The Whitbread team outside the Disability Resource Centre

The Disability Resource Centre (DRC) benefitted recently when our local Dunstable neighbour, ‘Whitbread’ held a ‘Community Action Day’ and offered us the opportunity for some additional ‘hands on’ help. We were delighted to accept their offer and tasked their team of 10 volunteers with the job of office painting.

Our busy Admin and Accounts offices were looking somewhat neglected and in need of a coat of paint, but this didn’t seem to faze the Whitbread volunteers. They even insisted that they would purchase and fund the materials. The team arrived at our offices armed with paint, brushes, polyfilla, dustsheets, 3 potted plants, and a positive team building attitude!

The Whitbread team at work

Sheena Brown, Facilities and Admin Manager at the Disability Resource Centre said, “I was quite overcome by Whitbread’s generosity and questioned why they would do this. Their response was, ‘the Disability Resource Centre provides such an important and valuable service to the local Community that we would like to ensure this continues.”

After 6 hours of painting, the Whitbread Volunteers have not only transformed our offices but have also made a positive contribution to the work carried out by the Disability Resource Team.

Mick Dillon, the Chief Executive of The Disability Resource Centre,  was thrilled to be offered a flight in an Aerobility plane over the Imperial War Museum in Duxford. (IWM) Having previously arranged similar experiences for others, Mick was delighted to be able to take to the skies himself.

“With support from Aerobility and Gowrings Mobility, I participated at an inclusive and equal level, experiencing the thrills of flight that I could never have imagined.”

Close up of Mick in the plane (copyright IWM)

The flight took place during the Gowrings Mobility Roadshow at IWM. The facilities at IWM offered an exceptional opportunity to work with Aerobility to give some lucky visitors a most inspiring experience – a 20 minute flight above the museum taking control of the specially adapted plane.

View from the wing of the plane (copyright IWM)

The aim of the Roadshow programme, now running for its 3rd year, is to inspire people with disabilities to experience attractions and places of interest they may not have otherwise considered. Stopping at top venues across the UK this year, including London and Bristol Zoos, Woburn Safari Park and the National Space Centre, the events are expected to attract many visitors.

Janet Seward, Sales and Marketing Director of accessible transport specialist Gowrings Mobility, said: “The aim of the programme is to show people what they can do and take the attitude that you really can ‘go where you want to go’. A free day out at an accessible visitor attraction such as IWM Duxford will hopefully inspire visitors.”

The Disability Resource Centre will again join forces with Gowrings Mobility when the Roadshow moves to Woburn Safari Park in the late Summer.

Speaking about working together on the Roadshow programme Mick said,

“A major vehicle adaptor and a user led disability organisation will come together again to provide a holistic approach to independence.”

The Roadshow moves onto Explosion, the Museum of Naval Firepower, at Gosport on 28^th & 29^th Feb and 1^st March. A number of important charities will be in attendance, providing advice and information to families, carers and organisations expected to visit the roadshow. Wheelchair users and their carers will be able to gain free entrance to the museum during the Roadshow dates.

For further details and to request a free invitation to a Roadshow event call Gowrings Mobility on 0845 608 8020.

Commenting on the invitation, Mick said “I’m delighted to be invited to lead on the debate on how Centres maintain their financial sustainability to allow them to respond to the changing needs of service users, while retaining independence and impartiality, a hugely important prerequisite for all Assist UK Centres.”

The event is being held on Friday 20th January at the Heritage Motor Centre, at Gaydon in Warwickshire.

Watch the video to find out how he got on at the start of his journey, trying to get into a lift – it wasn’t pretty!

Watch in new window here JVS tests disability access

Friday 23rd December closed from 2.00pm

Monday 26th December closed

Tuesday 27th December closed

Wednesday 28th December closed from 4.00pm

Thursday 29th December closed from 4.00pm

Friday 30th December closed from 4.00pm

Monday 2nd January closed

If you have a physical disability, the assessment will help you to ascertain which type of vehicle will suit you best and which adaptations will enable you to control the vehicle safely.

Alternatively, if you have a medical condition, or perhaps have had a head injury, which may cause cognitive difficulties such as slowed reactions, memory loss or problems with concentration, the assessment will determine whether you have the ability to continue to drive safely.

Following your assessment, you will receive a written report containing recommendations and advice, which will be recognised by other mobility organisations such as Motability and the DVLA.

For more information call 1582 470970

We can help people of any age, with any disability, their family or carers.

If you would like to try out equipment we ask that you make an appointment so that an advisor can be available to help you with your enquiry. However, on Wednesdays please feel free to drop in anytime from 10 until 4pm.

This training was part of the continuous programme of formal and informal training that staff receive to ensure the best possible service is provided to service users.

]]> http://www.drcbeds.org.uk/news/direct-payments-support-staff-training-day/feed/ 0 http://www.drcbeds.org.uk/news/681/ http://www.drcbeds.org.uk/news/681/#comments Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:28:18 +0000 kaytaylor http://www.drcbeds.org.uk/?p=681 Digital Switchover in the Anglia TV region takes place soon. Older and eligible disabled people can get help to make sure they can keep watching TV from the BBC-run Switchover Help Scheme. Even if you already have one digital TV the Help Scheme can still convert another one, for example in your bedroom or kitchen.

We can give you advice on how to get help from the BBC Switchover Help Scheme.