Issue Seven | March 2008
…because life needn't stop when you're paralysed
This is the Spinal Injuries Association's (SIA) seventh bi-monthly issue of our online bulletin. This is an excellent way to stay up to date with the latest news and events from SIA and the SCI community.
To make sure your family and friends don't miss out, forward this email to someone you know. If you have been forwarded this then make sure you register to receive your free e-clips bulletin here.
Your feedback is always welcome!
SIA is here to support SCI people and their families from the moment their injury occurs and for the rest of their lives. We offer support and advice to all.
Anyone can have access to our core services such as our Peer Support service and our Advice Line. However, SIA members also receive regular copies of our excellent magazine, FORWARD so why not join to start receiving your copy today.
As a charity we depend on public donations, corporate sponsorship and trust grants, together with a small amount of statutory funding. Anything you are able to donate will help us to continue providing much needed services for SCI people.
April 13th - Flora London Marathon. Good luck to all TeamSIA runners... find out more
April 25th-26th - Mobility Road Show, Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh... find out more
April 29th- May 1st - Naidex, NEC, Birmingham... find out more
June 12th-14th - Mobility Road Show, Stoneleigh Park, Conventry... find out more
July 25th - 26th - Beyond Boundaries Exhibition... find out more
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Experience the excitement of the Flora London Marathon!
SIA is looking for volunteers for race day - Sunday 13th April - to help at
cheering points around the course. Contact
Elizabeth Wright on 0845 678 6633 ext. 229 or email e.wright@spinal.co.uk.
Join
Team SIA for the BUPA Great Run
Series SIA has places in the BUPA London 10K, Great Manchester Run and the Great South Run.
For further details please call the hotline on 0845 071 4350.
SIA's Peer Support team will be getting together at their next national Development Day, which takes place on Wednesday 16th April at the Birmingham Metropole Hotel. Joined by Peer Support volunteers and members of SCI Centre staff, the team will be given an update from SIA's Project Researcher (Dr Fiona Barr) about her work on the Upgrading and Preserving of SCI Centres project and will also hear about the work of SIA's Continuing Healthcare Funding Working Group. They will also receive an update on current and future service developments within the organisation from staff based at SIA House, and will have opportunities to give their input through a number of discussion sessions. Most importantly, they will have the chance to meet with their colleagues from all over the country and hear about Peer Support activities within each of the different Centres. A full report on the day's event will appear in the June issue of FORWARD.
In its first year Beyond Boundaries inspired, motivated and empowered its visitors. Due to the phenomenal success of the event Beyond Boundaries 2008 will return bigger and better than before. The event has moved to the prestigious Kent Showground, providing more indoor space and a fabulous outdoor space too.
In its second year Beyond Boundaries '08 will be pushing the limits further by offering even more challenging, interactive activities, including:
Sports - demonstrating a range of exciting sportsBeyond Boundaries '08 will be hosting a range of talks in our Inspirational Seminar Theatre. We are delighted that Ade Adepitan, MBE - the face of Beyond Boundaries '08 - will be talking about his experiences as an Olympic medallist and member of the 2012 Olympic winning bid team; Kerry McGregor, the X-factor finalist, will be talking about her life as a performer and 11 times Paralympics gold medal winner Dame Tanni Grey Thompson, will be talking about her fantastic achievements. Beyond Boundaries is also working with two leading associations providing a ground breaking healthcare conference.
For more information and to order tickets visit: www.beyondboundarieslive.co.uk or phone 0208 614 0833
Due to our current expansion, SIA has a number of exciting and challenging new posts available both on the fundraising side of our work and in service delivery. If you'd like to work with a friendly team of people, all of whom want to make a difference to people's lives, then joining the SIA staff team could be what you’re looking for.
We're particularly keen to have more spinal cord injured people joining the staff, so do take time to look over the vacancies we have and put in your application. Job Descriptions, applications forms etc are available on our website.
Are you ready for the challenge of a
lifetime? Join the Cuban Revolution Cycle in October. This 350km expedition begins in Havana and ends up by the Caribbean sea in Trinidad.
There are also places available to Trek the Inca Trail -14th - 23rd May 2009
For more details visit our website or for an enquiry pack on either of these fundraising challenges please call Elizabeth Wright on 0845 678 6633 ext. 229 or email e.wright@spinal.co.uk
Former 5,000 metre world record holder and Chief Executive of UK Athletics, Dave
Moorcroft, OBE, has kindly agreed to present a Radio 4 appeal to raise funds for
SIA. Tune your radios to Radio 4 at the following times to hear the appeal:
Sunday 20th April 7.55am and 9.26pm
Thursday 24th April at 3.27pm
If you are pursuing or have previously pursued an award for damages you will know that it can often be a hard fought battle. You need to make certain therefore your award works as much to your advantage as it possibly can.
Use an expert to help you with your investment planning.
Given the role of an award in helping you meet your long term income needs, a sound investment strategy is critical, and you should seek advice from an expert not only during the initial strategy design but on a regular basis to ensure its ongoing suitability.
SIA Financial Services (SIAFS) is a benefit for SIA members which introduces specialist independent financial advice from AWD Chase de Vere.
SIA will benefit from a 25% donation from AWD Chase de Vere on all income generated through SIA Financial Services.
Visit www.siafs.co.uk website or call us now on
0844 800 9562 (quoting E2608)
According to Leonard Cheshire Disability's Now Boarding report almost two
thirds of disabled people have negative experiences dealing with airport staff
and boarding flights.
They are now calling for all airport and airline authorities to ensure that air
travel is accessible for everyone and they must take their responsibility to do
so seriously.
Visit the Leonard Cheshire
Disability website to find out more and complete their online survey
If so, the Bath Institute of Medical Engineering (BIME) Evaluation Centre are interested in your opinions on the power-assist device/power-pack you use.
Latest
in the LibraryHere are the latest titles that can be found in our reference library.
Gimp - Mark Zupman
Written by Mark Zupman, the star behind the DVD Murderball, Gimp is his story. Recollecting the events surrounding his injury and the difficult times that followed as a result of it, this book is a testament to the human ability to make do, and move on with what life deals you. Appealing not only to fans of Murderball, but also anyone ready to be motivated by a touching, captivating and heartfelt story about triumphing over adversity.
Murderball - DVD
Murderball is a fast paced documentary that tracks the fierce rivalry between the Canadian and the American wheelchair rugby teams on the lead up to the 2004 Paralympics. Following the players on and off court, the DVD gives a fresh perspective into the daily lives of wheelchair users, focusing heavily on rising star Mark Zupman, a wheelchair rugby player from Team USA.
If you would like to find out more about our library collection then contact Cameron Akitt or visit our website
All-Party Parliamentry Group
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on SCI due to be established in April with
representation from both Houses of Parliament will provide a national focus for
promoting services and support for SCI people.
Drug Tariff Review
Review of Part IX of the Drug Tariff Following extensive consultations relating
to the provision of continence and stoma care products, SIA submitted a detailed
response to the Department of Health, .which can be accessed on the Campaigning
pages of SIA's website http://www.spinal.co.uk/f-03.aspx SIA continues to
campaign on this vitally important issue.
Review of NHS
For details of the review's progress, to share your views and
experiences, visit this website: http://www.ournhs.nhs.uk/ The Our NHS, our
future final report is due in June 2008.
UN Convention on Disability Rights
UN Convention on Disability Rights SIA has joined with a number of disability
organisations to form a coalition to campaign for UK ratification, without
reservations, of the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People. A web forum
is to be established with details of the Convention and the coalition's aims.
Blue Badge Reform
Blue Badge Reform Following an independent review of the Blue Badge Scheme held
last year, the Department for Transport is consulting on a Comprehensive Blue
Badge Reform Strategy.You can complete an on-line survey at
http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/bluebadgereformstrategy/
or submit your views to cfc@spinal.co.uk before 7 April, for possible inclusion
in SIA’s response.
Office for Disability Issues' 2nd Anuual Report
Progress towards disability equality The Office for Disability Issues' second
annual report to the Prime Minister indicates important progress towards the
government's goal of equality for disabled people by 2025. To access the report
visit www.officefordisability.gov.uk
The next issue of e-clips will be circulated in May. If you missed out on previous issues of e-clips you can download them here. If you have any comments or feedback about e-clips, please email our Web Panel who are happy to receive your correspondence. If you have enjoyed reading e-clips why not send it to a friend so that they can register to receive their own copy.
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