Remembering survivors of the Polish November Uprising

180 years ago the first wave of Polish migrants reached the safe shore of Portsmouth. 212 Polish Soldiers, survivors of the Polish November Uprising against Tsarist Russian rule, found their safety here in the British naval port.

Kindly received by the people of Portsmouth they became a part of the local community, found work, married and raised families.

In 2004 a memorial to those Polish Soldiers was completed and is located at Kingston Cemetery, St. Mary's Road, Portsmouth PO1 5PQ.

Otton Hulacki, Polish Veteran of WWII and SOS Polonia Trust would like to invite you to join them this Sunday 23 February 2014 at 2pm in the Chapel by the Polish Memorial to remember those, who fought for the freedom we enjoy today.

For more information about the Polish November Uprising and the first wave of Polish migration to Portsmouth, please visit http://www.memorials.inportsmouth.co.uk/cemeteries/polish.htm.   

For more information about the event, please contact:

Otton Hulacki, Polish Veteran of WWII, now the Chairman of the Polish Memorial Fund, Portsmouth - tel: 01983 883340

SOS Polonia Trust, EU Migrant Centre, Portsmouth / Southampton / IoW

www.sospolonia.net / Tel: 07803591680 e:mail barbara.storey@lingland.net. 

Wheels for All

The Wheels for All initiative is a nationally recognised programme that embraces children and adults with disabilities and differing needs, to engage in a quality cycling activity.

By using specially adapted cycles, the activities are both physically and mentally stimulating and above all fun for everyone involved!  Please see the Wheels for All Flyer.

To keep the programme running long term, volunteers are needed. 'Instructor Training Programme', a 1 day course, is provided to our volunteers and leads to Wheels for All Leader certificate accredited with Open Awards. The next training course will take place on 5 March 2014.

If you would like more information about the initiative and / or the volunteering opportunity, please email asha.lal@portsmouthcc.gov.uk or call 023 9284 1560.

Equality & Diversity Strategy 2014-17

The Equality& Diversity Strategy for years 2014-17 was launched by the Council on 3 December 2013. The refreshed strategy is simpler and easier to navigate, and clearly sets out the Council's commitment to making Portsmouth a fairer and more inclusive city and how this will be achieved. 

The Strategy includes a data set presenting a picture of Portsmouth diversity and needs of different segments of our community. 

The refreshed Strategy is accompanied by the Equality& Diversity Action Plan, which sets out a number of goals that are to be achieved by individual services across the council, or services working together, in order to address the gaps in the council’s approach to equality and diversity as identified by the Strategy. 

Take the lead - A guide to welcoming customers with assistance dogs

VisitEngland and the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) have produced a new guide for tourism businesses on welcoming customers with assistance dogs. Take the lead highlights the important role performed by assistance dogs, it outlines the legal obligations under the Equality Act 2010, and how tourism businesses can boost business by attracting more visits from disabled travellers and their canine companions.

"As service providers to the public, tourism businesses have a legal duty to make reasonable adjustments to enable disabled people, including assistance dog users, to use their services.

It would be unlawful to refuse access to a disabled person accompanied by an assistance dog except in the most exceptional circumstances." The Guide says.

For a full version of the Guide, please visit the Equality and Human Rights Commission website.

How to ask and respond to questions of discrimination in the provision of goods and services and public functions

Practical advice has been prepared for customers who think they have been discriminated against on how to ask for more information about what happened; and for the service providers or retailer on how they should respond to their questions.

This can help clear up a misunderstanding, help resolve concerns and avoid claims and disputes.

This guidance replaces existing statutory guidance on obtaining information.

For more information, please visit the Government website.

Cash grants available for disabled people to stand for election

The Access to Elected Office for Disabled People Fund will be extended to help cover the 2015 General Elections.

Launched in July 2012, the fund helps disabled people with additional costs that a disabled candidate may face in standing for election as a councillor or MP, such as extra transport or sign-language interpreters. Since the scheme launched there have been over 60 applications to the fund, which will now also cover Parish and Town Council elections.

A collection of personal stories by disabled people in political have also been published. They describe the experiences and obstacles faced by people with a range of disabilities, who have been successful in being elected as Members of Parliament or as Local Authority Councillors.
For more information visit the Government website.

Dynamite - Launch Party

Dynamite, a group for disabled young people is having a launch party, an Information Fair and Future Opportunities Event for all disabled young people aged between 11 to 25 years old.

When: Wednesday, 19th February 2014, 10am - 2pm

Where: Action Stations, Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

(http://www.historicdockyard.co.uk/actionstations/)

This is a TICKET event, which will give you FREE access to all the facilities including Lazer Quest & the Helicopter Flight Simulator.

Food and drinks can be purchased from the café. 

To book your place, please email: dynamiteproject@hotmail.co.uk 

or telephone: 07825 185608.

This event is supported by: Portsmouth Youth Parliament, Portsmouth Disability Forum, Portsmouth Parent Voice and Portsmouth Children's Trust.