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Getting About
Many carers enjoy taking the person they care for, out and
about. Shopping trips, visits to places of interest or just a quiet walk in a
country park can all re-charge the batteries and provide stimulation and
interest for everyone. Pre-planning can make all the difference to a successful
outing and help prevent those frustrations and disappointments that can mar any
trip.
| Tripscope |
Tripscope,
The Vassall Centre, Helpline: 08457 585641 Gill Ave., Bristol, (with
Minicom BS16 2QQ Fax: 01179 397736 Email: enquiries@tripscope.org.uk
Website:www.tripscope.org.uk |
| Tripscope give a
free information service to people who are disabled and their carers to
help plan and organise a journey regardless of the distance or purpose |
LOCAL ORGANISATIONS who provide general
information about transport and mobility:
| Redbridge
Carers Support Service |
Tel:
020 8514 6251 Fax: 020 8553 2293 Email:office@rcss.org.uk |
| Redbridge Disability
Association (ReDA)
|
Tel:
020 8514 2565 Information and advice service, particularly for Fax: 020
8514 2515 welfare benefit Email:reda@reda-info.co.uk website:
www.reda-info.co.uk |
LOCALLY BASED TRAVEL SCHEMES
| The Blue Badge
Scheme |
The
Blue Badge Scheme allows disabled people to park in areas normally
off-limits to other motorists. |
| The Mobility Card Scheme |
The Mobility Card Scheme allowing
people with disabilities to access a flexible door-to-door transport
service. |
| Freedom passes |
Freedom passes for elderly people
allowing free travel, at certain times on both London Transport and some
British Rail services. For more details of all these schemes contact:
Community Care Advice Centre Tel: 020 8478 3020 Aldborough Road North,
Newbury Park |
| Dial-a-ride scheme |
Dial-a-ride scheme provides
transport locally for people with disabilities. You can book a journey
with them by joining the scheme. Contact North East London Dial-a-Ride
Tel: 020 8498 8200 |
| Transport help
|
Some local Voluntary Organisations offer help with transport
using volunteer drivers. You may be asked to contribute towards the cost of a
journey. Please ask before you book. Redbridge Voluntary Care Tel: 020 8590 3587
And ask for the Duty Officer Volunteer Drivers for Doctor/Hospital visits |
| British Red Cross
The Red Cross can also arrange ambulance transport if
enough notice is given. |
Ilford Tel: 020 8518 9210 Fax: 020 8944
8785 Website - www.redcross.org.uk |
| Redbridge Shopmobility |
Redbridge Shopmobility at the Exchange, Ilford, IG1 1RS has a
selection of scooters, wheelchairs, both electric and self-propelled. Volunteers
can be provided to accompany people needing assistance if notice is given.
Membership is £5.00 for 3 years with a £1.00 charge every time you use the
service. Non - members pay £2.00 per day hire. Open Monday -Saturday 10.00 am -
4.00 pm. Please note manual wheelchairs are available at the Car Park Office
during Sunday. Shopmobility also consider longer-term loans for manual
wheelchairs. For details of all these schemes call Tel: 020 8478 6864 |
LOCAL BUS SERVICES
There are mobility bus services operating
in East London and Essex, which have lifts for wheelchairs and/or low access
steps. For further information and brochure contact: Tel: 020 7222 1234 For
other areas in Essex the Essex Travel Line - 0870 608 2608 may be able to help
with details of services.
USING YOUR OWN CAR
| Road Fund Exemption |
Road Fund Exemption - if the
person you care for receives the higher rate of the mobility component of
the DLA you may be able to claim exemption from road tax. For further
information contact RADAR Tel: 020 7250 3222 Fax: 020 7250 0212 Email:
radar@radar.org.uk Website: http://www.radar.org.uk |
| The Motability Scheme |
The Motability scheme helps disabled people to use their
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to buy a car or electric wheelchair. Anyone
receiving the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA or a War Pensioners
Mobility Supplement can apply. Nearest Motability specialists will be found in
Yellow Pages or Thompson Directories. Motability, Goodman House, Tel: 08454
564566 Station Approach, Website - www.motability.co.uk Harlow, Essex CM20 2ET
Website for Finance - www.msl.co.uk |
| MAVIS |
MAVIS (Mobility Advice Vehicle Information Service) gives
practical advice on driving, car adaptations and car choice for people with
disabilities, both as drivers and passengers. Crawthorne Business Estate, Tel:
01344 661 000 Old Wokingham Road, Fax: 01344 661 066 Crowthorne, RG45 6XD Email:
mavis@detr.gov.uk
|
| National Rail |
For National Rail Enquiries and travel arrangements, including
special fares for disabled people. Tel: 08457 48 49 50
Details regarding Railcards for disabled people are obtainable
from Disabled Person Railcard Office, PO Box 1YT, Newcastle-on-Tyne, NE99 1YT
Tel: 0191 269 0303
|
AIRPORTS
When making a reservation to fly it is important that
you advise your airline of any special needs that may be required, such as a
wheelchair, special diet etc. For further advice or information for travellers
with special needs contact: Gatwick Sub Terminal Tel: 01293 504283 or 01293
503317 Heathrow Travelcare Tel: 020 8745 7495 London City Airport Tel: 020 7646
0000 Stansted Tel: 0870 000 0303
Free courtesy phones are available within airports. You will
speak directly to an operator who will connect you to the relevant section.
HELP WITH COST OF TRAVEL
Those in receipt of the mobility component of Disability
Living Allowance, either on the lower or higher rate can qualify for help.
If you or your partner is in receipt of Income Support, Family
Credit or are on a low income you can get travel costs to hospital if you are
receiving NHS treatment. People who have to accompany the patient can also apply
for payment of fares, providing they also meet the above criteria. Your fares
should be refunded by the hospital and you can ask the staff there about this.
For more details please see leaflet HC11 - Are you entitled to
help with health costs? To make a claim, and it is better to do so before you
need treatment so you know how much help you can get, you will need to use
Claim form HC1, available from Health Literature Line - Tel:
0800 555 777
Benefits Agency offices, main Post Offices NHS hospitals,
Dentists, Opticians, Pharmacists or direct from Health Benefits Division (HBD)
Freepost Box 370, NEA 2730, Newcastle upon Tyne NE99 2ZA.
There is also a free help-line Tel: 0800 91 77 711
If you need help completing the claim form, please contact the
Health Benefits Division, who will call you back Tel: 0191 203 5555
PUBLICATIONS
| 'Door to Door' |
A guide to transport for Disabled People
available from: TSO Workshop, The Stationary Office, 123 Kingsway, London WC2B
6PQ Tel: 020 7242 6393 Website - www.ukstate.com |
| Holiday Care Guide to Accessible
Travel |
The ' obtainable from
Holiday Care, 2nd Floor, Tel: 08451 249971 Imperial Buildings, Fax: 01293 784647
Victoria Road, Horley, Email: holiday.care@virgin.net Surrey RH6 7TZ. Web:
www.holidaycare.org.uk |
|
Access for People with Disabilities in the City
of London
|
'Access for People with disabilities to the City of London' is
a free leaflet produced by the Corporation of London. It includes a map
highlighting disabled persons' parking bays accessible facilities for the
disabled and wheelchair routes. Available in large print, Braille and on tape
from
The Access Officer Tel: 020 7332 1995/1933 Fax: 020 7332 3398
email:julie.fleck@corpoflondon.gov.uk
|
|
Access to the Underground
|
'Access to the Underground' available from Transport for
London - Access & Mobility Windsor House Tel: 020 7941 4600 42-50 Victoria
Street London SW1H 0TL Mon and Tue 9 am - 5 pm Wed - Fri 9 am - 1 pm
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Updated January 2007
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