Asbestos advice for rotary club

At the meeting of the Rotary Club of Bolsover the guest speaker was Joanne Gordon, co-ordinator for the Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team (DAST) based in Chesterfield. Joanne gave an overview of the groups work assisting around 200 people across the East Midlands, who are diagnosed with an asbestos disease each year.

This help includes one-to-one advice on entitlements and arranging conferences and meetings for those affected to find mutual support and information. They also provide on going support to those who have been bereaved by this terrible disease.

She went on to say that most people think that because asbestos was a banned substance it was no longer a threat to health. However, in the 20th century such huge amounts were imported into the UK, which still has a very strong presence. DAST works hard to raise awareness of the dangers of asbestos that is clearly reflected in the latest diagnosis for the related diseases caused by the deadly mineral.

The members of the Rotary Club of Bolsover thanked Joanne for her presentation and made a donation to help the work of the charity.