List of Organisations

Here are a list of organisations that are members of the DIGG website. We provide a piece of information about the individual organisation and a link to further information if it is provided.

Chest , Heart and Stroke Scotland.
Dystonia Society.
EAS-Epilepsy Action Scotland.
EDAMH-East Dunbartonshire Action for Mental Health.
EDICT- East Dumbartonshire Initiative for Creative Therapy.
Epilepsy Connection
GANG - Glasgow Alliance of Neurological Groups.
PDS-Parkinson's Disease Society.
Revive Scotland
Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Scottish Huntington's Association
Towpath Trust.
Your Choice.

Chest , Heart and Stroke Scotland

Aims to improve the quality of life for people in Scotland affected by chest, heart and stroke illness through medical research, advice and information, and support in the community.
CHSS is one of Scotland's leading medical charities. Coronary heart disease is our biggest killer. Stroke is the main cause of disability in the community, with more than 100,000 Scots affected. Chest illnesses of various kinds are the biggest single reason for using the health service.
The Association funds research into all aspects of the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and the social impact of chest, heart and stroke illness. CHSS provides care and support throughout Scotland for people affected by these conditions, including family and other carers.
Our Volunteer Stroke Service (VSS), offers rehabilitation and support to over 1,200 people affected by stroke, particularly those with communication problems. More than 1,000 volunteers help operate the VSS locally.
The Advice Line offers confidential, professional advice from trained nurses on all aspects of chest, heart and stroke illness. This is backed up by booklets, factsheets and videos, available free to patients and carers. A welfare grant programme provides direct financial help to patients and families affected by chest, heart and stroke illness. A specialist Benefits Advice Service is offered in Glasgow.

Dystonia Society

There are at least 38,000 sufferers of Dystonia in the UK who sometimes have to wait years for a correct diagnosis due to a lack of awareness on the part of GPs. The Dystonia Society is further concerned by the lack of appropriate genetic testing for the disorder and neurosurgical treatment options in Scotland.

EAS

Epilepsy Action Scotland campaigns for more epilepsy services across Scotland. Also to stop the routine discrimination shown to people living with the most common neurological problem in the world.

EDAMH

East Dunbartonshire Action for Mental Health. Providing local services for people with mental health problems in East Dunbartonshire.

EDICT

East Dumbartonshire Initiative for Creative Therapy and Social Care

Epilepsy Connection

Working towards full social inclusion for people with epilepsy. Promotes interests of and rovides a wide range of services and opportunities to meet the diverse needs of people with epilepsy.

*Website under development

GANG

Glasgow Alliance of Neurological Groups (GANG) is an umbrella organisation for some 20 voluntary organisations local and national, which provide support for people with specific long-term neurological conditions in Glasgow and the West of Scotland.

Parkinson's Disease Society

The PDS in Scotland has 28 branches and support groups that meet on a regular basis across the country providing local support and care for people with Parkinson's and their families. The Scottish team provide information and help to all people with Parkinson's disease. Our comprehensive range of information is available in many different formats and languages. They also provide a complex and extensive range of information and services that can be accessed by people with Parkinson's, carers, health and social care professionals who may be caring for and managing Parkinson's Disease.

Revive Scotland

Revive Scotland is a charitable organisation set up to provide care support and practical assistance for people with multiple sclerosis, their families, carers and friends from the West of Scotland. The Centre has 4 main aims:

1. To provide effective advice, information, support and therapies.
2. To enable people with MS, their carers and families to live as fulfilling a life as possible.
3. To maintain and increase quality of life as regards physical, emotional and social activities. 4. To provide a welcoming, friendly, safe atmosphere and environment.

The Centre offers a number of services from a team of specialists: Nursing, Counselling, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, Reflexology, Aromatherapy and Chiropody. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is also provided. The Centre strongly emphasises the client's right to choose the therapy (or therapies) which they feel would be most beneficial. The Centre accepts referrals from Self, Consultants, GPs, Community Physical Disability Teams, Community Nurses, Social Work Department and extends invitations to partners and carers. Classes in fatigue management, exercise and relaxation are available, with special groups for people who are newly diagnosed. The leisure facilities include hairdressing and yoga, with a café serving snacks. Day care provision and home visits are available. Transport can be provided to and from the Centre if required.

Scottish Motor Neurone Disease Association

Fighting MND.
We endeavor to keep the MND community informed of research developments around the world through briefing papers and regular updates on research publications. We also aim to promote and fund high quality research in Scotland, with a growing emphasis on research that will improve the care and quality of life of people with MND and their families.

Scottish Huntington's Association

The Scottish Huntington's Association is the national voluntary organisation which offers information and support to families with Huntington's Disease, their friends and professionals. The association came into being in 1989 following an amicable separation from the then UK body, currently know as the Huntington's Disease Association. The Association has nine voluntary Family Support Groups which meet monthly in various regions throughout Scotland.

Towpath Trust

Towpath Trust is a support organisation which provide services and opportunities for people with disabling conditions.

Aims:

-To encourage the setting up and development of organisations whose main objective is to promote the health and social wellbeing of people with long-term physical and mental disabilities, their families and carers.

-To provide practical help and encouragement to such organisations on a permanent basis or until they are sufficiently well established to manage their own affairs.

Objectives:

- Assist in drawing up constitutions and achieving recognition as a charity.

- Providing payroll and accounting facilities.

- Arranging the provision of telephone and computer systems.

- Developing links with organisations which have similar objectives.

- Providing advice on the acquisition of funding.

- Developing information and communication systems for access by clients, carers and professionals.

-Providing resources which are more cost-effective to organise collectively rather than for organisations individually.

Epilepsy Connection

Working towards full social inclusion for people with epilepsy. Promotes interests of and rovides a wide range of services and opportunities to meet the diverse needs of people with epilepsy.

*Website under development

Your choice aims to help older and disabled people to enhance their quality of life and maintain their independence; to maintain a positive attitude and develop new skills; to help older and disabled people to decide what is important for them and to choose how their needs might be best met; and to help disabled people to engage in meaningful activity, and where possible sheltered or mainstream employment.

Objectives:

- To provide practical support to enable older and disabled people to continue to live in their own homes.
- To help and encourage the social inclusion of older people by developing and maintaining social contacts and relationships with the community - relieving boredom and enabling them to have "fun".
- To encourage older and disabled people to take measures to promote good health, encourage a positive attitude and to delay the onset of disability and dependency.
- To develop opportunities for meaningful activity, sheltered and mainstream employment for people with disabilities.
- To provide advocacy for older and disabled people.
- To help maintain a satisfactory quality of life for carers.
- To assist older and disabled people and their carers to participate as fully as possible in selecting the types of care and / or support they wish to have and at time of their own choice

Principles:

- Working with clients (and where appropriate carers and relatives) to help determine their needs and to provide the wide range of facilities, opportunities and services required to obtain and maintain optimum levels of health and quality of life.
- Taking account of the unique needs of each individual by providing a wide range of facilities, opportunities and services from which users can choose as and when they wish.
- Information from users, carers and families being central to the process of developing the range of facilities, activities and services.
- Moving from the traditional process of assessment of health and social care needs only to holistic appraisal of the internal and external environment, family relationships, aspirations, use of time etc.
- Working in partnership with other organisations (statutory and voluntary).
- Encouraging people to live to their potential in terms of physical, mental and social function - helping people to do things for themselves where possible, rather than always doing things for people.
- Providing opportunities for people to get out of their own homes (or nursing/residential homes), to engage in activities of their own choice, to maintain and develop new interests, and to engage in physical and mental activity.