Health and Disability
Health Matters
The Board maintains contacts with the local Primary Care Trusts.
We have given guidance on the reasonable application of the Disability Discrimination Act so that churches may allow disabled people (through whatever cause) to worship more easily.
We have advised on the April 2004 report on Aids by the Mission and Public Affairs Council of General Synod. We sponsored the day conference on Mental Health Awareness held at Cambridge in October 2005 at which the proposed new Mental Health Act and its implications were debated.
The Health Act 2006 provides that premises shall be smoke-free if open to the public. The provisions come into force on 1 July 2007. This document by the Diocesan Advisory Committee contains advice concerning the display of ‘No Smoking’ signs in churches.
A guidance note has been prepared following discussion between the Department of Health and the Archbishops’ Council, and contains further advice on signs.
Disability Matters
The Diocese of Oxford has just published some very useful guidelines for the inclusion of adults with aspergers and autism. They can be consulted here.
Another useful website is www.throughtheroof.org
Disability Discrimination Act Link
External Links
The Board currently works to represent and support these areas of social concern:
- Asylum Seekers
- Church Urban Fund
- Churches Regional Forum
- Criminal Justice
- Ely Social Responsibility Forum External website
- Environmental matters
- Fairtrade
- Health
- International charity work
- Local Voluntary Agencies
- Newsletters
- People at Work
- Travellers and gypsies
- Working with other churches
- World Mission