Your Life Your Choice: Book Your Place As Advice Service Hits The Road To Libraries

An information service which helps people stay safe, well and independent, is taking to the road to spread the word across Cambridgeshire with a series of events in Libraries.

The Your Life, Your Choice service provides online information for people who need information or support to enable them to live an independent life. It also provides details of assistance for such things as social and health care and aids and home adaptations which make life easier for people in their own home.

The roadshows will visit the library in Cambourne and Cambridge Central Library from mid May, and will feature:

• Leaflets and information about staying independent, safe and well
• Information on aids and devices to help people remain independent
• Trading Standards advice on how to Buy With Confidence and avoid rogue traders
• Demonstrations of The Your Life, Your Choice online information service
• Opportunities to book a session with the libraries' Computer Buddies to help less experienced computer users access online information. 

County Council Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Councillor Martin Curtis, said: "The Your Life, Your Choice website was developed with the support of service users, carers and our partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors, to encourage people to think more widely than just traditional care services when planning the support they need.

"These roadshows, in addition to promoting Your Life, Your Choice, are focused on providing preventative and self-help information to people who may need it and telling them about the support and services available in their local community. Hopefully they will show people what is available and the difference it can make to them, their carers and families, whilst helping them to stay safe and independent for as long as possible," added Councillor Curtis.

Roadshow schedule:

• May 14-June 9 Cambourne Library
• June 11-July 7 Central Library (Cambridge)
• July 10-August 4 Ely Library
• August 6-September 1 Chatteris Library
• September 3-September 29 Wisbech Library
• October 1-October 27 March Library
• October 29-November 24 St Neots Library 

The roadshow will also be visiting Whittlesey Library in January 2013.

Access to the Your Life, Your Choice website together with help to find the information you are looking for is already available in your local library or you can access information and advice directly at: www.yourlifeyourchoice.org.uk

Need Help Or Advice With Daily Living? - Just AskSARA!

A website offering help and advice to people with a range of day-to-day needs is now available with information localised for people living in Cambridgeshire.

AskSARA is a self help guide that enables people to identify equipment that may help them in their daily lives, including information on manufacturers and local suppliers.

Cambridgeshire's version is being promoted as a flagship for providing local information by the Disabled Living Foundation.

AskSARA takes users through a set of guided questions leading to general advice and recommendations on what equipment would be suitable to meet their particular needs.

It provides information on local sources of equipment including retail outlets, mail order and demonstration centres. People receive a review of the recommended equipment before they buy. This allows them to compare and make informed choices about which equipment will best meet their needs.

County Councillor Andy Pellew said "It's good to see the County Council providing access to it's information as in a easily understandable and accessible way. The website is hosted by the Disabled Living Foundation who will be publicising the site not just within the County but to other Councils as a best-practice site they should be following. It's good to see Cambridgeshire at the leading edge offering solutions to residents."

The new website AskSARA went live on February 1.  Access is via the pages offering advice about equipment on Cambridgeshire's adult social care website Your Life, Your Choice www.yourlifeyourchoice.org.uk   or go straight to AskSARA at: http://www.asksara.org.uk/?auth=cambridgeshire

The AskSARA services builds on the help, advice and support which is already provided by social care and health services in Cambridgeshire.

AskSARA Website