Merseyside INFORM
Developing information services
for disabled people
on Merseyside
November 1996
Merseyside Inform (MI) is a group of disabled people and carers
who are dedicated to the improvement of information services for
disabled people on Merseyside. A major step forward would be
the cooperation of all the many fragmented information-giving
agencies especially across authority boundaries.
Merseyside is divided into 5 local authority areas each of whom
guards jealously funding and resources so that there is little
or no cooperation at authority level, thus the need for
Merseyside Inform.
In May 1996 we became a registered charity and are registered at
Companies House as a Company Limited by Guarantee.
Most of the work done in our workshops is the gathering,
checking and input of data. We can provide the training where
necessary to enable as many disabled volunteers as possible to
take an active part in the work.
TO USE THE SERVICE: telephone 07000 784 569
MI has two immediate tasks;
1.- The establishment of a local database and cooperation in a
network of information-giving agencies.
2.- The distribution of the information to the point of need for
all disabled people and others with a beneficial interest, and
the advertising of the service.
In Sefton MI works with Social Services to provide an
information service from a workshop in Trinity Resource Centre,
and to support the information giving capability of other day
centres.
In Liverpool MI works in cooperation with the North Mersey
Community (NHS) Trust to manage a database. MI is the
information co-ordinator for
MOSAIC, the NMCT unit for young
disabled adults and provides information to other Trust sites.
The paper-based information library held by MOSAIC is currently
being catalogued by Inform volunteers in order to provide fast
access to the information held. This is a service we hope to
offer to other voluntary groups with paper-based information
banks.
We are keen to cooperate with other voluntary groups on
Merseyside, and are working with a carers group on a project for
a Carers Resource Centre.
MI also supports and updates the information held in the
Glaxo
Neurological Information Centre and in Shopmobility, Clayton
Square.
Our data base contains a substantial National section which is
updated by a group in Cheshire, the local section has been
created by MI and contains Liverpool and Sefton information on
support groups, social services and some health services,
respite and residential centre - leisure and sports facilities
are being added.
Although our aim is the empowerment of disabled people of all
ages, we provide information to all who seek it . We are working
on a series of training packages for disabled people who are
interested in computing but who cannot find a suitable training
scheme in the public domain.
We also work closely with the ATOM project to make sure that
all those who can make use of adaptive technology have the
opportunity to find out what is available and suitable.
We have no paid staff and, as yet, little funding. All work is
done by volunteer members. We have applied for some charitable
funds but would, eventually, prefer to fund the project by the
production and sale of information products and training and
possibly some commercial sponsorship in order to keep our
independence.
We look forward to a future when the power of Information
Technology is harnessed for the benefit of disabled people
everywhere.
If you provide information for disabled people you need to join
Merseyside Inform's expanding network to increase awareness of
your service.
Volunteers are very welcome: ask now for details.
You can write to us at our registered address:
Merseyside Inform
The Glaxo Neurological Centre
Norton Street
Liverpool L3
or telephone 07000 784 569
or email us at
inform@postern.demon.co.uk
You can help the 'Orange i ' become a familiar sight on
Merseyside.
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