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Updated 14th November 07
Welcome to
ADVOCACY ALIVE
In the High Peak and North Derbyshire Dales
PADA Newsletter Issue No. 6 SUMMER 07
(Issue number 5 SPRING is towards the bottom of the page)
Welcome to the new bumper version of Advocacy Alive. This now stretches to 8 pages and we hope to be able to keep to this size for future editions.
That will, however, depend on you so it would be really good if we could have some interesting items from our readers, about…. well almost anything really—a bit of something about yourself, your interests or anything happening in the world that might relate to advocacy and the sorts of things we stand for! Anyway, that said, read on!
PADA NEWS PADA NEWS PADA NEWS PADA NEWS
V.I.P. Project (VOICES IN the PEAK)
We are proud to introduce our new Self Advocacy development worker: JOHN WALKER.
The V.I.P project he is working on is funded for two years by the Department of Health (through BILD.) John started on July 16th and says, “ I’m very happy to be part of this team and hopefully we can make a difference.”
V.I..P. stands for VOICES IN the PEAK and it also means Very Important People.
The aim of the VIP project is that by summer 09 there will a strong, independent Self Advocacy group in our area. This means that John will be getting out and about, meeting people and passing them on to other people. As a full member of the PADA team John will be involved in all sorts of things to do with advocacy. You are quite likely to see him about so if you do please say “Hi.” He is a friendly guy with lots of energy and willingness to learn.
At 19 years of age John says himself “I am bringing in youth and enthusiasm.” Whilst ever there is the need for people’s voices to be heard in the High Peak and North Derbyshire Dales PADA will not lack enthusiasm and commitment. Extra enthusiasm is always welcome and younger people in advocacy are essential. With Mel, a relatively new volunteer, who is also 19, we are being reminded in PADA that everybody; older and younger, have much to offer.
As has been said before: Advocacy is Advocacy and People are People. Nobody is too old or too young to contribute or to benefit.
Peter recently spent two days as a Peer Reviewer for the Health Care Commission. During this visit to a specialist unit (in another part of the country) Peter was able to recommend that independent advocacy is developed.
Advocacy isn’t just saying what you want to change— it is about celebrating who you are and what you can do. So join us in:
PADA’S CREATIVE EXHIBITION TO BE HELD IN BUXTON METHODIST CHURCH
(On the Market Place next door to PADA office)
MONDAY SEPTEMBER 24TH - SATURDAY 29TH
Open daily from 10.00am—4.00pm.
CALLING ALL PAINTERS, DRAWERS, POETS, WRITERS, CRAFTS-WOMEN AND MEN, KNITTERS, SEWERS SCULPTORS, MODELLERS
Anyone with any connection to PADA is invited to show their work in PADA’s First Creative Exhibition GRAND OPENING—12 noon Monday 24th
Any work you would like showing needs be received at the office by Wednesday 19th September. Pictures should be mounted and ready to hang. Please mark your name clearly on a paper with any other details you would like to have included.
Thanks go to Colin and Buxton Methodist Church Council.
Don’t just be a wall flower, come and get involved
PEAKS AND DALES ADVOCACY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
AT FAIRFIELD METHODIST CHURCH FAIRFIELD ROAD,BUXTON
TUESDAY, 18TH SEPTEMBER 2007 FROM 7.00pm—9.00pm
Come and Meet Directors, Volunteers, Coordinators And find out what we do. All Welcome
SHOUTING OUT FOR OLDER PEOPLE
Advocacy is sometimes described as speaking out for someone. With all the worrying statistics of elder abuse and reports of increased isolation of older people perhaps it is often shouting out that is required.
An increasing number of older people in our society have the need for appropriate services of support, and also the need for a voice. Peaks and Dales Advocacy have been providing free, independent advocacy to older people in the High Peak and North Dales for some years. Whilst we would all agree that it should not be necessary, the need for advocacy is likely to grow.
Sometimes our advocacy is in the stark context of having to shout up against lack of services or other injustices. Sometimes it is a matter of just being a friend with a purpose. Whatever the situation the underlying reasons for advocacy are always to do with the need for dignity, fairness, choice and Equality. As long as there is a need for those qualities in the lives of older people there is likely to be a need for advocacy.
Our older citizens also have much to contribute and offer to the rest of us (and eachother). Here are two of our stalwart volunteer advocates seen with M.P. Tom Levitt. I suspect they might have been offering him a tip or two on speaking out!
How the Older Peoples Advocacy Project (OPAP) started!
We were the first independently funded project for Peaks and Dales Advocacy. In 1997 we received money from Opportunities for Volunteers and are currently funded by the Balance Foundation, The Allen Lane Foundation and Lloyds TSB.
The Project was started to improve people’s quality of life and to promote informed choice. The older People’s Project has had many fondly remembered coordinators: Jullie, Helen and more recently Moyra, now pursuing her interest in gardening in Spain, and Ivan who emigrated back to his homeland of Australia.
Ann and Russ are the present coordinators with Louise and Slyvia having had recent input. Some of our first volunteers still support OPAP and we continue to recruit. OPAP remains the only Independent generic advocacy service for Older People in the High Peak.
GETTING SORTED
An Advocacy Short Story
MONDAY MORNING—Mavis looked at the clock for the umpteenth time. It was 3:20am. The rain dripped steadily through the slated roof into her bedroom. Life was changing, had changed. After a life-time of sharing decisions with Bill she was alone. The changes seemed out of her control. She couldn’t sleep and life was black.
For a few years after Bill’s death she had been happy enough to keep going and proud of her independence. She had a number of close friends.Gradually they had died too, or moved away. She had no children to share her life with. As the years passed she became less steady on her feet, and, she had to admit, more frail than she had been ten years earlier. Yes, things would have to change. She couldn’t carry on living like this.
Decisions would need to be made but she was afraid of the future now. And particularly afraid that someone would step in and tell her what she had to do and where she had to live—and that she wouldn’t like it!
A Social worker had called in to see her a week ago. She had seemed nice but had been very busy and had not stopped long. She had asked Mavis what she wanted to do. Well Mavis didn’t know or didn’t want to say, well, not without thinking it through. And even then, would she dare speak up for herself? And maybe the social worker had her own agenda?
As she lay, sleeplessly in bed she remembered something the social worker had given her. A leaflet about something called “Advocacy.” She didn’t quite know what that meant. But it was a local number, in Buxton, and it was, apparently a local, free, charity!
Yes, she thought to herself, I will ring. What have I got to lose?
TUESDAY MORNING-it was 6.30am.
For the first time in ages Mavis had slept all night. She had phoned Peaks and Dales Advocacy and had a long talk to a really nice lady. This lady had made it clear to Mavis that indeed she had rights and options. She could have a say in her own future, how ever long or short that might happen to be! The lady was coming to see her this morning, at 10.00am., and was bringing another lady with her who would be Mavis’ own advocacy volunteer. This would be someone who would listen to her and help her get sorted! After all there were options and she was not alone.
Mavis looked through the window, the sun shone, and she smiled.
The Voluntary Sector in The High Peak and Dales is vibrant with many Interesting and dynamic initiatives. Here Darren Crimes, Hands On Youth Project Worker describes his project. This article is, in itself, advocating for the energy and talents of young people to be valued.
Hands On! Youth Project
Glossop in the High Peaks offers opportunities to the outdoor enthusiast, the quiet living city worker or those choosing to retire in a picturesque location with easy access to a big city. For younger people it is not such a desirable place to grow up. Many are bored; feel disenfranchised and generally apathetic. Over the past 6 months young people have been dispersed and broken up by the police when more that 3 young people hang out in any but a few designated areas. Prior to this residents demanded action and that large groups would be removed from ‘trouble’ spots. The usual agencies working with young people are under-resourced and unable to meet the needs of youth in this area.
Hands On ! aims to compliment what is already available by creating new opportunities and activities while increasing the number of young people who gain accreditation for what they do. One projects that is currently being developed is a Cultural Exchange with a town in the Balkans. Another is the recruitment and training of a group of young journalists as well as training young people to use our DJ equipment (and then provide t music for local events) .We will be working with the Schools and Youth Service to deliver the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and the Peak Award.
At Hands On! we are working alongside every agency with a vested interest in young people. It is our objective to facilitate young people within the area and give them a sense of empowerment while encouraging them to constructively participate in community activities. We believe that young people are the future and it is short-sighted not to invest heavily in the youth of today.
If you have any questions, or ideas, please contact Darren on 01457 865722 or darren@gvb.org.uk.HandsOn Volunteer Centre Glossop.
MEET ANGELA AYRES—PADA COMMITTEE MEMBER, MENTAL HEALTH PROJECT ADVISOR AND VOLUNTEER ADVOCATE
Some while ago while working in my last paid job, for MENCAP, I was introduced to advocacy. This was both citizen self advocacy and citizen advocacy. Advocacy, I realised was not something for the fit and healthy to “do” for those less fortunate. Rather, it provided the way forward for people with any disability. The next step was to realise, as retirement drew nearer, that this could be a way for me to make a sideways move and use the knowledge and experience I had gained during my working life in a slightly different and preferred direction.
Looking back, I can see the various bits from the rag-bag of my life’s experiences that could have led me in this direction: as a young teenager in the early 1940’s hearing my grandmother telling tales of the neglect of her friends she visited who were now in old people’s homes; a family friend sheltering in our home because his wife ‘had lost her mind’ and was after him with a carving knife; even my passion in late teens and early twenties for amateur dramatics which gave me the confidence to speak in public and, while our children were still school-age, to teach my only qualification of office skills to, among others, people who had been incarcerated in psychiatric hospitals and who were, in the 1970’s, to join the wider community. I suppose it all adds up!
Angela Ayres, July, 2007.
PADA’s volunteer advocates are essential to advocacy in the High Peak and Derbyshire Dales. What we provide is independent support to some members of our communities. Although it is true that advocacy does not provide a magic wand what advocates do is to challenge the negative and limiting views that may be held about the people we work with. So yes, we do sometimes help to move mountains.
The View from Kinder Scout
Farewell and thanks to Krupa and Fay. They have both been excellent students on placement with us, fun to work with and lovely people. We wish them well in their training as social workers and hope we will see more of them. Perhaps as volunteers?
A big PADA welcome to John Walker, our new Self Advocacy Development Worker
Coming Soon PADA CREATIVE EXHIBITION September 24-30th Buxton Methodist Church
Thank you to Liz Evans— of Macclesfield Speak Up and Speak Out— who was a valuable member of PADA’s recent Interview Panel. PADA interviewed 10 excellent candidates for the Self Advocacy Development Worker’s Post. Well done to everyone who applied and well done to the interview panel.
A GOOD JOB was done by all concerned!
Now meeting regularly are two dynamic groups that PADA supports: Autism Aware and The Monthly Drop In. For more details contact Clare or Jenny through our office.
Welcome to all of you who have made recent enquiries about becoming Volunteer advocates. Training will be offered soon. That should bring our team up to more than 30. Thank You All and More Welcome!
Look Out for The Choice and Control Charter—for all adults who have learning difficulties. Official launch in the Autumn.
Welcome to
ADVOCACY ALIVE
In the High Peak and North Derbyshire Dales
PADA Newsletter Issue No. 5 SPRING 07
Ah Spring-A time of fertile growth! We certainly have some new growth at PADA. We have been awarded a grant from Bild to continue on and develop our Learning Difficulty Project. Read on for more details. We have also just received funding to enable us to reach more older people in Buxton. Many thanks to Hall Bank Trust. As well as this we have just got the news that The Bingham Trust have given PADA £500 for a lap top Computer for use by our friends and Colleagues who are service-users at Alderbrook Centre. With all this and more we are looking forward to a summer of new adventures!
PADA supports people in four main advocacy Projects. Here's a an update of developments since our last Newsletter:
IMCA
Readers may remember that before Christmas PADA was thinking about whether to tender for the Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy service in Derbyshire. After a lot of talking and thinking in our committee and at the office we decided not to tender with Derbyshire County Council for the contract.
We see this as having been a positive decision-a resolve to keep the advocacy we do independent and flexible. We have heard that the IMCA work was awarded to Derby Mind in partnership with Derbyshire Advocacy. We wish them well.
Self Advocacy here we come
There is a lot happening in The Learning Difficulty Advocacy Project. First of all the money from Bild will help advocacy to Continue to grow and get strong in the Peaks and Dales. The aim of our new self advocacy project (VIP-Voices in the Peak) is to support people to develop their own Independent, self managing advocacy group. We will employ a worker who has learning difficulties to help us do this. Choice and Control: Derbyshire has now signed up to a Charter of Choice and Control for people who have learning difficulties. PADA is delighted to have a role in the development of this. It is up to all of us to see that it works.
Speak to Peter at PADA for more info
ADVOCACY ALIVE PADA NEWSLETTER ISSUE NO.4 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT PADA PEOPLE
Advocacy is all about people. Here is just a small sample of PADA PEOPLE :
Sheila Holgate: I am the Finance/Administrator for PADA. (4 hrs a day) I have two jobs and many interests: Also I drive a school bus. They're both great jobs-I meet nice people. Before PADA I was an office Manager in the building trade. I enjoy music, walking, cooking, gardening, and craftwork, when I have the time between everything else in my busy day.
Sara's thoughts.
I am 19 years old and I live at Tarry Hill, I have been here a few months and have settled in. My hobbies are listening to music, especially Clubland, (dance music) and reading magazines like Cosmopolitan and Glamour, as I like having my hair coloured. I enjoy watching soaps on television like Hollyoaks, Coronation Street and The Bill. I also enjoy seeing my Dad and Mum and I enjoy writing letters. I like talking to people and have a boyfriend called Jamie. My advocate helps me with my problems; she listens to me and helps me to speak up for myself. I would find this difficult if I was to do this alone. I like to talk to people, not the same person all the time.
There wouldn't be many people I could talk things through with if I didn't have an advocate. My life would be harder and I wouldn't be as happy as I am now if I didn't have an advocate.
I think an advocate is someone I can talk to and it makes a difference because my advocate is there just for me. It makes my problems clear in my head and I'm really glad I've got an advocate.
Hi everyone! I'm Krupa the student.
I can't believe that I'm already three quarters through my placement! I am really enjoying my time at PADA working with a very supportive and dedicated (and at times crazy) team! Learning about the great importance of advocacy and seeing the valuable work PADA's committed volunteers do is very inspiring. Knowing that people are supported to take control of their life by having their voice heard is very empowering and I am pleased to be placed with an great organisation that strives to achieve this. Now for just a bit about me: I'm recently married, I teach Yoga and one of my favourite things is going on scary rides at theme parks!
Hello! - I am Roger Horne.
I have lived in the Buxton area for 33 years and became involved in Advocacy when I realised how many people in our area cannot cope with the complexities of modern life because of illness or age. Before I retired, I was a solicitor working with older clients and I was invited to join the PADA's older persons' advisory committee. Since then I have joined the management committee and now even have some advocacy partners of my own! I have connections with other local voluntary organisations including church and groups working with young people, heritage vehicles and railways. I am married to Di and we have two children, Sarah & Oliver, who are both living and working away from Buxton.
I enjoy talking with other volunteers and the staff at PADA. The are all committed and friendly people who support the organisation and its partners.
At PADA we are privileged to work with many talented and interesting people. Here Advisory Group members are admiring the work of Vic Tawil, a gifted local artist.
Now for a brand new idea!
PADA would like to mount its own exhibition of creative work, here, in Buxton, in the Autumn. If you'd like to contribute to it please let us know.
PADA's Older People's Advocacy Project is as determined as ever to fight for the rights of older people to be treated decently and with respect. This resolve is made even stronger after Panorama's recent revelations of abuses in care homes.
Watch this space!
All PADA's advocacy relies on the valuable contribution of our enthusiastic team of volunteers. OPAP is particularly proud of its two excellent volunteer advocates who are both in their 80s.Our most recent recruit is under 20 so our team now spans 65 years! Not bad eh!
New volunteers always welcome.
New Monthly Drop In
Clare, Krupa and Harry have now held three sessions in our meeting room above the Buxton Volunteer Centre at 16 Eagle Parade. This is an open session for users of mental health services. Anyone welcome who would like a good chat about relevant issues, a cup of tea (or coffee) and a biscuit. Usually the first Monday in each month, 3pm-4pm. Just come along or for more information call 01298 79539.
2A GROUP-On April 23rd PADA's Mental Health Project relaunched the Asperger's Peer Support Group:- Asperger's Acceptance. This group will now meet regularly, at The Grapevine Café, Market Place Buxton. Billy and Jenny are the contacts for this dynamic group on 01298 79539. Next dates for the group are 7th and 21st May, 4th and 18th June, 2nd, 16th and 30th July.
The View from Kinder Scout
Thank you David Smith for many years membership of PADA's committee and for your enthusiasm for all things advocacy and for your commitment to people with learning difficulties. Take a well-earned break!
Thanks to Mark Brooks (from Values Into Action) for coming from London on March 29th to talk to us about Individualised Budgets.
This is a development which is interesting and exciting. We are all looking forward to Derbyshire County Council taking it on board.
PADA is fortunate to have two students with us on placements again: Krupa (who has been with us since before Christmas)
and Faye
who started in March. Their placements are of advantage to all
concerned.
Welcome to Rose Ralph 
who is now a Director of PADA
as a member of the Management Committee.
We remember with respect Mike who gave a lot to his community and to services for people with mental health needs and with thanks for his interest in and support of advocacy.
And we remember Martin with affection and admiration for the way in which he battled for his rights and never gave up advocating for himself and others.
Advocacy Alive Editor & resident Artist is Peter Dawson, Production Team Sheila G Holgate & the PADA Office.
If you want to find out more about us, put something in the next newsletter, have an advocate, be an advocate, join or support a self advocacy group here’s where you start:
PEAKS AND DALES ADVOCACY, 16 Eagle Parade, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6EQ. Telephone 01298 79539.
Email: padaf@btconnect.com
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