After securing a place at the prestigious Future Cheer International Cheerleading Championships, held in Bournemouth this June the squad is pulling out all the stops to raise money to cover transport, uniforms, pom-poms and accommodation.

This innovative cheerleading project being run in partnership between Bradford District Care Trust and Hot Ice Cheer & Dance Academy is an excellent example of a learning disabilities project pushing the boundaries, giving people a unique experience to become cheerleaders.

Bernie Nunn, Coach, said: “We’re ready to steal the show in Broumounth and are calling out to the people of Bradford to get behind us and show their support. We’re the only team in the North for people with learning disabilities. We will have our pom-poms at the ready to compete against three other learning disability teams at the Nationals.

“We’re practicing every Tuesday to perfect our routine and we would love for people to come along to our event and see us in action.”

The cheer and dance event will be held Monday 29 March at Victoria Hall, Saltaire. The night will be filled with fun for everyone. With a host of stalls, tombolas, raffles and prizes to be won.

The stars of the evening will be the Jewels, giving you a sneak preview of their routine for the nationals. They will be performing alongside a number of dance and cheer groups across Bradford.

Jumping Jewels, a team of staff from the Care Trust are working hard behind the scenes as part of their leadership programme to help the squad achieve their dream.

Sylvia Agbareh, from Jumping Jewels, said: “We have organised this event in hope that we can help raise enough money to actually get the squad to the nationals. Although they have secured a place we need the funding to get them there.

“The course is helping us learn and develop new skills by placing us in a community project we wouldn’t usually be part of. Working alongside the Jewels is creating a deeper emotion connection to our work.”

Doors open at 6.15pm and performances start at 7pm. Refreshments will also be available.Tickets are £10 for adults, children (under 12) £6 and under 5s free. For a ticket please call Nicola Mortimer, 01274 228141 or Sam Hirst on 01274 228174.

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For more information please contact Sam Hirst on 01274 228174

Robert Davies, who has Down’s syndrome and lives in Ilkley, won a Leeds competition that saw people with learning disabilities travel from far and wide to secure a much sought after place in newly formed band, ‘The Outsiders’.

Mr Davies said: “When I found out I had got a place I was very excited. I love playing the guitar but I’ve never done anything like this before.”

The Outsiders, made up of 10 band members have spent the initial few weeks together learning more about the music business, marketing themselves as musicians and rehearsing for live performances. They are due to perform at top Leeds music venues, including the Carriageworks Theatre, in March.

Mr Davies is a service user at Bradford District Care Trust’s Ilkley Supported Accommodation, where his recent success has gone down a storm with staff and residents.

Dr Yvonne Smith, Assistant Manager at Keighley and Ilkley Supported Accomodation, said: “Everybody here is so proud of Robert’s achievement. All our staff have been very proactive in maximising opportunities for Robert and the other service users at the unit are very excited for him.

“He is a very talented individual and we are absolutely delighted that he has gained this opportunity for stardom”.

The project has been funded by a grant from the Learning Revolution, and is run by Connect in the North, Let Rip and Standpoint.

From protected meal times for service users to having access to admission packs we are acting on our belief that service users should at all times receive the privacy, dignity and respect they deserve.

Julie Megaw, Acting Head of Nursing,  said: “To ensure people have a positive experience we take into consideration the individual’s culture, age, background, likes and dislikes so we know exactly what their needs are.

“Sometimes it isn’t easy to meet those needs but by taking a holistic approach and involving the individual, relatives and carers we can provide the care people need in a dignified manner.”

There are many approaches we take to ensure service users are treated with the dignity, respect and privacy they deserve.

Admission packs are made available to service users should they require them, which include toiletries and clothing to make their stay more dignified.

Protected meal times have been rolled out in older people’s inpatient services. This provides staff, relatives and carers to spend dedicated time with service users to ensure they are receiving the nutrition they need in a calm atmosphere.

Additionally, a number of in-patient wards have increased their standards for single sex accommodation to make sure service users are comfortable whilst receiving care. Female and male only lounges have been introduced, and service users have access to separate toilet and washing facilities within or next to their ward, bay or room.

We  also provides space for religious and cultural activities, private visitor suites and child friendly rooms.

Simon Large, Chief Executive said: “Ensuring dignity at Bradford District Care Trust is everyone’s business. It underpins all our work, its part of what we do, everyday. It’s the little things that we do that can make such a difference like the words we use and knocking on a door before entering a room.”

The mental health and learning disabilities service provider is calling for others to follow in its footsteps during National Apprenticeship Week, Monday 1 February – Friday 5 February.

Offering apprenticeships in a range of areas from health and social care to management, the Care Trust is helping local people combine work with learning.

Director of Human Resources, Sandra Knight, said: “We have been providing apprenticeships for all ages and abilities for the past five years and they are proving to be very beneficial to the Trust.

“Apprenticeships are a great way to gain high-quality recruits. Work based learning helps new and existing employees to increase their skills and knowledge whilst gaining nationally recognised qualifications.

“I would certainly encourage other organisations to follow our lead; apprenticeships add depth and diversity to teams, rejuvenate workforces and give local people a chance in employment.”

This year Bradford District Care Trust currently has a Trust-record of 44 apprentices.

Alison Ackew, Apprenticeship Lead at NHS Yorkshire and the Humber said: “The Strategic Health Authority ( NHS Yorkshire and the Humber ) would like to commend Bradford District Care Trust for wholeheartedly embracing the challenge to increase the numbers of apprenticeships in the NHS.”

Wanda Dorenski-Holmes is just one of the committed apprentices who has seen her life transform for the better through her apprenticeship at the Trust.

Case Study

Wanda said: “I left school with no qualifications. I couldn’t use a computer and I had never experienced the internet. I wasn’t very articulate and I didn’t have much confidence.”

Nearing retirement, Wanda found herself wanting to develop further. She said: “It’s never too late to learn new skills. When an apprenticeship opportunity at the Care Trust came along, I knew I wanted to do it. It was daunting and I was apprehensive but I did it and I’m so glad I did.

“I’m not saying being an apprentice was easy, it was challenging. Whatever age and from whatever background with the right support and determination to develop yourself you can do. I had lots of support from the Trust, my manager, colleagues and family.”

On completing the apprenticeship Wanda felt a great sense of achievement. She said: “When I found out I had successfully passed my apprenticeship I was so proud of myself. My confidence increased so much and for the first time, it really felt like I had achieved something in my life.”

Wanda successfully completed NVQ Level 2 and NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care, which has helped her in her current post as Senior Instructor at New Ridge, a day service provider for people with learning disabilities.

Wanda added: “Studying for qualifications is not just about what’s in a book, it’s important you can apply what you learn to everyday situations and being an apprentice gives you that opportunity; it’s the right balance of theory and practical work.

“I have learnt so many new skills through the apprenticeship. I learnt to use a computer and surfed the internet for the first time! I was frightened of trying something new but I love working with computers now.”

As Wanda continues to polish her new found technology skills she is realising just how much being an apprentice has benefitted those around her.

“My new skills have enabled me to improve the services we offer. As a result of my apprenticeship I have developed new feedback forms for service users to communicate their feelings and thoughts about activities they do.

“Other colleagues and partner organisations have adopted some of the feedback forms I have created, which is a really good feeling, and evidence that I’ve been able to make a positive difference to those around me.”

Wanda, recently scooped the Care Trust’s ‘Learner of the Year’ award and is a role model to her colleagues who are also working towards qualifications.

“It’s a fantastic feeling to help other apprentices at the Trust. I know what they’re going through so I make sure I’m here to offer support and reassurance when things get tough.”

Encouraging other organisations to consider apprentices, Wanda said: “I really believe more organisations should be offering apprenticeships. Apprentices really do have a lot to offer; they want to be there, they want to learn and above all they want to help an organisation move forward.”

Since completing her apprenticeship Wanda’s outlook on life has now changed.

“My apprenticeship has really changed many areas of my life for the better; nothing is holding me back now. My confidence has increased, my skills have improved and I’m always on the look out for new things to get stuck in to. A couple of months ago I was thinking about retirement, now the world’s my oyster.”

If you would like to find out more about jobs at Bradford District Care Trust and the range of apprenticeships available please visit www.jobs.nhs.uk

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For further information please contact Sam Hirst, Communications Manager, 01274 228174.

The Bradford based Jewels have secured a place at the prestigious Future Cheer International Cheerleading Championships, held in Bournemouth this June. A victory would see them go through to the USASF World Cheerleading Championships held in Disney World, Florida in April 2011.

The twenty strong squad have been perfecting their cheers as part of a project being run in partnership between Bradford District Care Trust and Hot Ice Cheer & Dance Academy based at Manningham Sports Centre, Bradford.

The team is now asking other local businesses to back their pioneering campaign.

Coach, Bernie Nunn, said: “The team has surpassed all my expectations.  They have come so far in such a little time and they are now correcting me on the specifics of their routine.

“The team are doing all they can to raise money to cover transport, uniforms, pom-poms and accommodation but it would be great if local businesses would add their support.

“The Jewels training kit is sponsored by Banana Moon, but we are desperate to find someone to sponsor our performance kit.”

The squad has lots to offer potential sponsors, the Jewels will do everything they can to promote sponsors names within the district and beyond, in particular at the National Future Cheerleading Competition.

Andy Waller, Project Manager at Bradford District Care Trust, said: “This isn’t just about cheerleading the group are learning new skills, their confidence is growing, new friendships are being made and its increasing health and fitness of the team in a fun way.

“The Jewels will be shaking their pom-poms for Bradford at the nationals and we hope Bradford will get behind them.”

If you are interested in supporting the team contact Helena Dale, 01274 490 736, Helena.Dale@bdct.nhs.uk or Andy Waller, 01274 323890, Andrew.Waller@bdct.nhs.uk .

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For further information please contact Sam Hirst, Communications Manager, 01274 228174.

Bradford District Care Trust has welcomed the publication of the government’s ‘Keeping Children and Young People in Mind’ document that aims to deliver high-quality mental health services for young people locally.

Mark Vaughan, General Manager, said: “The publication of the response document is a significant step in the right direction for child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) as it emphasises the importance of early identification of mental health problems in order to improve outcomes and prospects in later life.”

Ministers have set aside £58 million to establish mental health services near schools and other places children and young people go.

The response from the Government follows an independent review conducted in 2008 that found local services had made significant progress in recent years, but more needed to be done to improve the consistency, accessibility and sustainability of services.

Mr Vaughan added: “As a mental health service provider we fully support any positive developments within CAMHS and I am looking forward to developing services locally alongside our partner organisations.”

Bradford District Care Trust collected artwork from service users after Chief Executive Simon Large expressed his desire for this years corporate Christmas card to include their artwork.

James Marsh, a service user at Seen and Heard, a group that supports looked after children and young adults in Bradford, created the winning design which will feature on all of the Christmas Cards sent out by the Chair and Chief Executive this winter.

Barry Seal, Chair, and Sally Prescott, Head of Involvement and Equality, had the challenging task of choosing the final design.

Mr Seal said: “Choosing the final design was especially difficult – the ones we received were of a very high standard and all very different. By the time we had made our decision we had paint and glitter all over ourselves – they were definitely creative!”

James’s drawing of a snowman was eventually chosen after a long period of deliberation as it is seasonal, pleasant and will reproduce easily for the large quantity of cards required.

Artwork was submitted from various mental health support groups across the district, including Seen and Heard, Strawberry Street, MIND and CAMHS.

A flagship charity shop, 2nd Time Around, is set to open its doors on Cavendish Street in Keighley in the New Year and will be the first business unit of its kind to be set up and fronted by people with learning disabilities and mental health problems.

On the night, service users at Melville House, a learning disability employment service based in Bradford, will showcase designs that have been sourced and styled for their new look store, with the help of fashion students from Bradford College.

Sharon Morris, service user, said: “I’m really looking forward to being a model at the fashion show as I’ve never done it before.”

Melville House has been transformed into a bustling sorting site for collected items, and with the help of support workers, service users have revamped the items in preparation to be sold in the new self-funded shop.

The catwalk show and 2nd Time Around shop has been made possible thanks to the hard work of staff at Bradford District Care Trust. Working in partnership with local voluntary sector organisations it is just one of a programme of events set to inspire both staff and service users alike.

Steve Keyes, Programme Leader said: “As part of our Exciting Futures Leadership and Management Programme we are creating real opportunities for our service users and reigniting their connection with staff.

“This fashion show is just the beginning; we have a number of other projects that will be completed in the new year, all of which are set to raise the profile of learning disabilities and mental health service users in the local community. “

A new government strategy has been praised by a local mental health and learning disabilities service provider.

Bradford District Care Trust has welcomed the publication of the government’s New Horizons strategy that aims to make mental health and wellbeing everybody’s business.

Barry Seal, Chair, said: “The announcement of the New Horizons strategy is a great step forward for mental health. Unfortunately many people shy away from dealing with mental health problems but this strategy will bring it into the mainstream, which will make it harder for people to ignore.”

The strategy aims to tackle depression in people of all ages, prevent mental health problems from developing, improve access to support services and challenge stigma.

Mr Seal added: “As a mental health service provider we fully support the government’s new approach and are proud to be involved in it. We are here to offer much needed support to local communities and are really looking forward to being able to introduce new initiatives that will enhance our services across the district.”

Sovereign Health Care presented nursing staff at Bradford District Care Trust with a cheque for £8,000.

The generous donation from the Bradford-based health care cash plan provider will be used to promote nurse training and development in mental health.

Nick Morris, Director of Nursing Strategy, said: “Once again we are extremely grateful to Sovereign for their tremendous ongoing support.

“This generous donation will go a long way to ensure staff have the opportunity to access further specialist training that will develop their learning and enhance our services.”

Sovereign Health Care Chief Executive, Russ Piper, said: “We are delighted to be able to support the excellent work of Bradford District Care Trust. It has been a key beneficiary of the Sovereign Health Care Charitable Trust for over 20 years.

“This year is no different and once again we are pleased to be supporting the nurses training grants with a donation of £8,000.”