Blog Archives
Public Meeting to Save Kidsgrove Day Care Services
I have always believed everyone in the community should get a fair deal in life. Fairness for all!
I have called a public meeting to discuss Staffordshire County Councils Consultation on the future of the Day Care Service in Kidsgrove. The facility on Gloucester Road could face closure leaving people with a wide range of disabilities with nowhere to go. The meeting shall take place on Thursday 17th October, 7pm at Kidsgrove Town Hall. I want everybody to attend including service users, parents, centre staff and general members of the public. Staffordshire County Council representatives and Social Services will also be invited.
It has been revealed that only fifty service users access the centre after social workers suddenly stopped referring people to the centre two years ago. Why did they stop referring? Was there a plan to close down the centre and therefore the consultation just a smokescreen for what has already been decided? Cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing, Robbie Marshall has insisted no decision has yet been made to close the centre down but many service users and parents would beg to differ. It seems to me the demand is out there but people aren’t made aware of the service any longer.
As I sat through a meeting talking to the parents of disabled adults who use this service I was shocked and appalled at the way they have had the door shut in their faces. They had lost all faith in those who should be giving them 100% support. Some had spent 2 hours trying to get in touch with Social Workers so that they could raise their concerns over this consultation. Instead their calls were transferred all around the County until quite literally they gave up. Is this really a service that cares about people in need? Is this putting disabled people first?
We should be building more day care facilities for the disabled, not shutting them down. Services for the disabled should never be in place to make a profit for shareholders and a private company. Services like this should be provided by the local authority for those who are in need. You never know if you or a family member will ever need help from the system in the future. Would Mr Marshall be confident he would be looked after at the highest possible standards if god forbid anything ever happened to him and he was permanently disabled?
People want and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. This is a basic human right.
Kidsgrove Mayor, Cllr Kyle Robinson.
Kidsgrove Defibrillators Campaign
Kyle Robinson and Julie Bostock unveil new defibrillator at the Kidsgrove Lads and Dads event.
The Kidsgrove Lads and Dads group have been raising money over the past 12 months to obtain better first aid equipment and a defibrillator to be present at all Sunday football sessions.
Mark Porter with first aiders, Councillor Elsie Bates, Councillor Sylvia Dymond and Kyle Robinson.
Mark Porter decided to fund raise for the Lads and Dads to have their own Defibrillator following on from the sad death of Liam Wood. Liam Wood collapsed on a pitch just after he had scored for AFC Saints on fields in Knutton, Staffordshire, in January 2012. Liam, who played football four times a week, had an extremely rare heart disorder. His arteries were connected to the same place in his heart, unlike most people’s whose arteries are connected to different parts of the heart. This condition is very hard to detect.
Mark said: “When I heard what had happened to Liam I just felt I had to do something. I did some research and decided to organise a fund-raiser with Roland Hulse from Kidsgrove Lads and Dads and other organisations. The Defibrillators can save lives and we now have a first aid team fully trained up to use the equipment. Lets just hope they never have to use them”.
Kyle Robinson – “I am so touched to see so many people supporting this event”.
The project had the backing of myself, Kidsgrove Town Council, MP Joan Walley, Co-op Pharmacy and other local businesses.
On Sunday 12th May, Liam Woods mum Julie Bostock and I were asked to open the new first aid tent and unveil the defibrillator for the first time. I told the crowd before we cut the ribbon that I was so touched by the amount of support this project had gained. The community had come together for a good cause and it just shows us what we can achieve in Kidsgrove. I will soon be announcing what the Town Council plan to do to further support this fantastic project.
For Kidsgrove Lads and Dads visit: http://www.kidsgroveladsandads.co.uk/index.html
Kidsgrove and Talke Library Events
Library events in Kidsgrove and Talke.
I thought it would help to let you know what’s happening in December at Kidsgrove and Talke libraries. There are some fantastic groups set up to serve the community so use these services to benefit you and the family. Most of what’s on offer is free apart from the specialist talks or the history class.
Kidsgrove Library 01782 782445:
Every Monday – 10am-12pm: Work Club – Free advice and support to help people looking for work (National Careers Service)
First Tuesday of the Month – 2pm-3pm: Reading Group (All ages welcome, Free)
First Tuesday of the Month – 7.15pm: Reading Group (All ages welcome, Free)
Every Tuesday – 1pm-2pm: Staffordshire Young People’s Service (Free)
Every Tuesday (Term Time Only) – 11.30am-1pm: Local History Class Charges may apply (please contact the library for further details)
Every Thursday 1pm-3pm: Changes Health and Wellbeing – Weekly mutual help group for adults in mental distress (Free)
Every Friday 9.45am – 10.15am and 10.30am – 11.00am: Baby Bounce and Rhyme (Free for parents and Babies)
Talke Library 01782 296840:
First Tuesday of the month – 2pm-3pm: Reading Group (Free)
Every Friday – 10am-12pm: Knit and natter (Free)
Every Monday – 2.30pm-3.30pm: Coffee Break (25p per cup)
Every Friday 10am-12pm and 2.30pm-3.30pm: Coffee Break (25p per cup)
Kyle Robinson supporting local libraries and encouraging young people to read.
