Arriva, clean up your act

This letter is published in today's Leicester Mercury:

Arriva, clean up your act

I write with reference to Lorna Crane's letter highlighting the attitude of Arriva bus drivers towards disabled people (Mailbox, March ).

I am not permanently disabled but have twice, during the last 12 months, broken wrist bones, thus preventing me from driving, and more or less forcing me to travel on Arriva transport.

What an unpleasant experience it was – mainly due to the attitude of the drivers. Nearly all, with very few exceptions, were surly, morose and looked as if they would rather die than break into a smile.

I realise they can work unsociable hours in difficult traffic conditions, but their attitude as I boarded buses actually put me on a "downer". Very few said a cheery "hello" even when most passengers were pleasant both getting on and off buses (the only exception to this was a very friendly mixed-race or coloured driver who was always cheerful and pleasant).

If Arriva wish people to travel on their buses, they should clean up their act. The fares are astronomical.

The buses are often dirty (not to mention often not on time or being missed out completely).

Together with the reception received from their staff (which I consider of utmost importance) surely people cannot be blamed for using their cars.

I, for one, even as an able-bodied person, will avoid travelling on their buses whenever I can.

Ella Meah, Leicestershire.

Disabled face a threat to their independence

This is the First Person column in today's Leicester Mercury:

Disabled face a threat to their independence 

Shelley Bark has grave concerns over proposed changes to a vital source of financial help 

The Independent Living Fund (ILF) was created in 1990 for disabled people aged 16 to 64 who needed help with their care. This allowed them to employ someone to help them with their everyday personal care needs. The ILF is a Government-funded organisation which has helped 46,000 severely disabled people in its lifetime. Currently ILF helps 20,000 severely disabled people in the UK and employs 160 staff and 90 self-employed assessors. 

In 2009 the Government did a consultation with ILF and its users to see if the users were happy with the service and how they could improve it. Now all of a sudden this Government wants to end this wonderful scheme, firstly by stopping new disabled people joining it; then ending the whole ILF scheme in 2015. Thereafter the money will transfer to local authorities (what we don't know is if it will be ring-fenced). This will mean the 20,000 disabled people will have to be accessed again by a local authority social worker for direct payments which means extra costs and we, the users, might not receive the right levels of funding for the right level of care, especially those severely disabled people on high care packages allowing them full independence to live a productive life – a human right. 

I have severe cerebral palsy which means the only things I can do is drive my electric wheelchair and work my computer my with eyes which allows me to write this article. I am an intelligent lady and I can run my own care package, which entails hiring and firing my own carers, doing my tax and National Insurance, carers' contracts and rotas and making sure that I have got the right type of care for my needs. At the moment I have got four members of staff who pay tax and National Insurance and also I pay the employer's National Insurance which means I'm putting money back into the Government. Having carers in my own home means I can lead a normal life. 

Direct payments can be used for care only, but ILF gives us the freedom to pursue different avenues in life, and can be used for additional expenses that go with having 24-hour care and having carers in the home, for example, electricity, tea- and coffee-making facilities, wear and tear. 

I have always led a full life and have represented my country in sport, having been both a world and European champion. I have also been very active in championing causes for the disabled, none of which would have been possible without ILF. Without this level of care, which I don't think local authorities can provide for us, how many vulnerable people will end up in care homes having their quality of life and dignity taken away from them? And where are the people who would be applying for this help now going to go?

Shelley Bark lives in Syston and wants to make people aware and help other disabled people keep their independence and their dignity.

Real hassle on the buses

This letter is published in today's Leicester Mercury:

Real hassle on the buses

I have read the story "Bus drivers humiliated me, says disabled man" (Mercury, February 19).

I received a questionnaire this week from Vista, the blind and partially-sighted people's organisation, asking if they could try to make things better with things like buses, airports, shops and banks, where people have difficulties.

I have emphasised buses, as some of the drivers, not all, are ignorant.

Getting on and off buses when you are disabled is a problem. I am partially sighted. I walk with a stick because I have walking difficulties as well and also carry a shopping bag.

When you ask the drivers to let the bus down, they just ignore you or look at you as if you are not there.

I always emphasise the words "please" and "thank you" when I ask someone to do something for me. I always taught my children good manners cost nothing but it falls on deaf ears with some drivers.

On Narborough Road where the big car showroom is, some of the buses come from the slip road at the side of the motorway. They don't even bother to pull in at the bus stop kerb. They stop in the middle of the road and don't bother to let the bus down. I have very often had to let the bus go and wait for the one that comes round the corner of Braunstone Lane as they do stop and pull into the kerb.

Now I get a taxi if I'm going into town. It's less hassle but more money as I have a free bus pass.

Maybe some more disabled people could write in and perhaps Arriva could sort these ignorant bus drivers out; and it's not just disabled people – it's mums with prams. I've heard drivers shouting at them because the prams are in the way.

Buses are supposed to be a service for the people of Leicester not just a job for a driver. What's happened to courtesy these days? I'll answer that myself. Gone down the drain with "please" and "thank you".

Lorna K Crane, Braunstone South

Core Reference Group

It's the bi-monthly meeting of our Core Reference Group. Gathered here this afternoon at Leicestershire Centre for Integrated Living are representatives from groups working in the protected characteristics and equality strands of disability, faith or belief, LGBT, mental health, older people, race, younger people. Attendees today are drawn from Derbyshire, Leicester, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire.

Naturally, the cuts to the Voluntary and Community Sector dominate our discussion, although we're just as focused on opportunities for us to extend our services as we are on threats to them.

One important item on our agenda is a periodic review of the seats still vacant on this Core Reference Group. We still have to find organisations to take up seats for Age (one for younger people, one for older people); faith or belief (one seat); Gender (two for women, one for men); Transgender (one). As well as covering the various protected characteristics, we're looking to cover as much of the East Midlands as possible - so we're hoping to find some of the groups to fill these vacant seats from Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire. We've not been in a rush to fill these spaces as we want to get the best people from the right places. We're making progress on this all the time.

Bus drivers humiliated me, says disabled man

This article is published in today's Leiceter Mercury:

Bus drivers humilated me, says disabled man

​A disabled man says he has been “humiliated and degraded” by bus drivers who refused to lower the wheelchair ramp to their vehicles.

Mark Richardson, 48, and his partner Donna Hutchison, 43, said they had been involved in six incidents of discrimination on Arriva buses since Christmas.

The couple, from Shelthorpe Road, Loughborough, said that last week one driver refused to lower the disabled ramp on the bus and insisted Donna lifted 20-stone Mark on to the bus.

They said when she refused, the driver insisted every passenger got off the bus, before driving away.

Mark has been using a wheelchair since doctors discovered a tumour in his stomach last February.

The tumour burst and Mark spent months in intensive care, where he developed myopathy, a condition in which the muscle nerve endings do not function, leaving him with barely any feeling in his legs.

He said: “After all I’ve been through, this is not what I need.

“It was so undermining and humiliating for me.

“There is no way they would have treated me like that before I was disabled.

“I’m determined not to be forced to stay indoors. Why should I?

“I was in hospital for so long, I’ll be damned if I’m staying in the house because of the arrogance of some driver.”

The couple use the bus to get to hospital appointments in Loughborough and for other trips.

Donna said that last month a driver did not know how to use the ramp and insisted she carry Mark on to the bus.

She said her request to use the ramp to get off the bus was declined and she twisted the frame of Mark’s chair while trying to get him out.

She said: “We had to call the hospital out to repair the chair.

“It was so humiliating when the driver refused to lower the ramp and chucked everyone off.

“He told me he would lift Mark on but I said no. What if he had been tipped out of his chair?

“I told him I was not getting off the bus until he lowered the ramp so he turned round and shouted to the other passengers ‘right we’re not going anywhere, everyone off’.

“The worst bit was nobody said anything. They just stared at us as they walked past. It was heartbreaking. 

“I cried my eyes out when we got home.

“What’s the point of having a ramp if they don’t use it?”

The couple have made two complaints to Arriva and said they had to wait 10 to 14 days for a response.

A spokesman for Arriva said it was aware of complaints and would be carrying out an investigation.

He said: “We will be carrying out an interview with the driver or drivers concerned and I am sure we can come to a solution.”

Disability issues

This article is published in today's Leicester Mercury:

Disability issues

Dzine – Leicestershire's disability news agency, now holds its own Community News Cafe encouraging individuals and groups to attend and become community reporters. The team is especially keen to hear of people's experiences of the new Government scheme, Personalisation.

This enables individuals or their carers to have a personal care budget and adapt it according to their own choices.

However critics are concerned this has replaced the system of getting free care from individual authorities.

Coffee Republic, Granby Street, Leicester, hosts Dzine. Drop-in on Mondays between 10am and 11am.

LGBT rugby festival

This article is published in today's Derby Telegraph:

LGBT rugby festival

Rolls-Royce RFC are hosting a festival for rugby clubs with predominantly gay membership at their Moorways ground tomorrow.

The event, starting at 2pm, is being held as part of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans (LGBT) History Month.

Panthers RFC, the East Midlands' gay and gay-friendly rugby club, based at Rolls-Royce, will be taking part, along with the Bristol Bisons, Newcastle Ravens, Manchester Village Spartans and London side Kings Cross Steelers.

Nic Scott, the Rugby Football Union's equality and inclusion manager, said: "The RFU is committed to supporting a game that welcomes everyone, whatever their background.

"We were honoured to be asked to host the launch of LGBT History Month last year and this event was supported by these five clubs.

"The consensus from them was that we should hold an event to support LGBT History Month and Derby seemed the best location for a festival."

Faiths Forum East Midlands: Going, Going...?

To Loughborough this afternoon, for a meeting with Patricia Stoat, CEO of the Faiths Forum for the East Midlands and Athea Ghosma, FFEM's Development Officer

Supporters of FFEM were disturbed to learn recently that its funding expires on 31 March - as is the case for every regional faiths forum throughout the country. As I walked to the meeting up from the train station, I tweeted,

In Loughborough, meeting CEO Faiths Forum for East Midlands. FFEM's funding ceases next month. More evidence of government vision #fail

FFEM has been in existence hardly more than a couple of years. Indeed, in common with a number of other sorts of organisations (such as REDP) the East Midlands was the last of the nine English regions to get one. FFEM also have a place on the REDP Core Reference Group. In this short time it has already done some good work in creating a sense of collective identity for inter faith organisations across the region. But it was clear to all who took an interest that it had only begun to plant the seeds for more helpful and creative things to come. Now all that potential has been snuffed out. Or has it? Now read on ...

After being ushered into Pat's office, I felt I had to begin by expressing my sadness, disappointment and anger at this decision. But as our conversation progressed this afternoon, it became clear that FFEM wasn't quite as dead and buried as it might at first have seemed. The office is closing at the end of February, giving them one month to pay all bills etc. And very nice office it is too, refurbished and kitted out (modestly but befittingly) to allow them to do their job well. It seemed odd to me that it's slap bang in the middle of a housing estate, next door to a chippie - but that's more likely so because I'm used to such organisations being located far from real life locations. So, come 1 April, FFEM won't have premises, paid staff or any funding. But it might not give up the ghost just then.

Although it's all up to the decision of their Board when it meets at the end of this week, there is the possibility of an afterlife for FFEM. Using the social media model, FFEM could continue to exist as a hub of influence, collecting and collating information from the several inter faith bodies in the East Midlands, locating it in a central virtual location. Given my own interest and faith in social media, not to mention my frequent and regular (or "obsessive") practice of it, I can really see the point of this and could see immediately how ti would work. Now if we can just get inter faith folk in Derby, Kettering Lincoln, Northamption, Nottingham, Wellingborough etc blogging, facebooking and tweeting like I do ...

- George M. Ballentyne, REDP Core Partner

Another REDP Away Day: "What about the workers?"

Following on from the Away Day we had for the REDP on 20th January, we had another one, just for members of the Working Group. We're meeting at Leicester LGBT Centre, Wellington Street. The centre is having their ground floor cafe renovated, which has led to the entry buzzer not working and (more worryingly) a lot of rattling and shaking in the training room, right above where the work is being carried out. Despite one or two scares, the floor didn't give way, thankfully!

Our group today comprises Tahera, Chino, Kelly, Carolyn, Tonia (l-r, photo above) and Laura (REDP Project Manager, far right). Liz Harrison was missing today. As with the last meeting, Bob Clarke is our facilitator.

The Working Group carries out most of the day-to-day work of REDP, including circulating papers published by central government and coordinating responses to them, from the Core Partners and the wider Core Reference Group. Our discussion today homes in on ways to help make the group work more effectively. Not that it isn't effective now - but no matter how good something is, it can always get better!

- George M. Ballenyne, REDP Core Partner.

REDP Equality Update Event - Nottinghamshire

On 27th January was the second in a series of Equality Update Events presented by the Regional Equality and Diversity Partnership (REDP). At Nottingham Voluntary Centre, Milton Street, we have a good turnout, with eight VCS organisations represented, even if the basement room is a bit cramped. Kelly Jussab, REDP's Project Officer and I are presenting jointly and we give over the last section of the two-hour session to Michelle Breslin, who speaks about the 2011 Census (which is now only two months away).

Find out more about the 2011 Census:
http://2011.census.gov.uk/

- George M Ballentyne, REDP Core Partner