Disability group opens party doors to secret Santa

SECRET Santa paid a visit to the Open DAWS Christmas lunch party in Minehead last week.
Members of the activities group for people with disabilities were handed their gifts by volunteers - treasurer Joe Magill and his helper Jess - as part of the annual get-together at the seafront Beach Hotel, and enjoyed a Christmas lunch with all the trimmings.
West Somerset Council community portfolio holder, Councillor Neil Parbrook, said: “Christmas is a time for people to gather together in festive good cheer, and it is heartening when any group is meeting with those aspirations.
“In providing people of all abilities the opportunity to enjoy activities and excursions they might not otherwise do, Open DAWS offers a valuable service to the local West Somerset community.”
Open DAWS, which stands for Disabled Activities in West Somerset, was launched by the district council in 2001 and has grown to a total of 30 members.
Transport for excursions, activities, and outings is provided by community transport group AT West, and events planned for January include swimming, sea fishing, dance aerobics, and a sauna visit.
Anybody interested in joining Open DAWS or who would like to talk about the activities should call Gail Sloman on 01984 635208 or West Somerset Council leisure and community officer Liz Stewart on 01984 635330.

• Our photograph shows Santa with members of Open DAWS at their Christmas party. Photo submitted.

LETTERS: Help available for disabled entrep

Dear Editor - Do you know somebody who is disabled would like to run a business and needs support?
This week, November 17 to 23, is National Enterprise Week.
Ready to Start is an employment initiative run by Leonard Cheshire Disability in partnership with Barclays which backs disabled people to begin their own business.
Ready to Start supports more than 1,000 disabled entrepreneurs across the UK to unlock their hidden potential and start a business.
Self-employment is a workable option for disabled people, particularly as they still face unacceptable barriers to entering the job market and are more likely than non-disabled people to live in poverty.
Ready to Start provides disabled entrepreneurs with a business buddy, distance mentor, free computer equipment, software, training courses tailored to their needs, start-up advice, and information about relevant trade bodies and business associations to help them network locally.
Schani Cave is a disabled man who has set up in business as a pilates and dance instructor.
His business dream became a reality thanks to some invaluable backup from his Barclays Buddy, Daniel McLaren.
If you know somebody who is disabled, with designs on running a business and would like to know how to make a start, visit http://www.readytostart.org.uk/ or call 08456 717173.
Jane Fletcher
Leonard Cheshire Disability Director Innovative Projects.

LETTERS: Support scheme for disabled entrepreneurs

Dear Editor - Do you know somebody who is disabled would like to run a business and needs support?
This week, November 17 to 23, is National Enterprise Week.
Ready to Start is an employment initiative run by Leonard Cheshire Disability in partnership with Barclays which backs disabled people to begin their own business.
Ready to Start supports more than 1,000 disabled entrepreneurs across the UK to unlock their hidden potential and start a business.
Self-employment is a workable option for disabled people, particularly as they still face unacceptable barriers to entering the job market and are more likely than non-disabled people to live in poverty.
Ready to Start provides disabled entrepreneurs with a business buddy, distance mentor, free computer equipment, software, training courses tailored to their needs, start-up advice, and information about relevant trade bodies and business associations to help them network locally.
Schani Cave is a disabled man who has set up in business as a pilates and dance instructor.
His business dream became a reality thanks to some invaluable backup from his Barclays Buddy, Daniel McLaren.
If you know somebody who is disabled, with designs on running a business and would like to know how to make a start, visit www.readytostart.org.uk or call 08456 717173.
Jane Fletcher
Leonard Cheshire Disability Director Innovative Projects.

HOPE event for people facing prejudice or harassment

AN event is being organised next month in Dunster for anybody who has experienced or is worried about being harassed or facing prejudice because of their race, faith, sexual orientation, or disability.
HOPE - Harassment or Prejudice Event – will take place in the Tithe Barn Community Hall on Wednesday, October 8, at 1 pm.
Speakers at the event include the police, local council, Crown Prosecution Service, Somerset Racial Equality Council, and Witness Service representatives, as well as somebody with personal experience of these sorts of incident.
Information will be available about support services and crime prevention and Tthere will be an opportunity to ask questions of all the organisations involved in tackling the problem.
The day will feature display stands from agencies involved and there will be a panel of representatives who will explain how the agencies work together, as well as a victim story.
A number of discussion groups will cover topics such as
Hate crime reporting - exploring the reasons why people do not report offences and what the agencies can do to encourage and make easier the reporting of such incidents
Safety awareness for businesses – for anybody running a business to share their experiences and find out what help is available to them, and to have their say in what should happen in the future
Your experience matters - where experiences of hate crime or being part of a minority community are shared with others, and suggestions made on how everybody can affect change
The court experience – finding out what happens if somebody is called as a victim/witness to court, the help and support which is available, and suggestions for improving the system
Free transport to Dunster’s HOPE is available via community transport scheme Atwest, which will be picking up from the Williton council offices at 11.15 am, from Butlins at 11.20 am, from the West Somerset Railway, in Watchet, at 11.25 am, the council offices in Summerland Avenue, Minehead, at 11.30 am, Driftwood Café, Blue Anchor, at 11.40 am, Silvermead, Alcombe, at 11.40 am, opposite Carhampton Post Office at 11.50 am, Ellicombe at 11.45 am, and Dunster at 12 noon.
To book a place at the event or to obtain further information, call 01935 402122, or just turn up on the day.

LETTER: Nominate GPs for award for supporting carers

Dear Editor - Looking after a loved one who is sick, disabled, or frail is not easy – it can be physically hard, emotionally draining, and very isolating.
In a recent study, 74 per cent of unpaid family carers in the South West say that their health and well-being is worse off as a result of caring.
Often, the person that carers turn to for support is their GP.
This support can vary greatly from practice to practice and yet it can make all the difference to carers.
The Simplyhealth Caring Awards (in partnership with The Princess Royal Trust for Carers) are looking to celebrate all the good work being done throughout the UK today to support carers.
I would like to draw your readers’ attention specifically to the Simplyhealth Carers’ Choice Award that looks to recognise all the fantastic work being carried out by individual GPs.
Carers in West Somerset, Taunton Deane, and Sedgemoor can now say ‘thank you’ by nominating their GP for this award.
This year’s prize is £250 each for the winning GP and for you.
To nominate, all you need to do is write a letter about how your GP supports you as a carer.
It is very important to focus on the support they give to you, not just the person you care for.
Please e-mail gpawards@carers.org or write to The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Freepost RRRY-JLXK-GZCG, Unit 14, Bourne Court, Southend Road, Woodford Green, IG8 8HD.
You need to remember to include contact details for both yourselves and your GP.
The closing date for all the awards is October 10, and more information can be found on www.carers.org.
The winners will be announced at an event in November.
Sheila Hancock
Actress and author

Winsford woman takes to stage to celebrate three-star award for adult care services

AN Exmoor woman will be centre stage tonight (Thursday, November 29) as a star-studded celebratory showcase takes place to recognise the latest three-star rating of the county’s adult social care services.
Three stars is the top rating given by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) and means the services have been judged to be ‘excellent’.
The celebratory event is being staged at the Brewhouse Theatre, in Taunton, with many people taking part from across Somerset, including Becky Hayes, who lives in Winsford.
All the participants will have taken part in artistic endeavours within the service, helping it to receive the highest possible rating for a fourth consecutive year.
Becky, aged 23, has been involved in the Moves Afoot dance project which takes place in Minehead’s Seahorse day centre for adults with learning disabilities.
The project is run by Arts Exchange, which is funded by Somerset County Council and the Arts Council, providing activities in dance, music, and storytelling for adults with learning disabilities.
For the past year, dance artist Oliver Ellis has been working with service users on Friday afternoons, supported by Seahorse staff.
Becky has been one of the keenest participants, and Seahorse Centre deputy team leader Helen Chave said: “Becky communicates in a very particular way and we know when she is happy.
“We knew that she enjoyed the dance session and has developed a really good relationship with Oliver.
“All the group have benefited and the project has given them the confidence to express themselves creatively using the ideas and skills brought to us by Oliver.”
The Brewhouse Theatre evening will feature a screening of the award-winning comedy horror film about food hygiene ‘Germ Academy’, created by and starring people with learning disabilities.
Cast members will be on hand to discuss their roles, as will those involved in the service’s latest film production, ‘Shape Up’.
Also on hand will be people who have become community ‘storytellers’ with the help of an innovative project run by The Unlimited Company, based within the community team for adults with learning difficulties in Mendip.
The CSCI rating will contribute to the Audit Commission’s next comprehensive performance assessment of the way the county council works and delivers services.
This year’s test was even harder than previous years, with extra emphasis placed on delivering demonstrable positive outcomes for the community.
Among areas rated as ‘excellent’ in the report were leadership, use of resources, maintaining personal dignity and respect, increased choice and control, improving quality of life, and improving health and emotional well-being.
The county’s community director, Miriam Maddison, said: “To receive a three-star rating is a welcome endorsement of all the work the council does in this area, but this event is all about celebrating the achievements of people we help.
“As a service, it is important that we are not content to just support and care for people.
“It is about making a positive contribution to peoples’ lives, helping them achieve great things and this event is celebrating just that.”
Council portfolio holder for adult and community services, Councillor Justin Robinson, said: “We have forged excellent working partnerships with volunteers, partner agencies, and carers across the county, allowing us to deliver excellent services at the local level to people across Somerset.”

• Our photograph shows Becky Hayes training with dance instructor Oliver Ellis at the Seahorse Centre. Photo submitted.