Hi All

Welcome to the Inclusion Scotland e-bulletin.  We aim to send this out on a fortnightly basis.

If you have any features that you want to promote, email them and they will be included in the next round of the newsletter.

Remember if you have any other articles, stories, suggestions, comments, ideas etc or vacancies/training that you want highlighted in the newsletter, website or e-bulletin (free of charge of course!) please get in contact by email –information@inclusionscotland.org, telephone – 0141 887 7058 or write to me at Inclusion Scotland, 5A Sir James Clarke Building, Abbey Mill Business Centre, Paisley PA1 1TJ.

Have a great weekend!

Best wishes,

Julie McElroy

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News Update

Disabled victims of 'hate crimes'
The Scotsman reports that police investigating two 'despicable' assaults
on disabled people in Edinburgh say that they are treating them as
aggravated 'hate crime'.

Pub bid hope for wheelchair user
A wheelchair user is set to win his fight over disabled access in pubs.
Mark Cooper, who has cerebral palsy, has brought disability groups and the licensed trade together in support of changing the law to promote better information on what facilities are available for disabled people.

Disabled child excluded from primary school
The parents of an eight-year-old disabled boy from Tweedsmuir in Scotland, have been told that his primary school could no longer provide for his "special needs".

Commission calls in evidence on disability-related harassment in Britain

Responses sought from disabled people, public bodies and public transport providers

 The Equality and Human Rights Commission is investigating whether public bodies and public transport providers are fulfilling their legal obligations to prevent disabled people from being harassed.  Councils, police forces, schools and other public bodies as well as bus, train companies and other public transport providers found to be failing in their duties could face enforcement action.

Every working day at least one person on average appears in court charged with a crime against a disabled person [1], nearly half of which involve violence.  Evidence already gathered by the Commission [2] suggests that many more incidents of targeted violence or hostility go unreported or are not dealt with properly by social housing bodies, social services teams, crime prevention units, public transport and other public bodies in Britain.  

The Inquiry is examining how victims of disability-related harassment, which includes name-calling, intimidation, bullying or violence, have been supported by public bodies and public transport providers.  It is also looking at what prevention measures bodies such as the police, social services, schools, or bus companies have put in place in England, Scotland and Wales.

Members of the public are being asked if they sought help from any public body or transport provider and what support they got, either as a result of being harassed because of their disability or because of their connection to someone who is disabled.  The Commission is working with organisations of and for disabled people or crime victims to help gather evidence.  Public bodies and transport providers are being asked to disclose what steps – if any – they are taking to meet their legal duties.

At the end of the Inquiry, councils, the police, schools, social housing and other public bodies, bus and train companies found not to be doing enough to tackle the problem and to protect the human rights of disabled people could face legal action to force them to comply with their legal obligations.

The Commission has previously written to Hinckley and Bosworth Council asking it to provide evidence it is compliant with its legal duties following the Coroner’s Inquest into the deaths of Fiona Pilkington and her daughter Francecca.

Mike Smith, lead Commissioner for the Inquiry, said:

“Harassment in public places and behind closed doors is an everyday part of life for many disabled people and people with long-term health conditions.  This harassment is intimidating at best and terrifying at worst, and the fear it creates can limit people’s lives and opportunities.

“Media reports of the appalling treatment of disabled people at the hands of their abusers are horrific reminders of what can ultimately happen when public bodies don’t act or don’t know what to do.

“By highlighting the failures as well as learning from examples of good practice, the Commission’s Inquiry will help public bodies try to ensure that future tragedies are prevented and transform the way that the people of Britain value and respect disabled people.

“We have taken two months to listen to the views of stakeholders and to get their support.  The Inquiry will be all the better for including disabled people in every stage of our investigation.”

Maria Miller, Minister for Disabled People, said:

“I fully support and welcome the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s inquiry on disability harassment.  

“Bullying and harassment can all too often escalate into serious hate crimes against disabled people that we have all heard about.  Harassment in any form is totally unacceptable.   Everyone in society has the right to live life in safety and with security.  For disabled people and for those people with long term health conditions, safety and security is a right that can’t be taken for granted.

“This is why I would strongly urge disabled people and disabled people’s organisations to become involved: to help inform the inquiry about the types of harassment experienced by disabled people and, to share their examples of positive work being done to tackle disability hate crime.”   

The first wave of evidence will be collected until Friday 10 September 2010.  It can be given directly to the Commission via its website, email and helpline (telephone or textphone).  Evidence can be taken in disabled people's preferred formats where required.

Thirteen evidence gathering events have already been organised and more are in the pipeline. These will be held around Britain in the next three months and will be publicised locally. Disabled people, organisations of and for disabled people or crime victims will be invited to attend.

The Commission can also use its legal powers to call public bodies to account, either by compelling them to give evidence or by summoning witnesses.  Hearings will be held from September 2010.

More information about the Inquiry and how to give evidence can be found on the Commission’s website atwww.equalityhumanrights.com/disabilityharassmentfi, by sending an email to disabilityharassmentfi@equalityhumanrights.comor by contacting the Commission’s helpline by telephone or textphone: 

England:          Telephone: 08456 046 610                Textphone: 08456 046 620

Scotland:         Telephone: 08456 045 510                Textphone: 08456 045 520

Wales:              Telephone: 08456 048 810                Textphone: 08456 048 820

S3M-06539 Bill Kidd (Glasgow) (Scottish National Party): Welfare Reform and Means-testing of DLA – That the Parliament notes that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has stated in his speech, Welfare for the 21st Century, that “...for some people, the move from welfare into work means they face losing more than 95 pence for every additional pound they earn.  As a result, the poor are in effect being taxed at an effective rate that far exceeds the wealthy.”; is of the firm opinion that, while welcoming any reduction in taxation or benefit withdrawal rate on poor people, it should not be funded by a reduction in other benefits; believes in particular that Disability Living Allowance (DLA) should not be made means-tested, as was suggested in the paper, Dynamic Beliefs, in its proposal for a Universal Life Credit, which “would be a simple means-tested benefit that provides additional income to those on low or no earnings.  It would replace Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Child Tax Credit and Disability Living Allowance”, and is of the view that DLA is a benefit that all people who meet the relevant disability criteria should be allowed to continue receiving.

Whilst Social Security is a reserved issue, as Disability Reporter to the Scottish Parliament’s Equal Opportunities Committee, and as Deputy Convenor in Cross Party Group on Carers, I take an interest in issues that directly affect disabled persons’ interests.

Act Against Harm Banner Project
Act Against Harm is about protecting adults at risk of harm and raising awareness of how to report harm or abuse.  The project will develop in an imaginative and innovative way with the creation of textile banners by groups of adults throughout Fife.  This project is free to participating groups and will involve working with a professional artist.

The banner project aims to enable service users to be at the heart of developing the Fife Act Against Harm campaign and to develop a positive and uplifting campaign.

For more information contact Shona Davidson on 08451 555555 x 442134 or email shona.davidson@fife.gov.uk. 

Adult Protection and the Act Against Harm Campaign 
Work to protect adults at risk of harm in Fife is going from strength to strength, as focus continues on delivering integrated, high-quality adult protection services.

The Adult Protection Committee, a partnership involving Fife Council Social Work Service, Fife Constabulary and NHS Fife, aims to ensure the provision of support and protection to adults at risk of harm in Fife, enabling them to live safe, healthy and fulfilling lives within their community.

To raise awareness and increase understanding of the importance of recognising the signs of physical or mental abuse, Fife is now developing a regional ‘Act Against Harm’ campaign.  This campaign follows in the footsteps of the Scottish Government’s national campaign where the key aims are to explain:

·       what adult protection is about

·       what ‘harm’ is, and

·       how to report harm or abuse.

Fife’s campaign will spell out a range of harm that adults at risk may face.  Harm can take many forms including psychological, physical, sexual, financial or neglect.  The campaign also highlights the importance of speaking to someone if harm is suspected and directs people to sources of help and advice. 

A number of initiatives are being undertaken to raise awareness of the Committee’s work and how the community can help take a stance against harm.  These initiatives include the roll-out of staff training programmes on adult protection, updating multi-agency protection procedures and talking to service user groups.  Most people are all too familiar with harm against children but adults can also be just as much at risk from harm.  Perhaps someone is experiencing depression, has learning difficulties or is just not coping with life as well as others, or as well as they used to.  These scenarios can all make them susceptible.  Anyone worried about someone they think is at risk from harm can phone the National Helpline on 0845 389 4000.

For more information contact the Adult Support and Protection Team on 08451 555555 x 476943 or visit www.fifedirect.org.uk.

Consultation

Funding cuts 

Further information on the inquiry, including how to submit written evidence, is available on the Finance Committee's website:
http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/finance/inquiries/preventative.htm  

http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/s3/committees/finance/inquiries/preventative.htm

Care and Repair Forum: Consultation on a National Policy Statement for Care and repair

The Care and Repair Forum is seeking views on the content of a National Policy Statement for Care and Repair in Scotland. In the first instance it would welcome views on the issues discussed in this paper and whether there are additional issues that should also be included. Taking account of the responses to this consultation, the Forum will prepare a Policy Statement which will be circulated in draft for further comments before it is finalised.

Introduction to Care and Repair Services
Care & Repair services offer personal, financial and technical support to people facing the difficult task of repairing, improving or adapting a home which is no longer suitable to the person's needs.

The provision of advice and information is a central part of Care and Repair's role, as well as providing practical assistance with grant applications and co-ordinating repairs. Care & Repair is a home-based and personalised service, which puts the client in control of decisions.

Staff visit people at home and assist them through the entire process of deciding what work is to be done, arranging the finance and organising the building work.

Each case involves a different approach and often staff must cross disciplinary and departmental boundaries, working closely with health, housing and social work staff, to reach a solution for the client.

The building work is funded in a vari ety of ways, including local authority grants, benefits, equity release, home loans and charitable funds.

The current core target group for Care and Repair services is older owner occupiers aged 60 and over.  However, some Care and Repair services extend this client group to include owners of any age group with physical or mental disabilities, or with special housing needs; private rented sector tenants (who are older/disabled); and crofting tenants (particularly in the Highlands and Islands).

Some local offices operate a waiting list and there may be variations in services offered and what qualifies for grant-aid in each local authority area. The range of services offered and the client group varies depending on their area of operation and the availability of funding. Sometimes it is simply as a result of historic decisions. However, Care and Repair projects can be characterised by providing one or more of four core activities:

·       Advice and information

·       Help with major repairs, improvements and adaptations

·       Small repairs services

·       Handyperson services

The 2006 Housing Act places a responsibility on local authorities to adopt a strategic approach to addressing the condition and quality of private sector housing. Every local authority will be required to produce a 'Scheme of Assistance'.

The scheme allows local authorities to provide assistance for house repairs, improvements, adaptations and construction, as well as the acquisition or sale of a house. Scottish Government Guidance on the implementation of the 2006 Act Repair suggests local authorities may wish to explore how Care and Repair services can contribute to their Scheme of Assistance.

Examples of how this could happen include rolling out Care and Repair projects to a greater range of owners (and potentially charging for some of these services), contracting Care and Repair projects to provide an adaptations services for disabled people, and ensuring that there is a handyperson service available for all eligible clients.

Background to Consultation

The Care and Repair Forum Board, as the national co-ordinating body for Care and Repair in Scotland, has decided that it wishes to prepare and issue a National Policy Statement for Care and Repair. This follows on from a recommendation of the Scottish Government Review of Care and Repair published in 2009.

The Board envisages that the National Policy Statement would set out the aims and objectives of Care and Repair and how the services it provides link to current developments in policy and society at large. It would explain how Care and Repair operates at local and national level and it would identify key areas where the Forum plans to take forward changes. The intention is that the Policy Statement would be high level and succinct. It would supersede the National Standards for Care and Repair published in 2004 and it would be distributed widely to those with an interest in the work of Care and Repair in Scotland.

Key Issues for the Consultation

1.  Care and Repair – Aims

Care and Repair was initially established by Age Concern and Shelter in Scotland in the early 1980s to help elderly owners in sub-tolerable housing in Scotland improve their housing conditions. It recognised that many older owners lived in very poor conditions and needed help to access grants and arrange the necessary work. The primary aim was, at that time, to secure an improvement in housing conditions and help tackle sub-tolerable housing.

As the number of sub-tolerable houses has reduced, Care and Repair has diversified the services it provides and the focus of its work has increasingly shifted to helping customers to live independently in their own houses within the community.

·       Is it now reasonable to describe the primary aim of Care and Repair now as helping its clients to live independently in the community?

·       Should  improving the housing conditions of customers still remain an aim in its own right so that Care and Repair services should be made available even when there is no threat or potential threat to independent living ?

2.  Customers for Care and Repair

To date, the core customer groups for Care and Repair have been elderly and disabled owner occupiers. The 2004 National Standards defines the core target group as “older owner occupiers aged 60 or over”. This report comments that some local projects extend provision to “owners of any age with physical or mental disabilities, or with special housing needs”. The twin approach is also recognised in recent publicity for Care and Repair which refers to “enabling older and disabled people to stay in their homes”.

There are a number of questions which arise from this:

·       Given the need to define “older persons” is it right to focus attention on those aged over 60 or should it be reduced to facilitate preventative action to say 55 or 60 or increased to 65 or 70 to help prioritise services on those most in need?

·       Should there be a national commitment to seek to provide services to disabled persons of any age and, if so, how should this group be defined?

·       Should owner–occupiers continue to be the key customer group together with crofters in the relevant parts of Scotland or should services be extended to private or even public sector tenants? The obvious case against extending eligibility in this way is that it is the landlords who, for most repairs and improvements, have responsibility for work to be undertaken and, indeed, who would need to give their consent before Care and Repair could be involved.

3.  Determining Priorities Based on Need

Whatever decisions are made on the scope of the core customer groups, this is bound to include large number of households in Scotland who are potential customers and it seems inevitable that some further assessment of relative needs is, and will continue to be, required. There are a number of issues which arise from this:

·       If the primary aim of Care and Repair is to enable customers to continue to live independently in their own homes, should any assessment of priorities at the local level be clearly tied into this aim? Does this imply that the determination of priorities should be more closely linked to community care assessments than may be the case at present?

·       If the basis for deciding priorities is left implicit, particularly if the availability of services is not widely promoted, then there is a danger that services will be channelled to those households who request help (who may not be those most in need). Is there a case for each Care and Repair team to have an explicit set of criteria for deciding priorities?

·       If each local team decides priorities locally, there is an obvious danger of a post code lottery. Is this a potential problem and, if so, should the Policy Statement give broad guidance on how priorities should be determined?

·       If the Statement is to include broad guidance of this nature, what should this include? Possibilities include giving priority to the more frail elderly and those with more severe disabilities. There is also the question as to whether any account should be taken of the financial resources available to the household and the extent to which support is available from the wider family of the persons concerned, although both of these are likely to be difficult to assess in practice. 

4.  Core Services for Care and Repair

Core Services were defined in the 2004 National Standards document to include advice and information, major repairs and adaptations, small repairs and what have been classified as “handyperson services” i.e. relatively straightforward maintenance tasks around the home.

·       Does this list still remain appropriate or should other services be included?

·       Specifically should “hospital discharge services” i.e. undertaking work in the house to facilitate hospital discharges and to help prevent the need for readmission, be added to the list? Would NHS and or/ Social Work be willing to provide financial support for these services?

·       Should all local teams be encouraged to provide core services or should there be variations to avoid duplication where they are already available from other sources?

·       Care and Repair has grown and developed through local innovation. Should there be clear recognition in the Policy Statement that local teams may wish to develop new services even though these would not be part of any national list of core services.

5.  The Concept of a Minimum Level of Service for Care and Repair

The consultancy study which underpinned the Scottish Government review floated the idea there should be a minimum level of service that all local Care and Repair teams should aim to provide. This could make it much easier to promote the Care and Repair “brand” amongst both the general public, and partners and stakeholders.

·       Do you agree that there should be a minimum level of service?

·       Should this level of service be determined by the outcome of the consultation on core customer groups and core services and, subsequently, kept under review?

6.  Equality of Access to Care and Repair

Care and Repair teams operate throughout Scotland with the exception of Midlothian (where the council is currently considering the need to initiate a service). However, some teams only operate on a limited basis within their local area.

Apart from geographical coverage, there is also the need to ensure equality of access and treatment of all relevant sections of the community. Because of the nature of the services it provides, Care and Repair seeks to reach out to the disabled and to many female householders. But there is a concern that, despite its commitment to equality, it may not be having sufficient impact on Scotland’s ethnic minorities.

·       Would it be helpful or the National Policy Statement to contain a clear encouragement to local authorities in Scotland to ensure a comprehensive geographical coverage?

·       Can the National Policy Statement help to encourage local teams to promote their services to ethnic minorities and, if so, how?

7.  Governance Arrangements for Local Care and Repair Teams

At the present time, there are a relatively small number of Care and Repair Teams which have their own independent structure, several have been established by local authorities as in-house units and the majority are run by Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) as managing agents. The recent Scottish Government Review report recommended that:

 “Where practicable, all Care and Repair projects should become self governing. They can do this either as stand alone organisations or as a part of a larger organisation such as a subsidiary of an RSL. This legal separation between project and managing agent should be accompanied by governance through a charitable board that is independent and which allows them to make their own decisions about their future.”

·       Given this clear recommendation about the optimum governance arrangements, we would welcome the views of relevant stakeholders, in particular, about the scope for giving a clear commitment to moving in this direction.

8.  Finance and Fundraising

Local authorities are now the major source of finance for Care and Repair teams following the SG’s decision to merge the previous Private Sector Housing Grant, a ring fenced budget, into the general local government financial settlement. The Scottish Government review did, however, express the hope that local authorities might agree delivery outputs and outcomes with associated funding over a longer period of around 3 years to provide greater stability and continuity of funding.

In relation to fundraising, the SG Review concluded that Care and Repair services should become more self-sustaining by generating part of their income through providing chargeable services to non core clients. The scope for this depends on where the boundary is drawn between core and non core services and the demand for chargeable non core services at a price which would ensure that these services were generating sufficient income to cover their own costs and provide some additional resources for core services.

·       Given the comments on multi-year funding agreements in the SG Review report, it would be helpful to have the views of COSLA and individual local authorities on the scope for this and the extent to which we could include a commitment to moving in this direction in the National Policy Statement.

·       On fundraising, it would be helpful to have views on whether the Policy Statement should cover this topic and, if so, what it might say on the scope for fundraising and the actions that the Forum and Care and Repair teams might take to make progress without compromising core activities.

9.  Care and Repair – Key Values and Ethos

The 2004 National Standards and Guidance report sets out 3 key principles to express the ethos of Care and Repair. These were:

a.  Flexibility and choice – tailoring the services to the specific needs of each client

b.  Privacy and trust – building trust by respecting the privacy of clients using Care and Repair services, ensuring that personal information is treated in confidence and treating clients with respect

c.   Equality and diversity – ensuring that all individuals within the target group are aware of the services available and able to access them when required regardless of gender, sexuality, ethnicity disability and age

·       Are these key values still applicable and, if so, should they form a part of the National Policy Statement?

·       Are there other key values that should also be mentioned, for example, the not for profit ethos of Care and Repair and the emphasis placed on encouraging customers to make their own decisions?

10.              Care and Repair – The Context

The Care and Repair Forum considers that the growth in the numbers  of older persons in Scotland in recent decades and, in particular, older persons aged over 75,  together with the growth in owner occupation have significantly increased the potential demand for care and repair services. The growth in the numbers of older persons is projected to increase further in the period up to 2020. Government policies also reinforce the potential importance of care and repair services with a strong and increasing emphasis on older persons living independently in their own homes where this remains feasible. On the housing policy side, the encouragement to owners to keep their homes in good repair and to implement energy efficiency measures is also relevant.

·       Should the National Policy Statement provide a succinct summary of this demographic and policy context?

·       Are there other important points that need to be mentioned?

11.              Other Issues

Are there other issues that should be included within the National Policy Statement?

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Information

Inclusion Scotland Membership

Inclusion Scotland is Scotland’s leading organisation of disabled people.  We aim to draw attention to the physical, social, economic, cultural and attitudinal barriers that affect our everyday lives as disabled people in Scotland.

If you or your organisation would like to join Inclusion Scotland, see our website www.inclusionscotland.org for more information.  Or contact info@inclusionscotland.org or telephone 0141 887 7058.

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Events & Training

Equal Adventure Festival

27th & 28th August 2010

Book now!

Enjoy adventure in the Cairngorms National Park regardless of disability!

After your overwhelming support last year, we thought you would like to hear about this year's Festival, we hope you can join us again for another great weekend of challenges.

The Equal Adventure Festival 2010 is your chance to take part in a range of fun, and challenging activities, regardless of ability. Join in, improve existing skills, meet new people and take on a new challenge. Come and enjoy the beauty and adventure of the Cairngorms National Park with us on the 27th & 28th of August.

The Equal Adventure Festival 2010 will provide adventurous challenges for your team, as well as evening entertainment, and inspiring lectures. The activities available will take place on both water and land and will be grouped into three areas of challenge; skill, endurance, and problem solving. Your team can choose to incorporate all of these areas into their weekend or select from within them.

Our events team has ensured that all participants will be able to take up the challenge at their own level and pace, regardless of ability. Activities available will include orienteering, canoeing, team problem-solving tasks, and more.

Once again, Equal Adventure will be organising the festival; Equal Adventure is an award winning charity who aim to inspire and provide resources for inclusive adventure and active lifestyles for disabled people.

The Festival will once again be hosted by Glenmore Lodge, where accessible accommodation or camping is available.

The weekend will be run as a team competition; bring along your team of no more than four, and compete to win some great prizes. If you can’t find yourself a team, don't worry, get in touch and send us a booking form, and we'll make sure you can still participate.

The event is open to everyone. All levels of ability and agility are welcome - the only requirement is a positive attitude. We will be very happy to discuss individual requirements that will enable your full participation and enjoyment of the event.

To take up the challenge, or volunteer, please contact the events team:

Email: events@equaladventure.org

Call the events team on: 01479 861200

Further details available at: www.equaladventure.org

The Exhibition!!! Young Talent 2010

Saturday 19th June - Saturday 24th July

Opening times: Tuesday - Saturday, 10am - 5pm

Preview: Saturday 19th June 1pm-3pm

Young Talent, now in its tenth year, is our annual showcase of art work created by children and young people who take part in our Create Programme.

The vibrant and colourful artworks have been made by over 50 young people aged 8 - 25 years who have been involved in the smArt community programme (Possilpark, Drumchapel, Cranhill, Pollokshields community centres) and our Saturday classes in Trongate 103. 

These classes were an opportunity for the young artists to explore a wide range of techniques and materials, including painting, drawing, construction, printmaking, model making, ceramics, and textiles. It is this dazzling collection of work that we are now showing in "The Exhibition!!!" Don't miss it! 

About Create: Create is Project Ability's programme that engages with children and young people with disabilities in a wide range of creative activities including visual arts, film and new media.

Changing Faces’ Young People's Council Scotland will be for 12-21yr olds, plans to meet 4 times a year and exists to:

·       Provide a voice for young people to help others understand what it is like to live with a disfigurement.

·       Help Changing Faces develop services for children and young people.

·       Enable young people to have a greater role Changing Faces

·       Enable participants to develop new skills, gain useful work experience and make new friends.

Members of the YPC in Scotland can get involved in various activities such as media interviews and documentaries, campaigning, contributing to www.iface.org.uk website for young people with visible differences, creating videos, audio recordings and written articles, film projects, theatre projects, helping with Changing Faces activity days for children etc.

It will be up to the members to decide what they what like to do and Changing Faces will help them achieve it.

This work is important in supporting the huge number of young people around the UK with visible disfigurements, and increasing awareness of the issues surrounding disfigurement.

Breakthrough UK consultation meetings
Breakthrough UK has been commissioned to develop a protocol to make clear the roles, relationships and responsibilities between:

·       Disabled People’s Organisations

·       Carers’ Organisations

·       User Led Organisations