And do you live, work or study in Bristol? If so, we may be able to help.
We have been working with other groups in Bristol to fundraise money to help those who are struggling to pay their energy bills this winter. Different partners are supporting different communities. We are supporting those Disabled people who live, work or study, in Bristol (or just over the border) and struggling households in Bristol that include a Disabled person (of any age).
If this sounds like you, get in touch. You will have to be quick though as the pot of money available to help you has almost run out.
Contact: cca.bristoldef@gmail.com or telephone 0117 914 0528 and leave a message for Emma.
Next steps in the COVID-19 vaccination programme
Vaccinations are now available for:
People aged 65–69
People aged 16–64 who are vulnerable because they have a range of conditions that increase their risk from COVID-19,
People recently added to the updated Shielded Patient List.
If you are aged 65–69. you can book an appointment at Ashton Gate Vaccination Centre or at one of seven local community pharmacies by visiting the national booking service or calling 119 – or you can wait to be contacted.
If you have underlying health conditions or have recently been added to the Shielding list, you will be contacted to book your vaccination appointment. Please do not contact the NHS.
For more information visit the Healthier Together website, the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG) Integrated Care System.
Upcoming Workshop from Self-Injury Support
Self-Injury Support are putting on a workshop. Our understanding is that you don’t have to be self-injuring to take part.
Thursday 11th March
Time: TBC.
Focus on Black women’s wellbeing
DIY! Improve your mind, improve your health!
15 places for black women of any age
Facilitated by: Akulah Agbami, Workshop Facilitator
http://akulahagbami.com/index.html
To book and for more information, including updates on the time slot, contact: blackartistsonthemove@gmail.com
Call for 5 individuals with visual impairments to be part of university research project – Voluntary
We are a group of 3 Masters students at the University of Bristol. We are looking to speak to individuals with visual impairments who would like to get involved in our inclusive research and design project.
Our project aims to improve wayfinding within Bristol for individuals with visual impairments. To ensure our outcome meets the needs of our intended user, we want to gain insights into your experience of navigating and wayfinding.
What we need from you?
We are looking for both carers and people with visual impairments who would be willing to get involved in online interviews, sharing experiences and potentially mentally mapping out their journey. For those who enjoy their experience, further involvement in the design of the product/service is possible.
What participants can gain from the experience?
Participants will benefit from the end results of this project, which aims to improve accessibility within Bristol for the visually impaired. You will be able to offer the expertise of your experience, positively influencing the community around you.
If you would like to get involved in a short interview in the coming week(s), or know anyone with an interest in this project, please contact us at:
Many thanks,
Josh, Dylan and Tadeas
Call for artist-activists to contribute articles and/or artwork from SHELBYxStudios
Shelby x Studios is launching their Open Call programme! They aim to provide creatives like you with paid opportunities to create content for their monthly art and activism e-magazine. They want to make applications as easy as possible, so they just ask for a quick first proposal. Only successful applicants will be contacted.
They are committed to making the application process as accessible as possible. If you would prefer to apply in another way that is more accessible to you, please contact Grace at hello@shelbyxstudios.com
Sustrans South Network Development Team – Paid Posts
We have been working with Sustrans and they have asked if we would let Disabled people know about these roles because they are keen to have a more diverse workforce and are aware that there is nothing to beat employing people with ‘lived experience’ if they are to create inclusive design solutions.
The team is growing and recruiting to quite a few new roles at the moment. Specifically:
· Network Development Manager
· Senior Technical Officer
· Senior Network Development Manager
Network Development Manager, England South
Two year fixed term contract
London, Reading or Bristol (negotiable)
37.5 hours per week – happy to talk flexible working
£27,528 per annum
Closing date: 9am on Monday 1 March 2021
Reference: SUS3119
About the role
Your role as Network development manager puts you at the centre of delivering our “Paths for Everyone” and “Liveable Towns and Cities” visions – helping us to create healthier places and happier people across the UK.
Using both skills you have and skills you’ll develop in the role, you will plan, develop and construct walking and cycling routes, working closely with project partners, key stakeholder and members of the public.
A truly varied role: one day you could be out on-site exploring options for a new route; the next you could be working collaboratively with team colleagues across the region to meaningfully engage with local communities; another day, writing compelling reports and feasibility studies for clients.
There will be regular travel for site visits and meeting colleagues, partners and clients across the South of England to places such as Bristol, Plymouth, Southampton, Guildford and Reading.
About you
We are looking for someone with direct or transferable experience of transport planning or design and of managing projects.
If you are passionate about health, sustainability or the environment and want to work somewhere you can make a big impact, then please apply today!
Interviews
Closing date for the receipt of completed applications is 9am on Monday 1 March 2021. Interviews will take place via MS Teams on Monday 8 March 2021.
Senior Technical Officer, South England
Two year fixed term contract
London, Reading or Bristol (negotiable)
37.5 hours per week – happy to talk flexible working
£27,528 per annum
Closing date: 9am on Tuesday 2 March 2021
Reference: SUS3120
About the role
Our Senior Technical Officers plan, design and deliver accessible walking and cycling routes for everyone.
This role is at the centre of delivering our Paths for Everyone and Liveable Towns and Cities visions for healthier places and happier people across the UK.
Using both skills you have and the skills you’ll develop in the role, you will be supporting a small team to develop creative and innovative design solutions for walking and cycling infrastructure.
A truly varied role: one day you could be using GIS to develop engaging and insightful maps and analysis, the next you could be working collaboratively with team colleagues across the region to meaningfully engage with local communities; another day getting out on-site to explore options for a new route; the next writing compelling reports and feasibility studies for clients.
There will be regular travel for site visits and meeting colleagues, partners and clients across the South of England to places such as Southampton, Reading, Brighton and Kent.
About you
We are looking for someone with direct or transferable experience of GIS mapping, CAD or graphics software and designing for active travel in areas such as transport or spatial planning, design or engineering.
If you are passionate about health, sustainability or the environment and want to work somewhere you can make a big impact, then please get in touch.
Interviews
Closing date for the receipt of completed applications is 9am on Tuesday 2 March 2021. Interviews will take place via MS Teams during the week commencing Tuesday 9 March 2021.
Senior Network Development Manager, England South
Two year fixed term contract
London, Reading or Bristol (negotiable)
37.5 hours per week – happy to talk flexible working
£31, 369 per annum
Closing date: 9am on Wednesday 3 March 2021
Reference: SUS3118
About the role
We now have an exciting opportunity to join our network development team.
Your role will put you at the centre of our “Paths for Everyone” and “Liveable Towns and Cities” programmes, with projects, focused on getting more people walking and cycling by improving the National Cycle Network and working with local communities, reshaping their streets and encouraging greater active travel.
Using both skills you have and skills you’ll develop in the role, you will manage a small team to plan, develop and construct walking and cycling routes; as well as leading on the delivery of walking and cycling routes yourself.
A truly varied role: one day you could be out on-site exploring options for a new route; another you could be working collaboratively with team colleagues across the region to meaningfully engage with local communities; the next you could be leading a team meeting; another day, putting the finishing touches to compelling reports and feasibility studies for clients.
There will be regular travel for site visits and meeting colleagues, partners and clients across the South of England to places such as Bristol, Plymouth, Southampton and Reading.
About you
We are looking for someone with direct or transferable experience of transport planning or design, and of managing people and projects.
If you are passionate about health, sustainability or the environment and want to work somewhere you can make a big impact, then please get in touch!
Interviews
Closing date for the receipt of completed applications is 9am on Wednesday 3 March 2021. Interviews will take place via MS Teams on Wednesday 10 March 2021.
Please go to https://www.sustrans.org.uk/job-vacancies/?location=null&jobvacancyrole=null to apply.
Petition Against the Survey on a National Disability Strategy
We have come together with the National Federation of the Blind UK (NFBUK) to launch a petition calling on the government to halt the Survey on a National Disability Strategy.
The survey was uploaded with only 4wks to respond, is inaccessibly long, provides inadequate space to express views, is only aimed at individuals, was released just as we entered a third lockdown, and was not properly advertised to Disabled people.
If you represent a Disabled people’s organisation (of and for) please sign the letter today (12/02/21) or the 17th at the latest, by emailing the name of the signatory, and the organisation they represent, to laura.bristoldef@gmail.com .
Read the petition.
Bristol Disability Equality Commission Chair – Voluntary Post
Bristol Disability Equality Commission Chair – Voluntary Post
This is an exciting opportunity for a Disabled person, with a strong personal commitment to disability as an equality and human rights issue, who wants to make a real difference to the lives of other Disabled people in Bristol and can lead and build a team.
If you fit this description, then you could be the person the city is looking for to chair Bristol’s new Disability Equality Commission.
The Commission will lead the work of embedding Disability Equality in every part of the city to improve the lives and opportunities of all Disabled people. The Commissioners will include individual Disabled people, Disabled people-led organisations and groups working with Disabled people.
As Chair, you will be the leader and spokesperson for the Commission. You will have considerable experience of working at a senior level, being able to build partnerships with individuals and organisations. You will be a strategic thinker and an excellent communicator. You will have a thorough understanding of the community of Disabled people in the city and the private, public, voluntary and community sector.
Applications from Disabled people from all backgrounds are welcome, but we particularly encourage Disabled people who also have other protected characteristics to apply who are currently under-represented in this type of role and work. The appointment to this role will be made on merit.
Application Process:
Please submit a covering letter (1500 word limit), CV and two referees to Mayor@bristol.gov.uk by Wednesday 3rd March 2021.
In order to be shortlisted for interview you must demonstrate by practical example how you meet all of the criteria detailed in the Person Specification.
If you would like to apply for this position on a role share basis as a Co-Chair, please indicate this in your covering letter.
Please note that this role is subject to an enhanced DBS check, following safer recruitment practice we will request references if invited to interview.
Please download the application pack documents, including Role Description and Person Specification, Equalities Monitoring Form and Sensitive Interests Form on the website: https://bit.ly/3peGuj6
If you would like further information or need the application pack in a different format please contact: Mayor@bristol.gov.uk or 01179223114 specifying your contact details and the format you need, for example, audio CD, braille, British Sign Language or large print, accessible PDF.
Closing Date: Wednesday 3rd March 2021
Shortlisting: Friday 12th March 2021
Interview Date: Week commencing 15th March 2021
Best wishes
Councillor Asher Craig
Deputy Mayor (Communities, Equalities & Public Health)
Coronavirus Vaccination: Disabled and Older people’s Information and Questions event, 7-8.30pm 10th February 2021
Tickets (free) from https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/covid-19-vaccines-information-and-accessibility-tickets-138770808223
With more COVID-19 vaccines approved and more trials taking place, this is a good time to get all the information you need.
Many people have got their information about vaccinations from the internet, and others have plenty of unanswered questions about COVID-19 vaccinations. Are you one of these people?
If so, this event is your chance to find out more about COVID-19 vaccines and support to make an informed decision about having one.
Dr Rajeka Lazarus (Consultant in Infectious Diseases at University Hospital Bristol & Weston) and a panel of experts, will be there to talk about how vaccines work and help answer many of the concerns and questions Disabled and older people have around getting access to the vaccine.
We want this event to be accessible to as many older and Disabled people as possible so:
If you use a screenreader, use the ‘contact the organiser’ function (at the bottom of the listing) when you book your ticket;
If you communicate using BSL or are a deafened person you will be fine because BSL interpreters, and captioning, will be available;
If you have a vision impairment, you should be OK because no-one will be relying on a presentation to get their information across.
If you have other access needs contact the organiser.
You can find their contact details by:
- following the same Eventbrite link as you use to book a ticket,
- scrolling down to the bottom of the page – just above the other events you might like message and
- clicking on the contact button.
This will take you to a contact form you can use for your message.
This event is being run by Bristol, North Somerset South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Healthwatch Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
Covid-19 Vaccine Accessibility event – 10th February
Please see below information on an event about the COVID-19 vaccine which will be held on Wednesday 10th February, from 19:00 – 20:30. This event will have a specific focus on people with disabilities, mental health conditions, and older age groups.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/covid-19-vaccines-information-and-accessibility-tickets-138770808223
This event is an opportunity for you to find out more about COVID19 vaccines and allow you to make an informed choice.
With three COVID-19 vaccines approved and more trials taking place, Dr Rajeka Lazarus, Consultant in Infectious Diseases at University Hospital Bristol & Weston, and our expert panel, will be available to discuss how vaccines work and help answer many of our concerns and questions around getting access to the vaccine.
Some common questions which will be addressed will be:
• How did the vaccine get approved so quickly?
• Is the vaccine safe? What ingredients does it contain?
• What are the side effects of the vaccine?
• Will the vaccine give me COVID-19?
• Will the vaccine be effective against all the new strains of the virus?
• I’m fit and healthy, why should I have the vaccine?
• Where will I receive the vaccine? How do the vaccine centres operate? How will I get there?
The event, run by Bristol, North Somerset South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Healthwatch Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire will feature updates from keynote speakers and a panel discussion to address some of the questions above and more.
If you have queries in relation to the event, or are unable to access Eventbrite to book directly, please email bnssg.engagement@nhs.net.
*This event is one of several developments that have come out of the work Bristol Disability Equality Forum (and other voluntary sector organisations) have been doing with the local NHS, throughout the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, to ensure that all their Covid-19 information and services are accessible to Disabled people.