Feb / Mar 2016
Maidstone & District Branch Newsletter
Hi Vicci, your on the cover again!
Recently we celebrated our 50 years as a
branch of the MS Society. Happily we
were able to invite a few people who
were active in those grey beginnings.
However, what some may not know is
that back in May/June 1995 the first issue
of MS Matters was published. It was an
amalgamation of the original MS News
and The Messenger. .........more on page 7
ANNUAL LUNCH 30 January saw 48 of us sitting down to a super lunch at
the Grange Moor Hotel. Excellent food, lots of laughter and meeting up with
old friends made it a fun day and a great success. The generosity of several
people meant that the number of raffle prizes grew to 19 and the generosity
of those attending resulted in £120 being raised for branch funds. A big
thank you to everyone but most of all congratulations and big hugs go to
Shirley Boosey who organised it all.
Also i n this issue
AGM l Socials & Outings l VAT Relief l Resources
TO RECEIVE YOUR NEWSLETTERS BY EMAIL?
please let me know. email: [email protected]
If you have anything large or small to say or sell? please let me know
mob: 07547 139576 or email: [email protected]
Copy date for next issue 21st March
FREE TO A GOOD HOME
Hardwood standing frame (Manual)
We have been offered this piece of equipment by
someone who lives in Bearsted. It is about
1 metre square, well used but perfectly serviceable.
If anyone might find this useful please call into the
branch, 01622 675556.
This newsletter is published by the Maidstone branch of the MS Society.
The views expressed in this publication are individual and not necessarily the view
or policy of the charity and its supporters.
‘no part of this newsletter should be copied or reproduced without the consent of the author’
Registered Charity Nos. 1139257/SC041990
Registered as a limited company in England and Wales 07451571
2
NOT THE CHAIRMAN ANYMORE’S BIT
Happy New Year to You all
You will have noticed that I am no longer Chairman. This is because
we desperately needed a new Treasurer and I am he. No one person
can hold the two offices at the same time. I still plan to be involved
in the day to day business of the branch.
We have been busy already. Wednesday 27 January several volunteers spent the day at Tesco in Lunsford Lane, Larkfield where we
raised the sum of £265.78. Not bad for a quiet midweek spot.
We are busy planning events for this year. There will be 5 outings
and 4 socials. The dates are fixed but the activities are not. If you
have any ideas or there is something you would like to do contact
the branch. The list of dates can be found in this Newsletter.
I have spoken to the weather pixies and put in a request for this
year’s weather. No rain, lots of sun, and temperatures between 17
and 24 degrees. They have agreed but you all know what contrary
little so and sos they can be.
We are planning to hold an information day this year. We have no
plans as yet so if there is a particular subject you want covered contact the branch.
10 pin bowling is continuing. We had our first games of the year on
20 January. The next bowling days are 24 February and 13 April.
Don’t forget coffee mornings every Wednesday at the Heart of
Flavour, King Street, Maidstone at 10.45.
Paul
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ANNUAL MEETING
Dear Member.
The Annual Meeting of the Maidstone & District Branch
Of the Multiple Sclerosis Society will be held at
the Maidstone Community Support Centre, Marsham Street on
Saturday 27th february 2016
The venue is completely accessible and you are warmly invited to attend and
contribute your thoughts on, and suggestions for, the way in which your
Branch should continue to function and go forward.
One of the main items of business will be to elect the committee members for
the next twelve months – we are always seeking new committee members so
please give some careful thought to this. Should you wish to nominate a
committee member or propose a resolution either email me on:
[email protected], or phone me on 01622 208871 before Sunday
31st January 2016. Please let me know if you would prefer to receive postal
forms.
Only paid-up members will be able to stand or actively participate in the Annual Meeting – all renewals and/or queries are dealt with by National Centre
(call membership on: 020 8438 0759).
We hope to see as many of you as possible at the Annual Meeting which will
be followed by a buffet tea, giving the opportunity to socialise with other
members.
Tracey
Secretary
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OUTINGS & SOCIALS 2016
COACH TRIPS
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
May 14th June 18th July 16th August 13th –
September 17th –
TBC
TBC
Portsmouth
TBC
Buckingham Palace
SOCIALS
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
Saturday
April 23rd October 15th November 12th December 10th -
?
TBC
TBC
Bingo
Quiz
The dates are fixed but the activities are not. If you have any ideas or
there is something you would like to do contact the branch.
BRANCH TELEPHONE NUMBER: 01622 675556
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CEA CINEMA CARD
The CEA Card allows you to obtain ONE free ticket for the person who is
accompanying you to enable you to visit the cinema, by providing the assistance you require as a result of your disability, provided you purchase an applicable full price ticket for yourself for the same performance of the same film
in the same auditorium. For further information on the scheme,including a list
of participating cinemas,
go to the CEA Card website:
https://www.ceacard.co.uk/howtoapply.aspx
NEW for 2016!
In September we’ll be joining with Parkinson’s UK to put on our first joint
bespoke fundraising event – The London to Paris Cycle!
From 14-18 September, cyclists will pedal from one iconic city to another –
through picturesque Kent, across the Channel, through the small villages of
Northern France, passing famous First World War battlefields, before arriving under the Eiffel Tower.
The money raised will help us continue to invest in our world-class Tissue
Bank – the largest MS-specific brain donor scheme in Europe.
Registration is now open! Please share with your contacts and visit the website or get in touch for more information.
Website: https://www.mssociety.org.uk/ ms-events/london-paris-bike-ride
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...cont from cover
Featured in that first issue were a number of high profile people, not least
HRH The Prince of Wales but more interestingly and locally Vicci was the front
cover ‘pin-up’.
In our archives we have a copy of the first edition (unsigned) and we managed
to persuade Vicci to have a photo taken of her holding that first edition. Vicci,
as much as anyone has been in the forefront of branch activities for, well just
a few years!
We were hoping to get a mention in the next MS Matters but sadly the
publishing team has so many contributions they can’t take them all. So even
this combination of events could not get a place.
Having said that, Vicci was happy for us to include something in this
newsletter.
7
NEW RESOURCES
We have one new resource available to order from the online shop:
Claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
For people with MS who are going through the PIP claims process, this
booklet looks at whether you’re eligible to claim, as well as looking in detail
at the assessment process, including completing the PIP questionnaire, the
face-to-face consultation and how to challenge a decision.
Updated resources
Hearing
This factsheet provides an overview of MS-related hearing problems, how to
manage them and explains how the brain processes information from the
ear.
MS Helpline leaflet
This leaflet gives information about the support the MS Helpline can offer
people affected by MS, including a re-useable card with the MS Helpline
contact details.
You can find up-to-date versions of all our most requested publications on
the MS Society website Key Publications list, which is updated monthly:
https://www.mssociety.org.uk/ ms-resources/key-publications
These and other publications can be downloaded from
www.mssociety.org.uk
ordered from the shop
www.shop.mssociety.org.uk.
Contact:
Information resources team [email protected] 020 8438 0999
UNDERSTANDING THE NEEDS
OF PEOPLE WITH MS
Around 10,000 people with MS completed the My MS, My Needs survey in
2012, making it one of the largest surveys of people with
MS in the UK. The findings have proven highly effective in lobbying for
changes to national guidelines on the care and treatment of MS.
Early next month NC will be launching a new version for 2016.
This will highlight where people are getting the treatments, services and
support that they need, and where improvement is needed. Such information is vital for our work and will help us to work
together to improve MS services.
Everyone’s response matters
For us to gather a clear picture of what it’s like to live with MS in the UK, we
need as many people to fill in the questionnaire as
possible.
Getting involved
If you’re an MS Society member look out for the questionnaire
arriving on your doorstep soon. You can also complete it through the MS
Register. Please do take a few minutes to share your
experiences.
If you have any questions please get in touch with the Research team.
9
VAT RELIEF AVAILABLE
People with MS and MS Society branches are able to obtain a number of
VAT reliefs. This is a simple way to reduce costs.
All you need to do to claim these reliefs is provide a declaration to the
supplier. Template declarations are available at https://volunteers.mssociety.org.uk/ resources/1358
The lists below are not exhaustive but provide an outline of the types of
items that VAT reliefs can be obtained on. Further details
can be found in chapter 9 of the Treasurers’ Handbook.
People with MS should not have to pay VAT on the following items:
• adjustable beds, chairlifts, hoists and sanitary devices
• emergency call systems
• some building work done at the person’s home to help them to move
around, such as widening of doorways and constructing ramps
• adapted motor vehicles, and their repair – qualifying adaptions include
a swivel seat or wheelchair hoist
SPECIALIST BENEFIT ADVICE
FROM MAIDSTONE CAB
The Maidstone and District Branch of the MS Society is in partnership with
Maidstone Citizens Advice Bureau to provide an exclusive to people with,
or affected by MS who live within the Maidstone Borough.
If you have, or are affected by MS and looking for benefits advice, phone
Maidstone CAB on 01622 750770
and make a fast track appointment to see the specialist.
IT IS THAT EASY!
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A request for a Cryptic Puzzle
(answers at the back for the rest of us)
ACROSS
1. Mammal sounds like relative consumer (8)
5. Displayed furniture item also faded (4)
8. Discourage crude terms, essentially (5)
9. Festival idea found legally acceptable (5)
11. rearranged horns and fleeced (5)
12. Found rock in last one (5)
13. Colossal veranda concealed serving tray (6)
15. Found drab sentence not there (6)
19. Renegade hiding in enclosure below (5)
21. Performer held in contract ordeal (5)
23. Refreshment in formula German Beer (5)
24. Joint located in thin gear (5)
25. Meandering line in Egypt (4)
26. writhing fish’s urgent (8)
DOWN
1. Sounds like a place to stay and something to wear (7)
2. Extra test contains grades (5)
3. Observe wordy change (7)
4. Extra vineyard conceals gorge (6)
6. Byword in Canada geese (5)
7. Various mountaineer pals climbed them (4)
10. Bee with monotone sound? (5)
14. Tag showed who viola belonged to (5)
16. Meat retailer cut herb for a change (7)
17. Trained to part exchange used property (5-2)
18. Raptor becomes ruffled creature (6)
19. Bird found in opera venue (5)
20. Will stick to unusual racing sled (4)
22. Remove froth from mandarin serving (5)
11
CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
SOLUTION PAGE 18
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SUDUKO
Enjoy puzzling Answers in next NL
3 4
7
2
7
4
7
6 1 2
2
8
1
3 6
9 7
2
8
9
6 2 9
7
4
6
9
7
1 2
6
7
3
1
7 9
6
7
3 5
4
7
4
5
1 9
9
2
**
****
8
2 3
6
8
9
7
8
1
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Feb/Mar 2016
DIARY DATES
M T W Th F S S
C Z
O
C Z
S
O
S
COFFEE MORNINGS
Heart of Flavour
King Street, Maidstone
11am Wednesdays
OUTINGS COACH TRIPS
Saturday May 14th Saturday June 18th Saturday July 16th Saturday August 13th –
Saturday September 17th –
TBC
TBC
Portsmouth
TBC
Buckingham Palace
BOWLING
Lockmeadow
February 24th
April 13th
11am
CALL PAUL 01622 202326
SOCIALS
MCSC, Marsham Street
Saturday April 23rd Saturday October 15th Saturday November 12th Saturday December 10th -
TBC
TBC
Bingo
Quiz
AGM
MCSC, Marsham Street
Saturday 27th February
ZEROTH EXERCISE CLASSES
Weekly (Mon & Thurs)
call Jill Maynard: 01622 749564
2 - 4.30pm
3pm
11.15-12.30pm
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HAPPY
BIRTHDAYS
to the following members who will be
celebrating their birthday
FEBRUARY
Vicci Chittenden l Sue Forster l Janice Carr l Jayne Aspinall
Pamela Histon l Beryl Smith l Ann Culham
Sheila Burgman
MARCH
Davina Buckle l Jill Clark l Jenny Pilgrim l Shirley Caen
Simon McCrodden l Philip Watson
Enjoy your special day from the
Maidstone MS Branch
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BRANCH COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT
HEATHER LEWTON
CHAIRMAN
SECRETARY
TRACEY WAKELING
TREASURER
PAUL SIDAWAY
SUPPORT OFFICER
WILL BUCKLE
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
ALI JUDGE
SOCIAL / OUTINGS
TERRY CULHAM
SIMON MCCRODDEN
SUPPORTING
SHIRLEY BOOSEY
FUNDRAISING
STILL VACANT!!!!!
BRANCH TELEPHONE NUMBER:
01622 675556
Website: http://www.mssociety.org.uk/maidstone
16
YOUNG
UNITED BY
MULTIPLE
SCLEROSIS
YUMS is an online support network for people aged 18-40 affected by MS
and living in Kent. For more information about YUMS, you can find them on
Facebook, give them a ring or drop them an e-mail
www.Facebook.com/groups/kentYUMS t: 07982 264856 email: [email protected]
Maidstone Branch Contact Details: Branch Line: 01622 675556
Branch emails: [email protected]
This newsletter is produced by the Maidstone Branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. All
views expressed are individual & not necessarily the views or policy of the charity & its
supporters. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced without express, prior permission.
PUZZLE SOLUTION
17
BRING THIS AGENDA WITH YOU
BRING THIS AGENDA WITH YOU
18