South Yorkshire CentreENABLE - ADVOCACY SERVICE
Rosie Winterton at the RADAR MP Dialogue Scheme held at SYCIL
RADAR MP Dialogue Scheme held at SYCIL on February 19th
Rosie Winterton MP takes up issues raised by local Disabled people, see report from the RADAR MP dialogue scheme meeting.
RADAR MP Dialogue Scheme Report
Also see the Briefing paper "Disabled People’s Priorities for the New Parliament"
What is Advocacy?
Sometimes it can be hard to speak up for what you want. Advocacy can help you to speak up. Our advocacy team can work with you to find out about your choices, help you to speak up for what you want to make, and help you make sure that your views are heard.
What the ENABLE Advocacy Service Can Offer:-
- One to One sessions
- Outreach surgeries in Community Centres and GP Practices
The Benefits of Independent Advocacy
At SYCIL we aim to promote self-advocacy through providing an independent advocacy service for disabled people. Through working with individual service users, we have found that there are significant benefits to be gained for both the individual, and the wider community from making independent advocacy services available to the local population. The most important of these include:
- Advocacy helps people to have their say, which is especially important for those who do not have family or friends nearby to help them.
- Advocacy helps people to find out about and access information and services that could help them.
- Advocacy helps to reduce social exclusion and promote inclusion within wider society.
- In helping people to have their say and address important issues in their lives, advocacy can help to reduce anxiety and depression.
- Advocacy can encourage self-management of long term issues and promote service users' independence.
- Advocacy can reduce poverty for the individual and local community by increasing access to welfare benefits advice.
- Advocacy can improve home safety for vulnerable people by increasing knowledge of equipment.
Fact Sheets on Direct Payments and Personal Budgets
Please download.
Direct Payments
- Introduction
- Rights
- Right choice
- Right amount
- Mental capacity
- Adults who lack capacity
- One off payments
- Managing direct payments
- Purchasing your own support: Deciding on your needs
- Purchasing your own support: Employing people
- Purchasing your own support: Managing staff
- Purchasing your own support: Managing risks
- Personalisation self directed support
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. I have heard about Direct Payments, and understand that as a disabled person I could be able to use them to help me, but don't really know much about how Direct payments work. Can you tell me more?
A. The Community Care (Direct Payments) Act 1996 means that Local Authorities can make cash payments to service users in lieu of providing or arranging to provide services to meet an individual's assessed community care needs. People in receipt of Direct Payments then use this money to obtain for themselves the services they need, e.g. by employing their own personal assistants.
If you want to find out more about whether Direct Payments might be suitable for you contact, Direct Payments, Social Services First (Adults), P.O. Box 251, The Council House, College Road, Doncaster, DN1 3DA, Telephone (01302) 737391, E-Mail social.services@doncaster.gov.uk
Q. I find it difficult to take my bin out to be emptied each week. As a disabled person is there any help available to do this?
A. If you need help with moving your bin to be emptied, then if you contact Doncaster Council they will be able to arrange for the refuse collectors to move your bin for you contact, Refuse Collection - Domestic, P.O. Box 257, The Council House, College Road, Doncaster, DN1 1RN, Telephone (01302) 736000, E-Mail community.first@doncaster.gov.uk:
Q. I can no longer look after my pets due to my increasing ill health - can you suggest any organisations which could look after them for me?
A. In addition to organisations such as the RSPCA, who try to re-home pets, you might like to consider contacting The Cinnamon Trust which places pets with adoptive owners when their original owners are no longer able to look after them contact, The Cinnamon Trust, 10 Market Square, Hayle, Cornwall, TR27 4HE, Telephone (01736) 757900, E-Mail admin@cinnamon.org.uk:
Q. I've heard that there have been some changes recently to who can get a Disabled Person's Rail card. Can you tell me more?
A. The eligibility criteria for the Disabled Person's Rail card changed on 6th September 2006. Now you will qualify for a Disabled Person's Rail card if any of the following apply to you.
- Are registered as having eyesight difficulties
- Are registered deaf, or use an NHS hearing aid
- Have epilepsy, and have repeated attacks even though you receive drug treatment
- Receive Attendance Allowance
- Receive Disability Living Allowance (at the higher or lower rate for getting around (mobility) for one year or longer or at the higher or middle rate for help with personal care
- Receive Severe Disablement Allowance
- Receive long - term Incapacity Benefit
- Receive War Pensioner's Mobility Supplement
- Receive War or Service Disablement Pension for 80% or more disability
- Are buying or leasing a vehicle through the Motability scheme.
From 6th September you can buy either a 1 year or a 3 year rail card. The price of the 1 year railway will be £18.00, and the price for the 3 year rail card will cost £48.00