Heritage Ability

We have been advised by GWR of strike action on Saturday 19 and Monday 21 November that will affect some train services.

On these dates, RMT members at Network Rail’s signalling centre near Didcot Parkway will be on strike. As this is a crucial part of the network controlling all signalling between London Paddington, the Cotswolds, South Wales, West and South West of England, there will be a reduced number of services.

In Devon and Cornwall, local branch services will be unaffected by the strike and run to the usual timetable, however, longer distance services to London, Bristol, the Midlands and North will be impacted and only run between 0730 and 1830.

We have also received notice that the ASLEF union (train drivers) will be on strike on Saturday 26 November. This will severely limit train services and expectation is a very limited service between Bristol and London, Reading and Oxford, and Reading and Basingstoke.

Further information is available at www.gwr.com/strike

Industrial Action | Great Western Railway On these strike days train services on many parts of the GWR network will be disrupted. Trains on the days following the industrial action may also be disrupted.

Home from Hospital is our free, confidential telephone support and advice helpline, for those with a disability or long-term health condition who are leaving hospital to recuperate at home.

Our friendly advisors can help prepare for a smooth transfer home. Once home, the advisors can make check-in calls and help to deal with short-term needs and concerns.

Find out more on our website.

Options For Living Project - Home from Hospital Service Our Options For Living project has supported access to timely vaccinations and now provides a Home from Hospital service.

Last week we were joined by a fantastic group of crafters as we created festive decorations for our Princess Hay Charity Christmas Tree. A big thank you to everyone involved.

To find out about our future events, sign up to our monthly newsletter http://ow.ly/VehM50LyG1Y

We seek to ensure that people with disabilities and Deaf people have the opportunity to live the life they choose.

Between 1st April 2021 and 31 March 2022 we supported over 14000 disabled people and Deaf people who use British Sign Language.

Visit our website to find out how we could support you, or someone you know.

https://www.livingoptions.org/

Could you be the next BSL pundit? Highlighting the importance of communication & inclusion within football, BT Sport are on the lookout for two British Sign Language pundits to sign at some of the biggest BT Sport football games this season, as well as at The FA Disability Cup 2023.

https://www.bt.com/sport/bt-sport-united/new-signing

The New Signing | BT Sport We’re looking for two British Sign Language pundits to train up with the best team in the business at BT Sport, so that they can sign at some of the biggest BT Sport football games this season, as well as at The FA Disability Cup 2023.

The Living Options team will be at the Torbay Health and Wellbeing network event later today sharing our latest news and projects. Drop by our stand and say hello if you're there.

As Winter approaches some people may find themselves feeling isolated and alone from spending more time inside. Time to Talk is our free, confidential listening support and advice helpline, for those with a disability or long-term health condition.

You might want someone to talk to who can help you find ways to meet new people or help you to maintain or regain your sense of wellbeing and enjoyment of life.

For more information visit http://ow.ly/fKHl50Lt1Bw

Time To Talk - Living Options Devon Our free, confidential listening support and advice helpline, for those with a disability and/or long-term health condition.

Have you read our latest newsletter? You can read the November edition of Accessibility Matters for the latest news and events here:

http://ow.ly/mZMJ50Lt15W

We need your help in decorating our Princess Hay Christmas Tree.

During this free 2 hour workshop we will be making a selection of Christmas decorations to decorate our Princess Hay Christmas Tree, and we need your help! Our tree will be at the shopping centre in Exeter, for thousands of people to see throughout the festive period and we want ours to looking the best.

To book the last remaining spots on the workshop here -

http://ow.ly/bFvo50LnXFs

Christmas Craft Workshop Christmas is around the corner and we need help decorating our tree!

A fantastic approach by RNIB working with Devon County Council to help share the experiences and perspective of someone blind or partially sighted walking the streets in Exeter.

http://ow.ly/fbCk50LsZEs

"Blindfolded walk" explores accessibility for blind and partially sighted pedestrians - News Some of our transport engineers and councillors got a fresh perspective on the challenges of navigating one of Exeter’s most popular streets on a recent visit organised by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB). Local campaigner Marilyn Lant was joined by RNIB regional campaigners off...

Rail strikes will be taking place this month.

GWR have advised of strikes on Saturday 5th, Monday 7th and Wednesday 9th November and that on the three strike days, there will be no services operating at all in Devon & Cornwall.

Services will also be impacted on the days in between and after strike days, with some cancellations, a later service start up than usual and some routes running at a reduced frequency.

www.gwr.com/strike

Industrial Action | Great Western Railway The RMT, TSSA and Unite trades unions have announced industrial action at Network Rail and a number of train operators, including GWR. Industrial action will take place on Saturday 5, Monday 7 and Wednesday 9 November. This means services will be severely disrupted from Saturday 5 November up to and...

We are recruiting a Fundraising Officer to support our Head of Fundraising in securing income for Living Options Devon. This role will be focused on making grant applications to Trusts and Foundations.

Help us to secure vital funds for our wonderful organisation!

https://www.livingoptions.org/positions/fundraising-officer/

We are still on the hunt for a fabulous supervisor for our Waiting Well project.

Make a difference for those waiting for NHS treatment.

https://www.livingoptions.org/positions/waiting-well-patient-support-officer-2/

Our free, confidential listening support and advice helpline, for those with a disability or long-term health condition.

Time to Talk is a telephone and online service, provided by a friendly team who listen and offer peer support, provide information and advice, and signpost or refer to other appropriate services.

http://ow.ly/MjhW50KEvba

Time To Talk - Living Options Devon Our free, confidential listening support and advice helpline, for those with a disability and/or long-term health condition.

Living Options Devon is deeply saddened to learn of the death of Her Majesty the Queen.

She was a constant ambassador for the charity sector and helped to improve the lives of so many.

Our thoughts are with the Royal Family at this time.

Living Options Devon exists to ensure people with physical, learning and/or sensory disabilities and Deaf people with sign language can make an active and equal contribution in society.

Become our new Fundraising Officer and help us to secure vital funds for our charity.

https://www.livingoptions.org/positions/fundraising-officer/

We have an incredibly rare and exciting opportunity to join Living Options Devon as our new Marketing Officer! Help us to embed our marketing strategy across the organisation and help us to maintain and build our reputation and profile.

Apply online today via our website -

https://www.livingoptions.org/positions/marketing-officer/

A great opportunity to make a difference to those waiting for NHS treatment. Work alongside and assist the Operations Coordinator (Waiting Well Project) to enable people to stay as healthy as possible whilst waiting for NHS input.

Living Options Devon strives to be user-led in all that we do and we welcome applications from disabled and Deaf people.

https://www.livingoptions.org/positions/waiting-well-patient-support-officer-2/

Framing Nature- photography course starting 21st September 2022.
This course caters for disabled people, Deaf people (who use British Sign Language-BSL) and people with long term health conditions. It is restricted to Devon.

Book now!

http://ow.ly/Avwj50KlFRp

Everyone should live the life they choose.

A donation, no matter how big or small makes a difference.

Your donation will make a difference to the lives of disabled people, people with long term health conditions and Deaf people across the South West of England.

https://www.livingoptions.org/donate/

Donate - Living Options Devon Your gift to our charity, however large or small, makes a real difference to local disabled and Deaf people’s lives. Make a donation today

Living Options Devon want to say a huge thank you to all of you who entered our summer Art Competition!
We had some beautiful entries.

We will be doing the judging in the first couple of weeks of September and will be in touch with the lucky winner and runner up very soon!

Keep an eye on our socials for this announcement!

https://www.livingoptions.org/enter-our-summer-nature-art-competition/

Enter Our Summer Nature Art Competition - Living Options Devon Living Options is running a summer nature-themed art competition open to anyone in Devon - Join in and you could win some amazing prizes

999BSL: New BSL Emergency Video Relay Service Launches.

Sign Language Interactions (SLi) has developed a new emergency video relay service for BSL users.

To read more - https://www.livingoptions.org/999bsl-service-launches/

999BSL: New BSL Emergency Video Relay Service Launches 999BSL is the name of the UK’s first ever Emergency Video Relay Service in British Sign Language (BSL)

In support of Sunrise Diversity in northern Devon (one of our vaccination champion partners)

They are looking for people to work with small groups of Ukrainian refugees to help them learn English.

Please contact [email protected]

We have over 30 years experience of supporting disabled people, people with a long term health conditions, and members of the Deaf Community.

Help us to continue to provide our range of services for many more years to come by donating today. - https://www.livingoptions.org/donate/

Thank you

Donate - Living Options Devon Your gift to our charity, however large or small, makes a real difference to local disabled and Deaf people’s lives. Make a donation today

Framing Nature- photography course starting 21st September 2022.
Online photography meet up in four sessions. This course caters for disabled people, Deaf people (who use British Sign Language-BSL) and people with long term health conditions. It is restricted to Devon, Plymouth and Torbay residents.

Book now!

http://ow.ly/uxl850KlFRr

We are nearly at the end of our Art competition that we have been running throughout August.

Still time to submit an entry! You could be in with a chance of winning a family return ticket for the Dartmouth Steam Railway.

Take a photo of your artwork and send it to [email protected]

Would you like to make a different to those on waiting list for NHS treatment?

Become a Waiting Well Supervisor!

For application pack -

https://www.livingoptions.org/get-involved/work-with-us/

A couple of weeks ago Living Options Devon met with Casey at Haldon Forest Park - Forestry England

Casey tragically had a mountain biking accident last year which caused a spinal cord injury resulting in her being paralysed from the waist down.

We filmed a three part series which will be aired in September. The aim of the series will be to, increase peoples understanding and to raise awareness of spinal cord injuries. Advise people of what accessible activities there are indoors and outdoors in Devon. How can locations/venues/activities be made more accessible and what advice and support are out there for people with disabilities.

Watch this space.