Insight on Premier Radio

‘Insight’ programme notes until the end of March 2010

‘Insight’ is a weekly radio programme with a focus on disability and faith produced by Torch Trust, presented by Marilyn Baker, and broadcast on Sundays from 4pm on Premier Christian Radio, now available on DAB.

February 28: Carers

Over 5 million people in Britain are carers for friends or family members, often unpaid and unsupported. Sheila Armstrong talks to Debbie Starling who is Disability Awareness Officer for Exeter Diocese and has firsthand experience of being a carer –for two children with disabilities and for her mother with dementia. Debbie says that life was very hard when the children were small but looking back she believes God has taught her a lot through those experiences. She says loneliness is a big issue for carers; simple daily routines take a lot longer for carers and that can lead to feelings of isolation. The battle of fighting for the rights of those you are caring for is very wearing. It can also affect your marriage relationship.Debbie says that churches are becoming more aware of the needs of carers but a lot more can be done. She says that churches also need to wake up to the gifting that disabled people have rather than judging success by the world’s standards. Useful contacts:Carers UK – www.carersuk.org or phone 0808 808 7777 or email adviceline@carersuk.orgCarers Christian Fellowship – tel 01793 887068 or www.knight-designs.co.uk/CCF/

March 7 Debbie Starling’s story in music

Debbie Starling is a Disability Awareness Officer for churches in the Exeter diocese and has firsthand experience of being a carer – for her own child born with hydrocephalus, then for an adopted daughter with the same condition and other physical limitations, and also for her mother when she had dementia.In this programme, Debbie talks to Sarah Brookman about how songwriting has given her release from the stresses of being a carer as well as much joy. Debbie takes real comfort in knowing that God knows her intimately and she is able to express her thankfulness in songs. She describes writing songs as being part of the healing process that God has been taking her through. Some of the songs, she says, have come from ‘a dark place.’ We hear extracts of Debbie singing three of her own songs from her album ‘Ticket to Freedom.’

March 14 Mind & Soul

What makes a church ‘mental health friendly’? One in five people suffer from mental health problems at some time in their life. Sarah Brookman talks to Dr Rob Waller, a consultant psychiatrist within the NHS who founded Mind and Soul, an organisation which explores mental health and Christianity. Rob says that so often there is a culture of shame and silence around mental health issues, caused by a lack of understanding. Mental health is a spectrum. Many people who are not ill may, for example, have personality issues that need resolving. Is depression a mental or spiritual illness? Often people within the Church think it’s a spiritual issue but possibly 90 per cent of the time the person’s spirituality is alive and well but they have issues from past or present circumstances making them depressed.Rob is interested in setting up some kind of benchmark for measuring a mental health friendly church. Is it a church with a counsellor on staff? A church that commits to preaching on depression once a year? He invites listeners to contact him with ideas. They can call or email Insight and their feedback can be passed on. Or people can contact Mind and Soul direct: www.mindandsoul.info Mind and Soul also run the Premier Lifeline, a confidential prayer and listening line about mental health issues: 08456 52 52 52, from 9am to midnight, seven days a week.Mind and Soul are also running a conference on theology and mental illness on March 26 at Holy Trinity, Brompton; and they will be running a seminar on Social Transformation at CRE, Telford, in October.

March 21 Livability Living

Marilyn Baker and Sarah Brookman visit the Livability day centre called Lifestyle Choices at Brackley in Northamptonshire. They meet manager Mandy Hinkson to hear about how the centre helps people with learning disabilities access community facilities and become more integrated in their local community. Many of the people they serve need help in making choices. They are helped to look at their goals along with their circle of support – key people in their lives.Marilyn and Sarah also talk to Alison Tebbutt about a new Livability campaign to help people access individual budgets which widen their choice and control.Livability is the operating name for Grooms-Shaftesbury: www.livability.org.uk email: info@livability.org.uk

March 28 Disability Sunday

In 2010 Disability Sunday has moved to June 6 instead of October. This programme focuses on how churches can use the date to raise awareness and work on their own inclusivity. The programme includes an extract from the Torch Trust Foursight for the Church DVD in which gives blind people describe some of the struggles they meet in church attendance. This is followed by Sheila Armstrong interviewing Debbie Starling, Disability Awareness Officer for the Exeter Diocese. Debbie describes how Exeter has used Disability Sunday effectively in the past three years. As a result, a monthly church service called Celebrate Together has begun, involving people with different abilities. Last October Exeter Cathedral was the venue for a special service to which over 200 came, many in wheelchairs.Where can churches get information and free material to use for Disability Sunday?www.torchtrust.org – click on the Foursight for the Church panel on the right hand side.www.thrutheroof.org www.prospects.org