Monthly Archives: April 2013

Project aims to make a Norfolk Town Dementia friendly

New project aims to make Swaffham a dementia-friendly town

Don Saunders is the new manager of the Iceni Partnership in Swaffham. Picture: Ian Burt. Don Saunders is the new manager of the Iceni Partnership in Swaffham. Picture: Ian Burt.

Monday, April 15, 2013
7:00 AM

A new project hopes to bring together businesses, charities, care homes and youth groups to make Swaffham a dementia-friendly town for the increasing numbers of people with the condition. A meeting last Thursday came up with aims that include creating dementia-friendly buildings, training town centre businesses in how to help those affected, creating reminiscence packs at the library and holding music and sing-a-long sessions.

The groups already involved also plan to co-ordinate current services that are already offered in the town, to increase awareness of what is in place and identify gaps in current provision.

Much needed respite available for carers in Deeside

Carers to get a break as new service launched

 

A Deeside-based service that supports unpaid carers who look after a family member, friend or neighbour who is ill, frail or disabled has re-launched, with two new carer support workers who will pioneer new activities to benefit Deeside’s hardworking unpaid carers and help to distribute new funding for much-needed short breaks and respite.

 

Tracey Bell, carer support and development worker, said: “Three in five people will be carers at some point in their lives. There are a lot of services to support the people being cared for. But the carer’s own wellbeing is of paramount importance too.”

Why aren’t there more bus drivers like Les?

Les is a ‘hero of the road’! Salute to rule-breaking bus driver who goes extra mile for disabled passengers

From left: Ian Dalby, Jennette Arnold, Les Peacock, and in front, Angela Dobson

From left: Ian Dalby, Jennette Arnold, Les Peacock and, in front, Angela Dobson

Published: 12 April, 2013
by PETER GRUNER

A “KINDLY” bus driver who admits to breaking the rules to help a severely disabled woman from Holloway get aboard his vehicle has been presented by her with a distinguished service commendation.

Les Peacock, 59, not only stops his No 17 bus when he sees people in wheelchairs, but against the company rules, he switches his engine off and personally helps them to navigate the vehicle’s automatic ramp.

This “simple act of kindness” so impressed disabled woman Angela Dobson, 62, who has cerebral palsy, that she decided to track Les down to the Metroline bus garage at Pemberton Gardens, Holloway, where he is based.

On Monday afternoon, Les was the proud recipient of a “hero of the road” certificate of commendation from Ms Dobson, with the support of London Assembly Labour member Jennette Arnold, on behalf of Islington’s disabled people.

Father-of-two Les, from Waltham Abbey, a double-decker bus driver for almost 40 years, has for most of that time operated route 17 from Archway, Caledonian Road, and King’s Cross-and London Bridge.