Mayor MaRikar visits had
HAD was very pleased to welcome the new Harrow Mayor Cllr Karema Manikar to the Red Brick Cafe. She was supporting HAD's campaign to get the Council to review its approach to Taxi Card journeys. Harrow Council provides fewer journeys for disabled people than neighbouring Councils. HAD have launced a petition and we are asking residents to sign it: https://sites.google.com/view/hadharrow/get-involved/campaigning/taxi-cards
Real Junk Food Project
Every Friday HAD in partnership with the Barnet Real junk food project are providing free food from 10 to 11.00 to people who need fresh food.
This is run by volunteers who help ensure fresh food is available. We are running this every Friday until Christmas. If a success, as it looks like being we will run in the New Year.
Please pass this idea on to your friends and neighbours or better still come along every Friday and help out.
Run and Controlled by Disabled People for Disabled People
Welcome to the HAD Website
HAD aims to empower the thousands of disabled people, their families and carers who live in the Borough of Harrow.
We have a great team of staff, strongly supported by dozens of volunteers. We provide a wide range of services.
We hope HAD can help you.
Nigel Long
HAD Chief Executive
Local MP Bob Blackman visited HAD's offices to support the campaign for a fair deal on the Taxi card jouneys. He strongly supported the need to look at what was provided currently. He also supported the petition being run by HAD.
Please sign the HAD petition on Taxi CardS
HAD have launched a petition about the way Harrow Council treats disabled people with regard to the Taxicard journeys. Harrow provides less support than neighbouring Councils.
"To the members of Harrow Council, with the support of The Mayor Councillor Kareema Marikar, we ask you to reconsider the amount of Taxicard journeys you have given to Disabled residents of Harrow (40, per annum). The number given does not even equate to one return journey every two weeks. We ask to have the same amount of journeys as surrounding boroughs, such as Barnet and Hillingdon, who currently offer 104 journeys per annum to their Disabled residents. This is NOT a party political issue, this is a MORAL PROBLEM."
Please sign the petition:
https://www.change.org/p/harrow-council-more-taxicard-journeys-for-disabled-people-in-harrow
HAD launches Housing Matters Service and Fact sheets.
HAD has long believed that disabled people do not get a fair deal with regards to housing. Many disabled people struggle to find affordable and accessible housing.
HAD believes that there is a lack of advice and information available to disabled people in the Borough of Harrow. It has therefore established a Housing Matters service.
The first stage of our new service is the production of free Housing Matters Fact sheets:
The first 7 cover:
H1. Homelessness Advice
H2. Out of Hours emergencies.
H3. Rights of Private tenants.
H4. Applying as homeless: Priority Need.
H5. Private tenants: Smoke and carbon monoxide.
H6. The Right to Rent.
H7. Rent rises: Assured Shorthold Tenancies.
Casework
In the future HAD will continue to develop a full housing casework service.
Government publishes ambitious plan for a fully accessible transport network by 2030
The Department for Transport has today published its Inclusive Transport Strategy, with a clear objective to help ensure that all Disabled people “can travel confidently and easily”; and make transport fully accessible for all passengers by 2030.
This strategy has come after considerable lobbying by and consultation with many Disabled peoples organisations and charities. Transport for All has made it’s voice heard clearly during this process and is pleased to be able to broadly welcome today’s announcement.
Amongst the specific commitments, Government has pledged to put up to £300 million of funding into extending the Access for All programme, making railway stations more accessible, including step-free access. TfA has been vociferously campaigning as part of our Rail Access Now campaign for some time asking the government to not only restore Access for All funding previously deferred but also increase funding to make more railway stations fully accessible. We cautiously welcome this commitment and eagerly await details of this programme.
TfA’s Chair, Alan Benson says:
“Transport for All welcomes the announcement and the fact that the Government has committed to setting some very challenging goals, which are much needed.
“We look forward to seeing the details on how they are planning to make transport in this country fully accessible by 2030 and seeing details of the investments that will back it. We also hope that the Inclusive Transport Strategy will meet our demands for a Transport system that everyone can use.
“Whilst this strategy represents a significant step in the right direction, the intentions are only as good as the changes that result so we look forward to seeing the milestones and targets by which these words will be judged.”
Thank You to Musical Park Fundraiser team
On 21 July at the Musical Park event in Kenton park, an intrepid team of HAD fundraisers persuaded the public to
make generous donations. The event was opened by new and friend of HAD Mayor Cllr Kareema Marikar.
So a big thank you to the HAD team of Maria, Janet, Jaishree and Shandy.
HAD launches Housing Matters
1. New Affordable and accessible homes
HAD believes that the level of truly affordable and accessible housing in Harrow is too low. We are campaigning to see the Council build more housing for disabled and low income households.
HAD has just published 7 Housing Matters Fact sheets. These cover a range of issues from homelessness to the Rights of private tenants.
The Fact sheets can be found in the Housing Matters section at the top of this website.
Have you eaten at the best 'healthy eating' restaurant in Wealdstone?
The Red Brick Cafe offers high quality, but very fair priced fresh food. It is open Monday to Friday. From 9.30 to 4.00pm.
The food is cooked, daily, from fresh on the premises. The menu changes every day.
The cafe is owned and run by Harrow Association of Disabled People. HAD is a long standing Harrow based disability charity.
It works with thousands of disabled residents, their families and carers each year.
HAD's Chief Chef said, "Come a long to our wonderful restaurant. Not only do we serve great food, we do so at very good prices and it is all fresh healthy food.
If you cannot come and eat why not make a donation to HAD:
- Click here to DONATE to HAD
Disability Rights UK and the Care Quality Commission would like to hear about your experience! Telephone us on 0330 995 0400 and choose option 1 or click here for further information.
ADAM takes over as new Chair of HAD
Adam Gabsi is the new chair of HAD. He will lead HAD as it continues to develop its services and also starts to enhance its campaigning work.
Adam is pictured below with former chair Louise Weldon and vice chair Ann Groves.
HAD faces another challenging year due to funding pressures. HAD CEO Nigel Long said, "The HAD Board of Trustee's is strong and committed to the provision of great services. But we need to generate extra money to pay for our welfare benefits service that is under pressure but needs to grow to meet demand. Any donations supporters can make will be welcome and be used to fund and grow the welfare benefits service.
Our aim is to promote and achieve our vision of a fully inclusive society where disabled people enjoy equality of opportunity as a right not a privilege. However we need your donations to allow us to provide better services and to meet the demand for services like welfare benefits.
Click here to DONATE to HAD
Asperger'S Syndrome Access to Provision (ASAP)
Autism spectrum, also known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a range of conditions classified as neurodevelopmental disorders. Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder present with two types of symptoms: problems in social communication and social interaction, and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests or activities. Symptoms are typically recognized between one and two years of age. Long term issues may include difficulties in creating and keeping relationships, maintaining a job, and performing daily tasks.
ASAP are a key partner within the HAD family. ASAP Harrow aims to provide acknowledgement, information, contact and support to adults with Autistic Spectrum Conditions, including Asperger Syndrome, towards the development of their potential abilities, preferences and interests to enable them to lead independent and fulfilled lives. And to spread awareness and acceptance of Autistic Spectrum difficulties and needs in adults.
Do you need a Stairlift in your home?
Do you need a stairlift? HAD are in partnership with Acorn stairlifts. They have a 5 star Trustpilot rating and will undertake a free no obligation survey. Please call Acorn Stairlifts direct on
0800 016 9492 please quote our branch number 94366. Or fill in the enquiry form below.
SWiSH is an information and advice consortium that HAD is part of. We give advice and information to thousands of disabled people each year. The SWiSH website is at:
http://www.harrowca.org.uk/support-wellbeing-information-service-harrow-swish/
We have a range of staff providing information on Housing, health, community activities, welfare benefits, deaf services, employment and training to name a few.
People with Learning Disabilities still dying earlier than other people.
A shocking report was published last week highlighting that people with Learning disability are still dying many years before other people. The report can be found at:
Accessible Housing in short supply in Harrow and across Country.
Disabled people have been left frustrated and trapped by a chronic shortage of suitable housing, as unnecessary bureaucracy and insufficient support leave them trapped in unsuitable homes, the Equality and Human Rights Commission has warned.
The results of an eighteen month formal legal inquiry, published today, call for governments to take urgent action to make all new houses adaptable and accessible, as 365,000 disabled people say their home is not suitable for their needs.
The report can be found at:
https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/our-work/news/disabled-people-housing-crisis
HAD CEO Nigel Long looking at new Council bungalows (above) for the disabled. He said "We need Harrow Council to develop a building programme that meets the needs of disabled people. HAD will be campaigning to get a better deal from the Council. Though we recognise Government must set Harrow free to build new homes."
View new Hate crime Video.
HAD are involved in a Hate crime pilot project covering Harrow. We have secured some funding to do this work and have a person seconded to work with us.
Discriminating against disabled people because of their disability is wrong and must be challenged.
DeafPLUS has made a short 5 minute film about hate crime and it ready to go – see the link below.
The film link is: , https://vimeo.com/265273990/f583f3c364
Volunteers Needed
HAD is always looking for new volunteers to:
- Help at reception
- Help fund-raise
If you are interested contact:
Nigel Long 0208 861 9923. HAD CEO
Or e mail: n.long@had.org.uk
Fill out an interest form
We will provide training and support. Why not become a volunteer.
Next Changes NightclUB
Takes Place on Wednesday 13th November 2019
7:00pm-10:00 pm
The "Changes" Website www.changesnightclub.org
Office Address: The Wealdstone Centre, 38-40 High Street, Wealdstone, Harrow, Middx HA3 7AE
Office Opening Hours: Monday - Friday 9:30am - 5:00pm Email: general@had.org.uk
Telephone: 020 8861 9920