Gibraltar Community Support Groups

Gibraltar comprehensive encyclopedia reference on Gibraltar Community Support Groups
Gibraltar Local community groups and organizations, which provide advice and support that, can help in local community in Gibraltar.
A collected of facts and data about the specifics on groups and organizations in Gibraltar.
Gibraltar Local Disability Movement
The Gibraltar Local Disability Movement (GLDM) is a pressure group operating in Gibraltar that seeks to improve the lives of disabled people, promote equal opportunities and tackle disablist discrimination in Gibraltar.
It was first established in 1985 in response to Gibraltar's lack of infrastructure and facilities for disabled people. The society ceased to be active for several years during the 1990s and early 2000s, but was reactivated in 2005 to address the situation for disabled people in Gibraltar, which did not see great improvement for several years.
It had become apparent to many in the Gibraltarian community, that disabled and the families of disabled needed disability issues to be address, as many had found that groups, or society, and even Government of Gibraltar had become distant.
At present there is no way for anyone to know what the disabled allowances are, put it is expected that this will be rectified soon, thanks to The Gibraltar Local Disability Movement work in advising the Gibraltar Government.
The Gibraltar Local Disability Movement website was established in June 27 2005, aiming to give people a platform to voice their views on local disability issues, providing a source of information on disabled issues.
Objectives
The society's main objectives are:
*To work towards the elimination of discrimination against disabled persons;
*To promote the equalisation of opportunities for disabled persons;
*To take such steps as it considers appropriate with a view to encouraging good practice in the treatment of disabled persons;
*Make proposals or give other advice to any Ministers as to any aspect of the law or a proposed change to the law;
*Make proposals or give other advice to any Government agency or other public authority as to the practical application of any law;
*Work towards the elimination of discrimination against - and equalise opportunities for - people with disabilities. It will also promote good practice to employers and service providers, provide advice and information and advise the Government about the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act
There are no documented statistics of people with disabilities in Gibraltar. However, The G.L.D.M. can inform that there are currently 124 persons in receipt of a Disability Allowance. Also, the records kept by the Department of Social Security currently show that there are at least 51 persons who are visually impaired. Social Services in Gibraltar are managed by the Social Services Agency, a statutory body which operates within the provisions of the Social Services Agency [http://www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/articles/2002-08o.pdf (pdf) Act 2002]. The legislation which governs disability issues is the [http://www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/articles/1992-16o.pdf (pdf) Disabled Persons Act 1992] and more recently the [http://www.gibraltarlaws.gov.gi/bills/2006B41.pdf (pdf) Equal Opportunities Act 2006] which prohibits discrimination in the employment and self-employment field.
Services for disabled people in Gibraltar
The policy of Social Services is to work to the spirit of UK Government white papers such as [http://www.archive.official-documents.co.uk/document/cm50/5086/5086.pdf (pdf) “Valuing People”] and to achieve the standards set out in the UK National Minimum Standards
Services for people with learning disabilities in Gibraltar come under the umbrella of the Gibraltar Social Services Agency, a statutory body which operates under the provisions of the Social Services Agency Act 2002.
Dr Giraldi Home
Dr Giraldi Home provides residential care for 14 adults with learning disabilities. This facility is unitised into four separate self-contained apartments, one of which is used to offer a respite and sitting service. In addition, two other adults are supported on a 24-hour basis in a flat in the community and one child is also supported on a 24-hour basis in a flat in the community. Each flat has a senior social care worker with supervisory responsibility for a team of social care workers. The Team Leader of the adult social work team has overall responsibility for this service but is not on location. The Manager and the Deputy Manager are on location and responsible for the management of all the above.
St Bernadette’s Occupational Therapy Centre
St Bernadette’s Occupational Therapy Centre is a day centre for persons with learning disabilities aged 16 and over. Activities to promote integration and stimulation are provided in three units. The Centre opens during the academic year and provides a service to 30 users. The Centre is currently under review with a view to moving away from the academic model and developing into a Resource Centre which is open all the year round and which allows users to access a range of activities in the community as part of their programmes.
St Martin’s School
St Martin’s School is operated under the Education Department and caters for the needs of children with learning disabilities. A programme of inclusion into mainstream schools is also operated by the Education Department.
Government also pays a grant to the local Disability Society who in turn manages a home help scheme for families of people with learning disabilities.
For more information the services contact the Team Leader for Adult Services, Social Services Agency, 16 Governor’s Parade, Gibraltar.
Down’s Syndrome Support Group Gibraltar
We are a group of parents of children and adults with Down syndrome in Gibraltar and we are currently finalising arrangements to become a support group - the Down’s Syndrome Support Group Gibraltar. We will be affiliated to the Down’s syndrome Association of the United Kingdom and the Disability Society of Gibraltar.
The aims of the Support Group are to strive to create and develop the conditions, which will enable people with Down’s syndrome to attain their full potential and to undertake any other charitable activities in connection with Down’s syndrome in Gibraltar.
We hope to be able to make a positive and meaningful difference for individuals with Down’s syndrome, to nurture their individual capabilities and help them achieve their full potential.
We will also help and support families and professionals concerned with the care and development of people with Down’s syndrome.
The Gibraltar Dyslexia Support Group
The Gibraltar Dyslexia Support Group is an organization dedicated to serving children and adults with dyslexia, in Gibraltar.
In 1991 a group of parents were told by teachers that they had noticed their children had some learning difficulties. With the help of an Educational Psychologist they discovered that the children had Dyslexia.
Obviously this came as a surprise to most parents as most of them had never heard of this learning difficulty. Parents began to seek more information on Dyslexia in the UK. Many found useful information on Dyslexia and how to overcome it.
The Gibraltar Department of Education was a little bit behind in recognising, diagnosing and dealing with Dyslexia and some parents felt very alone in their struggle to help their children succeed in their education.
The more parents found out about Dyslexia, the more they realised that other children were struggling with the problem. It was distressing to think that children were going through school without ever being recognised as Dyslexic. This could have very negative consequences on their lives in general and their education in particular. But it was also good to find out that the children and their parents were no longer alone.
It was time to get together and start making a difference in schools; to help children be recognised as suffering with Dyslexia and then helped. The Gibraltar Dyslexia Support Group was formed.
The Support Group arranged for private assessments of children by a specialist Educational Psychologist. This was a great support for both parents and children. Just being able to chat about the problem was very helpful.
For many years the Gibraltar Dyslexia Support group was an important and essential part of life in Gibraltar. It brought hope of success to parents and children alike.
Over the years these children grew up and left school; parents stepped down from the committee and the Support Group slowly became inactive. In 2005 a young Dyslexic, the child of one of the founders of the Group, decided to get involved with the good work his parents had done. When he inquired about the Group he found that it was no longer active.
He felt there was still work to be done in the schools and that other families now needed support. They needed someone they could contact if their child was dyslexic.
With help from parents and teachers he began to build on the work that had been done in the past. A new committee, including Dyslexics (who really understand the problem), was formed, and began work on new ideas.
In May 2008 a new committee was voted in by a record attendance to the AGM held at the Lecture Room at the John Mackintosh Hall complex.
* Chair person : Jackie Lane Olesen
* Vice chairperson : Stuart Byrne
* Hon. Treasurer : Michelle Tavares
* Secretary : Claus Olesen
* Members : Jean Penney
* Vivien Dawson
* Ana Maria Anes
* Stuart Menez
* Susan Menez
* Karenza Morillo
Breast Cancer Support Gibraltar
Breast Cancer Support Gibraltar is a local charity which raises awareness about breast cancer and offers support, information and practical advice to those affected by it. It is committed to campaign for the improvement of breast care services in Gibraltar and hopes to improve the experience of those affected by breast cancer; to this end we will be supporting health professionals and the GHA.
Breast Cancer need not be a tragedy; early detections will almost certainly mean survival; information will empower and help you make the right choices; most importantly, there can be life after breast cancer. In all of this, Breast Cancer Support Gibraltar hopes to make a difference and make the experience of women more bearable. We Care.
The overall vision of Breast Cancer Support Gibraltar is that all people affected by breast cancer will receive the highest standards of treatment, support and care available.
EQUALITY RIGHTS GGR
GGR is an independent organisation. We consider it of vital importance that we maintain our independence as a human rights organisation in Gibraltar by accepting no funding from Government or political parties. Instead, we rely on individual and public donations for our work.
GGR working for changes in a wide cross-section of social issues which affect the daily quality of life of so many citizens.
Dignity At Work Now
Encouraging a healthy working environment for all
Stress is not the employee's inability to cope with excessive workloads and the unreasonable demands of incompetent and bullying managers.
Dignity At Work Now (DAWN) in Gibraltar is spearheading a campaign to get the seriousness of this problem, and the need to address it locally, recognized. DAWN wishes to express its gratitude and appreciation to the many people of Gibraltar and others who have responded so positively to DAWN’s initiative.
2IKBU
Our charity aims to provide support to the organisations / institutions directly involved in caring for mental health clients, as well as individuals within the community suffering from or having suffered mental illness. They include our Psychiatric Hospital and our Community Mental Health Team.
Our intentions are:
* to assist people within the community with, or who are recovering from mental illness - and to help them integrate /re-integrate into society through recreational activities and general advocacy.
* to help make conditions within the institutions as conducive to psychological rehabilitation as possible (e.g. provision of recreational & therapeutic resources, etc)
* to foster a positive link between the community and the Mental Health Services, providing information & educating the general public in areas of Mental Health and a forum for discussion
Our Vision
Our vision for the near future is to provide a dedicated NGO Drop - in Centre from which to concentrate and co-ordinate our services. We would like to offer:
* general advocacy services as well as information about mental health issues.
* a recruitment service based on a pool of consenting mental health service clients / users - past and present - whereby, with appropriate promotion and co-operation with local companies & organisations, could source a sheltered employment scheme for our clients
* resources for therapeutic services, e.g. counselling, recreational activities, etc.
Childline Gibraltar
Childline Gibraltar’s core values are based on the UN Convention on the Rights (UNCRC) of the Child.
They are:
*Children must be protected from all forms of violence and exploitation.
*Everyone has a responsibility to support the care and protection of children.
*We listen to children and young people, respect their views and respond to them directly.
*Children should be encouraged and enabled to fulfil their potential.
*We challenge inequalities for children and young people.
*Every child must have someone to turn to.
Acknowledgement
In order to provide the best and most professional service Childline Gibraltar has been modelled on the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) Helpline Service in the United Kingdom.
Childline Gibraltar’s principles and standards, and its procedures and practices are based on those of the NSPCC. The training of Childline Gibraltar’s “in-house” trainers - those who are responsible for training our helpline volunteers - was conducted by John Cameron, Head of the NSPCC Helpline Service.
Psychological Support Group
Infocentral is an independent website created by a local undergraduate student who is concerned about the taboo that mental health presents in Gibraltar. Infocentral's mission is to:
*Promote mental health and counseling (or counselling) therapy in Gibraltar and the coast of Spain.
*Provide all counsellors or other mental therapists exposure to the public including those who are trained and who are trainees.
*Promote counsellors and other mental health practitioners who practice good ethics in counselling therapy.
*Provide a directory of counsellors who are bi-lingual in English and Spanish that is useful for Spanish speakers and English expatriates living in Spain or Gibraltar.
*Answer queries from users who are visiting the website and redirect them where appropriate.
*Offer value for money services to users such as books on mental health or counselling therapy and offer discount hotel bookings.
The Happy Faces Charitable Trust
The Happy Faces Charitable Trust is a registered charity established under the authority of the Gibraltar Charities Comission In January 2008.
All the money raised directly or indirectly by Faces is used soley for the the benefit of children and young adults in Gibraltar who suffer from chronic, critical or debilitating illnesess.
The Trustees are all local people, working voluntarily to benefit local people. There are no employee costs or overheads and no profit. Every donation will make a difference to someone needing help in Gibraltar.
Faces are currently seeking some more active members or trustees to help with our cause.
Gina Maskill
*Gina is a trustee and co-founder of Faces which she established in January 2008 with Samantha Weigold. Recognising there is a gap in the fundraising for young Gibraltar residents and suffering from a chronic illness which has made her life very difficult she started the charity. With expereince in Accounts and IT gained with by AAT and Microsoft qualifications, she currently has her own business and works as an Accounts and IT Consultant for a Bond Davidson and a large client database in Gibraltar and abroad.
Samantha Weigold
*Samantha Weigold is a co-founder and trustee of Faces.With experience and qualifications in Banking and Corporate Global Custody gained with HSBC and The Royal Bank of Canada in the City of London. Also qualified in Beauty Therapy. Now spending time with her family and working voluntarily on local charitable concerns, including Faces. "
David Abdoo
*David Abdoo is a lawyer by profession, spent most of his career working in London, firstly in private practice with the global law firm Clifford Chance and then in industry as General Counsel and Company Secretary for the London Stock Exchange-listed media company Carlton Communications Plc, before moving to Gibraltar to work as General Counsel and Company Secretary for the London Stock Exchange-listed internet gaming company PartyGaming Plc
Frankie Hatton
*Frankie is an active member and Trustee of Faces. An ex Royal Air Force Aircraft Weapons Engineer and Bomb Disposal Officer. Frankie currently works as a freelance TV and Radio broadcaster, writer and cartoonist. Frankie says"When I was asked to be part of Faces it was impossible to say no, the enthusiasm, energy and will to do was brilliant so I thought yes…but what do I do? “You could say I put the smile into ‘Faces"
Krystle Robba
*Krystle graduated from Cardiff University studying Accountancy and is undergoing her ACCA examinations whilst working for Baker Tilly. Krystle is also a qualified aerobics and aqua aerobics instructor and enjoys dancing which she has done from a very early age.
Apart from the trustees Faces has a young team of dedicated volunteer members without them we would not be able to do half the things we do.
Sasha Maclean Park is an keen active member of Faces, at only just 16 she has completed her GCSES and has dedicatea a lot of time and enthusiasum to Faces from putting up posters to publicity and errands.
Lianne Azzopardi is a recent Business and Economics graduate from Sheffield University. Works in marketing for local telecommunications company, Gibtelecom. Was part of various charitable organisations and committees in the UK and helps organising various charitable events, including those for Faces.
Jeydan Fa is a budding young photographer who enjoys helping out with faces whenever he can also donating all his photography work to Faces for free.
Gibraltar Community Support Contacts
ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANISATIONS
Ark Trust
Telephone: 20042686
Fax: 20042701
British Red Cross Society (Gib)
Telephone: 20074452
Gibraltar Branch The Convent
Bruce's Farm Rehabilitation Centre
Telephone: 20048444
Telephone: 20049559
Fax: 20042205
Cancer Research UK (Gibraltar Branch)
Telephone: 20079408
Cat Welfare Society
Mobile: 54026888
Drug Advisory Service
Drugs Hot Line: 20077677
Telephone: 20045942
Gibraltar Diabetic Association
Telephone: 20072420
Gibraltar Local Disability Movement
Telephone: 20074548
Email Address: disability@gibtelecom.net
Website Address: www.disability.gi
Gibraltar Disability Society
Telephone: 20040019
Gibraltar Dyslexia Support Group
Telephone Number: 20078509
fax: 20043594
Mobile:56523000
Email Address: info@gdsg.co.uk
Website Address: www.gdsg.co.uk
Gibraltar League Of Hospital Friends
Telephone: 20074914
Gibraltar Mental Welfare Fund
Telephone: 20078094
Gibraltar Society For Cancer Relief
Telephone: 20042392
Fax: 20047056
Gibraltar Society For The Prevention Of Blindness
Telephone: 20050111
Gibraltar Women's Health Group
Telephone: 20075994
Hope
Telephone: 20041817
Leukaemia Research Fund
Telephone: 20072268
Marriage Care (Gibraltar Counselling Service)
Telephone: 20071717
Prospect (GGCA Branch)
Telephone:20076930
Fax:20079646
Email: prospect.ggca@gibtelecom.net
Psychological Support Group
Telephone: 20051623
Research Into Childhood Cancer(RICC)
Telephone: 20075538
Telephone: 20078723
Women In Need
Telephone: 20042581

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