News

We all know that living with Sickle cell is not easy but there are some children and young people whose experience with Sickle Cell is worst that most, especially when they have a stroke.

Do you think that a Shooting star award would make a difference to their lives, make them smile, or feel encouraged?

Nominate that child today and you will be doing just that!

Sickle Cell & Young Stroke Survivors (SCYSS) presents our first Shooting Star Award.

The Grange City Hotel.
8 – 14 Coopers Row
Tower Hill
London
EC3N 2BD

6/11/2010 18:00 – 24:00

The award is designed to commend, acknowledge as well as encourage children and young people who have had a trying time battling with sickle cell and related illnesses in the last year.

We will appreciate it, if you could nominate children or a young person that you feel are deserving of the award or children who will benefit from this award from your surgery/ clinic.

The procedure is very simple. Simply fill out the form attached and we will contact you as soon as possible to let you know if your nominee has been successful.

Children and young people below the age of 18 (up to 25 if they have had a stroke) are eligible and the closing date for nominations is the 16th of October.

Please feel free to photocopy and circulate the form to your networks. We look forward to your prompt reply.

Don’t forget to get your tickets today.

Carol Nwosu

Carol Okoroafor-Nwosu
Founder/Chief Executive Officer
Sickle Cell & Young Stroke Survivors
8th Floor, Hannibal House
Elephant and Castle
London
SE1 6TE

Tel: 020 7358 4828 Mobile: 07903 654 608

Website: www.scyss.org
General e-mail: Info@scyss.org

SCYSS for children, young people and their families affected by Sickle Cell and Stroke in Young children.

SCYSS Nomination form 2010

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today launched a national recruitment campaign to fill 35,000 jobs across England and Wales. A range of full and part time temporary positions are available to help carry out the next census which will take place on 27 March 2011. Full application details are available via www.censusjobs.co.uk and also at local job and community centres.

Working within the local community, census recruits will engage with a wide range of people and organisations. They will provide important help and support to make sure everyone in the area can complete and return their census questionnaire.

Available roles include; census coordinators, who will help to manage local teams; census collectors, who will provide help and support on the doorstep; and special enumerators, who will be responsible for communal establishments including care homes, hotels and student halls of residence.

ONS Census Director Glen Watson said: “I am pleased to announce the start of our campaign to recruit 35,000 people across England and Wales for the 2011 Census.

“The census is not just about counting people, the information it provides is needed to plan vital services like schools, hospitals, housing, roads and emergency services.

“The 2011 Census is less than six months away. We need to give people help and support to complete and return the census questionnaire and this means recruiting the right people for this important nationwide project.”

To support the launch, a downloadable collection of the faces behind the census is available at www.census.gov.uk/2011press. It features case studies of workers from across the 2011 Census workforce and the organisations that use census data to provide services to communities.

Picturehouse cinemas are working in partnership with The National Autistic Society to hold special film screenings for people on the autism spectrum and their families, friends and carers.

During the film low lights are left on inside the auditorium and the volume of the soundtrack is reduced. It is fine for customers to move around, make a noise or take a break during the film if they need to.

The National Autistic Society is the UK’s leading charity for people affected by autism. If you need information, advice and support, call The National Autistic Society’s Autism Helpline on 0845 070 4004 (Mon-Fri, 10-4).

Autism Friendly Kids’ Club
at Stratford Picturehouse

Regular Autism friendly screenings take place at Stratford Picturehouse on the first Saturday of each month as part of their Saturday Kids’ Club screenings.
TOY STORY 3 (2D)
(U, 2010, 108min)

11am, Saturday 2 October

Join up to the Stratford Picturehouse Kids’ Club and get your first screening free!*

Membership is £4 and you can join up on the day.

Non-members prices: £3 children / £6 adults
Members prices: £2 Children / Adults FREE

________________________________________

AUTUMN 2010
HALF-TERM SCREENINGS

CATS AND DOGS 2 (2D)
(U, 2010, 85min)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1287468/

11am, Monday 25 October
The Ritzy, Brixton
Booking line: 0871 902 5739

11am, Thursday 28 October
Greenwich Picturehouse
Booking line: 0871 902 5732
________________________________________

STRATFORD CINEMA CLUB
in association with
Newham People First

Stratford Picturehouse has joined forces with People First Newham – a support group run by and for learning disabled adults – to make cinema going more enjoyable for adults with learning disabilities and other special needs.

On the first Tuesday of every month Stratford Picturehouse will screen 2 films from the main programme with an interval half-way through for those of you that find sitting down for a full 2 hours a struggle.

The cinema doors open at 12.30pm and the films start at 1pm. Tea/coffee and biscuits are available from the upstairs bar area, before, during and after the screenings so you can chat about the movie with other cinema club members.

MADE IN DAGENHAM (15, 2010, 113min)
http://www.paramountpicturesintl.com/intl/uk/madeindagenham/

Doors open 12pm, Tuesday 5 October
Tickets costs £3.50, carers go FREE
To book tickets call: 08707 55 00 61
________________________________________

Please contact Elinor Walpole for further information on any of the above screenings.

t: 020 7326 2611
e: elinor.w@picturehouses.co.uk

BBC Radio4 Any Questions Friday is being recorded at City of London Academy on Friday 8th October.

Jonathan Dimbleby chairs the topical discussion from City Academy, in Southwark, London with questions for the panel including:

• Iain Duncan-Smith, Secretary of State for Work & Pensions
• David Starkey, historian
• Claire Fox, director of the Institute of Ideas.

Tickets available from the Academy Martin Edwards
medwardes@cityacademy.co.uk
Doors open 6.45 to 7.15pm and recording from 7.30pm and finishing by 9pm.

Notice is hereby given that the 2010 annual general meeting of the company will be held at Walworth Methodist Church, 54 Camberwell Road, London, SE5 0EN on Friday 3rd December 2010 at 11am for the following purposes.

• reports of the members of the Management Board
• report from the Auditor
• election of members to the Management Board
• appointment of Auditor for coming year
• fixing of payment to the Auditor for the service
• Consideration of any other business and special resolutions

By order of the board

Dated 4th October 2010

David Lebon
Chair

Southwark Carers
Cambridge House
131 Camberwell Road
London
SE5 0HF

A member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is entitled to entitled to appoint a proxy to vote, and attend, instead of him. A proxy need not be a member of the company.

Excel London 19 October 2010

The acclaimed actor and writer Simon Callow will attend the opening event of the UK’s Dementia Services Development Centre 21^st Birthday celebrations. The world’s first dementia centre will mark its birthday at their 4^th International Dementia Conference in London. www.londondementiaconference.com

The conference, ‘Coming of Age: Dementia in the 21^st Century’ takes place over 3 days from the 19^th-21^st October 2010  and will brings together expertise and opinion from 17 different countries and address key issues of the UK dementia strategies.

Free Exhibition and Information Day: 19 October

The Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) will be hosting a free event, focusing on many of the issues relevant to people with dementia and everyone who supports them. For 21 years the DSDC has been raising awareness about dementia and working to improve all aspects of care for people with dementia. This event is suitable for everyone with an interest in dementia, including health and social care professionals and students, but with a particular focus on people with dementia and their carers/family members

This is an opportunity for you to:

• learn about practical approaches for carers of people with dementia

• find out about exciting developments taking place in dementia care and research

• receive a free information goodie bag

• learn more about the National Dementia Strategy

• see new products that can improve the quality of life of people with dementia, including assistive technology products, from 45+ exhibitors

• get advice from experts and charities dealing with a range of dementia issues

Further information about this event can be found here http://events.dementia.stir.ac.uk/%E2%97%8F-free-exhibition-and-information-event

International conference – Coming of Age: Dementia in the 21st Century: 19-21st October 2010

This is a critical event for all those that work with dementia. As you can see the programme is extensive and covers the major elements of the English Dementia Strategy

http://events.dementia.stir.ac.uk/sites/default/files/attachments/Programme%20Pages%20from%20Flyer%2019.03.2010_2_1.pdf

In addition there are Breakfast and Lunchtime sessions, that you can read about via the website. http://events.dementia.stir.ac.uk/breakfast-sessions

http://events.dementia.stir.ac.uk/lunchtime-sessions

We are offering a special discounted rate for people with dementia and their carers of £100 for one day or £150 for both days.

Today (1 October 2010), millions of people caring unpaid for disabled people gained new rights under the Equality Act 2010 which will mean that they cannot be directly discriminated against or harrassed because they are caring for someone who is disabled.

Imelda Redmond CBE, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said, “We often hear of situations where carers have been treated less favourably by employers, overlooked for promotion, or not allowed the flexibility they are legally entitled to in work. Around 3 million people currently juggle work with care and these rights could make a big difference. The employers that we work with through Employers for Carers are already supporting carers better in the workplace and have found real business benefits as a result – saving both money and keeping valuable staff – as well as improving carers’ lives.

She added, “Carers UK has fought for and won many rights for carers over the years, but this is a significant step forward that many carers have been waiting for.

The new rights also protect carers where they are provided with a worse service than someone who isn’t caring for a disabled person. It also includes protection where carers are discouraged or prevented from using a service because they are caring for a disabled person.

The GMC is developing new online learning materials for doctors providing case study examples of best practice. To assist in the development of the guidance, two interactive theatre workshops, called Wood for the Trees, are being held on 5th October in the Simulation and Interactive Learning Centre at St Thomas’ Hospital, and 6th October in the Robens Suite at Guy’s Hospital (both starting at 5.30pm) in partnership with Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity. Please see the attached flyer for more details.

Wood for the Trees is about a young woman with a learning disability and her experience of accessing healthcare. During the performance the audience of doctors, GP trainers and students, people with learning disabilities and their carers, will be encouraged to direct the actions of the health professionals to improve the outcome for the patient.

The Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals performances of Wood for the Trees, which are free, will launch a national tour of the play allowing doctors from across the country to contribute towards the guidance materials, which will address issues such as communication, dignity, consent, confidentiality and clinical issues, such as palliative care.

If you would like to attend, please call Bimpe Ajala on 020 7189 5314 or email events@gmc-uk.org.

Although this training tool is aimed at doctors (both hospital and primary care), we would particularly welcome local people with learning disabilities and their supporters/carers (reasonable travel costs will be reimbursed) , as well as people working in other roles within local health and social care services.

Play invite

Safer Neighbourhoods teams spend most of their time out on patrol in your neighbourhood, meeting the community and identifying and dealing with those crimes and issues you have told us cause you most concern. Therefore, your team adjusts its shift pattern to address these priority issues.

Your Safer Neighbourhoods team wants to hear from you. If your call is not answered, please do leave a message on the answerphone or send them an email. A member of the team will get back to you.

Safer Neighbourhoods teams are not there to provide a 24-hour response, this is the role of response team officers. Response team officers do pass on information to Safer Neighbourhoods teams as appropriate.

A full list of contacts are detailed below, if you are unsure which area you fall into please visit http://www.met.police.uk/teams/southwarkThe website has an interactive mapping feature which will let you know the correct person to contact.

• Brunswick Park     020 7232 6318     BrunswickParks.snt@met.police.uk
• Camberwell Green     020 8649 3587     CamberwellGreen.snt@met.police.uk
• Cathedrals     020 8721 2801     Cathedrals.snt@met.police.uk
• Chaucer     020 8721 2441     Chaucer.snt@met.pnn.police.uk
• College     020 8721 2442     College.snt@met.police.uk
• East Dulwich     020 8721 2447     EastDulwich.snt@met.police.uk
• East Walworth     020 7232 6258      EastWalworth.snt@met.police.uk
• Faraday     020 7232 6262     Faraday.snt@met.police.uk
• Grange     020 8721 2439     Grange.snt@met.police.uk
• Livesey     020 8721 2436     Livesey.snt@met.police.uk
• Newington     020 8721 2437     Newington.snt@met.police.uk
• Nunhead     020 8721 2445     Nunhead.snt@met.police.uk
• Peckham     020 8721 2728     Peckham.snt@met.police.uk
• Peckham Rye     020 8721 2443     PeckhamRye.snt@met.police.uk
• Riverside     020 8721 2440     Riverside.snt@met.police.uk
• Rotherhithe     020 8721 2435     Rotherhithe.snt@met.police.uk
• South Bermondsey     020 8721 2802     SouthBermondsey.snt@met.police.uk
• South Camberwell     020 8721 2448     SouthCamberwell.snt@met.police.uk
• Surrey Docks     020 8649 3588     SurreyDocks.snt@met.police.uk
• The Lane     020 8721 2769     TheLane.snt@met.police.uk
• Village     020 8721 2446     Village.snt@met.police.uk

Over one in three (37%) carers do not want to wake up in the morning because of dire financial circumstances and are calling on the government for greater support, reveals new research launched today (Thursday 23rd September) by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

The survey of 800, who care unpaid for a sick and disabled family member, found that over half (53%) of all carers who work earn less than £10,000 a year, with three-fifths (60%) having to spend all of their savings to support the person they care for. 89% say that they are financially worse off as a result of caring and, consequently, almost two-fifths (39%) fear they will lose their home.

To cover basic living needs, one in ten (10%) carers questioned have borrowed exceptionally high-interest loans (41% plus APR), while three-fifths (62%) have had to borrow money off family and friends.

The added financial pressures are causing nearly half (45%) carers to want to run away from their caring role, while 15% are turning to alcohol or drugs to cope. Unsurprisingly, over one in three (37%) carers surveyed are fearful of the future.

Karen, 42, is one example of a carer battling poverty and depression. Karen became a carer for her husband when he was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis and chronic arthritis. She told The Trust: “Since Mark became ill we have cascaded into poverty. I was declared bankrupt; I have lost a well-paid job, our house and the future we thought we’d have – all as a result of my caring role. I was so desperate I even borrowed from a loan shark to cover an electric bill and was charged 47 per cent interest per day.

“The stress of caring and the financial worries we’ve had to endure, led me to have a nervous breakdown a few years ago. I am better, but, some days I feel on my own, fraught with worry and at breaking point.

“I never thought we’d be a couple who depended on the state for help. We can just about cover the bills, but we still struggle to pay for food and cover our rent. I feel I have been penalised by the government for caring for my husband.”

To address these issues, one in two (49%) carers surveyed is calling on the new coalition government to increase the Carer’s Allowance and one in three (29%) want greater support to make it easier for them to combine caring and paid work.

Carole Cochrane, Chief Executive at The Princess Royal Trust for Carers says: “The new coalition government has an opportunity to improve the lives of millions of carers. As part of their welfare reform they must ensure greater financial support for carers, and the Comprehensive Spending Review must deliver the improved community support for carers to combine work and care, as pledged already by the government in June. Six million carers will judge the government by the decisions they make in the next two months.”

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers has launched a new advice guide for carers 10 things every carer should know. Carers can also get help by visiting their local Trust Carers’ Centre.