Last month we released an online version of “Life Support”, our exploration of the importance of support in the lives of people with learning disabilities. It was created to shine a spotlight on the real lives behind the debate on social care funding by introducing the reader to people with learning disabilities talking about their [...]

One of the first things the newly-elected coalition government declared on taking office was its ambition to “create the largest and most vibrant social enterprise sector in the world” as part of its NHS reforms. As encouraging as this was, many questioned whether the government was clear about the difference between NHS foundation trusts and [...]

Charity consortium, Disability Works UK (DWUK) is looking to recruit a part time administrator, on a 12 month secondment. The South London-based role will oversee administrative functions including: • Acting as first point of entry for all DWUK business enquiries • Supporting the strategic board and operations group • Making sure all data is kept securely [...]

The need to reform the social care system in England was back in the news today as the Telegraph published a letter signed by a number of local authorities urging the Government to accept the recommendations of the Commission on Funding of Care and Support, led by Andrew Dilnot.   It is really important that we [...]

It’s official: tomorrow cross-party talks will begin on the future funding of adult social care, the first such talks since economist Andrew Dilnot was commissioned to analyse the failing existing system and recommend a way forward. It’s worth remembering what is at stake here. The reason our existing social care system is disintegrating is because [...]

Whether your goal is to get fit in the New Year by training for the London Marathon, take a trip of a lifetime to climb Mount Kilimanjaro or participate in United Response’s first ever sponsored swimming event, following these simple tips should ensure that you maximise every opportunity to raise much needed funds for United [...]

This week, United Response put out a report called Life Support, which was all about how people with disabilities need a bit of support to live their lives. I was asked to write the introduction. I was proud to get involved because I think it is important to make your voice heard, especially when there [...]

PRESS RELEASE With 2012 set to be a pivotal year for social care, a national disability charity is launching a groundbreaking report looking at the views of disabled people and their families on why access to good support is so vital. Through firsthand accounts, Life Support, a report produced by United Response’s Campaigns Panel, brings [...]

“Social care is an essential human need,” the Government stated in its Vision For Adult Social Care in 2010. Unfortunately, with a social care system that is buckling under growing demand, fewer and fewer people are seeing that human need met.  We wanted to know what real people with learning disabilities thought about their support [...]

Many readers will already be aware of the Responsible Reform Report – also known as the Spartacus Report – a detailed investigation into the Government’s consultation on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) reform. The report has seen a huge wave of support on Twitter from activists and celebrities like Stephen Fry, which has led to the [...]

Timed to coincide with the return of the Welfare Reform Bill to the House of Lords, today sees the formal launch of a new report, “Responsible Reform”. Written, researched, funded and produced by sick and disabled people and their friends and family, Responsible Reform is a detailed investigation into the Government’s consultation on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) [...]

At United Response we are firmly in favour of personal budgets and self directed support as a way of giving people genuine choice and control. We have always focused on support that is tailored to each individual as absolutely key to the way we work and we see self direction and personal budgets as a [...]

So a new year is upon us, one which shows every sign of being an even more momentous for Government disability policy than 2011. Last year we saw the Government launch a huge wave of legislation and consultation that affected people with disabilities or mental health needs. The healthcare reforms were the most high profile [...]

  Following our London carol service last week, there’s been no let up in the festive spirit at United Response. This week we were participants in two more carol services, one created by and for people we support and one in collaboration with the leading charity, Action on Hearing Loss. And though you might think [...]

One of the first things I took part in when I joined United Response five years ago was our annual carol service in St Peter’s Church in Chelsea. It was also one of the earliest confirmations that I had definitely found a place I would be proud to work. It just wasn’t a typical charity [...]

For the last 16 months, staff and people we support at our Spire Service have been putting everything they have into their first ever pantomime – “Snow White and the Seven Aliens.” What began as the hopes and dreams of many people at Spire to perform on stage, has developed into reality and the all [...]

For many years United Response has been campaigning for the complex democratic system in this country to be made more accessible. Much has changed since we launched our Every Vote Counts campaign in 2007, and we are pleased to see that Parliament UK is playing its part in the demystification process, with the recent publication of [...]

Our very own UR Consultants recently featured on the All Together Now! website, describing their campaign to combat the bullying of those with learning disabilities. The consultants – all adults with learning disabilities – visit schools, colleges and other public bodies in Liverpool to deliver their message directly. The consultants explain what they do and why [...]

PRESS RELEASE A young man with Asperger Syndrome has overcome debilitating shyness to give an ‘overwhelming’ speech to a national conference on his life and his achievements. Twenty year old Ashley Maddocks, from Kirkby-in-Ashfield, addressed a large crowd of experts at a recent conference on autism, in, London. Two years ago Ashley barely left his room, but [...]

Given the chronic deficit of good news in recent weeks, any opportunity to celebrate is worth taking. Which is why disabled people should be delighted to read in today’s Times that disability minister Maria Miller has confirmed that the Disability Living Allowance mobility payment will not be removed from people in residential care, as announced [...]