"Park House aims to provide a first-class hotel and professional care service to people with physical disabilities, their partners and carers"

Quite simply, Park House Hotel enables disabled guests and their carers and/or companions, to have a holiday in the Norfolk countryside together.

Park House Hotel is set in an impressive Victorian country house, within it's own grounds amidst soaring trees and rolling parklands of the Sandringham Royal Estate in West Norfolk.

Her Majesty The Queen generously made Park House available to Leonard Cheshire Disability as a Hotel for disabled people, specifically designed and equipped to meet the needs of disabled people and their carers or companions. The hotel boasts an enviable country location, with quick easy access to the market town of King's Lynn.

Quite uniquely, Park House employs an in-house team of experienced care staff to ensure every guest has the opportunity to enjoy a completely relaxing and revitalising holiday, all year round.

 

The hotel was rated as Excellent by CSCI (Commission for Social Care Inspection) after inspection on 22nd May 2007. Care homes and other establishments providing care are regulated by CSCI and all reports are available to read via their website.

Park House wishes to inform all potential and existing guests, that the hotel operates a guiding principle of tolerance to everyone irrespective of disability and respectfully request that all visitors support the hotel in this view

Park House Hotel Sandringham King's Lynn Norfolk PE35 6EH
T 01485 543000
E parkinfo@LCDisability.org

www.parkhousehotel.org.uk

     Priority needs - How may we help?

At South West Water we are committed to assisting people. Whether you are older, have any disability or receive home dialysis, you may wish to be included in our register of customers requiring special services.

We offer a range of services to enable customers to receive support or information in ways which meet their additional needs.

Register of customer needs

Once you have returned the registration form to us, your details will be entered on to our Priority Services Register. This register helps us to meet your needs on a daily basis, including during work on our water distribution network, whether this is emergency or planned work. Registration is free and applies to any member of the household, not just the bill payer(s). We operate a strict confidentiality code for our Register and your details will only be used by those members of our staff and contractors who need them to provide you with the support you require.

Services to assist you with your account

Large print bills
If you, or a member of your household, experience difficulties reading smaller print, we can arrange to produce your bills in large print. If you register for this service the print on your bills will be of a similar size to that used in this leaflet.

Telephone bill reading
We can telephone you to read your bill before sending it to you so that you know exactly what to expect. If you are unavailable, we will try three times at different times of the day to contact you before posting your bill.

Sending bills to a friend or relative
If you prefer, we can post your bill to a friend, carer or relative who provides you with assistance. They will not become liable for the money due - this will still be your responsibility.

Braille bills
If you, or a member of your household, is a Braille user, we can arrange to produce your bills in this format.

Services to assist you during work on our network

Telephone warning of work
When we undertake work on our network or when there is an emergency which will affect your supply for a prolonged period, we will contact you by telephone to warn you, establish whether you need additional support and give you advice on how to manage during the work.

When we undertake work on our network or when there is an emergency which will affect your supply for a prolonged period, we will contact you by telephone to warn you, establish whether you need additional support and give you advice on how to manage during the work.

If you have hearing difficulties, or would prefer a letter rather than a telephone warning, under the same circumstances as set out above, we can contact you in writing.

We can also visit you to provide you with details of work which will affect your supply, if this is the best way to contact you.

If you have a medical condition which could mean that your health would be put at risk if your supply is interrupted for a prolonged period of time, we can make special arrangements to supply you with water.
 

Registration form
The information you provide is kept on a secure register restricted to only employees who need to know your special needs. It is not disclosed to anyone outside the company under any circumstances.

Online - http://www.swwater.co.uk/index.cfm?articleid=1310

Telephone free on 0800 169 1133 or Minicom free on 0800 169 99 65.

A brand new publication has been launched that helps people using wheelchairs, power scooters and buggies to enjoy walking routes across the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

‘Walks on Wheels’ is a collection of 15 walks descriptions and maps, which help people to explore quiet country paths, villages and market towns in the area.

The project was devised by the Cotswold Voluntary Wardens to mark their 40th Anniversary and the walks are located across the Cotswolds AONB, which is a 790 square mile landscape, stretching from Warwickshire and Worcestershire in the north, through Gloucestershire and West Oxfordshire down to west Wiltshire and the area around Bath in the south.

Members of the public can chose from 15 ‘walking’ experiences such as a route that takes in the highest point in the Cotswolds at Cleeve Common just outside Cheltenham, or two pleasant routes alongside canals in the south of the AONB.

All of the routes have been tested by disability and access groups from across the Cotswolds and have been carefully chosen to ensure that they are appropriate for users. The walks are available to download on the Cotswolds AONB website.

Phil Hughes, Chairman of Stroud & District Access Group said:

“I am delighted that we were given the opportunity to be involved from the outset with the project.”

Access Group member Pam said:

"Being a wheelchair user, this is great because now with "walks on wheels" I am able to go with my grandchildren to the countryside and join in, and with the publication of these walks being readily available, all members of the family will now be able to participate together."
 

"Walks on Wheels" Badminton Park

Pam was asked to act as pace maker to Her Grace, the Duchess of Beaufort on the Badminton Route.

 Follow Pam was the order of the day !!

Organised mother and toddler, disability and walking groups are encouraged to contact the Cotswolds Conservation Board and request the walks pack. Tel: 01451 862000

The link below will take you to the appropriate page on the website
http://www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/page.asp?pagelD=44
 

"Vital support in the
 Devon Community"

Do you think that you know what a Carer is and what it involves?

Did you know that it is estimated that there are 5.7 million Carers in the UK and on many occasions the Carer is a child?

A Carer is someone who is looking after or providing a regular service for a relative, friend or neighbour of any age who, due to a disability, frailty, illness and/or vulnerability cannot manage alone.

Does your carer, or somebody you know who is a carer, deserve the recognition for what they do?

We are pleased to announce that, in recognition of the invaluable work that Carers do on a daily basis, we have established an annual award for both unpaid adult and child Carers... An opportunity open for everyone across Devon to nominate a Carer that they know or indeed, if they are themselves a carer.

Nominations are invited from across the County and assessed by a panel of judges from various backgrounds and employment to include a Chartered Clinical Psychologist, General Practitioner, Head Teacher of a local special school, lawyer, Carers in Devon representative, a local carer, Editor of the Express and Echo newspaper and a representative from the Devon Fire and Rescue Service. The nominees and their families are all invited to an award ceremony to collect prizes, certificates and other tokens of gratitude

The award ceremony will take place on the 24th October 2008 at the Sandy Park Rugby Stadium in Exeter where prizes and tokens of our gratitude will be presented to the finalists by our celebrity guest Debbie McGee, the wife of magician Paul Daniels.

This year we are pleased to confirm that we are also receiving invaluable support from Devon County Council:

"Devon County Council is delighted to support the Devon Carers Award Scheme being promoted by Crosse + Crosse Solicitors. Carers do a fantastic job looking after their friends and family who need their help and support. Through this award scheme, it is great to be able to highlight the wonderful things they do and give back a little by way of thanks for the love and care which they give every single day"
David Johnstone, Director of Adult and Community Services.
 

If you would like to take this opportunity to nominate somebody you know then please either download an application form from the website - http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=259780&command=newPageget in touch.  or ...

Contact Laura Andrews at Crosse & Crosse Solicitors for further details:
Tel: 01392 258451
email: lauraa@crosse.co.uk

Crosse & Crosse Solicitors
14 Southernhay West, Exeter, Devon, EX1 1UL

* This award scheme excludes anyone who is a paid Worker/Care Assistant etc working in a nursing/residential home etc.

Devon Carers Awards Scheme is sponsored by ...

In a previous life as a 'jobbing' musician I was lucky enough to have  had the opportunity to live and work in many capital cities in Europe.

Amsterdam, or "Mokum" as the locals call it, has to be way up the top of the list of my favourite places. I lived on the top floor of one of the typically narrow canal houses and knew every windy cobbled alley between the Leidseplein and the Damrak.

In my new incarnation of "Victor Meldrew in a wheelchair", I have often wondered just how realistic it would be to go back and visit my old haunts. This is the information I have uncovered  so far.

The Disabled Traveller in Amsterdam:

The most obvious difficulty people with mobility problems face in the Netherlands is negotiating the winding cobbled streets of the older towns. Poorly maintained and broken pavements are widespread, and canal houses, with their narrow doorways and steep stairs, can also present access problems. But the pragmatic Dutch don't have preconceptions about people with disabilities, and any problems are generally solved quickly and without fuss.

Most of the large museums have reasonable facilities for disabled users but little for the partially sighted and hard of hearing. Most cinemas and theatres also have an enlightened attitude and are accessible. However, if you're going to any venue where you fear access may be limited, it's advisable to check in advance. Disabled people get discounts on public transport and, with some limitations, can park in the city free of charge.

Many hotels are in old buildings with steep stairs and no lifts; restaurants tend to be on ground floor, though "ground" sometimes includes some a few steps. The metro stations have lifts, many trains have wheelchair access and most train stations and public buildings have toilets for the disabled. Train timetables are published in braille and bank notes have raised shapes on the corners for identification. Most trams are inaccessible to wheelchair users, especially because of their high steps.

There is a wheelchair-taxi service for people with mobility, sight or hearing impairments, which can be reached on 6333943 between 7 am nmidnight seven days a week. These vehicles are also used for school transport so it's best to book a couple of days in advance.

The AUB and the Amsterdam Tourist Board produce brochures listing accommodation, restaurants, museums, tourist attractions and boat excursions with facilities for the disabled.
AUB - Amsterdam Uitburo
Leidseplein 26
Phone: 0900 0191
E-mail: aub@aub.nl

Afdeling Gehandicaptenvoorlichting van de ANWB
(ANWB iInformation office for the disabled)
Phone: +31 (0)70 3141420
Information and Documentation Centre (IDC)
Offers all kinds of information about holidays in the Netherlands and beyond for people with impairments.
Phone: +31 (0)58 2137138

Landelijk Bureau Toegankelijkheid Utrecht
(National Bureau for Accessibility)
Iis part of the 'stichting Dienstverleners Gehandicapten, sDG' (Netherlands Foundation for Rehabilitation). Holland's centre of expertise for the promotion of accessibility, mobility and technology. Lots of information:
Phone: + 31 (0)30 2769970
E-mail: sdg@wxs.nl

SGOA- Stichting Gehandicapten Overleg Amsterdam
(Amsterdam Forum for the Disabled).
Amsterdam's Information and Consultation Centre for accessibility and people with disabilities.
Phone: + 31(0)20 5777955
E-mail: sgoa@xs4all.nl

Vakantie Informatie Punt (VIP) in 'Het Dorp' in Arnhem, an initiative of Siza Dorp Groep, Mobility International Nederland, Travel Advice Desk and Travel & Tourism For All. A free service based on VIP's extensive documentation, with useful (although not standardized) information on holiday destinations around the world. Most of the staff are people with disabilities.
Phone: +31 (0)26 3776722

 Beach and City Centre break at the De Palatijn Hotel - Alkmaar
10% off Brochure price based on 2 people sharing a twin room for 7 nights.

http://www.accessibletravel.co.uk/property.php?refnum=133&urlcountry=&startnum=0

City Centre Hotels with varying disabled rooms and facilities
http://www.lodging-world.com/search.nl.noord_holland._.amsterdam.html

Fly to Amsterdam from Bristol or Exeter with ...     

Goede Reis !!

The EHIC is the replacement for the E111.
 

The EHIC can be used to cover any necessary medical treatment due to either an accident or illness within the European Economic Area (EEA). The EHIC entitles the holder to state-provided medical treatment within the country they are visiting and the service provided will be the same as received by a person covered by the country's 'insured' medical scheme.

We can provide you with advice on the following topics:

For advice telephone EHIC Information Service on: 0871 434 9071

  Editor: Alan Dawe - admin@disabledsouthwest.co.uk
Registered Office: No.2 - 13A Fore Street - Camelford -  PL32 9PG - 01840 210264