Page 25 - link magazine

NEWS & VIEWS 25
Changes for local family project
Lives ruined by employment
"They callus shirkers, but it's not funny when you find it almost A local family support project looks
impossible to do the simplest tasks like turning a key or pulling on as if it's going to stay inbusiness,but
your knickers after going to the toilet. changes will have to be made.
"Our lives have been destroyed by injuries caused by doing the With increasing pressure on na-
same jobs for long hours - some of the biggest and so-called best tional charities and difficulties faced
employers in the town are guilty of treating us like dirt." by local government over the last
few years, continued funding for
For fear of reprisals this quote, Group members relate how em- the West Swindon Family Project
and those below, are not attributed ployers pressurise staff out of their has been uncertain for some time.
but the sentiment would be backed jobs if they can't recover. However the future of the project,
up by a group of "Often you try to set up in 1981 by the National
workers, aged be- keep going until Childrens' Home (NCH), Wiltshire
tween eighteen your next holiday, County and Thamesdown Borough
and sixty five, thinking a rest will Councils is assured.
whose lives have get you back to Staffed by three full time workers
been ruined by normal, but you go based at a house in Gainsborough Project Workers Kath Ryder, John
employer's work- back and the pain Way, Freshbrook, the project pro- Jenkins and Audrey Johnson
ingpractices. They starts again. If you vides support to families experienc- as important resources in prevent-
have formed a can't keep up pro- ing difficulties who are referred by ing children being taken into care.
group to support ductivity or start health visitors and social workers. Social Services have indicated that
each other and to taking sick leave, A range of groups also use the house our funding will continue.
fight for their managers start as a meeting place. These include a "Details of changes in our work
rights. suggesting you lone parent group, a holiday club, a and staffing are things for future
Sta rting with six find other work. welfare benefits advice point and discussion, but there will definitely
people in mid- Eventually you are the Freshbrook Credit Union. be changes in management ar-
April the Swindon 'medically retired' Over the next two years the NCH rangements, giving more local peo-
Repetitive Strain with no compensa- will be pulling out leaving a man- ple a say in how the project is run."
Injury (RSI) group tion. Many are sim- agement committee made up of lo- The WestSwindon Family Project
is only one of five ply been sacked. cal people and representatives from holds a coffee morning every
in the country. It is wrong to Wiltshire Social Services in charge. Wednesday morning for families
There are now 35 members, all are think the Department of Social Serv- Project worker John Jenkins said who would like to find out more
bitter about the treatment they have ices will help out say group mem- that everybody in the project had about the project. Volunteer helpers
received, many are in legal dispute bers because most RSI sufferers can't been encouraged by recent devel- are also needed to help with the
with their previous employers. get Industrial Injuries Disablement opments. "The Children's Act which many different activities. Telephone
They meet at the Link Centre twice Benefit. So many RSI sufferers are comes into force this October men- John Jenkins or Audrey Johnson on
a month to share their experiences. reduced to living on the poverty line tions locally based family projects 871303 for more details.
The main aim of the group is to help because there are very few hands-
each other and also to increase free jobs available.
awareness of RSI among employ- RSI causes not only physical pain, WHAT YOU GET UP TO IN THE
ers, employees, the media and in considerable mental damage also
medical circles in the Swindon area accompanies it. GARDEN IS YOUR BUSINESS
and the south-west. "The attitude of people is humili-
RSI, or tenosynovitis, most often ating and soul destroying. There But you could do it more comfortably in
occurs in the neck, shoulders, el- areno outward signs of disability so
bows, wrists, hands and fingers, employers and your friends think one of our beautiful Garden Buildings
where the muscles and tendons are you're trying it on. You loose confi- or Conservatories
damaged,often irreparably,by con- dence, yourself esteem goes, family
tinuous and repetitive movement in life is put under strain. They just A superb range of conservatories
a job. cannot accept that the normal day to
One offica workersaid, "The move day activities become impossible. to enhance your home. Choose
from typing to using the much One member could not even hold from either uPVC, aluminium,
lighter keyboards on word proces- her new born baby because of the ,.
hard or softwood.
sors has changed office practice so pain in her arms."
much. You can type faster, 20,000 Group members are also critical We would be delighted to visit your home,
key presses an hour is expected of some medical specialists. GPs are where at your leisure we can discuss with
nowadays. (The recommended usually very supportive but suffer-
safety limit is eight to ten thousand ers get a negative attitude when they you all of your requirements - and it need 11110111,
key depressions per hour). But em- are refei ied upwards. One member not cost as much as you think! TOW ER
ployers, having spent a fortune on said, "Some consultants often see
the new equipment and training, RSI sufferers whilstalsodoingwork We also supply an excellent
won't invest in the desks and chairs for the company that those people selection of greenhouses, sheds,
which relieve the strains of working are working for. How can they take summerhouses and car ports.
at these high speeds." an objective view?"
An assembly line operator lost The Swindon RSI group wants
her job after an operation, "1 did the contact with sufferers and any other CW Conservatories
same job eight hours a day for eight interested parties to offer help and SPECIALISTS IN GARDEN SHEDS, BUILDINGS
years. I started getting a tingling support. Typists, factory workers, AND CONSERVATORIES
and cramps in one wrist and had to journalists, nurses and many more
have ten weeks off. I was then away can be injured. To find out more, a 'ae'
for seven months for an operation contact the RSI group founder Jill ifv&t &c 4 ' 4
and physiotherapy. When I went Sumerling on 491029. Next meet- STONE LANE GARDEN CENTRE
back, I started to use the other hand ings take placeon5Juneat lpmand LYDIARD MILLICENT, WEST SWINDON
more and so it started there. Now I 20 June at 7pm in the Community TEL: (0793) 772529
can't work at all." Suite at the Link Centre.