This magazine isfor people who use Livability’s services. They help to plan and to write it. It comesout three times a year. You can get it this size, or in big print or to listen to on CD.

Party at No.10

Three young people from a Livability school met Samantha Cameron at a special party recently. Jamie, Sam and Sophie went to No.10 Downing Street, where the Prime Minister lives. The Livability visitors were made to feel very special. When they arrived, they were allowed to park right outside No10’s front door. Mrs Cameron held the party for 30 people who support Livability. People at the party wanted to know more about a new hydrotherapy pool at Livability’s school, Victoria Education Centre and Sports College. So far, Livability has raised £130,000 for the pool. Mrs Cameron said how important it is for disabled young people to get hydrotherapy. Later on, the three students got a special tour around No 10. Student Sophie got the chance to sit in the Prime Minister’s chair in his offi ce.

Top staffAre you supported by a brilliant member of staff? You can put them forward to win a Livability staff award. Winners meet Princess Anne at Livability’s awards event and get a special certifi cate. It’s easy to suggest someone. Just ring Stephen Springer on 07834 253544 or email sspringer@livability.org.uk

Send me a story!

Please send Gill the editor any ideas you have for stories to go in this magazine. You can contact Gill by:

email:gtroup@livability.org.uk

or send a letter to: Gill Troup Livability 50 Scrutton StLondon EC2A 4XQ

Summer 2011

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Jamie (left), Sam (centre) and Sophie meet Samantha Cameron

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getting to know you

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Hi – we’re Mark, Sarah, Peter and Rosanne. We met top rugby players Nick Royal and Dan Norton at Twickenham

We live at New Court Place and love going out

We went for the London Sevens tournament. The Rugby Football Union were fantastic to us

We joined in the themed beach party and had a laugh!

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news

Summer 2011

Start a businessIf you have a good idea for starting your own business, Livability can help. We have set up a new Enterprise Agency to get people started. You can take part in a workshop to talk through ideas and get advice. Alice Morris runs the Enterprise Agency and says: “I have worked with disabled people for many years. I’ve helped them set up and develop extremely successful businesses.”

The Agency will also train people in business skills like book-keeping and marketing.

If you want to know more, you can:

Nash in trainingNash College students got involved in a sponsored run this summer. The students wanted to support Richard, who works at their local Sainsbury’s. Richard was training to run the Marathon for Livability and wanted to do a practice run to Nash College. So the students decided to do some training with him. They walked with him from Nash to Sainsbury’s – and some did the walk back again too. They had coffee and a rest in Sainsbury’s café. Well done to the Nash students who raised £300 from their walk!

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Richard arrives at Nash

Business training with Livability

Email enterprise@livability.org.uk

Tel 0207 452 2067

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Fight for your rights!Ten thousand people took part in the Hardest Hit march in London recently – and Danny and Catherine from John Grooms Court were there. The march was to protest about government cuts in disability services. “I found it very exciting to be part of such a big protest and I wanted to see what I could do to fi ght for our rights,” said Danny. Catherine said it was a “great opportunity to express my views and have our voices heard”.

WHAT’S ON TV? Are you thinking of buying a new TV? Soon everyone will get TV by a new digital system. If you would like help in understanding it all, look at www.ricability-digitaltv.org.uk. You can fi nd advice especially for disabled users. It will help you choose the best TV for your needs. This is because the site looks at different TVs, not just one make.

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Get advice about your TV

Danny speaks out

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Summer 2011

What a bargainPeople at York House have launched an eBay shop to raise funds for their house. Friends and family are giving items to be sold. Service users are packing up the items and posting them. Find them at www.ebay.co.uk. Go to Advanced Search, click on By seller, and type weareyorkhouse

Let’s rock!Congratulations to Livability Lifestyle

Choices in Plymouth, who raised £200

with a charity gig this summer. The

team worked really hard to put the

event on. Seven local bands took part.

The money will be used to help more

disabled people access services in the

community.

On show Talented artists from Nash

College showed their work

in an art gallery in Suffolk

recently. The gallery owner

had seen some Nash art

and wanted to display it.

Twelve students took part

and hoped to sell some of

their work at the show.

Posting eBay packages

Plymouth gig a success

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news in brief

Make travel betterBest shop prizeShopping can be diffi cult if you are disabled. Livability wanted to fi nd out which shops were trying hard for their disabled customers. We asked Helen to visit shops in North London as our secret shopper. Helen visited lots of shops on Harrow High Street, like restaurants, coffee shops, newsagents and banks.

She looked at how accessible the shop was, and how helpful the staff were. She also checked out the toilets and changing areas. The HMV store was the best, and Helen gave the staff a Livability Open Doors certifi cate. But over half the shops Helen went to were not accessible enough for disabled people.

Do you want to tell us about good and bad shops you have visited? Contact editor Gill Troup - you can fi nd her details on page 1.

Disabled people can fi nd public transport a bit of a struggle. About 1 in every 3 journeys don’t go as well as they should for disabled people. This is what a group called Passenger Focus found when they asked disabled people what their train journeys were like. If you want to complain about a bad journey on the train, bus or coach, you can:

ring Passenger Focus helpline on 0300 123 2350

email info@passengerfocus.org.uk

What’s your bus service like?

Helen presents HMV’s manager with an Open

Doors certifi cate

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my story

I moved here nearly a year ago. It’s the fi rst time I have lived on my own

I cooked a birthday meal for my girlfriend Louise, and we went to an Abba tribute concert

I’m Chris and this is where I live

Livability supports me to look after myself and my house and to go out and have fun too!

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Jan

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Summer 20113

and fi nally...

Spot the difference

See if you can fi nd fi ve differences between the two pictures below

Quick quizDo our holiday quiz – and win a box of chocolates, if your answers are picked from the hat! Send your answers to editor Gill Troup by 31 August.

If you saw the Eiffel Tower, would you be in:

● London

● New York

● Paris?

If you had a ride on a paraglider, would you be in:

● the air

● the sea

● the snow?

If you went to see the Grand Canyon, would you be in:

● Yorkshire

● The USA

● Canada?

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Just joking

Why are cooks cruel?Because they beat eggs and whip cream!

Why is the sand at the beach wet?Because the sea weed!

Where do lions get their clothes?Jungle sales!

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