Latest News
Thank you to Ruth for running the Great North Run!
14th September 2021
A HUGE thank you and well done to Ruth, from our Children and Young People's Service, who completed the Great North Run at the weekend in an amazing time of 3 hours 15 minutes and so far has raised £320.00 for DAD.🏃👋
Well done Ruth and thank you to everyone who has donated so far!
You can still donate through Ruth's Just Giving page and any donations would be much appreciated
DBC Consultation launched on Gambling Policy
01st September 2021
A public consultation has been launched following a review of Darlington’s Gambling Policy.
Darlington Borough Council has released a new Statement of Principles for the Gambling Act 2005 (Gambling Policy) and wants to hear the views of local residents, businesses and other organisations.
Councillor Jonathan Dulston, deputy leader of Darlington Borough Council, explained:
“Many people enjoy gambling, but for some, gambling poses serious risks and can cause devastating harm both directly and indirectly.
“In recent years we have seen a change from more traditional methods of gambling, such as betting shops, towards online forums, such as mobile phone apps and computers. Public trust and confidence in gambling has declined and there is significant public concern about the visibility of gambling and the impact this may have on children, young people and others who might be vulnerable.
“Although gambling is considered a legitimate leisure activity, it must be licensed and regulated to ensure consumers and the wider public are protected.
“The council recognises the role it plays in minimising the harmful effects gambling may have and we want to hear your views on the new Gambling Policy.”
Joy Allen, Police and Crime Commissioner for County Durham and Darlington said:
“Gambling harm can have a devastating impact on victims, businesses and on the lives and families of those who commit crime to support gambling or to pay off gambling-related debts. I welcome this approach and depth of understanding shown by Darlington Borough Council around some of the hidden harms associated with gambling as they seek public’s views on their new gambling policy.
“We have already had a number of positive discussions on how we can work together to reduce gambling related harm and crime. I look forward to working in partnership with the council, public health, gambling businesses, and experts by experience to make fast progress to reduce the harm caused by gambling in Darlington and prevent associated crime, homelessness, domestic abuse, child neglect and suicides.”
The revised policy will be introduced in January 2022 as part of a three-year review cycle. There are few amendments as there have been no legislative changes in the last three years, but the views of the public are now being sought for consideration before the new policy is implemented.
You can view the proposed policy online at www.darlington.gov.uk/gambling. You have until 19 September 2021 to share your views – you can do this by emailing licensing@darlington.gov.uk or you can contact Colin Dobson, licensing manager on 01325 405988.
If you require information, advice and support for anyone harmed by gambling, GamCare can be contacted free on 0808 820 133 or by visiting its website at www.gamcare.org.uk
Domestic abuse services
11th August 2021
Part of the current domestic abuse needs assessment data gathering process involves gathering the voice of survivors/victims. This is proving to be quite a challenge however it is essential in identifying gaps in provision and developing a strategy that is survivor led and relevant to the needs of our community.
Bronwyn Lilley, DBC Domestic Abuse Commissioning Officer, would be most grateful you could complete the survey as a survivor or an agency who works with survivors who have required domestic abuse services. This is regardless of whether you were able to access services or not – this way they can identify the gaps. The Act focuses on domestic abuse services within ‘relevant accommodation’ however it would be useful to have an understanding of services broadly as well as those offered within relevant accommodation.
3 R's Project
08th July 2021
DAD has been supporting people through COIVD to stay connected and understand the guidance. The next steps as restrictions ease is supporting people to become reconnected. With support of our funders we have launched a new project called the 3R’s.
It is called the 3 R project as it supports people to:
Re-connect
Regain confidence
Regain Skills
Jenny Byers is co-ordinating the project with the support of Margaret Langan. It is great success so far supporting over 15 people. Support has included helping people to access the community and develop friendships naturally and outside of our support, peer support session, transport training and confidence building, mindfulness sessions and other session to help develop well-being including bowling, circus skills, walks.
Other sessions will include developing IT skills, creative expression and art sessions, development of self-advocacy. Four sessions are delivered each week and the aim is that they are community based and COVID secure to enable to people to regain confidence, skills and friendships to last in the long term which will support people to remove some of the barriers which COVID has brought.
We are evaluating the project throughout and look forward to seeing the positive outcomes it will bring.
IMPACT: IMProving Adult Care Together
10th June 2021
IMPACT stands for ‘Improving Adult Care Together’. It is a new £15 million UK centre for implementing evidence in adult social care, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC), part of UK Research and Innovation, and the Health Foundation. It will be led by Professor Jon Glasby at the University of Birmingham, with a Leadership Team of 12 other academics, people using social care services, and policy and practice partners - along with a broader consortium of key stakeholders from across the sector and across the four nations of the UK.
What is IMPACT trying to achieve? In the words of one of the people using services who has helped to shape proposals for the new centre, IMPACT believes that “good support isn’t just about ‘services’ – it’s about having a life."
IMPACT are interested in hearing from everyone who is involved with adult social care in whatever capacity.
Please complete this survey: https://bham.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9tnuKolsBb3OfGu
This is the English version. Translations to Bengali, Gujarat, Polish, Punjabi, Urdu and Welsh will follow. We will also launch an easy read version later in the month.
IMPACT have recently launched our website https://more.bham.ac.uk/impact/ which will enable you to keep up-to-date with our activities as these progress. We will start to update this over the coming weeks.
How you can support us
As a local organisation we very much rely on the support of our local community, and continue to support people flexibly to have greater choice and control and remove the barriers that disabled people and children experience in their everyday lives. We support over 2,000 people every year. But we need your help.