Welcome to the One Voice e-Newsletter October 2010

Welcome to the first One Voice e-Newsletter. This newsletter contains the same information as our print newsletter, but is much cheaper to produce.
If you want to change over to the e-Newsletter, contact us

In the newsletter a brief guide to the parts of the Equality Act that have come into force this month, information on changes to benefits that come into force this month, a report on the One Voice Networks’ first Health and fitness event, held at Aldersley, and local news, personal opinions and reviews.
If you have an idea for an article, or want to write one yourself, contact us. One Voice welcomes the involvement of disabled people in providing the content of this newsletter, your ideas, help, and views make this newsletter yours.

Benefits Update

This month Work Choice replaces Workstep, there are changes to lone parents claims, and a reduction in Interest Rate payable to those with Mortgages on Income support and other benefits.

The Equality Act

The Equality Act came into force this month, bringing together and replacing the Disability Discrimination Act, and various other Equalities laws and European directives.
Some parts of the Act, like making Local Authorities publish equality targets and stick to national targets, and requiring them to take socio-economic factors into account when allocating their resources, have been removed while wider consultation is undertaken, since this goes against the current Government’s wish to end a more centralised or top-down approach to how local councils do things.More>>

Council funding for community Groups

Wolverhampton City Council is giving a funding boost to the city’s communities via its BME and Equalities fund. The Third Sector BME & Equalities Fund opens for applications on Tuesday 12 October 2010 and closes on Tuesday 30 November 2010.More>>

Local News and Information

For news on audio described performances at the grand Theatre, action on the chanes to Hospital Visitin Times, report-back on the Health & Fitness Day, and information on Focus Insight. Click here>>

Anniversary Issue Photo competition

100th Issue Photo Competition
We are offering all disabled people who work or live in Wolverhampton the chance to win a great starter kit for all you budding photographers!

The prize includes a Canon Powershot digital camera, compact flash card (for storing photos), mini tripod, battery charger, Lowepro camera bag, extending lens, and Circular Polarising and Infra Red filters As well as a book that tells you how to use it all!!
The runners up will receive a photography book or a photo frame.

The Competition title is “Wolverhampton – Access all areas”. More>>