Isle of Wight News on Ventnor Blog

The campaign to introduce changing places toilets on the Island hits a high note today, as the first is officially opened in Newport.

Thanks to a grant of £10,000 from the Isle o Wight council, the new facility for severely disabled children and adults opens at the Riverside Centre today.

The facility features a powered hoist, centrally located toilet pan, height adjustable changing table, grab rails and alarm system.

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As well as our Alex’s article regarding the stakeholders meeting at the Riverside Centre on Saturday, we also have a report from a stakeholder who attended the meeting. Ed

More than 80 people attended the Stakeholders meeting at the Riverside Centre on Saturday.

Several councillors were there, Geoff Lumley, Ian Stevens, Reg Barry, Vanessa Churchman, John Howe among them. Andrew Turner gave his support as well as Jill Wareham and Mark Chiverton.

But most of all, it was a chance for the users of the Riverside to voice their opinions and ask questions.

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Leader of the Council David Pugh and his cabinet colleagues were conspicuously absent from the Riverside Centre’s meeting for stakeholders on Saturday.

Senior officers and councillors were invited to the meeting, called in acknowledgment of ‘the need for direct dialogue, that is not conversation through the media’ on the impact of cuts to adult social care.

“They made their apologies and went elsewhere,” said Cllr Ian Stevens (Independent). “I don’t know if all of them were invited, but I know the Leader of the Council was.”

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As the Isle of Wight Council embarks on its ‘transformation’ of social services, service staff and stakeholders complain that they have never been directly consulted or informed about the budget cuts and implications for services.

The Riverside Centre will respond on Saturday with their Riverside Stakeholder’s meeting to host ‘direct dialogue, not conversation through the media’.

“We have written repeatedly to officers of the Local Authority to seek clarification on the implications of the Budget proposals and have still yet to receive any response,” said Riverside Centre Manager Shirley Sharp.

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It goes without saying that the biggest story on the Island at the moment are the proposed budget cuts put forward by the current Conservative administration.

Budget figures under scrutiny
Tomorrow evening at the full council meeting (which VB will be covering live), the budget proposals, which (despite the last minute alteration) include massive cuts to those services supporting vulnerable people, will be debated and voted upon.

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At the end of the public meeting last night to discuss the Isle of Wight council’s (IWC) proposed budget cuts, we caught up with a concerned member of the audience who had raised some good points during the discussion.

She told us how disappointed she was with the proposed cuts, adding that it seemed no thought had been given to the impact those using the services would suffer.

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As those following our Tweet stream last night will have heard, around 100 or so people attended the Riverside Centre meeting to discuss the proposed Tory budget cuts.

There were some interesting discussions, with presentations by Geoff Lumley, Ian Stevens and Jill Wareham on their alternative budgets.

After the meeting, we caught up with Michaela Whitaker, Communications Development Officer from Mencap on the mainland.

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After last Friday’s budget presentation to the voluntary sector at The Riverside Centre we caught up with Nichola Goom from ROCC, an organisation that aims to improve the lives of people requiring support.

Nichola talked us through the Supporting People Programme.

She explained the budget of £5.5m was until last April, ring-fenced (ie. meaning it couldn’t be used for any other purposes). It appears that of this £5.5m, there was £1.9m of unallocated funding.

If you’re not aware of the Supporting People programme, it provides support for the most vulnerable of people living on the Island such as those with learning disabilities, mental health issues, older people, those suffering domestic violence, homelessness or substance abuse.

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After the presentation last week by Steve Beynon to representatives from the voluntary sector, we caught up with IW Rural Community Council (IWRCC) Chief Executive, Mike Bulpitt.

The IWRCC worked with the Isle of Wight Council to organise the meeting, providing the opportunity for face to face discussions about financial challenges on the horizon for those working in or relying services provided by the voluntary sector.

“Support for small voluntary groups vital”
Mike told us that despite the proposed budget cuts from the Council, there are many other challenges to be faced, including less money from the Lottery as well as a reduction in charitable donations.

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Residents of Totland who do not have their own computers can now benefit from a free service being trialled by their local Parish Council.

Thanks to a generous grant from the Isle of Wight Rural Community Council (IWRCC) of £2,000, the Totland Parish Council have installed three computer workstations for residents to use at the Parish Office.

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At a public meeting earlier today Chief Exec, Steve Beynon and Cllr David Pugh from the Isle of Wight Council (IWC) answered questions from stakeholders who will be affected by the massive budget cuts proposed by the IWC to the voluntary sector (read our live coverage).

One of the council’s proposals is to stop Westminster House being a respite centre and change it into an old people’s home.

It appears from discussions with Rosemary Marsh from Isle of Wight Mencap that this might not be within the council’s ability to do.

Bought by Mencap, gifted to IWC
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We’re reporting live from the Riverside Centre where Isle of Wight Council Chief Executive, Steve Beynon, is delivering his budget proposals to stakeholders affected by the proposed cuts in funding to the voluntary sector.

Please refresh / reload your browser to see the latest updates. We will endeavour to report presentations and discussions as accurately as possible. Text surrounded by () signifies VB’s comments.

[12.45] The hall at The Riverside is completely packed – lots of people having to stand.

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If you’re an able-bodied person, it can be hard to put yourself in the shoes of those less fortunate. Alan Davies asks us to consider the difficulties that others experience. Ed

Sometimes you just need to change one thing to open up a world of possibility.

Standard accessible toilets meet the needs of some disabled people, but not all.

Thousands of people and their carers and being excluded from things that others take for granted – like a simple shopping trip.

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We love good news stories and this just in from the Isle of Wight Council should send a warm glow around your hearts.

Last Tuesday after more than a year of planning and preparations over 60 young people in care, their carers and foster carers took part in a one off special performance of Jack and the Beanstalk.

Shanklin Theatre was the venue where 150 lucky members of the audience watched on as the adaptation of the old classic saw ‘Jack trying to obtain new qualifications and find work with help from characters from other well known pantos including Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast’.

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Many readers will already be aware of the European Emergency Number, 112, which can be used to get in touch with emergency services free of charge all over the European Union.

Brilliant as this is for many users of the service, unfortunately it isn’t accessible to the majority of disabled people.

A new pilot is hoping to embrace the power of the Internet to change this, with five countries taking part to improve communication for disabled users of the service.

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News reaches us from Island Autism campaigners that The Autism Bill made it through its last parliamentary stage today. Ed

Great news today. The Autism Bill was discussed today in Parliament and will now become the Autism Act 2009, making it the first-ever disability-specific law for England.

This is a landmark event for those with Autism as the Act will guarantee a future Adult Autism Strategy. It’s hoped that this will lead to a range of legal duties to improve local services.

Island MP, Andrew Turner has been extremely supportive throughout the campaign.

Image: National Autistic Society

It’s not uncommon for disabled children, young people and their families to feel that they have been left out and are not getting the services from local councils that they deserve.

That is why parents of disabled children on the Island are urging the Isle of Wight Council to sign up to the Every Disabled Child Matters (EDCM) Charter.

The EDCM is a campaign hoping to address these problems and help create change.

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This coming Friday is National Get Online Day.

Across the country, UK Online Centres will be helping people get online and the Isle of Wight will be doing their bit too.

As you’re reading this online, it’s probably a given that you’re Internet savvy already, but if you know someone who hasn’t a clue about what the Internet has to offer or any idea of how to get online, then why not encourage them to head to the Riverside Centre in Newport Quay.

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The ‘Inside Outside Artists Moving On’ exhibition at Quay Arts will be officially opened this Thursday evening by Island MP, Andrew Turner.

The exhibition which opened to the public last Saturday is the first exhibition in a three year community Arts Project being developed by a community group of artists and craftspeople called No Man is an Island.

It is the culmination of work created by six Island families of artists and craftspeople, who live with autism in their families.

The exhibition runs between now and Saturday 10 October 2009 but members of the public are invited to the drinks reception on Thursday which will feature poetry, performance and interactive exhibits so there should be something for everyone, of all ages, to enjoy!

Image: A river runs through it, the sea is all around it (detail)
Martin Swan RSMA

A new exhibition opened at the weekend in the Rope Store Gallery at Quay Arts in Newport.

The exhibition titled ‘Inside Outside Artists Moving On’ is the first exhibition in a three year community Arts Project being developed by a community group of artists and craftspeople called No Man is an Island.

It is the culmination of work created by six Island families of artists and craftspeople, who live with autism in their families.

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If you are on the Island this weekend, do try and get along to this excellent launch event of No Man is An Island organised by Newport Artist and Project Manager, Melanie Swan. We have an interview with Melanie coming out on VB over the next couple of days, but in the meantime, read on for more info. There sounds like lots to do and it should be great fun. Ed

An Isle of Wight Community Arts group called No Man is an Island is taking part in the London 2012 Open Weekend at Quay Arts and Naturezones again this year.

No Man is an Island is a community group of artists working to provide creative opportunities for families living with autism.

Project Manager Melanie Swan said: “We’re delighted to be able to open our Project to the public and share our work. It’s a great opportunity to celebrate our part in the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad through the Inspire programme. All of this has been made possible with the support we’ve been given by Awards for All and South East England Development Agency (SEEDA).”

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Andrew Turner has been stand up (literally) for the people of the Island when he spoke about the closure of post offices at a debate about the Royal Mail and Post Office in a Westminster Hall debate recently.

He explained that he’d been writing to the Post Office to them ask why some, seemingly profitable, branches were destined for closure. Sadly he said he I failed to get any sort of sensible reply.
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This week, 17-23 May is Adult Learners Week and as part of that event, tomorrow sees the return of Silver Surfers Day

If you’re over 50 and reading this, chances are that you already know how to surf the Web. But if you happen to know someone who needs some help, you might want to point them in the direction of one of the courses we found taking place tomorrow on the Wight.

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As part of an Assignments lesson on Friday afternoons, during the next few weeks, Grove Hill FE Centre (part of St Catherine’s School) is going to be helping the Town Mayor, Susan Scoccia and Community Project Manager, Mark Compton-Hall, with the Ventnor Town Plan, under the Community Values section: ‘Access for All’.
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Well done and hurrah to everyone at The Riverside Centre, who we hear have this morning just picked up an award at the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Hub Awards.

They have been presented the Best Use of ICT Accessibility Award.
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