Trains, buses and the Mersey Ferry
Mersey Travel offer free National Travel Passes (for most local buses in England, Merseyside, Mersey ferries and trains in Merseyside) if you live in the county and have a disability or are over the age of 60 (see website for eligibility). Call 0151 236 6056 or click here for further information.
Merseylink is a ‘dial-a-ride’ service for people with mobility problems who cannot use public transport. The service is free for members who live in Merseyside and meet one of the eligibility criteria (click here). For more information about Merseylink please phone 0151 330 1661
Parking and blue badges
The blue (formerly orange) badge scheme is recognised throughout Europe and provides an arrangement of on-street parking concessions across the country. You can request an application pack by contacting the Council Contact Centre on 01744 676 789, or by going online and filling out the application form.
Claughton Street (WA10 1SN) disabled car park is available for blue badge holders only and is free of charge. Most town centre car parks in St Helens offer blue-badge bays however fees still apply.
Shopmobility in St Helens can loan battery powered and manual wheelchairs or scooters (membership is required), and they sell mobility items, moving/handling equipment and personal aids through their retail outlet Independent Living Store. Shopmobility are also able to dispense prescriptions for equipment under the value of £100.
St Helens Home Improvement Agency offer a range of aids, equipment and adaptations for disabled people to use in their own homes (e.g. stair rails, bath seats, kitchen equipment etc) and home safety/security monitoring equipment. To access aids, equipment and adaptations from the Home Improvement Agency you will need an assessment carried out by an occupational Therapist – this can be arranged by calling the Contact Centre on 01744 676 789.
The Council have also built a ‘smart’ flat in Parr Mount Court (WA9 1AU) that showcases how technology can help vulnerable people in their own homes – for example showing what aids are available to help people in their kitchen. This is a great opportunity to view and test small pieces of equipment before you purchase it for your own home, and advisers are on hand to give information and advice. Appointments can be made by your health professional to view the flat by calling 01744 673294 or 676329. A video of the flat is available to view here.
The Council also run a 24 hour monitoring and response service called Careline, aimed at providing peace of mind for people who feel at risk in their own home.
The Disabled Living Foundation (helpline 0845 130 9177) run a website called AskSARA which helps you find useful advice and products that make daily living easier e.g. products for your home, health and daily activities. The site also features self-assessment questionnaires to determine what products may be best suited for your needs.
The Aidis Trust and Sequal Trust help to bridge the communication gap between disabled people by providing/selling equipment and support – this includes computer software, hardware and adaptations to help disabled people communicate more effectively through technology.
Radar keys (National Key Scheme), offering disabled people independent access to locked public toilets around the country, are available to purchase through DASH, Shopmobility and at the Millennium Centre reception.
If you have a disability you may be entitled to receive benefits, even if you are in employment. These benefits may include:
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Independent Living Fund (ILF)
- Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
- Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA)
You can find out more information and support with applying for benefits by contacting:
- The Benefit Enquiry Line (0800 882 200 or textphone 0800 243 355) or by using DirectGov’s online Benefits Adviser service
- Citizens Advice Bureau
- DASH (Disability Advice St Helens)
- St Helens Coalition of Disabled People
- Age UK
- Disability Alliance UK
The Deafness Resource Centre, based on Dentons Green Lane, run a number of different services to help deaf or hard of hearing people in St Helens. These include a communications service, advocacy service, equipment to help with the TV, doorbell, phone etc British Sign Language training, family group, deaf youth club and various social groups.
The British Deaf Association is the largest Deaf-lead organisation in the UK; they campaign against discrimination, promote British Sign Language and provide an advocacy service too. The Royal Association for Deaf People have an online legal service for deaf people for advice on welfare benefits, employment, housing and debt – by using a webcam, you can also talk to an adviser in British Sign Language.
NDCS provides information and support services for families with deaf children. Their freephone helpline (0808 800 8880) team have a wealth of knowledge and experience and can offer information and support on many issues relating to deafness including education, benefits and technology. NDCS offer Family Officers who can empower and support families to make informed choices, and the charity also runs a website called ‘The Buzz’, which is for deaf children aged 8 to 11 and 12 to 18.
Hearing Link and Action on Hearing Loss (formerly the RNID) can provide further information, answers to frequently asked questions and sources of support.
The Visual Impairment Resource Centre provide a variety of helpful services for people living in the St Helens borough with visual impairments. Trained Rehabilitation Officers for Visually Impaired people can provide low vision assessment to help improve independent living, advice and signposting, teaching of new skills and demonstrations of equipment and aids.
Royal National Institute for the Blind can provide emotional support to blind/visually impaired people (and their family/carers) through their counselling service – offering time for people to concentrate on themselves and to talk things over with someone who will understand things from your perspective. The Royal National Institute for the Blind can also provide support and information about independent living, equipment/aids, training and accessing employment.
The Macular Support Group provide a national helpline (0845 241 2041) that includes a confidential telephone counselling service, and they are also able to give an advocacy service for people with macular degeneration who find it difficult to get access to treatment or care that they are entitled to. Finally, they run a monthly support group in St Helens held every second Tuesday of each month except January and August from 1.30pm to 3.30 pm at the holy Cross Church Hall.
There is a Craft and Chat club for visually impaired people living in the borough of St Helens and crafts include jewellery making, glass painting, drawing and painting.
The Royal National Institute for the Blind have a helpline (0303 123 9999) for information about sight loss and their website is jam packed full of information.
The Merseyside District Guide Dogs Team can be contacted on 0845 372 7420 or [email protected] for more information about getting a guide dog; helping people get out of their homes and back into the community.
Below is a list of links to websites for other types of physical disabilities, not already listed as a separate FAQ in the physical disabilities section of this site. The NHS Choices website can also provide further information about specific medical conditions.
- Ataxia – Ataxia UK (helpline 0845 644 0606)
- Brain injury – Headway (helpline 0808 800 2244)
- Brittle Bone / Osteogenesis Imperfecta – Brittle Bone Society
- Dystonia – Dystonia Society (helpline 0845 458 6322)
- Huntington’s Disease – Huntington’s Disease Association (supportline 0151 331 5444)
- Motor Neurone Disease – MND Association (connect line 0845 7626 262)
- Neurofibromatosis – Neuro Foundation
- Parkinson’s Disease – Parkinson’s UK (helpline 0808 800 0303)
- Restricted growth/Dwarfism – Restricted Growth Association
- Tremor – National Tremor Foundation (helpline 0800 328 8046)
If you still cannot find the information that you are looking for then please contact us and we will do our best to help.
The ME Association can provide information and practical support through their website and Connect helpline (0844 576 5326). They also run a local support group at the Peter Street Community Centre that is held twice a month.
Action for Me has a useful website that provides a comprehensive collection of information (called Get Informed) about ME and living with the illness.
The St Helens branch of the MS Society can provide general information and advise, financial support and a friendly listening service for people living with MS. They also meet as a social group on a monthly basis, and the national MS Society have a helpline (0808 800 8000) that provides general information and signposting to local services.
The Multiple Sclerosis Resource Society provide general information for people diagnosed with MS, their carers or anyone interested in finding out more about the illness. Their helpline (0800 783 0518) also provides a confidential telephone counselling service.
The Muscular Dystrophy Campaign provide information and support through their website and helpline (0800 652 6352), they have a link with the Joseph Patrick Trust to provide equipment grants and they also facilitate a befriending service called MD Links; allowing you to phone or e-mail someone else in the local region who has the same condition.
Other national charities that deal with types of muscular dystrophy include Struggle against Mascular Dystrophy, Becker United and Action Duchenne.
The Limbless Association provides general information through their website and helpline (01277 725 182). They also run a volunteer befriending service to enable people to share experiences with others who have had amputations.
The Limb Loss Information Centre (run by the Douglas Bader Foundation) is an online resource created to guide individuals with congenital or acquired limb loss and their friends, family and carers through the emotional, physical and psychological process of coming to terms with limb loss.
British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association is a national charity for limbless serving or ex-serving men or women, and they are able to provide general information, counselling, grants and assistance with getting into employment.
