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19 July 2010
Annual Public Meeting
Chair of the Board of Trustees Janet Allen welcomed everyone to the meeting. She reported that NFDIS has
had a very
positive year and summarised the hard work that the team have presented in three
particular areas:
- Preparation for the Community Legal Service
Audit
- Changes in the electronic infrastructure of the
service
- Funding.
In addition
the team have worked hard to maintain and develop the daily service,
particularly the disability equipment sales.
Honorary Treasurer John Woolhouse gave his financial report and explained that whilst the charity is now working efficiently it cannot be complacent as the future is precarious and always will be.
Chief Executive Jacki
Keable reported that 2009/10 was a year of growth in all areas of the
service.
Client figures were up by some 700 on the previous year; client enquiries by 2,000
and client contacts by 1,500!
Benefit
awards totalling £412,370 were secured for clients, a record for NFDIS.
Over 5,000 voluntary hours had been given by the NFDIS loyal team over the twelve months
for which they were duly thanked.
Trustee Larry Anthony spoke about the successes of the past year, including the very high standards achieved in the recent Community Legal Service audit; and the challenges to be faced in the coming year.
Guest speaker Jenny Clarke from Woofability, gave a presentation on her assistance dogs, and brought one dog who is in training to show what it had learnt and a young puppy that is due to start training when it is old enough - seen here with Jenny and Larry.
8 July 2010
Bournemouth Echo
& 23 July New Milton Advertiser & Lymington Times
New Milton Rotary Support NFDIS
Di Shea, President of New Milton Rotary Club, District 1110 (Hampshire, Dorset & IOW), was delighted to present a cheque for £1500 to the CEO of the NFDIS (New Forest Disability Information Service), Jacki Keable.
President Di said that Jacki and her team were a magnificent example of a small professional group helping many hundreds of people, and that it was a pleasure to be able to contribute to their organisation.
7 June 2010
New Milton Advertiser & Lymington Times
Disability Service leader Jacki is hailed for work
The Chief Executive of the New Forest Disability Information Service has been awarded a Community Service Award by the Rotary Club of the New Forest.
The award honours Jacki Keable for helping several thousand disabled people each year by providing a help line, drop in centre and home visiting service.
The organisation was set up in 1998 at the Leonard Cheshire centre in New Milton and assissted people to complete forms for disability benefits. Two large lottery grants enabled the charity to expand from a few volunteers to employing around a dozen staff, but when major grant funding dried up the organisation was down to its last few hundred pounds.
With the remaining volunteers Mrs Keable, who is pictured receiving her award from Rotary President Alan Blair, worked tirelessly to expand and develop the charity, which now offers help to the adult care service users both within Lymington Hospital and the community. There has also been a recent drive to improve the service to children with special needs.
May 2010
DISABILITY GROUP GETS SUPPORT FROM EXXONMOBIL
The New Forest Disability Information Service are delighted to have received a boost to their funding
from ExxonMobil. The generous cheque will help towards continuing the support that the Service offers to clients in the Waterside area, and the NFDISgreatly appreciate the financial assistance that ExxonMobil has given over a number of years.
Every Wednesday an Advisor holds an Outreach Service at The Grove in Hythe where clients can gain valuable information and advice on any disability issues, in particular they offer specialist experience in gaining access to welfare benefits for the disabled and carers.
The Service has held this Outreach for many years and is pleased to be able to continue to help clients in any area that may be effecting their everyday living. The NFDIS sell a very wide range of daily living aids from key turners to wheelchairs, perching stools to access ramps and evrything in between - both new and second hand equipment is available at very competitive prices.
NEW FOREST POST
31 December 2009 reported:
DISABILITY GROUP GETS RECRUITMENT BOOST
A group that helps thousands of disabled people across the New Forest has seen a 30 per cent increase in calls.
The recession has resulted in more people contacting the New Forest Disability Information Service about welfare benefits.
The New Milton based service says it needs to recruit and train more volunteers as a result of the huge increase in demand.
Now Hampshire County Council has given it a £5,000 grant towards the cost of a £7,625 recruitment programme.
Council Leader Ken Thornber said: "In the current economic climate more people need financial advice and are turning to the voluntary sector to find out what help is available. I'm pleased we can help the disability information service, which offers valuable information, advice and support to disabled people."
Staff help disabled people with issues including volunteering, holidays, education and transport.
Press Release December 2009
Marchwood Parish Council have recognised the valuable work of the NFDIS in advising disabled people and carers in the Marchwood area. The service were delighted to receive a cheque for £100, which will be used specifically for expenses incurred supporting clients in Marchwood.
Press Release November 2009
Following
a presentation about the work of the New Forest Disability Information
Service to Copythorne Parish Council and members of the public, the
service were delighted to receive a grant aid donation of £50 in
support of their work in the parish. No donation is too small,
and the generous donation of £50 from this small parish will be
well spent on travel costs, postage and telephone Helpline expenses so
that we may continue to support people in this north eatern area of the
forest that come under the NFDIS support patch.
Press Release October 2009
New Milton Town Council have supported their locally based disability information charity with grant aid of £400 which will go towards running costs of the charity that is seeing a large increase in clients at it's Osborne Road premises and via it's telephone Helpline. Such support from our local councils is vital, and is appreciated by the NFDIS Team who thank the Town Council for their support in difficult financial times.
Press Release September 2009
Fordingbridge Town Council have come up trumps with a cheque for £250 for the New Forest Disability Information Service to help it continue to support people in the Fordingbridge area. This will particularly support outreach sessions in the town, travel costs for home visits and provision of expert information and advice upon disability issues including welfare benefit applications.
Press Release 13 July 2009
Honorary Life Member
At their Annual Public Meeting the New Forest Disability Information Service bestowed Honorary Life Membership upon Mrs Pat Whyte who had loyaly served the NFDIS since it's early days. Pat was commended for her work as a voluntary Advisor, particulary at the Wednesday Hythe Outreach Office; and is seen here being presented with her lanyard and certficate by Cllr Barry Rickman Leader of New Forest District Council and Chairman of NFDIS Mrs Janet Allen.
Press Release July 2009
ExxonMobil have once more dug deep into their pockets to help the New Forest Disability Information Service to carry on supporting their clients in the Waterside area. This year's cheque for £1,250 will help to pay towards continuing this vital service to disabled people in the east of the forest with costs for travel, outreach work, home visits, information provision and telephone Helpline; which is very much appreciated by the NFDIS Team.
Press release 11 March 2009
Musical Music Makers Support Local Charity
Ballard School Performing Arts Centre pulsed to
the melodic sound of ‘Music from the Musicals’ on Saturday 7 March.
An appreciative audience enjoyed the singing and
dancing of ‘Curtain Up Theatre Club,
The evening was organised by the local charity New
Forest Disability, who’s band of volunteers changed their roles from Receptionists
and Advisors for the evening to run the box office, sell raffle tickets, serve
refreshments and take on all the other duties required front of house in the
theatre.
The proceeds from the evening will support the
charity in their work offering free information, advice and guidance on
disability related issues from their New Milton premises at 6 Osborne Road; and may be contacted via
their Helpline 01425 628750, e-mail info@newforestdis.org.uk
or visit the website www.newforestdis.org.uk. For information about ‘Curtain Up Theatre
Club,
Press Release 1 March 2009
Lucky Champagne Tea for Two Winner
Mr
Allan Carpenter of Tiptoe was the lucky winner of a Champagne Tea for Two at
the prestigious
Promotor Cathy Gogan presenting Allan Carpenter and his partner Anne Hilton with his prize
Press Release 21 January 2009
£2m secured for clients
Over the past 8 years the New
Forest Disability Information Service has secured £2,000,000 in welfare
benefits for their clients!
Receiving news this week that
another disabled client’s welfare benefit application has been awarded the
highest rate brought the total secured to the stunning sum of £2m. These benefits are the client’s rights but
very often people are unaware that they may apply for them, or make the
application without advice and guidance and do not secure their appropriate
award.
The highly trained Advisors at
the NFDIS are available to offer free advice, and to help complete these
complex forms and have a very high success rate when clients fulfil the
criteria laid down by law for receiving financial help to ease the costs of
living with a disability.
The NFDIS are an Alternative
Office, which means that they have a member of staff that is certified to the
Secretary of State to issue welfare benefit applications (to their own clients)
and to do the first line of processing, all the client has to do is make an
appointment and turn up with their relevant information and the NFDIS Team do
the rest – and the Service is free!
For more information, please ring the Helpline 01425 628750 Monday to Friday 10am – 5pm (or out of hours and leave a message) all clients are treated in the strictest confidence.
Press Release 18 October 2008
Tesco Collection Days
The two collection days on 6/7
October at Tesco, New
We would like to thank generous shoppers for
their donations and interest in the work of this charity that provides free,
confidential, impartial disability related information, advice and guidance
from our base in
All the money raised will go towards running costs to keep the Service open daily from 10am to 5pm. Clients can also contact us via our telephone Helpline on 01425 628750, or at our Ringwood and Hythe outreach offices.
Press Release 15 October 2008
Annual Public Meeting and AGM
The
New Forest Disability Information Service held their Annual Public Meeting and
AGM at Bashley Village Hall recently, and put on a Powerpoint presentation to
show everyone how much had been achieved in the previous 12 months and to talk
of plans for the future of this much need Service.
During
the formal part of the meeting, Mrs Janet Allen was voted in as Chairman, and
in her address she stated that she was proud to take the helm of such a vital
charity. Whilst looking forward to
helping the Service plan for the future she wanted to thank all the volunteers
for their magnificent help and to everyone that has made a financial donation,
your support is appreciated. The assembled heard how the NFDIS Lottery is still
very popular and how anyone joining before January will receive a free draw
ticket to win a Champagne Tea for Two at the prestigious
Mr
John Woolhouse was formerly elected as Treasurer and very warmly welcomed into
this vital role. Mr Michael Lanning and
Mrs Molly Deaton remain Director/Trustees, and the resignation of Mrs Barbara
Keeling from the same role was duly noted with a huge vote of thanks for all
she has done for the Service over many years in many different roles, latterly
as a Director/Trustee.
The
accounts were presented, showing a 2007/8 year end balance of £25,477 compared
to £6,804 year end 2006/8. Ms Mandy
Robbins from PrinceCroft Willis was thanked for her very professional presentation
of the accounts and PrinceCroft Willis were appointed as the charity’s
accountants for the forthcoming year.
Like
many charities, the Service has felt the ‘financial squeeze of the last 18
months, but the two managers were pleased to report that through hard work and
determination from all the loyal volunteers, the future looks more stable than
at the start of the year. The selling of
new and good quality second hand disability equipment, at very reasonable
prices, has proved very popular with clients and visitors alike, and the
bric-a-brac and books on sale bring a constant flow of browsers looking for
(and often finding) a bargain. The
proffered Annual Review laid out a slight increase in charitable activity
during the 12 months with 1,039 individual clients bringing 2,159 enquiries to
the Service. A large part of the role of
the NFDIS is to help people secure their welfare benefits rights and to this
end £324,893 of new benefits were secured for clients during the previous 12
months.
Refreshments
were then served with an opportunity for everyone to meet the NFDIS Team and to
chat informally. It was noted that recruitment of suitable volunteers that
could spare one half day per week are being sought, and anyone interested is
asked to contact the NFDIS Office on 01425 628750 for an informal chat. Donation of sellable items are very much
appreciated and may be dropped off at
Press Release 20 September 2008
Refinery reaches out to Disability Service
The Hythe branch of the New Forest
Disability Information Service is now better equipped to meet the growing
demands of those it serves after a donation of £1,000 from Esso and ExxonMobil
Chemical at Fawley Refinery. This non-profit organisation, that provides
disability related information and advice to all age groups, was finding it
difficult to cope with the rising costs associated with the increase in demand
for the service it provides.
Whilst the service is only able to
operate from its Hythe office on Wednesdays, it serves the community during the
rest of the week on a home visit basis and through their telephone helpline.
This funding has been used to continue this work and is also set to help plans
of running sessions at strategic locations across the area also. The New Forest
Disability Information Service is now regularly attending Blackfield Library as
part of its Travelling Service.
Cathy Gogan, Client Manager of New
Forest Disability Information service said, “This contribution is very much
appreciated and will be extremely beneficial in continuing to provide our
clients with this service”
Gisela Muns of ExxonMobil said, “The disability Outreach provides a much needed service to the local community. The refinery is a major part of the local community and I’m glad that we were able to help financially with the growing demands this organisation faces.”
Press Release 13 September 2008
The Fashion Show by Traditional Trends held on Friday 12 September at
Bashley
Village Hall, New Milton was a great success. The superb show was
bravely modelled by volunteers from the NFDIS and their friends - we
extend a huge thank you to them for showcasing the wonderful range of
fashions offered by Tracey & her team from Traditional Trends as
seen below:
Press Release 9 August 2008
Freemasons support local charity
The New Forest Disability Information Service, a well respected local charity, has for many years helped to serve the needs of the disabled in the New Forest area and greatly relies on the generosity of the community for it’s survival.
The members of Barton Court Masonic Lodge, based in New Milton, are always pleased to assist local charities and Richard Daley, their Charity Steward, recently presented NFDIS Client Manager, Cathy Gogan assisted by Jacki Keable, Business Manager and Dennis Forfit, Benefits Advisor with a cheque for £500.
Press Release 22 July 2008
Another Raffle Success.
The Annual Bashley Flower Show and Fete took place on Saturday 19 July, and once again the New Forest Disability Information Service ran their ever popular raffle. 20 prizes were on display, and ticket sales were very good. A band of children helped to draw the tickets, which is becoming a regular feature of this event, and became ever bolder in their clarity and volume of voice over the public address system!
The grand sum of £135 was raised - with thanks extended to our supporters from the Team at NFDIS.Press Release 24 June 2008
Concert Raffle Success
The Curtain Up Theatre Club of Christchurch held a wonderful concert at The Regent Centre in Christchurch and generously allowed a team from the New Forst Disability Information Service to run a raffle. Patrons were most kind in purchasing tickets, tempted by over twenty lovely prizes that had been donated.
The wonderful sum of £174 was raised to help the charity NFDIS to continue to help others.
Press Release 20 May 2008
Quiz Night in Aid of NFDIS
Around 64 people took part in a most enjoyable Quiz Evening at St Mary Magdalene Church Hall, New Milton, on 17 May. A superb Ploughman's Supper was served and all the teams had a wonderful time. £318 was raised during the evening, including a raffle, and huge thanks were offered to a loyal supporter for all the hard work in organising the whole event. The team from NFDIS gallantly took the 'Booby Prize' of last place and each received a washing up brush to 'brush up on their knowledge'!
It is hoped to hold another quiz in the not too distant future - watch our diary page for details.
New Forest
The New Forest Disability
Information Service was formed 10 years ago and first opened its doors to clients a year later. Starting as a very small charity with two
part-time staff and an empty filing cabinet there was certainly a lot to do!
First task was to recruit some
more volunteers, and then to start training everyone in providing a Service to
be proud of.
The exciting day came when we
launched the Service in February 1999, and we sat expectantly waiting for the
Helpline telephone to ring – and it did just half an hour into our very first
shift we had our first client. That first year we handled 471 clients and we
were on our way.
The Service grew, expanded,
and gained reputation as a quality service that clients could depend upon. More volunteers were trained and others took
on more complex roles. By 2001 we opened
an Outreach Office in Hythe each Wednesday and then in 2002 one in Ringwood on
Mondays – both are still valuable services for clients on the east and west sides
of the forest today. We increased the number of days we were open at the
Leonard Cheshire Resource Centre to five afternoons a week and then the time
came when we needed to be open all day. Three
years ago premises were obtained in
Over the years client’s
enquiries have become more complex - especially in welfare benefits, and
skilled Advisors have often represented clients at tribunals over the years.
Regular visitors to the
popular Wednesday table sales at
We are celebrating surviving this ‘drought’ and our 9th Birthday by having an Open Day on Saturday 16 February from 10am – 3pm when we invite you to come and have coffee/tea, have a look at our new sales area, hopefully buy a few bargains, join our Lottery and learn about Volunteering with the NFDIS. We will have volunteers on hand for you to chat to – if you have a spare half day a week why not offer yourself as a volunteer, it is very satisfying and training is provided. Call in or telephone Cathy or Jacki on 01425 623485 or visit our website www.newforestdis.org.uk.
On Monday October 29 the New Forest Disability
Information Service held their Annual Public Meeting and the Future of NFDIS at
the Leonard Cheshire Centre in New Milton.
A report upon finances was presented by Ms
Mandy Robbins from accountants PrinceCroft Willis who’s services it was agreed
to continue using for the future year.
Despite huge financial worries brought about by a lack of available
grants to apply for and by not managing to secure a Big Lottery grant, the
charity had remained open. All paid
staff were made redundant in July 2006, but most had remained at their desks on
a voluntary basis and with the other volunteers had successfully helped approx
1,000 clients with over 1,800 enquiries and secured some £376,371 in new
benefit awards for the clients. A huge
vote of thanks was offered to all the volunteers for all their hard work and
dedication to the charity’s cause.
Cathy Gogan and Jacki Keable spoke positively
about the future for the Service with a determined drive towards at least
partial self funding with training and consultation work being expanded, sales
of bric-a-brac and books from the
The
popular NFDIS Lottery that raises funds
each month was explained as just £1 a month played by those
assembled would pay
the photocopying bill every month, and people were urged to get their
friends
and neighbours to join so that the telephone helpline bills could also
be funded. A craft fair had just brought in around £300
and more events are planned including a concert and a fashion
show. An open day is scheduled for January as more
volunteers are required to train as advisors, receptionists, in shop
sales or
in administrative roles, anyone interested in getting involved with the
charity
please do contact either Cathy or Jacki on 01425 623485.
Press release:
A wonderful boost has been received by the New Forest Disability Information Service who have been awarded a £5,000 grant by the Henry Smith Charity to support the work that this charity provides to all its clients. Huge thank you also goes to Hordle Parish Council who have generously awarded a grant of £60, which is truly appreciated, towards supporting clients in the parish of Hordle. Such grants have made all the difference to the charity that has gone through a very lean patch but is pleased to report that it is very much ‘open for business’!
The range of new and slightly used disability equipment for sale has been extended and the display area has been extended and if there is something that is required that we do not have in stock we can usually order it in. Do drop in and have a browse, we may have very small premises but there is a lot in there!
Press release:
The New Forest Disability Information Service has
received support from the Co-operative Group Community Fund Scheme with a grant
of £750 to help with office costs. This will
go towards running the telephones, photocopying, printing costs, travelling
expenses and producing information sheets for the many clients that contact the
Service every week. All the volunteers
with NFDIS send a huge thank you to the Co-operative Group for this much needed
boost to funds.
Press release:
Our next event
is at the New Forest District Council ACCESS Day on Saturday 15 September
10am-3pm at Appltree Court where we hope to see and advise a large number of
people about the work of the NFDIS and what we can do for them.
Press Release: 6 August 2007
Sway Welfare Aid Group (SWAG) have generously given a £600 cheque to the NFDIS - this money is in recognition of the advice and support given freely to Sway residents, and comes at a time when finances are short.
Such generosity has been heartwarming and the management team are delighted as they had requested a grant of £500 and were rewarded with a wonderful £600! Being given more than we asked for has been a testament to our work in the area and we are absolutely delighted! Thank you SWAG.
Press Release: 12 July 2007
The Dibden Allottment Charity have thrown the New Forest Disability Information Service a life line by way of a £2,500 grant. This money will ensure that the clients that benefit from our Service in the Hythe & Dibden areas will continue to receive their weekly Outreach Service at The Grove in Hythe on Wednesdays 12 - 4pm and full access to the Telephone Helpline and other range of services for many months to come. Everyone at the NFDIS are very grateful to the Trustees of the charity for their generosity.
Press Release: 14 June 2007
ExxonMobil have once again supported the New Forest Disability Information Service by a donation of £1,000 which will ensure that the Telephone Helpline continues and the clients in the Fawley and Waterside areas continue to receive visits from the Travelling Service. Everyone at the NFDIS are very grateful to ExxonMobil for their support and generosity.
© JK - updated July 2010