You have probably heard talk of Care Act Easements, but what exactly are they? What effect will they have on local authorities and the social care services they provide?

Have they already started having an impact?

Belinda Schwehr, founder of online legal advice charity CASCAIDr and expert on adult social care, has been looking in detail at the situation.

You can find out more here

 

I must confess, when I received an email asking if I might be interested in voice banking, my immediate thought was that it was a new way of managing my money.

Of course it's nothing of the kind! It is far more important than that. 

Voice banking allows people with conditions such as Motor Neurone Disease to preserve their speaking voice digitally while they still have it, for future use.

We have an explanatory article here

 

The Superhero Series are the only mass-participation sporting events in the UK dedicated to the nation’s 13.3m people with disabilities.

"Mass participation" belongs to a bygone age, sadly, but never fear – next month will bring you the opportunity to be an At Home Superhero, with challenges you can take on anytime, anyplace, anyhow!

If you can dress up in full superhero fashion, so much the better.

Read more here

 

The coronavirus lockdown has not affected all businesses in the same way, of course.

For example, Waterless has seen demand for their hand sanitiser increase to such an extent that they had to recruit more staff and invest in extra space and machinery. They are giving back with their #ItsInYourHands initiative.

The Platform Lift Company can now supply and install a clever system for sanitising lift enclosures with air and light.

Yorkshire Care has a range of key services they can provide - including ramp installations, essential for mobility.

And Gainsborough Healthcare Group is once again manufacturing at Europe’s largest specialist bath manufacturing plant in the West Midlands.

 

In just a few weeks, the National Business Response Network has already made 404 matches between local community groups, schools and charities and UK businesses that have been able to meet their urgent needs during the Covid-19 crisis.

Food has been overwhelmingly the most requested resource, followed by technology and community support.

Business in the Community, the organisation behind the network, has now received a further £1 million investment, enabling them to scale up their efforts much more quickly than would otherwise be possible.

Read more here

 

Businesses in England, if not Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, are grinding back into action.

Wherever you are, there will be life post-lockdown, and most of us are not completely clear on how to make working environments as safe as possible.

Independent Living has put together top tips on making the workplace "COVID Secure", following guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Time to at least think about resuming activities safely!

More details here

 

Don't forget that you can apply to join the Independent Living Facebook group, if you would like to spend more time discussing these themes with other interested people.

There are various ways you can get in touch with us: email me; visit our Facebook page and leave a message there; or if it's short and sweet, Tweet!

Previous newsletters are archived here.

If you are reading a copy of the Independent Living newsletter that has been passed on to you by a colleague or friend, why not sign up for your own free subscription – it's quick and easy, and won't lead to your inbox being bombarded with other stuff!

That's it until next week! 

Thank you for reading and best wishes,

Frances