Barrow & District Disability Association
BDDA News Link
Spring 2015
Adult Education Special Issue
Find the right course for you in our special course
supplement inside (Pages 7-13)
n
Lear
y
Enjo
eve
i
h
c
A
Also inside this issue…
Changes to the State Pension
Page 4
Upcoming Events
Page 6
Page
Dear Members
I hope you are able to enjoy the lovely weather
we have been having on and off lately. How fast
this year is going! It is hard to believe we are in
the fourth month of 2015 and it doesn't seem
very long ago that we were all getting ready for
the Millennium. So much has happened since then. It is with
pleasure that I tell you Terry Waiting, the husband of our Chairman Jean, is making steady progress after two lots of heart
surgery. It has been a very worrying time for them both. I am
sure you will join me in wishing Terry a speedy recovery and
saying Well done Jean! She has been so worried about Terry
and we have been very worried about both of them.
Congratulations are due to our Disability Advice & Benefits
Service team Members. They have worked so hard in the last
four years to either protect, get back, or get new benefits.
Sadly, we only have one more year of funding for this much
needed project. Calculating the four years it has been running
plus estimating what we expect to do in the final year, I have
great pleasure in telling you that the money they will have
brought into Barrow will be between £6,708,680 & £6,934,542
in total. We hope The Big Lottery will be pleased with this result
and hopefully extend our grant to enable us to continue this
project. Well done everyone - give yourselves a massive pat on
the back!
With funding in mind please can I appeal to you for help?
Debbie is organising two Tesco store collections on Weds 13th
& Thurs 14th May & a Flag Day in the town centre on Fri 22nd
May. We are desperately looking for volunteers to help us with
these collections, please can you help? We would be so
grateful plus it is very enjoyable meeting people whilst they are
out and about shopping, etc. If you can spare an hour or two,
that would be great, longer would be even better. Just let us
know on 01229 432599 or by calling into the centre. Remember
no money means no centre or organisation!
Helene Burrow and her hockey friends are turning out once
again to help swell our coffers by doing the Keswick to Barrow
Walk to help raise money for us. If you would like to sponsor
the walkers they would be very pleased to hear from you. Oh
Page 2
my, the thought of 40 miles along the beautiful but challenging
route from Keswick is daunting. Good luck everyone, you are
fantastic!
Fancy Afternoon Tea in our Willow Tree Cafe? With good food &
good company at £10 per head. Please contact us for dates on
01229 432599 or call in to speak to Marilyn. This is a great way
to celebrate a friend’s birthday or other special occasion. The
Cafe is open Tuesday to Friday, 10am to 3pm. Please note we
stop serving cooked food at 2pm. Additional to this we need able
volunteers to help serve in the Café. If you can write down orders
and add up costs, with or without a calculator and you would like
to volunteer, please contact us and Marilyn will arrange a light
hearted chat with you so that we can discuss what we can offer
each other. It is very rewarding doing volunteering as it enriches
the lives of other people.
You will see this issue of our newsletter is mostly dedicated to
our adult education section. Our courses are very successful,
with 138 students already attending them. All the courses run on
and off until the end of July, but we can also put your name on a
waiting list for the new academic year starting in September. All
our tutors are handpicked and are amazing - it never ceases to
impress me what our students and tutors achieve.
I hope you have a wonderful summer. Please remember we are
always here to help you should you need us. Better still, how
about thinking of joining our DABS volunteer team to help with
the telephone, taking messages, and directing people to the
correct person or section within BDDA. Once every three months
we need volunteers to send newsletters out to our 2,559
members. You can appreciate this is a massive task performed
by staff and volunteers, in other words all hands to the pumps! It
is a nice feeling knowing your efforts makes some other people's
lives better in some shape or form. Should you like to help with
this worthwhile task either here in the centre, or at home, please
let us know. Also if you would like your newsletter sent by email
please email Debbie at [email protected] - it comes
in colour too!
Take care
Margaret
Margaret Burrow MBE, Honorary Secretary
Page 3
Disability Advice
&
Benefits Service
The State Pension is changing for people who
reach State Pension age on or after 6 April 2016.
Currently to get a full State Retirement Pension you need to
have paid or been credited with National Insurance
Contributions for 30 years.
From April 2016, you will need to have paid or been credited
with National Insurance Contributions for 35 years to get the full
State Pension. For those people who currently receive another
Benefit that gives a National Insurance credit, we would advise
you to apply for a State Pension Forecast before ending a
benefit in favour of applying for Pension Credit when you reach
State Pension Credit Age
For example A 63 year old man currently claiming Employment
& Support Allowance has received a letter to say he has
reached State Pension Credit Age, therefore he could make a
claim to Pension Credit instead of claiming Employment
Support Allowance. If he makes this change, he will no longer
be entitled to his NI credits payable with ESA. Should his
National Insurance record only be credited with 33 qualifying
years, he would not receive the full amount of State Retirement
Pension when he reaches age 65 as he would be missing 2
years of contributions. Had he known this, he could have
remained on ESA, as long as entitlement continued, and
receive National Insurance Credits for the period, therefore
entitled to his full State Retirement Pension at age 65.
For people reaching State Retirement Age prior to the 6th April
2016, current rules still apply.
You can apply for a Retirement Pension Forecast online at the
Direct.gov website and completing the PDF from BR19
Or you can ring on 0345 000 168Or write to Newcastle Pension
Centre, Futures Group The Pension Service 9 Mail Handling Site
A WOLVERHAMPTON WV98 1LU
Page 4
OTHER CHANGES TO STATE PENSION
FROM APRIL 2016
Current State Pension - if you reach State Pension age before 6 April
2016
Basic State Pension The basic State Pension is a regular
payment you can get from the government when you reach
State Pension age. The amount you get depends on your
National Insurance contributions and credits. The maximum you
get is currently £113.10 per week.
Additional State Pension An extra amount on top of your
State Pension. Not a fixed amount. How much you get
depends on your earnings and whether you claim certain
benefits.
Pension Credit
For people on a low income. Tops up your
weekly income to £148.35 (single people) or £226.50 (couples).
You may get more if you’re a carer or severely disabled or if
you have certain housing costs.
New State Pension scheme - if you reach State Pension age on
or after 6 April 2016
New State Pension The new State Pension is a regular
payment you can get from the government if you reach State
Pension age on or after 6 April 2016. The amount you get
depends on your National Insurance contributions and credits.
The full new State Pension will be no less than £148.40 per week.
Protected payment Any amount over the full new State
Pension (around £148.40) that you may get from your National
Insurance contributions or credits from before 6 April 2016 will
be protected and paid on top of the new State Pension.
Pension Credit
For people on a low income. Tops up your
weekly income to £148.35 (single people) or £226.50 (couples)
per week. You may get more if you’re a carer or severely
disabled or if you have certain housing costs
Page 5
BDDA Upcoming Events 2015
We have many fundraising events planned for this
year. Volunteers are key to running these events, so If
you can spare an hour or two on any of theses events,
please get in touch.
Some of the events confirmed so far are:-
Tesco Store Collections
Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th May
10am - 3pm
Annual Town Centre Flag Day
Friday 22nd May
10am - 3pm
Table Top Sale
Saturday 25th July
10am - 3pm in the Willow Tree Cafe
For more details, see page 15
We urgently need Volunteers for all the above events
- can you spare an hour or two and help us raise
money for the Centre?
We have many more events planned throughout the year,
so keep checking in the Centre and on our Facebook
page for further details!
Page 6
Barrow & District Disability Association
Registered Charity No. 513162
Courses Brochure
2015
Learn
Enjoy
Achieve
Page 7
Welcome
H
ere at BDDA you are guaranteed a positive
learning
experience in a
friendly, relaxed
environment. Our range of courses offers the
opportunity for adults in the community to develop
their skills and access training courses in a location
close to them. Our Centre is fully accessible and there
are disabled parking bays in the adjacent car park.
We are delighted to introduce our new course
brochure, detailing our wide range of quality day and
evening courses and we think we have something for
everyone.
Our courses range from complete beginners to more
advanced level and run throughout the year. We are
always looking to offer new courses, so if there is a
course you would like to do which is not listed here,
please get in touch.
All of our courses run throughout the year, so to find
out when the next course is available, to reserve a
place, or for more information, either call into our
Centre, telephone or send us an email.
We look forward to hearing from you and getting
started!
Page 8
Computers
O ur
com pu ter suite is
equipped with the latest
technology and provides a
comfortabl e,
safe
and
accessible learning zone.
Classes are also restricted to a maximum of 10 students per
class, thereby ensuring you get the best possible support
from your tutor. These are just some of the courses on
offer...
BEGINNER
S COMPUT
ERS
Featuring
processing internet, email,
in Publishe, creating publicaword
files and fi r, saving and op tions
ening
le manag
ement.
your own
ING Create
H
IS
L
reate
B
U
P
P
ges and c tions.
a
im
DESKTO
re
a
p
pre
vita
in
ns,
publicatio ers , calendars and
st
flyers, po
An old damaged photograph restored
using Photoshop.
PHOTOSH
O
your photog P Learn to use Photosh
photos, crea raphs. Restore old and op to enhance
multiple ima te your own drawings adamaged
ges to make
nd combine
a digital colla
ge.
Page 9
Art
Heléne
Burrow, our
Art Tutor, is a selfemployed
full-time
Artist and as well as
teaching, she is also a
demonstrator
for
Derwent Pencils and a
member of the Society
of Animal Artists in New
York.
WATERCOLOU
R
S
(Monday 1-3p
learn about lin
m) Stude
e an
n
d colour wash
course, they w
es. By the end ts will
ill
h
a
ve
p
of the
a
inte
at lest 1 paintin
g of a Veniced 3 sample pieces and
scene.
1-3.30pm)
look at
lls,
(FRIDAY
cks and waterfall palette
ACRYLICS ok
ro
t
in
pa
to
w
ho
fu
s at
ga
This course lo d be shown how to paint usin
composition an lue, Temperature and Chroma.
utilising Hue, Va
MIX
ED MEDIA (FRIDAY 6-8pm
) Students will compl
own project in their
ete th
to finish at least onechosen medium. They will be encour eir
aged
pa
int
ing
or
drawing, with consta
supervision from the
nt
tutor.
ing
9 week course show
uc
students how to produce a balanced composition and a
od
pr
e,
.
in a landscap
ing depth and form
finished drawing show
10 - 12)
DRAWING (Mondayse a drawing of a bird, animal or person
BEGINNER
3.30 - 5pm S DRAWING (Mond
how to de ) 12 week course sh ays
and compsign a good compoowing
drawing ill lete a fully rendere sition
use of valuustrating depth by d
the
es.
Page 10
Dressmaking
All
of these courses are
suitable for anyone interested in
learning how to sew, or for those
wishing to improve their sewing
skills. Projects can include
clothes or accessories such as
bags, cushions and patchwork
projects, etc.
classesg
in
k
a
, either:
r Dressm
All of ou on a Tuesday
oon
are held
m - 12 n
or
or
9.30 a - 3.30 pm
1.00 pm - 8.30 pm
6.00 pm
Page 11
Soft Furnishings
Mo
T
pm
pm - 9
6.30
ndays
T
his is a practical course,
which can be tailored to meet
students’ needs and will enable
them to tackle their own soft
furnishing projects with
confidence. Suitable for
beginners and more
experienced students.
Sign Language
his fun course will show students how to communicate
with and learn about British Sign Language. They will learn
how to communicate with people on a variety of topics
including:* The Alphabet and Numbers
* Lip-reading
* Food and Drink
* Finger-spelling games
* Leisure, sports and hobbies
… and lots more
pm
pm - 8
6
s
y
a
Mond
Page 12
Paper Crafts
A
very popular course
with students, allowing both
beginner and intermediate
level students the opportunity
to experience tools and
techniques
to produce
professional cards and other
exciting projects.
s 1pm
rsday
Thu
- 3pm
Holiday French for Beginners
s 11am
Friday
-1pm
A
fun, friendly course for
absolute beginners. Topics will
include greetings, personal
information, asking for
directions, shopping, ordering
food and drink in a café /
restaurant. The course is taught
in a small, friendly group with
an emphasis on fun and
interaction and will give you
the confidence to use useful
everyday phrases on holiday.
The course runs for 9 weeks.
Page 13
As part of our fundraising events this
year, we are holding several collections
and would really appreciate some
volunteers to help us on the following
dates:Weds 13th and Thurs 14th May
at Tesco (Cornerhouse Park store)
Friday 22nd May (Flag Day)
in Barrow Town Centre (Dalton Road / Market
Hall)
There will be refreshments available in the
Willow Tree Café for all collectors.
If you can spare an hour (or maybe two),
please let us know. You can telephone
Debbie on 01229 432599 or email her at
[email protected].
Any help will be really appreciated.
Thankyou
Page 14
Barrow & District Disability Association
is holding a
TABLE TOP SALE
Saturday 25th July
10am – 3pm
in the
Willow Tree Cafe
Books, Toys, Games, Bric-A-Brac
Home made Cakes and refreshments
Page 15
Exterior Painting, Rainwater Goods, Fencing, Gates
Interior Decorating & Fixings
Flooring, Joinery, Plumbing
FOR SALE
Second hand Pride Mobility
Scooter, ‘Celebrity X’ model.
Not been used for 18 months,
in reasonable condition.
For more information, please
contact BDDA on 01229 432599.
Can arrange local
delivery, if required.
Page 16
IAN SHARP
JOINERY SERVICE
Tel: 01229 825542 / 07966 507886
TIME SERVED CRAFTSMAN
PURPOSE MADE JOINERY
24HR CALL OUT - BOARDING UP / RE
RE--GLAZING
HARDWOOD, SOFTWOOD, UPVC DOORS & WINDOWS
DOUBLE & TRIPLE GLAZED UNITS
FITTED KITCHENS & BEDROOMS
HOME MAINTENANCE
WALLS & FLOORS TILED
Page 17
OCTOBER
1ST - £26.50 - J McShane
2ND - £16.00 - Louise Fell
3RD - £11.50 - M Abernethy
NOVEMBER
1ST - £26.50 - J McShane
2ND - £16.00 - Gail Hindley
3RD - £11.50 - Trevor White
DECEMBER
1ST - £26.50 - E McDonald
2ND - £16.00 - J Rayner
3RD - £11.50 - S Hague
JANUARY
1ST - £26.50 - Sylvia Wicks
2ND - £16.00 - Mary Smith
3RD - £11.50 - Angela Jennings
FEBRUARY
1ST - £26.50 - Irene Laidler (122)
2ND - £16.00 - Doreen Wright (36)
3RD - £11.50 - Helene Burrow (56)
MARCH
1ST - £26.50 - Mr R Knox (78)
2ND - £16.00 - Val McDonald (18)
3RD - £11.50 - Peter Clarke (74)
If you would like to join, contact us on 01229 432599 or
email [email protected]. Membership is
only £12 per year.
Page 18
JOIN OUR 100 CLUB
FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A CASH PRIZE EVERY
MONTH!
By joining our 100 Club, you will be helping to raise funds for
BDDA. Membership costs £12 per year and this entitles you
to your unique number and the chance to win a cash prize
every month. There are no restrictions on how many numbers you subscribe to, but applicants must be over 16 years
of age to participate. The draw will take place on a
monthly basis and the total income collected will be split
50% towards the prize fund and 50% towards BDDA fundraising efforts, so the more members we have, the more prize
money!
To join BDDA 100 Club, please complete the form below
and return it to the Centre with your subscription amount.
BDDA 100 CLUB MEMBERSHIP FORM
NAME: ………………………………………………………….
ADDRESS: ………………………………………………………
Post Code: .............................. TEL NO: ……………………
How many subscriptions (numbers) would you like? ..……
Please enclose your total Subscription amount (Cheque or
Cash) £..............
Page 19
Barrow & District Disability Association
Regd Charity No. 513162
71-77 School Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1EJ
Telephone: 01229 432599
Facsimile: 01229 834884
email: [email protected]
www.bdda.org.uk
Patron: Rt.Hon.Lord Hutton of Furness
Services and Activities we provide:
Disability Advice & Benefits Service
Computer Courses
Leisure Courses
Cafe
Room Hire
Youth Section
Fundraising Social Events
Foot Clinic
Complementary Therapies
Disabled Access Advice
Please note that BDDA cannot recommend any of the advertisers in the
newsletter. We can offer information about businesses but it is up to you
to accept any services or goods bought as a result of reading the
advertisement. You may want to seek further legal advice before agreeing
to purchase anything.
Page 20