Random Acts of Reality

Random Acts of Reality is a blog written by London-based Ambulance technician “Tom Reynolds”.  A story about him, his blog and the book that has come out of it was featured in The Guardian on 30 August and you can read the story at http://society.guardian.co.uk/health/story/0,,1860489,00.html

The introduction to the blog reads:

Welcome to Random Acts Of Reality, a Blog based in London, England, written by an E.M.T working for the London Ambulance Service. Also, number one search result for “Womble porn”. All names have be changed to protect the guilty. This Blog was previously known as “Why I Hate Humanity” but the antipsychotic medication seems to have kicked in.

You will find the blog at http://randomreality.blogware.com/

Cleaner air by developing electric buses

GMPTE has helped to develop the first commercial electric hybrid bus in Britain.

It runs on the Metroshuttle routes. The quiet electric motor uses battery power that produces no pollution and when necessary a small diesel engine tops up the battery.

By using Metroshuttle you can reduce air pollution in Manchester.

What is an electric hybrid bus?
The vehicle is a standard bus fitted with an ultra low emission powertrain.

The bus operates as an electric bus, with its onboard batteries re-charged by a computer controlled diesel generator.

Transport chiefs are pioneering the revolutionary new eco-friendly vehicle on the free Manchester city centre Metroshuttle service, in a trial that could lead to conversion of many more buses in Greater Manchester.

How does it reduce pollution?
When the bus brakes, it generates electricity which is returned to the batteries.

The generator always works efficiently, so the small engine only needs to run for short periods to charge the batteries.

This new technology halves carbon emissions from the bus – a saving of at least 16 tonnes in carbon dioxide emissions per vehicle each year.

Several tonnes of other major exhaust emissions are also saved.

Who pays for and runs it?
Funding has been provided by Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA) and a Government Energy Savings Trust grant. It is owned and operated by FirstManchester on the Metroshuttle routes

How can I find out more?
Contact the GMPTE Environmental Planning Manager (0161-242 6217) or through ourwebsite at www.gmpte.com.

Passengers can obtain information on Metroshuttle services by calling Traveline on 0870 608 2 608.

More on the technology at www.eneco.co.uk.

All Aboard the FRANK Bus!

This week the FRANK bus will begin its eight-week pilot tour of the north of England. A specially commissioned Routemaster bus will be pulling up to festivals and fairs across the region as part of FRANK’s work to support stakeholders in their local drug awareness work.

The bus is part of the integrated FRANK campaign, which already supports stakeholders with a comprehensive portfolio of Drug Action Updates and resources, as well as a successful programme of street marketing activity targeting vulnerable young people. The bus adds to this by providing a further exciting focus for local activity – helping stakeholders to reach young people face-to-face and signpost them towards local services as appropriate.

The bus is fun and interactive, and combines educational experiences with entertainment. Highlights include:

• Drugs Mugs – young people can see how drugs can affect their looks
• Rank with FRANK is a sliding scale where visitors are asked to rank their possible or actual drug use
• Listening trees – young people can put on headphones and listen to other young people’s experiences of drugs
• Chill Out Zone with ipod and phone charging points
• A lift to the upper deck provides easy access for all
• Leaving the upper deck visitors will receive a free FRANK goodie bag and then make their exit via an aircraft-style evacuation slide.

Since FRANK was launched over three years ago, there have been more than 1.4 million calls to the helpline, 11.3 million visits to the talktofrank.com website and the FRANK team has responded to 82,888 emails.

Check out if the FRANK bus is visiting a town near you this summer:

Caribbean Carnival of Manchester – 19th-20th August
Fusion Youth Arts Festival, Bolton – 22nd August
Plant Hill Arts College – 7th-8th September
Community Multi-faith Family Festival, Manchester – 10th September

From: FRANK website (www.talktofrank.com)

Mancunian Agreement Update

Mancunian Agreement – the next steps: Get involved with the development of ‘Mancunian Agreement’ pilots.

The first stage of consultation on the concept of a Mancunian Agreement is now over. Overall the consultation results have showed that people are generally in support of the idea, though many questioned how it could be achieved in reality. Some of the more negative comments about the Mancunian Agreement have included:
“It’ll be top down”
“A Stalinist nightmare”
“Isn’t it patronising??”

NOT SO, if we develop it ourselves from the grass roots, with people in our neighbourhoods and our communities. It doesn’t even have to be called a Mancunian Agreement – you could come up with your own names for it.

The idea is to develop initiatives that foster:
· Rights and responsibilities
· Values in our communities
· Dignity and respect for all in our neighbourhoods
· Bringing people together from different backgrounds

For the next stage of the Mancunian Agreement consultation the Manchester Partnership would like to development 15-20 pilots during the autumn. If you would like to get involved and/ or would like some support to develop ideas further, please get in contact with CN4M 0161 234 2916 or sophie@cn4m.net, or the Manchester Partnership 0161 234 4066 or p.hanfling@manchester.gov.uk

From CN4M Bulletin

Together We Can Review

On 28th June 2006 Ruth Kelly MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, launched the Together We Can 2005/2006 annual review. Together We Can is the cross government campaign to empower more citizens to influence public policies and services, and the review document features success stories and Ministerial statements from all twelve of the government departments that signed up to Together We Can a year ago.

A special annual review edition of We Can!, the Together We Can newsletter, has also been published to accompany the Review. You can download copies of both these documents at http://www.togetherwecan.info/ For hard copies of these publications, please call us on 020 7035 6058 or for general enquiries 0207 035 6060.

From: CN4M Bulletin

Volunteers not out to lunch

The Department of Work and Pensions has announced that in future people on benefits who are volunteering will have lunchtime meals treated as an expense that can be claimed back without impact on benefits. However, this change from the position stated in the recently published guidance ‘A guide to volunteering while on benefits’ is not immediate – they say “We will be working closely with charities and volunteering organisations over the coming weeks and months to implement the changes quickly and smoothly as possible.” Volunteering England had been planning to run a ‘Lunch Expenses Protest Week’ from Monday (14th August) but no longer needs to do so. News items from them and DWP are currently linked from VE’s front page, at http://www.volunteering.org.uk

From: VolResource Newsletter No. 258

Manchester to have first mental health A&E

The Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts and the Executive Committee of Manchester City Council have met and agreed important improvements to Manchester’s mental health services, including the country’s first 24-hour mental health assessment unit at Accident and Emergency, an early intervention service and more specialised community, mental health teams. This follows an extensive public consultation with users, carers, and the public.

Councillor Basil Curley, executive member for adult services said: “These changes will improve both the quality of care, and the access to care for people with mental health problems. The consultation was detailed and thorough and has clearly shown us the way forward for mental health services in the city. Services will now focus on early intervention, emergency care and outreach – services that users clearly stated should be prioritised.”

Chair of the Joint Committee, Councillor Val Stevens, said: “Both Manchester City Council and the PCTs have been working hard to come up with the best strategy possible to improve the quality of care for people with mental health problems in the city. I’m confident these plans will deliver those significant improvements.”

Laura Roberts, Chief Executive of Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust added: “This is a landmark decision, and ultimately means we will be able to deliver a more effective service to users and carers across Manchester.

“With £4 million of additional funding available each year to help implement the changes, the process will be well-resourced. In particular, we anticipate that extra posts will be created, and existing staff will have new opportunities to develop their skills.

“Inevitably, implementing the changes will bring many challenges for our 1,300 dedicated staff. We are therefore embarking on a detailed staff consultation programme, to ensure everyone is well informed and actively involved in implementing the changes as smoothly as possible.

“The next 12 months will place heavy demands on the Trust, but I know that everyone involved will work hard to achieve the goal of providing the highest quality care to patients and service users.”

Under the new proposals, more specialised community mental health teams will be created, supported by specialist services, including new teams for people who struggle to work with mainstream services (assertive outreach), people in crisis (crisis resolution and home treatment) and those experiencing their first episode of psychosis (early intervention). A new mental health assessment unit – called PEARL – based at Accident and Emergency in Central Manchester will be developed to provide emergency psychiatric care. This proposal was warmly welcomed during the consultation and provides Manchester with the UK’s first specialist mental health accident and emergency unit.

For people who will transfer to the new services, clear transition plans will be put in place to ensure that their current care is not disrupted. An equality impact assessment has been carried out on the proposals and the Equality Impact Assessment Group will meet in six months time to review progress.

For more information please call Unique Creative Communications on 0161 874 5700 or email pr@uniquecc.co.uk.