Polio Networks Project
This project has been funded for 3 years by Department of Health Section 64 funding, covering England.
The aims of this project are to:
- Support existing British Polio Fellowship Groups and Branches and set up new support networks
- Facilitate the setting up of a virtual network to enable members to communicate with each other via an internet forum.
- Link with Health Care Professionals to increase awareness of the specific health needs of people who have had polio.
- Raise awareness of the British Polio Fellowship amongst the general public so that we can recruit more members to the organisation to enable them to receive support and information
- Raise awareness of the British Polio Fellowship amongst the Black and Minority Ethnic Communities
If you want to find out more about the project and/or speak to our Polio Networks Co-ordinator, please contact Carol Neale on 01253 883052 or email:
carolneale@britishpolio.org.uk.
London Outreach for Polio (LoOP)
Groups and Branches in London
Members of the British Polio Fellowship are encouraged to join one of our groups or branches as many people say how very helpful they find it to meet others with polio. We currently have 7 Groups and Branches in Greater London and more are planned. If there is no group or branch in your area, we can help you start one up if there are sufficient numbers of people interested in coming along.
London Polio Events
In addition to group and branch activities we organise a number of pan London events. For example, every year in October we hold regional heats for our indoor games and the winners can then compete in the national event. We have recently held 2 London Regional Forums with expert guest speakers from the health and welfare fields. The events also provided an opportunity to speak to British Polio Fellowship Trustees and staff and to meet old friends and new.
The London Polio Survey
The British Polio Fellowship has recently conducted a survey of Londoners with polio to find out what kind of social or health-related activities you may be interested in taking part in. The answers are helping inform plans for future events and activities.
Publicity for London Outreach
We use a number of strategies to let people in London know about the British Polio Fellowship and London outreach, including information stalls, local London radio, articles in local papers, working with health providers and Black & Minority Ethnic organisations and circulating and displaying information. Any local knowledge about your area would be most useful, for example places to advertise for free or any forthcoming disability events that you are aware of.