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News

For the latest news on the development of The DD Enterprise Centre and the Disabled Entrepreneurs’ Project click here

November 09

New Website

Well, if you’re reading this then you’re looking at our new website. We thought a change is as good as a rest!

Please let us know what you think of the site by emailing us at info@disabilitydirectderby.co.uk.

Also, can any of you guess what the photo in the background of the new site is of? Answers on a postcard please… the first right answer gets some free information and advice!!

October 09

Disability Employment Event

Derbyshire Employment & Skills Board, Welfare to Work Group are hosting a FREE half day event on Friday 20 November from 9:30 am to 1:00 pm. The venue is the Derbyshire Hotel, Carter Lane East, South Normanton, DE55 2EH.

This FREE half day event is aimed at disabled people, but is also for providers and employers. There will be an opportunity to obtain information about the range of support services available within Derbyshire and an opportunity for employers to discover what help is available when they employ a disabled person.

The event will include guest speakers from a wide range of agencies, employers and employees who will share their experiences together with disability employment projects and the opportunity to network.

For a booking from please email Diane Jeffery or telephone 01773 514972. The deadline for booking a place is 30 October.

September 2009

How to Look Good Naked

The producers of the popular TV show How to Look Good Naked have been in touch about their new series. This year they’re looking for women of all ages and are particularly interested in hearing from disabled people about appearing on the show:

“Whether you would like Gok to take you on a journey to love your body or would like to be involved in the show in other ways, contact us ASAP on…”

0121 224 8359 email us at howtolookgoodnaked@mavericktv.co.uk or visit www.mavericktv.co.uk for an application form.

September 2009

New Funding

We’re pleased to announce receipt of funding for another new project here at DD: Enable, from the Big Lottery fund. This project is going to support younger disabled people – we will be overhauling parts of the website and providing a social networking section, we’ll also be providing loads of practical support with things like finding work / getting onto the right courses, days / nights out to various venues and much more. We’ll be posting more information on the site when we’re further along with the development.

Read an article in the Derby Telegraph here

August 2009

Green Paper

*Update 10.09: DLA has now been confirmed as not being effected by this green paper

You may have heard, or will be hearing, in the press headlines like 'DLA and AA to be scrapped'. This is not at this point in time strictly true but there are discussions (in the form of a green paper) being held at the moment about a reform in the benefits system which may result in some disabled people with minimal support needs losing their DLA / AA.

The November ‘Deadline’ you may have heard about refers to the end of consultation and not the end of DLA / AA

This is because the proposal in the Green Paper recommends that DLA and AA are brought under the Personalisation Agenda - this is move to stream line all disability related payments into one larger chunk; paid to the disabled person in order to give them more freedom on how that funding meets their needs. This could see packages including Direct Payments, ILF, Access to Work, Disability Facilities Grants etc etc.

Only disabled people with a certain level of need (yet to be decided) will be able to access this kind of funding - we would expect that (if the proposal goes through) a lot of people in receipt of the lower levels of DLA / AA would possibly not reach this threshold.

Right now there is no threat to your benefit and you do not need to take any action to keep payments coming in the same as usual.

As we've said - this is just a proposal and now is the time to have your say - we would recommend anyone wishing to voice their concerns about this contact DCIL who are coordinating a campaign to protest the proposals - visit their website here

There is also an online petition here

Unfortunately at this stage there really is no more information about what may or may not happen, and as such no need to get in touch – we will post any updates as soon as we get them right here.

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