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Birstall Post June 2006 (275) continued
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Parish Council notes
THE ANNUAL meeting of Birstall Parish Council
was held on May 8.
Stuart Jones was elected Chairman of the Parish Council for the
ensuing year and Tony Fowler as Vice Chairman.
PC Jamie Hughes reported that enquiries into the Kingsgate store
robbery and Wanlip Lane stabbing were continuing.
Lucy Banwell and Paula Moss from Orangedot, the consultants preparing
the Hallam Fields public art, spoke to councillors about a proposal
for a graffiti wall in the village. Comment was made that there
was an existing facility on Meadow Lane and that graffiti was
an ongoing problem in the village and especially on the School
Lane playing field.
A resident of Queensgate Drive has suggested that the green area
on Queensgate Drive opposite Fieldgate Crescent be transformed
into a low maintenance garden area with raised beds and wheelchair
access. The Council invited her to consult with local residents.
The Council has received generally favourable comments about
the new School Lane playing field fence.
Corbett’s cricket corner
With all the interest being generated within
the village for the cricket club we have started a Sunday team.
Pic: Sunday Team (Back Row): Mark
Forknall, Ian Bartlett, Andy Galpin, Andy Merry, Matt Smith,
Martin Fisher Front Row: Andy Corbett, Tom Corbett, Mick Jones
(Capt), Jonathan Gaydon, Michael Fisher
The team plays friendly matches on Sunday afternoons, playing
teams in the local area and is a mixture of adults and youngsters.
Captain Mick Jones said: "We have had a good start to the
season, the results are not the main object of the game but it
is to enjoy the afternoon and help bring some of the youngsters
through the ranks, and also the chance for some of the dads to
play alongside their lads".
Pic: Birstall Village under 13: Rob Drake
(head coach), Dale Chambers, Neel Thakrar, George Corbett, George
Ager, Kahil Mann-Kier, Andy Corbett (Manager), Shivam Lakhani,
Yash Thakrar, Tom Corbett, Ben Drake, Ryan Hills, Punit Samani
The juniors have also started their respective seasons. The under
15s have already reached a cup semi final. The under 13s played
their first match last week against Bharat. The match was a close
thing with Birstall losing by just two runs. All junior teams
will be up and running by June and the training night for under
13s, 11s and 10s will be held every Monday evening on Birstall
Park from 5.30-7.30pm, the cost will be £1.50. John Smith
and Tom Flowers will be holding these sessions, any information
regarding these training sessions please ring John Smith on 0781
8044062.
The first team have got off to a cracking start this season,
after three games they are top of the league.
The second team have also got off to a steady start sitting mid
way in the league.
Roll of Honour - May
Andy Galpin, 132 n.o. vs Leicester Caribbeans 1st team
Andy Lord, 73 n.o. vs Leicester Caribbeans 1st team
Dave Sharpe, 68 vs Hinckley C.C. 1st team
Andy Merry, 58 vs Leicester Caribbeans 2nd team
Matt Smith, 54 vs Hinckley C.C. 1st team
Michael Fisher, 29 n.o. vs Syston under 15s
George Ager, 26 n.o. vs Cropston under 13s
Andy Corbett, 5wkts-83 vs Hinckley 1st team
Qualification: adults 50 runs or 5 wkts. Juniors 25 runs or 3
wkts
Just a reminder to everyone that the Darren Maddy Benefit Match
will take place on Birstall Park on Monday June 5 from 5pm. It
will be the first time since August 1974 when Birstall Royal
British Legion Cricket Club played against Leicestershire, for
the Jack Birkenshaw Benefit, any players that took part in that
match we would love to see you. There will be refreshments including
a hog roast and bar and ice cream man, there will also be a raffle
and there will be Darren Maddy Benefit merchandise to buy on
the night. Please come along and spend a great evening with us.
From Andy Corbett
Beat Officer’s column
With the approach of the summer months
the evenings are becoming lighter and the days longer. Although
this is very pleasant when it's warm, traditionally, it does
unfortunately lead to an increase in burglaries and shed breaks.
Over the past 30 days there have been six such cases where either
commercial premises or privately owned sheds/garages have been
broken into.
Sheds and garages are often vulnerable to breaks as they are
often sat isolated at the bottom of gardens and not left secure.
Tools are often the target for the thefts with the suspects able
to get reasonable prices when selling them on.
If you wish to receive advice on how to secure your sheds or
outbuildings in preparation for the summer months, please contact
the police asking to speak with a crime prevention officer or
contact your neighbourhood watch co-ordinators.
There have also been several distraction burglars in the village
over recent weeks. As stated in previous editions of the Post
the suspects will attempt to distract the resident to gain entry
to their house. The resident will be elderly or vulnerable in
some way and property will be taken without a second's thought
for their well-being. The persons who commit these crimes are
extremely cold and have in the past taken very large sums of
money from those who need it the most.
Three of these incidents have been reported to us in recent weeks.
I would again urge anyone who sees persons acting in a suspicious
manner to contact the police directly. It can often be very difficult
to trace the people who commit such crimes and apprehending them
at the scene would be invaluable in any investigation. Simply
knowing who is in the area can help us to have an understanding
of potential suspects.
Total overall crime in Birstall has fallen in the past year with
fewer crimes being recorded compared to the previous year The
detection rate of criminal offences has also risen with the village
having one of the highest detection rates in the north area of
the force. I hope this trend will continue for the coming years.
With strong channels of communication from the public and the
police and vice versa I am hoping there will be a wealth of information
that will bring offenders to justice.
PC826 Jamie Hughes
A recent review of police priorities has identified two areas
that will be targeted: drug use near the public toilets on Stonehill
Avenue and antisocial behaviour near the Wanlip Lane shops.
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Dancing girls reach final
TWO BIRSTALL girls from the Starlight Theatre
School have reached the finals of the BTDA Championships, to
be held in November.
In the heats, Sophie Derry (11) was placed first for National
Dance and second for song and dance, while Lilie Scott (11) was
placed second for National Dance.
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Life after shop
Pic: Steve & Heather Burrage
A LOCAL couple are leaving their
Birstall jewellers shop after 24 years trading in the village.
Steve and Heather Burrage opened Birstall Jewellers on Sibson
Road in 1982 and quickly established a successful business selling
watches, clocks, jewellery and gifts and carrying out repairs.
Heather said: "What I will really miss is the contact with
our customers, so many have become friends. We have built up
a real rapport, especially with the elderly, and we like them
to drop in for a chat. In fact, I have become something of an
agony aunt!"
The shop has suffered 10 robberies over the 24 years, the worst
being 13 years ago when they lost a lot of stock and had to close
for a week.
Now the couple have decided they want more time together. Steve
said: "I've been working six days a week, 60 hours a week
for years and you start to think: what's life all about, it's
more than just working."
Steve won't be retiring and plans to continue working as a watch
repairer.
The shop will continue under new ownership from July, offering
the same services. Steve said: "I'd like to thank all our
customers for their support over the last 24 years, we have really
valued the way they have trusted us with their repairs and jewellery
requirements and hope they will support the new owner in the
same way."
Last minute bargains are still available in the shop with 30%
off diamond rings, 25% off jewellery and 20% off watches and
gifts.
Food award
BIRSTALL RAINBOW Nursery has just received
its GOLD standard Food Safety Award.
Pic: (l-r) Sophie Hardy (4), cook
Carol Evans and Alyshia Dhakk (4)
Carol Evans the cook ensures that all the meals, breakfast, lunch
and tea along with all snacks, are prepared safely in a well-maintained
kitchen.
Manager Paula Wright said: "The children receive a well-balanced
varied nutritional diet with all dietary requirements catered
for. We like to ensure the children eat plenty of fresh fruit
and vegetables, and do not have additives, salt and too much
sugar in their diet, and so Carol cooks all meals fresh each
day."
Here are just some of the comments from the children:
"We love Carol because she makes water instead of juice"
- Andrew J; "I like Carol, she cooks us dinner and makes
lovely puddings - Alice C; "I love Carol she brings us breakfast,
yum" - Kameran K.
Cadets’ collection
FUNDRAISING AT Birstall's Somerfield store
has helped the Air Training Corps raise more than £700
for the Leicester General Hospital.
Pic: Staff from Leicester General
Hospital Ward 10 including Head of Nursing Jo Price, Somerfield
Store Manager Graham Picksley and Cashier Supervisor Linda Angrave
with Flight Sergeant James Brewster and Cadets Sergent, Johnson,
Brewster, Jinks and Carter
Cadets from 2070 (Glenfield) Squadron ATC raised the cash because
one of their senior cadets has recently been a patient there.
Flight Sergeant James Brewster from Anstey, a student at Longslade
College, has been diagnosed with Focal Segmental Giomerulosclerosis
with Nephrotic Syndrome and still remains a patient of Leicester
General. James wanted to do something to improve patient comfort
on the ward so he asked for the support of the cadets at his
Squadron to raise some money.
Commanding Officer of Glenfield Squadron Flight Lieutenant Steve
Mayoh-Smith said: "The cadets regularly collect at Somerfield
with all monies raised normally going to the Squadron to support
cadet activities. It's great that the cadets wanted some of the
money to go to Leicester General Hospital Ward 10 and it's nice
to see them care so much about James' condition. His attendance
at cadet activities has been 100%, which considering how ill
he has been is an excellent achievement."
The cheque was presented to James at the Squadron by Group Captain
John Ford, Regional Commandant Central & East Region when
he inspected the Squadron.
Steve added : "Special thanks must go to Linda Angrave,
Cashier Supervisor at Somerfield for organising the fundraising
which not only supports the Squadron greatly but also improves
the stores customer service."
Linda said: "I'd like to thank the people of Birstall for
their generosity in giving to the cadets' collection."
The Squadrons recruit boys and girls from 13 to 17 and meet at
their headquarters in the grounds of Glenfield County Primary
School, Glenfield, Monday and Thursdays from 1900 to 2130 and
can be contacted via email www.2070sqn.com or by telephoning
07736 227411.
Showtime for Scouts
MORE THAN 70 young people took part in
a Scout Gangshow as part of Birstall Scouts 75th anniversary
celebrations.
Pic: Birstall Scouts rehearsing
their review, performed at the Methodist Church.
"It'll be alright on the night" was a mixture of songs
and sketches and was performed at the Methodist Church Hall by
young people from Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers.
Scout leader Vic Dolby said: "It was great fun to be part
of and raised £200 to add to our total target to be donated
to Rainbows Children's Hospice at the end of our anniversary
year. We would also like to thank everybody who took part in
making the show such a success and also would like to thank everybody
who contributed to the exhibition of 75 years of scouting which
we held in February of this year.
The Scouts are looking forward to their reunion day on Saturday
October 7 when all old members are being invited to a thanksgiving
service and get together. Contact Vic on 2671465 if you would
like to join them.
Rixensart honour
MEMBERS OF the Birstall Twinning Association
recently visited their twin town of Rixensart, Belgium.
Pic: Madame Jacqueline Herzet, Bourgmestre
of Rixensart, & David Bark
They were accompanied by members of the Leicester Male Voice
Choir. In all 47 people enjoyed the hospitality given by their
Belgian friends. Leicester Male Voice Choir sang at an official
ceremony and took part in a concert with the choir from Rixensart
'L'Echo du Lac'.
The purpose of the visit was to celebrate the 25th Anniversary
of the signing of the Twinning charter by Birstall and Rixensart.
Dignitaries from Rixensart's other twin towns in France, Germany,
Belgium and Denmark were also present at the ceremony.
Pic: David Bark (left) & Mike Jacobs
At the same ceremony, two members of the Birstall Twinning Association
received a great honour by being made Citizens of Honour of Rixensart
and were granted Freedom of the Town. Both were presented with
the symbolic key to the commune of Rixensart by Madame Jacqueline
Herzet, Bourgmestre of Rixensart. The two members were Mr Mike
Jacobs who was the founder Chair of the Association and steered
the twinning arrangement and Mr David Bark also a founder member
of the Association. Significantly, David Bark, who has been President
for the past 15 years, is the only member of the Association
who has been to every single twinning event that has taken place
in Rixensart and Birstall from its inception in 1980.
Friends from Rixensart will visit Birstall in May next year to
continue the celebration.
Club’s Irish night
OUR PICTURE shows Brian Hickling, Chairman
of Birstall Social Club, presenting a cheque for £2010
to Christian Picker from LOROS, money raised at the Club's Irish
Night.
Brian said: "I would like to thank all the people that supported
us, bought raffle tickets and donated raffle prizes. The night
went very well, we had a four piece Irish band playing traditional
music and a display of Irish dancing by the Starlight theatre
school."
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Methodist news
No worship in Birstall on June 4
Unusually there will be no Sunday services at the Methodist Church
on June 4 as there are to be special services at Syston Methodist
church at 10.30am and 3.15pm to celebrate Pentecost.
Garden Trail
Don't forget to buy your passport for the 2006 Garden Trail visiting
13 gardens in the Blenheim, Allington & Worcester Avenue
areas of the village on Saturday and Sunday June 24 & 25.
Accompanied children do not need a passport and there is a children's
treasure trail they can take part in. Passports bought in advance
are £3 each and are available from the following outlets:
Coffee Shop at Methodist Church, Birstall Garden Centre, McColls
Sibson Rd, Grahams Greengrocers Kingsgate, J Michael Butchers
south end of Sibson Rd, Exquisite Hairdressers Lambourne Rd,
Wanlip Lane Newsagent, Went Rd Newsagent, Mark Patrick Butcher
Sibson Road, Kingsgate Post Office, Stonehill Post Office and
Ann-El Maria Hairdressers (nr traffic lights)
Coffee Mornings
Two recent coffee mornings raised over £300 each. One was
for the general funds of the Pre School and £335 was raised
for the Tsunami victims of Sri-Lanka
Speakers Wanted
The Midweek luncheon club is looking for anyone who could give
a short half hour talk to those (mainly elderly) folk after having
their lunch. Contact Mary Downs 2672606
Your Say...
It appears that I have missed out on the current trend in
good customer relations. I now understand that the correct procedure
when confronted with a dissatisfied customer is to close his
account and cease to do business with him. Of course, don't bother
doing him the courtesy of informing him of your actions, that
would be too difficult.
This is the problem solving policy adopted by McColls Newsagents
in Sibson Road. I will not bore you with the finer details, but
having put up with problems going back as far as January, I had
a very unsatisfactory encounter with the shop manageress on Saturday
during which time I was accused of having a bad attitude because
I showed no interest in the shop's internal accounting procedures
and question the staff training and inability to provide the
level of service required.
No newspaper came Sunday, nor Monday. On enquiry, I was told
that my account had been terminated. No further explanation,
no notice, just no papers.
So there you go folks. Got a problem with McColls? Go tell the
manageress. She'll solve it on the spot. You won't get any more
newspapers from her, but so what? You're only the poor sap who
pays her wages.
Let me stress that in my dealings with McColls the counter staff
have always treated me with courtesy and politeness.
N Black
The developers and Charnwood Borough Council have not published
a list of sites that may be developed 'North of Birstall'. It
would help if we were given definite locations and not vague
statements such as 'North of Birstall'. It is my understanding
that Triangulation Pillars do not mark parish boundaries. The
only site from a logical point of view is North West Wanlip and
ensures that only Birstall and Rothley are concerned. The Thurmaston
councillor thinks that it is the ideal site. If North West Wanlip
is developed then the planners will want to build in central
Wanlip. All this building will bring more traffic into Birstall.
Have the planners considered the dangerous Bentley Road?
Two roundabouts with traffic lights are needed now. The speed
limit must be 40mph and extended to the A6/A46 junction now.
The Park and Ride must be adjacent to the A6/A46 or some of the
school playing fields will be lost. I am not impressed with the
access/exit which is nearly completed.
What happened to the alterations from Station Road to Greengate
Lane; trees would be felled and a bus lane made through Red Hill
circle.
Balancing ponds
There are two sites in Leicestershire; the one in Braunstone
is named as a storm drainage pond and feeds into Braunstone Brook.
It was shut by the Environment Agency (Leicester Mercury, Tuesday
May 9, 2006) after investigators took samples of the liquid.
Mobile Masts
The phone people say that there is no health risk from antennae,
but concede that mobile phones should be switched off near delicate
equipment. We see this warning all the time. With all this development
planned in and around Birstall/Wanlip the only place for a powerful
39 foot antennae is on top of the A46 embankment with less powerful
antennae elsewhere. A 30 ft antennae near the doctor's surgery
could interfere with Bayes Theorem.
L A Briers
Thanks to everyone who supported the concert given by the
663 Instrumental Ensemble & Friends at Birstall Village Hall
on May 14. After expenses, £230 has been donated to charities.
Cynthia Coltman (Mrs)
On April 28 I retired from Greengate Medical Centre after
23 happy years.
I would like to thank the girls I worked with for my beautiful
watch - it will be a treasured keepsake. Thank you also for making
my last day so special with banners and balloons.
I would also like to thank friends and patients who took the
time to come in to say goodbye to me. I was overwhelmed by the
many cards and your kind words and thank you to those who brought
in gifts of flowers, chocolates and wine.
And finally thank you to the doctors for their gift of £50
garden centre vouchers which I can put towards something really
useful.
May Evatt, The Crossways
I was awakened on Thursday morning to the horrendous sound
of what could only be described as a distressed dinosaur.
I thought for a few minutes and remembered that I had heard this
sound before on Thursday mornings. This sound had also come from
other parts of the village, and then it suddenly came to me.
It came from the council's green and brown bag collection lorry.
Even recycling can have its funnier moments.
Bill Hill, Wanlip Ave
How sad it is to have to write this letter, to say that the
memorial plaque that was fitted to my shop wall in Hannah Parade
has been defaced by a mindless person. It has been severely defaced
with a sharp object. The type of person, if that be the correct
term in this day and age, that has carried out this childish
crime, will never grow into the man that was awarded the VC for
his bravery.
We sadly lost his widow Mrs Hannah last year and she would have
been destroyed to see this disgraceful behaviour. I wish this
mindless moron all they get in life, and if they would like some
advice I will be only too happy to give them a very large helping
hand.
If any person has any information of this disgraceful act I will
be only too pleased to hear from them
John Hoskins, Midland Window Installations
Pray allow me to use your columns yet again to appeal for
information. My object this time is to try to answer, for Birstall,
that ageless problem - "What did you do in the war?"
I lived my early life in the last world war. I remember ration
books, I remember air raid sirens, I remember spending nights
in air-raid shelters. Where I lived at the time was not a prime
target for German bombs, so we only had one raid; but the V1s
and V2s were not controlled, just pointed, so we had to move
(temporarily) west, outside their range. My father worked for
the Ministry of Works, my mother for the Ministry of Food. None
of my family was on the front line - the war was brought to us,
not we to the war.
What happened when the war was brought to Birstall? Where were
the air-raid shelters? Are any still there? (I believe I know
where one still stands in a back garden). What of the home guard?
Do you have any tales of the blackout? Do you still have any
tin helmets or stirrup pumps lying about? Did granddad keep on
telling the same stories until you got sick of them?
If you have any stories or information I would like to hear from
you. Please keep to Birstall and its region unless your memories
have direct bearing on the lives of Birstall people at that time.
If your great granddad was an MP and voted through a bill to
nationalise the Birstall allotments, fair enough; if you stormed
Monte Casino, remarkable as your story may be, there are others
who long to hear it and I would not be able to cope.
With thanks for any information you can give.
Dr DAC McNeil, the Assistant Heritage Warden
PS Please do not forget the bluebells and the frogs
Contact Dr McNeil via the Birstall Post - Ed
It is very sad to record the death of Bernard Crayfourd who
died on May 4. Bernard was a very pleasant, friendly, likeable
person who was always ready to help others. He was a councillor
in Birstall Parish Council for several years and he was a member
of several organisations and did a lot of voluntary work for
his fellow citizens. During the past few years he suffered severe
health problems following an operation and he had to have frequent
admissions to hospital but this did not stop him from continuing
to serve the community in various ways. Bernard was the Parish
Council representative on the committee of Age Concern Birstall
and Wanlip and for the past 4½ years he had been the vice
chairman.
On behalf of the committee of Age Concern I pay tribute to Bernard
for all his commitment and the time he spent in helping others
and particularly for his contribution to the work of Age Concern
and the welfare of people at St James Day Centre.
Jex Woods
We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to
all our family, friends and neighbours for their cards, flowers
and support following the sudden death of David Woods (Woody).
You have all been there for us at this sad time and you have
given us the strength to get through. We know he would have been
proud.
We would also like to thank Rev James Shakespeare for the lovely
service and kind words. Also to all at the Trees public house.
Many thanks
Lesley, Donna & Connor Woods
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NHW news
BIRSTALL & Wanlip NHW is pleased to
announce that they have another member sitting on the North West
Leicestershire Neighbourhood Watch Executive Committee.
Rita Franks has joined Rosie Rollings on the executive committee
of this charity that aims to enable co-ordination between the
various Neighbourhood Watch schemes in north Leicestershire.
The Annual General Meeting was held at Quorn Grange with various
speakers, including one from 'Warning Zone' a children's education
centre.
Based at Syston, the Warning Zone centre aims to teach school
children aged between 10 and 11 years old how to stay safe in
their everyday lives and help them learn about the responsibility
they have to their personal safety.
Rosie Rollings said: "If you could spare the equivalent
of one day a month you could make a real difference so please
get in touch. The scheme is also ideal if there are a group of
friends that would like to work together for a couple of sessions
a month, and also ideal for anyone wanting to gain experience
for a chosen career. If you are interested please get in touch
with the Watch on 2676397 and we will pass your details on."
From Rosie Rollings, Secretary
St James church
THE SEASONS which the church celebrates
with particular joy, Easter and Pentecost (which used to be known
as Whitsuntide), are now behind us and with the half-term holiday
this month, most people's thoughts are turning to holidays and
the outdoors - our English weather permitting!
After the 11 o'clock Open House service at St James on Sunday
June 18 there is to be a parish picnic on the lawn next to the
church. Everyone is invited to come along with their own picnic
and there will be games organised for the children.
Following a very successful holiday near Scarborough last year,
47 people from the parish will be setting off by coach for Cober
Hill on Monday July 3, knowing that they will be very well looked
after and fed, and hoping that the East Coast winds will not
blow too strongly during their stay! Those not so fortunate as
the holiday makers will be supporting the Birstall Gala, particularly
the service to be held on Sunday July 2 on the playing field
at 10am and the stall which Churches Together will be manning
that day.
The congregations of our two churches have been delighted to
hear that we are to have a new curate. Mary Williams will be
ordained as a deacon (the stage before becoming a priest) in
Leicester Cathedral on Sunday, July 2. With her husband, Jonathan
and their two children aged 5 and 7, she will be moving into
the curate's house in Walker Road to take up her duties locally.
We are very fortunate in these days of clergy shortages to have
Many appointed to Birstall and Wanlip and we look forward to
welcoming her and her family to the parish.
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Age Concern info
Independent Living Fund : Increase
The Department for Work and Pensions has announced that the maximum
grant payable through the Independent Living Fund (ILF) will
be increased from April from £420 to the £455 per
week for the 1993 Fund and from £715 to £785 per
week for the Extension Fund. The ILF currently supports over
17,500 disabled people.
Dept for work and Pensions Press Release, March 9, 2006.
Equality Act Gains Royal Assent
The Equality Act received Royal Assent on February 16, 2006,
paving the way for the Commission for Equality and Human Rights
(CEHR) to be launched in October next year. The Act will also
introduce a new 'gender duty', requiring public bodies to ensure
equality of opportunity between men and women when preparing
policies or delivering services. In addition, the Act will outlaw
discrimination in goods, facilities and services on grounds of
religion or belief. It also provides power to outlaw this type
of discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation; the Government
is currently consulting on how this power might be used.
The new CEHR will work with public services, business, communities
and individuals to promote equality, diversity and human rights.
It will bring together the work of the Disability Rights Commission,
the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Commission for Racial
Equality as well as championing the newer equality strands of
age, religion and belief, and sexual orientation. The powers
and duties of the commission will include a duty to monitor progress
on equality, human rights and good relations between different
groups by publishing regular 'state of the nation' reports.
(Dept of Trade and Industry Press Release P/2006/41, February
16, 2006)
Adult Protection : Report on Elder Abuse
Action on Elder Abuse has completed a two year study, funded
by the Department of Health, of current adult protection systems.
The project was intended to look at the current implementation
of the Department of Health's No Secrets guidance on adult protection,
and to develop and test a national recording system, so that
the extent of adult abuse can be recorded with different local
authorities using the same system. The project will also provide
data to the Government about current recording systems, and contribute
to a performance indicator relating to the protection of vulnerable
adults.
The project undertook in-depth studies of nine local authority
areas. Key findings are that:
o two-thirds of victims of abuse are women;
o over half of victims referred were aged over 65;
o in 28% of cases the alleged perpetrator was either an institution,
such as a care home or hospital, or a paid care worker
o although over 10% of referrals concerned alleged abuse by care
workers, only 1.6% resulted in disciplinary action and 1.4% in
a referral to the Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) register;
o main family carers were rarely the perpetrators; other family
members were much more likely to be the abusers;
o service providers or local authorities were the most frequent
source of referrals;
o the most frequent location of abuse, in over 30% of the cases,
was the victim's own home, followed by 29% of cases where the
victim was a care home resident:
o of 639 referrals, 450 led to strategy meetings and only 157
to case conferences;
o only 17.5% of referrals resulted in abuse being substantiated;
o the most frequent outcome of an investigation was 'increased
monitoring', but more detailed information is needed about what
this means in practice;
o Social Services were the organisation most frequently involved
in investigations followed by the police and the commission for
Social Care Inspection; and
o of 639 referrals, only 5 resulted in a decision to proceed
with a criminal prosecution, though in 48 cases the police took
some other action.
On the basis of these findings, Action on Elder Abuse makes recommendations
for more standardised recording. The most difficult issue in
this respect is seen as defining who is a vulnerable adult. In
some cases local authorities are seen as adopting a narrow definition
that excludes many people who are vulnerable to abuse. People
with low level mental health problems or a personality disorder,
low level learning difficulties or substance misuse problems,
and older people living independently are seen as particularly
at risk of exclusion. It is important that use of community care
services, which forms part of the definition of a vulnerable
adult in No Secrets, is interpreted broadly. It is recommended
that No Secrets should be amended to remove the current reference
to eligibility for community care services. Where a vulnerable
adult does not consent to referral, it is recommended that there
should still be an initial investigation and strategy discussion,
and consideration of the person's capacity and of possible public
interest issues. It is noted that police prosecution guidance
on domestic abuse states that a decision to prosecute does not
rest with the victim alone, and that it is dangerous to allow
the perpetrator to believe that it does. It is recommended that
good practice and lessons learned in dealing with domestic violence
could in many cases be applied to responding to abuse of vulnerable
adults.
Adult Protection Data Collection and Reporting Requirements.
71pp. Price £5. Available from Action on Elder Abuse, 1268
London Road, London SW16 4ER. Tel: 020 8765 7000. Fax: 020 8679
4074. Also available free on the internet at www.elderabuse.org.uk/Useful%downloads/AEA/AP%20Monitoring.pdf
Care Homes : Meals for Older People
The Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI) has published:
Highlight of the Day? - Improving Meals for Older People in Care
Homes. This bulletin is the first of a planned 'In Focus' series
looking at quality issues with the aim of improving good practice.
The bulletin draws on CSCI's inspection work. It includes examples
of good practice and references to guidance.
Key findings from CSCI's work are:
o 83% of care homes for older people meet the minimum standards
for meals and meal times - a slight improvement since 2002;
o homes that meet the standard typically have sufficient staff,
and staff have been properly trained;
o residents want food to be tasty as well as nutritious served
in pleasant surroundings at the right temperature and not too
rushed; and
o homes need to provide food and drink outside of mealtimes.
It is important to ensure residents do not become dehydrated.
Residents are often reluctant to ask for more in case they appear
ungrateful or greedy.
The report concludes with a checklist for managers. Topics covered
by the checklist include assessment of and consultation with
residents; staff numbers, skills and training; aids and equipment;
and food hygiene.
Highlight of the Day? - Improving Meals for Older People in Care
Homes. Social Care Policy and Practice Bulletin, Issue 1, 31pp.
Available free from CSCI, Admail 3804, NE99 1DY.
Tel: 0870 240 7535. Email: csci@accessplus .co.uk. Also available
on the Internet at www.csci.org.uk/PDF/highlight_of_day.pdf
Information Materials for People With Cancer
Macmillan Cancer Relief has published a 2005-06 directory of
information materials for people with cancer. The directory offers
a guide to a selection of nationally published leaflets, booklets,
audio-visual materials and websites on living with cancer. These
cover the treatment and care of all the common and some of the
less common cancers.
A Directory of Information Materials for People with Cancer 2005/06,
6th edition. 316pp. ISBN:1904918077. Available free from Macmillan
Professional Resources, Macmillan Cancer Support, Freepost RG
172, Bracknell, Berkshire, RG 121 1ZX. Tel: 01344 350310.
Projections of Households for England and the Regions
The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has published data on
likely household numbers in 2026, should past demographic changes
continue.
The figures are based on updated projections of household formation
taking account of the 2001 Census and on National Statistics'
sub-national population projection and the Government Actuary's
Department's national population projections (2003 based).
The number of households in England is projected to increase
from 20.9 million in 2003 to 25.7million by 2026, an annual growth
of 209,000.
On average, the number of one person households aged 55 and over
is likely to increase by 89,000 a year. (Office of the Deputy
Prime Minster Press Release 2006/0042, March 14, 2006)
Information and Advice from Age Concern Leicestershire and Rutland
The Information and Advice Team at Lansdowne House in Leicester
can be contacted Mon-Thurs, 1.30 to 4.30pm and on Fridays, 1.30
to 4pm. Tel: 0116 2992233.
Jex Woods
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