Newsletter 6
Welcome to the Spring edition of the SIL newsletter!
You may have heard me on BBC Radio Suffolk in February promoting SIL and direct payments. We have started a series of roadshows. Alex Smith, our Disability Involvement Worker, has been working hard on facilitating the Independent Living groups and has added a new venue in Sudbury.
We always welcome your feedback and have set up a survey that you can find online at www.ncodp.org.uk/sil-questionnaire.
I hope to add many more features to the website over the coming months so please take a look and let me know if you have any ideas.
Finally, you can find out a bit more about me in our ‘Meet the Team’ feature and Louise, our new Senior Finance and Payroll Assistant, in a ‘Note from Payroll’.
Lee Evans, Service Manager
Felixstowe Roadshow a Success!
On Tuesday 23rd February, SIL held a road show at Felixstowe Library. This was to raise awareness of our work with direct payments, which increase empowerment, choice and control for disabled people. The day was a success, and we are working hard to plan similar events for the rest of the year to promote our services.
The occasion had a good turnout and we were very happy to be able to assist and be on hand to answer any questions, as well as to advise local residents, enabling people to make informed decisions about their support and care arrangements. The event lasted three hours during which a lady came in after hearing us on BBC Radio Suffolk. She said she may need support in the future and was very pleased for us to be able to advise around her options. Before listening to the radio interview she was not aware such support was out there and it was lovely to see that our work was helping to reach out to people.
People were interested in taking control over their lives and SIL assists to achieve this through direct payments. It showed that direct payments can work to fit around different situations and circumstances, and people who came all felt it was extremely worthwhile. We were pleased with the response, illustrating the need and purpose of promoting direct payments and SIL’s work.
SIL Responds to Independent Living Group Demand!
Due to popular demand we are trialling a new venue for an Independent Living Group this year! The group will meet in June and September at the Bridge Project in Sudbury. These meetings will be for people who receive direct payments or personal budgets, and their support workers and carers. At the Independent Living Group meetings, people will have the chance to talk about how things are going with their direct payment or personal budget. The aim of the Independent Living Groups is to offer Peer Support, information on Independent Living Services such as Direct Payments, Equipment, Direct Services or Support Workers.
For more information or to become a member, please feel free to contact me, Alex Smith, on 01473 603876 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Meet The Team… Lee Evans, Service Manager
As SIL Service Manager, my job is to ensure that SIL provides you with the best possible service in line with our key principles. I have been Service Manager since June 2008 and have worked with SIL since we started in September 2007. I have been involved with Direct Payments since 2003, and before this worked with people with Learning Disabilities for a number of years.
I passionately believe in a more fair and just society and hope that direct payments and SIL plays some part in assisting disabled people to enjoy the control over their lives that many take for granted.
My interests outside of work include spending time with my two boys, being an avid reader, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I very much enjoy video games!
SIL Talks!
Advisers here at Suffolk Independent Living are available to give talks around Personal Budgets and Direct Payments at any groups or clubs you may attend.
The talks can be tailored to your group’s specific needs.
For more information, please contact us.
NCODP Staff Christmas Party!
Photograph taken of some of the Independent Living Advisers at our Christmas Party: Ese Okotie, Jacqui Polley, and Ben Reed.
...also known as Santa Claus, a Christmas Pudding, and a Christmas Present!
A Note from Payroll - Meet Louise!
My name is Louise Wain and I am the new senior Finance and Payroll Assistant for Suffolk.
I have worked for NCODP for over 4 years and hope I will be able to assist you in the future with your payroll and finance queries. In my spare time I enjoy watching football and cricket. I also enjoy going bird watching in North Norfolk as this photo shows.
Lynsey remains in the team and Luke joins us from Norfolk Payroll. Find out more about the team in future issues.
We are fast approaching our busiest time of the year; March, April and May. We are required to send an end of year return to HM Revenue & Customs for every payroll. We would really appreciate your assistance in ensuring that all timesheets are sent in on time. This will help us to keep to the deadlines set by HMRC.
Please bear with us during this time as it may take a little longer than usual to answer telephone enquiries and deal with holiday calculation requests. We will get back to you as soon as we can but please let us know if you have an urgent enquiry.
New Textphone number
We have a new textphone number: 01473 604412!
To speak to Carol (one of our Admin Assistants), please phone 18002 01473 604412 via Typetalk, a voice to text service.
There is no extra charge for this service.
PS
If you use the supported account and receive a letter requesting you return excess funds, remember you can always contact us for support around budgeting.