We want The Big Bridge to be a vibrant, community resource so please fill in the e-form if you have any ideas to share by clicking on the above comments box. This is your website too!
For professionals
In the large county of West Sussex, many service providers offer support to the learning disability community. Here, you'll find information about organisations, groups, charities and local government services throughout the county. We want The Big Bridge to be a vibrant, community site and welcome news about forthcoming projects. Please fill in the e-form or find out more in About us.
To find service providers, choose an area below:
Crawley/Horsham Area
Worthing Area
Chichester Area
Bognor Regis Area
Haywards Heath/Burgess Hill Area
Services Further Afield/Countywide
Thumbs Up goes live in mid Sussex!
Thumbs Up aims to improve the customer service people with learning difficulties receive when using shops and other services in the community.
More than 20 organisations have signed up to the campaign including local councils, libraries and leisure centres. To find out more, click on www.signpostsmidsussex.org.uk/Thumbs-Up.
Housing Options
Housing Options is a national charity that leads in promoting better housing options for people with learning disabilities and works to influence policy that promotes greater choice and inclusion. Housing Options runs the national Housing Advice service for people with learning disabilities, their families and Housing Options members.
From September we are making this unique service available five days a week, including some evenings. If you would like to support this work, know more about Housing Options, or join our growing membership so that your staff can use this advice and information service, then we would be very pleased to hear from you enquiries@housingoptions.org.uk.
Out There! New sports and leisure club
A new sports and leisure club, based all over West Sussex, started in Spring 2011. The programme includes everything from drumming, art therapy, football to access to computers. Full programme details can be found on the Outreach 3 Way website.
If you have clients who would be interested in joining the club please contact Bob Leeves on 01293 455773 or email bob.leeves@outreach3way.org.
Changes to Disability Living Allowance
The Department of Work and Pensions is asking for comments about the changes they are planning to make to the Disability Living Allowance. To view the full consultation document please click here.
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Carousel
Carousel is an award winning registered charity that facilitates people with learning disabilities to reach their potential in the arts. Carousel has 29 years of experience managing arts projects by and for people with a learning disabilities. The charity runs club nights for people with learning disabilities, the Oska Bright Film Festival and works with music bands and DJs and has its own radio show through the Shut Up and Listen Project. To find out more view their website please click here.
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WSCC Learning Difficulty Grants 2011/12
WSCC is pleased to annouce the launch of the process for applying for learning difficulty grants 2011/12 please click here for the explanatory letter and here for the application form and criteria.
Hospital Passports
A hospital passport system has been developed to help hospital staff understand the needs of the individual more clearly for example the likes and dislikes of a person and what is important to them. To view the passport click here.
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Grace Eyre Volunteer Scheme is huge success
Four new workers are settling into their volunteer roles with sussex police. To find out more click here.
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Person Centred Publications
Some useful Person Centred Publications can be found on this page of the Department of Health Website. Please click here.
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NHS White Paper- Easy Read Version
Please click here to view the NHS White paper easy read version. This version will soon be available on the DH and Valuing People Now websites.
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CQC registration for Supported Living Services
The attached Sitra update refers specifically to CQC registration - and how this may impact on currently unregistered supported living services. To read please click here .
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SeeAbility factsheets for adults with learning disabilities
SeeAbility have produced some factsheets for adults with learning disabilities "Having an Eye Test" and "Wearing Glasses". They were devised following a consultation with a focus group of people with learning disabilities. Click here for more information.
Best Practice Guide: Enhanced eye tests for people with a learning disability
SeeAbility have recently produced a "Best Practice Guide: Enhanced eye tests for people with a learning disability". Click here to read a press release explaining how the Best Practice Guide can be used to improve access to eye care services for people wth learning disabilities around the country.
Sibs - new adult sibling project
Sibs has just started its new three year project to support adult siblings. This will include support with adult sibling issues, making contact with other adult siblings, programme of workshops for adult siblings, information resource for adult siblings and monthly email tips.
Carole March is the development office for adults siblings she can be emailed on carole@sibs.org.uk or called on 01757 617484.
If you are currently working with disabled adults through your service, have a look at how you can support adult siblings.
Online Basics
Online basics is a new free course designed to help thousands of offline adults take their first steps with computers and the internet. Online basics, which is available free of charge at www.onlinebasics.co.uk, offers five key modules covering the basics people need to know to get going online - from keyboard and mouse skills through to email, internet searching and how to stay safe on the internet.
Out Now!!! Latest edition of Valuing People newsletter.
To read the latest edition of Valuing People newsletter please click here.
"6 lives" report
In March 2007 Mencap wrote a report called "Death by Indifference". Mencap asked the Health Service and the Local Government Ombudsman to look at what happened. To read a detailed report of the findings please click here.
We're putting together a series of articles from professionals who are happy to share their special knowledge, expertise or perspective - please contact us at hello@thebigbridge.org if you would like to contribute. Please see our Share page to view previous articles.