In Control is a national charity. Our mission is to create a fairer society where everyone needing additional support has the right, responsibility and freedom to control that support.

We operate as an extensive community network that is working for change and to provide people with the knowledge, power and tools to control their support.

This community for change includes:

• Individuals who need support as a result of age, ill-health disability or social disadvantage, together with their families
• User-led organisations
• Government and civil servants
• Local authorities, elected members and paid staff
• Health organisations
• Commercial companies
• Charitable and not-for-profit organisations
• General members of the public

Universal Credit is introducing greater fairness to the welfare system by making work pay. It replaces a range of existing benefits with a single monthly payment and smoothes the transition into work by combining in work and out of work benefits.

Early rollout of Universal Credit, known as Pathfinder, started in some areas of Greater Manchester and Cheshire in April 2013. Universal Credit will be progressively rolled out nationally from October 2013.

The toolkit

This toolkit is for organisations, particularly those in the pathfinder locations, to inform them about Universal Credit and to help them explain to claimants the changes that Universal Credit brings.

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual General Meeting of the West Berkshire Patient Information Point which will be held on:

 Tuesday 21st May at West Berkshire Community Hospital 7.00 - 8.30pm in room 1/2

AGENDA

• Welcome and Apologies
• Minutes of the last AGM to be read and agreed
• Report from the Chair
• Report from the Treasurer
• Changes to PIP Constitution
• Election of Officers

Part of West Berkshire Council’s review of Adult Social Care Eligibility Criteria

Tuesday 21st May 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm Central location in Newbury

Refreshments available. Expenses reimbursed.

West Berkshire Council is reviewing the eligibility criteria for Adult Social Care. Ours is one of the few local authorities where it is set at ‘critical’. The review will help West Berkshire Council understand how local people are affected by this crucial decision on adult social care. Focus group facilitation by Judy McCulloch, an independent consultant, and Deborah Sowerby, Development Manager of WBILN.

Reply Form

Department of Work & Pensions have designed a toolkit to provide clear information to individuals and organisations that support Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claimants. It equips you to offer up-to-date advice on PIP or direct claimants to other sources of help. The toolkit could also be adapted into training for your people.

Berkshire Cricket are commencing a programme to provide cricket for disabled performers, leading to County Representative sides. The squad will be competiting in the Southern Section of the County Hardball Cricket Competition 2013

If you want to get involved then please register your interest to Paul Baldwin – balders50@btinternet.com or Ian Rogers – ian-rogers880@ntlworld.com. Fixtures are also available on their Facebook page – Berkshire Disabilitie Cricket

Training confirmed 17th may. Stratfield turgis cc. 7pm start

Run by Pangbourne Canoe Club the competition arm of Adventure Dolphine. Come and learn how to paddle Marathon Boats. Over 5 weeks we will cover basic paddling skills- foward/backward strokes, steering, how to move sideways, Water Safety, have some fun and get fitter along the way. Our aim is that at the end of the course you wll feel competent in a marathon boat and be able to join in a club session at your level, allowing you to start experiencing competition if you wisj or just paddle socially with us. All levels welcome- from the absolute beginner in a boat to the more experienced paddle in another discipline

Dates: Tuesday 16 April - 14 May, 4 June - 2 July

Time: 18.30-20.15

Cost: £40/35* Students- £50/£45* Adults

More Information Flyer

SEAP has been awarded the contract through the South East Consortia for the provision of independent advocacy for people making a complaint under the NHS complaints procedure.

As part of the new model for independent health complaints advocacy we are offering opportunities for the public to access us directly in their local areas.  We have set up ‘drop-ins’ already in Hungerford and in Wokingham.

Hungerford Health Complaints Advocacy

Wokingham Health Complaints Advocacy

WBNA latest newsletter covering these topics:

• Learning from best practice
• Living with incontinence
• Living with two or more conditions
• Wheelchair users second focus group
• Living with two or more conditions
• Coping when systems falter
• WBNA Conference 2014
• Hydrotherapy and specialist rehab gym
• Neurology and the CCG Federation
• NHS England
• Dates for your diary

Download the West Berkshire Neurological Alliance Newsletter

The Local Account is the annual report which shows how well West Berkshire Council has performed. It helps to make adult social care services more accountable to the local community. This event is your opportunity to help decide on the priorities for next year’s report.

Friday 10th May

 Registration 10.00 am Prompt start 10:30 am Close 2.00 pm

Council Chamber, Council Offices, Market Street, Newbury RG14 5LD

• Lunch included
• community consultation
• help with transport costs

Please use the booking form to secure your place