The Editor

Featured Charity

Canine Partners is a registered charity that assists people with disabilities to enjoy a greater independence and quality of life through the provision of specially trained dogs, whose well-being is a key consideration. There are currently six working partnerships in Essex, and the Charity would like to help even more people in the region with disabilities.

More than 1.2 million people in the UK use a wheelchair, and a significant number of those would benefit from a canine partner. The dogs are carefully matched to the applicant's needs and lifestyle, no matter how challenging. They are trained to help with everyday tasks such as opening and shutting doors, unloading the washing machine, picking up dropped items, pressing buttons and switches and getting help in an emergency. The Charity aims to train dogs to meet the needs of people with even the most complex disabilities including members of HM Armed Forces.  

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Bikeathon 24th June ...

As many of you know when I reported in a previous newsletter that I was participating in a 15 mile bike ride round Wokingham to raise funds for Limbcare on 24th June, I am proud to announce that I succeeded!

I did tell everyone on Facebook and Twitter that I had completed the 15 mile circuit when I was back at work on Tuesday 26th June.  I could have completed 35 miles but that was just a step too far especially as I had had no training except in the gym, but that did help me as I can leg press 200 lbs.  This strength in my legs helped me to cycle the distance.  As a Patron of Limbcare, I was the main sponsor too!

We started out at about 10.15 am under a sunny sky and it was supposed to be dry all day.  Huh!  Don't believe everything you hear from the weather forecasters!  My co driver and I (we were using a tricycle - very hard work) had got about two thirds of the way round the course when the heavens opened but of course my Pac-a-Mac was in the basket at the back of the tricycle.  The rain had come on so suddenly that we were both drenched before we could cover up, so we ended up going the rest of the way wet!  When we arrived back at the Market Square in Wokingham, I got out my rain Mac but of course that was too late, but it did help to keep me warm. 

It was a good day out and I raised £165.00 of my target of £200.00.  You can still contribute to the cause by clicking on the button below which will take you to my Just Giving site at...  www.justgiving.com/Susan_Pattrick and contributing or you can give by text to 70070 and quoting THRW74 followed by the amount you wish to give.  Please support Limbcare generously - they do a fantastic job! 

Anyone for Tea? 

Tea Party

at

Green Island Gardens

Ardleigh, Colchester

18 August

2:00pm - 5:00pm

       Tickets £13

 (includes afternoon tea and entry into the gardens)

Join us for afternoon tea at Green Island Gardens, set in 20 acres of beautiful gardens and woodlands and help train more assistance dogs for people with physical disabilities.

For more details call 0845 209 0750 or visit the website

Rewriting the language of disability ...

The language we use to describe disability will influence those faced with the challenges it presents, especially children.  BEFORE reading on, pause for a moment and consider what the word means to you. In a recent Technology Entertainment and Design talk (Ted), Aimee Mullins, who was born without shin bones and had double below-knee amputations as an infant, told of her reaction when she first looked up "disability" in her 1982 thesaurus. It meant: crippled, helpless, useless, wrecked, stalled, maimed, mutilated, weakened, impotent, paralysed, handicapped, decrepit, hurt, useless. The antonyms given were healthy, strong, capable.

Hmmm!

Click here to read what Aimee had to say.

Article courtesy of Irish Times. 

Disabled air travellers still facing refusal ...

Disabled air travellers are still facing "unjustified refusals" from airlines, the European Commission has warned.

Four years after EU laws made it illegal to discriminate against passengers on grounds of disability or "reduced mobility", the commission published new guidelines to clarify their rights.

The move has been deliberately timed ahead of the anticipated arrival in London for the Olympic Games of thousands of disabled Paralympians and spectators.

EU Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas said: "Dealing with disability in life is a tough enough challenge: things shouldn't get even tougher when you arrive at the airport."

The new guidelines cover travellers at all EU airports and the operations of EU carriers anywhere in the world. They also cover non-EU carriers within or leaving Europe.

Click here to read the full article.

Article courtesy of Press Association. 

Planning for the Olympics

Any major sporting event, such as the Olympic Games, usually coincides with a rise in absence and last minute requests for leave.

The Games may also cause disruption and problems getting to work.  This is of no surprise if you consider that there are in excess of 400,000 overseas visitors expected, not to mention over 15,000 competitors and thousands of workers.

So if you have not already done so, it may be worth considering any steps you need to take to make sure your workplace continues to run smoothly.

Click here to read the full article.

Article courtesy of Practical HR. 

Discrimination claim by agency-employed contractors 

In LB Camden v (1) Pegg (2) Randstad Care (3) Hays Specialist Recruitment t/a Camden Agency for Temporary Supply the EAT held that where a contract worker, employed by an employment agency, is supplied to work for a third party (the principal), that worker will have the right to bring a claim against that principal for any discrimination suffered by the worker whilst working for the principal.

The fact that the contract worker is not obliged under his contract with the agency to accept all assignments that are offered to him to work for such third parties:

Click here to read the full article.

Article courtesy of Palmers Solicitors. 

Go grab a coffee...

Dancing Giraffe had committed to the Colchester Carnival some months ago and we were eagerly awaiting the day.  The rains cleared away leaving a very bright, sunny and very blustery day.  There were nine of the team there, five supporting the stand in Castle Park and the other four following the Carnival procession in their Dancing Giraffe 'T' shirts and making a lot of noise with hand clappers, waving, laughing and generally drawing attention to Dancing Giraffe.  Two of the team who followed the procession sported face paint in the shape of a giraffe head.  They looked fantastic.  On the day however we were not allowed to raise funds for Dancing Giraffe because all donations were going to the Mayor's charities but we did raise awareness of what we were trying to do.  There were so many people visiting the stand asking what we were doing that we nearly ran out of balloons and leaflets.  It was however a brilliant day and great fun!