News

Sailing centre of excellence, Rutland Sailability, celebrated an expansion to its services for disabled sailors on 29 August with an official champagne launch of a brand new rigid inflated boat (RIB) by the High Sherriff of Rutland, Margaret Miles. 

The purchase of the safety boat, along with a launch and recovery vehicle, was made possible thanks to a £23,400 grant from the LEADER funding programme managed by Opportunity Peterborough with support from Rutland County Council.

A new partnership between UnLtd and City & Guilds Group will provide funding for social entrepreneurs with bold ideas to create positive change in society.

Funding from City & Guilds Group will be used to support UnLtd’s Thrive programme, which aims to improve access to employment by providing more employment and training opportunities for people furthest from the labour market.

City & Guilds Group, the global skills development body, has joined forces with UnLtd, the foundation for social entrepreneurs, in a new partnership that will provide funding and expert support for social entrepreneurs to scale up and achieve greater impact.

A social care provider hosted a Soup Event at Westmead Day Centre to bring the community together and give local organisations the opportunity to raise awareness and pitch for funding for their community project.

The event, organised by Optalis, provided an opportunity for members of the community to listen to a variety of community project ideas. Through a secret ballot, attendees chose a project and were awarded with funds raised during the evening, match funded by Optalis, and will be later used by the winning organisation to invest in their ideas.

Tech and care industries unite to unveil case for a deal which could transform the learning disability sector

A new report is being launched in Parliament today setting out the case for a deal for the learning disability sector, focusing on realising the potential of technology to boost investment and transform the way care is delivered.

National learning disabilities charity, Hft, supported by Tunstall Healthcare, produced the paper outlining the key arguments for an economic partnership with the government as part of the UK Industrial Strategy – a long term plan for the future aimed at backing businesses to drive productivity through investment in skills, industries and infrastructure.

Gel Ovations Europe has launched its new Multifunction Forehead Stabiliser for clients with Cerebral Palsy, Motor Neurone Disease, Huntington’s Disease, Spinal Injury and other conditions requiring cranial stabilisation.

Part of the company’s growing Sta-Rite range of rehab solutions, the new unit combines a headrest and multi-adjustable Forehead Stabiliser. It has been designed to provide users with ‘head drop,’ a higher level of comfort and skin protection compared to traditional forehead straps.

Developed in consultation with Occupational Therapists, Rehabilitation specialists and end-users, the new unit has been designed for use in a variety of applications including wheelchairs, shower chairs, and children’s functional seating.

A local mental health charity has been helping to make environmental improvements to the landscape around Northumberland’s biggest port. 

Service users from Blyth Star Enterprises’ Stakeford Nurseries have been planting trees and shrubs at the Port of Blyth’s South Harbour as part of a new landscaping maintenance contract. 
The commercial contract forms part of the work carried out by the mental health charity under the remit of its ‘Next Steps’ project, which aims to provide its service users who have participated in the horticultural training programme taught at Stakeford Nurseries with volunteering experience in community-based environments. 

A leading not-for-profit business and disability organisation is calling on  the London Mayor disabled people to have better access to public transport, following the announcement that there will be a car-free day across London on 22 September to raise awareness of the air pollution crisis.

Angela Matthews, Head of Policy and Research, at Business Disability Forum, said:

Robert Walters Group UK has named the Dame Vera Lynn Children’s Charity as its official UK charity for 2019.

The charity supports under 5s with cerebral palsy and other motor learning impairments – focusing on helping children to realise their full potential.

The bulk of fundraising for the charity will take place on the Group’s annual Charity Day, taking place on Friday 11 October 2019.

All 400 of Robert Walters Group UK employees - across London, the South East, Midlands and the North West - will be taking a break from work for the day and will be tasked with raising as much money as possible for the charity. 

Prime Minister Theresa May has revealed plans to enhance the lives of those living with a disability in the UK, announcing the launch of an Equalities Hub in Parliament.

With around a fifth of the working-age population living with a disability, the Prime Minister also announced a new cross-government disability team which will sit alongside the Government Equalities Office and Race Disparity Unit in a new Equalities Hub.

This team will work closely with disabled people, disabled people’s organisations and charities to develop a new approach to disability, with their views and experiences at the forefront of any new policy. Further measures will be set out later this year.