From York Disability Rights Forum. We invited Make it York and City of York Council to tell us about the outside seating that’s being introduced as part of the plans to reopen the city. Here you can find out about the ways that disabled access has been incorporated into those plans. As well […]
By Graham Clark in the Yorkshire Times. Welcome to Yorkshire, and the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) have confirmed that the 2021 Tour de Yorkshire will now be postponed until 2022. The difficult decision has been made after in-depth and constructive discussions with race organisers ASO, and also after detailed consultation with all the tourism […]
By Elki in York Disability Rights Forum. Elki lives in York and relies on using her Blue Badge to be able to park near enough to the places she needs and wants to go. In this Member’s Voice post, Elki writes about what she sees as the dangers of reducing disability visibility in York. Disability […]
By Rachel Roberts in YorkMix. Where can you get the best fish and chips in York? It’s a big question, and we got a lot of answers! With more than 600 responses on our Facebook post asking for recommendations for the best places to get fish and chips in York, you won’t need to […]
From YorkMix. He has travelled the world to document history, often for his popular TV programmes. But one place stands above all others, in the view of historian Dan Snow. “I am coming to York – the city with the greatest history in Europe,” Dan said today. He’s been in the city recently, he told […]
From YorkMix. A mum whose dream of reopening an historic York shop could be dashed by planners has launched a petition to support her cause. Last August Sara Winlow bought the property which used to house South Bank Stores on Balmoral Terrace, close to the racecourse. The shop had long since closed, and she […]
From YorkMix. BBC Radio York is facing major cutbacks as the corporation aims to make £25 million of savings. Under the plans the BBC is to cut 450 jobs in its English regional TV news and current affairs, local radio and online news. Look North will have just one presenter and Radio York will have just three daytime […]
From YorkMix Sport. York City are ready to ‘grasp with both hands’ the opportunity to bring fans back to games. When England comes out of lockdown, stadiums are to be allowed to welcome limited numbers of spectators, if they are in a Tier 1 or 2 area. Stadiums in Tier 1 will be […]
There’s a new group in town ! The York Disability Rights Forum has been set up by those in the Disabled Community of York to help make life a little easier for others whose live are affected by a disability or by restrictions placed upon us by our environment, in and around York. We […]
There are approximately 49,058 cities, towns and villages in the UK. The disabled spend is around £212 billion per year. I wonder how many of these places have banned Blue Badge holders from their centres stopping them spending some of that money with struggling retailers? York has..
By Chloe Laversuch in YorkMix. Work on dualling the outer ring road – the A1237 – could start in 2023 and be complete by 2025. Under the plans the single carriageway would be dualled in both directors between the A19 at Shipton Road to A1036 at Little Hopgrove. Five roundabouts – at Clifton […]
From Healthwatch York. Healthwatch York at York CVS is keen to recruit at least three new Steering Group members, including a new Chair. Steering Group members play an essential role in setting our strategic direction and checking that we are on track to deliver our aims and objectives. The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted and […]
From YorkMix. Your Shoes will invite audiences to explore York from the perspectives of different York citizens. How is it to go shopping as a mother? How does someone with a disability experience the city? How does a Refugee experience York differently compared to someone who has lived here their entire lives? Through asking […]
By TJM in Disability News Service. Local authorities in England and Wales are facing calls to re-think the “streetscape” changes being made in response to COVID-19, amid concerns that the new street infrastructure is making parts of towns and cities inaccessible to many disabled people. Disabled people and their organisations have previously warned that many […]
Our one to one carer support and advice is being provided over the telephone at the moment, please get in touch if you need us, we’re here to help. All our support groups and activities listed below are taking place online via zoom, and bookable by contacting our reception on enquiries@yorkcarerscentre or 01904 715490. If you’d like to take […]
At the request of York Independent Living Network, we’re supporting the development of a disabled person-led forum for anyone living or working in York who identifies as disabled or as having a disability. We aim to ensure that the Forum is led by, and open to, people and allies from right across a range of […]
From gov.uk. Homes England and Network Rail will be investing £77 million to ensure that York’s new city centre quarter development goes ahead, following confirmation of the route for the funding to the project from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. The announcement has been welcomed as a clear signal of the […]
From The Yorkshire Times. As an active campaigner for the York ME Community I’m pleased to be involved with the newly launched York Disability Rights Forum. The work to raise awareness of ME is challenging and over the years the Community has had many successes, including getting support for achieving our aims from local […]
The York ME TGA Inter-Company Fantasy Football League The York ME Community runs an Inter-Company Fantasy Football League sponsored by TGA Mobility. This is to help raise awareness of the illness that affects around 250,00 people in the UK, and 800 to 1,000 people of all ages in the York area alone. Companies enjoyed […]
By Josh Halliday in The Guardian. For a city that has been at the heart of major national events for 17 centuries, beloved both by medieval kings and warring Romans, York has seen its fortunes rise and fall over the years. But new questions about the future of the former Viking capital of England […]
Accessing carer groups from home You can now access our carer support groups and activities online as we continue to work within government guidance, and explore ways we can offer our face to face groups in the future. If you’d like to take part in any of our groups/activities, and would like help setting up […]
By David Nicholson in YorkMix. To mark the release of Human Contact, the debut album by York band The Howl & The Hum, David Nicholson takes a listen and remembers where, for him, it all began Wednesday night for me is the quiz with Tom Adams in the chair at The Swan in Bishy Road, […]
From The Yorkshire Times. A Harrogate charity is urging businesses coming out of lockdown to consider the needs of disabled people in their pre-opening preparations. And for those opening their doors this coming Monday (June 1) – and in two weeks’ time – Disability Action Yorkshire has published guidance on how to achieve […]
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INTRODUCTION
The York ME Community is an ME Support and Awareness Group. What I believe we need is awareness of the illness to be raised and for that we need people to learn about ME and tell others. There are ME charities, and if in the future you or your friends or business wish to do a charity run or whatever in aid of ME, I will happily help and support that aim. (more…)
The figures below show the numbers of people with ME recorded in each country. This will be updated as and when fresh information is sourced. It is also acknowledged that it is difficult to be accurate as ME is still not recognised, therefore not recorded in very many countries.
It’s said that 17 million people in the world have ME/CFS – but this figure is no more than a rough guess based on crude prevalence estimates from developed countries (0.2 to 0.4%, including children) applied to the 7 billion inhabitants of planet Earth! In fact, rigorous, robust estimates of the occurrence of the illness in each country are needed, particularly to plan healthcare and allocate funding for research.
If you can update this information, please let me know the figure, plus source if known. I will be looking to add figures and comments from people living in those countries, so as to have a better feel for how things are there.
Where I give a figure tbc, it means this is the figure I have heard, but am seeking a source to confirm.
UK: 260,000. The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) estimates the prevalence of CFS / ME to be 'at least' 0.2% to 0.4% of the UK population, implying up to 1 in 250 people affected, or 260,000 in total.28 Sept 2017
(The University of Bristol research in 2011 estimated the number of 11 to 16 year olds with ME at one in 100).
Ireland: 10,000 - 19,000. According to The Irish ME/CFS Association.
USA: 836,000 - 2.5 million According to an Institute of Medicine (IOM) report published in 2015, an estimated 836,000 to 2.5 million Americans suffer from ME/CFS, but most of them have not been diagnosed.
Canada: 560,000. A 2017 Statistics Canada survey revealed that more than 560,000 Canadians reported that they have the disease.
Sweden: 40,000. Riksföreningen för ME-patienter (RME, the Swedish ME Association) estimates that approx 40 000 people in Sweden are living with ME/CFS. Most of them have not been diagnosed.
Australia: 250,000 From Emerge Australia.
Italy: 500,000 tbc.
Malta: Due to unwillingness to diagnose and lack of knowledge on ME, it's difficult for doctors to give an accurate figure. Some doctors say it is approx. 0.02 % same as in Europe.
Portugal: 40,000 tbc.
Romania: 80,000 tbc. Based upon other European ratios, there are as many as 80,000 people living in Romania with M.E.
Slovakia: 20,000 tbc. It's estimated that there are approximately 20,000 people with ME living in Slovakia (in line with other European ratios).
Denmark: 10,000-20,000. Not recognised as a physical illness. Denmark has no national registration of ME patients. The estimate of 10-20.000 patients rely on NICE estimate that 0,2-0.4% of the population has ME. Diagnosing, treatment and health authorities recognition of ME is close to non-existent, even though their parliament voted to change all that...back in March, 2019.
Austria: Not recognised as a physical illness.
Worldwide: 17 million. This figure is given by NHS Choices.
15 - 30 million. This figure is given by #MEAction.
Paul Beresford Conservative, Mole ValleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how much Government funding was allocated to biomedical research into myalgic encephalomyelitis in the financial years (a) 2017-18, (b) 2018-19 and (c) 2019-20.
Helen Whately Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)In addition to the funding set out above, the National Institute for Health Research, funded through the Department, and the Medical Research Council have recently announced a £3.2 million award to fund research into potential genetic connections to ME/CFS. The project will analyse samples from 20,000 people with ME/CFS to search for genetic differences that may indicate underlying causes or increase the risk of developing the condition.
Written Question to the Department of Health and Social Care on 22 May 2018 by Carol Monaghan SNP, answered by Caroline Dinenage Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Financial Year
2014-15 £280,442
2015-16 £295,626
2016-17 £130,958
Link to Written Question In Full
The above shows an imbalance when viewed against the cost of ME to the UK economy. A 2017 report from the think tank 2020 health and the Optimum Health Clinic Foundation reported that the cost of CFS/ME to the UK economy was at least £3.3 billion in 2014/15
To read the ME Research Summary 2019 by ME Action covering the previous ten years, click on the link below:
As you will know, Hansard is an edited verbatim record of all matters discussed in Parliament and records all votes and written ministerial statements. You may be interested in when ME has been mentioned, and so a link to that record is below.
Carol Monaghan SNP spoke in Westminster Hall about the need for support and funds for ME Research. Many other MP's spoke passionately on the subject as it affects their constituents UK wide. Click on the link below to watch the full debate.
There has since been an All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) formed to discuss the way ahead in helping MP's Constituents with ME. Contact your MP to ensure they're representing you !
To watch the video of Carol Monaghan MP addressing Parliament on M.E., click on the link below:
As we all know, especially those who need Wheelchairs or Mobility Scooters to get around, vehicles parking on pavements and blocking our way can have a major effect on our lives. It can mean that we are likely to put ourselves in danger by going onto busy roads because of inconsiderate parking. 
If you live in York, and you see a vehicle parked across a dropped kerb, call the council's hotline on 0800 138 1119 and the Civil Enforcement Officers will respond and are able to issue tickets. We know this won't help you right then and there, but the hope is that the more people report it, the more people get tickets, then slowly behaviour will start to change.
There are so many questions banded about as to the story of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME), but this video gives a better and fuller insight than most. Once you've watched it, please copy the link and spread the word to raise awareness. Thank you.
To watch this video, click on the link below:
The York Access Group is a Facebook group which is aimed at improving Accessibility in York for those trying to get around with a Disability. Feedback on bad, and good Accessibility of shops, streets, cafes, restaurants and any other facilities are welcomed.
It's also the place to discuss mobility aids from walking sticks to scooters. If this sounds like a group for you, you're most welcome ! Due to lockdown, there has been very little opportunity to access anywhere, but hopefully this will change in the not too distant future !
After a pretty tough time, the guys riding as part of The Nomadic Knights group, made it to Everest Base Camp. I hope we can use this story to gain interest from media sources to help raise awareness for us all. It's the least the guys deserve for all their efforts.
19 May 2017.
“Very pleased to report that we reached Mt Qomolangma (Everest) Base Camp with the ME Awareness Flag at 1528hrs on Thursday 18th May. Three and a half hours after we had planned but time in Tibet can sometimes be very fluid. The base camp is located at 5200m, walking to the final destination was challenging in itself due to low oxygen levels.
Conditions at base camp were extremely windy (good for flag flying) with intermittent clouds with no particular destination in mind and the sun was not ideal for photos."
The York ME Community
@YorkMEAwareness
One of the major questions raised is the blending of ME with CFS. This chart on the Hummingbirds site illustrates the many differences between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME).
As has been stated by Dr Sarah Jarvis and others, it’s possible that the Coronavirus could trigger M.E. in those people who get through the worst of the virus, and are seen to be in the recovery phase.
Please do not think that once you’re in that phase that you should just get back to your normal routine. As someone who has just passed his 14th anniversary with ME, the most important thing you can do is rest.
Resting should be from both physical and mental / cognitive activities.
Do not push beyond what your body is telling you. Your head might tell you something different, and you’ll be keen to make up for lost time, but please take advantage of this lockdown to recover properly. If you push beyond your limited energies now, and M.E. follows, it could change your life for years to come.
Be sensible and rest up. Take care.
Time For Unrest: Why Patients With ME Are Demanding Justice.
If you want the full story on ME and will read just one article about it, please make it this one,
Those within the ME Community have always known how damaging being prescribed Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) can be to their future health. We have a broken energy production system and therefore normal rules do not apply. The PACE Trial tried to show that it helps, but has been debunked by scientists and researchers worldwide. The PACE Trial in fact is now held up as an example of how NOT to conduct such trials.
To understand better the truth of GET and The PACE Trial, click on the link below to watch two short videos.
Dr Byron Hyde has dedicated his medical career to looking into M.E.
In this interview Dr. Byron Hyde, founder of the Nightingale Research Foundation in Ottawa, Canada, emphasizes the brain and enteroviruses. He also emphasizes his belief that Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are separate issues.
To watch this interview on YouTube, click on the link below:
We are the ME/CFS Biomedical Partnership, a collaboration between researchers and people with ME/CFS, carers and the public.
The DecodeME DNA study aims to help us understand the disease and ultimately find treatments.
To read more, or get involved, click on the link below:
This is open to any organisation looking to have a bit of fun whilst supporting your local community. We're underway now for the current season but will be recruiting teams for our 6th season around July 2021. Although the aim is spreading ME Awareness, as a bonus we have also raised over £920.00 for Invest in ME Research, so why not join us ?
The York Inset Scooter Club is based in York (UK) and has a membership of around 250.
They are a thriving, active club and look to support local charities when they can. They have an annual Mods and Rockers charity ride out, and for 2019 supported The York ME Community.
They headed off from The York Eye (Clifford’s Tower) on Sun 28 Apr on a run out to the coast, set off by the Mayor of York and the York Normandy Veterans.
All money raised will be used to raise the profile of ME in York through posters being produced and put up in local business premises, clubs, schools, GP Surgeries and venues.
THE FOLLOWING EVENTS ARE CURRENTLY SUSPENDED, EXCEPT FOR THE ME AWARENESS HOUR, WHICH IS ON TWITTER. STAY SAFE, BE KIND.
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The first Monday of each month at 11 am - The York ME Community Coffee Club at Bar Convent, 17 Blossom Street, York. There is parking available just around the corner at Nunnery Lane Car Park. Blue Badge holders can park for free.
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The third Wednesday of each month - at 2 pm - The York ME Community Coffee Club at The Novotel, York. Parking is free at the hotel.
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Weekly - Every Wed, 8 pm - 9 pm on Twitter, ME Awareness Hour using the #MEAwarenesshour hashtag.
I had a very productive meeting with Cllr Aspden and Cllr Runciman of City of York Council where they have stated they will back efforts to raise awareness of ME, understanding that much more is needed to increase understanding of this debilitating disorder, in York and across the UK. I will be aiming to keep up the pressure to ensure future support.
The motion put before Council with regard to support in raising ME Awareness in York was passed unanimously !
The City of York Council has followed through on their promise by lighting up the city walls and Clifford's Tower in blue over the ME Awareness Weeks since that meeting.
We had a brilliant day at York Explore Library raising ME Awareness. Lots of interest in what we're doing from local health groups, charities, the council and most heart warmingly, from those dealing with ME themselves who now know we're here for them.
If you'd like to hear more about ME, get in touch.
