The PDS also runs holidays for people with Parkinson's and carers at locations throughout the UK that cater for any special needs that people may have.
Respite care and residential and nursing home care can be very important for people with Parkinson's. We are also involved in developing high standards of practice in all these areas, and can refer you to appropriate schemes in your area.
Local Support
Regional
The PDS has staff working across the UK, operating within five regions: Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, Northern England and Southern England. Their role is to promote the PDS's aims in their area, working with PDS branches, families affected by Parkinson's, statutory and voluntary organisations.
For further details, contact the PDS at the address at the end of this section.
Local Branches
There are over 288 PDS branches and support groups across the UK. They are run by volunteers, often people who have Parkinson's, their families and carers. Each branch is different in the help that they offer, but generally they provide opportunities for mutual support and social activities through monthly meetings and practical help at a local level.
Some branches also have welfare visitors who can make home visits to branch members and other people living with Parkinson's in the local area. The branches are also involved in fundraising and public awareness.
For details of the nearest branch to you, contact the PDS at the address at the end of this section.
Support for People with Young-Onset Parkinson's
YAPP&Rs (Young Alert Parkinson's, Partners and Relatives) is the PDS's special interest group for younger people with Parkinson's (i.e. of working age) and their families.
If you are a younger person living with Parkinson's, you are likely to have different needs from older people. You may be still working, raising a family and have concerns about paying the mortgage and other financial matters. You may also want to talk to other young people who are dealing with the same issues as you.
YAPP&Rs support includes:
Their website has more details: www.youngonset-parkinsons.org.uk or contact the PDS Helpline on 0808 800 0303 who will put you in touch with a YAPP&Rs member.
The PDS also has a Younger Parkinson's Project Development Manager who helps younger people with Parkinson's access the right advice, information and support. This involves organising information events and working with younger people, health and social services and other voluntary organisations to improve and develop services.
Black and Minority Ethnic Groups
The PDS's Outreach Service, based in Birmingham, provides culturally appropriate information, advice, and support to people from black and minority ethnic communities who have Parkinson's or are carers. The outreach workers provide information, advocacy, advice and support through home visits in the Birmingham area, and by phone to the rest of the UK.
Contact the Outreach Service for Black and Minority Ethnic Communities at the following address for more information: Suite 116, Bradford Court, 131 Bradford Street, Birmingham, B12 ONS. Telephone: 0121 608 1661 Fax: 0121 608 1667.
Information
The PDS has a wide range of information resources to help people with Parkinson's, their families and the professionals who are involved in their care. These include information sheets, booklets, audio-visual materials and a website which can be viewed at www.parkinsons.org.uk
There is also a quarterly membership magazine, The Parkinson, which contains news and information on all aspects of living with Parkinson's.
Education
The PDS Education Department provides customised education on all aspects of Parkinson's for people working in health and social care, in both the public and private sectors, raising awareness of the needs and concerns of people with Parkinson's and their carers, and promoting models of good practice.
Public Relations, Campaigning and Advertising
As the recognised national voice for people with Parkinson's, the PDS campaigns actively on behalf of people with Parkinson's. Using the media, advertising, and information resources, the PDS is determined to improve the understanding of Parkinson's by the general public. It also works closely with government and statutory bodies at all levels to promote the issues important to people with Parkinson's and their families.
Research
The PDS funds both medical and welfare research, spending more than £1.5 million a year. Medical research is dedicated to finding the cause, cure and prevention of Parkinson's, and developing new and improved treatments. Welfare research aims to develop models of good practice for the management of Parkinson's and improving services.
The PDS's Brain Research Centre is an internationally acclaimed research centre, largely funded by the PDS. Using donated tissue from people with and without Parkinson's, researchers at the centre are looking at the processes in the brain related to parkinsonism.
SPRING
The Special Parkinson's Research Interest Group (SPRING) is the PDS's special interest group for medical research, which aims to help increase the profile of medical research and raise funds to support projects throughout the UK.
Further information is available on their website: http://www.spring.parkinsons.org.uk
Fundraising
The PDS depends entirely on voluntary donations to deliver its services. Fundraising is therefore an extremely important part of our work. Fundraising methods include tax-efficient payroll giving and Gift Aid donations, legacies and donations in memory, local and national events, card and product sales and grants from trusts and companies.
Membership and Further Information
The PDS supports anyone affected by Parkinson's, whether they are a member of the PDS or not. However becoming a member means that you will be helping other people as well as yourself. The more members we have, the louder our voice will become. It is vital that we have a large strong membership so we can campaign for a better quality of life for people with Parkinson's.
As a member you will receive our quarterly magazine, The Parkinson, which will keep you up to date with the latest information on news, research, and information on Parkinson's, as well as providing a forum for you to share your experiences with other people with Parkinson's and their families.
Membership costs £4 per annum (UK residents), £15 (overseas).
For further information and/or a membership form, please contact:
The Parkinson's Disease Society of the United Kingdom
215 Vauxhall Bridge Road
London SW1V 1EJ
Telephone: 020 7931 8080
Fax: 020 7233 9908
Email: enquiries@parkinsons.org.uk
Website: www.parkinsons.org.uk
We are indebted to the Parkinson's Disease Society for their help in compiling this section.
