Remploy workers to stage another day of action

Remploy employes opposed to the closure of dozens of factories are due to stage their second 24-hour strike tomorrow.

The GMB and Unite members are expected to take action at all 54 Remploy factory sites.

The Unite union has criticized “the silence” of the work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith in failing to offer any help to the soon-to-be made redundant 1,700 Remploy workers. Unlike the Welsh Government which the union said has pledged £2.4 million for employers who give jobs to Remploy workers when the factories in Wales close.

Unite said the Remploy workers’ hope to build on last week’s strike in the continuing fight to save the UK’s 54 Remploy factories from being closed, or sold off by the coalition government.

The government has pledged to protect the £320 million budget for specialist disability employment but concluded it should be spent in supporting more disabled people into mainstream employment, rather than supporting segregated factories employing mainly disabled people.

Responding to a statement by Maria Miller the minister for disabled people, Mark Goldring the chief executive, Mencap, said: “While Remploy factories have been of real benefit in the past, we believe that employment in the mainstream market place is key to the inclusion of people with a learning disability in all parts of society and to actively changing public attitudes towards people with a learning disability. 

“Value for money is crucial and it is sensible to reinvest funding released from less effective employment programmes into Access to Work, which is widely supported by disabled people.”

Move to encourage employers to give disabled people a chance

The government has launched a wage incentive scheme linked to young disabled people finding work. 

From today employers can claim a payment of up to £2,275 – when they recruit a young disabled person through Work Choice – a specialist programme that gives severely disabled people tailored employment support.

The minister for disabled people Maria Miller said: “This will not only help young disabled people gain practical experience in the workplace, but also showcase their talents and give them the edge in a tough jobs market.”

Also young disabled jobseekers on work experience will be able to access extra support to help them into mainstream placements through Access to Work.

Until now the scheme that can provide specially adapted equipment, support workers and interpreters has only been available to those in paid work. From the autumn it will now be extended to those doing work experience placements as well.

 To apply for the new Wage Incentive http://www.businesslink.gov.uk/workchoice

  Maria Miller the minister for disabled people

Keeping parents in the loop

A new practical resource by Mencap which includes film clips of families telling their own stories of their experiences of healthcare – aims to ensure parents and carers of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities, PMLD, are involved in decision making.

The Mental Capacity Act 2005 requires all health professionals to consult with family members when an adult lacks the mental capacity to make the relevant decision themselves.

Aimed at families which include a person with PMLD, the information equips parents to know their rights and gives practical suggestions of how they can ensure that they and their family member are involved in decisions.

Beverley Dawkins the policy manager for profound and multiple learning disabilities, at Mencap said: “Families often have invaluable knowledge about their loved one, such as how they express that they are in pain, but health professionals are failing to meet their legal duty to consult them.

“Mencap has developed this resource because it is very important that families know their rights and feel able to challenge when they are not being involved.”

The resource has been funded by the Social Care Institute for Excellence, SCIE , with families providing guidance through an advisory group.

To find out more or download the resource www.mencap.org.uk/all-about-learning-disability/health/mental-capacity-act

Training for Games Mobility volunteers

Olympic organisers haven been working with the Guide Dogs charity to train Games Mobility volunteers to help them confidently assist blind and partially sighted spectators.

 Around 1,500 volunteers were given Level 1 Community Sighted Guide training which was adapted to ensure it worked within the Games’ venues.

The training increases awareness of the impact and implications of sight loss and teaches sighted guiding techniques and best practice.

It is part of Guide Dogs’ ‘My Guide scheme’, a pilot service launched to help thousands more blind and partially sighted people become more mobile. 

 After the London 2012 Games, volunteers will also be encouraged to join a My Guide pilot scheme.

 Games Mobility volunteers will be responsible for helping spectators make use of the Games Mobility Service – a free service located inside venues which will loan out manual wheelchairs and mobility scooters as well as guide visually impaired people to their seats.

 Mark Todd, accessibility manager at London 2012 The London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, LOCOG,  said: “It’s been fantastic working with Guide Dogs and I’m thrilled with the training they have provided. Our Games Mobility volunteers will be able to provide the best level of service possible to any spectator who needs assistance with mobility.”

 Kerry Tweed, sighted guide national manager at Guide Dogs said: “Becoming a sighted guide is a valuable skill for volunteers, making them an asset in their local community and workplace.”

As the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay draws to a close the preparations move into the final phase ahead of Friday’s Opening Ceremony. Photo: LOCOG

£1m for Manchester Victoria access improvement

Rail Passengers using Manchester Victoria are to benefit from a new lift and facilities that will help increase access to the station.

Under the government’s Access for All scheme, £1 million will be used to provide a new lift to the footbridge, ensuring level access across the station. The money would also fund new handrails and landings on the existing footbridge.

The rail minister Norman Baker said: “We want everyone to be able to access public transport and that is why the government has provided £1 million to make these changes.

“We have identified a further £100 million for the Access for All programme as a whole, to enable important accessibility work to be carried out at railway stations across the country.”

Manchester Victoria is one of 154 stations in Britain to receive funding to provide better access to stations through the £370 million Access for All programme. Passengers will benefit through the provision of new lifts, ramps, raised “easier access humps” on platforms as well as new accessible toilets.

New Tramper initiative is unique in the Lakes

A ‘Tramper’ mobility scooter is now available for visitors to Tarn Hows, near Coniston to borrow thanks to a National Trust initiative. This is the only circular lakeshore path in Cumbria where visitors with limited mobility have such complete access and are able to experience it in this way.

A project began in 2005 to make the footpath around the lake easier for people to use – and the wide level paths which were created are proving to be the perfect route for the new vehicle. 

Visitors will be able to use the Tramper free of charge, following a quick lesson in how it works, between 10am and 3pm daily.

The purchase of the £7,500 Tramper was made possible by funding from the GoLakes Travel sustainable visitor transport programme, the Sir Jules Thorn Charitable Trust and National Trust benefactors Alan and Pat Parfett.

Alan Parfett said: “We are very pleased to be associated with the purchase of a Tramper, as Pat’s mother had MS and used a wheelchair for many years. We can appreciate the pleasure and the ability to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Tarn Hows that the new Tramper will give to people with mobility problems.”

The rangers are advising visitors to prebook the Tramper to avoid disappointment. Call 07786 670202 for details.

Views sought on new rules for bus and coach passenger rights

The department for transport is inviting feedback on the new European rules for long distance coach trips that aim to bring the rights of passengers into line with those using planes and trains.

The regulation, which mainly applies to journeys over 155 miles lays out the responsibilities of operators and terminal owners in the case of delays, cancellations, accidents and other issues affecting passengers, including disabled passengers and passengers with reduced mobility. 

 A consultation putting forward the UK’s plans for applying Europe-wide regulations has been launched. 

The transport minister, Norman Baker, said: “We want people taking coach trips and long-distance bus journeys to get a fair deal. However, we also want to avoid tying operators up in expensive and unnecessary burdens. 

“I believe that the approach outlined in this consultation finds the right balance between passenger protection and operator competitiveness and I hope that groups likely to be affected by these changes will agree when they respond to our proposals.” 

The consultation, which closes on 11th October 2012, is on the website http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2012-19.