PADA Newsletter Issue No 8

Christmas 07

Christmas has come a little bit early for us with the good news that our Older People’s Advocacy Project will continue to be funded for another three years. More of that inside. As many people know funding in the Voluntary Sector is always a challenge. In less than three years time we will have to be turning our attention to how we fund Older People’s Advocacy from April 2011. And of course we run other Advocacy projects which all offer similar funding challenges. It is vital that organisations such as ours continue to provide Independent Support to people so that their voices are heard and the hopes for change that people carry in their hearts have the possibility of becoming realities.

Random Advocacy Gossip

a) GALOP (Glossop Action for Local Older People) had a recent visit from Jem Brown—Head of Well Being (strategy and Commissioning Division) for Derbyshire County Council. He was reminded of PADA’s existence by one of our volunteer advocates. Hopefully this link will continue for the benefit of the older residents of Glossop and PADA.

b) Remember Autism Aware, (2A) the support group which meet fortnightly on Monday mornings at the Grapevine Café, are open to family carers as well as people who have Asperger’s Syndrome. Listen out for the 2A group and PADA on High Peak Radio.

C) Belated congratulations to OPAP on their 10th birthday last Autumn! .

A poem by Carol Davey (contributing poet to the PADA creative exhibition)

Sunday morning quiet
Soft Autumn rain—wet dust on the van roof
Funnelled into serious drips pitting the gravels below.
Green oak canopy filters light, hesitant but clear.
In the distant wood, dogs and birds greet the dawn.
No-one moving, lie still, drift awhile….

Become aware—an eye observes me
Sharing looks of love—deep into the heart—time slows
Greet the dawn in love.

GOOD NEWS FOR OLDER PEOPLE’S ADVOCACY PROJECT
We are delighted to be able to tell our readers that we are funded for another three years. Comic Relief have just let us know that our bid for £101.000 has been successful.
THANK YOU COMIC RELIEF.

This is funding which will see OPAP through for three years—until March 2011 (top-up through another source will be required in the third year). For all the hard work that went into putting the bid together we must thank Ann Young who worked tirelessly on what is a vital but sometimes tedious task.

Our new funding will enable us to mount an important and innovatory project called “Advocacy Aware” which is the brainchild of Russ Baker. More of this is future editions of Advocacy Alive.

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A CHRISTMAS EDITION MESSAGE FROM PADA’S CHAIR

Hello everyone.

My name is Mary-Ann Summerton. I am the chair of PADA. In this profile I will tell you a little bit about my life, my job as an advocate and about why I think advocacy is really important.

Ah, Happy Families! This is a photo of my husband John and our three horrible dogs. John is never going to forgive me for showing this to all of you.

I have had a few jobs including being a college lecturer.I am also a qualified social worker.

I was once the youngest Borough Councillor in Macclesfield where I live. But that was a few years ago now.

I am the Young Person’s Advocate with Asist (Advocacy Services in Staffordshire). I work with young people from 10 to 18 who live or go to school in Stoke on Trent.

We don’t often think of young people as having a disadvantage. After all aren’t they supposed to be seen and not heard?

But for example did you know young people can’t Formally complain about school, only their parents Or carers can?

Sometimes young people do have a right to say what they think. But how would you cope with speaking up in a meeting where everyone else is a much older professional talking about you?

Some young people have to face even more people than this in their meetings!

I think advocacy is really Important not just for Young people but for everyone.

We can all feel that more powerful people are talking over sometimes and might like Someone on our side

This is the main reason I am still chair of PADA...that and the fact that everyone keeps voting me back in!

This will be my fifth year I think and I still really enjoy the meetings.

Why not come and see how much fun we have? Just ask Peter for dates.

Very warm wishes in this cold winter season to all Advocacy Alive readers from PADA’s Board of Directors, volunteer advocates, advisors and staff.

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT FOR VOICES IN THE PEAK

On 20th November PADA officially launched the VIP project. People came to the launch from all over the High Peak and North Derbyshire Dales. We worked in small groups and shared lots of ideas. Everyone worked hard. It was an interesting and exciting event which will give us at PADA plenty to do. The way forward is becoming clearer. In the new year we will start to put some of the excellent ideas that came out of the day into action.

If you want to look at our photos click on the photo below

Voices in the Peak (VIP) Day at Buxton 20th November 07

Report on the Launch

“I have launched my project which is voices in the peak. The venue was the Railway hotel in Buxton. I had about 40 people and a guest speaker called Kevin White from a self advocacy group from chesterfield. I think the day went really well and I think I got a lot out of the day. A few people came out of their shells and started to show that people have a voice and are able to show their feelings. What they want out of VIP is to have small groups and a network of groups which work together. Once a year all the group should come together and share their ideas.

I would like to thank all the people who came for the day and all the staff and the guest speaker Kevin White. I thought the day went really well and I hope every one who came to the day got something out of the day and want to be a part of this group in the High Peak and North Derbyshire Dales.

I really like speaking to all the people because I have a passion to help people because I hate people labelling people like me and I have a great passion to get it changed at the next local partnership meeting. Thanks to everybody who took part in any way.”

John Benjamin Walker Self Advocacy Development Worker

News from Nearby News from Nearby News from Nearby News from Nearby News from Nearby News

HIGH PEAK SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT

HELLO. I’m Lisa Caldwell from High Peak Supported Employment Service where I work as an Employment Officer. In January we celebrate 10 years of our service. We are part of Derbyshire Social Services in the High Peak and North Derbyshire Dales but have our own Manager and team. What do we do? We work with any disabled person who wants a job, (paid or unpaid work). We offer full support to find the right job.

How do you get to use our service? Care Managers, key workers, tutor at College, or the job centre can refer you. Or you can also refer yourself. Just phone our Manager – Sharon Saggerson. She will arrange to see you. Some people feel that going into employment is like a mountain climb and think “Will I really be able to do it?”

What support will I get? We run a short course called ‘Get Ready For Work’ – which prepares you for going to work! After that you will be introduced to your own Employment Officer.

What does an Employment Officer do? Helps you with every aspect of getting a job, including work placements to experience what work is like.

How much does all this cost? It is a totally free service – no catches, honest.

If you get a job will you lose benefits? No. You should always be better off. We work closely with Jobcentreplus and Derbyshire Welfare Rights Service so we can get the best deal for you.

What is the best bit about my job? When someone says they want a job it usually means that they want to make changes to their own life and that they want to be independent. I get a lot of pleasure helping someone try and reach their goals. It is great when I see someone I have helped get a job, serving me in a supermarket for example.

Another part of my job that I enjoy is when HPSES work with other people such as Peaks and Dales Advocacy and put all our experience together to help people change something in their lives. Is my work easy? Jobs are hard to find in our area especially if you have a disability.

Unfortunately we cannot wave a magic wand and get everyone a perfect job. I can honestly say that for most people we have worked with over the years we have had many successes and have always managed to change something in someone’s life for the better.

How can you get in touch with us? Just telephone and ask for Sharon Saggerson on 01629 531258. If you get the answer phone leave a name and contact number and someone will soon call you back.

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I see through my ‘bins’ that there are celebrations down at the Advocacy office.

Well done OPAP for securing more funding!

At a recent conference in Derby on Individualised Budgets John Walker asked the panel a question. “Is it more important that people have services they don’t really want and which don’t meet their needs or that people are able to lead the lives they want to?” Although the question wasn’t really answered we hope that Derbyshire County Council, through Individualised Budget schemes will let people have the money they need for the services they want, in 2008.

On Friday 30th November 16 Eagle Parade had visitors!

Tom Levitt, local MP, and Gillian Merron Cabinet Minister for Inclusion spent an hour with volunteers and staff of Buxton Volunteer Centre and Peaks and Dales Advocacy. Inclusion is A watch-word of both organisations so maybe the contact will prove useful!

A new self advocacy group at Robertson Road will start to meet with John’s help in the new year.

Look out in the next edition for something from Clare (Mental Health Advocacy Coordinator) about the new Mental Health Act and advocacy implications! We live in interesting times!

Advocacy Alive Editor Peter Dawson Production Team: Sheila Holgate and Russell Baker 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 Web:www.peaksanddalesadvocacy.org.uk

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PADA Newsletter Issue No 7

Autumn Edition 07

(Focus on AGM and Creative exhibition)

Well what a summer-rain, and a bit more rain (mostly). But in between there has been sunny spells. Here in Advocacy it has been mostly work, and a bit more work. Or to put it another way, business as usual. Since our last edition of Advocacy Alive we have also had our sunny spells. These occur when there are successful advocacy outcomes and also when people are celebrated and valued. The sun certainly did come out over PADA's first Creative Exhibition. Catch some of its rays in the following pages and read about our AGM too.

PADA's AGM

In September the AGM was held, at Fairfield Methodist Church. The meeting was attended by over twenty people. All were made welcome by the Chair. After the usual reports three short Presentations were made by: Jenny and Paul from the Autism Aware Group, Ann from the Older People's Advocacy Project and from John Walker, PADA's new Self Advocacy Development Workers. These presentations were excellently delivered and well received.

The PADA Board of Directors was re-elected with Rose Ralph having her full membership of the Board confirmed in the Process. The Board Members are as follows: Mary Ann Summerton (Chair), Angela Ayres, Barbara Langham, Rose Ralph, Janette Ibbotson, Dennis Wright, Roger Horne and John Summerton. A full copy of all the Reports, including Summary of Accounts, may be obtained from the Advocacy office on request to Peter Dawson, Manager and Company Secretary. Later there is a summary of Peter's report.

Meanwhile a poem by Sara Hampson (poet contributing to Creative Exhibition)

Rain at the Roaches

The rain is doing my crying for me
The dam that is within me won't burst
Precipitation accumulated from many years
What will pierce my heart and make those raindrops fall.
Without rain there can be no rainbow

Summary of Report by Manager to PADA's Board of Trustees at the Annual General Meeting, 18th September 2007

Looking over the year reported on here (April 06-Mar 07)there has been a strong sense of business as usual. What this means is that we have been continuing to provide independent advocacy support to vulnerable people in the High Peak and North Derbyshire Dales. We have been doing this because we recognise that there are many people in our communities who need and deserve a greater say in their lives.

This is particularly true of older people, people who have mental health needs, people with learning difficulties and other disabled people. PADA's aim has always been that through advocacy there must be a stronger possibility of society being more inclusive and valuing of all its members. During the year in question there has been challenges, victories, disappointments, surprises and the usual blood, sweat and tears associated with advocacy. And believe it or not there have been many lighter moments with laughs along the way.

IMCA .

One challenge facing us last year was should we or should we not tender for the Independent Mental Capacity Advocacy service? After much discussion throughout PADA it was decided that in the final analysis IMCA did not fit the definition of our business. We believe, however, that PADA and IMCA (now contracted to Derbyshire Advocacy) can work together well, when needed, in the interests of their 'clients.'

Children and Young People' s Advocacy.

Although PADA has not yet gained funding for a project in this field we are delighted to be working with and supporting Saira Ali who directs a small but dynamic service based in Chesterfield.

Self Advocacy Development Work.

Under the Learning Difficulty Advocacy Project PADA has been running two self advocacy groups for some time. These are the Friendly Support Group and The Parrot Club. These two groups just seem to go from strength to strength with skills and confidence being gained by members on a weekly basis.

VIP (Voices In the Peak)

This is a brand new self advocacy development for people with learning difficulties. In January 07 PADA gained funding from the Department of Health (through the British Institute of Learning Disability) for a two year project-which started in July 07. This project will build on the work of the two groups that already exist as well as Encouraging new independent self advocacy groups to develop in the High Peak and North Derbyshire Dales. John Walker is the Self Advocacy Development Worker PADA has appointed in this exciting new work.

With support from by the Mental Health Advocacy Project two new groups have got off the ground in the past twelve months:

The Autism Aware Group meets fortnightly and is supported by PADA Volunteer Jenny Popplewell. The group meet on alternate Monday mornings at the Grapevine Community Café opposite the PADA office in Buxton Market Place. It is proving to be a dynamic and growing forum in which People with Asperger's Syndrome can give and receive support from each other.

The Monthly Drop In group for mental health service users is now firmly Established in the meeting room at our offices. This is a group that meets on the first Monday of each month (except for Bank Holidays). This group has approximately 6 regular members and others who drop in.

Both of these are very lively groups which we expect to develop in the coming months.

Mental Health Boundaries

Over the past months we have learnt that South Derbyshire and the South Dales are without independent mental health advocacy . PADA has indicated to the Derbyshire Commissioners for mental health that we would like to be considered in the future for this work. That would mean an extension of our boundaries and that PADA would provide issue-based one to one advocacy (as well as group support) in a much wider area. Providing that appropriate financial resources were available such a prospect is quite exciting. Watch this space.

Meeting Older People's Needs

A question that has taxed us is when we all know that there are increasing needs in older people's lives why is there not a constant increase in the number of referrals to our Older People's Advocacy Project? OPAP'S Coordinators have poured a lot of energy into resolving this problem, with a major publicity drive which is beginning to bear fruit.

Funding for the future is currently in the hands of Comic Relief who will let us know if we have been successful in our most recent bid in the very near future. PADA is fortunate in having excellent coordinators, advisors and volunteer advocates. In OPAP in particular fertile ideas for promotion of advocacy abound.

Wherever independent advocacy is still required in our areas PADA is committed to remaining here.

Advocacy does make a difference

Advocacy has made a positive difference in over a 100 people's lives in this past year. We have a strong and committed Board of Directors and over thirty volunteers who are equally committed advisors and volunteers.

We now have a much visited web site (thanks to Russ) and a quarterly Newsletter. Student social workers have regular placements with us (in partnership with the Buxton Volunteer Bureau).

These are proving to be very beneficial. Our projects in Learning Difficulty, Mental Health and Older People's Advocacy are in good shape and expanding month by month. None of this can be achieved without our volunteers and supporters.

A very Big Thank You goes to you all.

PADA's FIRST CREATIVE EXHIBITION

On Monday 24th of September our first creative exhibition was opened at 12 noon by Peter Dawson and the Rev. Colin Smith. Thanks to Buxton Methodist Church PADA was able to use their premises to show with good effect the creative work of people associated with Peaks and Dales Advocacy. We had paintings and drawings, knitwear, sculpture, pottery, photography and poetry (and music) exhibited by volunteers, advocacy partners, paid workers and friends of PADA.

There were over 80 separate contributions to the exhibition created by approx 30 artists. About 200 people came through the doors to savour this exceptional display of talent.

And why did PADA put this exhibition on? Because 'speaking up for yourself' is more than just words. It is about you and what you can do. Advocacy is also a celebration of life, of humanity and communication. Here we could say is advocacy from the heart.

We have created a complete port folio of the exhibits and some of the artists which can be seen by clicking on the photograph below.

Peaks & Dales Advocacy, Creative Arts Exhibition

An Important date for your diaries-VIP LAUNCH

20th November 10am-3pm at the RAILWAY HOTEL, BUXTON Come along if you are someone with a learning difficulty and you Want to be part of a new self advocacy development. Give us a ring and let us know.

PADA is delighted to welcome new volunteers and invites ALL PADA's VOLUNTEERS (advocates, advisory group members and committee members) to 'A CHRISTMAS DO' 18th December 7pm-9pm. Sherry, mince pies, and more

The Older People's Advocacy Project Advisory Group wait patiently for news on the bid for continued funding. In with the bid is a request for funding of a new development for OPAP: ADVOCACY AWARE. As soon as we hear from Comic Relief we should know what the immediate future holds.

PADA will share the news as soon as we have it!!

Look out for next year's Creative Exhibition. And a Very, very big thank you to all our creative contributors. Get those pens and paints out and creative impulses pulsing

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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