News

An award-winning Stafford and Rural Homes (SARH) project to tackle loneliness and isolation has been extended to a rural Staffordshire village with help from a local councillor.

Inspired by the success of the Marston Court Friendship Group in Stafford, part of a programme of events staged as part of the pioneering BeConnected project, regular meetings are now planned in Eccleshall.

The first was held in the village's community centre and more than a dozen local residents were joined by Cllr Jeremy Pert who has supported the initiative with a £250 donation from a Local Community Fund.

The Playhouse Company, which specialises in creatively designed and made-to-order playhouses, has helped change children’s lives by donating a bespoke playhouse in order to raise money for BBC Children in Need.

Funds were raised for the charity after the company donated two playhouses as part of the Great CarFest Raffle at the annual CarFest festival, held in Cheshire and Hampshire. The festival is held in both the south and north of the UK and raises money for BBC Children in Need, as well as other charities. In 2018, the raffle generated £82,616 across the two events.

One of the unique prizes was won by Mr Gary Shaw, of Kent. However, Mr Shaw decided the playhouse would be better placed at the Acorns Children’s Hospice, in Walsall.

The head office team that supports one of the UK’s leading health and social care providers has raised more than £1,000 for a local charity, after completing a series of fundraising events throughout 2018.

The team at Shaw healthcare’s headquarters in St Mellons, near Cardiff, set out to raise money for mental health charity Cardiff Mind, organising fundraising events like dress-down days and themed raffles throughout the year. Shaw healthcare runs more than 63 care homes and day care facilities across the UK, including specialist services for residents and service users living with dementia and other mental health illnesses.

A wheelchair power pack, co-funded by a children’s charity, has offered life-changing independence for a local 13-year-old boy with diplegic cerebral palsy.

Riley Murray, from Montrose, a twin was affected by twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a condition that can occur in identical twin pregnancies who share a placenta. TTTS happens when there is an imbalance in the placental blood vessels that connect both twins. If the blood doesn't flow evenly between the twins, one twin receives more blood and therefore nutrients, causing developmental problems.

Riley’s parents were aware throughout the pregnancy that their children may suffer physical and potentially mental disabilities due to the condition, and he and his twin brother were delivered 11-weeks prematurely. 

This Valentine's Day, West End leading ladies Alice Fearn and Sophie Evans from the smash hit musical Wicked will release a charity single with a difference, in aid of the Samaritans. A mashup cover of Cyndi Lauper’s classic Time After Time melded with Scott Alan’s Always, the single will be available via www.nickbarstow.com on iTunes and Amazon music.

Care Management Group (CMG) has joined with Surrey County Council and other care providers, to launch a new programme and tool, aimed at transforming care for people living with learning disabilities and other associated complex needs. 

The collaboration, which was launched in Portcullis House with the support of Tom Brake MP, brought together CMG; Consensus; Choice Care Group; Dimensions; Pathway For Care; and Surrey County Council for the first time. It saw the launch of the pioneering Surrey Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) Quality Experience Tool and the Surrey Coaches Programme.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is refusing to say which police forces have passed on video footage and other information about claimants of disability benefits who have taken part in anti-fracking and anti-austerity protests.

DWP’s attempt to hide its links with police forces has caused fresh anger among activists, who have this week called on disabled people to complain to their MPs, as well as police forces and DWP itself.

They have also called for disabled people to support those activists affected by such police actions.

Manchester City Council is recruiting short-break foster carers – people with experience of working with children who have a physical or learning disability.

You’ll help to look after a child in your own home between one and four nights a month, helping to give their family a break. Each child is matched with you, and there are plenty 
of visits and meetings for you to get to know each other before an overnight stay occurs, to make sure that the child is settled.

As a short-break carer you’ll be giving parents the time to relax a little and switch off, knowing that their child is being well cared forand having fun.  

You can fit caring around your permanent job and we’ll provide you with training and development to help you through your fostering career.

Bluebird Care Bristol has been rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the independent regulator of health and social care services in England. Only 1% of home care providers receive this rating.

The CQC rating was awarded following a comprehensive inspection in November 2018 and is a significant achievement, making Bluebird Care Bristol one of the best home care providers in the area.