The Get Involved GroupMonthly Round-Up November 2016

Welcome to the GIG’s October Monthly Round-Up Newsletter!

The Get Involved Group (GIG) is user-led group which aims to ensure disabled peoples’ voices are heard when services are planned and changed in Brighton and Hove. We

identify issues and help plan the solutions.

Next GIG meetings:

NHS Feedback, Concerns and Complaints

When: Wednesday 2 NovemberTime: 2pm – 5pm

Where: Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton, BN1 1AF

Come and join the GIG for our consultation meeting on the topic of NHS Feedback, Concerns and Complaints. We want to hear your views on how to improve the complaints and feedback system for everyone.

Brighton and Hove Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) who commission local NHS services would like to know from local disabled people and their carers how the local NHS services could best gather feedback about care and services.

Safety and Support at Home / Open Space meeting

When: Friday 2 DecemberTime: 2pm – 5pm

Where: Ralli Hall Community Centre

81 Denmark Villas, Hove, BN3 3TH

At our December meet-up, we will be looking at ways to stay safe and supported at home. We will be joined by White Watch at East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, and many more community services that can support you at home this winter.

There will also be an Open Space discussion workshop for all disabled people and their carers to raise any issues you would like to see discussed at future meetings, from access to services and getting out and about to wanting to hear from specific speakers and service providers. The choice is yours!

Please RSVP with Lilly for both events on 01273 208 934 or at lilly@possabilitypeople.org.uk if you would like to attend, and let us know if you have any

access or dietary requirements.

Refreshments will be provided, but please do bring some of your own to share if you’re feeling extra generous!

GIG volunteers The Get Involved Group have been very busy this month – as usual of course! And we couldn’t have done it all without our wonderful and brilliant volunteers and Go-To People supporting our work. I would like to especially thank:

Madeline, our fantastic Outreach volunteer, visiting groups of disabled people across the city to spread the word about the GIG.

Tom has been our PR volunteer, supporting our bid-writing and writing press releases to promote everything the GIG has been up to, raising awareness of disability issues citywide.

Sara and Anna are our fabulous admin and office volunteers, supporting our research, newsletter and all things in the office!

Richard is our Talking Possabilities Radio Show presenter, bringing together disabled people and figures of authority and service providers to discuss and tackle disability issues on our monthly radio show.

Iris and Paul have been our Go-To People on the ground, investigating and researching local issues including accessibility of Brighton and Hove streets and shops/cafes, and venue pricing for concessions.

I’d also like to give a huge thank-you to everyone that has been involved in carrying out informal access audits across the city at venues and, most recently, Burwash Road GP Surgery. The lived experience from everyone was shared and used to give recommendations to services on how to improve accessibility and communication for disabled people.

We have a few new volunteers about to begin their journey with us, and the roles at the GIG involve anything and everything, including:

- Administrative support – gaining new skills within an office setting. No past experience is necessary!

- Research and collating of data on disability issues, and tackling problems such as access, discrimination and awareness raising

- Informal access audit reviews of venues and buildings- Providing case studies on how your health condition or impairment affects you- Communications, including collating information for our newsletter, writing blog

posts, keeping people informed through Facebook and Twitter

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- Anything you think would support the GIG in their day-to-day work!

If you would like to volunteer with us for a few hours a week, let Lilly know on 01273 208 934 or at lilly@possabilitypeople.org.uk

Volunteer to be on the Access Advisory Panel for Southern Railway!

Southern Railway need your knowledge and views to help improve the customer experience for passengers with accessibility needs travelling on Southern and Gatwick Express.

They are looking for three volunteer members to join the Access Advisory Panel - this is your chance to review, feedback and help drive improvements in accessibility at a senior level within the organisation!

The Panel offers a unique forum where views can be shared and practical ideas for improvement can be put before senior managers. You will also have the opportunity to give advice and recommendations on customer strategy and business planning and there will be a small budget for self-generated projects.

They are looking for a cross section of passengers from across our routes to ensure that the Panel represents as much of the network as possible.

Regardless of your disability or accessibility needs, the Panel must be able to represent the needs of all of our passengers, including.

Passengers with visual/hearing impairments

Passengers travelling with young children

Elderly passengers requiring assistance when travelling

Passengers with hidden disabilities

Passengers with physical disabilities

If you have constructive opinions and a desire to support and improve customer experience, please get in touch. As mentioned above, this is a voluntary position and you will be required to attend an afternoon or evening meeting once every two months.

The deadline for applications is 5pm on Sunday 30 October 2016.

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Interviews are scheduled to take place between Tuesday 1st November 2016 - Tuesday 15th November 2016.

Apply online: http://www.southernrailway.com/southern/southern-customer-cabinet/apply To request a paper copy of the form please call 020 8929 8600

Celebrate International Men’s Day with Prime Time on November 19th Prime Time, a social group for men aged 50+ and part of Volunteering Matters is hosting an event at The Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton to celebrate International Men’s Day on Saturday 19th November from 10.30am - 4pm. Councillor Pete West, the Mayor of Brighton and Hove, will be opening the event.

Prime Time exists to provide a strong social network for older men, and enable them to meet up, share interests and take part in a wide range of activities.

Possability People will have a stand here – as well as Impact Initiatives, Trust for Developing Communities, Possability People, Fabrica, Terence Higgins Trust, Action on Elder Abuse, Albion in the Community, Grow, GEMS, The Royal British Legion and Active for Life.

There will be reflexology and massage taster sessions, live music from Silver Strings, a Tai Chi demonstration, Boccia, information and activities to promote good health and wellbeing, refreshments throughout the day and a freshly prepared hot snack lunch.

Where: The Friends Meeting House, Ship Street, Brighton

When: Saturday 19th November from 10.30am - 4pm

Cost: Free!

Community Works Questionnaire

Community Works assist people aged over 50 with transport needs in Brighton and Hove. They have created a short questionnaire to improve their understanding of the difficulties people have with getting to and from activities.

The feedback from the questionnaire will be used to develop solutions for local transportproblems. It will also be used to inform the way that the Brighton & Hove Clinical Commissioning Group commission community transport in the city.

If you would like to take part, the questionnaire is to be completed by 18 November, and returned either by email to lifelines@volunteeringmatters.org.uk or by post to Lifelines, Montague House, Montague Place, Brighton, BN2 1HQ.

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Website: www.bhcommunityworks.org.uk/getting-to-and-from-activities

Phone: 01273 234023

Mental Wellbeing Comedy Performance and Drama Workshop

BandBazi Community’s ‘Resilient Arts’ project present a performance of exciting comedy sketches, combining physical theatre, clowning and live music – which will explore how taking notice of what’s around us can enhance our lives and our emotional wellbeing.

‘The Crazy Wisdom of Taking Notice’ focuses on the important relationship between mental health and the arts to enhance emotional resilience. Synergy Creative Community is a mental health peer-led community organisation, and alongside their performance the group will lead a Drama Workshop and host 'Mental Health Awareness Training' led by Grassroots suicide prevention. So come along and get involved!Performance 

‘The Crazy World of Taking Notice’

Sunday 4 December at 4 pm 

The Dukebox Theatre, Wateroo Street, Brighton BN31AQ

£4/£2 concessions

Drama Workshop

Tuesday 8th November 4.30-6 pm

Westhill Community Hall, Compton Avenue, Brighton

£6 / Synergy Members free

Mental Health Awareness Training

22nd November 4-7.30 pm

Westhill Community Hall, Compton Avenue, Brighton

£6 / Synergy Members free

Email: mail@bandbazi.co.uk , Call 01273 245 584 or visit www.bandbazi.co.uk

Neighbourhood Care is Expanding!

The Neighbourhood Care Scheme are expanding their services into Moulsecoomb, Bevendean and Hollingdean.

They offer a good neighbour befriending scheme that supports older people, people with physical disabilities and carers by recruiting local volunteers to support them in a variety of ways. This could be meeting for a social visit, getting out & about or help with small day to day tasks in order to reduce loneliness and isolation, increase wellbeing and to make new friends.

If you know of anyone who you think might benefit from befriending services and would like to make a referral, or would just like to learn more about what we do, please get in touch.

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Call: 01273 775 888, Email: NCS@bh-impetus.org

Website: http://www.bh-impetus.org/projects/neighbourhood-care-scheme

FREE Dementia Friendly Cooker Course

When: Wednesdays for 5 weeks from 16th November to 14th December. 11am-2pm including lunch.

Where:  Ebenezer Church, Richmond Parade, Brighton, BN2 9AA. The venue is wheelchair friendly.

What: Preparing a healthy meal, including different dishes each week. Then eat the food together as a shared lunch. Any dietary requirements can be catered for with advance notice

Brighton & Hove Food Partnership are offering a Dementia Friendly Cookery Course (and ongoing gardening sessions) in central Brighton. These are free activities for people with mild to moderate dementia. The cookery course runs for five weeks starting on Wednesday 16th November, 11am-2pm, and gardening activities continue off Ditchling Road on a Tuesday morning until the end of November (then starting again in February 2017). These friendly group sessions can help improve wellbeing, confidence and more – no previous experience required!

Register your place:

Call: 01273 431700 Email: jess@bhfood.org.uk

Website: http://www.bhfood.org.uk/dementia-friendly-food-project.

Stay Up Late Ten Year Celebration

When: 6th November, 7pm-11pm

Where: The Green Door Store, Trafalgar St Goods Yard, by Brighton Station, Brighton

Cost: £10 general admission - £5 for Gig Buddies – carers go freeIt's 10 years since Stay Up Late started as a campaign, challenging inflexible and institutional social care systems that stop people with learning disabilities and autism leading the lives that they want.

To celebrate their achievements, they are putting on a concert at Brighton’s Green Door Store - featuring the legendary Band of Holy Joy, ASBO Derek and The Revs.

Tickets are £10 and can be bought in advance at:http://stayuplate.org/events/10-years-of-stay-up-late-gig-band-of-holy-joy-brighton-6th-nov-16

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If you are a carer, or want to get your £5 ticket (offer open to all Gig Buddies) please email holly@stayuplate.org

At 1pm on the same day, they are having their 3rd 'Punk AGM' - anyone with an interest is welcome to come along and join them in an 'Open Space' adventure to find out where they’re going next with the work of Gig Buddies and their campaigning. (Email holly@stayuplate.org if you'd like to know more).Caring Together

Hear how integrated care services are changing – and have your say on what can improve them

The city’s NHS and social care commissioners, service providers and voluntary sector want to improve the level of care they can offer - using feedback from service users. This work builds on the Brighton and Hove Better Care Fund programme that has been underway since 2014 – however the Caring Together programme is more ambitious and will integrate services that cover the whole population of our city.  They are keen to explain their plans in more detail, and explore how they can continue to involve local people in shaping how integrated services are commissioned.

An outline agenda has been drawn up and includes: 

1) Setting a Context for Caring Together 2) What have we heard and what have we done so far3) What are the Challenges4) Group work –  working towards services over the next 5 years 5) How will this be taken forward and Next Steps.

 After the success of their first meeting, two more local events are being held at the following times and venues and can be booked via the following links on Eventbrite: Caring Together Engagement Event 2- The Meeting Room, Friends Meeting House, 16th November 14.00- 16.30pmhttps://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/caring-together-engagement-event-2-16th-november-1400-1630-tickets-27725393398 Caring Together Engagement Event 3 - Activities Hall, The Brighthelm Centre, 24th November 18.15-20.45pmhttps://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/caring-together-engagement-event-3-24th-november-1815-2045-tickets-27725705331 

ACTION! Celebrate inclusive film making

ACTION! TAKE 1 is an exhibition showcase of international films made by learning-disabled artists working in supported studios. There will be an exhibition and film premiere of brand new, hot off

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the press 3 minute films exploring their wide ranges of practices and approaches touching on identity, inspiration, process and performance.

When: Thursday 17th Nov 1.30 – 3pm & 6 – 8pm.

Where: ONCA Gallery, 14 St Georges Place, Brighton

Cost: Free!

FREE Creative Music Making Project for People with Dementia Sing Healthy Play Happy are inviting people living who have early stage dementia (with low support needs related to their dementia) and their carers to attend on either Mondays or Fridays for ten weeks from October ‘16.

In these fun, gentle and supportive sessions you can:

·   sing familiar and new songs together

·   explore instruments and sounds

·   make new friends

·   move gently to music

·   have fun!

WHEN: Mondays 10 October - 19 December, 2pm – 3.30pmWHERE: Lavender House, Lavender Street, Brighton

WHEN: Fridays 7 October - 9 December, 10:45am-12:15pm, WHERE: Hop 50+, Palmeira Square, Brighton

No experience is necessary: sing along, pick up an instrument, or simply sit back and listen. Booking in advance is essential at http://openstrings.co.uk/contact/

Please email info@openstrings.co.uk or call 01273 965350 for bookings.

Manage Your Anxiety: A Wellbeing Group for Women

A 5 week group that aims to provide a safe space to support you to:

· understand your anxiety· recognise early signs of anxiety· find ways to reduce and cope with your anxiety · manage feelings and uncertainty

Facilitated by Sue Boyer, a Wellbeing Practitioner (Counsellor) with many years experience.

When: Tuesdays: 15, 22, 29 November and 6 &13 Dec from 11.00am - 1pm

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Where: Mental Health & Wellbeing Service, Second Floor, 27 - 29 North Street, Brighton, BN1 1EB

Call: 01273 929471 or Email wellbeing@bht.org.uk

Patient and Carer Event

GP practices in the city have recently been grouped into “clusters” in order to improve the level of service to patients.  Patients and carers are invited to a workshop event to hear about how the clusters will work, and develop ways that local people can support the clusters to address the health priorities in their area.

This is an interactive workshop, and the start of a process where patients and carers will be working in partnership with local clinicians to support local people to look after themselves, and also to identify and use sources of community support for those with long term and complex health needs.  When: 10 November 2016, 9.30 am – 1pm,Where: The Brighthelm Centre, North Road, BrightonCost: Free!  To book your place, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cluster-based-working-patientcarer-event-tickets-28154181916 or call: 01273 574649   

Accessible Christmas Market

If you are visually impaired or have a physical disability, you need not miss out on holiday celebrations – as Holland Road Baptist Church present their accessible Christmas market.

There are people available to give any assistance required to enable visually impaired folk to do their own shopping. In addition, the stall holders will be available to describe items as needed. If anyone needs transport, they will do their best to arrange that too – simply call the telephone number below. Guides, gift wrapping services are free refreshments are also provided.

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Toys, books, cards and gifts will be available to purchase – with stalls from Traidcraft, The Body Shop, Magnifique Jewellery, Made in Portslade, Books Alive and more.

When: Saturday 12th November 2.30pm - 4.30 pmWhere: Holland Road Baptist Church Hall, 71 Holland Road, HoveCost: Free! Call: 01273 691 876

Brighton Pulse is here from Brighton and Hove Healthwatch!

Healthwatch present the launch of their new online feedback centre – Brighton Pulse – which provides an easy way to share feedback on health and social care services in Brighton & Hove.

Users simply select the service they used from the comprehensive lists provided and then give an assessment and make comments. All feedback is used to monitor the performance of services and identify areas that need improvement.Visit www.brightonpulse.org

Contemporary Dance Classes for Over 60s

Three Score Dance Company offer weekly contemporary dance classes for people aged 60+. The 90 minute classes include contemporary dance technique and explore creativity. Sessions are suitable for all abilities, and no prior dance experience is needed. These classes are currently held at the Marina Studios, Brighton Marina with spaces available for their class on Thursdays.

Classes are on Thursdays 12.45 - 2.15pm. The class is aimed at Beginners and Improvers. There are places available this term. The class started on 22nd September and runs for 11 weeks until 8th December. It is possible to join the course mid-term.

One-off ‘taster’ classes are available so that potential new members can try it out before committing to a whole term.

Email classes.threescoredance@gmail.com or simply call 01273 696 844.

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The GIG wants to hear from you for the monthly round-up newsletter!- Are you having issues accessing health services?

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- Have you been visiting a new group or attend meetings that you think other disabled people would be interested in?

- Would you like to raise awareness of your own health condition?- Do you have a question you’d like to ask other disabled people?- Are there any topics you’d like to see as the theme of a GIG meeting?

Then give the GIG team a shout out and we’ll include your views and thoughts in our newsletter and at our meetings. Call 01273 20 89 34, email lilly@possabilitypeople.org.uk or visit www.getinvolvedgroup.wordpress.com

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