Dial West Cheshire

04/09/2026

Dial West Cheshire has always worked to the Social Model of Disability, rather than the outdated Medical Model of Disability.

The Social Model of Disability states that disability is created by physical, organisational, and attitudinal barriers in society, distinct from a person's impairment. This is resolved by removing environmental barriers, changing societal attitudes, ensuring accessibility, and promoting inclusive design. Therefore society is responsible for adapting and accommodating everyone so that disabled people can participate fully on an equal basis.

An example would be: a wheelchair user wishes to access a cinema, but is unable to due to the cinema having steps rather than an access ramp. The Social Model would state that the wheelchair user is disabled by the lack of a ramp, and put the onus on the architect to design the cinema with an access ramp, thus enabling the wheelchair user to access the cinema.

What barriers do you face in society that you would like a resolution to?

02/09/2026

Dial West Cheshire will be holding its annual Walk, Wheel, and Wag sponsored event on Saturday, 26th September from 10:30AM to raise funds for our amazing charity. There will be a short, pleasant, accessible walk around Chester, starting and finishing at Dial House, with plenty of tea, coffee, and most importantly, cake, available for participants in the café space following a successful walk in the warm, autumn sunshine 🤞
Tail-wagging canine friends are very welcome to join us.
If you would like to raise sponsorship, there is no entry fee, but if you prefer you can pay £10 to enter, then there is no need to request sponsorship from friends and family.
Please let us know if you would like to join in, and let's hope that we can smash last year's total.
Pictured is a group of supporters who participated in the event a few years ago.

02/09/2026

Please consider using the link below to nominate Dial West Cheshire for the chance to be awarded £1,000 in the Benefact Group's Movement for Good awards. It is free to nominate, and takes less than a minute, so, if you are one of our lovely supporters and have been helped by Dial at any time, please do consider nominating our wonderful charity. Thank you, we appreciate your support.

Nominate a charity for a Movement for Good award now.

27/08/2026

The Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) is money from central government, which is distributed by local councils, supported by charities, in England. The programme, which replaced the Household Support Fund (HSF), is running from 1st April 2026, to 31st March 2029, and provides support to those who have experienced a sudden, unexpected financial crisis. Dial West Cheshire is helping to distribute funds to the most vulnerable, low income households, in which there is someone with a disability. Please see below for a link which gives more information and details of the eligibility criteria.

21/08/2026

What is a Gift Card Scam?

A gift card scam happens when someone persuades
you to buy gift cards and reveal the code hidden
beneath the scratch-off panel. Once you've shared
that code, the money is usually gone.
Criminals don't begin the conversation by asking
someone to buy gift cards. They spend time building
trust, creating panic or exploiting emotions until the
request feels like the only sensible option.
They may claim to be:
* Your bank, warning that someone has hacked your
account.
* The police, asking you to help with a secret
investigation.
* HMRC, saying you owe tax.
* Microsoft or another technology company, claiming
your computer has been infected with a virus.
* An online retailer, offering a refund.
* A new online friend or romantic partner who says
they desperately need your help.
The story changes, but the tactics remain the same.
Their aim is to stop you thinking clearly. They create
urgency, fear and a false sense that there isn't time to
check with anyone else. Before you know it, you're
standing at a supermarket checkout buying gift cards
that were never meant to be used as payment.

No genuine organisation will ever ask you to use gift cards to pay a bill, protect your bank account, claim a
prize, fix your computer or avoid arrest.

If someone asks you to do that:
Stop.
Hang up.
Speak to someone you trust.

If you're ever unsure whether something is genuine, we'd much rather you asked for advice than took a risk. A
five-minute conversation with a family member, friend or neighbour could save you thousands of pounds.

Source: Age UK Newsletter - August 2026

20/08/2026

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SCAM WARNING! - Information from Cheshire Fire and Rescue

Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service advertising space scam
We have been made aware of at least one business in Halton being approached by an individual claiming to be selling advertising space in a Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service publication. Please be aware that this is a scam.
Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service does not produce publications funded by advertising and has not authorised anyone to sell advertising on its behalf.
If you are contacted by a 'sales representative' making this claim, please do not engage with them, provide any payment or business details, or enter into any agreement. We encourage anyone who receives such contact to report it to Cheshire Police by calling 101 and to make colleagues and neighbouring businesses aware of this scam.

20/08/2026

For those of our followers who live in Flintshire, if you struggle with preparing food and cooking, please take a look at the below information. One of the Dial team uses this service and finds it essential. The food is affordable, free from ultra-processed foods, not to mention delicious. The food can also be delivered to your home if you cannot access the collection points. There is a good variety to choose from, as well as vegetarian options if you wish.

20/08/2026

If you live in a Cheshire West and Chester household which includes someone with a disability, are on a low income, and have experienced a recent financial shock, such as the failure of an electrical appliance, Dial West Cheshire may be able to help you with an award from the Crisis and Resilience Fund. Please see the link below for more information, the eligibility criteria, and the online application form.

20/08/2026

Last Thursday, we had a get together for, and a celebration of, our recent café volunteers to thank them for their amazing work in helping to run our community café. It was an emotional occasion for us all, saying a well deserved thank you to our fabulous team, without whose help we could not have run the café, and wishing them all well now that we have had to close the café service. We wish you all well with your next chapter, and hope that it is a case of see you soon rather than farewell.