delamere Forest Park, Marbury CountyPark and Stanney Woods local naturereserve.

The 10 routes have no steps or stilesalong the way, and they are accessibleto those with pushchairs, wheelchairsand mobility scooters.

One of the routes follows the ChesterMillennium Greenway, covering astretch from Lime Wood Fields topicturesque Northgate Ponds.

Teenage wheelchair user ChelseaKennedy, of Chester, said: “The routealong the Greenway is really good - thesurface is tarmac and there are nogradients. All the walks in the brochureare a real boost for people withmobility problems.”

The majority of the walks in thebrochure, produced by Cheshire Westand Chester Greenspace officers, arecircular and the gradients are no morethan 1:10. Most feature picnic areas, orare close to pubs, supermarkets andtoilets.

For your brochure call 01606 288543


BlackpoolHOTEL

120, Bond Street,Blackpool, FY4 1HG

ACCESSIBLE HOLIDAYS

EASY ACCESS FOR WHEELCHAIRS CAR PARKEN-SUITE ROOMS ADJOINING ROOMS

ELECTRIC HOISTS OVERHEAD TRACKING HOISTELECTRIC BEDS COT SIDES COMMODESMODERN SPACIOUS BAR & RESTAURANT

SPECIAL DIETS CATERED FOR HYDROTHERAPY POOL CONFERENCE FACILITIES

LIVE CABARET SHOW EVERY NIGHTPICK-UP AND RETURN SERVICE

The Beach,69-71 South Promenade,

St Annes on Sea, FY8 1LZ

St. AnnesHOTEL

HOLIDAY HOMES

3 G R E A T C H O I C E S !

Marton Mere Holiday Village

www.bondhotel.co.uk Booking hotline 01253 [email protected]

PARTY at the Bond Hotel Blackpool, where the great fun atmosphere is a very popular choice for many of our guests. The hotel has 65 bedrooms, most of which are wheelchair-accessible, and all the extra facilities that you might require during your stay. With great food, and nightly entertainment, this hotel offers the perfect Blackpool holiday!

RELAX in our sophisticated new hotel in St Annes. Recently refurbished to the highest possible standard, this stylish 26-room hotel overlooks the sea, and offers a choice of luxurious wheelchair-accessible accommoda-tion - from single rooms up to 3-room suites. The new Bond Hotel, St Annes is the ideal venue for those looking for the chance to unwind in style.

ENJOY our de-luxe holiday homes at scenic Marton Mere. If you would prefer a self-catering break, these superbly appointed holiday homes could be just the thing. They sleep up to six, have central heating and all mod cons, are fully accessible, and overlook the beautiful lake and wildlife area at this popular resort.

LUXURY travel wherever you choose to stay, you will have access to Bond Accessible Coaches Ltd who will pick you up and take you home at very reasonable prices

So come and explore a whole world of special holidays for very special guests. Whether it's a week with the stars of “Coronation Street or Emmerdale”, a break on a nature reserve, or a luxury room with a great sea view, we can provide it - and at a great price too!

Specialist holidays for carers & service users

— call us now: 0151 230 0307

Aug 29: Craft Fayre, St.Leonard’s Church, Bridgnorth.Around 40 stalls to browse. Aug 29-30: Madoc’s Rebellion,Denbigh Castle. Step back in timeto 1294 at Denbigh Castle.Admission prices apply. Tel. 01745813385.Aug 29-30: Freemen of Gwent,Beaumaris Castle. A look back atthe soldiers of Gwent. Admissionprices apply. Tel. 01248 810361Aug 29-30: Wirral Food andDrink Festival, Claremont Farm,near Bebington. Sample thedelights of authentic food anddrink from Wirral-based producersand retailers. Aug 30: Country Fayre and FarmDay at Heaton House Farm, nearMacclesfield. Entry fees.Aug 30: Worldwide GravyWrestling Championships. Rose‘n’ Bowl, Newchurch Road,Stacksteads, Rossendale.Fantastic family day out. Officiallynamed ‘Britain’s Best Silly Event2009’. Tel, 01706 879 555Aug 30: House of the Blackstar,Whittington Castle, Oswestry.

Medieval re-enactors’encampment with have-a-goarchery. £1 for archery, freeadmission, car parking chargesapply.Sept 1-Sept 30: EuropeanHeritage Days, Conwy. HistoricChurches, buildings and sitesthroughout Conwy County opentheir doors - a great opportunity todiscover local history andheritage. Tel. 01492 575571Sept 1: Wheelchair Users’Countryside Walks, Dinorwig,Llanberis. Meet SNP car parkNant Peris. The track is rough withone short but steep uphill section.Some help available. Bookingessential. Tel, 01286 872555. Sept 3: G-Factor, Heat Two. G-Casino, Bury New Road,Manchester. Have you got the G-Factor? G-Casino Talentcompetition. Tel, 0161 831 6370Sept 9-12: Heritage andLandscape Walks in BirkenheadPark. Find out about the amazinghistory of the first public park andthe role of Joseph Paxton in itsdesign. Book in advance - Tel,

0151 652 5197.Sept 10-12: Ellesmere Festival.Traditional village fete set on thebanks of the Shropshire canal. Sept 11-12: Yesteryear Rally,Malpas, Cheshire. Old fairground,farm machinery and organs.Sept 11: Wheelchair Users’Countryside Walks, HolyheadBreakwater Park. Bookingessential. Tel. 01248752139.Sept 11: Made in Shropshire -Fair in the Square. Sample a mixof products by ‘Made inShropshire’ artists, designer-makers and food producers.Sept 12: Walk through History,Platt Hall Costume Gallery, PlattFields Park, Manchester. Bookingessential. Tel. 0161 248 9331Sept 19: Port Sunlight Founders’Day, Wirral. Celebrate the creationof Port Sunlight with a display ofvintage cars.Sept 25: Bidston Village HeritageDay, Wirral. Family entertainment,featuringTaikoDrummers. TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!TAKE ME HOME!

STAND by to man the boats at Martin Merewetland reserve.

Visitors to the reserve, near Burscough, Lancashire,will soon be able to explore the ‘swamps’ in a Canadianstyle canoe.

It’s the latest exciting new attraction planned to opennext year - and there will be full access for people withmobility problems.

The channels are now being dug out and landscapingis planned for the autumn.

Centre manager Andy Wooldridge said: “It is alwaysexciting to create and develop wetland habitat and thisis a unique opportunity for our members and visitors toexperience wetland wildlife.

“This will be a unique attraction in the North West andI am really looking forward to jumping in a canoe andexploring next year.”

The wetland creation project will provide nestinghabitat for Reed Bunting and Water Vole and otherimportant species of conservation concern such asBearded Tit, Sedge Warbler and Reed Warbler.

n Martin Mere is open daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm.Situated off the A59, it is signposted from the M61, M58and M6.

www.wwt.org.uk/martinmere

Swamp time!

THIS SUMMERTHIS SUMMERTHIS SUMMER


Tel: 0151 230 0307



‘We’ve hada hugeincrease incallers whotell us thatthey haveseen ouradvert in AllTogetherNOW! We aredelightedwith theresponse’

— Mrs Joan Almond,Irton House Farm

Holiday Breaks in the Lakesnear Keswick

Self catering apartments for 2-6 people.Specially designed with the wheelchairin mind. No steps. Beautiful views in a

superb location. Friendly owners inresidence. Open all year.

IRTON HOUSE FARM

For a colour brochure

Tel: 01768 776380www.disabled-holiday.net

email: [email protected] now!

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DIABETIC Laura Brown overcamemountain sickness and altitude-related jumps in blood sugar

levels to achieve her greatest goal.Laura, 26, who has had Type 1 diabetes

since she was nine, reached Everest BaseCamp during two weeks in the Himalayas,averaging 10km a day, at altitudes of up to17,000 feet.

“I decided if I could reach base camp, Iwould never let my diabetes stop me fromachieving anything again,” said a jubilantLaura.

As a teenager she struggled to keep hercondition under control but now finds it easier- thanks to an insulin pump which deliversfast-acting insulin into her body as and whenshe needs it.

“Through my teens and into adulthood myblood glucose levels were always changingso it was difficult to know how much insulin Ineeded to inject,” said Laura.

Life-saving“If you don’t manage your diabetes well it

can lead to all sorts of serious complicationssuch as heart disease, stroke, kidney failure,blindness and amputation.

“The thought of this can be a burden whenyou can’t seem to get your diabetes undercontrol. This, as well as the daily commitmentof regular blood glucose tests and insulininjections, has a real emotional and physicalimpact.”

Laura signed up to Diabetes UK’s EverestBase Camp trek to prove to herself that hercondition, which had so deeply affected herlife, would not stop her from achieving such adifficult endurance feat.

Laura took with her a huge medical bag witha spare insulin pump, double her usualquantity of infusion sets, spare batteries, aback-up plan of insulin pens, blood testingkits, needles and all the life-saving insulin shewould need.

Her journey began 2,800m above sea levelin Lukla, and took her through pine and

rhododendron forests, along the edge of theDudh Kosi river and through villages, beforeending day one at their first campsite.

“There is nothing quite like opening yourtent on a sunny morning to be faced with aspectacular mountain range bathed insunlight, enticing you to get up and getwalking.”

As they got closer to the base camp, Lauradeveloped acute mountain sickness, a veryserious condition if not treated quickly.

She was forced to stop and rest for a day toallow her body to acclimatise and adapt tothe lack of oxygen in the air.

Laura also found that the higher shewalked, the more her blood glucose levelsincreased so she had to monitor her levelsmore regularly and continually adjust herinsulin dosage.

“I only suffered a few hypos which I treatedwith jelly babies,” she said.

“The team doctor was very attentive, andmade sure he knew what my blood glucoselevels were, but it was so important to methat I was the one in control of my diabetesevery step of the way.”

On the final day, Laura and her team set offvery early in the morning with the shadow of

the mountains keeping the temperature belowzero. They trekked over rock, boulder andscree, ascending to a ridge that took themparallel to the Khumbu Ice Fall, whichstretches down from Everest’s South Col.

At 5,364 metres they reached the mound ofrocks and iconic prayer flags that representEverest Base Camp.

“Life takes on a whole new meaningwhen you stand below these etherealgiants of nature.

“For me it was the moment I had preparedso long and hard for, to prove to myself thathaving diabetes never had to get in the wayof my dreams and ambitions. I was in controlthis time, and I had made it. A feeling I willnever forget.”

Laura’s trek raised over £5,000 for DiabetesUK, the charity that works towards improvingthe lives of 2.3 million people in the UK whohave been diagnosed with the condition.

“Having diabetes doesn’t have to stop youfrom embarking on that adventure you havealways wanted to do,” says Laura.

“Be prepared, think of all eventualities, knowwhat to expect in the country you are visiting,and the world really does become youroyster.”

Insulin pump helpsbattling Laura toconquer her fears

Everest – the hardest wayEverest – the hardest wayEverest – the hardest wayBBeesstt eevveerrDDAADD .. .. ..

HIGH LIFE:JubilantLaura’samazing featof enduranceraised over£5,000 forDiabetes UK

Wirral Voluntary Group

Saturday 11th September, 2010Christchurch Church Hall, Moreton

10.30 a.m. - 3 p.m.Everyone Welcome

Stalls on:� Diet� Exercise� Healthy Heart� Feet� FoodAnd many more. There will alsobe healthcare professionalsavailable to talk to on the day.

For more information aboutthis event or our monthlyevening meetings ringSteve on 0151 677 1062 or0780 222 9036 (mobile)Karen on 0151 334 3553Or email:[email protected].

Reg. Charity No. 215199

The charity for people with diabetes.

Free Admission

Refreshments Available

Awareness Day

MORE than 28,000 visitorsfrom right across the NorthWest – and beyond – turnedup for the 19th annualDisability Awareness Day at asun drenched Walton HallGardens, Warrington.

“It was the best yet,” saidDave Thompson, chair ofWarrington DisabilityPartnership, who organise theevent.

“There were also more than5,000 people who took part inour twelve complimentaryevents held during the weekprior to the big day.”

The main event alsoattracted more than 280exhibitors.

“We were really delighted with the response we had fromwhole programme,” said Dave. “We have a brilliant team ofvolunteers, of all ages and all abilities. The success is allvery much down to them.”

The team is now working on next year’s programme – the20th anniversary.

“We’re already asking ourselves how we can better thisyear’s events,” said Dave. “It’s going to be a realchallenge, but we’ve some pretty good ideas!”

Pencil in next year’s DAD . . . Sunday July 10

DRUM ROLL: Young musicians from Warrington’s Brucheprimary school and the Batala Liverpool CommunitySamba band helped keep the crowds entertained

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97 Lytham Road, Southport, Merseyside PR9 9UG Email: [email protected] www.brotherwood.com

Invatravel’s Caravelle conversion, fitted with an underfloor lift.

Fiat Multipla

VW Caddy Life

Kia Sedona Red Label

Kia Sedona Gold Label

BROTHERWOOD WHEELCHAIR CARS(Formally INVATRAVEL)

Visit our Northern outlet: SouthportBROTHERWOODA u t o m o b i l i t y L i m i t e d

New, previously owned, long and short term hire and Motability is our everyday trade.

Tel: 01704 506608for brochure and to discuss your requirements

New ConversionsPeugeot Partner TepeeFiat Multipla (Side by Side)

Volkswagen Caddy LifeVolkswagen Caddy MaxiKia Sedona ‘Red Label’Kia Sedona ‘Gold Label’Volkswagen Caravelle

Inva 165x265 7-10:Invatravel 16/7/10 09:59 Page 1

QI AM 75 and get the LowerRate Mobility Component ofDisability Living Allowance.

My disability has got much worserecently and I can hardly walk. Canmy benefit be increased to theHigh Rate Mobility Component so Ican qualify for a Motability car?

ADisability Living Allowance(DLA) has two components; acare component (paid at three

levels – lowest, middle and highest)and mobility component (paid at twolevels – lower and higher) whichcover different needs andcircumstances.

Higher rate is paid to people whoare unable or virtually unable to talkbecause of a physical disability orwho meet other specified criteria.

The lower rate is payable to peoplewho can walk but are so severely

disabled mentally or physically thatthey need guidance or supervisionfrom another person most of the timewhen walking out of doors.

You can receive DLA if you are

disabled before you are 65. Onceawarded it is paid irrespective of age,provided you still meet the qualifyingconditions.

But if you are over 65 when youbecome disabled you will only qualifyfor Attendance Allowance (AA) notDLA. AA is a benefit to help peoplepay for personal care. This isawarded at two levels – lower andhigher and there is no mobilitycomponent like DLA.

On your specific enquiry theDepartment for Work and Pensionshave advised that: “After the age of65 you cannot have your mobilitycomponent changed to a higher ratebut you can have the care componentlooked at.”

Therefore, unfortunately, you wouldnot qualify for a Motability vehicle.

Motability factfile: Page 16

n MOBILISE, the national disabilitymotoring charity, has teamed upwith All Together NOW! to providereaders with a top-of-the-rangemotoring news and informationservice.n For full details of membership,including members’ concessionscontact: Mobilise Organisation,National Headquarters,Ashwellthorpe, Norwich, NR16 1EX.Tel: 01508 489449. Email:[email protected] LEGENDARY British racing driver Sir Stirling

Moss opened tihis year’s Mobility Roadshow –and met Marilyn Monroe lookalike, Suzi Kennedy.Sir Stirling also saw some of the hottest newwheels for disabled drivers – including a widerange of mobility scooters like this new two-seater TGA Vita 3

Is this fair?

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If you’re disabled driver you can drive a better deal with Fish Insurance. As the UK’s leading disability and Independent Living insurance

specialist, we know a disabled driver is a safer driver.

That’s why you can enjoy savings of up to 35% and take advantage of car insurance specifically designed for disabled drivers, including

wheelchair accessible and specially adapted vehicles.

So if you are disabled or drive for a disabled person, whether the vehicle is modified or not you can put the brakes on costly car insurance!

3130_Motor Ad 100x135.indd 1 24/9/08 11:27:59

Top award forTop award forAllied MobilityAllied MobilityALLIED Mobility has scooped

the award for BestWheelchair Accessible

Vehicle Partner for 2010 at the fifthannual Motability Supplier Awards.

The awards cover all areas of MotabilityOperations, recognising the people andbusinesses who deliver outstandingchoice, excellence and customersatisfaction to over half a million Motabilitycustomers.

Allied Mobility’s sales director PeterFacenna said: “It is with great pride that wecelebrate winning the award. Theachievement is testament to the efforts of

our whole team in delivering excellenceand we look forward to continuing to workwith Motability Operations in the future.”

Mike Betts, chief executive at MotabilityOperations, said: “The Supplier Awards arean opportunity for us to offer sincerethanks to the people who deliver fantasticresults for both our customers and ourbusiness.

“In 2009 Motability achieved the highestever levels in customer satisfaction. Thelast year would not have been possiblewithout the support and partnership of ourdedicated suppliers and business partners.

“An increase in applications, great

customer satisfaction levels, and some ofthe most competitive prices in thewheelchair accessible vehicle category, allhelped Allied Mobility win this award.

“Motability Operations has benefited froma partnership that delivers an increasedrange of services, a network ofdemonstration vehicles available acrossthe country, and superb after-sales care onconversion vehicles throughout the UK.

“Allied Mobility is a fantastic winner at theMotability Operations Supplier Awards.”

The award was presented by BBCnewsreader Huw Edwards at Brocket Hallin Hertfordshire.

Do you qualify for a car?MOTABILITY – set up by the Government in1978 – is prviding millions of people with anew car in exchange for their monthlymobility allowance.

Powered wheelchairs and scooters can alsobe financed through the scheme.

Motability’s car and wheelchair schemescurrently provide freedom and independence toover 500,000 disabled people and theirfamilies, across the UK.

The most popular option, chosen by over97% of customers, is the contract hire of a newcar.

You can choose a brand new car from over3,000 models, from the major manufacturers,on a three or five-year lease. Insurance, roadtax, breakdown cover, servicing, tyre andwindscreen replacement are all included in asingle monthly payment.

A similar all-inclusive hire plan is available forpowered wheelchairs and scooters.

Many cars are available simply by customerstransferring their allowance for the period ofthe agreement.

However, on larger or more expensivemodels, an additional payment (known as anadvance payment) may be required.

Competitive hire purchase schemes, overone to three years, are also available topurchase a new or used car, poweredwheelchair or scooter.

The scheme is available to anyone who isreceiving the Higher Rate Mobility Componentof the Disability Living Allowance or WarPensioners’ Mobility Supplement, and has atleast 12 months award length remaining whenthey apply.

A parent or carer can apply on behalf of achild aged three or older and non-drivers canapply for a car as a passenger.

Once their application has been accepted,the customer pays all, or part, of theirallowance to Motability for the duration of thecontract hire or hire purchase agreement.

Cars are supplied through a network of4,500 Motability Dealer Partners across theUK.

There is also a national network of accreditedretailers of powered wheelchairs and scooters.

For most Motability customers, a standardproduction car is suitable for their needs, butspecial adaptations are needed for about 10%of customers.

As part of the contract hire package, a rangeof popular adaptations are available at noadditional cost, such as push-pull handcontrols and left-foot accelerators.

Motability may also be able to help thosecustomers who need additional financial helpto obtain the mobility solution they need. n Motability Scheme: 0845 456 4566,www.motability.co.uk

V-room,V-room

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ACCESS FOR ALLWith Allied Mobility, having your ownwheelchair accessible car doesn’t haveto cost the earth.

PEUGEOT HORIZON™

£395Lowest WAV Advance Payment on Motability

» Up to 7 seats plus wheelchair passenger

» Lowering air suspension » EasyFold™ ramp

» CD player & air conditioning

» Lowered floor » Automatic transmission

» Lightweight folding ramp » CD player

& air conditioning

NEW RENAULT AUTOGRAPH™CITROËN INDEPENDENCE™

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» Lowered floor for easy access

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» Full rear passenger seating as standard

ADVANCEPAYMENT

ADVANCEPAYMENT£1,895

FROM ONLY

FROM ONLY

CARRIES UP TO 8 PEOPLE

0800 916 3028www.alliedmobility.com

ADVANCEPAYMENT£595

FROM ONLY

Unique new FlexiFold™ ramp

» Easy to use » Low ramp gradient

» Folds completely flat when not in use

FREE home

demonstration

0800 916 3028

INCLUDESREAR SEATSANDWINCH

All together now_July_Half:Layout 1 05/07/2010 13:11 Page 1

n Wrightington Mobility Centre,Hall Lane, Appley Bridge, Wigan,WN6 9EP. Tel. 01257 256409.www.mobility-centre.org.ukn The North Wales DrivingAssessment Centre, DisabilityResources Centre, Glan ClwydHospital, Bodelwyddan,Denbighshire.Tel. 01745 584858.n Regional Driving AssessmentCentre, Unit 11, Network Park,Duddeston Mill Road, Birmingham.Tel. 0845 3371540.n Motability, Goodman House,Station Approach, Harlow, Essex,CM20 2ET. Helpline 0845 456 4566 (voice),01279 632273 (text).www.motability.co.ukn National Association of Bikerswith a Disability, Unit 20, TheBridgewater Centre, RobsonAvenue, Urmston, Manchester.Tel. 0870 759 0603.www.nabd.org.ukn Disabled MotorcyclistsAssociation, Ada House, 77Thompson Street, Manchester,M4 5FY. Tel. 0161 214 8314, 07947 138303.www.thedma.org.uk

CONTACTS

d ford forbilitybility

e

s.

customer satisfaction levels, and some ofthe most competitive prices in thewheelchair accessible vehicle category, allhelped Allied Mobility win this award.

“Motability Operations has benefited froma partnership that delivers an increasedrange of services, a network ofdemonstration vehicles available acrossthe country, and superb after-sales care onconversion vehicles throughout the UK.

“Allied Mobility is a fantastic winner at theMotability Operations Supplier Awards.”

The award was presented by BBCnewsreader Huw Edwards at Brocket Hallin Hertfordshire.

n Allied Mobility is part of the AlliedVehicles Group that was established in1993 and has grown to become the largestsupplier of wheelchair accessible vehiclesto the UK Motability Scheme.n The company now employs about 350people on their 20-acre site in Glasgow,which incorporates engineering, productionand customer support facilities.n Working with a range of manufacturers

like Peugeot, Citroen and Volkswagen,Allied offers a wide range of convertedwheelchair accessible vehicles.n The most recent additions to the rangeinclude the new automatic RenaultAutograph and Citroen Presto.n Allied Mobility also manufactures thebest-selling Peugeot Horizon which is theUK’s most popular wheelchair car.

Tel. 0800 916 3028

WINNERS:Allied Mobilitychairman GerryFacenna andsales directorPeter Facennareceive the BestWheelchairAccessibleVehicle Partneraward from theBBC’s HuwEdwards

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MY LIFEIWAS just 15 when I started

to realise there wassomething ‘wrong’ with my

body.Something was not quite right.

Yet when my body ached at thistime, I put it down to all the hardwork I was doing. I attended allthe hospital appointments, x-rays,physio-therapy . . .

This went on until I was 24. Onlythen did they confirm I had hadosteoarthritis from an early age.

As a dancer with good prospectsI wanted to perform, to be on astage in front of thousands.Dancing my way through life. Iwas doing well and I studied asfar as a degree. Then I became ateacher of dance.

In 1992, I met my first husband.We were best friends and westayed together for 12 years.

When I was pregnant with mydaughter I found it extremely hardto carry out the simplest of dailytasks. My symptoms meant theybecame difficult and complicated.Managing the increasing pain,and juggling family life, left meexhausted. This in turn led tofeelings of sheer frustrationcompounded by what I saw as alack of emotional support.

I gradually realised that ourrelationship was at an end; itcould not be mended.

It is vital that a sufferer of anytype of arthritis gets advice and

support throughout itsprogression. I have found thatignorance has had a verynegative impact on my life.

Following the breakdown of mymarriage, I entered a new chapterwith a new partner. For threeyears everything went well.

He understood my condition andsupported me physically. Yet as

time progressed I noticed that mybody was becoming more andmore rigid and simple choresbecame impossible – it was notthat I was reluctant or could notbe bothered, I simply could not dothem.

Many a time I was sent homefrom work with pains in myfingers, feet and back untileventually my doctor signed meoff work completely.

This was a turning point in this

relationship. Money issues cameto the forefront and the marriageended.

The next two years went by in ablur; I shut myself off from theworld and went to sleep. Ofcourse, I was leading a verysimple life, getting up, doing theschool run, going to work, simplehousework, making the tea andbed.

All the while I was beingengulfed by my condition. The

one person who kept me saneduring this time was my daughter.She is now 13. All she has everknown is ‘mummy has badbones’. She is my carer and mytrusted friend.

During those two years I finallyarrived at the conclusion that noone could change my life but me.I could either sink under the painand the additional difficulties lifehad thrown at me or I could workwith it and utilise what I did have.

I knew if I was to survive this Ihad to change myself becauseother people would not.

To do this I knew I had to workaround the condition. My researchalso allowed me to find the rightmedication for me. I subsequentlymoved to be closer to my familyto get the help and support Ineeded.

I knew the first port of call wasmy job. Every employer I havehad has said “yes, weunderstand”, but if I had to taketime off, I felt like a slacker.

A day at a timeWhilst taking time out of work I

re-formatted my life. I am in ahappy relationship that offers loveand support, providing a warmenvironment for my daughter.What is more I have initiated acareer that is fulfilling and canwork around my condition. I havefound great joy as a photographerwith some great commissionsunder my belt.

I take it a day at a time, setmyself challenges and realisticgoals and I try to help others witharthritis. It’s not easy, but it isworth it: I am loving life again andthe constant learning that comeswith it.

When you are only sufferingfrom, rather than living with,arthritis, it is time to reassess,make changes and find thesupport you need!

by EMA KEAST

DO YOU have a story that you would like to share withreaders? Send it to: The Editor, All Together NOW! TheBradbury Centre, Youens Way, Liverpool L14 2EPemail: [email protected]

Devastated by arthritis and a series ofemotionaltraumas, Irealised onlyone personcould makeme happy

STREETWISE

SALFORD YOUNG CARERS

LIVERPOOL ONE

EVERTON FOUNDATION

Closing date Friday 23 August, 2010

SELF PORTRAIT: Ema has gained great joy from her work as a photographer

1199AAuugguusstt//SSeepptteemmbbeerr 22001100 AAllll TTooggeetthheerr NNOOWW!!geetthheerrnnooww..oorrgg..uukk

ng the temperature belowver rock, boulder anda ridge that took themu Ice Fall, whichEverest’s South Col.y reached the mound ofer flags that represent

hole new meaningow these ethereal

moment I had preparedto prove to myself thatr had to get in the way

mbitions. I was in controlmade it. A feeling I will

over £5,000 for Diabetesworks towards improvingn people in the UK whod with the condition.oesn’t have to stop youat adventure you have” says Laura.of all eventualities, know country you are visiting,does become your

elps

ars

he hardest wayhe hardest wayhe hardest way SSOOUUNNDDIINNGG OOFFFF!!SWASIE TURNER on the perils ofthe pavement cyclists

FOR people with various forms ofdisability - especially those of us inwheelchairs - negotiating the

country’s paths, highways and by-wayscan be truly alarming.

Our pavements are becomingincreasingly hazardous, and at worst aterrifying ordeal. Apart from the dangers ofloose chippings; deep, wide cracks andpotholes, there is the terrifying menace of .. . the pavement cyclist!

Let us remember, pavements are meantfor pedestrians, NOT low flying pedalcyclists. Tragically there have been anumber of fatalities, but resultingprosecutions are as rare as hens’ teeth!

The authorities’ continued ignoring ofpavement cyclists exasperates the law-abiding public who are entitled to theprotection of the full weight of the law onthis matter. Legislation regarding this is soeasy to enforce as police officers can nowissue fixed penalty tickets. But many can’tbe bothered.

In the letters columns of newspapers, wesee frequent frustrated correspondencesfrom a concerned public, yearning forsomething to be done about this blight.

There are still those who insist theoffence is too trivial to bother about. Tellthat to the families of those killed ormaimed by these thoughtless idiots.

Community serviceOne young victim was on the pavement

loading his car at the kerbside beforetaking his family on holiday. He was struckby a speeding pavement pedal cyclist, whoknocked him to the ground. The victim diedfrom severe head injuries.

The offender was charged this time, with‘wanton and furious cycling, which led tothe death of another’.

The maximum sentence for this offence istwo years’ jail. Instead, he received 300hours community service and a 12 monthssuspended sentence.

Another avoidable incident involved a 15-year-old cyclist in Bognor Regis whocollided with a girl of four.

The little girl was thrown into the air andleft with a fractured skull and bleeding fromthe brain. The cyclist was not prosecuted.He did not even get a fixed penalty!Instead, he was given an ‘official warning’from the Crown Prosecution Service.

We are promised with monotonousregularity by our senior police officers thatthey are ‘cracking down’ on pavementcyclists.

Well, I can tell you, the law is NOTcracking down on this phenomenon. I seethe same thing, day in and day out, manytimes witnessing near misses, which, if theperson had been struck by the offendingcyclist, could have been catastrophic.

I appeal to our chief constables to set anexample, and I ask them all: “Can weplease have a blitz to eradicate thismenace?”

n TYPE 1 diabetes develops when insulin-producing cells in the pancreas are destroyed.n This type of diabetes usually appears beforethe age of 40 and is the least common of the twomain types, accounting for around 10% of allpeople with diabetes.n Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented. It is notknown why it develops and it is not connectedwith being overweight.n People with Type 1 diabetes have to takeinsulin either by injections or a pump severaltimes a day to stay alive.n Insulin pumps work by delivering a varied doseof fast-acting insulin continually throughout theday and night, at a rate that is pre-set accordingto your needs.

n Because the insulin is fast acting, when you eatyou can quickly give yourself an additional doseby pressing a particular button on the pump.n Hypoglycaemia (or ‘hypo’) occurs when thelevel of glucose in the blood falls too low. If leftuntreated the person having a ‘hypo’ might,eventually, become unconscious.n When a hypo happens the person oftenexperiences ‘warning signs’, which occur as thebody tries to raise the blood glucose level. These‘warning signs’ vary from person to person butoften include feeling shaky, sweating, tingling inthe lips, going pale, heart pounding, confusionand irritability.n The Diabetes UK Careline: 0845 120 2960www.diabetes.org.uk

Strict regime that keeps a killer at bay

HIGH LIFE:JubilantLaura’samazing featof enduranceraised over£5,000 forDiabetes UK


Each question has four possible answers and is worth from one to 15 points. Circle your

chosen answers and keep a record of your points total. Maximum total points 120.QUESTION 1 – for 1 point:Which Walt Disney cartoon film features the song Whistle While You Work?

A Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs

B Pinocchio

C Peter Pan

D One Hundred And One Dalmatians

QUESTION 2 – for 2 points:What is a female mouse called?

A Jenny

B Doe

C Jill

D Sow

QUESTION 3 – for 3 points:Which of these words for an academic is spelt correctly?

A Proffesor

B Proffessor

C Professor

D Profesor

QUESTION 4 – for 4 points:What, in the human body, is the patella?

A Collarbone

B Tongue

C Kneecap

D Thumb

QUESTION 5 – for 5 points:Which present-day country was known as Gaul to the Romans?

A Germany

B France

C Belgium

D Denmark

QUESTION 6 – for 6 points:Which of these herbs is used to flavour pickled cucumbers?

A Dill

B Sage

C Parsley

D Mint

QUESTION 7 – for 7 points:Which shipping forecast sea area was formerly known as Trafalgar?

A BiscayB ShannonC FitzroyD German Bight

QUESTION 8 – for 8 points:Who, in the Bible, was the mother of King Solomon?

A RebeccaB SalomeC NaomiD Bathsheba

QUESTION 9 – for 9 points:What does an entomologist study?

A InsectsB TreesC Ocean currentsD Earthquakes

QUESTION 10 – for 10 points:Which building in London has a Victoria Tower and a St Stephen’s Tower?

A The Tower of LondonB Westminster AbbeyC The Palace of WestminsterD Buckingham Palace

QUESTION 11 – for 11 points:Which Dutch artist painted The Night Watch?

A Rembrandt van RijnB Jan VictorsC Johannes VermeerD Jan Steen

QUESTION 12 – for 12 points:For which film did Warren Beatty win the Academy Award for best director?

A BugsyB Heaven Can WaitC RedsD Dick Tracy

QUESTION 13 – for 13 points:What colour is the cross on the flag of Finland?

A BlueB WhiteC YellowD Red

QUESTION 14 – for 14 points:Which novel by George Eliot features the Tulliver family?

A Adam BedeB MiddlemarchC The Mill On The FlossD Silas Marner

QUESTION 15 – for 15 points:What is produced by the Haber process?

A Stainless steelB Carbon fibreC Coal gasD Ammonia

Actor Warren Beatty. See Question 12

2. Small amount (7)7. Citrus fruit (4)

8. Lazily (4)9. Pasta dish (7)

10. Office table (4)12. Amphibian (4)15. Promenade (5)17. Absolute emptiness (6)18. Kettle stand (6)19. Living-room (6)21. Roll of parchment (6)22. Banish (5)23. Homework (abbrev.) (4)26. Glimpse (4)28. Excessive fatness (7)29. Overt (4)30. Slacken (4)31. Abandoned (7)

61

7

8

10

17

19

23

29

29

31

1

24

2

11

2

9

13

25

28

31

11

15

22

28

3

20 25

4

18

22

21

16

5

8

12

15

26

30

6

13

27

7

14

★★

★★

★ ★★

★★

★ ★★ ★

1. Stare amorously (4)2. White liquid (4)3. Remove weapons (6)4. Powerful, convincing (6)5. Literary manner (4)6. Behind time (4)

10. Unfold (7)11. Shut off from contact (7)13. Jealous (7)14. Wholly (7)15. Soft sweetmeat (5)16. Cease-fire (5)20. Scope (6)21. Toboggan (6)24. Stout cord (4)25. Small pool (4)26. Looked at (4)27. Bygone (4)

Can you find the celebrity name hidden in this StarspotCrossword? Complete the crossword in the normal way thenmake a note of the letters contained in all the squares whichare marked with shaded stars. These letters will make ananagram of the name you are looking for.

ACROSS DOWN

The Accumulator QuizSTARSPOT CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

4 3 5 72 3 6

9 8 33 5 7 1 8

1 4 8 96 8 2 3 5

2 1 7 3 44 7 9 3 8

6 9

THERE is just one simple rule in Sudoku. Each row and each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9, andso must each 3 x 3 box. This is a logic puzzle, and you should not need to have to guess.

EASY DIFFICULT

FILL in the blank squares in the grid with numbers so that each horizontal or vertical line adds up to the total given in the box either to the left or above it. Horizontal totals are given in the top right corners of the shaded boxes; vertical totals in the bottom left corners.You can use the numbers 1 to 9, but may not use the same number more than once in any run. The number may be used again, however, in the same row or column but as part of another run.

20 9 8

22

23

28 2027

623

19

4

176 29

914

528

9

MEDIUM

KAKURO

7 96 1 5

6 7 44 7 9

2 1 84 9 3

6 79

2 5 8 3


CALLING ALL CHARITIES . . . PSYCO QUIZ ANSWERS – see Page 11

AADDVVEERRTTIISSEE HHEERREE –– 00115511 223300 003300771. Marion Crane; 2. $40,000; 3. Anthony Perkins; 4. Taxidermy. 5.Office scene, near the start. 6. Daughter, Patricia. 7. Norman. 8.Robert Bloch. 9. Twelve. 10. December. 11. Ten, 12. Knife.


SIGHTLINE VISION (NORTH WEST)

ARE YOU AFFECTED BY SIGHTLOSS?

Telephone Sightline Free on

0800 587 22526pm - 10pm every

Thursday, Friday, Saturday,Sunday & Monday

Support for you, your family and friendsfrom those who understand

17 8 3 26 19 11 17 17 8 9 21 8

6 12 8 7 26 10 25 22

23 8 5 13 6 5 8 8 22 9 17 18

8 8 18 8 7 18 9

5 12 11 12 5 14 9 7 7 12 9 19

17 12 16 8 11 18 3

17 20 5 9 7 7 7 12 18 8 17 18

8 8 6 17 8 11 1

5 8 24 8 5 8 8 14 9 14 9 11

14 7 12 2 8 12 12

9 11 8 12 7 6 23 5 9 16 20 18

3 3 7 9 8 4 6 8

8 19 18 5 15 7 9 17 18 8 19 17

Can you place the six dominoes (right) into the grid below in such a way that the number of spots in all four rows across and all four rows down totals 12?

A

B

C

D F

E

1 2

3 4

5 6

CROSS CODE

SPOT CHECK

Y H O L S C R A N T C

R E M M E H T M E S O

T R E H M O N P I N E

T A N D P S O A P N D

E W E G R A V C K A E

V O H D E R E R E E T

O O D R E A S W K I O

G N O S D N L E L V R

O M I S C S L W I I E

O S N U O C U Y L L D

R H O U S E R R M E A

Starting from the central shaded letter, move one letter at atime (up, down, right or left, but not diagonally) to find thesurnames of 20 UK Olympic gold medallists.

PATHWORDS

DIALLING CODES

COQUIM-BITE

Here is anunusual wordwith threedefinitions, onlyone of which iscorrect. Can youidentify the rightdefinition?

WORD WIZARD

1) A type ofSouthAmericanpalm treehaving ediblenuts;

2) A hydroussulphate ofiron found involcanicrocks, namedafter theplace in Chilewhere it wasfirstdiscovered;

3) A brilliant red,the colour ofa poppy.

Telephone dialling pads combineseveral letters on one key. Herewe have encoded several sets ofwords or items by using numbersrather than letters. Then we havedivided them into groups of threecharacters and run all the namesone after another to make yourtask a little more difficult. Canyou crack the codes?

1. Weather conditions

292 566 317 246 176 691 786 744 631 254 992 731 364 142 531 753 381 544 486 464 194 631 374 995 318 676 236 166 676 661

786 76

447 355 317 926 152 531 795 842 134 732 473 175 337 464 123 288 917 387 874 521 772 782 287 176 636 126 315 854 381 688

272 253 7

4. Ballets

2. Members of the shark family

426 637 432 316 256 122 754 641 536 727 314 732 819 448 318 443 717 672 324 531 537 737 177 688 331 364 347 418 467 622

251 729

746 327 753 127 323 378 481 729 729 182 627 463 165 483 258 678 281 592 433 164 663 652 163 566 122 626 216 264 617 526

824 6

5. Foreign fruits

3. Percussion instruments

826 268 746 312 278 263 871 538 853 378 619 956 746 631 896 726 414 664 187 426 453 145 625 367 743 512 962 257 176 273

137 86

256 952 671 776 537 428 319 736 241 748 243 675 153 669 127 232 951 245 546 651 732 283 877 127 692 271 373 872 912 447

351 426 637

6. Tools

1[ ] ’ –

2ABC

3DEF

4GHI

5JKL

6MNO

7PQRS

8TUV

9WXYZ

Spaces and any punctuation marksare represented by 1.

Each pair of words has a missing word between them that actsas a link to both (e.g. FRONT – DOOR – MAT). The initial lettersof the six answers (reading downwards) will spell out the nameof a language.

SMASH – – – RECORD

COPY – – – – OR

FALSE – – – – – – GEAR

AIR – – – – – RANGE

BALD – – – – – EYE

LAY – – – – – BIN

MISSING LINK

In which year did all three of these significanthistorical events take place?

1. Robert Walpole is recognised as Britain’sfirst prime minister.

2. Christian VI becomes King of Denmarkupon the death of Frederik IV.

3. English potter Josiah Wedgwood is born inBurslem, Staffordshire.

WAS IT?a) 1730; b) 1740; c) 1750; d) 1760; e) 1770.

MAKE A DATE

TRANSFORMERAdd the given letter to the first word to make a new word.

Clue: Stronghold can hold half an instrument.

_ _ _ _ + E = _ _ _ _ E

Accumulator Quiz1 – A; 2 – B; 3 – C; 4 – C; 5 – B; 6 – A; 7 – C; 8 – D; 9 – A; 10 – C; 11 – A; 12 – C; 13 – A; 14 – C; 15 – D.Starspot CrosswordAcross – 2 Modicum; 7 Ugli; 8 Idly; 9 Lasagne; 10 Desk; 12 Newt; 15 Front; 17 Vacuum; 18 Trivet; 19 Lounge; 21 Scroll; 22 Exile; 23 Prep; 26 Espy; 28 Obesity; 29 Open; 30 Ease; 31 Ditched.Down – 1 Ogle; 2 Milk; 3 Disarm; 4 Cogent; 5 Mien; 6 Slow; 10 Develop; 11 Seclude; 13 Envious; 14 Totally; 15 Fudge; 16 Truce; 20 Extent; 21 Sleigh; 24 Rope; 25 Pond; 26 Eyed; 27 Past.Star Name: PAUL McCARTNEY

Word WizardNo 2 is correct. Coquimbite is a substance found in volcanic rocks.Dialling Codes1. cyclone; rain; snow; sunshine; blizzard; fog; gale; sleet; lightning; wind; drizzle; tornado; monsoon; storm.2. hammerhead; mako; basking; leopard; great white; tiger; porbeagle; lesser-spotted dogfish; thornback ray.3. tambourine; castanets; kettledrum; xylophone; tympani; gong; triangle; glockenspiel; cymbals; snare drum.4. Giselle; Swan Lake; Sylvia; Firebird; Sleeping Beauty; Petrushka; Spartacus; Romeo And

Juliet; Nutcracker.5. pineapple; breadfruit; pawpaw; tamarind; olive; kumquat; lychee; minneola; melon; banana; mango; plantain.6. blowlamp; spokeshave; wrench; pitchfork; jemmy; bradawl; billhook; secateurs; crowbar; fretsaw; chisel; hammer.Spot CheckA = 4; B = 1; C = 3; D = 6; E = 5; F = 2.Missing Linkhit; edit; bottom; rifle; eagle; waste. Language: Hebrew.Make a DateThe year was 1730.TransformerFort + E = Forte.

K1

Q2

C3

B4

R5

U6

L7

E8

I9

W10

D11

A12

J13

V14

Y15

G16

S17

T18

N19

H20

Z21

X22

P23

F24

M25

O26

725469318846731529913852674532648791697215843481973265168397452379524186254186937

816493572253167849794528163935742618147689325682351497529816734471935286368274951

SUDOKU EASYSUDOKU DIFFICULT

CROSS CODE

2098

22

23

282027

623

19

4

17629

914

528

9

986

843129

31

517985

4789

18

2138

968

KAKURO MEDIUM

PathwordsRedgrave; Sanderson; Goodhew; Ovett; Rand; Hemery; Holmes; Cram; Thompson; Pinsent; Coe; Dean; Packer; Wells; Cousins; Moorhouse; Curry; Wilkie; Torvill; Meade.

ALL THE ANSWERS

EACH number in our Cross Code grid represents a differentletter of the alphabet. You have three letters in the control gridto start you off.Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, thenuse your knowledge of words to work out which letters shouldgo in the missing squares.As you get the letters, fill in other squares with the samenumber in the main grid and control grid. Check off thealphabetical list of letters as you identify them.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11A

12 13

V14 15 16 17 18

N19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

AAllll TTooggeetthheerr NNOOWW!! AAuugguusstt//SSeepptteemmbbeerr 22001100 wwwwww..aallllttooggeetthheerrnnooww..oorrgg..uukk2222

EDUCATION . . . TRAINING . . . JOBS . . .RRIIGGHHTTSS

*The BEST FE College in Merseyside according to Government league tables 2008, 2009 and 2010(based on point score per examination entry)

Hugh Baird College, Balliol Road, Bootle L20 7EW www.hughbaird.ac.uk

0151 353 4444

Go places with the BEST* FE college

The College is committed to Equal Opportunities

EnrollingNowEnrolling fromTuesday 24th August

PUPILS from mainstream and specialschools across Merseyside cametogether for the fourth annual

Include Us! project, which ended with alive performance at Liverpool Institutefor Performing Arts.

Charlie Moger, from Aimhigher who fundedthe scheme, said: “The project allows youngpeople to share their experiences andcelebrate their differences, while also findingout about the opportunities open to them atuniversity.”

Include Us! also gives pupils anexperience of being on a university campus,working with undergraduate students and

professionals and provides them withinformation about further and highereducation and careers in the creative arts.

Nicola Molyneux, from All Saints Centre forLearning, Kirkby, said: “This is a fantasticopportunity for pupils to take part inperforming arts sessions at a state-of-the-arthigher education institution. It was great tosee all of the pupils working together tocreate such a powerful performance.”

Schools taking part were: All Saints CfL;Ashfields; Bankview North; Foxfield; KirkbySports College; Meadowside; SandfieldPark; St Francis of Assisi Academy; ParkHigh School.

All together now!

A NEW website has beenset up to help people withlong-term fluctuatinghealth conditions stay inwork.

The ‘Work Life’ site –supported by theDepartment for Works andPensions and developed bythe MS Society and otherpartner organisations –brings together examples ofbest practice; guidance foremployers, employees andhealthcare professionals;and case studies fromacross the employmentsector.

Minister for WelfareReform, Lord Freud, whohas given the website hisbacking, said: “We knowthat work is good for peopleand we want those with

long-term fluctuating healthconditions to have thesupport they need to stay intheir job,” he said.

“When people fall out ofemployment, on to benefits,it becomes even harder toget back to work. The WorkLife website will be animportant resource forthose managing healthconditions in theworkplace.”

Leonie Martin wasdiagnosed with multiplesclerosis in 2000 whileworking as an officemanager at a large school.

In 2003 she was forced totake early retirement on thegrounds of ill health.

She said: “After beingdiagnosed I wasn’t givenany advice regarding how

or when to tell my employerand colleagues, or what myrights were. Consequently, Itried to play down mydifficulties and ended upbecoming more and moreanxious.

“If I had known that manyof the problems I wasexperiencing at work, likefatigue and concentration,were due to my MS Iwouldn’t have ended up ona downward spiral thatculminated in my having tofinish work.

“It has taken me severalyears to rebuild my self-esteem and learn to look atwhat I can still do well,rather than what I can nolonger do.”

nwww.yourworkhealth.com

‘Work Life’ website launched‘Work Life’ website launched

SAMBA TIME: Pupils at the Include Us! event at LIPA

wwwwww..aallllttooggeetthheerrnnooww..oorrgg..uukk AAuugguusstt//SSeepptteemmbbeerr 22001100 AAllll TTooggeetthheerr NNOOWW!! 2233

EDUCATION . . . TRAINING . . . JOBS . . .

Programmes forbetter prospects...Thinkingabout...

Let Liverpool Community College equipyou with the skills employers wantIf you are unemployed, recently made redundant or ready tostart work we can improve your chances of success in thecurrent job market

Let us prepare you for work with relevant training and helpmatch your skills to current vacancies in security, hospitality,business administration, care, retail, and many more.

We also provide training in how to set up your own business

For further information contact:

0845 013 1515www.liv-coll.ac.uk

Ourfuture.It’s inour hands

Liverpool Community College‘Working with Business’

Can Istart right

away?Will I get helpfinding work?

Where canI go to retrainor gain skills?

ASTUDENT hascome up withan ingenious

way for disabledchildren to play avideo guitar gameusing only eyemovements.

Matthew Smalley’sEyeGuitar computerapplication took secondplace in De MontfortUniversity’s annualCreative Thinking Awards.

Matthew, 26, said: “Animportant element of thedesign of EyeGuitar is thatthe game that it interactswith does not recognisethat it is being controlledby an external application.

“In theory, this means theapplication could work withmany other similar gameswithout modification andfurther empower peoplewho wouldn’t normallyplay video games to havejust the same fun.

“I’m a real video games’fan so it’s great to be ableto come up withsomething like this whichcould help less ablepeople get the sameenjoyment.

“It was also really

exciting to discover duringtrials that users ofEyeGuitar were often ableto score more highly in agame than people usingthe traditional keyboardmethod.”

Matthew’s innovativework impressed the judgesso much that theyawarded him the runner-up slot and handed him a£3,000 cheque.

The first prize of £5,000went to artist PamelaBoardman whose winningidea explores thepossibility of developingunderwater homes thatcould help cope with theland loss caused byclimate change.

Third prize of £2,000 wasawarded to Phd studentSarah Greenfield for amathematical approachshe has devised that willenable developers tosignificantly improveperformance in many

applications such asmedical diagnosis androbot control.

The awards have beencreated and sponsored byToby Moores, who is aconsultant in commercialcreativity and runs thehighly successful TV andgames companySleepydog Ltd.

He is also the grandsonof Sir John Moores,founder of Littlewoods.

He said: “Thinkingcreatively is anincreasingly important skillin the UK job market.Creativity is a skill we takefor granted, even thoughas a nation we have astrong heritage ininnovation.

“De Montfort Universityhas established a trackrecord in encouragingcreativity among itsstudents. I hope the awardwill further raise the profileof its unique environmentin nurturing creative talent.

“The winning entries areof exceptionally highquality and demonstratethe University’s status asone of the country’sleading centres ofinnovation.”

EYE GUITAR!

Michael’sgame isa winner

BLINKING HECK!: Matthew Smalley casts an eye over his creation

A blink strikesthe right chord


PEOPLE in Wirral are beingencouraged to have a ‘heart toheart’ with their loved ones and

discuss organ donation.With three people dying every day

while waiting for organs, WirralUniversity Teaching Hospital is backingthe NHS Blood and Transplant’scampaign to encourage people to signup to the Organ Donor Register.

Katie Whittle, a specialist organdonation nurse at the hospital, said:“Although there has been a big rise inthe number of people on the register,there still aren’t enough.“

Organ donation transformed JoanneRussell’s life. She received asimultaneous pancreas and kidneytransplant after diabetes left her withrenal failure.

“I was diagnosed with diabetes when Iwas 13,” said Joanne, now 38. “And as Igot older, the secondary effects of the

diabetes got progressively worse.“Among other things, I lost much of my

sight and my kidneys stopped working.”To stay healthy, Joanne underwent

peritoneal dialysis four times daily, everyday for between 45 minutes and anhour.

Peritoneal dialysis involves using apermanent tube in the abdomen tointroduce fluid to the body and flushimpurities from the blood.

Joanne said: “I was very lucky becausemy employer was very supportive, givingme time and space to carry out mydialysis, meaning that my work wasn’tdisrupted too much.

“But it was still a huge inconvenienceand I had to be very careful about how Iled my life to manage my condition.”

In February 2009, organs becameavailable that meant that Joanne couldundergo the transplant she needed.

“I have never felt so healthy as I havedone since my transplant,” said Joanne.I feel very, very lucky to have been giventhe chance to lead a life without dialysisand I do everything I can to treat mynew organs well.

“I am incredibly grateful to my donor.For the first time I know what normal is. Ilove life now.

“I really would encourage everybody toput their name on the NHS Organ DonorRegister.”

The campaign is encouraging friendsand family to take time out, over a mealtogether, to have the conversationsabout organ donation that often get putoff.

To make this easier, a downloadablepack has been put together with recipesfrom TV chef Lawrence Keogh – whohas undergone a kidney transplanthimself – and facts and figures aboutorgan donation to encourage debate.

n THERE are about 8,000 people in the UK on the active waiting list for anorgan transplant. A further 2,574 people are on the suspended list becausethey are too ill or unable to receive a transplant at present.n LAST year 3,693 transplants took place, an increase of 5% compared to theprevious year.n PEOPLE in their 70s and 80s have become organ donors and saved manylives. The oldest recorded cornea donor was 104 years old. n ONE donor can save or transform up to nine lives and many more can behelped through the donation of tissues.n TO JOIN the Organ Donor Register and to download the Heart to Heart pack,call 0300 123 23 23, text SAVE to 84880, or visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk

A NEW clinic hasopened atUniversity HospitalAintree to helpimprove life for lungcancer patients.

As one of 15 pilotsites around thecountry, the newLung Health andWellbeing Clinic isthe only site to beuniquely dedicated topatients sufferingfrom lung cancer,which is the secondmost common cancerin the UK, affectingover 1.63 millionpeople.

Time for a heart to heart

Dancing with joy!

Making life better for cancer patients

PATIENTS at StHelens andKnowsley TeachingHospitals NHS Trusthave got somethingto celebrate.

The hospital hasbeen named one ofthe top performers inthe recent PatientEnvironment ActionTeam assessments –for the fifth year in arow!

Both St Helens andWhiston hospitalsscored top marks of‘Excellent’ for highstandards of food,cleanliness, infectioncontrol and patientenvironment.

A TEENAGER from Belarus was given an 18thbirthday she will remember all her life.

Staff at Withington hospital and Wrexham-basedcharity Teams4U teamed up to hand over afantastic gift - a new sports wheelchair.

“The wheelchair will make a huge difference tomy life,” said Olya, who was born without legs andwho had been unable to sit correctly.

“It will help me to continue my passion in Latindance.

“I just want to say thank you very much toeverybody that helped me to achieve my dream ofhaving a sports chair.

“It’s very nice that there are people out therewho help people like me,” she said.

Dr Martin Twiste, from the University of Salford,and Dave Cooke, from Teams4U, coordinatedOlya’s visit to Withington hospital’s DisablementService Centre.


n NHS North West iskeen to hear fromreaders about yourexperiences of NHSservices.n They also wantany ideas orsuggestions thatcould improvetreatment and carefor others.n Please send yourcomments to:CommunicationsTeam, FREEPOST,NHS North West, 3Piccadilly Place,Central Manchester,M1 3BN

TELL USYOURVIEWS

THE Duke of York met with staffand patients when he officiallyopened the new St Helens

hospital.“I’ve spoken to many patients who are

clearly impressed with the highstandard of care they are receiving,” hesaid.

“This is an innovative hospital, whichis absolutely fantastic.”

During a tour of the hospital the Dukevisited the award-winning Lilac Centreand spoke to patients, their relativesand staff, before going into the state-of-the-art radiology and cardio-respiratorydepartments to see patients beingtreated with the very latest diagnosticfacilities.

Staff who had worked closely on theplanning and construction of thehospital also gave a short presentationon the redevelopment project. PrinceAndrew also met with elderly patients,retired members of staff and hospital

volunteers.Ann Marr, chief

executive of the Trust,said: “The visit by HisRoyal Highness was aproud moment for thestaff and all thoseinvolved in the planningand construction of thenew hospital, as well asfor our patients and thelocal community.”

IMPRESSED: The Duke of York with reception staff Debbie Radcliffe, left, Sheila Cooke, centre, and Debbie Shaw

WIRRAL hospital’s maternity teamhas been named the winner of aprestigious national award from agroup of MPs and peers.

The All-Party Parliamentary Group onMaternity presented the team with itsprize at its summer reception in theHouses of Parliament.

Linda Birch, head of midwifery at theTrust, said: “We are very proud that thehigh quality services we provide towomen and their babies in our newWirral Women and Children’s Hospital atArrowe Park have been recognisednationally.

“This award is a reflection of theexceptional and dedicated staff in our

maternity team who provide the highestquality of care and who aim to makechildbirth as natural a process aspossible, in a home-like environment.”

Linda added: “Pregnant women nowhave a wider choice of where and whenthey have their first appointment andscan, and can keep the same midwifethroughout their antenatal and postnatalcare.

“We also provide three birthing pools inour delivery suite for women wanting touse water to aid pain relief in labour, 26en-suite single rooms in our maternityward and space for partners to stayovernight. We also support women whochoose to give birth at home.”

MPs honour top maternity team

Hospital visitdelights Duke

TOP TEAM: Staff from the Women and Children’sDivision at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHSFoundation Trust with their award, pictured with AnneMilton MP, Minister for Public Health

Flintoff knocked for sixENGLAND and Lancashire cricketer Andrew Flintoffwas ‘knocked for six’ when he opened the new £8mexpansion to the Cystic Fibrosis Centre atWythenshawe hospital.

“This unit is imperative in the fight against cystic fybrosis,”he said. “I’ve found from chatting to the patients that theirlife expectancy has gone up because of the state-of-the-artfacilities, and the great relationship they have with thestaff.”

Cystic fibrosis affects about 8,500 people in the UK andclaims the lives of three people every week in Britain.

Professor Kevin Webb, consultant in respiratory medicineand cystic fibrosis at UHSM, said: “Although the enormousmedical advances of the last 30 years mean that CFpatients now live further into adulthood, there is still nocure for the disease. It is important that we deliver the verybest possible service for our patients who repeatedly come BOWLED OVER: Andrew Flintoff with CF taff at Wythenshawe hospital

Check out our 2010 programme of events . . . www.2010healthandwellbeing.org.uk Check out our 2010 programme of events . . . www.2010healthandwellbeing.org.uk

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ASERIOUS car accidentleft Joyce Kenny withphysical and mental

scars, which affected her lifefor decades . . .

But an intiative designed to putpeople back in control of theirlives has restored her self-confidence and sense ofpurpose.

The Expert Patients Programmeis an initiative that helps peopleliving with long-term conditions tomaintain their health and improvetheir quality of life through self-management courses.

It is totally free and run byLiverpool Primary Care Trust.

Joyce said: “Back in the 70s Iwas involved in a really bad caraccident – my fiancé and twofriends were killed.

“I survived but have been livingwith the physical and mental aftereffects ever since.

“I was left with a broken leg,fractured skull, broken knee andribs, almost lost my right eye andsuffered from depression andsurvivor guilt.

“But in a way I was lucky. I’mstill here . . .

“Over the years I managed tohold down a full-time, responsiblejob but in 2001, the kneeworsened and I had a prolapseddisc in my back. I was unable tocontinue so I took earlyretirement on health grounds.

“My world changed and I

became a bit of a recluse. I didmy best but I found my conditionwas beginning to rule my life.

“Three years ago a friendsuggested that I try the ExpertPatient Programme as it hadmade a positive difference to her.So after a great deal of thoughtand apprehension, I decided tojoin – and I’m so glad I did.”

The courses are open toanyone who is living with a long-term health condition and aredesigned to help people takecontrol of their condition and

make a difference to their lives.People with conditions such as

MS, arthritis, asthmas, diabetes,liver disease, bronchitis,fibromyalgia, depression, HIV,epilepsy, heart disease andosteoporosis have all benefitedfrom being on the programme.

Joyce continued:“Some of thetechniques have made such adifference to my life, particularlythe better breathing techniqueswhich have helped me to relaxand the distraction and relaxationtechniques which have helped

me during a few really bad,painful times when I couldn’tseem to think positively.

“But the course brought somuch more than that to me. Justbeing able to connect with peoplewho were also managing long-term conditions was reallycomforting.”

It was just before Joyce wasdue to attend hospital again foran operation on her shoulder thatshe decided she wanted tobecome a volunteer tutor.

A few months later sheattended the tutor training coursein Manchester – the furthest shehad been on her own in fiveyears.

Now she is delivering coursesacross the city and sharing herexperiences and knowledge.

“Being a tutor is very rewarding.I feel I’m helping to make adifference, helping people tomanage their lives better andgain confidence.

“You see how people, givenhelp and support can take theirlives back. If it hadn’t been formy involvement, I would havemissed out on so much.

“If I had not been on the coursemyself three years ago, I reallydon’t know what I’d be doing now– probably sitting in the housewatching daytime TV!”

THE 2010 Year of Health and Wellbeing is beingsupported by six key ambassadors over the courseof the campaign, which will each represent one of thefive ways to wellbeing.

Pictured from left to right with the speciallycommissioned puppets that will also be helping to promotethe campaign are: the Singh Twins representing TakeNotice; Frank Cottrell Boyce representing Keep Learning;Beth Tweddle representing Be Active; Stephen Yiprepresenting Give, and Roger Phillips representingConnect. Also pictured are Councillor Roz Gladden,Liverpool City Council’s Cabinet Member for Adult Care andGideon Ben-Tovim, Chair of Liverpool Primary Care Trust.

Six of thebest . . .

How Joyce isHow Joyce isfightingback – and back – and helping othershelping others

The course hasmade such adifference to my life‘

INSPIRATIONAL:Joyce Kennywho is now atutor on theExpert PatientsProgramme, runby LiverpoolPrimary CareTrust


fighting


by Beatrice Fraenkelchair, Mersey Care NHS

COMMONLY usedpainkillers like ibuprofendo not increase the risk

of heart attack in the elderlypopulation – and may evenprolong life, a study claims.

Researchers found that the useof these drugs–- also called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) – was also associatedwith a lower risk of death althoughthey are not sure why.

Their findings, which appear inthe British Journal of ClinicalPharmacology, were based on astudy which looked at anationwide hospital admission andpharmacy prescription database of320,000 Australian veterans.

Researchers looked at anti-inflammatory drugs that – with theexception of ibuprofen – generallyrequire a prescription.

Professor Arduino Mangoni, whorecently joined the University ofAberdeen from Flinders Universityin Adelaide, led the study whichwas conducted in Australia andfunded by the Department ofVeterans’ Affairs.

He said: “Heart diseaserepresents one of the main causesof death and long-term disability inthe elderly and the burden of heartdisease is likely to increase in thefuture due to the progressiveageing of the population.

“Thinking up until now suggests

use of anti-inflammatorydrugs, for the management of painand inflammation in a number ofdisorders affecting themusculoskeletal system, increasesthe risk of heart disease.

“However, the evidence of a linkbetween NSAIDs and heartdisease is controversial as severalstudies have failed to demonstratea significant increase in the risk.

“Our study has demonstratedthat the use of NSAIDs has overalla neutral effect on the risk of heartdisease in a large elderlypopulation with multiple co-existing medical conditions.

“We also noted that the use ofNSAIDs was associated with areduction in all-cause mortalityand there was a clear associationwith the number of prescriptionssupplied in that the higher thenumber of prescriptions for

NSAIDs the lower the risk ofdeath.”

Professor Mangoni said: “It couldbe that anti-inflammatory drugscould exert some protectiveeffects towards heart disease andcancer, the two main killers in ourageing population.

“It might be that people on thesedrugs have better pain control andtherefore have a less sedentarylifestyle. Or perhaps people onthese drugs in our study weremaybe generally healthier.”

Despite the findings ProfessorMangoni would not advise peopleto take painkillers regularly unlessthey are necessary.

“Further prospective studies areurgently required to investigate theimpact of NSAID use on theseoutcomes and the mechanismsinvolved.”

Brain im-pear-ment! Too keen to clean?

Hope forvictimsof MS Painkillers may

prolonglife . . .

We can deliver your health messages 0151 230 0307

‘No more

heart – of risk’ to

but don’toverdo it

INCREASED weight and a ‘pear-shaped’ figure in olderwomen have a negative impact on memory function, says anew report.

Researchers suggest this is due to the type of fat depositedaround the hips versus the waist, and cite cytokines, hormonesreleased by the predominant fat in the body, as causinginflammation which might in turn affect cognition.

Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer’s ResearchTrust, said: “The pear-shape is incredibly common, and whilethis study doesn’t explain fully the link between body shape andbrain function, we could all do well to consider sensible lifestylechanges to keep our weight in check.”

The research, published in the Journal of the AmericanGeriatric Society, featured 8,745 women aged 65 to 79.

A BREAKTHROUGHfinding may lead toearlier diagnosis,more effectiveintervention, andperhaps even a curefor MS.

Multiple sclerosis (MS)has devastated the livesof two million peopleworldwide.

The autoimmunedisease is moreprevalent in coldclimates and attackstwice as many womenas men.There iscurrently no cure.

Now, research fromIsrael may pave the wayfor a diagnosis beforesymptoms appear anddebilitation sets in.Earlier diagnosis willallow earlier medicalintervention – andperhaps even lead to acure.

Professor AnatAchiron, of Tel AvivUniversity’s Faculty ofMedicine in Israel, hasuncovered a new wayof detecting MSbiomarkers in theblood. Her findingswere published in thejournal Neurobiology ofDisease.

Helen Yates, chiefexecutive at the MultipleSclerosis ResourceCentre, said: “Any testthat can identify MSvery early on in thedisease course is verywelcome. One of themost important factorsin MS is to treat, bywhatever chosenmethod, as early aspossible to preventfurther damage.”

CLEANING sprays, chlorine bleach and disinfectants maybe contributing to the rise in asthma at home and work.

Dr Jan-Paul Zock, an expert in occupational asthma, claimsthere is growing evidence that exposure to some cleaningproducts can provoke respiratory disorders and make existingasthma worse, but that it is preventable.

Associate Professor Zock, from the Centre for Research inEnvironmental Epidemiology, in Barcelona, found professionalcleaners, and healthcare workers performing cleaning anddisinfecting work, were more vulnerable to asthma.

Addressing delegates at the congress of the EuropeanAcademy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Dr Zock calledfor new studies to assess the effects of exposure to chemicalsand strategies to deal with it.

New findings . . . Professor Mangoni

HAVING just been fortunate enough tohave a holiday, I have been thinkinghow important it is that we can have asense of wellbeing from all sorts ofthings in our lives as well as from goingaway.

Not everyone is able to take a holidaybut we can still achieve a sense ofwellbeing in any number of ways.

We are two-thirds through Liverpool’s2010 Year of Wellbeing, a campaigndesigned to promote a sense of feelinggood about yourself by following apursuit, interest or activity.

At the heart of this campaign is theFive Ways to Wellbeing, a scientificallyproven set of principles that underpinsmuch of the work we do in the Trust tohelp people with mental health problemson their road to recovery.

One way we are looking to improvewellbeing among people who use ourservices is through a Merseyside pilotscheme for personal health budgets.

Payments can be made directly toindividuals so they can decide whatthings, within reason, they need to meettheir own health and wellbeing needs.This will benefit people alreadyaccessing services and there will be noadditional cost to the local NHS, but asthe pilot runs we will monitor its impact.

I’d also like to mention one or twoother items. Mersey Care recognisesspiritual wellbeing is important to ourservice users, carers and staff and weare offering workshops in Liverpool andSouthport, from August 18 to September8, in preparation for the opening of themajor arts exhibition – The Sanctum.

The exhibition, at the LiverpoolAcademy of Arts gallery, Seel Street,from September 21 to October 8, willcelebrate the relationship betweenspirituality and good mental health andwellbeing. Details on 0151 471 2608.

We are also keen to encourage peopleto have a say about our services. Youcan drop by our community road showsat Bootle New Strand, week beginningSeptember 13, or St John’s Centre,Liverpool, the following week.

We will be there raising awareness,encouraging people to join as membersof Mersey Care and continuing to tacklestigma aroundmental health andlearning disability.



n BLACKBURNIndependent Living Centre,Mill Hill St,Mill Hill, Blackburn.Tel. 01254 269 220.n ELLESMERE PORTPool Independent LivingCentre, New GrosvenorRoad.Tel. 0151 337 6399.n HALTONCollier Street, Runcorn.Tel. 01928 582 920n HANDFORTHEast Cheshire IndependentLiving Centre, RedsmereRoad, HandforthTel. 01625 374080.n HARTFORDHartford IndependentLiving Centre, HartfordBusiness Park, ChesterRoad, Hartford, NantwichTel. 01605 881980.n LIVERPOOLDisabled Living Centre,Lifehouse, Summers Road,Brunswick Business Park,Liverpool.Tel. 0151 296 7742.Minicom 0151 296 7748.n MANCHESTERAssist UK,4 St Chads Street,Manchester.Tel. 0161 834 1044.n STOCKPORTSt Thomas’s Hospital,Shawheath, Stockport.Tel. 0161 419 4476.n WARRINGTONBeaufort Street,Warrington.Tel. 01925 240064.n WILMSLOWRedesmere Road.Tel. 01625 374080.n WIRRALSt Catherine’s Hospital,Birkenhead.Tel. 0151 678 7272.

MIDLANDSn BIRMINGHAM StMarks Street, Springhill.Tel. 0121 464 4942/9525n DUDLEY St GilesStreet, Netherley. Tel. 01384 813 695n SHREWSBURY TheLantern, Meadow FarmDrive. Tel. 01743 210820n WOLVERHAMPTONBell Street. Tel. 01902 553 648

DID YOU know there are over 20,000products on the market designed toassist disabled and older people?

If you need equipment to help youstay independent how do you makethe right choice?

Disabled Living Centres provideindependent information and adviceand the opportunity to see and try a

vast range of products with the aid ofexpert advisors

From beds to bath aids, showers tostair lifts, local Disabled LivingCentres provide equipment infohelplines.

So for information on equipment andhow to get it contact your localDisabled Living Centre. Many

products can be provided free on loanthrough local Community EquipmentServices.

All Together Now! has teamed upwith Liverpool Disabled Living Centreto help readers of all ages andabilities stay independent. If you havea question contact the team on 0151296 7742. Minicom: 0151 296 7748.

20,000 ways to help you remain independent Help onthe line

QOVER the past fewyears I have beenhaving more and more

trouble walking. I soon getbreathless and I am alwayshaving to stop and pause.It’s really getting me down. Iknow lots of people are in asimilar situation and thatmany get aound the problemby getting a mobility scooter.If I chose this option can Iget any help to pay for one?

AIf you receive the higherrate mobility componentof Disability Living

Allowance or War PensionersMobility Support you can applyto Route2mobility.This is the part of the

Motability Scheme that helpspeople pay for scooters orpower chairs.www.motability.co.ukTel, 0845 456 4566

There are other services thatwill help you find charities thatprovide grants includingCharity Search www.charitysearch.org.ukTel, 0117 982 4060Turn2uswww.turn2us.org.ukTel, 0808 802 2000

It’s vital that you get the rightmobility aid for your needs.

Don’t just go out and buy ascooter - do your homeworkfirst.

It’s a good idea to hire one fora short period to be sure it willbe right for you.

Details of where you can hiremobility equipment will beavailable from your localDisabled Living Centre orShopmobility scheme.

Liverpool Disabled LivingCentre have put an informationpack together which includesinformation on what you needto take into account and detailsof local retailers, hire andrepair and breakdown services.

There are some helpful on-line guides, too, including:Scooters and PoweredWheelchairs: A guide tovehicles that can be usedoutdoors, atwww.ricability.org.ukYour Guide to Getting aMobility Scooter or PoweredWheelchair, atwww.motability.co.ukChoosing a Scooter or Buggyat www.dlf.org.ukGet Mobile, atwww.radar.org.uk

ScooterScooterhelp,help,pleaseplease

QIS THERE amobile phoneholder I can use to

attach my phone to mywheelchair?

ATHERE is a rangeof pouches formobile phones that

can be attached to theframe of your wheelchair.You can also get mountson flexible arms to holdyour phone while you useit. For information on theseand other wheelchairaccessories call your localDisabled Living Centre.

QTROUBLE with myneck stops metipping my head

back when drinking.There’s always lots left inthe cup. Any ideas?

ATHERE are cupswith and withouthandles that have a

cut-out shape that allowsthe cup to tip beyond thepoint that would usuallytouch your nose. Othercups allow your nose to fitinto the cup as you tip it.

QI LOVE doing crafts but I’m findingscissors more and more difficult tohandle – arthritis seems to be

getting the best of me! Are there any thatwould be easier to handle?

ATHERE are easy grip scissors whichonly need very gentle pressure to cut.These open automatically when you

release pressure on the handle. Right and

left hand models are available and there is agood range of sizes for different types ofwork.

You can also get soft handled pressureabsorbing scissors more suitable for heavierwork, for example, in the kitchen.

Call on hold . .

The next open days at Liverpool DLCare: Wed September 1 (10am - 1pm) Tues September 21 (1pm - 4pm)

Awkward Scissorhands

. . . with JAN LOCKYER

In the summer of 2007 the following services moved to Lifehouse:an accessible, newly renovated building at Brunswick Dock.

Wheelchair Service 0151 296 7765 Fax: 0151 296 7764

Disabled Living Centre 0151 296 7742 Fax: 0151 296 7743

Moving and Handling Team 0151 296 7750 Fax: 0151 296 7749

Communication Aids 0151 296 7408 Fax: 0151 296 7764

Adaptations Team 0151 296 7757 Fax: 0151 296 7758

Falls Team 0151 296 7769

Lifehouse is a new approach to providing services for disabled and olderpeople in Liverpool. Having all these services under one roof will improveaccessibility.

Services will be able to work together to provide the independent information,advice and practical assessment people need to make the right choices aboutequipment. The existing services will be joined by others which will greatlyincrease the range of information and advice available.

LifehouseUnits 4–5 Dempster BuildingSummers Road, Brunswick Business ParkLiverpool L3 4BLMain Reception: 0151 296 7733www.liverpoollifehouse.org

Lifehouse is a new approach to providing services for disabled andolder people in Liverpool.

All these teams are now under one roof, working together toprovide the information and advice people need to be as safe andindependent as possible .

For further information call the service you require or visit a Lifehouse Open Day

Wheelchair Service Tel: 0151 296 7765Assessment for and provision of wheelchairs for people who live in Liverpool.

Disabled Living Centre Tel: 0151 296 7742 Minicom: 0151 296 7744Independent information, assessment and advice on choosing daily living equipment and how to get it.

Moving and Handling Team Tel: 0151 296 7750Practical advice for disabled people and their carers on moving and handling people.

Communication Aids Tel: 0151 296 7408Assessment and provision of communication aids for people who live in Liverpool.

Adaptations Team Tel: 0151 296 7757Installation of adaptations to safely assist people in managing in their own home.

Falls Team Tel: 0151 296 7769A multidisciplinary team providing practical advice and assessment for people who have fallen.

Telecare service Tel: 0151 296 7733Advice, assessment and installation of Telecare equipment.

LifehouseUnits 4–5 Dempster BuildingSummers Road, Brunswick Business ParkLiverpool L3 4BLMain Reception: 0151 296 7733www.liverpoollifehouse.org

0151 296 7748

0151 296 7782

ifehouseLifehouse

For further information call the service you require or contact our main reception for alist of Open Days.ifehouseLifehouse

07/10/SD/4195

United Utilities is calling onall customers to protectthemselves from doorstepcriminals.Statistics show that around

20 bogus caller crimes arecommitted every day in theUK, but this might only be 10%of the total that actually takeplace as victims often feel tooembarrassed to report it tothe police.Bogus callers often claim

that there is an emergency andthat they need to check thewater supply; they will use thisas an opportunity to trickthemselves into customers’homes claiming to be fromUnited Utilities or 'the waterboard'. Once inside, they willdistract the homeowner whilethey or an accomplice helpsthemselves to money andvaluables.Genuine United Utilities’

employees always carry IDcards and are happy to showthis to you. They will never putpressure on you to get intoyour home and are happy foryou to phone United Utilities

to check their identity.And genuine employees won'trefer to 'the water board' asthis hasn't existed for morethan 30 years!Bogus callers can be very

persuasive, but our advice isto never feel under pressureto let someone into your home.To help you, we operate a

‘password protection’ scheme.Joining the United Utilitiespassword scheme is easy.It takes just one call to 0845746 1100. We simply needyour details and your choiceof password. Then, wheneversomeone claiming to be fromUnited Utilities calls at yourhome, you can ask them foryour password. Only a genuinevisitor from United Utilitieswill know what it is. It’s asimple deterrent that reallydoes work and will give youthe confidence to turn peopleaway.Most gas, electricity and

telephone companies willoperate a similar scheme –see a recent bill for furtherdetails and contact numbers.

Beat the boguscaller• LOCKHome or away – keep alldoors LOCKED

• STOPIs anyone EXPECTED?Is the back door LOCKED?

• CHAINPut the CHAIN ON beforeopening the door

• CHECKAsk for caller’s ID cardCheck it by PHONING0845 746 2200Or ask for your PASSWORD

Knock knock!Who’s there?Be stranger aware!

To find out more call 0845 746 1100or textphone 0808 143 1195

Need a littleExtraCare?We offer a range of free services to help customers who:• are older• have a disability• have a serious illness• have sight, hearing or learning difficultiesOur services include:• personal notification of water shut-offs• large print, Braille and talking billsWe also offer a free password scheme for all our customers.

4195 ATN bogus caller august 2010:Layout 1 29/7/10 14:06 Page 12299wwwwww..aallllttooggeetthheerrnnooww..oorrgg..uukk AAuugguusstt//SSeepptteemmbbeerr 22001100 AAllll TTooggeetthheerr NNOOWW!!


SHOPMOBILITY CARERS’CENTRES

Email your news to us at [email protected] .uk

HELP AT THE END OF A PHONE

nACCRINGTON Tel 01254 387 444

n BLACKBURN with DARWENTel 01254 688www.bwdcarers.org

n BLACKPOOLBlackpool Borough

Council,Tel 01253 477 716

nCUMBRIACarlisle. Tel 01228 542 156

Penrith.Tel 01768 890 280

Barrow-in-Furness. Tel 01229 822 822

Kendal. Tel 01539 732 927

Whitehaven,Tel 01946 592 223

n CHESHIRE Helpline: 0800 085 0307

nKNOWSLEYTel 0151 549 1412

n LANCASTER Tel 01524 66475

nLIVERPOOLTel 0151 705 2307

n MANCHESTER Tel 0161 835 2995

n MORECAMBE Tel 01524 833456

n PRESTON Tel 01772 200173

n RUNCORN Tel 01928 580182

n WIDNES Tel 0151 257 7767

n SALFORD Tel 0161 833 0217

n SEFTON Tel 0151 288 6060

n ST HELENS Tel 01744 675 615

n STOCKPORTTel 0161 456 2808

n WARRINGTON Tel 01925 644 212

n WEST LANCS Tel 01695 733737

n WIGAN & LEIGH Tel 01942 683711

MIDLANDSn BIRMINGHAMTel 0121 675 8000n SOLIHULLTel 0121 788 1143n WALSALLTel 01922 610 810

NORTH WALESn ANGLESEY

Tel 01248 722828n BANGOR

Tel 01248 370 797n CONWY

Tel 01492 533714n DENBIGHSHIRE:NEWCIS,

Tel: 0845 603 3187nDOLGELLAU

Tel 01341 421167n FLINTSHIRE: NEWCIS,

Tel: 01352 751436

n ALTRINCHAM. Tel 0161 9291714n ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE. Tel0161 339 9500n BARROW. Tel 01229 434039n BIRKENHEAD. Tel 0151 6476162n BLACKBURN ANDDARWEN. Tel 01254 690566 or07757 502217n BLACKPOOL. Tel 01253 349427 n BOLTON. Tel 01204 392946n BURY. Tel 0161 764 9966n CARLISLE. Tel 01228625950n CHESTER. Tel 01244 312626n CHORLEY. Tel 01257 260888n COLWYN BAY. Tel 01492533822n CREWE. Tel 01270 580 031n ELLESMERE PORT. Tel 0151355 1420n KENDAL. Tel 01539 740 933n LEIGH, Wigan. Tel 01942 777985 n LIVERPOOL. Tel 0151 7070877n MANCHESTER TraffordCentre. Tel 0161 747 8046n MANCHESTER ArndaleCentre. Tel 0161 839 4060n NELSON. Tel 01282 692 502n NORTHWICH, Vale Royal Tel01606 353525n ORMSKIRK, WestLancashire Tel 01695 570055n OSWESTRY. Tel 01691656882n PENRITH. Tel 01768 895 438n PRESTON. Tel 01772 204667n RHYL. Tel 01745 350665n ROCHDALE. Tel 01706 865986n RUNCORN, Halton Lea Tel01928 717445n SHREWSBURY. Tel 01743236900n SOUTHPORT. Tel 01704 546654n ST HELENS. Tel 01744 613388n STOCKPORT. Tel 0161 6661100n WARRINGTON. Tel 01925231941n WARRINGTON. BirchwoodTel 01925 822 411n WIGAN. Tel 01942 776 070n WINSFORD. Tel 01606557550n WREXHAM. Tel 01978312390

MIDLANDSn BIRMINGHAM. Snow HillRailway Station. Tel 0121 2368980. Level 2, Centre CarPark, Bullring. Tel 0121 6162942n STAFFORD. Tel 01785619456n STOKE ON TRENT. Tel01782 233333n SUTTON COLDFIELD. Tel0121 355 1112n TAMWORTH. Tel, 01827709392 n WALSALL. Tel 01922 650781n WEST BROMWICH:Sandwell. Tel 0121 553 1943n WOLVERHAMPTON. Tel01902 556021

nANGLESEY: TARAN Tel 01407 721933

nBLACKPOOL Disability Information and Support. Tel 01253 472 202. Textphone 01253 476 450

nCHESHIRE Dis Federation Tel 01606 888400

nCHESTER Dial House Tel 01244 345655

nDENBIGHSHIRE Tel 01745 354445

nELLESMERE PORT DICETel 0151 355 1420

nHALTON Disability Service Tel 01928 717222

nKNOWSLEY DISABILITYCONCERN. 0151 480 4090

nLANCASTER DISCTel 01524 34411

n LIVERPOOL Association of Disabled People. Tel 0151

263 8366. Text 0151 260 4076nMERSEYSIDE Inform.

Tel 0151 260 4076. nNEUROSUPPORT Centre

Tel 0151 298 2999nMANCHESTER (GTR)

Coalition of DisabledPeople

Tel 0161-273 5154nMOLD Flintshire Disability

Tel 01352 755546nNELSON: Pendle Pakistan

Welfare Association. Tel 01282 603 616

nPRESTON DISC: Tel 01772 558 863. Textphone 01772 204 787

nRHYL Tel 01745 350665nSTOCKPORT: Disability

Stockport. 0161 480 7248

nWARRINGTON Disability Partnership. 01925 240064

nWIRRAL WIRED Tel 0151 670 1500

nWEST LANCS HELPLINE Freefone 0800 220676

n ST HELENS DASHTel 01744 453053

nWREXHAM Tel 01978262955MIDLANDSBIRMINGHAM DisabilityResource Centre Tel 0121789 7365Disabled People’s NetworkSolihull Tel 0121 788 1544STOKE: Disability SolutionsTel 01782 683800WOLVERHAMPTON Elderand Disabled Group Tel01902 448552ORGANISATIONS FORPEOPLE WHO ARE BLINDnACCRINGTON

Tel 01254 233332nBARROW Tel 01229 820698nBIRMINGHAM Action forBlind Tel 0121 665 4200nBLACKBURN

Tel 0125 554143nBLACKPOOL

Tel 01253 792600nBURY Tel 0161 763 7014nBURNLEY Tel 01282 438507nCARLISLE: Action for Blind

People Tel 01228 595121CHESHIRE & N WALES:Vision Support. Tel 01244381515nCUMBRIA (West)

Tel 01946 592474nCUMBRIA (Sth Lakeland)

Tel 01539 726613nGUIDE DOGS Tel 0118 9835555nHENSHAW’S 0161 872 1234

Tel 0151 227 1226nLIVERPOOL: BradburyFields.Tel 0151 221 0888:Action for Bind Tel 0151 7089008n MANCHESTER: Action for

Blind Tel 0161 787 9252nPRESTON: Action for Blind

People Tel 01772 320550n OLDHAM Tel 0161 682 8019nROSSENDALE

Tel 01706 873256nSIGHTLINE (North West)Tel 0800 587 2252nWIGAN Tel 01942 242891nWIRRAL Tel 0151 652 8877ORGANISATIONS FORPEOPLE WHO ARE DEAFnBIRMINGHAM Institute forDeaf Tel 0121 246 6101nCHESHIRE Deaf Society

Tel 01606 47831nCUMBRIA Deaf Society

Tel 01228 606434nLANCASHIRE (EAST)

Deaf SocietyTel 01282 839180

nMANCHESTER Deaf CentreTel 0161 273 3415

nMERSEYSIDE Society for Deaf Tel 0151 228 0888

nST HELENS: DeafnessResource CentreTel 01744 23887nWOLVERHAMPTON Centrefor Deaf Tel 01902 420904nN WALES Daf Association,

Tel 01492 542235

THE SIX lucky winners of our recentcompetition to win a collection ofstreptocarpus plants, courtesy ofDibleys Nurseries at Llandelidan, nearRuthin, were:Margaret Parsons, September Cottage,Prior Close, Wistaston, Cheshire. Shewrites: “This magazine is so informative -for people affected by disability and thosewho are not. I am very impressed. (Pickedup from Minshull’s Garden Centre, Crewe)Mrs P Atkinson, Ainsdale Close,Bebington, Wirral. “I love the variedarticles. You treat us as we should betreated.” (Picked up from WirralMetropolitan College)Mrs Cora Brock, Helsdale Road, Great

Sankey, Warrington. “I find out about thingsthat I otherwise would not.” (Handed to beby a friend)Syd Rawcliffe, Alice Street, Accrington,Lancs. “Brilliant, thoroughly interestingpublication.” (Picked up from BlackpoolTourist Office)Stuart Wild, Didsbury Park, Manchester.“It’s a fascinating magazine, a really goodread. It’s interesting, infomative andentertaining.”John Williams, Blackpool Road,Fulwood, Preston. “I like the widecoverage given to all aspects ofdisability, especially where to go forhelp.” (Picked up from Harris library,Preston)

Are you oneof our winners . . ?


Stay ahead of the game – www.alltogethernow.org.uk

RIDERS from Beechley Stables returnedwith glory from the national disabledriding championships at Hartpury,

Gloucestershire.Seven of the Liverpool stable’s riders – and

three horses – were presented with a total of17 rosettes from one of Britain’s top Paralympicriders, Ricky Balshaw.

Alison Greenidge took first place in theCountryside Challenge event with a polishedperformance.

Along with Tracey Ledlie and Martin Little,Alison also contributed to Friends of BeechleyStables coming third in the team event.

Alex Matthews, Leighton Kirk, Sam Walsh andNathan Handly, from Springfield SpecialSchool, also won the Arts & Craft section with abeautiful group sculpture of a rocking horse.

Support teacher Joanne Duncan said: “We are delighted. The children really look

forward to visiting Beechley Stables andrespond well to the calming influences of thehorses.

“They also benefit physically from the horse’smotion which warms and stretches their legsand which also improves balance and posture.”

Councillor Wendy Simon, the city council’scabinet member for culture, said: “They can allbe rightly proud of their achievements, whichreflect the hard work and dedication of the staffand volunteers at Beechley Stables.”

The Beechley team comprised: AlisonGreenidge, Tracey Ledlie, Martin Little, DanielRigby, Beth Ryan, KateFitzgerald, and CarolMcGowan, and ZaraAbraham.


IT’S BEEN a golden summer forJade Carr and Mark Allen whotriumphed at the European Heart

and Lung Transplant Games inVaxjo, Sweden.

Jade, from Runcorn, celebrated her17th birthday in style after judgesawarded her the Best OverallFemale Athlete for her fantastic haulof five golds and a silver.

The Helsby High school studentstruck gold in the 100m, long jump,ball throw, badminton and tabletennis, as well as taking the silver inthe women’s 4x4 relay.

Jade, who trains with Halton &Frodsham Harriers athletic club,

Halton table tennis club, andFrodsham badminton club, was justfour when she received a new heart.Since then she has won anincredible 61 medals.

She said: “Winning the medals wasgreat - but this was a fantasticopportunity to promote organdonation.”

Meanwhile, there were also bigcelebrations at Halton boroughcouncil’s press office when theyheard of Mark Allen’s success in hisfirst transplant games.

The Halton press officer clinched agold in the table tennis doublesevent and two bronze medals in

table tennis singles and in theSwedish ball throwing event.

Mark, 38, recevied a double lungtransplant in 2005 but only has 22per cent lung capacity.

He said his main problem wasstamina, as he was competingagainst people with 100 per centlung capacity.

“I did get very tired,” he said, “butluckily I got a break between eachgame. My age group was the largestand I had to play 19 games to winmy table tennis medals.”

Next stop for Jade and Mark is theBritish Transplant Games, takingplace in Bath, August 19-22.MEDAL WINNERS: Mark Allen and Jade Carr

Golden summer for Jade and Mark

RIDING HIGH!RIDING HIGH!Stable starsclean up innational finals

THE call has gone out for 70,000volunteers for the London Paralympicand Olympic Games - the biggestpost-war volunteer recruitmentcampaign in the UK’s history.

Sebastian Coe, Chair of LondonOrganising Committee of the Olympicand Paralympic Games, said: “Ourvolunteers will be called Games Makersto reflect the important role they will playin staging the 2012 Games.

“I urge anyone who is interested to

come to our website to find outeverything they need to know aboutvolunteering in 2012.”

Hugh Robertson, Sport and OlympicsMinister, said: “As I have seen in Turin,Beijing, Vancouver and the MelbourneCommonwealth Games, volunteers arethe public face of every major sportsevent, playing a vital role in thespectator and athlete experience.

“If London is to be a friendly andsuccessful Games, we will need

volunteers of all ages to welcome theworld to London and give London 2012our own distinctive British imprint.”

London Mayor Boris Johnson said:“This is literally a once in a lifetimeopportunity. It is the great people of thiscountry, with their warm welcome and‘can-do’ attitude, on whom the successof our Games will depend.

“So my message is simple: YourGames need you!”www.london2012.com/volunteering

2012 Games need YOU!

ALMOST 200 youngathletes competed inGreater Manchester’sdisability games at Wigan.

Adam Blezard, atWigan’s sportsdevelopment unit, says hehopes to make the eventan annual fixture inWigan’s sporting calendar.

Sad lossPETER Jackson, apivotal figure in thedevelopment andgrowth of the GreatBritain WheelchairBasekball Association,sadly passed away inJuly.

Peter’s contribution tothe sport, particularlywithin the North West,had been outstanding.

As chairman of theVikings wheelchair clubin St Helens, he wasalso very much apassionate supporter ofall local regional juniorand women’s teams.

Our thoughts are withhis family and friends.

Same again!

CLASS PERFORMANCE: Alison Greenidge on her way to a gold at the national championships


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WITH a dazzling display of ballcontrol, Great Britain’samputee football team crushedFrance 10-0 in Manchester.

Manager and captain DaveTweed said the result auguredwell for the World Amputee WorldCup, taking place in Arengtina inOctober.

“The team showed what theywere made of. If they play like

that in Argentina, we’re in with areal chance in the World Cup.”

The GB team squad comprises:Tyrone Williams (Birmingham);Sean Kelly (Stretford,Manchester); Tom Jordan (HighPeak, Glossop); Martin Heald(Kirkham, Lancs); Lee Dobson(Irlam, Salford); MichaelChambers (Leyland, Preston);Ben Houghton (Long Eaton,

Derby); Darren Mitchell (Ipswich);Adam McGuire (Stretford,Manchester); Ray Westbrook(Portsmouth); Dave Tweed,captain (Leigh, Manchester);Dave Gibson, player coach;(Anthony Mitchell (Liverpool);Graham Brade (Stretford,Manchester); David Jarvis(Leicester); Paul Findlay (HMForces)

Amputees warm up in style

TEE TIMEBRITAIN’S top disabled

golfers are all set totee-off in the second

annual Disabled BritishOpen golf championships.

Seventy-two golfers withvarying disabilities andhandicaps ranging from 36 toscratch will compete in theevent over the 7,138-yard,Robert E Cupp-designed Eastcourse, which has hosted twoEuropean Opens and seen thelikes of major winners NickFaldo, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh,Jose Maria Olazabal, NickPrice and Ian Woosnam walkits fairways.

Last year’s inauguraltelevised event at Old Thorns,in Hampshire – the biggest andmost inclusive event in thecountry for disabled golfers –was a massive hit with allavailable places taken within

weeks of the launch. Andy Barwell, from the

Azalea Group, the Hampshire-based organisers, said:“Golfers came from all over theUK and beyond to competewhich made it a hugelycompetitive event. The qualityof some of the play was quitestaggering and the reaction tothe television coverage on SkySports was huge.”

Derek Howe, generalmanager of East SussexNational GC, said: “We arehonoured to host the secondDBO and look forward to

welcoming all the competitorsand supporters.

“It’s the most inclusive pan-disability event in the countryand deserves to be played at avenue which can offer achampionship golf course anda first-class hotel.

“We are delighted that theorganisers recognised thequality of our facilities and wewill work together to ensure theevent is a thoroughlymemorable time for allconcerned.”

The championships takeplace at the East SussexNational Golf Club, September20-21.To join the band ofvolunteers or find out moreabout competing contactAndy Barwell on 07961315520 or [email protected]

Golfers setfor nationalglory . . .

BRITAIN’S AndrewLapthorne paired up withSweden’s JohanAndersson to win his firstSuper Series title at the21st British OpenWheelchair TennisChampionships inNottingham.

The quad doubles finalbegan superbly for thesecond seeds as theydropped just the fourth gameen route to taking theopening set in 13 minutesagainst top seeds SarahHunter (Canada) and DavidWagner (United States).

However, Hunter andWagner need just the sameamount of time to racethrough the second setwithout reply.

Lapthorne’s dream of a firstSuper Series title seemed tobe disappearing as Hunterand Wagner went 3-0 aheadin the final set, but anamazing run of six games insuccession clinched aremarkable 6-1, 0-6, 6-3victory.

“Once we got back to 3-3 Iwas pretty confident we hadthem and we never lookedback,” said the Middlesex-based player, who had lost toWagner in a close quadsingles quarter-final earlier inthe week.

A second British victoryproved elusive for Somerset’sLucy Shuker and her Frenchpartner Florence Alix-Gravellier in the women’sdoubles final.

Despite a braveperformance, top seeds Aniekvan Koot (Netherlands) andAniek van Koot (Belgium)secured 6-3, 4-6, 6-3 victory.

World No. 4 MaikelScheffers (Netherlands) wonthe men’s singles final.r.

Lapthorne clinchesfirst big title

all together now magazine - issue 32 _ august 2010

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