Waving not drowning - Newsletter for Working families of disabled children

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From: janet.mearns@...To: mum231asd@...Sent: 30/04/2012 20:42:57 GMT Daylight TimeSubj: Waving not drowning

April 2012

Waving not drowning, Working Families' Project for Carers and Parents of Disabled Children who Work or Wish to Work

Welcome to Waving not drowning's April e-bulletin.

If you are the parent/carer of a disabled child/young person (under 25) please complete Working Families' survey at http://www.surveygizmo.co.uk/s3/775921/Working-Families-2012-Survey . The anonomised results will inform Working Families' campaigning for parents and carers trying to combine paid work and caring. You will be able to read a report about the survey in the Waving not drowning newsletter and on Working Families' website. Please encourage friends and colleagues with disabled children to do the survey. We want as wide a response as possible to add strength to our campaign. Anyone who would like a paper version of the survey and a freepost envelope for its return can contact me at janet.mearns@... or 020 7017 0072.

You can see the government's latest consultation document concerning Disability Living Allowance (DLA) reform and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/pip-detailed-design-consultation.pdf .

The government is proposing changes in maternity leave. Please support Working Families' 'six months for mums' campaign, see facebook.com/WorkingFamiliesUK. You can also answer netmums' survey at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/maternityleavesurvey. Please forward the links to your friends and family.

The qualifying period for claiming unfair dismissal has increased to two years for people starting jobs on or after 6 April 2012.

Working Families has some free places on the British 10k London Run on 8 July 2012. If you think you could raise money for Working Families this way, contact saskia.bennett@... or 020 7017 0068.

Well done Working Families' Marathon Man , who completed the course in an awesome 4 hours 12 minutes and has raised over £3,000 for Working Families so far. You can still sponsor him at http://www.justgiving.com/-.

Transport for London (TfL) have introduced a travel support card for disabled people, specifying what help they need, which can be shown to members of TfL staff, see www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/accessibility-guides/default.aspx . First Great Western, First Capital Connect and Southern train companies have launched a 'Priority Seating Card Scheme' which is particularly useful for people with hidden disabilities.

The Waving not drowning Facebook Group has been upgraded. Unless you asked to remain a member, you're no longer a group member. If you're no longer a member, or want to join for the first time, just send me a request. It's the place to discuss working and caring. There is also a Working Families Facebook page. You can 'like' it. If you want to join Facebook go to www.facebook.com. Signing up is very straight forward.

March's winner of the Waving not drowning Draw was ticket number 000021. You too could win up to £50 in the Waving not drowning Draw, a fun way you can support the Waving not drowning project. Just email janet.mearns@... for a form to buy monthly tickets at £2 each by direct debit.

One third of the profits will go to lucky prize winners each month. The more tickets sold the greater the prize money. The rest of the profits go to help the Waving not drowning project including Staffing a helpline advising carers and parents of disabled children Publishing a free newsletter for carers and parents of disabled children Campaigning for a better deal for carers and parents of disabled children in the workplace

Working Families' booklet From child to adult: a guide to disability, transition and family finance is now up on Working Families' website, http://www.workingfamilies.org.uk/admin/uploads/from%20child%20to%20adult.pdf and Getting into Work is at http://www.workingfamilies.org.uk/admin/uploads/Getting%20Into%20Work.pdf. Please let me know if you experience any difficulties downloading the booklets.

Please forward this e-bulletin to any friends or colleagues who would be interested. They can contact me at janet.mearns@... to get on the distribution list for the e-bulletin and for the free Waving not drowning newsletter.

There's lots of information about parents' and carers' rights in the workplace on Working Families' website, www.workingfamilies.org.uk . If the website doesn't answer your questions you can ring me on 020 7017 0072.