News and views from across the Cumbrian Self Advocacy Groups Issue 1 Sept 2017 In this issue Member of the month Snoop on the groups All Cumbria conference Unity festival The Back Page
Tell us about yourself! Laura Cawood has been with us for many years, volunteering and helping others. As our first Member of The Month we decided to ask Laura some questions... What s your favourite music? I like current music from the Charts. I love Ed Sheeran. I also love Robbie William s new song Love My Life What do you enjoy doing with People First? I enjoy going to conferences, and making new friends from out side of Cumbria! Why Do You Like Coming To People First? I like coming to People First because I love to help out and because I know my way around the office, it is like a second home for me and it helps boost my confidence. If you could go anywhere in the world where would you go? I would go to Benidorm! There is nice hot weather and its nice to explore other cultures. If you were a cake what type would you be and why? Chocolate cake because I love chocolate! What emoji do you use the most? I use the classic smiley faced emoji though it depends on my mood and who I m talking! Favourite food? Definitely Chinese food and Chocolate! Why not become the Member of the Month? Are you happy to let others know what it s like to be you? If interested, please speak to your self advocacy group.
The Unity Festival. The annual Carlisle Unity Festival was held in the city centre on Saturday 8th July. It celebrates diversity and community in Carlisle. The festival helps to make Carlisle a more welcoming and diverse place for all. There were lots of different stalls and people entertaining throughout the day. People First Independent advocacy were represented by a team on the day who helped to tell others about the work people First do. We met the Mayor of Carlisle and the leader of the City Councill both of whom came to say hello.
Our All Cumbria Conference was held on the 24th May at Penrith Rugby Club. It was a busy day where we had 2 guest speakers, Dave Wheatcroft whose job is to make sure that services are right for people with Learning Difficulties and/or autism in Cumbria, and Gary Hart who works at the Houses of Parliament. His job is to promote and explain the role of Parliament, the Government and the House of Lords to different groups across the Country. Dave said It s important to put Learning Difficulties and Autism on the map and I am determined to give Cumbria a voice. It s important to put Learning Difficulties and Autism on the map Gary spoke about the up coming general election and Elizabeth said Every disabled person should have a voice. It was also suggested by Lou that voting forms and all information should be more accessible and in an easy read format. Healthwatch gave us information about a new project they are doing which looks at what a Best Life looks like for people with learning difficulties. Peter s Quiz kept us all entertained, Well done to the winners The Pirates. Peters Quiz
As a Lead Group member Laura Cawood introduced the idea of a Newsletter which has been suggested in the Self advocacy groups. We later voted on the name and the decision was taken to call it The Snappy and guess what! Here it is! Representation Vote on membership Every disabled person should have a voice New newsletter - The Snappy Rohhss talked about representation and what that means, Each person has a voice, but sometimes a single person is appointed to represent the views of others and explained about the job of the Lead group. We had an up date from all the Cumbrian groups. In this edition we have included The Snoop on the Group where you can read all about what the self advocacy groups have been up to. Speakers Dave and Gary
Workington Workington Self advocacy group meet at the Best Life Building on Oxford Street. We meet monthly on Thursdays from 7-9pm. Date What s on! 5/10/17 Group meet with Helen 2/11/17 Group meet with Vicky 30/11/17 Group meet with Cath Whitehaven Whitehaven Self advocacy group meets at St Beghs Catholic Social Club, Coach Road. We meet monthly on Thursdays from 7-9pm. Date What s on! 21/9/17 Take Out night! 19/10/17 Halloween Party 16/11/17 Speak Up! 15/12/17 Christmas Party! Carlisle Carlisle Have Your say group meetat the Best Life Building at 123-127 Botchergate. We meet every two weeks on Tuesdays from 6-8pm. Date What s on! 12/9/17 Video Night 26/9/17 Talk about Autism 10/10/17 Politics with Gary Hart 24/10/17 Have Your say
Barrow Carlisle Kendal Whitehaven Workington Barrow Carlisle Kendal Whitehaven Workington Barrow Carlisle Kendal Whitehaven Workington Barrow Carlisle Kendal Whitehaven Workington Barrow Carlisle Kendal Whitehaven Workington Barrow Carlisle Kendal Whitehaven Workington Barrow Carlisle Kendal Whitehaven Workington Barrow Kendal Kendal Self advocacy group meets at Jenkins Crag Court, Rydal Road, Kendal. We meet monthly on Thursdays from 10-12pm. Date What s on! 28/10/17 Meet the group 26/10/17 Tell us your news 30/11/17 Speak up 21/12/17 Christmas is coming! Barrow Barrow Self advocacy group meets at the Best Life Building, 12 Duke Street, Barrow-in Furness. We meet every two weeks on Thursdays from 7-9pm. Date What s on! 21/9/17 Film/DVD night 5/10/17 Planning for Christmas 19/10/17 Name pegs for Christmas 2/11/17 Halloween Buffet! 16/11/17 Birthday Party! 30/11/17 Christmas Meal ( The first of many!) All times are correct at the time of printing, but if any changes occur, we will let you know
Take a peep at what s going on with the other selfadvocacy groups in Cumbria Barrow Barrow self advocacy group had a visit from Brian Evans who is the Clinical Nurse specialist in Learning Disabilities. He came to talk about improving care in Hospitals and completing Hospital passports. It s a good idea to have a hospital passport because it lets all hospital staff know about your needs, likes and dislikes if you ever have to go into hospital. Some people already have a Hospital passport but if you want to get one you can ask a People First member of staff or look online and fill it in. You can then send your completed passport directly to Brian at brian.evans@mbht.nhs.uk and he will make sure they are sent to the Hopsital so they have your Passport on record. Peter also kept everyone entertained with a Quiz that he had put together to get everybody thinking.
Whitehaven and Kendal Whitehaven We meet in a social club in Whitehaven. We had a visit from Robin to talk about a new Healthwatch project and he asked about how we feel about our homes, lifestyle, environment and health. We had a take away and talked about some issues that are happening now in our lives. Kendal We now meet at Jenkins Crag Court in Kendal and Jack had all his birthday cards to show everyone. We tell each other what we have done. James is very busy doing lots of different trips and activites.
Carlisle We have had lots of visits at the Have Your say meetings. Aidan Quigley from the DWP came to talk to the group about Welfare Benefits and answer any questions that people had about moving from Disability Living Allowance to Personal Independence Payments. We also had a guest speaker called Pauline Robson form the Alzheimers society to give a talk about Dementia and Alzheimers. The group all became Dementia Friends which means we will talk to someone we know who has dementia and leave a smile on their face! We also found out about a new Healthwatch Project called GOLD from Elaine and Jane which looks at the lives of people with learning difficulties and ways that lives can be improved. We all had a good time at a BBQ in Carlisle and it was the same day as Heathers birthday! We wished her a Happy Birthday and joined in the singing.
Workington We had a visit from Sue Hannah from Healthwatch and heard about a project they are doing that we can help with. We all had a take away night which we really enjoyed. We talked about the Annual General meeting and how to vote for someone to get an award. Laura has told us about going to the Reshaping advocacy Conference. My name is Laura I attended the Reshaping Advocacy Conference in Newcastle. The Conference was all about how advocacy could be better, and stronger. There were lots of workshops run by different organisations. I had to do a Presentation in front of lots of people about networking. I enjoyed doing this. One funny moment from my trip away, whilst waiting to leave Carlisle for Newcastle, was that every 5 minutes. I had to close the door in Costa Coffee as everyone kept leaving it open and we were freezing!
Do you have any ideas or views you would like to sharewith other members in this newsletter? This could be your favourite recipe, stories, poems or artwork. Let us know and we may be able to print it here on the back page! In this edition we have a short story by Lynne McConnell. Great work Lynne! Mouse Sees Frankenstein! If you would like to Have Your Say and tell readers your news and views, let your self-advocacy group leader know - it s your newsletter so get involved! It was Friday night and Teddy was taking Mouse to the Cinema. Mouse wanted to see Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Teddy passed the cinema and he saw Frankenstein was on. He thought that would be better than Snow White. He took Mouse to see Frankenstein instead. Mouse didn t like it! She sat there shivering and when she saw the Monster she hid under the seat. She had to take Teddy s hand going home and when Mummy heard what teddy had taken Mouse to see, she was not pleased. Mummy had to sleep with Mouse that night!