The National Federation, which represents England’s housing associations, warns that cuts of 40% to the CLG-funded Supporting People programme, would lead to the loss of home based support for 326,000 older owner-occupiers and pensioners living in sheltered accommodation, to help maintain their independence. The treasury has ordered all government departments to model cuts of 40% in advance of the autumn spending review.

Source: National Housing Federation press release
http://www.housing.org.uk/default.aspx?tabid=212&mid=828&ctl=Details&ArticleID=3275

The National Federation, which represents England’s housing associations, warns that cuts of 40% to the CLG-funded Supporting People programme, would lead to the loss of home based support for 326,000 older owner-occupiers and pensioners living in sheltered accommodation, to help maintain their independence. The treasury has ordered all government departments to model cuts of 40% in advance of the autumn spending review.

Source: National Housing Federation press release
http://www.housing.org.uk/default.aspx?tabid=212&mid=828&ctl=Details&ArticleID=3275

We are looking for an organisation or a consultant to help us better exploit EAC’s unique National Database of Housing for Older People. A short term contract to analyse creatively the nominations to the EAC National Housing for Older People Awards 2011 should provide the basis for a long term partnership. Please see Information for Applicants under EAC news on the home page

Housing Minister Grant Shapps has pledged to introduce a new National Affordable Home Swap Scheme which will give tenants the chance to see details of every council and housing association tenant looking to exchange homes - not just in their area but across the country. At present a number of landlords and mutual exchange schemes provide support for people looking for opportunities to move  through mutual exchange services. 

Further information: Community and Local Government Press Release 4 August 2010

http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/newsroom/1664130

EAC information sheet about mutual exchange scheme is available at:

http://www.firststopcareadvice.org.uk/resources-finding-and-choosing-housing.aspx

Inside Housing reports that two pensioners are looking for a shop window to recreate John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s famous naked bed protest in response to The Legal Service Commission’s decision to refuse legal aid for a number of groups of housing residents challenging the removal of live in wardens.  The LSC rejected the application by the firm representing the housing residents anywhere apart form Wiltshire because a drafting error on the firm’s application form meant that “Wiltshire” appeared on tendering forms which related to other counties. A sheltered housing campaign group is also to petition the LSC to reconsider their decision.

Source: Inside Housing 23July

I guess everyone has those times when things just don’t go according to plan. Well, it’s been happening to us too, and the result is that the eagerly awaited EAC Over 60s Art Awards 2010 have just become the EAC Over 60s Art Awards 2010-2011.

Why?

It all started with a discussion in May, about how we might develop the Art Awards; about how we might do things differently in order to improve them and also make them attractive to a wider range of people.

We considered:

• Entry Fees – could we reduce them, at the same time weighing up the likelihood that sponsorship is likely to be very difficult to come by this year?
• Website Development – last year, 28% of entries came in online, and during the voting for The EAC People’s Choice Award, over 100,000 web pages were viewed from 50 countries. How could we encourage more artists to participate in the competition online?
• EAC Creative Awards? Why does EAC restrict itself to ‘Art Awards’? Why not broaden out to celebrate creativity across the Arts?
• Exhibition Venue – transport links make a London exhibition the most convenient for the greatest number, but ought we to be looking at moving the exhibition out of London, both for considerations of cost, as well as of inclusivity?

But it’s the exhibition venue that has caused the rethink and the delay. Over the last 3 months we have looked at, contacted, and/or visited what must be approaching 100 venues up and down the country. We’ve approached community spaces, town halls, public and private galleries, National Trust venues, hotels, temporary exhibition spaces in vacant shops, cathedrals, corporate head-offices….in London, Birmingham, Bath, Leeds etc etc…. you name it, we’ve tried it! But frustratingly, and surprisingly, to us at least, to no avail. Reluctantly, we have admitted defeat in the quest to find the perfect venue, at reasonable rates, in time for a December 2010 exhibition, which had been our preferred option.

But not defeat overall, as we are committed to making the 2010 Art Awards happen…even if they have to overlap into 2011!  We are therefore continuing our search for a venue over the next few weeks, and with a longer lead-in time to a Spring Exhibition, we are confident  that the perfect place will materialise. This is where you might also be able to help. EAC has a loyal following of thousands of artists who might just know the very place to hold the 17^th EAC Art Awards Exhibition. If so, we would delighted to hear from you. (As many of you will know, we need a gallery space for up to 150 exhibits, with good access and reasonable transport links. We have a gallery spec with further details, if you would kindly take the time to contact us.)

So what will happen now?

Whist we have been on the quest for that elusive venue, we have also been updating our website. Rather than delay any further, we will make the www.eacartawards.org.uk website live from 29th July 2010. This will carry all up-to-date info and news over the coming weeks, and is also set up to accept online entries and postal entries immediately, should any intrepid and extremely keen artists feel so inclined. We will also be in touch by post for those without internet access. Hard copy publicity and entry forms will follow later, once venue and dates are clarified.

Meanwhile, making the most of the opportunity of the rescheduled Art Awards 2010, why not enter our first EAC Photography competition?

The Bath Prize (see www.thebathprize.co.uk) welcomes entries from painters visiting Bath during June, July and August. Painters may submit as many works as they wish but the first entry must have been inspired by a specific location  in  the Georgian city. This location  is allocated by ballot when the entry is received. Sponsored by The Bath Gallery, the competition is open to both professional and amateur painters, who will be encouraged to work on the streets, en plein air, but they can also sketch or photograph their subject and complete the work elsewhere.

Entries for the competition close on August 23rd.

Our apologies to David Collett who requested our help in publicizing this really unusual and interesting competition many weeks ago. You may feel it is now rather short-notice to submit entries this year, but you may wish to view entries online or visit the  exhibition of finalists’ work which takes place in September.

The coalition government has outlined its vision for personalised social services in its response to the Health Select Committee Report on Social Care.

“Individual budgets were piloted by the Department of Health in 2006-07 and included various disability funding streams and social care resources covering older people and people with disabilities. Personal budgets cover social care resources only.

We want personal budgets to increasingly become the norm in social care. Greater alignment with personal health budgets, in time and considering those who could receive most benefit, could have positive implications for service users in terms of extending choice and control, while recognising potential links between their health and care needs. However, it is important to consider the impact on joint working and integration in delivery of budgets to users. Whilst at an individual level both budgets
may be combined, the funding streams for health and social care will remain separate and allocated through the NHS and the local authority.

In designing and agreeing the different health and social care plans, care will need to be taken that a joint approach is adopted to ensure plans are as complementary and cost effective as possible. As this policy develops further we will consider what appropriate mechanisms will need to be in place to allow combined budgets to be as effective as possible. “

Source Government Response to the Health Select Committee Report on  Social Care (Third Report of Session 2009-10) to the Health Select Committee; Page 17

An extra care scheme in St Helens, Merseyside – which offers housing and on-site care for over-55s – has just won a national Housing Design Award in the HAPPI (Housing Our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation) category.

A report by HAPPI (Housing Our Ageing Population Panel for Innovation) – which gathers good practice in older people’s housing - recognised key design elements of Heald Farm Court in providing flexible and sustainable accommodation with care-ready packages to adapt to residents changing needs. 

The extra care development offers residents independent living, combined with access to 24 hour care and support, as and when they need it, provided by MHA Care Group. The schemes facilities include: apartments and bungalows, alongside landscaped gardens, a bistro, hairdressers, gym, communal area, laundry facilities and health and well-being centre, as well as a mobility scooter store and visitors accommodation. The development has a mix of different tenure options with apartments for rent, outright ownership, shared ownership and a ‘rent to buy’ scheme.

Heald Farm Court was completed in September 2009, in partnership with St Helens Council and supported by a £5.5m grant from the Department of Health. Helena Living is part of Helena Partnerships, a not for profit registered social landlord (RSL) which was formed in 2002 when it took on the ownership and management of St Helens 13,500 council homes. MHA Care Group is a major not-for-profit provider of care homes, housing and support services for older people.

More information about Heald Farm Court is available at: www.helenaliving.co.uk

The Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, has announced that the govemment are starting a review into the funding of palliative care chaired by Tom Hughes-Hallett, Chief Executive of Marie Curie Cancer Care.

“The review will make recommendations for a funding system that will cover care provided by the NHS, a hospice or any appropriate provider:
• which encourages more community-based care, so a patient can remain in their own home; and
• that will be fair and transparent to all organisations involved in palliative care.”

The review will report back by summer 2011.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/MediaCentre/Pressreleases/DH_117330