On The Level

Newsletter from Scarborough DAG

Spring 2017

Hello and welcome

to DAG spring issue
of On The Level.

I hope you enjoy the

newsletter and join
in some of the
activities DAG has to
offer
 Benefits
Benefits Drop In
Drop in
Funded by the
Barrowcliff Big local
project and
Residents
Association. DAG is
now on the road and
visiting Wreyfield
Drive Methodist
Church fortnightly
on Mondays starting
from 16th January
from 10am
Funded Barrowcliff Big
by the
12.30pm. Our
local
benefitsand
project advisor is
Residents
available to answer
Association. DAG is now on the
yourand
road questions
visitingand
Wreyfield Drive
help with support
Methodist Church fortnightly on
and guidance.
Mondays starting from 16th
Tim Vasey
January fromSaid
10amI am
12.30pm.
pleased with the
numbers
Our benefitsandadvisor
it is a is available
nice
to to come
answer youralong
questions and
to and
help get
with adviceand
support in guidance.
a welcoming
environment.
Tim Vasey Said I am pleased
t
with the numbers and it is a nice
to come along to and get advice
in a welcoming environment.
 Christmas
Christmas Fair Fair
Hertfordshire County Council has decided When awards are presented the Purple
Into November
continue funding theDAG
PurpleHeld
Star a Christmas Fair
All-stars often attendat(pictured
Wreyfield
below). The
Drive Methodist Church in Barrowcliff and raisedadults
Strategy that helps people with learning Purple All Stars are made up of 500 with
disabilities and their carers get better learning disabilities who inform and
towards DAG costs.
health and community care. There were 10 with
entertain Stall holders
plays, puppet shows, each
selling
What is the their
Purpleown items a raffle
Star Strategy? and
advisory
more.
a tombola,
story-telling, Santa
dance routines and

made aHertfordshire
It involves visit from the
County North Pole
Council andisTwilight
The Council looking for more volunteers
awarding Purple Stars to health services
Productions provided
that work hard to make thestaffentertainment.
sure they train to do secret shopperThe checksfair was
on places
opened
in giving thebybestBarry and help from Vale Radio. There more
Robinson
advice, service with Purple Stars. You can find out
was
to people with learning disabilities and their by calling 01438 845372.
also
carers.a very special guest Jeremy Buxton
If you want to sharewho was
your views live
on the P
on BBC
Hilary Radio
Gardener, York
Strategic giving
Liaison clues on his programme
Nurse for
Adults with Learning Disabilities,
explained: Services need to try and do
everything they can to fit your needs
and treat you well. Once awarded a star
the team checks the services regularly.
At present there are 16 Purple Star
accredited services across the county, four
of which are GP practices. The team is
currently working with 28 GP practices,
which hope to achieve the Purple Star
Promise standards in the next few months.
They are also working with 16 other
healthcare providers.
Finders Keepers.
Treats projects
With funding from the Peoples
Part of our work involves campaigning with and on behalf of unpaid carers so
Healththattrust, wearecan
their voices heard offer
and that atheTreats
support available makes their caring
role easier.
Project which offers activities
Last year, we supported a carers campaign against Hertfordshire County Council
such as
plansrelaxing,
to reduce staff cooking,
and activities atcycling
its in-house day services.
and pampering
The changes wereto disabled
proposed in a bid to make savings and included having fewer
paid staff and centres, stopping on site catering and closing
people living in the Castle Ward
of Scarborough. The activities are
chosen by the participants so if
you live in the castle ward, come
and join the steering group to
have a say in which activities you
would like to do. Contact Chris
Linacre, Treats co-coordinator on
Tuesday or Wednesday 9.30am
1.30pm.
Alphamare visit
Alphamare
Access Improvements at Alpamare Water Park, Burniston
Carers in Hertfordshire works closely with makers to help them improve service;
Road, Scarborough
many organisations to support unpaid carers - Signpost people who need information;
and one of these is Healthwatch Hertfordshire. - Raise issues with inspectors and regulators
Our Learning Disabilities Involvement Worker, e.g. Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Sue Maskell, attends the Healthwatch
Hertfordshire Learning Disability Service How does Healthwatch Hertfordshire work
Watch Group. The group meets bi-monthly and with people with Learning Disabilities?
is made up of carers, service providers and Healthwatch Hertfordshire has worked with
commissioners. Here we take a closer look at people with learning disabilities and their
Healthwatch Hertfordshire and how it works families since it started in 2013 and is always
with people with a learning disability and their trying to do more. The Learning Disability
carers and relatives. Service Watch Group is an open forum and
Healthwatch Hertfordshire is keen for new
What is Healthwatch Hertfordshire? people with learning disabilities and their
Healthwatch Hertfordshire is an independent carers to come along so they can gather
charity that represents patients, service users more representative feedback.
and carers views on health and social care
services in Hertfordshire. Although they are a The Group meets from 1pm 3pm bi-monthly at
charity they have statutory powers from the Douglas Tribe House, Welwyn Garden City, and
government, so services must listen to their dates for 2017 are 17th March, 19th May, 28th
In January DAG was invited by July,
recommendations and work with them to Steve th
Boddy,
29 September anda24Manager
th
November. All at
improve information is provided in easy read and a
Alpamare
on ties with the Water
community,Park,
much like toCarers
visit the attraction
sandwich to before
lunch is provided offer theadvice
meeting.
toin Hertfordshire,
improve they access
representthere for
the people of a wide range of disabled
Hertfordshire through links with local How can you get involved with the Group?
people.
to representTim wasviews
peoples shown aroundIf the
and encourage Water
you have Park
a learning by are
disability, Mra Boddy
carer or
and was able to identify areas in
people to speak up about their experiences with
NHS health and social care.
have which improvements
an interest in learning disability services,
you can just turn up to the Group meetings.
could be
To do this made.
Healthwatch You can also sign up

Tim says Alpamare already has much to offer many

disabled
observations people and
on health and ascare
social a result ofcheck
providers to thewhether
visittheyI was able
have good to
practice.
prepare
During visitsaHealthwatch
report staff to will
help make
accompany facilities
trained volunteers even morein action
to view services
and together evaluate how well they are working from a patient and carer perspective. The
accessible
findings will laterfor this section
be collated, ofservices
fed back to the the community.
and where appropriate services will be
told the areas they should improve.

AGM

In December DAG held its AGM at the YMCA in

Scarborough where the Annual Report and accounts were
presented followed by a festive buffet. Here are some
extracts from our annual report. The full report and annual
accounts are available on request.
 Welcome Chris
.
We are also Recycling
pleased to
welcome Chris to DAG is recycling to help raise
DAG. I caught up funds for the charity. We are
with Chris for a recycling household items, biscuit
little chat where wrappers, pens, household
she told me after a packaging.
successful career in
Adult Education There are collection boxes located
and Training, 12 in The Street by the DAG office.
years ago Chris
became self DAG is one the first charities to
employed as a sign up for deodorant recycling.
Jeweller and Artist There are only 50 organisations in
where she has a UK signed up.
Studio on West Pier.
She spent about 18 For a full list of what DAG can
months working for recycle please visit the recycling
MIND (back in page on the website.
South Yorkshire)
where she ran
several group
activities eg
Relaxation

Chriss role as Treat

Coordinator is to
make a success of
the Peoples Health
Trust Funding which Welcome Sam!
is designed to We are pleased to welcome Sam to
combat loneliness the DAG. Sam studied psychology in
and enhance New Zealand. Sam also works at
friendships. Lots of Yorkshire Coast Sight Support. Sam
Treats are planned. is working with DAG completing
funding applications.