Group & Self Advocacy Winter Update

Equality Together supports a number of groups as part of its Lot 2 funding. These have been set up by and for people who face disabling barriers. The groups are shaped and led by their members with support from Equality Together. Below is a summary of their current activities.

If anyone you know is interested in joining any of these groups, please get in touch with Sandra sandrab@equalitytogether.org.uk or Yolande yolandeb@equalitytogether.org.uk

or for Talk Together contact Jane janew@equalitytogether.org.uk

New members welcome especially for DPAG and SpeakOut Steering Groups!

Bradford Association of Visually Impaired People (BAVIP)

A self-led group of people with visual impairments.

Future meetings will now be bi-monthly at Morley Street.

Current Issues the group are campaigning about include pavement obstructions and accessible information standards particularly in communications from hospitals.

The next step for the group is to increase its membership and to apply for funding to do sessions on money saving tips and the high cost of living to help visually impaired people live independently.

Disabled People’s Action Group

In September members of DPAG took part in the Mayor’s Big Bus Chat at Manningham Mills with Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire. She came to listen to disabled people’s experiences of the bus services in Bradford. Some important points were made including: bus drivers moving off before people were seated, making sure there are enough disabled spaces on buses, having an awareness of hidden disabilities and how late and cancelled buses can aggravate anxiety in people. The group were glad the mayor had ensured disabled people were included and look forward to seeing the results of the consultation.

Speakout Bradford and District

This is a new group looking at issues around homelessness and supported housing.

The group has circulated a survey to get some feedback on what issues most concern these groups of people.

The survey is still open

The group will be holding an event in December called Speak Out Find Out. This will be an information exchange where people can find out about services and also give their opinions about issues facing those with experience of homelessness and people living in supported housing and using other services.

African Caribbean Well-Being Café

The Black Health Forum, with support from Equality Together, hosts the well-being café for African and African-Caribbean elders.

The group is continuing to meet face to face on a monthly basis at St Pauls Church, Manningham, doing exercises both in person and on zoom, wellbeing talks, crafts and other social activities. Since being digitally connected during Covid, this has allowed the elders to set up a WhatsApp group, attend online church services, communicate with each other, as well as friends and family. The group has also been to see My Fair Lady the Musical at the Alhambra Theatre and events to do with Black History Month 2022.

Women2Women Group

Our women’s group now meets monthly, on the third Thursday of the month. At the last session in October the group enjoyed making Halloween bunting and Spooky cookies.

The group will be making Christmas crafts at the November meeting, this will be followed by a Christmas social in December.

Men’s Group

The men’s group currently meet every Tuesday in the café area of Manningham Mills. This week the group will be learning how to play backgammon.

Talk Together

Talk together is an online group, who meet on Wednesdays, 10-11 am, on Zoom. It’s chance for those who struggle to get out and about to have a chat with others in a similar situation.  Topics up for discussion include: everything from world affairs; where to find an accessible dentist / hairdresser / theatre; what services are out there to help; and chance to share the stuff members are struggling with. The sessions are run by the Peer support team. There’s no judgement, no-one telling you what to do, just people who’ve lived it, sharing the hints & tips that have helped them.

Just scan the QR code at 10am on a Wednesday, and follow the link to join.