http://www.ukconnect.org/ UK Connect News en-gb http://www.ukconnect.org/news_1_433.aspx Nearly a quarter of people who have a stroke are of working age, yet few people return to paid employment. Connect worked with people with aphasia and organisations in North Tyneside to look at why people with aphasia find getting back to work difficult. 2010-03-16T00:00:00 Current http://www.ukconnect.org/news_1_432.aspx Connect urges Local Authorities to “lift their game” and improve community care services and support for people living with stroke. 2010-02-03T00:00:00 Current http://www.ukconnect.org/news_1_429.aspx Connect has received a substantial grant to support the expansion of Life after Stroke services. 2009-12-23T00:00:00 Current http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_423.aspx Connect supporter Susie Parr bravely swam across the Camel Estuary in Cornwall to raise funds for Connect. 2009-07-27T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_424.aspx A Connect 'Creative Arts' Day can support people with aphasia to gain confidence and have fun! 2009-07-27T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_420.aspx Grace Maxwell has published a moving account of how she and her young son coped when her partner, famous singer Edwyn Collins, had two brain haemorrhages. Edwyn now has aphasia. 2009-07-24T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_421.aspx Connect's Access to Life Project in Cornwall is celebrating the fantastic news that their flagship project can continue to offer 'life after stroke' services. 2009-07-24T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_418.aspx Connect held a reception at the House of Lords on 23 June 2009 to raise awareness of aphasia with parliamentarians who heard directly from people with aphasia about the everyday issues they face living with a communication disability 2009-07-03T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_415.aspx Once more, Connect has been involved in helping shape stroke policy. The new policy is called 'Healthcare for London: A Framework for Action'. It aims to transform health across London and one of its main focuses is stroke care. 2009-03-26T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_411.aspx People with aphasia reflect on stroke service development, one year after the National Stroke Strategy. 2009-01-09T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_408.aspx The Tavistock Trust for Aphasia have awarded The Robin Tavistock Award 2008 to Connect. 2008-12-12T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_405.aspx Connect's Reaching Out project has been awarded the Guardian Public Services Award 2008 - Care of older people category 2008-11-27T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_404.aspx Connect has been awarded the BUPA Foundation Communication Award 2008 2008-11-14T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_400.aspx Connect's Reaching Out Project has been short-listed in the renowned Guardian Public Services Awards - Care of Older People category. 2008-10-01T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_399.aspx The successful peer-support scheme will continue to support people with aphasia in Lambeth and Southwark now that it is run by the Disability Advice Service in Lambeth (DASL). 2008-09-11T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_394.aspx People with aphasia from Connect worked with TALK Surrey to demonstrate how people with aphasia can have conversations together. 2008-07-11T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_395.aspx People with aphasia in Manchester get involved in training stroke service providers 2008-07-11T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_392.aspx Phyllis Campbell-McRae, Chief Executive of Connect welcomes the publication of the Darzi review. 2008-07-07T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_389.aspx Connect was delighted to host the Access to Life in Cornwall forum, an event to showcase the work undertaken between the Access to Life project and the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly NHS Primary Care Trust and other community and voluntary organisations. 2008-07-01T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_386.aspx Edwyn Collins, who has aphasia, is donating the profits of his latest single release to Connect 2008-06-19T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_383.aspx People with aphasia, families and friends gathered in Barnstaple at an event to inspire new ideas and motivation for moving on after stroke and aphasia. 2008-05-22T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_380.aspx David Robins, chair of New Philanthropy Capital and former Chair and CEO of Ings Baring, walks 346 miles to support Connect. 2008-05-21T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_381.aspx Health and social care commissioners, key decision makers and influential community leaders will gather on Monday 23 June at Connect's Access to Life Forum in Bodmin to reflect on how Cornwall will rise to meet the challenge of the Department of Health's new Stroke Strategy. The Forum will be opened by Sir Ian Carruthers OBE, the Chief Executive of NHS South West. 2008-05-21T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_355.aspx People with aphasia at Connect worked with 'Stepping Out' a self-management programme for people who have had a stroke and their carers. 2008-03-13T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_356.aspx 'Hope to see a ripple-effect, hospital-wide' said one delegate after attending one of two 'Making Communication Access a Reality' training days held this month. 2008-03-13T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_351.aspx We are delighted to welcome Phyllis Campbell-McRae as our new Chief Executive. Phyllis is looking forward to building on Connect's influential work to date particularly the major role we have played in pioneering innovative therapies and support for people with aphasia. 2008-02-29T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_353.aspx Ten years ago Pauline Needham could speak only three words. Ten days ago, she facilitated a conversation among six people with aphasia in a small town in Bavaria. She spoke English. Those who could talk, spoke German. Communication barriers quickly tumbled – neither aphasia, nor language could stop conversation and communication. 2008-02-29T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_350.aspx We are delighted that David Robins, Chair of New Philanthropy Capital, is once more undertaking a long walk to raise funds for Connect. Between May 1st and 18th, David will be walking 346 miles from Boston in Lincolnshire to Barnstaple in Devon. 2008-02-19T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_349.aspx People with aphasia in Cornwall are leading a grassroots campaign called 'You are NOT alone…get connected'. They are giving speeches to community groups such as the WI, Rotary and British Legion in order to find 1,000 people with aphasia who have 'disappeared'. 2008-01-17T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_348.aspx Connect recently helped to organise a focus group to discuss ways of improving the government's Warm Front scheme to make it more accessible for people with communication disabilities. 2008-01-16T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_344.aspx Participants in the pilot of Connect Conversation Partner schemes came together at Connect to report on the progress of their schemes around the country. 2007-12-19T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_341.aspx On 5th December 2007, the National Stroke Strategy was published. Connect is delighted to be part of the development of this quality framework to enable high quality health and social care services. 2007-12-11T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_340.aspx Connect led a session on rehabilitation for people who have impaired communication and cognition at this major event for everyone working in stroke services. Five people living with aphasia joined Carole Pound and Dr David Gillespie to explore practical issues relating to life after stroke. 2007-12-10T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_333.aspx Connect is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Jocelyn Cornwell as Connect's new Chair of the Board of Trustees. 2007-09-27T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_332.aspx People with aphasia came together at Connect on Monday 24th September in a joint event with Speakability to feedback views and ideas about the Draft National Stroke Strategy. 2007-09-24T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_328.aspx Health Talk, a communication resource to help health care professionals and patients with communication disability understand one another better, has now been tried and tested in London and Bristol. 2007-09-17T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_329.aspx Connect was delighted to be invited to present a Symposium at the recent British Aphasiology Society Biennial International Conference in Edinburgh. 2007-09-17T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_330.aspx Sally Byng, Connect's Access to Life in Cornwall Project Director, was delighted to be invited to an Aphasia 'Think Tank' in Canada this month. The 'Think Tank' called 'Living Successfully with Aphasia: Intervention, Evaluation and Evidence' is being organised by the Pat Arato Aphasia Institute in Toronto. 2007-09-17T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_331.aspx Over forty women took part in the Hydro Active Women's Challenge on 16th September to raise funds for Connect. 2007-09-17T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_324.aspx The draft National Stroke Strategy was published on 9th July 2007. We are now in the Consultation period - a time for everyone to give their views. 2007-07-31T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_325.aspx Connect have been working with Stroke Northumbria to develop some long term, low cost events for people with aphasia. The aim is to develop local networks where people with stroke and aphasia and carers can come along to share experiences, ways of coping and to learn about services that can assist them. Connect worked with Annie Laverty and her team at Stroke Northumbria to help them present a range of information days for people with stroke and aphasia and their relatives. 2007-07-31T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_326.aspx Members of the 'hubs' in Cornwall enjoyed a two day trip to Connect in London. The aim of the event was to meet people with aphasia and their relatives at Connect's London centre and to share ideas about how stroke services can be improved in Cornwall. 2007-07-31T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_322.aspx Connect and the Modernisation Initiative have launched a new book/DVD for parents living with stroke and aphasia. 2007-07-17T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_301.aspx Cornwall now has twenty five people living with aphasia trained as Conversation Skills Trainers, thanks to the Speech and Language Therapy service and Access to Life in Cornwall Project. 2007-06-08T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_297.aspx Over 20 people with aphasia and their relatives met across Cornwall at the beginning of May 2007 for the first local 'Hub' groups in Cornwall.There are three 'Hubs' in Cornwall covering North & East, Central and West Cornwall which are all part of the Access to Life in Cornwall Project. The 'Hubs' are groups of people with aphasia who meet monthly in Launceston, Kingsley Village - Fraddon and Helston to share their experiences of stroke services in their area. 2007-05-11T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_296.aspx People with aphasia and their family members from Speakability groups in the Yorkshire area gathered at Eggborough Power Station for a Connect-for-a-Day event called “Better Conversations”. 2007-05-08T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_295.aspx Two years ago the Mid-Essex Speech and Language Therapy team had long waiting lists for out-patient services and feedback from people with aphasia reflected a high level of frustration with the service offered. The service looked to Connect for inspiration and a way to rethink their service. Six members of the team attended “Groups Work” and now therapists feel more supported and satisfied, they are working together more and above all the feedback from service users is much improved. 2007-05-03T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_292.aspx Connect were delighted to have two runners in the 2007 London Marathon on 22nd April who between them have raised over £3500 for Connect. In spite of the record temperatures, Trevor Dolan completed the gruelling 26 miles in four hours forty minutes and Liz Lewis was just behind him at four hours fifty eight minutes. 2007-04-24T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_293.aspx “Imagine what it would be like if your Mum or your Grandad couldn't read you a story”. That's how 12-year old Luke Mann explained aphasia to his friends at Westminster Under School who went on to raise over £5300 for Connect. 2007-04-24T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_290.aspx Over the last year, Connect has been working with local people living with aphasia in Cornwall to identify what they think about the services and opportunities available to them. We have held a number of events across the county, asking what people liked about services, what they didn't like and what they felt was missing. At Alverton Manor Hotel in Truro on March 26th, we fed back the results of these listening and involvement events. 2007-04-10T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_285.aspx Getting involved in volunteering in your local community can be both exciting and daunting for people, regardless of whether or not they have aphasia. 2007-03-23T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_284.aspx Liz Lewis and Trevor Dolan are supporting Connect by running in the London Marathon on Sunday 22nd April 2007. 2007-03-19T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_280.aspx Being a parent is difficult enough - but after a stroke all those difficulties become even more of a challenge. Often support and advice is hard to find. So, the 'Having a Stroke – Being a Parent' Project (in collaboration with the Stroke Services Modernisation Initiative and funded by Guy's and St Thomas' Charity) is working with parents who have had a stroke, their families and carers to make a resource to help other parents and carers in the same boat. 2007-03-02T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_278.aspx Over twenty five people with aphasia and their relatives attended a special event for people with aphasia at Connect on 5th February 2007. 2007-02-23T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_279.aspx Staff from Canterbury Christ Church University and the University of Greenwich joint programme attended a two day training day event at Connect as part of the Reaching Out Project. The training package will be incorporated into a new postgraduate diploma in Speech and Language Therapy which starts in March 2007. 2007-02-23T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_244.aspx Every stroke unit in England has been sent a free copy of Connect's Stroke and Aphasia Handbook and Stroke Talk, courtesy of the Department of Health. 2007-02-02T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_254.aspx The UK Stroke Forum Conference took place on 7th and 8th December 2006. Over 1200 delegates attended and Connect's Chief Executive Sally Byng was a key note speaker and chaired a parallel session called "Long-term support in the community: Whose responsibility?" 2007-01-04T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_251.aspx Emmanuel Godis has been honoured with a special “Southwark Star” award by the Volunteer Centre, Southwark, for successfully completing 100 hours of volunteering work. Emmanuel has been living with aphasia since 1999 when he had his stroke and volunteers regularly with The Bankside Open Spaces Trust. 2006-12-14T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_245.aspx Access to Life in Cornwall is a project that will enhance and extend the range, length and choice of opportunities and services for people living with stroke and aphasia and other long-term conditions in Cornwall. 2006-11-23T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_242.aspx "In Tune with Heaven" was the title of a feast of choral and organ music which was performed at St Barnabas Church in Dulwich on Friday 17th November. This concert, which was part of the 10th anniversary of St Barnabas celebrations raised over £2,000 to support Connect. 2006-10-20T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_243.aspx The Salisbury pub in Covent Garden raised over £200 at a Halloween charity night in support of Connect on Friday 27th October. Jas Teensa, the Salisbury's landlord, who regularly organises charity nights for Connect organised collections at the door and in the bar. The Salisbury has just won a "Pub of the Year" award and can be found at 90 St Martin's Lane, London WC2N 4AP Tel. 020 7836 5863. 2006-10-20T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_230.aspx Justine Everson had her stroke aged 29. She is now one of ten new “befrienders” who, as part of Connect's Conversation partner project, will be supporting people with aphasia at different stages of their recovery journey. 2006-09-26T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_231.aspx We are delighted to announce that Carole Pound, Director of Innovation at Connect has been appointed a fellow of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. 2006-09-26T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_207.aspx The Hydroactive Women's Challenge took place in Hyde Park on Sunday 3rd September. The event was amazing – 25,000 women ran altogether, 44 in support of Connect! The atmosphere was electric, the weather couldn't have been better and everyone really enjoyed taking part. The Connect Team's original target was £3,500 and we're delighted that it looks as if we're going to DOUBLE that target, raising an amazing £8,000! 2006-09-04T00:00:00 Archive http://www.ukconnect.org/news_0_111.aspx On 1st June 2006 Redcross Gardens, just around the corner from the Connect London Centre, was officially reopened by HRH Princess Anne following a period of regeneration undertaken by Bankside Open Spaces Trust. 2006-06-26T00:00:00 Archive