Leonard Cheshire Disability’s CEO Clare Pelham on poverty
Clare Pelham had this to say in Leonard Cheshire’s annual accounts 2014-2015: Disabled people are more likely to be living in poverty and less likely to have savings than most. The pressures on social...
View ArticleThe cost of orange peel
Our responsible citizen, Luke Gutteridge, was walking somewhere in Broxbourne council’s jurisdiction one day when he accidentally dropped a 10p sized piece of orange peel without noticing. A council...
View Article“Wheelchair accessible” Taxis and School Transport
People who know me know that I’m the largest land mammal in the world. As such I struggle somewhat to get into most supposedly “accessible” taxis. I end up with my shoulders rammed against the ceiling;...
View ArticleLeonard Cheshire’s lottery-fuelled Pandora’s box?
Leonard Cheshire have announced that the Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded them £242,250 to “enable the charity to use its archives to raise awareness about the history of disabled people“, topped up...
View ArticlePayment methods for £10 DPA SAR fee #2
A few weeks ago, I raised the question of what payment mechanisms a data controller must accept for the payment of the £10 fee for a Subject Access Request. I have had a somewhat protracted discussion...
View ArticleEquality Act and Disability written submissions published
The Lords Select Committee on the Equality Act 2010 and Disability has published the written submissions made for its consideration. We’ve all had to avoid publishing our evidence until now; it’s...
View ArticleDisability Discrimination: number of cases
There’s a Lords committee afoot, looking at the efficacy of the Equality Act 2010 as relates to disability discrimination. (Snappily entitled the Equality Act 2010 and Disability Committee.) Given...
View ArticleThe Frequency of Conflict over Bus Wheelchair Spaces
In oral evidence to the Select Committee on the Equality Act 2010 and Disability on Tuesday just gone (3rd November), after apposite and powerful evidence from Transport for All / Gwynneth Peddler...
View ArticleApplications for S28 Assistance
As part of my research into the number of disability discrimination – goods and services cases taken under the Equality Act 2010, I have sent a Freedom of Information request to the Equality and Human...
View ArticleEquality Act Disability Select Committee evidence
Well, that was a nervy and interesting experience. I am very grateful to the Lords Select Committee on the Equality Act 2010 and Disability for giving me the opportunity to give evidence today, along...
View Article“Wheelchair accessible” National Express coaches
There’s a coach service that stops in Wetherby, my home town, once a day in each direction, to Newcastle upon Tyne via Durham and southbound to Nottingham via Leeds and Sheffield. I thought I’d try it...
View ArticleClare Pelham doesn’t support legal action for disabled peoples’ rights
Clare Pelham was interviewed by Peter White today on Radio 4 “You and Yours”, about disabled peoples’ difficulties in accessing buses. This is because their survey of 179 wheelchair users found “over...
View ArticleProof of email server receipt = proof of receipt of FOI request
The ICO has decided in decision notice FS50559082 (yet to appear on the ICO’s website, so for now check the annotation on WhatDoTheyKnow) that server logs indicating receipt by a public authority’s...
View ArticleOn the nature of party balloons and catheters
When you deflate a balloon it never goes back to its original shape. This isn’t usually a problem. But it is in this context. Those are silicone Foley catheters, if you are wondering. I’ve got a hole...
View ArticleSteer Clear of Teleflorist.co.uk / “Eflorist” / “Euroflorist”– they can’t be...
I have just successfully sued Teleflorist / Eflorist / Euroflorist after they let me down badly and didn’t give a stuff. We had a family celebration holiday at the frankly wonderful Calvert Trust...
View ArticleUK to Amsterdam by Train in a Wheelchair
I travelled from York to Amsterdam recently by train. It’s surprisingly quick and easy, and there aren’t any silly baggage restrictions, nor did I have to get out of my wheelchair at any point. But...
View ArticleNumber of Disability Discrimination (Goods and Services) cases not recorded
I’ve noted in blogs passim that the Department for Work and Pensions promised the Work and Pensions Commons Select Committee in 2009 that it would collate statistics on disability discrimination cases...
View ArticleSlimming World Syn values of Diet Chef foods
I am a fat whatsit and really need to lose weight. I lost a lot on Slimming World a few years ago, then did Diet Chef for a while, now I’m back on Slimming World again (there’s more choice and it’s...
View ArticleWhere does Leonard Cheshire’s money go? Evicting Honresfeld residents at no...
Leonard Cheshire has decided to close Honresfeld Cheshire Home, Littleborough. It notified the residents and staff on 27th January of the impending closure at the end of March. 22 disabled people with...
View ArticleTrouble brewing at Leonard Cheshire?
Clare Pelham, CEO of Leonard Cheshire, is resigning. She’s resigning without another job to go to. She’s a career politician. She was previously first chief executive of the Judicial Appointments...
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