Tel: 01473 836777
Fax: 01473 836778
Textphone: 01473 836779
Email enquiries@optua.org.uk
Tel: 01473 836777
Fax: 01473 836778
Textphone: 01473 836779
Email enquiries@optua.org.uk
Achievements summarised at Optua's Annual General meeting
Optua's Annual General Meeting took place on Wednesday 16 July at Needham Market Community Centre.
Between 50 and 60 of our members came along to hear presentations about our works and achievements in 2007/08 including personal testimonies from clients of our Care and Homecare service and Optua UK's Community Brain Injury Services. Our success stories over the past year have included:
Optua's Annual Review of 2007/08 is available from its main office on 01473 836777.
Disabled people air concerns about funding changes
Disabled people came together at a Forum organised by Optua on Wednesday 16 July to hear about changes to the way Suffolk County Council will be providing funding for the services they need to help them live independent lives.
The forum took place at Needham Market Community Centre before Optua's Annual General Meeting. Around 50 disabled people, their carers, and representatives from disability groups came along to hear a presentation from David Pintilie, Programme Manager of the Self Directed Support Project at Suffolk County Council.
Self Directed Support (SDS) is a new system which aims to give users of social care services more choice and control by giving them their own individual budget to pay for the care and services they need. These services could include personal homecare, respite care and taking part in activities in their communities.
After David's presentation SDS, people attending took the opportunity to ask questions. Several concerns were raised, such as:
Linda Hoggarth, chairman of Optua, said: "The new Self Directed Support system will have a significant impact on Optua's members and the disabled people we work with. Whilst we would always support any moves to give disabled people more choice and control over their lives, it was clear from the issues raised that many people are worried about how the new system will impact on them and that there has been a lack of information coming through about how it will work. This will be a major change for many disabled people and many still need reassuring about how it will affect them. I hope that David will go back to the council and pass on some of the concerns that people have raised with him."
You can download a document provided by the county council - '50 Questions and Answers about Self-Directed Support and Individual Budgets' by clicking here.
Suffolk Disability Sport Academy to sponsor Suffolk Sport Award
Nominations are being sought for this year's Suffolk Sports Awards, with Optua's Disability Sport Academy sponsoring this year's Contribution to Disability Sport Award.
There are 12 categories of award, including the Contribution to Disability Sport with the deadline for nominations on Thursday 04 September. If you know someone who you think deserves recognition for their contribution to disability sport or for any of the other categories why not nominate them? For more information on the awards and how to nominate someone go to www.suffolksport.com.
Wheelchair Football Team's official launch in Ipswich
Optua were recently proud to be invited to the official launch of The Ipswich Charioteers Wheelchair Football Club, along with the unveiling of their new shirt.
The Ipswich Charioteers, run by keen Ipswich Town Fan Claire O'Brien-Ellington, secured support for their new team shirt from the Novotel in Ipswich who also hosted the launch party. The event was an opportunity to show off the new shirt for the first time, launch the club officially in the community and to thank everyone for their support in getting the club up and running.
This time last year Claire was looking for people to get the club started and she now has around 15 regular players and support from their parents, the Novotel and local organisations like Optua, the Suffolk Football Association, Wheelchair Football Association and Team Ipswich. Claire gave Optua a special thank you at the event for the support the Disability Sport Academy and Optua Leisure has given the club over the past year.
National interest in Suffolk Disability Sport Academy
Optua's Suffolk Disability Sport Academy has had national recognition recently.
The Academy has been highlighted in a national report recently launched by Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell. The Department for Culture Media and Sport's Legacy Action Plan: 'Before, during and after: making the most of the London 2012 Games', highlights Optua's disability sport academy as a community project positively promoting sport in the run up to London 2012.
Colin Poole, Chief Executive of Optua, said: "It is great to be highlighted in this national report. London 2012 will inspire many people to take up sport and want to go on and achieve something. Disabled people are no exception and we have already seen how popular the events we have organised have been. There has been an exciting buzz at our disability sport showcase days and many people have gone on to take part in regular sessions. It's an extremely positive project we're proud to have got off the ground."
You can view the report here.
One of Optua's Disability Sport Training Sessions was also chosen as part of a visit to Suffolk by Sir Keith Mills, Deputy Chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games on 24 June where he also heard about the work of the Disability Sport Academy.
For more information about the Suffolk Disability Sport Academy click here.
14 teams of people with physical, sensory and learning disabilities took part in this year's Optua RHS Games at the Royal Hospital School in Holbrook on Thursday 26 June.
This year's games included fun events such as welly-throwing, skittles and ball games.
Sudbury Resource Centre were crowned the winners after a final between their team and the 'Stowmarket Stars'. The winning team received a trophy and both they and the Stowmarket Stars received medals for their efforts.
This now annual event was enjoyed by everyone who took part in the day and we are very grateful to all the RHS volunteers for making it such a fantastic day.
Lucky 13 for young powerlifter
At our recent Disability Sport Showcase Day in Great Cornard, 16-year-old powerlifter Nathaniel Wilding became the 13th up and coming athlete, and the first one with a disability, to receive a grant from the Suffolk SportsAid Foundation.
Nathaniel received a cheque for £500 and has his sights firmly set on representing Great Britain at the London 2012 Paralympics. He is not only ranked number one in his age group in Great Britain but is also in the top 20 in Europe. This season he is scheduled to compete in the British Championships, the French Open and the Junior World Development Championships in America.
The Suffolk SportsAid Foundation was launched last December with the specific aim of raising money to help Suffolk's up and coming sportsmen and women to achieve on the national, international and world stage. It is a joint initiative between SportsAid, the national charity for sport, Suffolk Sport and Rising to the Challenge Suffolk, the campaign to maximise the benefits for Suffolk from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Nathaniel is a member of the successful Suffolk Spartans Powerlifting Club which is based in East Bergholt and which Optua helped to set up. The Suffolk Spartans already have several talented young members who have a bright future in the sport.
For more information on the Suffolk Sportsaid Foundation, visit www.suffolksportsaid.com.
For more information on the Suffolk Spartans, visit www.suffolkspartans.co.uk.
Have your say on disability issues in Forest Heath
A new forum to discuss disability issues in the Forest Heath area has been set up and Forest Heath District Council is looking for people who may be interested in taking part.
The Forest Heath Disability Forum has been set up by the council with support from Optua, the Suffolk based disability charity. The aim is to set up a group to represent the interests of all disabled people living in the district and which can feed back to the council any issues which are raised. It will also provide an opportunity for the council to consult with disabled people on any issues which directly affect them.
The first meeting took place in October 2007 where it was decided that the disability forum was a good idea and should be formally set up. Other meetings have been held in January, April and July 2008. Anyone who might want to become involved is still welcome to contact us. Anyone with a disability or those representing disability organisations are welcome to take part. You can view the terms of reference and minutes of previous meetings here.
Anyone interested in hearing more about the forum should contact Emma Ferris on 01638 719301 or Optua on 01473 836746. Forest Heath District Council may be able to assist with travel arrangements to enable people to get to the meeting. Optua are working in partnership with Forest Heath District Council to help deliver their Disability Equality Duty to residents and to improve the way they consult with and inform disabled people, their carers and groups representing them.
