GIG Monthly Round Up
The Get Involved Group
Monthly Round-Up July 2016
Welcome to the GIGs July Monthly Round-Up Newsletter!
The Get Involved Group (GIG) is user-led group which aims to ensure disabled peoples voices are heard when services are planned and changed in Brighton and Hove. We identify issues and help plan the solutions.
Next GIG meeting:
WHEN: Tuesday 16 August 2016, 2pm 5pm
WHERE: Evelyn Glennie Court, Anchor Housing, Somerset Street, BN2 1LT
WHAT: Summer social party!
Come and join the Get Involved Group at our summer social in Brighton! Come along to have a chat, meet others, play some games and, most importantly, eat and drink some yummy refreshments and nibbles! Everyone is invited to bring along their own nibbles or drink to share too (if you can) anything from salads and fruit to cakes and savoury treats!
We have hired a large lounge / dining room and kitchen at Anchor Housing and, weather permitting, well also be out in the beautiful courtyard theres room for us all!
Please feel free to bring a carer or friend along too everyone is welcome.
RSVP with Lilly 01273 20 89 34 or at [email protected] if you would like to attend, and let us know if you have any access or dietary requirements.
Refreshments will be provided, but please do bring some of your own to share if youre feeling extra generous!
GIG News
Take Part in our Survey on Communication and the GIG
The Get Involved Group team are really keen to know how GIG members would like us to communicate with you all: the format, what youd like to hear about, and whether youd like to keep in touch with one another outside of meetings.
We have created a survey here:
www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/GRXDF96
It would be really great if as many of you as possible could let us know your thoughts so that we can keep in touch in ways that you feel are most helpful.
If you need this survey in a different format, please contact Lilly Storey on 01273 20 89 34 or at [email protected]
You can also write to us at The Get Involved Group, Possability People, 3 Rutland Gardens, Hove, BN3 5PA
Very exciting news from GIG! Working with the Lonely Planet guide
The Get Involved Group has recently been working with Lonely Planet to produce an online Lonely Planet Festival Guide to Accessible Brighton, and we are absolutely thrilled to announce that this is now live and kicking and can be found here - http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/england/accessible-brighton-a-festival-guide-1
The guide is available worldwide for anyone and everyone to download to find out about Brighton and Hove as an Accessible Festival Destination. Brighton is the first destination in the entire world (and universe) to be involved in creating an accessible travel guide for Lonely Planet, which will be replicated across the globe over the next couple of years in many more destinations but we were put on the map first!
The GIG and Possability People have been key contributors to the guide through our Accessible City Guide and local knowledge of accessible venues and events. The guide will be publicised officially through Lonely Planet to no less than 6 million social media users very exciting times!
There will be lots of opportunities for volunteers and Possability People to keep updating our Accessible City Guide to enable disabled people from all across the globe to find out about how accessible Brighton and Hove can be, so watch this space, as we need more reviews very soon!
The Get Involved Group brings Disabled Voices to BSUH (Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHSTrust)
Possability People has been commissioned to run Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Patient / Service User Disability Group. The rather long title hides a simple idea the group will bring together hospital workers, disabled people and disability advocacy groups to address practical issues.
Were delighted to have been asked to provide this vital bridge between the hospital and patients. We will run a series of meetings on issues relevant to disabled people. Our aim is to create a constructive forum for solving problems faced by disabled people and make sure the building work at the Royal Sussex doesnt cause unnecessary disruption to service users.
Each meeting will focus on a theme, and be attended by relevant people from the hospital trust, as well as people from user-groups, and disabled people with an interest in the topic being discussed. If youve got an interest in, or experience of, the topics were discussing, then wed like to hear your perspective. Book your place by following the link below!
Next meeting of the group:
When: Thursday 14 July, 2.30pm 4.30pm
Where: Possability Rooms, 14 Windlesham Avenue, Brighton BN3 5PA
Click here to book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bsuh-patient-service-user-disability-group-140716-tickets-26321436124
RSVP is essential. Please either follow the link above to book your place via Eventbrite, or contact Abbie on 01273 20 89 34, or email [email protected]
Were also interested to hear from any disability advocacy or user groups that would like to get involved with the project.
Written by Tom Akehurst, GIG volunteer
Talking Possabilities GIG radio!
Talking Possabilities is the new name for the GIGs radio show, formerly Fed Radio. The show is still going strong. Radio Free Brighton, who host the show on their internet radio site, have on average 2000 listeners in the local area and beyond.
We have had two shows recently which are now available to listen:
1. Accessible Volunteering to mark National Volunteers Week
Listen here: http://bit.ly/28OZaEa
Guest Speakers: Daniel Yates elected councillor for Moulescoomb and Bevendean, chair of Health and Wellbeing committee, Katharine Russell Volunteer Co-ordinator at Possability People, PLUS Vox Pops from Possability People volunteers
2. Welfare Reform
Listen here: http://bit.ly/28NMXfm
In response to GIG members request to hear more about changes to benefits, this show kicks off with hearing the experiences of one of our volunteers and his journey through the benefits system. It goes on to explore current news, where to get advice and support, and a hard hitting interview with a local MP.
Guest Speakers: Nick Simpson Possability People volunteer, Rich Jones Disability Advice Centre, Peter Kyle Labour MP for Hove
For more information on Talking Possabilities and to hear all of our previous shows, go to out blog page on https://getinvolvedgroup.wordpress.com/radio/
Possability People News
Possability People Launch- AMEX Stadium
At last its official! Possability People formally replaced The Fed in all its guises on the 9th June with a swanky launch at Brighton and Hove Albions Amex Stadium.
The event appeared to this outsider to go seamlessly (always a sure sign that a huge amount of work went into organising it), with guests from many walks of life in attendance.
A range of speakers talked about how their lives had been enhanced through their involvement with Possability People and its various predecessors; Brighton and Hoves mayor, Councillor Pete West, spoke of his commitment to supporting the organisation while recognising the enormous contribution it had made to many lives in and around the city over its 35-year history.
Among others taking to the podium were Possability Peoples Chief Officer Geraldine Des Moulins, Chair of Trustees Christine Laurence and our own Lilly Storey, Project Lead for the Get Involved Group (GIG).
I was struck by the great sense of enthusiasm which underpinned proceedings and was reminded again of the enormous contribution volunteers make to the work Possability People does. Many were present, and actively took part in the launch event, looking forward to our new identity with confidence and renewed purpose.
Written by Richard de Costobadie
Presenter, Talking Possabilities (our monthly radio programme)
Check out The Get Involved Groups blog at www.getinvolvedgroup.wordpress.com
for more info and events in Brighton and Hove!
Could you Recommend In-Home Services to Older and Disabled People?
www.itslocalactually.org.uk
Possability People is launching its new and improved Its Local Actually site. It now has a new look and feel and is quicker and easier to use.
You can search our Out and About database to free or low cost activities happening in the local area there are 1000 things to do across Brighton and Hove every week.
Our Support at Home directory helps older and disabled people, their families, carers or friends to live independently at home for longer by providing information on local businesses that make home visits. We are currently updating our list of services and would love to hear from any of you who have had a positive experience of any of the following services, that would be happy to visit someone in their own home:
Advocacy Services
Alternative / holistic therapies
Beauty treatments
Befriending services
Chiropody / nail cutting / podiatry
Cleaning services
Computers / technical help and support
Counselling
Dog walking / pet sitting
Financial and legal advice services
Gardening services
Handyman services
Home Care
Locksmiths and home safety
Opticians / audiology
Organiser and declutterer
If you have any suggestions, please let our Citywide Connect team know
