Welcome to the Winter edition of Distinction; the Disability Direct newsletter.

Editorial Seasons Greetings friends!

Its that time of year again where the shops are packed, everyone is in a rush, it’s cold. How did it arrive so quickly?

Speaking of cold, you will find in this issue some useful information about keeping warm and possible help towards your heating costs.

Recently Disability Direct have been very busy looking at creating a directory, which will hold useful information about local services and activities providers. It will be similar to the one created by Disability Direct in Derby. Which is the Do What You Want directory www.dowhatyouwant.org

This directory has been a major success since going live two months ago and is a real benefit to people who have a personal budget.

As a result of creating a directory for Nottingham, we are looking to recruit several volunteers to assist with admin tasks and become Community Champions. We need people who are IT confident, dedicated, enjoy working with the public and can easily work in an office environment on their own initiative.

Does this sound like you or someone you know? If so give me a call on 0115 8370292.

Even though getting the database up and running is very exciting and a mammoth task, we will be continually promoting Disability Direct and getting more members on board to help shape the future of the organisation. I hope you will continue to help us with this, by spreading the word to every organisation, disabled person and anyone else who might be interested in joining and supporting Disability Direct.

In the meantime, I would like to you wish a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Charlotte Throssel

ULO Co-ordinator.

In this Issue: Editorial, update on disability direct

Keep Warm Keep Well!

We need Volunteers

Independent living

DLA reform

Christmas "just for fun"

What’s on in Nottingham

istinction A Disability Direct Newsletter for Nottingham

Issue No 03 | Winter 2010

Keep Warm With the recent cold weather you’ll be looking at your thermostat and wondering if you can afford to turn it up. What you might not know is, that there could be some help for you towards heating costs.

Below is some useful information that has been emailed to Disability Direct.

LOWER GAS & ELECTRICITY TARIFFS

“Social Tariffs” in 2009/10 saved £153m on gas and electricity, but at May 2010 only 10% eligible households were on them nationally. They will be renamed as Social Price Support and increase to £250 million in 2011/12 rising to £310 million in 2014/15.

Company Social Tariff Criteria Contact

British Gas Essential Combined – On average 16% cheaper than standard tariff and could save an average £122.

Must have income less than £15,000 and receive Disability Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Pensions Credit & 70+, or terminally ill.

0800 072 5230

E-on WarmAssist offers up to 15% discount.

Customers must be 60+ and receive Pension Credit, DLA, Attendance Allowance or high energy consumption arising from medical condition

0800 404 6287

EDF Energy Energy Assist – Offers same tariff as direct debit customers plus £75 annual discount for dual fuel, £37.50 for single fuel.

Must spend over 10% income on energy cost and receive Income Support or Pension Credit.

0800 269 450

npower Spreading Warmth offers cheapest tariff regardless of payment method. Currently works out as 20% cash / cheque and prepayment customer.

Customers with income under £13,500, and at least one person in the house should be over 60, under 16, disabled, or have a chronic illness.

0808 172 6999 Exists as 3rd party referral

Scottish Power

Fresh Start offers best tariff price which is equivalent to discount online direct debit rates.

Customers must be aged 60+ or be in receipt of AA, Council Tax Benefit, DLA, Child Tax/Working Tax Credit with income under £15,460, Housing Benefit, Income Based JSA or Pension Credit.

0845 2700 700

Scottish

and

Energyplus Care gives customers up to 20% discount on their current fuel prices. Tariff can offer

Customers must be spending 15% of income on fuel costs.

0800 622 838

Southern free or discounted fridges or fridge freezers.

E.on Caring

Energy Fund

Full or part help to repair or installation of heating systems and essential household appliances.

E.on customers with income under £16,040 and savings under £8,000.

0800 051 1480

Energy Trust Help to clear debts. British Gas & EDF users only 01733 421 060

npower First Step Fund

Help to clear debts. npower customers 0808 172 6999

Warm Front

You may have heard the recent government announcements about available funding for the Warm Front Scheme in the future. However THEY ARE still taking new applications and all existing applications will be processed and completed, as normal.

Warm Front makes homes warmer, healthier and more energy-efficient. The Warm Front Scheme provides a package of insulation and heating improvements up to the value of £3,500 (or £6,000 where oil, low carbon or renewable technologies are recommended). It is a Government-funded initiative and the scheme is managed by Eaga.

If you own your own home or rent it from a private landlord, you may be eligible for a grant of up to £3,500 (or £6,000 where oil, low carbon or renewable technologies are recommended) under the Warm Front Scheme. Warm Front Grants are available in England only; other schemes operate in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

If the property has previously received Warm Front improvements, the grant now available will be the balance of £3,500 (or £6,000 where oil, low carbon or renewable technologies are recommended) less the value of all works previously completed.

Applicants meeting the following criteria may be eligible for the Warm Front Scheme.

1. Householders aged 60 or over in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

Income Support, Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit, Job Seekers Allowance (income-based), Pension Credit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

0800 316 6012

2. Householders with a child under 16, or pregnant women with maternity certificate MAT-B1, in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

Income Support, Council Tax Benefit, Housing Benefit, Job Seekers Allowance (income-based), Pension Credit, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

3. Householders in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

Working Tax Credit (with an income of less than £16,040, which must include a disability element), Disability Living Allowance, Child Tax Credit (with an income of less than £16,040), Housing Benefit (which must include a disability premium), Income Support (which must include a disability premium), Council Tax Benefit (which must include a disability premium), War Disablement Pension (which must include a mobility supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance), Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (which must include Constant Attendance Allowance), Attendance Allowance

To find out more about the Warm Front Scheme and to apply:

call 0800 316 2805 textphone 0800 072 0156 email: enquiry@eaga.com

Heating rebate scheme

Even if you don't qualify for a Warm Front grant, you may still be eligible for the heating rebate scheme. You could claim a £300 heating rebate towards the cost of repairing or installing a heating system if you:

don’t receive a qualifying benefit are aged 60 or over own your home or rent it from a private

landlord

For more information and to apply, call free on 0800 316 6012 (please quote MK851). Telephone lines are open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm. Saturdays 8am to 5pm.

Cold Weather Payment

If you are on a low income, a Cold Weather Payment may be available to help you for each week of very cold weather in your area.

If you are in receipt of Pension Credit, Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), you may be able to get Cold Weather Payments.

You will get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.

‘Very cold weather’

Payments will be made when the average temperature for where you live is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days.

What is the Winter Fuel Payment?

It is a yearly tax-free payment to help people pay for their heating in the winter. Getting the Winter Fuel Payment will not affect any other benefits you may get. This is different to Cold Weather Payments, which you may get for each week of very cold weather in your area.

You may get a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2010/11 if:

You have reached the qualifying age (born on or before 5 July 1950)

You normally live in Great Britain or Northern Ireland on any day in the week of 20–26 September 2010

If you think you qualify for a Winter Fuel Payment, then you will need to apply. To apply you can:

Complete the claim form on screen or print it out and fill it in with black ink

Get a claim form sent to you by calling the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline on 0845 9 15 15 15

Stay healthy this winter

Eat well

Eating regular meals will help keep your energy levels up during winter. Try to:

have plenty of hot food and drinks plan your meals and keep your diet as varied as possible

aim to include your daily 5 portions of fruit and vegetables, this includes tinned and frozen fruit and vegetables

Stay active

Exercise is good for your overall health and it can keep you warm in winter. Even a small amount of exercise can bring health benefits. If possible, try to move around at least once an hour.

There are things you can do that will reduce the risk of illness and protect you against the cold.

Get an annual flu jab

You can get a free jab if you:

have serious heart, lung or kidney disease or diabetes have a weak immune system, caused by disease or medical treatment have had a stroke or TIA (transient ischaemic attack) are aged 65 years or over are pregnant

Contact your GP or talk to your pharmacist if you think you might qualify for a free flu jab.

Wear warm clothes

You can help keep warm by:

wearing plenty of thin layers, rather than one thick one putting on a coat, hat, scarf, gloves and warm shoes or boots when you go outside wearing clothes made of wool, cotton, or fleecy synthetic fibres wearing bed socks and thermal underwear at night

Heating your home

To keep warm at home during the day try to:

heat your main living room to around 18-21°C (64-70°F) and the rest of the house at least 16°C (61°F)

heat all the rooms you use in the day

make sure you keep your living room warm throughout the day and heat your bedroom before going to bed

set the timer on your heating to come on before you get up and switch off when you go to bed

in very cold weather set the heating to come on earlier, rather than turn the thermostat up, so you won’t be cold while you wait for your home to heat up

To keep warm at home during the night you should:

Try to keep the temperature above 18°C (65°F) in your bedroom overnight

Open the window or door a little at night for ventilation if you use a fire or heater in your bedroom during winter

Never use an electric blanket and a hot water bottle together as you could electrocute yourself

Check what type of electric blanket you have – some are designed only to warm the bed before you get in and should not to be used throughout the night

Make sure your electric blanket is safe to use by getting it tested every three years - the Fire Brigade, Trading Standards and Age UK can test your electric blanket for safety

Keeping the heat in your home with insulation Insulation makes your home warm and healthy and will also help to keep your heating costs down. It’s a good idea to:

Fit draught-proofing to seal any gaps around windows and doors

Make sure your loft has at least 10–11 inches (270mm) of insulation, any home with 4 inches (100mm) or less should have it topped up

Make sure wall cavities are insulated

Insulate your hot water cylinder and pipes

For more information on installing insulation and to find an approved National Insulation Association (NIA) installer in your area, telephone 0845 163 63 63

We need Volunteers…….! As I said on the front page, we are going to get our directory up and running which will be similar to the Derby Disability Directs site www.dowhatyouwant.org which has been a huge success with both service users and providers.

We are looking for volunteers who are IT literate and either active in their local communities or can get involved. The opportunity is fantastic for anyone looking for admin and office experiences to put on their cv, or for anybody who wants to increase their knowledge of what is happening locally for disabled people.

If your interested or would like to know more, contact Charlotte Throssel on 0115 8370292 or email charlotte.throssel@disabilitydirectnottingham.co.uk

Independent Living You may remember in the last issue we introduced this section to highlight individual organisations or groups that support and promote independent living. For this issue we shall take a closer look at Disabled People's Advocacy Nottinghamshire and The Partnership Council.

Disabled People's Advocacy Nottinghamshire

Disabled People's Advocacy Nottinghamshire (DPA Notts) is an organisation of and for physically disabled people and individuals with a sensory impairment. They provide services for people aged between 18 and 65, living in the City of Nottingham and surrounding boroughs.

They also have volunteering opportunities available, working as advocates or as clerical support in the office.

In addition to the much needed service they provide, Disabled People's Advocacy Nottinghamshire are looking for Trustees to sit on the Management Committee, and to work as part of a team to effectively run the organisation. This will also involve working with the paid member(s) of staff and volunteers in order to ensure the organisation runs smoothly. They are looking for people with a wide variety of skills and from varied backgrounds. If you would like to join DPA or want more information please contact: Dora Kostiuk, Disabled People’s Advocacy Notts, Voluntary Action Centre, 7 Mansfield Road, Nottingham, NG1 3FB. Call 0115 9349504 email, office@dpanotts.org.uk

The Partnership Council for the NG7 areas. The partnership council aims to involve people who live and work in the wards of Radford & park, Berridge and Arboretum areas of Nottingham. It aims to bring together service users and service providers. As this group has recently reformed they are looking for people to join and have a chance to speak about what is needed in their area. There will be a chance for members to meet with service providers for more information contact. The Partnership Council, Unit C Tennyson, Forest Road West, Radford, Nottingham, NG7 4EP

Disability Living Allowance - public consultation The government has launched a public consultation asking for views on the proposed changes to the benefits scheme, which would see the DLA replaced with the Personal Independence Payment. This consultation seeks your views on the Government‘s proposals to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) with a new benefit – Personal Independence Payment.

The Personal Independence Payment will continue to be a non-means tested, extra costs benefit. It will help disabled people remove the barriers they face to leading full and independent lives. This consultation asks for views to inform our policy for reforming DLA and introducing a new objective assessment. The consultation applies to England, Wales and Scotland.

The consultation is aimed primarily at disability organisations and disabled people but anybody who has an interest can take part and answer the questions.

For more information please visit www.dwp.gov.uk/consultations/2010/dla-reform.shtml or contact: DLA Reform Team, 1st Floor Caxton House, Tothill Street, London, SW1H 9N

Alternatively you can order copies of the consultation from The Stationery Office (www.tsoshop.co.uk).

Just For Fun.

(Answers on the last page)

1. In Charles Dickens' novel A Christmas Carol, who was Scrooge's dead business partner?

2. London's Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is traditionally given by which country?

3. Name the original eight reindeer from the 'Twas the night Before Christmas' poem.

4. The character Jack Skellington appears in which 1993 Tim Burton film?

5. What colour are the berries of the mistletoe plant?

6. What is New Year's Eve called in Scotland?

7. What Christmas item was invented by London baker and wedding-cake specialist Tom Smith in 1847?

8. In what year was Band-Aid's Do They Know It's Christmas the UK Christmas chart-topping record?

9. Which country did St Nicholas come from?

10. Who wrote How the Grinch Stole Christmas?

11. Which country does Poinsetta plant originate from?

12. Who wrote Auld Lange Syne?

13. How many points does a snowflake have?

14. What is the name of the cake traditionally eaten in Italy at Christmas?

What’s on in Nottingham Outdoor Ice Rink - rated amongst the best in the country by The Guardian

The Old Market Square, opening times are: 24 November - 9 January, 12noon - 9pm - during school term time, 10am - 9pm - during school holidays

The huge 20m by 40m rink makes the perfect festive family day out or if you're looking for a romantic spin under the twinkling Christmas tree lights - this will definitely bring a little magic into your life this Christmas!

Tickets are priced at £9 for adults, £6 for children and £3 for under 5's. Family ticket priced at £25 (for four people) and students £5 with a valid NUS card (excluding Christmas Eve).

Tickets can be booked by phone on 0844 209 7365, online at http://www.national-ice-centre.com or in person at the National Ice Centre, Bolero Square, The Lace Market, Nottingham, NG1 1LA. You can also buy tickets on the day of your skating session at the Outdoor Ice Rink in Old Market Square

Santa's Grotto Old Market Square Dec 15 - 2pm until 8pm Dec 18 - 24 - 11am - 7pm On Dec 24 the closing time may be earlier if visitor numbers are low. Charges: £2.50 standard admission, £1.50 for City Card holders.

Traditional Christmas Craft and Gift Market Smithy Row 24 November - 24 December

Looking for a gift that's special or a little bit different. The market boasts a wide range of unique and handmade gifts, and a range of goodies to suit all pockets.

Christmas Carols at the Mill Green's Windmill 18 December 3.30pm - 5pm, FREE ENTRY

Enjoy the magical atmosphere of the lantern-lit mill yard, with hot roast chestnuts, mince pies and mulled drinks. Join in the singing of traditional Christmas Carols accompanied by the Salvation Army Youth Band. Refreshments available. Aladdin The Adventure Of A Lifetime Saturday 4 December 2010 - Sunday 16 January 2011 Show Running Time 2 hours & 5 minutes

Television stars Stephen Mulhern and Gray O'Brien are joined by a very special co-star this year in the form of Nottingham's first ever 3D Genie. Wearing 3D glasses at points during the pantomime, you can rub the magic lamp as it hovers in front of your nose, and see the magical genie rise from his lamp and move around the auditorium. Further 3D wizardry will transform the stage into a cave of riches where Aladdin finds his fortune, as well as transporting you on an amazing 3D carpet ride!

Audio Described Performances Saturday 18 December 2.30pm & Friday 7 January 7.15pm Sign Language Interpreted Performances Wednesday 15 December 1.30pm, Sunday 19 December 2.00pm & Friday 14 January 7.15pm Captioned Performances Saturday 8 January 2.30pm

Useful contacts for some of the articles written in this edition.

Nottingham City Council

0115 9155555

Adult Contact Team:

The Mary Potter Centre, Gregory Boulevard, Nottingham, NG7 5HY

Call: 0115 883 84 60

adult.contactteam@nottinghamcity.gov.uk

http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/puttingpeoplefirst Royal Centre Box Office: 0115 989 5555

Nottingham Tourism Centre 08444 77 5678 www.mynottingham.gov.uk/whatson.

Warm Front 0800 316 6012

Disability Direct

Unit 21 Lenton Business Centre,

Lenton Boulevard, Nottingham, NG7 2BY,

0115 8370292

Charlotte.throssel@disabilitydirectnottingham.co.uk

Come and find us on facebook: Disability Direct Nottingham (group).

Follow us on Twitter @disyndicate

Don’t have a twitter account? It doesn’t matter – we have a Twitter feed on our website so you can keep up to date there.

Answers to the Christmas Quiz

1 Jacob Marley, 2 Norway, 3 Comet, Cupid, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Donner, Blitzen, 4 The Nightmare before Christmas, 5 White, 6 Hogmanay, 7 Christmas cracker, 8 1984, 9 Turkey, 10 Dr Seuss, 11 Mexico, 12 Robert Burns, 13 Six, 14 Panettone

If you have anything you’d like to see covered in the next edition, or would like to contribute an article – please get in touch with Charlotte on the contact details above.