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The Editor |
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Managing Director,
Mrs Susan Pattrick |
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There is no nominated charity this month.
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Greetings!
Brrr! It's so cold, but at least the snow has gone for a while! Roll on Spring!
I am delighted to announce that the new Dancing Giraffe website is up and running. Dancing Giraffe aims to become the leading online resource for everything relevant to the disabled community.
Dancing Giraffe is a Community Interest Company of which I am a co-director, and I am delighted to say that we have recently received lottery funding and even more delighted to announce our first patron, Priti Patel MP for Witham.
But we do need your help... |
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Dancing Giraffe needs YOU! | | |
As a Community Interest Company we urgently need volunteers to help with some of the tasks involved in running such an organisation.
We already have over 30 volunteers on board, but we do need more.
 In particular we need:
- Finance Director
- Journalists & Feature Writers
- Internet Researchers
- News Feed Analysts
- Editorial Researchers
- Drivers (collection and delivery drivers)
- Fundraising sales using Ebay for donated goods
- Fundraisers for table top sales and boot fairs
- Trainers (various roles)
- Contact researchers
- Bookkeepers
If you have some experience, can spare a few hours each week (or more) and would like to volunteer for any of the roles listed above, please email me. We will be pleased to hear from you. We do pay expenses where travel is required but most of the roles can be completed at home. In the longer term we will be looking to turn volunteer roles into permanent jobs, either full or part time, for those who wish to be employed.
Volunteering for us means we can reach and improve the quality of life of even more people affected by disability.
Want to find out more about Dancing Giraffe? Click here ... |
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Disability app designed by London terrorism survivor | | |
Back in December we ran an article on accessibility of the London tube network and the availability of a leaflet to help the disabled travel around London.
However, a severely injured survivor of the 7/7 bombings has created a smartphone app to help people with disabilities travel around London more easily and goes much further.
Daniel Biddle lost both his legs, spleen and left eye after a bomb exploded on a tube train in July 2005.
His 'Ldn Access' app details step-free access, ramps and usable toilet facilities at thousands of venues.
Read more ...
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One step forwards, but ... | | |
I recently read an article written by Wayne Roberts about the Canadian Urban Institute's new report entitled "Repositioning Age-Friendly Communities: Opportunities To Take AFC Mainstream" that talks about a radical shake-up in the way cities are planned. It is urging 'universal design' that the disabled community in this country have been arguing so long for, along with 'inclusive design'.
But here in the UK, sadly we seem to be moving backwards! The Government is about to open up the building minefield where disabled people, senior citizens and those less able to look after themselves will lose out - yet again! With the Government putting out to consultation a document that proposes doing away with certain controls it will leave architects, planners, designers and Approved Building Inspectors to do their 'own thing' leaving the disabled and older communities with no counter action.
Disabled people must stand up for themselves, otherwise the built environment will become an even greater no go area than it currently is. At least the built environment seems to have made some improvements for the better but for how long, if the Government gets its way.
Architects and designers should plan and build for everyone, not for their own specific tastes but for access for the whole community. It is not difficult to 'design in' Approved Document M and BS 8300 standards into their designs if they tried. Let's hope that the legislation changes proposed by Government if accepted through the consultation process will be for the better but somehow that is doubtful.
Click here for the consultation paper where you can read the document and respond. |
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Come Fly with Me! - and the winner is...
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I am delighted to say that I did get a few bids in this time round for the flight simulator and I am pleased to announce that Colin Daines was the successful bidder.
I very much look forward to Colin accompanying me on the flight simulator ride in the near future, I'll let you know how we get on.
Many thanks to those of you who placed a bid. I'm sorry you were unsuccessful.
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Paralympian Daniel inspires pupils to raise funds
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 Paralympic Boccia player Dan Bentley has visited Great Baddow High School to encourage young people to take on the Gold Challenge where groups or individuals cover an aggregate of either 2012km, 201.2km or 20.12km via a selection of Olympic or Paralympic sports.
Dan has been playing Boccia since the age of 16 and is individually ranked number 15 in the world. Dan won a gold medal in Beijing as part of the team and has already been selected for London 2012 Paralympic Games in the Men's Boccia singles.
Want to know more about Boccia - click here and for more more information on the Gold Challenge click here.
Original article courtesy of The J's Hospice.
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Do you want to carry the Paralympic Flame? | | |
Sainsbury's is looking for people who really deserve a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity to carry the Paralympic Flame in 2012.
This is your chance to put forward an individual or a team of people who you feel has made a real difference by inspiring others around them. Maybe they have inspired you? Give them a once in a lifetime opportunity to be part of history and nominate them today.
All nominees should have a story that relates to one of the following criteria. Sainsbury's is looking for people who have:
- Inspired someone to do something they never thought possible
- Encouraged others to work together to succeed
- Used courage, determination, inspiration and equality to make a difference
- Pushed the boundaries of what is achievable and helped others to accomplish whatever they put their mind to
Any person nominated or making a nomination must be 12 years of age or over at the time of nomination.
Click here for further information. |
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