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Monthly Bulletin 31
Dear Members, Welcome to the final bulletin of 2011. As the holiday season approaches we have been reflecting on ecdps achievements throughout the year. On page 4 you can find ecdps annual report, which notes some of the highlights for us and our members. Our AGM, held last month was also a great opportunity to share some of these successes with members. You can read more about the AGM on page 3. ecdp will be shut over the holiday period, from 4pm on Friday 23 December until 8.30am on Tuesday 3 January. Information about holiday cover will be available on the ecdp website nearer the time. I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of ecdps members a very happy festive period season and all the best for the New Year. We very much look forward to working with you in 2012.
Best wishes, Rich Watts Director of Policy & Development
ecdp news
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ecdps14th AGM: Lived experience works: ecdps Annual Report 2010/11 ecdp enterprise training offers Blue Badge Reform: ecdp Lived Experience Officer on BBC Essex
local news
5. 6. Creative Activities at Zinc Arts Birchanger Woods Accessible Woodland Paths
national news
7. 8. World AIDS Day 1 December Government announce care home residents to
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keep DLA/PIP mobility 9. Disability hate crime book, Scapegoat, wins literature award 10. Olympic and Paralympic News: Paralympics Tickets go back on sale tomorrow! The Olympic Torch is coming to Essex London 2012 Festival 11. EHRC Manifesto for Change Consultation event 12. Pats Petition
If you want to get in touch with us about any of the articles included in this bulletin: Telephone: 01245 392 300 Email: info@ecdp.org.uk Post: Ivan Peck House, 1 Russell Way, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3AA.
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ecdp news
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ecdp news
for Disabled People and the Minister for Care Services within 8 weeks of their taking office in May 2010 Giving evidence to the Welfare Reform Select Committee Several citations for ecdp as best practice in a range of government and other public agency publications Engaging nearly 200 volunteers in our work and their communities, of which over 80% were disabled people Driving the development and delivery of the Right to Control Trailblazer in Essex one of only seven in the country particularly through our work in establishing and running a dedicated service user reference group Continuing to deliver high quality support services to over 4,500 people to ensure they had choice and control over their care and support The first full year of operation for ecdp enterprise the team set up to generate income for ecdp so we dont rely on contract- or grant-funded income Being one of the first voluntary and community sector organisations to publish Open Data
The next 12 months will undoubtedly be some of the hardest that ecdp has faced, reflecting trends that can be seen across the public, private and voluntary sectors as a whole. We will remain focused on harnessing the lived experience of our members and clients to shape and inform the work we do, and delivering high quality services. In this way, we will be as well placed as we can be to ensure our work benefits as many people as possible. As always, we couldnt have achieved the above without our committed and dedicated staff making a difference in the everyday lives of disabled people. Similarly, we have benefitted greatly from the input and partnerships of colleagues across the public, private and voluntary sectors in Essex, the Eastern region and across England. Without the contribution of the lived experiences of our members, though, ecdp couldnt do the work it does. We would therefore like to thank all of our members and every individual disabled person who has been a part of our work this year. You can download a Word version of our Annual Report here: ecdp
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ecdp news
Find ecdp online For up-to-date news on the work we are doing at ecdp, find us online
Our website: www.ecdp.co.uk Our Facebook page: http://on.fb.me/ecdpfacebook Our Twitter page: http://twitter.com/ecdp
ecdp news
ecdp news
The 10 charge while an example of the extra costs associated with being a disabled person is not the main issue; if charges are going to be made, now more than ever it is essential that the provision a blue badge entitles disabled people to use, is adequate. (Our members tell us that they often find they cannot get spaces, or the spaces are not located near enough to the places they want to go.)
Demand for blue badges has naturally increased as the population of disabled people has grown. While national reforms can reduce the number of fraudulent badges being used, provision does need to be made for the majority of badge users who have been assessed.
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ecdp news
The extra cost of the badge is partly due to the redesign of the badge, making them harder to copy. ecdp welcomes this change for two reasons: 1. Making a badge harder to copy or use fraudulently will disincentivise the theft of badges from disabled peoples cars. Increasing credibility in the scheme should prevent the stereotyping of those with invisible impairments as fraudulent users. 2. A central database of all badge users is to be created. This should, in theory, mean that badges are more portable, so when a user moves from one local authority to another, it will be easier to reapply.
One point that Faye did not get the opportunity to discuss is the change in assessment that has been developed as part of the reforms: The NHS will no longer be funded to provide assessments, via GPs. This funding will be transferred to local authorities, who also produce the badges, but will not be ringfenced. They will use independent mobility assessments, carried out by professionals such as occupational therapists and physiotherapists.
The reform documents state that although the groups of disabled people eligible have not changed this more robust assessment could mean some are no longer entitled to a badge. ecdp feels it is essential that disabled people who rely on their blue badge to enable them to access their communities independently are still able to access this vital support and hope that the new assessment model reflects this.
ecdp has previously shared a timetable for reforms, which is available from our website, here: ecdp - Blue Badge Reform timetable
Local News
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Local News
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National News
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National News
ecdp member, Danny West, has shared his story, which you can read on the ecdp website, to mark the day. Danny lives with HIV and now uses his lived experience as a coach, trainer and leadership consultant.
ecdp membership Did you know that ecdp membership is free to disabled people who live or work in Essex? As well as this monthly update, you will receive a quarterly magazine and the opportunity to provide your lived experience to help shape our work. For more information, please contact using the details at the start of this bulletin.
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National News
Fulfilling potential: Working together to empower disabled people Today, the government announced a discussion with disabled people to gather suggestions for a new cross-government disability strategy. This new strategy will build on previous discussions with disabled people, including the Independent Living Strategy, the Roadmap and the UKs report to the UN on implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Disabled People. The Office for Disability Issues (ODI) has worked with disability organisations to create a discussion document which is available to download on their website. They would like to hear from disabled people, and the people and organisations that support them. Responses are due by December 2011: Monthly Update 31 5pm, 9 March 2012.
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National News
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National News
work in so many ways.
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National News
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National News
full route the torch will take. London 2012 Festival The organisers of the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic games have revealed more details of the London 2012 festival: the biggest celebration of arts and culture ever held in the UK. The festival will run from 21 June - 9 September 2012 and will include all different arts events: music, film, books, fashion and much more. Millions of free tickets will be released over the coming months. Keep an eye on the ecdp website for more information! Twelve of the UKs leading artists have created striking posters for the Olympic and Paralympic Games as part of the London 2012 Festival. They join a 100-year-old tradition, with previous artists including David Hockney, Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. You can view all the posters here: Posters London 2012. Two of the posters celebrating the Paralympic Games are featured on the ecdp website. What do you think of them? Are there any parts of the London 2012 festival you are particularly looking forward to? Let ecdp know by commenting below the website article, emailing fsavage@ecdp.co.uk,calling 01245 214023 or tweeting us @ecdp. Information about all of the London 2012 festival events is available here: London 2012 Festival.
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National News
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National News
Pats Petition
A woman called Mrs Pat Onions has launched a petition following the recent Hardest Hit march in Edinburgh. As Pat says: We were determined to attend the Hardest Hit rally in Edinburgh. Determined, in spite of disability, to stand with the others who had made the long and difficult journey. Determined to show we were united as one voice We knew there were many thousands who couldnt make it. Disability, ill health, providing care, or cost would prevent them coming. We made it. As a result, Mrs Onions has launched a petition so that people who couldnt make it in person to the various events could show their support. You can access the petition here: Pats petition. Were very pleased to share this petition with our members. It is important the voice of all disabled people can be heard in issues that affect their everyday lives.
The Autumn 2011 edition of the ecdp magazine is out now! All members have been posted a copy of the Autumn 2011 ecdp magazine. You can also find it on the ecdp website, here: www.ecdp.co.uk/magazine
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