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The Editor |
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Managing Director,
Mrs Susan Pattrick |
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Featured Charity
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The April Centre
We are a charity that helps and assists homeless people and those in priority need in the Colchester, Tendring and Chelmsford areas.
We are a group of volunteers with some paid staff and we are an independent organisation with no affiliations to anyone. This enables us to work with local and government bodies, whilst helping the most vulnerable people in our society to feel less isolated. We find them a home and build a beneficial relationship between the prospective tenant and property owner.
We support adults in the community who may find it difficult to interact with others or to get help when they most need it. We do not discriminate and work with everyone whatever his or her needs may be. We work with the homeless and the hidden homeless (those who sleep on friend's sofas for example) to find them a home and a stable address so that they can apply for work.
The support that we offer consists of a variety of services and is flexible in its application. It can include helping with benefits, housing, dealing with the authorities or the police, together with emotional and practical support.
Please see the article to the right for more information and for much more information, please visit our website.
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Please feel free to nominate a future charity of the month here...
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Greetings!
Well how was that for a spell of fine weather? It reminded me of a blind person who I once knew who could tell the weather simply by people's general demeanour - if the sun was out people felt good!
Each of the charities we include in the featured charity section have gained increased exposure. Why not nominate one for next month. It's totally free and if it's a worthwhile cause I would be delighted to include them. So please feel free to nominate.
The Go Grab a Coffee section is always popular and this month celebrates 'Stupid Wheelchair Ramp Month'. Well worth a quick look at how ridiculous life can really be!
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Hearing loss in the workplace ...
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 Unlike physical disabilities, hearing loss cannot be seen and, though someone with a lessened ability to hear might be categorised as 'deaf', hearing loss is not so cut and dried.
Understanding a little about what hearing loss means and what it entails can make any awkwardness around how it could affect the workplace fall comfortably into position.
So how does hearing loss impact on the work place? Can it make or break a person's suitability for a specific job?
Read the full article here... and I am indebted to Denise Watson for allowing it's inclusion within this newsletter.
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Disabled sailor barred from train ...
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Geoff Holt MBE, the first quadriplegic sailor to sail solo across the Atlantic has described his rage at being prevented from boarding an Isle of Wight train.
Geoff Holt said he was told by a guard his electric wheelchair was not allowed on board as it would damage the floor.
Click here to read the full article, courtesy of the BBC.
Will we ever learn?
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About this newsletter ...
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 I am delighted to say that you continue to provide great feedback about this newsletter and indeed it has also gained industry recognition.
For the 3rd year running the newsletter has received a Constant Contact All Star award. This is awarded to email communications which exceed industry standards against a number of criteria and is generally given to less than 10% of account holders. So how do we achieve this? It's all to do with high open rates, high click-through rates to articles, and maintaining a clean email distribution list.
But we also need your help, so please feel free to drop me an email on articles you would like to see in future issues. I won't promise, but I will do my best for you.
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More about The April Centre...
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Our aims are as follows:
- To help those who feel uncomfortable or struggle when dealing with large organisations and the processes required when homeless and trying to find a home;
- To equip individuals with the support , information, and skills to cope with housing issues on an ongoing basis;
- To support landlords within the housing process and endeavour to enable all involved to reach positive and satisfactory outcomes;
We have a walk in advice centre that is our main office, at The April Centre, 12B Mersea Road, Colchester, Essex, CO2 7EX open between the hours of 09.30 and 13.30 Monday to Friday for all housing guidance, advice, form filling and support. Outside these hours our contact is Dave Egan, mobile 07973 533336 or you can email us at theaprilcentre@hotmail.com
If you think that you would like to volunteer for us, please feel free to contact us at the main office by telephone on 01206 500509 during office hours or email us at theaprilcentre@hotmail.com.
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Go grab a coffee...
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 Now I know we've just passed April 1st and I'm sure we all saw a good few tricks being played. Some good, some really clever. But this is not an April Fool!
Click here to view a collection of 'accessible' ramps in a feature entitled International "Stupid Wheelchair Ramp Month" courtesy of Rolling Rains Report.
You'll find a short video detailing some attempts from around the world to make life more accessible. Really!
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