News - Canterbury and District Branch
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Skylarks choir featured on BBC News
Our Skylarks singing group were
featured on BBC News on 15 November 2011. Watch the video on
the BBC website.
Honorary life memberships
Our 2 former chairmen, pictured here with current Chairman,
Derek Mottershead (left), are being presented with honorary life
memberships in recognition of all they have done for the Branch and the charity.
Jim Gibbons (standing, right), was chairman from 1994 to 2006
and managed the fundraising for pump priming the first Parkinson's nurse post in the region.
John Horrex (seated) was chairman from 2006-2011, after being
Branch treasurer for 8 years before that.
Congratulations to them both and thanks for their hard work over
many years. Their presentation by our President the Very Reverend
Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral will take place in
Canterbury Cathedral on 9 September 2011.
Branch newsletter
The Canterbury Branch produces a regular newsletter, providing
an update on latest news, meetings and events.
Please phone 01227 452638 to be added to our mailing list.
Information on branch activities is also often featured in the
local Gazette.
Fundraising group
Would you like to be part of our branch fundraising group?
Can you offer ideas and a little time? If so we are
keen to hear from you.
Please contact Jim Gibbons on 01227 456749.
Information and support
Parkinson's UK has appointed Michelle Stoneley as part-time
Information and Support Worker for the Canterbury and Thanet areas.
Her details can be found on our Contacts
page.
Welfare matters
If you want to talk to someone or need any help, please
contact Michelle Stoneley, our Information and Support Worker, on 0844 225
3737 or email isw.eastkent@parkinsons.org.uk.
See our Contacts page for
contact details of the Welfare Team.
Transport
If you are not able to get to events, the branch can often
arrange a lift or otherwise pay for a taxi (do get a receipt from
the driver).
The Whitstable Volunteer Centre and the Canterbury and Herne Bay
Volunteer Centre have transport schemes. For details, contact the
Whitstable Centre on 01227 264743 or the Canterbury and Herne Bay
Centre on 01227 283554, between 10am and 12.30pm, Monday to
Friday.
Blue badge parking - beware
You can be given a parking ticket for parking with a blue badge
outside a marked bay in a city car park. This is strictly not
allowed with a blue badge.
You may park for up to 3 hours on the street on yellow lines
(single or double) as long as you are not causing an obstruction,
or within a disabled bay in a public car park.
In most hospital car parks you can now only use your badge in a
'disabled' bay. Always check on the car park notice boards.
'Get it on time' campaign - hospital visits
Since the 'Get it on time' campaign
started, more hospital staff are aware of the importance of giving
Parkinson's medication when needed, not just on drug rounds.
The Branch has leaflets you can take to show hospital staff as
well as wash bags containing useful medication cards and notes
for staff. If you know you will be going into hospital, please ask
us for some - see our Contacts page for
details of our committee members.
Holidays for disabled people
If you are considering a holiday with a severely disabled
person, do consider Vitalise, formerly the Winged Fellowship, which
provides care support and activities suitable for all, at their
various venues.
Contact our Welfare Team (see Contacts
page) for more information, or look at www.vitalise.org.uk We have had
excellent reports from members who have been on Vitalise
holidays.
Equipment items on offer
If you have items of equipment to pass on or you need a
particular item of equipment, please do contact Beatrice Shire on
01227 766782 or b.j.shire@kent.ac.uk, who can
take details and advise you as to what is available.
Information booklet for over 60s
CROP (Citizens Rights for Older People) has produced a booklet
of useful information for people over 60 in the Canterbury
area.
Copies are available from Age Concern, or from our branch
meetings.
Other useful information
- Disabled persons railcard allows the disabled person and
companion to travel at anytime of the day with a third off. Cost:
£18 per year or £48 for 3 years.
- Free bus passes are available to those aged 60 and above, or if
you are disabled and under 60. These give you free travel after 9am
on weekdays, weekends and public holidays. For more information or
to apply contact the bus permit hotline on 01227 862343 or visit
Canterbury City Council.
- Branch funds are available to help with respite and holiday
expenses. For more information please contact a member of the
committee (see our Contacts page).
- The Branch will part subsidise taxi journeys to Branch events.
You pay the first £2 of any single journey and a receipt will be
required to obtain reimbursement of the balance.
- Council tax discounts are available if you satisfy certain
criteria. For further information contact the local welfare team,
the council or the Parkinson's UK Helpline (0808 800 0303).
- Cycles for disabled people and companions are available to
borrow occasionally at Minnis Bay. For further information and
types of cycles available please contact Beatrice Shire on 01227
766782 or b.j.shire@kent.ac.uk
- Information booklets are available to order from Sharwards.
They will send up to 49 items free of charge. See the Publications section for further details.
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