Phone a Friend

Useful links and contacts for disability access issues in Cambridge and the surrounding area.

For any information on disability in Cambridgeshire, I can’t do better than this top new website: www.disabilitycambridgeshire.org.uk

It offers a free directory of organisations in Cambridgeshire providing services to disabled people and/or older people and their carers. It also offers ‘Signpost’ service of factsheets on a wide range of disability-related issues. On top of that, it will start you off with a free ‘first-step’ Homepage for local organisations who do not currently have a website.

The project is a ChangeUp inititative and is being worked on by, amongst others, Directions Plus. Big thanks and praise to them

Details of shops and services providing disability and communication aids can also be found on the Shop Till You Drop page

Other useful contacts:

Addenbrookes Hospital (NHS Foundation Trust)

  • Address: Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ
  • Tel: 01223 245 151. Minicom 274 604
  • Website: www.addenbrookes.org.uk
  • Description: Main city hospital

Addenbrooke’s Hospital Disablement Services Centre

  • Address: Box 120, Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 2QQ
  • Tel: 01223 217 870
  • Website: www.addenbrookes.org.uk
  • Description: Wheelchairs, limbs and other equipment, provided by NHS

Age Concern Cambridgeshire

  • Address: The Cherry Trees Club, St Matthew’s Street, Cambridge CB1 2LT
  • Tel: 01223 568 306
  • Website: www.accambs.org
  • Description: Charity providing information and services for older people in Cambridgeshire

CAMTAD – Cambridge Campaign for Tackling Acquired Deafness

  • Address: 8a Romsey Terrace, Cambridge, CB1 3NH
  • Tel/textphone/fax: 01223 416 141
  • Website: http://copag.members.beeb.net/copmoc/camtad.htm
  • Description: Charity providing information and services for people with acquired deafness at any stage. Also active in spreading awareness of acquired deafness. Open Monday to Friday 9.30-12.30

Cambridge City Council

  • Address: Guildhall, Cambridge
  • Tel: 01223 457 000. Textphone: 01223 457 050
  • Website: www.cambridge.gov.uk
  • Description: Cambridge City Council. Access officer Mark Taylor can be contacted on 01223 457 074

Cambridge Deaf Association

  • Address: 8 Romsey Terrace, Cambridge, CB1 3NH
  • Tel: 01223 246 237. Textphone 01223 411 801
  • Fax: 01223 411 701
  • Website: www.cambsdeaf.org
  • Description: Charity providing information and services for profoundly deaf people. Also offers courses in sign language

Cambridgeshire Disabled Living Centre

Cambridge Forum for Disabled People

  • Tel: Call Gerri Bird on 01223 569 601
  • Description: Lobby group, has three meetings a year and asks what matters members want lobbied

Cambridge Online

Cambridge Red Cross wheelchair hire

  • Address: Unit C, 511 Coldhams Lane Cambridge, CB1 3JS
  • Tel: 01223 868 696
  • Description: Loans wheelchairs and medical equipment for up to 2 months, for voluntary donations. Open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 9.15am-2.15pm

Cambridge Tourist Information

  • Address: The Old Library, Wheeler Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QB.
  • Tel: 0871 226 8006
  • Website: www.visitcambridge.org
  • Description: Central tourist information office. Opening hours in Winter (Oct – Mar), Monday-Friday 10am-5.30pm and Saturday 10am-5pm. Summer (Easter – September) Monday-Friday 10am-1730pm, Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday and Bank Holidays 11am-3pm

Cambridge University Disability Resource Centre

  • Address: Keynes House, Trumpington St, Cam, CB2 1QA
  • Tel: 01223 332 301. Textphone: 01223 764 085
  • Website: www.cam.ac.uk/cambuniv.disability
  • Description: Wide range of disability related information and services, particularly for students, staff and visitors to the University

Camsight

  • Address: Butler House, 167 Green End Road, Cambridge, CB4 1RW
  • Tel: 01223 420 033
  • Website: www.camsight.org
  • Description: Excellent local charity providing support, information and services for blind and visually impaired people

CINTRA

  • Address: 351-353 Newmarket Road, Cambridge, CB5 8JE
  • Tel: 01223 346 870
  • Website: www.colc.co.uk/cambridge/cintra/index.htm
  • Description: Interpreting and translation service in Cambridgeshire. Can provide BSL interpreters

Clarion

  • Tel: 01223 870 840. Textphone: 01223 870 045
  • Fax: 01223 874 440
  • Website: www.clarioncall.net
  • Description: Communication support for deaf people, including BSL interpreters

Dial-a-Ride

  • Address: Unit F4a, Eastern Court, 182-190 Newmarket Road, CB5 8HE
  • Tel: 01223 506 335
  • Website: www.colc.co.uk/cambridge/dialaride/index.htm
  • Description: Registered charity providing door-to-door minibus service for those unable to use conventional public transport for mobility or sensory reasons. Also operates a more restricted rural sprinter service serving the villages around Cambridge. Open Monday to Friday 9am-noon

Directions Plus

  • Address: 1 Orwell Furlong, Cowley Road, Cambridge CB4 0WY
  • Tel: 01223 569 600
  • Website: www.directions-plus.org.uk
  • Description: Excellent disability information service. First port of call for any disability-related issues or enquiries

Door to Door

Ely Tourist Information

  • Address: Oliver Cromwell`s House, 29 St. Mary`s Street, Ely, Cambridgeshire. CB7 4HF
  • Tel: 01353 662 062
  • Website: www.ely.org.uk/tic.htm
  • Description: Tourist information centre for Ely

Fenvision

  • Address: Old School Buildings, 8 Dartford Road, March, Cambridgeshire, PE15 8AN
  • Tel: 01354 556 726
  • Website: www.fenvision.freeserve.co.uk
  • Description: Isle of Ely society for the blind and partially sighted. For people living in the Fenland area

Help the Aged Online Shop

  • Tel: 020 7278 1114
  • Website: www.helptheaged.org.uk
  • Good For: Mobility aids and other products for people with disabilities

Hester Adrian Centre

  • Address: Hawthorn Way, Cambridge, CB4 1AX
  • Tel: 01223 478 601
  • Website: See Papworth website www.papworth.org.uk
  • Description: A day service run by the Papworth Trust, which offers work-based vocational training and work opportunities. Offers a service for adults with disabilities or mental health problems who want to gain experience in a work setting

Integrated Community Equipment Service

  • Address: Camfields, Ditton Walk, Cambridge, CB5 8QD
  • Tel: 01223 726 222
  • Good For: The Social Services and NHS community equipment service

National Library for the Blind

  • Website: www.nlb-online.org
  • Description: Charity providing Braille books & accessible reading for visually impaired people

NHS Direct

  • Tel: 0845 4667
  • Website: www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
  • Description: 24 hour telephone and internet health information and support service. Call them for any health-related query, particularly if you are not sure it warrants hospital attention

Papworth Trust

  • Address: Bernard Sunley Building, Papworth Everard, Cambridge, CB23 3RG
  • Tel: 01480 357 200
  • Website: www.papworth.org.uk
  • Description: Charity offering a wide range of medical and vocational rehabilitation and information for disabled people

Rehabilitation Engineering Movement Advisory Panel (REMAP)

  • Tel: 01480 464 283
  • Website: www.remap.org.uk
  • Description: A group of engineers and occupational therapists who meet to solve individual mobility and communication problems. They may be able to construct or adapt a gadget to meet your particular need

Saffron Sight

  • Address: 3 Central Arcade, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 1ER
  • Tel: 01799 523 700
  • Website: www.saffronsight.org.uk
  • Description: Charity providing support, help and advice to visually impaired people and their carers in the Uttlesford area of Essex

Soundabout Sound Engineers

  • Address: 135 Hereward Close, Impington, Cambridge, CB4 9YF
  • Tel: 01223 237 200
  • Fax: 01223 234 052
  • Good For: Company designing and installing loop and loudspeaker systems in area

Taxicard service

  • Tel: 01223 457 316. Textphone: 01223 457 050
  • Website: City council website
  • Description: Council service of subsidised transport using taxis, for people who live in and around Cambridge

Venue services

  • Address: PO Box 297, Cambridge, CB1 3WG
  • Tel: 01223 240 944
  • Website: www.venueservices.co.uk
  • Description: Company designing and installing loop and loudspeaker systems in area
  • Other: