Limbless Association

Limbless Association

Limbless Association, is a Charitable organization in the United Kingdom set up to help those with limb loss, and assist their families and carers. It is registered with the Charity Commission for England and Wales and it's charity registration number is 803533.

The main office headquarters are located in Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton, South West London opposite Roehampton University. The Hospital is part of the London Borough of Wandsworth.The nearest British Rail train stations are Barnes and Putney - the nearest tube station is Putney Bridge, on the district line. The Limbless Association provides information, advice and support for people of all ages who are without one or more limbs. Nationwide we have experienced Volunteer Visitors, all of whom are amputees, on call to visit any amputee who requests it, offering support and encouragement to prospective amputees, those already trying to come to terms with limb loss congenital limb deficiency , as well as their helpers.

History

During the first World War there was a need for an association for ex-servicemen with lost limbs and the British Limbless Ex-Servicemans’ Association (BLESMA) was set up for them. It was not until many years later though that the Limbless Association, then called the National Association for Limbless Disabled, was formed for non service men with congenital or later onset limb loss, becoming a Registered Charity in 1983.

Programs

LA provides the following services and activities:

• National HelpBureau – The Limbless Association HelpBureau is a multi-channel information service for people with limb loss and their carers. Queries received include; questions regarding Artificial limbs, disability living allowance, driving and transport, and Phantom pain or Phantom limb.

• Limbless Association has been supporting the APLLG for the past four years. The Group holds an annual conference to raise awareness of people with Limb Loss to Parliament, Whitehall, and International Representatives. LA administers and organises conferences for the Associate Parliamentary Limb Loss Group. Headed by Lord McColl, these conferences discuss disability issues and meet throughout the year. The LA also communicates with all the Lords and MPs, striving to positively influence government policy and legislation concerning disability related matters.

• Football+ pan-disability football team - is a football team made up amputees and otherwise disabled members which in association with Chelsea F.C., plays daily against other clubs pan-disability football teams.

• Volunteer Visitor Network – a network of over 250 volunteers in the UK, offering face-to-face meetings through a “buddy scheme”, providing advice from personal experience based advice.

• The Ali Fund – a separate restricted fund set-up to assist Ali Abbas and other children effected by the Iraq War.

• The LA Handbook – a guide for amputees, healthcare professionals and carers, offering information, advice, contacts and insights for amputee related issues. • LA Website – a website offering information on limb loss topics, with advice, contacts, resources, further reading, healthcare suggestions and a discussion forum for members.

External links

* [http://www.limbless-association.org/ Official website]
*UK charity|803533
* [http://www.chelseacommunityfc.co.uk/ Chelsea Community FC]
* [http://www.blesma.org/ BLESMA website]
* [http://www.wandsworth-pct.nhs.uk/about/qmh.asp Queen Mary's hospital]