A collection of useful links, ranging from local associations and council support services, through to national bodies and commercial organisations specializing in products for disable people.
LOCAL AUTHORITY SUPPORT
Gateway to Care
Your first point of contact for all adult social care, where you will receive practical information and advice to help you to live independently at home. The council provides a range of services to support older people, people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities and sensory impairments. You can also find out about services offered by voluntary organisations and private companies.
Email gatewaytocare@calderdale.gov.uk
Telephone 01422 393000
Website
Calderdale Council’s Services For People With Hearing Impairments
They assess and provide equipment for people in their own homes or care homes, that are struggling to hear conversation, for example, or hear visitors come to the door. They also advises them on equipment that can help them overcome these difficulties. They also have a role promoting the deaf and hard of hearing within our communities. This service is normally access through the Gateway to Care service:
Tel: 01422 393000
Text: 07776454642
NGT: 18001 01422 392318
Email: gatewaytocare@calderdale.gov.uk
Calderdale Council’s Deaf & Hard of Hearing support services are based at the Glenholme Resource (94-96 Green Lane, West Vale, Halifax HX4 8DB). They have a drop-in session on the second Tuesday of every month, 10am – 4pm, where anyone experiencing problems with their hearing can call in and get advice plus look at equipment that might help them.
Calderdale Council’s Services For People With Visual Impairments
The support teams for hearing and sight loss are based at the Glenholme Resource (94-96 Green Lane West Vale Halifax HX4 8DB) and the team have a drop-in session on the first Tuesday of every month, 10am – 4pm, where anyone experiencing problems with their vision can call in and get advice plus look at equipment that might help them. Alternatively, start with Calderdale’s “Gateway to Care” service. Call them on 01422 393000, making it clear that it’s a visual impairment enquiry.
Gateway to Care Contact details:
Tel: 01422 393000
Text: 07776454642
NGT: 18001 01422 392318
Email: gatewaytocare@calderdale.gov.uk
LOCAL ORGANISATIONS
Andy’s Man Club
Andy’s Man Club focuses on mental health in men and describes itself as running “non judgmental, talking groups for men. We are the creators of the viral #ITSOKAYTOTALK movement. Our overall aim is to halve the number of suicides in men Under 45. I know that’s a massive task, but it’s something to strive for. Even if we only manage a quarter – we will have done something amazing.” Andy’s Man Club meets at Halifax’s Shay Stadium ever Monday evening at 7pm (except Bank Holidays). There are also branches across the area, with Huddersfield and Hebden Bridge both hosting regular meetings. Find out more about Andy’s Man Club on their website, where there is also a directory of meeting locations.
Calderdale DART
Calderdale D.A.R.T. offers an advice/information service for people with disabilities and Carers living in Calderdale. This ranges from simple signposting e.g. address/phone numbers of other services in the area; providing advice and information on a range of issues including welfare benefits; helping you to complete application forms for benefits such as Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance; Attendance Allowance; Income Support; Housing Benefit; Council Tax Benefit; etc.
Tel: (01422) 346040 (Voice/Minicom/Answerphone) or (01422) 346950 (Voice/Minicom) or (01422) 322338 (Fax)
Email: calderdaledart@hotmail.co.uk
Website: www.calderdaledart.org.uk
Calderdale Deaf Association
This is local charity that provides support for deaf people who use British Sign Language. It organises social events and clubs. Social evenings are held every Wednesday at Arden Road Social Club, Halifax, from 7.00pm to midnight. The Thursday Club runs on the first and third Thursday of each month at the association’s Halifax office.
4 St James Road
Halifax
HX1 1YS
Tel: 01422 342111 (TEXTPHONE)
Email: Bernard-riddles51@live.co.uk
Community Transport Calderdale
Community Transport Calderdale aims to provide transport for those residents of Calderdale who cannot access existing forms of transport provision for reasons of ill health, isolation, disability, poverty or social exclusion. We help our members access health appointments, supermarkets and other social events important to them.
Website: www.ctcalderdale.co.uk
Disability Support Calderdale
A local group run by and for people with physical or mental disabilities and long term medical conditions who live in Calderdale. We aim to provide information, advocacy and support to help empower and enable people with disabilities to make informed choices. It is a district wide organisation and receive requests for information and support from all over the Calderdale district aiming to improve well-being and welfare rights.
Contact:
Disability Support Calderdale
St George’s House
Lee Mount
Halifax HX3 5BT
Tel: 01422 353613 – Mobile :07990833521
Email: dsmain@hotmail.co.uk
Website: www.disabilitysupportcalderdale.org
Gateway to Care is Calderdale Council’s first point of contact for adult social care. They offer you practical information and advice which will help you to continue to live independently at home. This may include, for example, help with mobility and confidence after an accident, illness, injury or deterioration in a condition. The Gateway to Care team includes friendly, experienced social care advisors, clinical advisors and social workers who bring their expertise together to make sure you receive coordinated care, support and advice.
Web: https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/socialcare/social-services/gateway-to-care/index.html
Tel: 01422 393000
Textphone: 01422 393398
Text messages only: 07776454642
If you require an urgent RESPONSE that cannot wait please ring 01422 393314
If you are deaf and require an urgent RESPONSE please TEXT the number below and Gateway to Care will text you back.
If you require an urgent REFERRAL to the Hearing Impairment Team please contact Gateway to Care using the information below.
Halifax and Calder Valley Multiple Sclerosis Society
This is the local branch of a national charity which offers advice, information and support to people who have multiple sclerosis and their families. The branch organises social events and trips to help you to meet other people in the same situation. The branch can offer advice about buying equipment, such as powered wheelchairs, and adapting your home. You can also get financial help towards the cost. The branch has a library of useful publications on multiple sclerosis.
Tel: 01422 206692
Email: halifaxcaldermss@gmail.com
Web: www.mssociety.org.uk/near-me
There is a national helpline available on 0808 800 8000 or helpline@mssociety.org.uk.
Halifax Society for the Blind
An independent charity that supports people registered as blind or partially sighted in Halifax and the surrounding area. The charity offers: regular activities (including social afternoons and luncheon clubs); two organised holidays a year; two organised day trips a year; information and advice.
Address: 36 Clare Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 2HX
Tel: 01422 352 383
Email: info@blindsociety.org.uk
Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/SightlossCalderdale/)
Opening times:
Monday to Friday 10am – 2.30pm
Heath Stroke Club
Providing services and support for adults living with physical disabilities, including strokes. If you would like more information on Heath Stroke Club call 01422 330320 or email enquiries@heathstrokeclub.co.uk
Hebden Bridge Disability Access Forum (HBDAF)
Do you identify as disabled, deaf or have a long-term health condition? Do you experience barriers that stop you from fully accessing life in the Hebden Bridge area? Getting out and about can be challenging for many reasons: mental health issues, chronic illness, autism, hearing or mobility impairments, communication difficulties. Whatever your personal experience of disability, Hebden Bridge Disability Access Forum (HBDAF) would like to hear from you. Come to their meetings, third Monday of each month at Hebden Bridge Town Hall, 2.30 – 4.30pm They’re a working group of around thirty members and they encourage more people to get involved. Tell them about the most important issues affecting you locally. Much of their work has, and will continue to, tackle the more obvious, physical barriers people face. They’d like to concentrate more on raising awareness and creating better access for those with mental health issues and other invisible disabilities. This is a broad demographic that would include people with learning differences or dementia and Autistic people. If you have lived experience of any form of disability or support those who do, please get in touch. Contact them on sechbdisabilityaccess@gmail.com or phone 01422 844 914 – Download the April 2019 map and full Access Guide: Access Map Access Guide
Lead the Way
Lead the Way was set up in partnership with Calderdale Council and Calderdale CCG to support people with a learning disability to have control of their care and to receive equality of access to services. It is a community-based advice & support service helping people to stay healthy and independent in their own community. They support people and their carers to find the right services to meet their needs, offering advice and information in ways that are easy to understand, and in a way that is best for you – this can be on the telephone, by letter or email or face-to-face if you prefer. They can help with lots of different things, from finding support for you regarding employment, to finding places you can meet new friends and take part in activities. They hold groups in Calderdale around health and wellbeing. Visit their easy read website for more information:
www.leadthewaycalderdale.org
email info@leadthewaycald
Tel 0300 012 0416
Macular Society – Halifax Group
Nearly 1.5m people in the UK have macular disease. It affects people of all ages. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common macular condition, generally affecting people over 50. A group of rare inherited conditions called juvenile macular dystrophies can affect much younger people, including children. The Halifax Group meets second Friday of every month, 1-3pm (Not Jul or Dec) -The Maurice Jagger Centre, Lister Street, Winding Road, HALIFAX HX1 1UZ
www.macularsociety.org/groups/halifax-support-group
Visits Unlimited
Visits Unlimited offer of bespoke Disability Awareness Training sessions with a difference! Feeling awkward? Unsure of what to say or do? Visits Unlimited is a Halifax-based Community Interest Company (CIC), working with families with disabled children and young people, bridging the gap to enable them to have joyful and accessible days out that stay in their memories forever. From years of talking and listening to disabled people and their families they know that what makes a day out memorable are the little things, such as caring and thoughtful customer service. Providing the best service you can for disabled people will be beneficial for all of you customers: www.visitsunlimited.org.uk
ACDAF
The Accessible Calderdale Disability Access Forum (ACDAF) is a group aimed at improving access in Calderdale for people with a wide range of disabilities. They hold monthly meetings at an accessible venue. The group is run by Visits Unlimited, with who were are partners on the Accessible Calderdale Project. For more info, visit their website, follow them on twitter, or to join them contact lorraine@visitsunlimited.org.uk
NATIONAL ORGANISATIONS
AccessAble
AccessAble aim to take the chance out of going out, providing the accessibility information you need to work out if a place is going to be accessible for you. They’ve surveyed 10,000s of venues across the UK and Ireland, including shops, pubs, restaurants, cinemas, theatres, railway stations, hotels, colleges, universities, hospitals and more. Use AccessAble to find wheelchair friendly venues or check out disabled access and facilities. www.accessable.co.uk – Their website also includes a very useful accessibility symbols guide
Access to Work
Access to Work is a government-run scheme that breaks down workplace barriers for disabled people and those with health conditions by paying for adjustments such as: communication support for interviews, special aids and equipment, adaptations to premises, adaptations to vehicles, travel to work (help with the costs of travelling to work), travel in work (help with the costs of work-related travel), sign language interpreters, support worker, mental health support service. People can receive almost £60,000 a year through the scheme, which is more than double the average annual salary. This is an increase of 40% in just two years.
Complete Care Shop
The Complete Care Shop is an online shop. They supply a range of products aimed at supporting the lives of disabled and elderly customers and their carers. www.completecareshop.co.uk
DEX – Every deaf child’s wellbeing matters to us and to you!
DEX’s fundamental role is to campaign for a national sign bilingual framework to ensure that all deaf children, regardless of level of hearing loss, have access to their school curriculum in resourced mainstream schools or Deaf schools. www.dex.org.uk
Eventbrite – A Guide To Making Events Accessible
Eventbrite is a website where organisations of all kinds can host event listings and handle bookings, ticket distribution and a range of other event-hosting information. www.eventbrite.co.uk – Amongst the wealth of information on their website, they have a very useful guide for event managers and venues on planning events, meetings, conferences, exhibitions & other activities in the UK that are fully inclusive and accessible: Accessibility Guidelines For Event Organisers
Euan’s Guide – Access Information
Euan’s Guide is a disabled access review website that aims to ‘remove the fear of the unknown’ and inspire people to try new places. The website was founded in 2013 by brother and sister, Euan and Kiki MacDonald, after Euan became a powerchair user. After spending hours of their time making enquiries about access at places they wanted to go, the duo realised that they could not be alone in their search for disabled access information. This idea became Euan’s Guide, a digital charity that is helping to open up towns and cities to disabled people everywhere – https://www.euansguide.com
Disabled Living
Disabled Living is a charity which provides impartial information and advice about products, equipment (assistive technology) and services for disabled adults, children, older people, carers and the professionals who support them.
www.disabledliving.co.uk/
Disabled Motoring UK
Disabled Motoring UK is the charity which supports disabled drivers, passengers and Blue Badge holders. www.disabledmotoring.org
Disability Roadmap
Disability Roadmap enables disabled people to access online positive resources and advice to encourage and support them to have a better quality of life.
www.disabilityroadmap.co.uk
Dogs for the Disabled
Provide solutions to help people with a wide variety of different disabilities and conditions; from assistance dogs helping children and adults with physical disabilities and families affected by autism, to pet dog autism workshops, and innovative new projects working in schools and residential care settings. www.dogsforthedisabled.org
Enable Holidays
Enable Holidays are an award-winning disabled holiday specialist that provide accessible package holidays with guaranteed adapted accommodation. www.enableholidays.com
Learning Disabilities in Children
It’s tough for parents to find out their child might have a learning disability. Here’s some useful online info to help you and your child.
Leonard Cheshire Charity
For more than 70 years, Leonard Cheshire have been supporting disabled people. They campaign, support and educate, with the aim of breaking down barriers that deny disabled people their basic rights. www.leonardcheshire.org
National Disabled Identification Card
The disabled identification card scheme was launched in 2015 and is run by disabled people or parents and relatives of disabled people, who say this about the scheme: “We are more than just an identification card, we are committed to helping individuals or groups to achieve ordinary things and some extraordinary things in their lives. Not every disability is visible.” The aim of the National DID Card is to remove the need for individuals to carry their paper documentation with them at all times. Visit the DID website for more info: https://www.did-card.co.uk/
National Health Service
Huge amounts of useful information and advice, including plenty on locally available services and facilities. www.nhs.uk | www.england.nhs.uk
Parkinson’s UK
The Parkinson’s charity drives better care, treatments and quality of life.
https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/
Reading Well
Reading Well is a new website that promotes the benefits of reading for health and wellbeing. The programme has two strands: Books on Prescription and Mood-boosting Books.
RS Components Safety Checklist For Wheelchair Users
This offers lots of helpful information such as: Understanding areas of most concern or particular difficulties frequently experienced by wheelchair users in their own homes. A comprehensive checklist, which includes standards and recommendations, covering all areas of a home (kitchen, bathroom, stairways, etc.) and aimed at improving the overall comfort and safety for those in a wheelchair. Tips and advice on basic wheelchair checks and the importance of regular maintenance. Advice on maneuvering, both inside the house as well as in outside areas and access points, to prevent injuries and accidents. Other helpful resources, downloads, and further information to help maintain a safe and wheelchair-friendly home environment. View The Checklist & Tips
SCOPE
Scope is a national disability charity that campaigns to challenge and change negative attitudes about disability and provides direct services. The organisation was founded in 1952 by a group of parents and social workers who wanted to ensure that their disabled children had the right to a decent education.
www.scope.org.uk
Transport For All
Website dedicated to accessible transport in London
http://www.transportforall.org.uk/
Wheelchair Enabling Society
Helping wheelchair users to be as independent and life enriching as possible To break down the barriers both social and physical. To assist.
Wheelchair Enabling Society on Facebook
http://www.gov.uk
The Government’s website has a huge amount of information for people with disabilities, with a large, easy to use A-Z section: https://www.gov.uk/browse/disabilities