News

Plan B – Being Safe Online

As part of our volunteer led Plan B Programme for Young People with Autism, our community group The Knowsley User Led Organisation delivered a ‘Being Safe Online’ session to our group.

We covered and discussed topics such as secure passwords, how much personal information you want to share with others, limiting risks, fake accounts, what to do if you feel unsafe, but our key message to our Plan B members was ‘YOU ARE IN CONTROL’.

Getting online is an important part of our Plan B programme and is one of the different ways young people can connect to each other. We’ve created a Plan B Knowsley CONNECT group on Facebook and it’ a safe and accessible place for young people with Autism to meet new people and make friends.

With 91% of 16 – 24 year old’s accessing and using social networking sites as well as learning online across the UK, we know the enormous benefits of the internet, but equally and importantly we all know and understand the risks.

Get Together with Action for Blind People

Action for Blind People are excited to hear your ideas and get you involved in planning activities for 18-25 year olds with a visual impairment across the NW in 2015/16.

The Get Together is taking place Tuesday 18 August 2015 and it will be a chance to chat and meet friends old and new, and more importantly, it will give Action for Blind People and you an opportunity to shape your events.

Taking place at 11am – 3.30pm at Manchester Central Fire Station, there will also be a fire safety talk, followed by a tour of the station.

Lunch will also be provided

Places are limited so please book a place by contacting Jan Beale: 0151 702 5716 Mob: 07545 420 872 E: janet.beale@actionforblindpeople.org.uk

Manchester Central Fire Station

Thompson Street, Manchester M5 4FP

(Meet at Victoria train station at 10.30am)

Be Alert to Scams

It’s Scams Awareness Month and residents are urged to be on their guard against cons and rip-offs. Around three million people in the UK fall victim to mass-marketing scams every year, costing millions of pounds.

Bogus schemes include fake lotteries and prize draws, investment and PPI scams and get-rich-quick cons.

The scams may be sent through the post, via email and over the phone and often target elderly and vulnerable residents.

Knowsley Council’s Trading Standards team has set up a series of secure scam mail bins in different public buildings across the borough for the duration of Scams Awareness Month.

If you have received any suspected scam mail, please drop it into one of the bins and our Trading Standards team will use the information to uncover any scams operating in the area.

You can find a secure scam mail bin at any of the council’s One Stop Shops and at the following community centres:

• Park Close, Kirkby
• Fairhaven, Kirkby
• Cross Street, Kirkby
• Greenwood Close, Prescot
• Eaton Street, Prescot
• Highfields, Prescot
• South Avenue, Prescot
• Fairview, Halewood
• Bluebell Park, Huyton
• Fieldway Estate, Huyton
• Fairclough Site, Woolfall Heath, Huyton

Tips for staying safe

• Never give out your bank account details or other personal information to people you don’t know or trust
• Never send money to a company you do not know or send money if told to respond quickly or confidentially
• You can’t win a lottery you didn’t enter and you don’t send money for something a letter claims you have won
• Don’t reply to emails or letters from strangers even if they seem to know your name
• Make sure you have up to date computer security including passwords and antivirus software
• NEVER agree to buy goods and services on the doorstep or as a result of a telephone cold call
• If something sounds too good to be true it probably is!

If you have any concerns about doorstep crime or scams, ring Knowsley Council’s Trading Standards team on 0151 443 4713 or Citizens Advice Consumer Services on 03454 040506.

Personal Development Programme for Young People

The next Tomorrow’s People Trust Young Persons’ ‘Working it out’ personal development, and CV enhancing programme with involvement from Local Business (CSR), accredited courses in Health & Safety, First Aid and customer service commences the 13 July 2015.

Any person aged 16 – 24 and not in employment, education or training is eligible, and will receive £40 weekly reimbursement of expense and also a 24/7 city bus pass.

Each programme runs for 10 weeks and young people are required to attend for up to 15.5 hours per week.

The programme involves team building, making friends, community voluntary work experience, CV Building, job search,  mock interviews, and much more.

Call Hannah Rose from Tomorrow’s People on 0151 228 6557 or email: hrose@tomorrows-people.co.uk

A Free Games Design Course

Find out how computer games are designed with The Prince’s Trust who are offering FREE spaces for 16 – 25 year olds on the Get Started programme with Games Design (Train 2 Game).

If you are aged 16 – 25 and have a passion for playing games why not look at a career within the gaming industry?

Computer games are the largest multimedia entertainment experience in the world. Did you know leading gaming developers  such as, Rockstar and EA are based in the UK  – it ‘s important that the gaming  industry  discover future talent.

Take part in the Games Design course, which runs from 6– 10 July 2015. From  10am – 4pm at the Arts Centre, Myrtle Street, Liverpool L7 7JA.

Lunch and travel expenses will also be covered!

They’ll also be a Taster Session Wednesday 1 July  3 – 5pm at the Arts Centre, Myrtle Street, Liverpool.

Want to find out more? Contact Darren Hulse from the Princes Trust on 07947856434 or email: Darren.hulse@princes-trust.org.uk

Free Training for Self Advocates Parents and Carers

Merseyside Partners in Policymaking (MPIP) have a wide range of free training available to self advocates, parents and carers.

We’ve put the latest courses and training that’s on offer from June 2015 (below) so if you see any that you’d like to attend please do ring MPIP to book a place on  0151 287 7977 or email: mpip@btconnect.com

Phoebe Day – Getting in Touch – Pheobe Caldwell

When: Thursday 18th June 2015 Time: 10.00am till 4pm

Venue: Salvation Army Walton

Epilepsy & Buccal Midazolam Course – Sally Gormersall

When: Monday 22^nd June 2015 Time: 9:30am till 3pm

Venue: Walton Cornerstones

Autism & Behavior that Challenge – Steve McGuinness

When: Wednesday 24^th June 2015 Time: 10.00am till 4pm

Venue: The RIVER ALT RESOURCE CENTRE, Huyton

SeeAbility – Look Here – Scott Watkins

When: Thursday 2nd July 2015 Time: 10.00am till 2:30pm

Venue: Salvation Army Walton

Eating with Dignity – Kathy Fearns

When: Wednesday 8th July 2015 Time: 10.00am till 4pm

Venue: Salvation Army Walton

Makaton – Heidi Kenworthy

When: Monday 13^th July 2015 Time: 10am till 3pm

Venue: Salvation Army Walton

Epilepsy & Buccal Midazolam Course – Sally Gormersall

When: Monday 20^th July 2015 Time: 9:30am till 3pm

Venue: The RIVER ALT RESOURCE CENTRE, Huyton

Oral Health Training – Vicky Atkinson

When: Wednesday 22^nd July 2015 Time: 10.00am till 12:30pm

Venue: The RIVER ALT RESOURCE CENTRE, Huyton

Epilepsy & Buccal Midazolam Course – Sally Gormersall

When: Monday 7^th September 2015 Time: 9:30am till 3pm

Venue: Salvation Army Walton

Education & Healthcare Plans – Sue Harris

When: Wednesday 16^th September 2015 Time: 10am till 4pm

Venue: Salvation Army Walton

Postural Care – Tess Ellis

When: Monday 21 September 2015 Time: 10.00am till 4pm

Venue: The RIVER ALT RESOURCE CENTRE, Huyton

Autism & Behaviour that Challenge – Steve McGuinness

When: Wednesday 23rd September 2015 Time: 10.00am till 4pm

Venue: Walton Cornerstones

Circles of Support – Sue Harris

When: Wednesday 30^th September 2015 Time: 10am till 4pm

Venue: Salvation Army Walton

Epilepsy & Buccal Midazolam Course – Sally Gormersall

When: Monday 5^th October 2015 Time: 9:30am till 3pm

Venue: Salvation Army Walton

Phoebe Day – Getting in Touch – Pheobe Caldwell

When: Wednesday 7^th October 2015 Time: 10.00am till 4pm

Venue: The RIVER ALT RESOURCE CENTRE, Huyton

Makaton – Heidi Kenworthy

When: Monday 12^th October 2015 Time: 10am till 3pm

Venue: Salvation Army Walton

Oral Health Training – Vicky Atkinson

When: Wednesday 14^th October 2015 Time: 10.00am till 12:30pm

Venue: Lancaster House Walton

Postural Care – – Tess Ellis

When: Monday 9^th November 2015 Time: 10.00am till 4pm

Venue: Salvation Army Walton

Education & Healthcare Plans – Sue Harris

When: Wednesday 11^th November 2015 Time: 10am till 4pm

Venue: Salvation Army Walton

Methods of Communication – Kathy Fearns

When: Wednesday 2^nd December 2015 Time: 10.00am till 4pm

Venue: Salvation Army Walton

Makaton – Heidi Kenworthy

When: Monday 7^th December 2015 Time: 10am till 3pm

Venue: Salvation Army Walton

Autism & Behaviour that Challenge – Steve McGuinness

When: Wednesday 9^th December 2015 Time: 10.00am till 4pm

Venue: Salvation Army Walton

Summer Tea Party with KDC

Knowsley Disability Concern will be hosting their annual Tea Party on Friday 19 June from 11 am – 3.30pm as part of National Learning Disability Week.

Free tea & coffee will be available, along side cakes stalls, tombola, prize raffle and lots more!

Save the date and head along to The Caudwell Centre, Tarbock Road Huyton L36 0SD – all welcome!

Wheelchair Workshop with Go Kids Go

Go Kids Go takes place on Saturday 11th July form 9.30am – 3pm. It’s a free Wheelchair Skills workshop for children and young people from 2yrs – 18yrs.

The Wheelchair workshop is a great chance to meet other young wheelchair-users and learn skills to help you become more independent.

Extra wheelchairs will also provided for mums, dads, brothers and sisters to join in with the games as well!

So, get ready and set for Saturday 11th July at Lord Derby Academy, Seel Road Huyton L36 6DG and reserve your place by calling 01482 887163 or email:  karen@go-kids-go.org.uk

Please bring a packed lunch!

Ability Fit

Ability Fit is a FREE 10 week health activity programme for residents with disabilities to attend.

Regardless of your ability, you’ll take part in health & motivational talks, physical exercise as well as weekly weigh-in’s, using fully accessible wheelchair friendly scales.

In addition carers are very, very welcome to attend. We are really pleased as a community group to see this get off the ground it’s something both Jim & Yvonne Jamieson from our group have been championing for many months  –  to ensure everyone can access affordable and inclusive physical activities alongside their carer.

Ability Fit starts Friday 12 June 10 – 12 at Knowsley’s Centre for Independent Living, Unit 11 Brickfields (just off Ellis Ashton Street) Huyton Business Park L36 6HY.

Please wear comfortable clothes and if you have any access questions – do get in touch with us if you have any access issues on 07715 392 158.

Access to Cinemas

Did you know that anyone with a disability can obtain a cinema card that allows them to be accompanied by someone to the cinema free of charge? 

Called the CEA Card it’s a national card scheme developed by the Cinema Exhibitors’ Association (CEA) for UK cinemas.

The scheme was introduced in 2004 and is one of the ways for participating cinemas to ensure they make reasonable adjustments for disabled guests when they go to the cinema; in particular it ensures a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them.

For more information and how to apply click here!