From ‘unable to walk’ to running a miracle marathon with Chris Evans!
How alternative therapies defied a long term medical prognosis Four years ago, Susie James had chronic pain in her arms, hands, knees and feet; any movement was extremely painful; walking was problematic. She was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and presented with a bleak outlook by her rheumatologist; life-long medication to control her symptoms. But last weekend, 58 year old Susie ran the London Marathon alongside celebrity DJ Chris Evans, fuelled with an inner energy she had never experienced. A stark contrast to barely being able to shuffle around her own home. Despite the medical advice from her consultant, Susie decided to look at alternative therapies for her condition. A friend recommended she booked a one-to-one session with Matt Pepper; a practitioner who addressed underlying mental and emotional factors to improve wellbeing, along with prescribing a tailored set of homeopathic remedies to help the body and mind self-heal. Susie said: “The doctors were very keen and persuasive that I took medication and even though I was at my most vulnerable and perhaps could have been persuaded into medication, for some reason I didn’t want to do that. My dad was a GP so I’m not completely anti-medication, but I thought there may be another way, but I really didn’t know what that was. I didn’t want to start taking something – being on that lifelong path just didn’t seem like the right thing.” “I’d hit some real lows. Points where I thought this was ‘it’, that there was going to be no change, that this was going to be something that was going to get worse, and I’d have to just live with it. But I didn’t want to look weak, I was bringing up kids as a single mum – I didn’t really ask for help or talk about how I was struggling. Side effects can be extreme fatigue and depression. It was a bit of a shock as I’d always been a strong person, an entrepreneur so that didn’t go well with my own self image.” But as she started visiting Matt she remembers how the pain started to lift: “When I met him, he instilled something that maybe woke up a little spark inside me, it made me feel that there’s hope. Something about his manner and belief in the ability to heal from the inside. I remember getting off the sofa to go and make his tea and could hardly walk, my feet were agony. And I would be saying, “Yeah my elbow hurts, my shoulder hurts, and my knees hurt today.” There would be different outbreaks of joint pain, in different areas of my body, which seem to flair up. Which are very common symptoms of RA.” “We chatted about different life situations and how I saw them. I thought I had good self-awareness but I started to realise that there was disconnect between how I felt on the inside and what I was trying to maintain on the outside. So as the story unfolded, and started to be expressed, it released a little bit of the pressure in myself. And so, it seems the pain started to subside.” “He’d prescribe homeopathic remedies to help with improving how I felt and over time I began to lose my fear of expressing myself and was starting to become more authentic about how I felt emotionally, or what was going on in my life.” Gradually Susie felt motivated to start exercising again and her creativity and energy started to flow. Six months later she went back to see her consultant: “The last time I had seen him he was just about to go to one of the biggest rheumatologist conferences in the world as one of the lead speakers – and there I was arguing against his medical advice. But I have it in writing that when I then went for my check-up, he wrote back saying, “Well, the results were pretty good, actually. And I am happy for you to continue with alternative remedies for your situation.” And he had to admit that whatever I was doing was working. I’m now pain free and not on any medications all all. Last weekend she ran her first ever marathon in 5hrs.26: “I wouldn’t even have watched the marathon let alone take part in one! But I had bid for a place on the Children in Need auction with Chris Evans – and it was absolutely incredible! I beamed the whole way round. I was smiling the whole way, even when it got really, really tough…it was just the most spectacular experience.” “I’m a million, million, million times happier. I feel really alive! To think that I’ve got this medal for running the marathon. It’s made me look at myself totally differently. It’s about me tackling things from lots of angles; my emotional health, being authentic, being me, reducing stress levels and finding more happiness…the whole lot. I’ve learnt it’s about the whole person and not just the symptoms.”
Rosette of approval for local horse-riding centre following AkzoNobel makeover
A popular North East horse-riding school specialising in therapeutic riding sessions for people with disabilities has been given a new lease of life thanks to a generous donation from AkzoNobel Ashington. The Pegasus Centre, which is home to the Morpeth group of the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA), received over 100 litres of specialist paint from the manufacturing giant, including Dulux Trade Weathershield Exterior High Gloss, Dulux Trade Weathershield Exterior Flexible Undercoat, Dulux Trade Weathershield Smooth Masonry Paint and Cuprinol Ultimate Garden Wood Preserver to refresh its indoor arena and stable block ahead of hosting a major regional competition. Having been selected by the RDA to host the 2019 Northern Regional Championships earlier in the summer, staff and volunteers at The Pegasus Centre set about preparing for the event, writing to a number of local businesses to seek support for the rejuvenation of the Centre ready to welcome riders of all ages and abilities from RDA groups across the North East and Cumbria. One of the trustees at Morpeth RDA, had read about another project that AkzoNobel had been involved with locally and decided to reach out to them about the possibility of supplying some paint. “We’re very fortunate to have such a fantastic facility here in Morpeth but in order to make the best first impression possible ahead of the competition, we wanted to tidy the place up a bit,” said Sue Thompson, trustee at Morpeth RDA. “While our ground rent for The Pegasus Centre is covered by Active Northumberland, Morpeth RDA is first and foremost a charity, so we rely on fundraising and the generosity of our corporate partners and volunteers in order to maintain the Centre and improve our services for the people we support. “The paint provided by AkzoNobel completely transformed our indoor arena and stables, we were also able to paint the outside of our main barn using special masonry paint which has made a big difference to the overall look of the Centre. Seeing the Centre looking so bright and clean really lifts the spirits of our volunteers but it also has a positive impact on the children and adults that we support with riding and of course, our horses and ponies too.” Established nearly 50 years ago, Morpeth RDA provides therapeutic horse-riding sessions for children and adults aged 8 to 68 who suffer with multiple and complex learning and or physical disabilities. Riders can experience up to 1,000 different beneficial movements with every ten minutes they spend on horseback which not only provides excellent physiotherapy benefits, but also helps to build confidence, which in turn can improve riders’ communication skills. The Northern Regional Championships, which preceded the RDA’s National Championships in which 14 of the Centre’s riders competed, gave some of the Centre’s regular riders the chance to take to the saddle and show off their skills in both the dressage and countryside challenge categories. Competitors of mixed ages and abilities were scored on factors such as control and communication with their ponies as well as competency and skill. Alex Wardle, process engineer at AkzoNobel Ashington, commented: “AkzoNobel believes in the power of colour to transform lives. We are committed to helping community organisations like the RDA, and showing the world AkzoNobel Cares, with donations of paint and volunteering time wherever possible to help uplift communities, change behaviours and make living and working spaces more fun, inspiring and enjoyable. “We were delighted to make a donation of paint to the Morpeth RDA group and we’re thrilled that the makeover has been so well received by staff, volunteers and the people who use The Pegasus Centre.” AkzoNobel is the world’s leading manufacturer of decorative paints and coatings, with household brands including Dulux, Dulux Trade, Cuprinol and Hammerite. Opened in September 2017, AkzoNobel’s £100 million site in Ashington is regarded as the world’s most advanced and sustainable paint manufacturing facility. For more information about AkzoNobel, visit www.akzonobel.com or for more details about Morpeth RDA, visit www.morpethrda.com.
A deal which could transform the learning disability sector
Tech and care industries unite to unveil case for a deal which could transform the learning disability sector. A new report is being launched in Parliament today setting out the case for a deal for the learning disability sector, focusing on realising the potential of technology to boost investment and transform the way care is delivered. National learning disabilities charity, Hft, supported by Tunstall Healthcare, produced the paper outlining the key arguments for an economic partnership with the government as part of the UK Industrial Strategy – a long term plan for the future aimed at backing businesses to drive productivity through investment in skills, industries and infrastructure. The report, which is being officially launched at the House of Lords, highlights the challenges faced by a social care sector in financial crisis at a time when demand is growing. Hft and Tunstall believe the successful negotiation of a learning disability Sector Deal would enable effective investment that could unlock the potential of assistive technologies. In turn, this would stimulate innovation and investment in future services, bring financial sustainability to providers within the sector, and ultimately deliver enhanced outcomes for people with learning disabilities. To mark the launch of the paper, more than 100 guests, including MPs, Peers and civil servants, as well as social care providers and telecare organisations, are expected to attend a reception on Monday (15th July) in the Cholmondeley Room, hosted by Hft Chair of Trustees and Liberal Democrat Health and Social Care Spokesperson, Baroness Jolly. Hft Chief Executive, Robert Longley-Cook, will present the need for a Sector Deal, and Managing Director of Tunstall, Gavin Bashar, will highlight the benefits of including technology in services. A person supported by Hft will also speak about the positive difference that assistive technologies have made to the support that they receive. William, 22, from Bedfordshire will be sharing his personal experience of how technology helped him to achieve his dream of living independently in the community. He uses a key fob to enter his home, which can be deactivated and replaced if lost, and has a lifeline phone and pendant alarm to use to call for help in the event of an emergency. William, who has autism, said: “I feel safe and secure knowing I am only one button away from calling anyone at any time.” The event also marks the official launch of Hft’s new Virtual Smarthouse. The online house showcases examples of assistive technology which different vulnerable groups can use around their home to improve their independence and quality of life, and increase their safety. On the day, attendees will be invited to pledge their support for the Sector Deal and have the opportunity to be involved in shaping what that would look like. Robert Longley-Cook, Hft’s Chief Executive, said investment in the sector is desperately needed. “As it stands, the learning disability sector accounts for around a third of adult social care spend in England and demand is growing rapidly as life expectancy increases. Despite increased demand, local authority expenditure has not kept up, leading to an anticipated funding gap of £5 billion by 2020. “With the funding crisis affecting the sustainability of adult social care, the sector and the government must come together to successfully negotiate a learning disability Sector Deal. “Assistive technology has a key part to play in bridging that gap. Effective investment could transform the way support is delivered to people with learning disabilities and increase their independence, ultimately freeing up staff to focus on more meaningful support. “We believe a Sector Deal will stimulate investment and innovation and ultimately deliver improved outcomes for the people supported by the sector.” Gavin Bashar, UK & Ireland Managing Director of Tunstall Healthcare commented: “We support millions of people around the world, using technology as part of person-centred services to enable independence and freedom. However, not enough people with learning disabilities are currently benefitting from the advantages that assistive technology (also known as telecare) can bring. “Assistive technology can make a positive difference to people with all kinds of disabilities, and in a variety of living environments. As well as managing risks, technology can aid communication, deliver greater privacy and dignity, and give people more control over the way they live their lives. “Tunstall is proud to support the Sector Deal proposal, and its aim of delivering wide-ranging economic benefits and progressing towards a better future for people with learning disabilities in the UK.” To read the report in full, visit www.hft.org.uk/LDSectorDeal
Unique salon for people with learning disabilities opens its doors
Bradford’s first beauty salon exclusively for adults with learning disabilities has opened its doors with the help of celebrity hairdresser, Andrew Collinge. Mirror Mirror is located at The Learning Zone, which is just one of many day opportunities run by national learning disability charity, Hft. Based on Preston Street, the beauty room will offer people a chance to enjoy some pampering ranging from hair styling and hand massages to manicures. For those interested in gaining a flavour of the industry, there will also be opportunities to work towards a professional qualification. Starting from September, a group of six to eight adults with learning disabilities are set to be trained up by qualified beauticians at the service over the course of an academic year. Budding salon managers will gain experience of the day-to-day running of a beauty room, as well as washing, styling and straightening hair, all contributing towards a Level 1 qualification in hairdressing. Plans for the salon have been in place since last year, when staff at The Learning Zone, which offers classes to almost 90 people a day, realised there was a gap in the market for people with learning disabilities to either gain some new hair and beauty skills or enjoy a treatment. The venture was funded with the help of Andrew Collinge and his family, who raised over £10,000 towards the £16,000 project through donations and various fundraising activities including a raffle and golf day over the last year. Further funds were raised by the charity through bag packing initiatives at local supermarkets, a sponsored Mount Snowdon climb and a Christmas concert. The salon officially opened for business on Wednesday (31 July) with a ribbon cutting ceremony where Andrew Collinge and his wife Liz enjoyed some drinks and refreshments with guests including staff and people supported at the service. To mark the occasion, the two-time British Hairdresser of the Year demonstrated how to straighten the hair of Geeta, who is supported at the service. More than 20 guests were able to take a first look at Mirror Mirror, which boasts a range of state of the art equipment including three styling stations, accessible back and front hair washing facilities, two nail bars and a massage chair. People supported at The Learning Zone will have the chance to enjoy some regular relaxation, with treatments like hand massages proven to boost wellbeing. Maxine Kneeshaw, Area Manager at Hft, said: “We’re so excited to be opening Mirror Mirror. People with learning disabilities don’t always have access to the same opportunities as everyone else so The Learning Zone supports them to do something new and expand their skill sets, leading to increased confidence and potentially even employment. Our new beauty room is a great example of this, providing people we support with a stimulating environment where they can learn something new or simply take an hour to relax and feel pampered. “Andrew Collinge and his family have been instrumental in getting this unique project off the ground and we’re so pleased they could be here today to celebrate us opening our doors.” Andrew Collinge said: “It was an honour to have been invited by The Learning Zone to open the Mirror Mirror salon. I love the new salon, it’s light and airy and I’m sure it will be very popular. Congratulations to everyone involved and good luck to the salon team. “Liz and I came away from the The Learning Zone totally inspired by what we had seen and heard.” Hft supports adults with learning disabilities, providing person-centred services ranging from flexible day support to supported living at home – from a few hours a week to 24 hours a day.
Countryfile to Salute RDA in its 50th Anniversary Year
BBC Countryfile is to honour RDA in its 50th anniversary year with a programme dedicated to the charity and its work. The episode, which airs on Sunday 28 July, includes an interview by with RDA’s President, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, conducted by broadcasting legend and long-time Countryfile presenter John Craven. The interview was filmed on the opening day of the RDA National Championships at Hartpury College, Gloucestershire, where presenters John Craven and Anita Rani spent an enjoyable day with some of the events 500 competitors, as well as volunteers and family members. The Gloucestershire-themed episode features seven-year-old RDA rider Lily McKay and her mum, Alison. Lily rides at Patchwork RDA in Nailsworth. In an emotional interview, Alison explains how RDA has helped Lily and how proud she is of her achievements. Championships competitor, Tracey Thomas, who rides at Talland RDA in Cirencester, also features in the programme as she prepares for the competition. The crew then followed her to Hartpury to find out how she gets on in the Countryside Challenge competition. As well as featuring RDA’s golden anniversary, the episode also marks a milestone for John Craven, who is celebrating an astonishing 30 years of presenting the BBC’s flagship rural programme. RDA Communication’s Manager, Caroline Ward said: “We are delighted that the BBC have thrown their support behind RDA by giving us this opportunity to feature on Countryfile. We are also grateful to Her Royal Highness for agreeing to be interviewed as part of the programme. It was a joyful day at the Championships and I hope that viewers will enjoy celebrating our 50th anniversary with us.” The programme themed Gloucestershire airs on BBC 1 on July 28.
Beamish Museum, Making History More Accessible
Beamish, The Living Museum of the North has made history more accessible to those who cannot use standard accessible toilets through the introduction of Changing Places facilities. Beamish is the North East’s most popular museum, bringing history to life, with the sights, sounds and tastes of the past at 1820s Pockerley, 1900s Town, 1900s Pit Village, 1940s Farm and 1950s welfare hall. The Changing Places facilities are part of the new 1950s welfare hall that has opened at the museum – the first building in a 1950s Town. More than a quarter of a million people need Changing Places facilities to enjoy a day out. They offer more space than a normal accessible toilet, providing adequate room for the extra equipment required, as well as room for two carers to easily help the user. The facilities include an overhead room coverage hoist system, a height adjustable changing bench with a shower, non-slip flooring, a height adjustable basin and a privacy screen. In addition, the facilities feature a Closomat wash/dry WC which enables greater independence and dignity for users. Wendy Wilshere, Beamish’s Volunteer & Access Co-ordinator, said: “Over a quarter of a million people need Changing Places toilets so they can get out and about and enjoy the day-to-day activities many of us take for granted. These facilities will make a massive difference for visitors who need them and we are delighted and proud to offer them in our new 1950s welfare hall at Beamish.”Beamish Museum has an Access Panel made up of museum staff and volunteers who are passionate about making the museum more accessible. The panel works with the museum to suggest and implement ways to ensure that people with a wide range of access needs can experience and enjoy the museum. Beamish Access Panel member, Daniel Miller said: “The Changing Places toilet is really spacious, it’s amazing in terms of the equipment it has got in. I think that it is really going to help people.” Daniel has been a member of the Access Panel at Beamish for a couple of years and has been involved in discussions around the new facilities. He added: “It’s nice to see that the Changing Places toilet has happened and that we’ve been able to implement it within this new building.” Fellow Access Panel member Christine Johnson, added: “I think it is fabulous. I think it’s going to meet people’s needs really well. The space is amazing, you can get people everywhere – from the bed to the toilet and to the sink.” More than a quarter of a million people require Changing Places facilities to enable them to get out and about and enjoy the day-to-day activities many of us take for granted. The Changing Places Consortium – co-chaired by Muscular Dystrophy UK – has campaigned for more than a decade for fully-accessible toilets for people with severe disabilities, who need extra equipment and space to use toilets safely and with dignity. More than 1,300 Changing Places facilities are now registered across the UK, but many areas still lack adequate provision. Clare Lucas, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Muscular Dystrophy UK, said: “A lack of Changing Places is no laughing matter for the quarter of a million people who need them to use the toilet safely and with dignity. Without enough Changing Places toilets, many people cut trips short, don’t leave their homes, or even consider options as extreme as surgery.” For more information about Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, visit www.beamish.org.uk.
Ardmaddy Estate & Cottages
Ardmaddy Estate sits in a quiet corner of Argyll, on the west coast of Scotland. Just half an hour from the fishing and ferry port of Oban it allows for easy access to shops, ferries, and exploration of the wider area – but at the end of the day you can return to your own little haven of peace and quiet. Many people don’t go far away when they are staying here, choosing instead to enjoy the peace, the views, the birds and wildlife. We have many species that thrive on the land and waters at and around Ardmaddy – golden eagles, sea eagles, ospreys, buzzards, herons, otters, seals, pine martens, red squirrels, roe deer, stoats, and much more thrive in the environment that is as unspoiled as possible. The wildflowers are in abundance with several species of wild orchid – many of them just beside the various tracks. In April, the bluebells give a lilac hue to parts of the landscape, and in May, the thrift on the shore creates a pink carpet. There are foxgloves dancing in the breeze, In the local area you will find boat trips that will take you to visit the world-famous Corryvreckan whirlpool or on whale watching trips. Or take a ferry and bus trip to visit Mull and Iona – or a longer day out to Colonsay. Many people come to visit the Gardens of Argyll – there are many that are open to the public, including the castle gardens here at Ardmaddy. Each season bring different plants, colours and scents. April is rhododendron time, and then the azaleas. In May you will see the clematis scaling the heights of the trees. Take your time going around and look carefully – whatever time of year you visit, who knows what you might see! Our cottages are warm and comfortable, and enjoy lovely views. Caddleton Farmhouse is wheelchair accessible on the ground floor, Forest Cottage and The Stables just have a couple of steps to get in and then everything is on the same level. Only Craiguillean has several steps to get in, but is on the level once you are inside. The cottages all have enclosed gardens enabling you to sit outside in the warmth of a summer’s day. Even if you have restricted mobility, or use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, there are several flat areas for you to explore and enjoy the scenery and flora and fauna – it is never far away. But most of all – come to Ardmaddy Estate to rest and renew, and de-stress.
New form of hallucination identified as psychological disease and public health concern
A new form of hallucination has been identified as a psychological disease and an emerging public health concern as part of an international research project led by the University of Derby. Conventional hallucinations typically involve seeing or sensing things which do not really exist. Now, researchers have come up with the theory of ‘inverted hallucinations’, which means not seeing or sensing things which do exist. If a person suffers from inverted hallucinations, it implies that their real-time awareness of psychological and sensory experiences is significantly impaired, and therefore they experience a distorted perception of reality and miss out on their life. Dr William Van Gordon, from the University of Derby, along with academics from the University of Exeter, CHU Montpellier, in France, and the Awake to Wisdom Centre for Meditation and Mindfulness Research Centre, in Italy, have come up with the new theory, which estimates that most people experience at least a mild form of the condition at some point in their life. Specific examples of behaviours likely to indicate the presence of inverted hallucinations would be: · Being inconsiderate or completely oblivious regarding the wellbeing and/or personal space of others – for example, not using headphones or disabling the loud speaker when using video networking applications (e.g., Whatsapp or Messenger) in a public place; · The conscious use of a mobile phone or social media in situations in which such usage poses a risk to the individual’s (or to other people’s) health (e.g. using a mobile phone when crossing the road); · Engaging in conversation with another person without fully or even partially listening to them; · Rushing to arrive somewhere (e.g. work) and then rushing to return home without noticing the journey. Dr William Van Gordon, Associate Professor of Contemplative Psychology at the University of Derby, and international expert in the research and practice of meditation and other contemplative approaches, said: “Inverted hallucinations appear to reflect a key overlooked public health concern that not only stunt human potential and quality of life, but also pose a risk to the wellbeing of the population more generally. “Another key feature of inverted hallucinations is that they appear to be communicable. This has far-reaching implications because, while scientific understanding of how certain biological diseases spread from one person to another is reasonably advanced, until now the possibility that there exist transmissible psychological disorders has largely been ignored.” In terms of health consequences, the new research states that inverted hallucinations can foster unhappiness, depressive thinking, problematic behaviours such as social media addiction, and increased susceptibility to other mental health problems. Inverted hallucinations are also understood to play an active role in the spread of some other key public health concerns, such as certain forms of mental illness, obesity and social media addiction. Dr Van Gordon added: “In addition to the need to understand more about inverted hallucinations along with what measures can be implemented to build up resilience, future research should focus on evaluating the adequacy of existing scientific assumptions in terms of precisely what constitutes a communicable disease.” Dr Van Gordon will be presenting his research at ‘Inverted Hallucinations: A Public Health Barrier to Healthy and Smart Communities’ – an event being held at the University of Derby on Thursday, July 11, 2019. The research has been published in the Journal of Concurrent Disorders.
Accessible holiday home now available at top Cornish holiday park
Pentewan Sands Holiday Park has just got more accessible thanks to a brand new wheelchair-friendly holiday home available to hire. The five-star family friendly holiday park based in Cornwall’s beautiful Mevagissey Bay, with stunning views across the park’s privately owned beach, now offers a completely accessible holiday home featuring all the latest home comforts for guests looking for a break by the sea. The new holiday home has been thoughtfully designed to ensure it is easy for wheelchair users to stay in, and offers accessible space and comfort with a sense of style. Roomy proportions and easy-to-access patio doors are featured alongside widened door frames throughout. The home also features a large wet room and 3ft divan beds in the bedrooms, sleeping up to six people. Nicole Murray, Marketing and Sales Manager at Pentewan Sands Holiday Park, said: “Our new accessible holiday home offers complete accessibility and that extra bit of room for manoeuvrability should it be needed. On top of that, it looks stylish and is the perfect spot for a getaway from it all. “We want to ensure that Pentewan Sands is accessible for everyone to enjoy a holiday on the Cornish coast, and are working hard to meet our guests’ needs. The new holiday home will be a great addition to our family-friendly park.” Accessibility is hugely important to Pentewan Sands. In addition to the new accessible holiday home, ramped decks have been added to 20 new holiday homes, and a new accessible toilet block available on site. A beach-friendly wheelchair is available, so that all visitors can enjoy the beautiful beach at Pentewan Sands, alongside a designated accessible van that is operated by the Scout Association. The site is on flat ground, making it easy to get around the park, and there are multiple disabled car parking spaces. Disabled access is available to the park’s leisure venue The Seahorse with a wheelchair-accessible lift to access the upper deck and main dining area, and extra wide doors, as well as modern disabled toilets. There is also ramp access to on-site supermarket Pentewan Stores, the reception area and the branch of Hubbox based on the beach. Pentewan Sands Holiday Park is home to a wide range of holiday homes and a large number of pitches for touring caravans, motorhomes and tents. It also has top-notch leisure, eating and entertainment facilities, including The Seahorse, which includes two swimming pools, soft play zone, a restaurant and an amusement arcade.