Learning Disabilities Federation (North Tyneside)

Around 500 older people with learning disabilities and their carers will benefit from a new project at the Learning Disabilities Federation.

The organisation was awarded £463,058 grant from the Big Lottery Fund's flagship Reaching Communities programme.

The LDF will use the cash to encourage independent living by allowing older people, many of whom rely on carers, to live in their own homes for longer.

The "Tommorrows" Project will also encourage the development of social and family networks and help people to avoid future crisis by planning for any needs they may have in the future.

The project will address issues like keeping safe at home, specialist equipment, making wills, benefits and money, respite care, health advice and physical activity.

Personal Budgets are a new way of supporting you to live independently and they give you more say in what help you need and how you receive it.

IN WHAT has been proclaimed a 'landmark victory for disabled victims,' the Isle of Wight Council's cuts to social care services were today (Friday) branded unlawful by a High Court judge.

Click here to read the full article.

MENCAP has published a document showing that the Department of Health defines disability related expenditure as:

Any reasonable additional cost that the service user incurs due to a disability or condition.

Disability related expenditure is available to service users in receipt of a disability related benefit, however, if a disability related benefit is awarded subsequent to a financial assessment then disability related expenditure can be backdated to the date of the award.

Click here to download the document which contains a list of disability related expenditure and amounts.

Personalisation and the Law

Luke Clements is a professor at Cardiff Law School and is a consultant solicitor. Luke specialises in public and human rights proceedings on behalf of socially excluded groups, primarily disabled people and their families.

The event on August 17th at the Langdale Centre, Wallsend was a resounding success. Professor Clements gave a very informative presentation on Personal Budgets and Carer's Rights.

The event was attended by a mixture of family carers, local authority staff and providers. The feedback has been very positive and we look forward to having Luke back sometime in the future.

Click here to download Luke's powerpoint presentation.

Click here to download general legal notes about carer's rights.

Click http://www.lukeclements.co.uk/resources/ to access sample letters of complaint etc. 

You can increase the amount of any donation you make to us free of charge by completing a Gift Aid form. We will send the form to HM Revenue and Customs who will refund to us the appropriate amount of tax for the amount you donate. Note, you must be a tax payer for us to benefit from this.

Forms for sponsorship events can be found here sponsorship forms

Forms for Gift Aid declarations can be found here gift aid declarations 

Information from HM Revenue & Customs can be found here how Gift Aid works

From June 2010 Companion Cards are available for Tyne and Wear residents who receive the higher rate care component of the Disability Living Allowance and/or high rate Attendance Allowance who would only be able to use local public transport with the assistance of a companion.

You must have qualified for and received a Concessionary Travel Pass to be able to apply for a Companion Card.

The companion travelling with a cardholder will be able to travel free of charge on local buses in Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and Durham at the times at which concessionary travel is available (after 9.30am Monday to Friday and all day on weekends and public holidays). The companion will pay full fare for journeys outside Tyne and Wear, Northumberland and Durham.