West Lothian Advice & Support Service Newsletter

Transcription

1 West Lothian Advice & Support Service Newsletter Welcome to our February Newsletter. We hope you had a good time over Christmas and New Year and are looking forward to what 2016 will bring. Capability Scotland Advice and Support Service West Lothian News Capability Scotland Advice and Support Service and The Advice Shop are now holding joint benefit advice sessions in the Ability Centre on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month. These sessions will be by appointment only between 9am and 12 noon. We can help with completing Employment and Support Allowance forms and Personal Independence Payment Forms as well as carrying out a benefit check and discussing appeal options. February news pics changed.indd 1 15/02/ :44:47

2 If you want to find out more or make an appointment, then please contact us at Capability Scotland Advice and Support Service, Ability Centre, Carmondean Centre Road, Livingston, EH54 8PT. Tel: or freephone or The Peer counselling service continues to be busy; however there is no waiting list at the moment, so if you are interested or want more information then please get in touch. If you find it difficult to use a photo booth, then we are now able to take passport size photographs in the Ability Centre. It costs 4 for 4 passport size photos. A number of disabled people have agreed to distribute our posters and leaflets in their local area. They will also keep us up-to-date with new activities and groups in their area. However we are still looking for other people who would want to do this so if you are interested, please get in touch. February news pics changed.indd 2 15/02/ :44:50

3 The Disability Equality Forum held its first meeting in 2016 and we were very pleased to welcome some new members as well as the new HR Equality and Diversity Officer. The Forum also elected a Chairperson and vice Chairperson. Gordon Mungall has agreed to be the Chairperson and Bill Menzies has agreed to be the Vice Chairperson. Bill has also been a member of the Forum for many years. Maggie Archibald is the new HR Equality and Diversity Officer and it was great to have her attend the meeting. We are looking forward to working with her in the future. We have set our meeting dates for 2016 and we do hope people will be able to come along. We will meet on the 4th Thursday of the month at the Ability Centre 2-4pm. If you are not able to come to meetings, but would like to be involved please let us know and we can keep you informed and get your comments and feedback about issues that are raised. February news pics changed.indd 3 15/02/ :44:50

4 Disabled Access Day is in March this year. Disabled Access Day is in March this year and to mark this we are asking people to tell us about their experiences (good and bad) of access to venues and services within West Lothian. You can do this by visiting us in person, telephoning, ing or writing to us. We have drafted some questions, which might help you think about this, however we are happy just to have your feedback. On the 2nd March we are inviting you to come along to the Ability Centre to find out what other people have said about access and to speak to others about their experiences. Online Today will be there to demonstrate products such as laptops, tablets, smartphones and ereaders to people with sensory loss. We will also invite other organisations, businesses and anyone who wants to make their service as accessible as possible to come along. They can see some of the accessibility features at the Ability Centre and speak to disabled people about accessibility. The cafe at the Ability Centre is open to the public. After the day we will give all the feedback to the venues. February news pics changed.indd 4 15/02/ :44:50

5 On Tuesday 3rd May (early evening) we are holding an event in Howden Park Centre, Howden, Livingston, EH54 6AE. The event is for people who are deaf and hard of hearing. We will have short information sessions as well as inviting organisations to bring along information about their services. Keep an eye out on our website for more information or get in touch with us now if you want us to contact you when we have more information. Other News Capability Scotland Employment Service is now running Employability courses on a Thursday morning in Bathgate. The courses are available for jobseekers that may be eligible for the Work Choice programme. For more information about the sessions, contact Janette Cameron, Employment Services Officer on or or Janette.Cameron@capabilityscotland.org.uk February news pics changed.indd 5 15/02/ :44:51

6 Action on Hearing Loss Scotland has compiled a survey to gather information about the experiences and views of people who use NHS audiology and other hearing support services across Scotland to help find out about which parts of services are working well and where there may be room for improvement. If you have NHS hearing aids they would encourage you to complete their survey before Sunday 21st February. uk/about-us/scotland/policy-andresearch/research-on-scotlands-nhsaudiology-and-hearing-support-services. aspx If you would prefer a paper copy of the survey, then contact Jennifer McAllister at Jennifer.mcallister@hearingloss.org.uk West Lothian Libraries hold Bookbug sessions which are free story, song and rhyme sessions for babies, toddlers and pre-school children. These sessions are open to everyone so if you are a disabled parent or the parent of a disabled child, please go along. There is more information about these sessions - where and when they are on West Lothian Council website. If you want to find out about access to a particular library, then get in touch with the library. February news pics changed.indd 6 15/02/ :44:51

7 Scottish Welfare Fund West Lothian Council is now responsible for the administration of the Scottish Welfare Fund for West Lothian residents. The fund provides two types of grant: crisis grants and community care grants, neither of which need to be paid back. Crisis Grants: These can be awarded in a crisis to meet expenses that have arisen as a result of an emergency or disaster in order to avoid an immediate threat to health or safety. Examples of items that can be awarded are help with food and heating costs. Community Care Grants: These can support independent living, preventing the need for institutional care. A Community Care Grant may not be awarded if the applicant (or their partner) has savings of over 700 if they are below pension age, or 1200 if above pension age. Newsletter February March February news pics changed.indd 7 15/02/ :44:52

8 You must be aged 16 or over and resident within West Lothian, or intend to live within West Lothian. You should normally be in receipt of one of the following benefits or on a low income: Income Support Income based Jobseekers Allowance Income related Employment and Support Allowance Any type of Pension Credit Universal Credit You can apply online using the form available on West Lothian Council s website, however if you need assistance to apply you can phone Carers of West Lothian are running workshops for parents, carers or a disabled employer that will help to increase confidence and skills in managing direct payments. The workshops are on the 2nd and 3rd March pm at Carers of West Lothian, Sycamore House, Quarrywood Court, Livingston, EH54 6AX If you want more information or to attend, then contact Caroline on or caroline@carers-westlothian. com February news pics changed.indd 8 15/02/ :44:52

9 Was your New Years resolution to be healthier in 2016? capability-scotland.org.uk Health Was your New Years resolution to be healthier in 2016? Are you struggling to keep it? Hopefully the following information will help you with this. Capability Scotland Advice and Support Service have a Leisure Activities factsheet, which includes information about sports clubs and activities. Get in touch if you want a copy. You can collect batteries for your NHS hearing aid from all libraries in West Lothian. Staff can give you a 3 month supply of batteries free of charge if you take your yellow audiology book with you. There is a chair yoga class in the Ability Centre on a Wednesday. You can get more information here: am.co.uk Tel: or info@yogawithbij am.co.uk There are seated or standing Pilates classes for people living with long term health conditions. For more information about the classes, contact Rhona on or rhonawatt@btconnect.com Web: February news pics changed.indd 9 15/02/ :44:53

10 Eat Better Feel Better is about helping you and your family to eat healthier Lothian Disability Sport has information about sports opportunities for disabled people in West Lothian. You can view or download this information from their website: Tel: or Put Your Best Foot Forward Walking Programme has volunteer led short (30-60 minutes) walks in several areas in West Lothian. Most of these are wheelchair accessible and if you want to find out more, contact Susan Rose on or Eat Better Feel Better is about helping you and your family to eat healthier, whether it s easy recipes for school night teas, handy hints for meal planning, information about support in your local area, or where to find the best deals on healthy products. Adults attending GP surgeries in West Lothian with a minor mental health problem may be recommended an appropriate book and given a book prescription to take to the local library. February news pics changed.indd 10 15/02/ :44:53

11 The books recommended by professionals for books on prescription have a focus on information and self-help, helping people to understand their difficulties and to make positive changes in their lives. The collection covers a wide range of mental health issues such as anxiety, stress, and eating disorders, and advice for coping with life s toughest times, such as bereavement or depression. The books are easy to read and have been written by therapists or service users who have experience of these types of problems. There is a list of these resources on the online library catalogue or if you want more information, contact Rochelle Downie: rochelle.downie@westlothian.gov.uk There are sexual health clinics in West Lothian all of which are wheelchair accessible and can provide a BSL interpreter if necessary. The Chill Out Zone offers confidential information and support for young people including free condoms and contraception advice. The contact details are: 7 Gardners Lane, Bathgate, EH48 1TP. Tel: It is open Monday-Thursday 4-6pm and pm and Friday 2-5pm. February news pics changed.indd 11 15/02/ :44:54

12 Healthy Respect Drop In: The Vennie offers general and sexual health information on Saturdays 6-9pm. The contact details are: Knightsridge Adventure Project, Knightsridge East Road, Livingston, EH54 8RA. Tel: , The following Sexual Health Clinics offer sexual health advice and all forms of contraception: Bathgate Primary Care Centre, Whitburn Road, Bathgate, EH48 2SS. Tel: It is open Monday 4.50pm-6.15pm (appointments), Tuesday 9.30am-11.30am (appointments) and Friday 1.30pm pm (young person s drop in). Howden Health Centre, Howden Road West, Livingston, EH54 6TP. Tel: There are walk in clinics on Tuesdays at 4.30pm and Friday at 9am. There are clinics (appointments) on Tuesday pm and pm and Fridays 10.30am-3.30pm. Whitburn Health Centre, 1 Weaver s Lane, Whitburn, EH47 0SD. Tel: This clinic is open on a Wednesday pm (appointments). February news pics changed.indd 12 15/02/ :44:54

13 Everyone between the ages of 50 and 75 years in Scotland is sent a bowel screening kit so bowel cancer can be detected. Everyone between the ages of 50 and 75 years in Scotland is sent a bowel screening kit so bowel cancer can be detected. If you have any questions about this particularly if you think it will be difficult for you to collect a sample in the way described, contact the helpline to discuss this further. The helpline number is: or textphone: Scottish Breast Screening Women between 50 and 70 years are invited to attend screening for a mammogram every 3 years. If you need an interpreter present at your appointment, or have access requirements, need to remain seated when having the mammogram or want someone to accompany you to your appointment, then when you get your appointment letter, contact the centre to discuss this. If you are on income support, you can claim travel expenses. The helpline number is: or textphone and is open every day 8am to 10 pm and also provides an interpreting service. February news pics changed.indd 13 15/02/ :44:54

14 Health in Mind is running 6 weekly classes to help you cope better with stress in your life. The course is free and open to members of the public who feel they might benefit from stress management. The course will use the Stress Control materials, which use proven psychological techniques to help manage stress better. Six weekly 80 minute sessions (with 5 minute break) You will not be required to ask questions or share information during sessions This is not a therapy group - instead material is taught using lecture style presentations Stress control booklets are distributed at each session and individuals will be encouraged to make use of course materials between sessions Participants may be accompanied by family members or friends The sessions will be held in Deans Community High School on 18th May to 22nd June pm pm and 26th October - 30th November February news pics changed.indd 14 15/02/ :44:54

15 Get in touch with us if you want more information about anything in our newsletter Capability Scotland Advice and Support Service Ability centre Carmondean Centre Road Livingston EH54 8PT Tel: Freephone: capability-scotland.org.uk Web: February news pics changed.indd 15 15/02/ :44:57