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Ideas and Information Board

Easy Read Co-design Workshop

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The Macmillan Cancer Project aims to make cancer services and experiences better for people with a learning disability. They are working with Public Health England to design easy read materials for cancer screening.

They are running two workshops for people with a learning disability, families and carers. The morning workshop will look at cervical screening; the afternoon workshop will look at bowel screening.

The cervical screening workshop is in the morning. This is for women.  It is 10:00am to 12:30pm, followed by lunch at 12:30pm to 1:15pm.The bowel screening workshop is in the afternoon. This is for men and women. Lunch is served 12:30pm to 1:15pm and is followed by the workshop at 1:15pm to 3:45pm.

The workshop takes place on Friday 8 February at:

Waterfront 4,

Goldcrest Way,

Newcastle upon Tyne.

NE15 8NY

To book a place please complete the booking form and return to Julie Tucker.

For more information please contact: Julie Tucker. Email: Julie.tucker11@nhs.net. Call: 0113 824 9693 or 0786 017 7981.

young man and caption: do you feel alone?

NHS Trust launches Winter Wellness Campaign

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Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, (NTW), which provides mental health and disability services and support across the North East, has a launched a winter wellness campaign to address loneliness and distress this Christmas.

The trust is aiming to reach young men who might not otherwise be aware of where they can go for help, and wants to spread the word to everyone that no matter how negative a situation may seem, help is at hand. The trust is sending information leaflets and posters to locations across the North East, including GP surgeries, libraries, universities, job centres and sports clubs.

In the UK men remain three times more likely to take their own lives than women, and in 2017 there were 6,213 suicides in the UK and Republic of Ireland. The North East is the region with the highest suicide rate in the UK.

Karen O’Rourke, NTW’s Patient Information Manager said: “Christmas and New Year can be one of the most fun times of year but for many this can also be a lonely, stressful or worrying time. We want to send the message that people don’t have to feel like this, and we hope that our publicity campaign will make it easier for people to seek out the help and support which is available.”

Speaking to someone about how you feel can help. Psychological Wellbeing Services are for adults finding it difficult to cope, feel low, anxious, stressed, worried or are not sleeping. You can call direct in Northumberland on: 0300 3030 700.

If you need urgent help with your mental health or learning disability you can get in touch with the Initial Response service. This is open for anyone to call, 24 hours a day: 0303 123 1146.

If you or another person have been harmed or are at immediate risk you may require an emergency response – call 999.

The Samaritans are there to listen 24 hours a day on: 116 123.

NTW also has a selection of self-help guides that are available online in a range of formats, including British Sign Language. The guides are available at www.ntw.nhs.uk/selfhelp, or can be requested in a printed format by calling the Patient Information Centre on 0191 246 7288 or emailing pic@ntw.nhs.uk.

For more information on mental health support visit our mental health page.

Great North Museum Hancock

Free Guided Tours of The Great Exhibition of the North – GNM:Hancock

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Would you like to have a free guided tour around the new and exciting exhibits in the GNM:Hancock? Four free tours have been arranged for different groups who may need particular assistance to access and enjoy the Great Exhibition of the North.

 

  • Wednesday 27 June, 3.30pm – 4.30pm

A tour for blind, partially sighted and visually impaired people with a tour guide who can give both description and information about the various exhibits as well as audio description as the tour takes place.  Places must be booked in advance (details below) and bookings need to be received by no later than 12.00pm on Monday 25 June.

 

  • Wednesday 4 July, 3:30pm – 4:30pm

A tour for people with learning disabilities or who consider themselves to be on the autistic spectrum. The tour guide will have received training in communicating with a wide range of people and will be able to answer most questions that may be posed about the exhibition.  Places must be booked in advance (details below) and bookings need to be received by no later than 12.00pm on Monday 2 July.

 

  • Tuesday 10 July, 3:30pm – 4:30pm

A tour for older people or those have dementia. The tour guide will be aware of specific communication and interpretation issues that older people may have and therefore the tour will cover as much of the exhibition as possible in the time available.  This will mean people attending the tour will not feel rushed or hassled and can enjoy their museum visit fully.  Places must be booked in advance (details below) and bookings need to be received by no later than 12.00pm on Friday 6 July.

 

  • Wednesday 18 July, 3:30pm – 4:30pm

A tour for deaf people and those with significant hearing loss. The tour guide will have worked with communication support including BSL interpreters so will be fully aware of all related issues. Bookings must be received by no later than 12.00pm on Wednesday 4 July,  to allow enough time to secure the services of any communication support including BSL interpreters.

Bookings can be made by via email to: robert.latham@twmuseums.org.uk or by telephone: 0191 277 2313.

There are up to 16 places available on each tour which includes support workers, guides or assistants.  Please book early to avoid disappointment.  Further information about the Great Exhibition of the North can be found here.

 

Events

online events

SEND: Join our online forum

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As we will be unable to get out and about across the county to meet with and listen to people for a while, we’re holding some public online forums, and we’d like you to join us. If you are unable to take part but would like to tell us about your experiences of these services, Caroline and Lesley will be available by phone, text and email each Wednesday between 3.00pm and 4.00pm to listen, answer any questions and help with providing information about services.

The forums will take place via Zoom. Read our guide on how to use Zoom.

The subject of this online forum is special educational needs and disabilities, so if you’d like to share your experiences of services in the last 12 months, or those of someone close to you, please join us.

If you would like to take part please contact Laura Kane: laurak@healthwatchnorthumberland.co.uk, or call 03332 408468.

 

Find out about our other online forums

 

Disabled Access Day logo

Disabled Access Day Museum Events

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What is Disabled Access Day?

Disabled Access Day is all about trying something or somewhere new, whether that’s a local museum or gallery.  This year the event will take place on Saturday 16 March and we’d love you to get involved and visit somewhere new with your friends or family.  There are lots of exciting events, activities and offers going on across Tyne & Wear, from British Sign Language (BSL) tours to discounted entrance fees to facilitated activities.

 

What is Happening and Where?

The Discovery Museum, Blandford Square, Newcastle

A guided tour for visually impaired people, people with physical or learning disabilities, their friends and families.  The tour will take place between 12.00pm and 1.00pm and is called Newcastle Story, which depicts the city’s history from Roman times right through to the Victorian age.

A BSL interpreted tour will take place for people with hearing loss, their friends and families between 2.00pm and 3.00pm around the Destination Tyneside Exhibition which looks at the insightful stories of people who have made Tyneside their home.

Free places for these events can be booked by calling: 0191 277 2313 or via email: robert.latham@twmuseums.org.uk. Places must be booked by Wednesday 13 March,

There is also a drop-in Circus themed craft session for families with children with disabilities from 11.00am to 1.00pm in the Play + Invent space.  This will include clown hats, balancing clowns, circus lights and squirting flowers. Just turn up, no booking required!

 

GNM:Hancock, Barras Bridge, Newcastle

A BSL interpreted guided tour of The Natural Northumbria Gallery will take place between 11.00am and 12.00pm where you can discover what makes the North East region special in terms of the animals and plants.

A guided tour for visually impaired people, people with physical or learning disabilities, their friends and families will take place between 1.00pm and 2.00pm around The Natural Northumbria Gallery where you can discover what makes the North East region special in terms of the animals and plants.

Free places for these events can be booked by calling: 0191 277 2313 or via email: robert.latham@twmuseums.org.uk. Places must be booked by no later than Wednesday 13 March.

There will also be some drop-in sessions for family activities for children with disabilities.

The first session is ‘Story Time’ between 10:45am and 11.00am where you will meet the Great North Mouse and Georgina.

The second session is ‘Fishing for Clues’ between 11.00am and 12.00pm.  Using our magnetic fishing rods fish clues from our ‘pond’ to help you discover objects around the gallery.

The third session is ‘Scribbles & Sketches’ between 1.00pm and 3.00pm. This is a drawing challenge for all ages.  Pop along to Natural Northumbria Gallery to meet some of the handling collection, then have a go at drawing, tracing or colouring some of them.

Ideas and Information Board

Easy Read Co-design Workshop

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The Macmillan Cancer Project aims to make cancer services and experiences better for people with a learning disability. They are working with Public Health England to design easy read materials for cancer screening.

They are running two workshops for people with a learning disability, families and carers. The morning workshop will look at cervical screening; the afternoon workshop will look at bowel screening.

The cervical screening workshop is in the morning. This is for women.  It is 10:00am to 12:30pm, followed by lunch at 12:30pm to 1:15pm.

The bowel screening workshop is in the afternoon. This is for men and women. Lunch is served 12:30pm to 1:15pm and is followed by the workshop at 1:15pm to 3:45pm.

To book a place please complete the booking form and return to Julie Tucker.

For more information please contact: Julie Tucker: Julie.tucker11@nhs.net. Call: 0113 824 9693 or 0786 017 7981.

two women chatting

Adapt (NE) AGM

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Our umbrella organisation Adapt (NE) will be holding its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 14 November. The event is open to anyone interested in the services provided by the social enterprise and hearing about its work over the last 12 months.

Please register in advance for numbers: 01434 600599.

People chatting at an information stand

Community Information Morning Hexham

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Adapt (NE) is holding its very first Community Information Morning in Cafe @ Burn Lane, Hexham on Wednesday 14 November. The event will have information stands from local organisations including Alzheimer’s Society, Carers Northumberland, WECAN, West Northumberland Food Bank and the Healthwatch Northumberland team. Cafe @ Burn Lane will be open throughout, serving freshly made snacks and meals.

New cafe and resource centre

Adapt (NE) AGM 2017

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Adapt (NE) invites you to the AGM 2017 at Burn Lane, Hexham, where you can find out what’s been happening over the past year. This is also a chance to view the new development at the site, where a community cafe – Cafe @ Burn lane – and a Centre for Independence will be opening next year. Your views as to what should be on offer are welcomed.

The Cafe will have a Changing Places changing area and accessible toilet, plus free internet area, and will provide a hub for community groups. The Centre for Independence will house a showroom of disability and mobility aids with comprehensive advice on equipment and price and suitability.

If you would like to attend the AGM please call: 01434 600599 in advance. Lunch and refreshments provided.