This is a terrible story we are seeing repeated all to often and in too
many places.
We work with housing and housing support services which took a huge cut
early on.
We believe that making connection with your local MP, particularly if they
are new and not aware of your service and the impact that cutting it will
make, is a good way to get continued support. I am not sure if this will
work on local councillors but must be worth a try.
I have attached the two documents we have suggested as a way forward.
All the best,
Wendy
Wendy Cocks
Housing Action Support Officer
Care and Repair England
c/o R.I.N.G.
88 Carr Lane
Norris Green
LIVERPOOL L11 2UE
PLEASE NOTE: FROM July 2010, my usual days will be TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY,
THURSDAY.
TELEPHONE: 0151-226 9788
MOBILE: 0752 710 1887
EMAIL: [log in to unmask]
Care & Repair England is an Industrial and Provident Society with
Charitable Status Reg No 25121R Head Office:The Renewal Trust Business
Centre, 3, Hawksworth Street, Nottingham, NG3 2EG Tel: 0115 950 6500
** Visit our website for additional information on Care and Repair England
**
www.careandrepair-england.org.uk
On Sep 8 2010, Liz East wrote:
>For the attention of: Orla McCann -
>Access Manager 'Disability Action'
>
> Hi Orla Then David Cammeron says the 'old/infirm will not be affected'
> (oh boy, how thick does he think the public are)??? I have a life-long
> bone problem and work at present in local Council's Heritage. Heritage
> and these 'others' (Access/Disability issues etc) are the 'poor cousins'
> and first to go/be cut!!! I also work with 'Accessability Lincoln',
> although the organization had a small grant from the City Council, this
> was cut a couple of years ago but the organization manages to obtain
> small amounts of funding elshere. 'Accessability Lincoln' has been told
> by the local Council, that it can no longer utilise the ground floor room
> for their 6-weekly meetings without a cost. Due to the committment of
> this organization, its members all feel it is imperitave that we have to
> continue utilising this room even if members have to find the funds
> themselves. The organization has 'speakers' and Council members of ie:
> Planning attend the meetings regularly. Each member of 'Accessability
> Lincoln' is 'impaired' in some way. The purpose of 'Accessablity Lincoln'
> is many-fold: working alongside Councils in 'access issues' within their
> buildings, Highways etc: out into the Community ie: village halls etc.,
> Committee individuals are qualified in 'Access-Auditor skills'. Through
> sheer hardwork, 'Accessability Lincoln' is recognised by the public ie:
> bringing to Trading Standards' attention of bogus/unreputable businesses'
> selling scooters etc: the public have asked the organization to assist
> them. 'Accessability Lincoln' automatically gets notification (change to
> view plans) by both City/County Councils on Planning Applications amongst
> other issues. Finally, the organization, through fundings have been able
> to produce booklets on 'friendly businesses/restaurants etc' within the
> City (and some Market towns of the County) which have proved to be
> enormously beneficial to visitors. 'Accessability Lincoln' will certainly
> add its name to the 'accessurvey', below. Good Luck Liz East:
> Accessability Lincoln: 01522 810029
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Orla McCann
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 2010 12:43 PM
> Subject: [ACCESSIBUILT] Your support please
>
>
> Dear Colleague
>
>
>
> Disability Action which is the only organisation providing free, good
> practice, access advice in Northern Ireland is facing the closure of its
> Access Service.
>
>
>
> Disability Action has been notified by the Planning Service that they
> will cease funding our Access Service at the end of September.
> Discussions with Minister Poots have seen the reinstatement of 25% of our
> original funding but what was a comprehensive service has now been
> decimated.
>
>
>
> Disability Action will no longer be in a position to examine planning
> applications to ensure that in future public buildings continue to be
> accessible, nor to provide advice and advocate for disabled people
> experiencing discrimination and exclusion.
>
>
>
> The problems disabled people continue to experience with access in NI
> was demonstrated in a survey of 200 disabled people in June 2010 which
> found that 81.25% had experienced a problem with access, 43.75% said they
> experienced problems "all the time".
>
>
>
> The Planning Service has also decided to stop the £25,000 in grant aid
> which funded the voluntary and community sector to improve access to
> their facilities and services and thereby encourage disabled people to
> participate in their own communities.
>
>
>
> Disability Action is actively campaigning for the retention of the
> service, as part of this campaign we are asking you to support us by
> following the link below and completing the form.
>
>
>
> http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/accesssurvey
>
>
>
> You can also show your support by writing to the Minister for the
> Environment - Edwin Poots to express your concerns. A template for such a
> letter can be sent to you, email [log in to unmask] to receive a
> copy. Thank you in advance for your support. Orla McCann, Access Manager.
>
>
>
> If you require any further information please contact us on the details
> below:
>
>
>
> Sinead Owens Telephone: 028 9029 7880
>
> Campaigns Officer Textphone: 028 9029 7882
>
> Disability Action Fax: 028 9029 7881
>
> Portside Business Park Email: [log in to unmask]
>
> 189 Airport Road West Web: www.disabilityaction.org/access
>
> Belfast
>
> BT3 9ED
>
>
>
>
>
> Orla McCann
>
> Access Manager
>
> Disability Action
>
> Portside Business Park
>
> 189 Airport Road West
>
> Belfast BT3 9ED
>
> Tel 02890 297880
>
> Fax 02890 297881
>
> Email [log in to unmask]
>
>
>
>
>
> ----------End of Message---------- Run by SURFACE for more information
> on research, consultancy and the distance taught MSc. in Accessibility
> and Inclusive Design programme visit: http://www.surface.salford.ac.uk
> Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at
> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html
>
>
>
> ----------End of Message---------- Run by SURFACE for more information on
> research, consultancy and the distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and
> Inclusive Design programme visit: http://www.surface.salford.ac.uk
> Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at
> http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html
>
>
>
>
----------End of Message----------
Run by SURFACE for more information on research, consultancy and the distance taught MSc. in Accessibility and Inclusive Design programme visit:
http://www.surface.salford.ac.uk
Archives for the Accessibuilt discussion list are located at http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/accessibuilt.html
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