We were thrilled by the response to the report, including coverage in national media and across social networks. However, many people asked why there wasn’t a physical, printed version of the report, given that many people still don’t have access to the Internet, or find it difficult to use. That’s why we are pleased to announce that we have a limited edition run of print copies available now.

The print copies begin with a simple and visual “easy read” version of the “Life Support” report and its findings (you can see what this looks like online here) followed by the full version (available here). The “easy read” version comes first because we believe that everyone can benefit from direct, clear language.

The print version of the report will be going out to staff and people we support across the country, as a celebration of what support can achieve. We’ll also be sending it to some of the key politicians and influential figures currently shaping the future of social care, anyone we believe could benefit from understanding more about how support transforms lives for the better, and why it must be protected.

We have also kept aside some copies for other disability organisations, disabled people, campaigners, allies, supporters and partners who would like their own copy or know of people who don’t have access to the Internet who would appreciate a physical version.

If you would like a copy, send an email to lifesupport@unitedresponse.org.uk with one sentence on whether it is for personal interest, organisational use or sharing with others. Copies distributed on a first come, first served basis!

Our Chief Executive, Su Sayer, concludes the report with these words: “When United Response was founded almost 40 years ago, most people with learning disabilities lived their lives in long-term institutions, isolated from society and without a voice. Since we began our work, we have done all we can to change that, to listen to what the people we support say they want and believe in and to take that message to the wider world.

“To remain true to our values, it is crucial that our views as an organisation are a reflection of the views of the people we support and the challenges they face in their day to day lives. That’s why this report, “Life Support – the difference between a daily existence and a fulfilling life” is so important to us.

“One thing which comes through loud and clear is that support means many different things to different people. For some it can mean help with essential household tasks or just “having someone on hand in an emergency”, as Vicky says. For others, like Graham, it means being communicated with properly for the first time in their lives, or being supported to take part in local theatre, like Denise. All of this requires creative, skilled and well trained support staff.”

By Jaime Gill, head of press and public affairs

If politicians are sometimes unclear about what a social enterprise is, the general public is even more so, as the research carried out for Charity Finance magazine by YouGov clearly shows. Say “social enterprise” and some think of huge international brands like Fairtrade, while others think exclusively of small, local organisations. Some argue the definition only applies to not-for-profit businesses, while others would include the FTSE 100-listed Body Shop because of its social campaigning aims. Many don’t recognise the term at all.

Does this matter? Yes, because our experience is that many people would be more likely to support social enterprises if they understood exactly what they were, and what they aimed to do.

United Response runs a number of small social enterprises, such as our Krumbs café in York and our UR Sorted mail order business in Manchester. Both enterprises share the same simple mission – to give local disabled people the opportunity to build the confidence and skills to move into mainstream employment – and both have been enthusiastically supported by local businesses and consumers.

I believe that the charity sector and government need to define social enterprise in a similarly clear way. Social Enterprise UK’s definition of a social enterprise is “a business that trades for a social or environmental purpose”. I would go further and argue that businesses that don’t have that aim as a primary goal should not be classed as a social enterprise. Private businesses whose first and foremost objective is profit should not be able to define themselves as social enterprises.

‘True’ social enterprises could play a major role in sustaining communities through hard times. We have all seen the growing numbers of closed commercial premises in towns up and down the country. Social enterprises may be able to fill these spaces with new initiatives, such as community focused cafés or shops which do not need to make a commercial level of profit to simply be sustainable.

With these ingredients in place, our experience shows that the general public will support social enterprise. They just need a simpler definition of what that means, and the charity sector must lead the way in providing this definition. 

(This blog is an edited version of an article that appears in this month’s Charity Finance magazine. To read the article in full, read Charity Finance or click here).

By Su Sayer, Chief Executive, United Response

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 and can be accessed easily
• Filing and maintenance of all company documents
• Supporting the chair with the production of official documents.

Applicants should submit a CV and supporting statement to tony.adamson@lcdisability.org, to be received no later than Thursday 2 February 2012.  Interviews will take place mid-February.

Download the following documents before applying for the role:
• Full job description
• Full job advert.

Disability Works UK  is a consortium of eight national charities – including United Response – who have come together to deliver work programme contracts. The other members are Leonard Cheshire Disability, Mencap, Scope, Mind, The Pluss Organisation, Advance and Action for Blind People.

James Dodd, web and digital media manager.

It is really important that we hear the voices of local government, who surely know more about social care funding than any of us. As the letter says,

 “the way our society responds to the needs of older people and those with disabilities and mental health needs is an indication of the kind of country we live in”. 

The letter makes a powerful moral argument and is definitely worth reading in full.

The vital role that social care plays in the lives of people up and down the country is often misunderstood or overlooked.  As the cross party talks on social care continue, it is crucial that ministers, shadow ministers and MPs on both sides of the House of Commons understand that they have a once in a generation chance to reform the existing system. 

Making the system work better for the people who use it cannot happen without a sincere commitment to reform the way the system is funded.  The Dilnot commission recommended a £1.7bn investment to overhaul the current system and ensure that people have access to the support they need.

However, this isn’t just about the need for funding reform.  If we are to see a cross-party commitment to improving the current system, now is the time to speak up about the importance of social care to individuals.  The Learning Disability Coalition’s latest campaign, Care Matters To Me, asks people to write to or meet with their MP and tell them exactly why social care matters to them. 

A number of examples of just how the right support makes a difference to people’s lives can be found in our recently published Life Support report. 

We all need to make our voices heard and convince MPs that social care is a priority to their constituents and that the opportunities for reform presented by the upcoming White Paper are not lost. 

Alexis Camble, campaigns and policy officer

It’s worth remembering what is at stake here. The reason our existing social care system is disintegrating is because of our success as a society in helping people to live longer, and to live more active lives. To give one example: our society used to routinely isolate people with learning disabilities in inhumane long term institutions, with few human rights and few opportunities to live a normal life. This has changed; now the expectation (though not always met, tragically) is that people with learning disabilities will live in their own homes, play a role in their communities, and often work.

These longer lives and greater expectations mean that there is more demand on current social care funding. It cannot cope. Which leaves us with two alternatives. Allow existing recources to become ever more stretched, and watch all this progress go into reverse, with fewer people receiving less support. Or find a way forward with a new and revitalised approach to funding.

It would be nice to say the first is unthinkable, but it is in fact all too possible. That’s why we must concentrate on the second option. The Dilnot Commission recommendations – which include a £1.7bn increase in funding and a £35,000 cap on the amount that an individual is expected to contribute to social care costs – aren’t flawless. We are concerned that people with “mild” or “moderate” support needs may still fall through the gaps. But it does provide solid foundations for improving support for disabled people.

That’s why it’s so important that when the Conservatives, Labour and Lib Dems meet tomorrow to discuss reforming the system, they lay aside the differences that have plagued such efforts for 25 long years. There is no more time to waste.

They must also ensure that whatever path forward they choose, it is one that works for all recipients of social care. Most media attention has focused on the elderly but younger adults with disabilities rely just as much on social care, so it is crucial that we get a system that works for all before we can begin capping costs.

To illustrate the point, we have just released a report created by people with learning disabilities and their families called Life Support, the title chosen to show just how essential social care is to them every day.

In the report people with learning disabilities talk about how support helps them with the basics of living and keeps them safe, but also helps them to work, to contribute their energies and passions to their communities and to live the lives the rest of us take for granted. One mother says her son’s support is the difference between “just a daily existence” and a “fulfilling and useful life”. We will ensure each of the parties has a copy of Life Support to consider as they make what may be one of the biggest political decisions of their career.

The Government should be congratulated on commissioning Dilnot and laying the groundwork for the revitilisation of social care that must now happen. Now the tough decisions and investment Dilnot is demanding must be borne. The alternative is that without reform, more and more people will lose their support and thousands would see their physical and mental health deteriorate. This would cost our country a lot more in the long run financially, but the moral cost would be incalculable.

Jaime Gill, head of press and public affairs.

1. Think outside the box

The more creative you are, the more likely you are to attract attention, stand out, and get people on board.  If you need inspiration, remember that the worldwide phenomenon known as Movember started as a drunken idea in a Melbourne pub and has now raised over £100m; six year old Jack Henderson raised over £15,000 for an Edinburgh hospital by selling his paintings online; and the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraising activity, ‘Relay for Life’, involves participants running a marathon…in Second Life.

2. Stand on the shoulders of giants

You don’t have to start generating ideas from scratch: many others have attempted to raise sponsorship before, so ‘borrow’ their good ideas and learn from their mistakes!  In addition to blogs and articles written by other fundraisers, check out some of the ‘useful websites’ suggested below and speak to a member of the Fundraising Team (020 8246 5202 / fundraising@unitedresponse.org.uk) to discuss ideas.

3. Divide and conquer

Don’t be discouraged by seemingly unachievable targets: break them down into smaller amounts and think about your ‘giving circles’ – groups of people with whom you interact such as: sports clubs, religious groups, work colleagues, mates down the pub and old school friends.  For each group, identify key people who can help you to make a fundraising plan and mobilise the support of the others.  In this way, you are not only breaking the target down but also sharing the burden of the fundraising.

4. Think digital 

An ever increasing amount of fundraising is done online, so set up and personalise your Virgin Money Giving page early!  Regular updates on your training and progress towards your goals will inspire people to give, as will the generosity of others and stories of how the people we support benefit from fundraised income.  You may also wish to set up a Facebook page and share the link with your friends or create a ‘template tweet’ for your supporters to copy and paste.

5. Shout from the rooftops

Take every opportunity to tell people what you’re doing, and most importantly why you’re doing it.  Not everybody knows about the issues facing people with disabilities or the work that United Response does.  The more people understand how their money can make a difference, the more generous they are likely to be.  Think about local media coverage to spread the word further – contact Sarah Bartlett in United Response’s Press Team (sarah.bartlett@unitedresponse.org.uk) for help and advice.  Finally, remember to thank all of your supporters after the event!

6. Fundraising and the law

For many fundraising activities, there are some simple legal requirements to be aware of, such as the need to include the charity number (265249) on any promotional materials and the rules governing raffles and lotteries.  Contact the Fundraising Team for advice before you start – it’s much easier to set things up correctly than trying to put them right later!

We still have some places left for the 2012 London Marathon, so get in there quickly and apply if you want to be involved:

• London Marathon webpage 

Useful websites:

• KnowHow NonProfit
• Ideas Fundraising
• Showcase of Fundraising Innovation and Inspiration (SOFII)
• Institute of Fundraising

Martyn Weeds, fundraising manager.

I’ve been going to the United Response Oakfield Service in Liverpool for 2 days a week for the past 8 years. Support staff helped me to go out and try new things and use my skills to do voluntary work at a local theatre. The staff know I want to be an actress and have supported me to find new opportunities, like successfully applying for a residential drama course in Manchester.

Having the right support has allowed me to do so many new things, but there are lots of people who don’t get help because of funding. I want everyone to get the right kind of support for them

I think it’s important to make your voice heard so people know what’s going on. It’s important to get issues in the newspapers so politicians see it and might do something about it.

The report is for disabled people, support workers, families, politicians, journalists, and anyone who wants to hear about our lives and our support and why it’s so important. Support us, and pass the message on to your friends.

Denise Barr, Campaigns Panel member.

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 a human face to the current debate on social care funding by highlighting the difference that social care makes to the daily lives of people with learning disabilities.

In the report people supported by United Response share their views on what good support looks like, how support could be improved for disabled people, and their hopes and fears for the future – with hate crime and a lack of support for those with lower support needs being raised as key areas of concern. One member of the campaigns panel said: “Having the right support has allowed me to do so many new things. But there are lots of people who don’t get help. I want everyone to get the right kind of support for them.”

Family members also contributed to the report and share their views on the current social care system and how it impacts on the lives of their family members. As one parent states, “…the support that my son receives makes the difference between just a daily ‘existence’ and instead grants him the opportunity to participate in his own wholly fulfilling and useful life.”

The report also includes an overview of support over the last 40 years, alongside an afterword on the report written by leading social care expert and author of An Ordinary Life, David Towell.

Speaking about Life Support, Su Sayer, Chief Executive of United Response, said:

“Over the last 40 years, we have seen remarkable changes in the life experiences of disabled people. Thanks to the progress that has been made in health and social care, people are living longer and more independent lives, but that also means that the demand for social care is growing daily. This year, parties across the political spectrum will be faced with the unenviable, yet vital, task of rebuilding a social care system which is buckling under the weight of increased demand and limited resources.

“The Life Support report shows just how crucial social care is to people’s daily lives. For some people it means being able to complete basic but essential; tasks, such as washing, cooking, shopping and living with dignity. For others it means being able to develop independence and contribute meaningfully to society through employment or volunteering. 

“What is clear is that without this vital support many people would simply be trapped in their homes struggling with loneliness and deteriorating physical and mental health. With a White Paper on social care expected in the spring, 2012 presents us with an opportunity to reform our social care system and make it work not only for those that rely on it now, but for the many who will need it in the future. Dilnot’s recommendations alone will not do enough to improve support for disabled people, but they are an essential first step. There is a cost in the short term, but we stand to lose more if we don’t act.”

To find out more about the Life Support report and to download the full report, along with an easy read version, go to  www.unitedresponse.org.uk/LifeSupportReport

Ends

For more information, please contact Sarah Bartlett or Jaime Gill in the United Response Press Office on 020 8246 5237/ 020 8246 5122 or email sarah.bartlett@unitedresponse.org.uk or jaime.gill@unitedresponse.org.uk

 We wanted to know what real people with learning disabilities thought about their support and the difference it made to their lives, whether looking after basics like healthy living or managing their home, or helping them access the community and find work. Their stories and views are collected in the Life Support report, which offers an inspiring and fascinating look at how good support can transform very different lives for the better. This is a huge step forward from the days when people with learning disabilities were routinely isolated in institutions.

 And it is because these gains must not be lost that the Life Support report also urges the Government to include the proposals for fairer and better long term funding provided by the Dilnot Commission in its upcoming social care White Paper. Although the Dilnot proposals do require additional funding, at a time when finances are tight, we believe that failing to invest now will result in people’s mental and physical health deteriorating, costing us more in the long run.

 To find out more about the real lives that can be obscured by endless debates over the figures, read Life Support and then share with your friends – everyone should know what is at stake if social care is threatened.

The report has seen a huge wave of support on Twitter from activists and celebrities like Stephen Fry, which has led to the media – ranging from The Guardian to the Daily Mail – finally giving the real concerns of disabled people the recognition they deserve.

However, some people won’t have had the chance to read the report first hand, such as people with learning disabilities, low literacy or visual impairments, who may find reading dense text difficult and prefer more accessible “easy read” formats.

That’s why we were proud to be approached by the activists behind the Responsible Reform Report and asked to translate the report’s main findings into an easy read version:

Download the Easy Read PDF version (1.94mb) of the Responsible Reform report.

And do pass on the word to anyone wo can benefit from this -  we believe everyone should have the opportunity to be informed about politics and have a say in the decisions that affect them – and creating accessible formats is an essential step towards this goal.

Jaime Gill, head of press and public affairs

The Broken of Britain Blog reminds us: “Once a consultation has been started, regardless of whether there is a duty to consult, there are clear legal duties; particularly that there must be sufficient time allocated to complete that consultation… Despite an established legal guidance on consultations, the consultation into DLA was two weeks shorter than it should have been, and ran across the Christmas and New Year period…. The consultation into DLA was closed two days after the Welfare Reform Bill returned to the Commons, meaning that there was no way the results of the consultation could be properly considered as part of the bill.”

In a blog on the Guardian website, activist Sue Marsh writes “when sick and disabled people can design their own working models, they can be productive, empowered and creative. New technologies open up a new way of engaging with work. If we can fit tasks around our disabilities, we can contribute our huge potential. Among politicians, “reform” has become a byword for cuts; yet, as our report shows, true reform ought to find solutions to makeBritainfairer, more inclusive and more productive. That we should have to go to such extremes to be heard should concern – and perhaps shock – us all.”

United Response supports all efforts to ensure disabled people are listened to as the Government makes crucial decisions on welfare reform and cuts to public services. We are creating an easy read translation of the report, available soon. Later this week, we will also be launching our own report by people with learning disabilities, looking at why social care is so crucial.

In the meantime, to find out more about the Responsible Reform report, or to take action, click here. Twitter users can take to their accounts and show their support by tweeting “I support the #spartacusreport”.

Jaime Gill, head of press and public affairs, United Response

For those who do have a personal budget, there are many remarkable stories of people seizing control of their own lives and being creative with the way that they structure their support. But we know from our work just how much confusion there is amongst potential purchasers of services and their families in moving to this new world. Many people have told us they are afraid of the responsibility of managing a budget directly.

So, to help to bridge this gap and to debunk some of the myths around personalisation, we have been very pleased to be working with the Voluntary Organisation’s Disability Group (VODG) to create a “Top Ten Tips” guide for anyone who needs to buy social care support for themselves or a friend or relative. The guide was launched today, as a blog entry on the VODG website.

The guide aims to help you learn what to look for when choosing a support provider and the questions to ask in developing and paying for the support you need. We really hope that it will give people the confidence to question and to choose the support that is right for them and their loved ones.

Ten top tips

1. Think about how you want to be supported. Do you want a support worker or a personal assistant (PA)? Will you employ them through an agency or directly?

2. Note your first impressions. Initial conversations with your support provider will be a good indication of future relationships. Does the provider do what they promised? Did they get back to you when they said, or can you get hold of them when they say you can?

3. Check how they will develop your support package. Your support provider should spend time getting to know you, to find out about your needs and wishes. They should develop a person centred plan with you and you should receive a contract that sets out your support.

4. Check how your support will be monitored – and changed. Your support provider should carry out a review of your support – sometimes called a “person-centred review” annually, and this should be led by you.

5. Check the price and what it includes. Your support provider should confirm a price that will not change after you and they have signed the contact, unless by mutual agreement.

6. Check the staff who will be supporting you. Your support provider should arrange quality staff that will support you based on your individual needs.

7. Check how they will make sure you are safe and supported properly. Check your provider is registered with the appropriate regulator and what other quality tests they carry out.

8. Check your right to complain. Who do you contact if things go wrong?

9. Check how you can end your agreement. Find out what notice period is required and any ‘exit fees’ such as staff salaries or other costs.

10. Find out more. There’s lots more information below. And learn some terminology (see the jargon buster section in the full Top Ten Tips guide) as care and support can include lots of jargon.

Download the full Top Ten Tips guide as a PDF (73.4KB).

Diane Lightfoot, director of communications and fundraising.

Perhaps the most significant and positive development in 2011, however, was the Government’s decision to commission economist Andrew Dilnot to look at how to fundamentally reform funding for social care in the UK. This couldn’t be more important: the current system is buckling under the weight of increased demand and limited resources.

Although Dilnot’s recommendations, launched in the summer, won’t single handedly do enough to transform social care for the better – and there was a real concern that more and more people with “mild” or “moderate” needs would miss out on any support at all – they are an essential start. The capping of care costs, the measures to tackle postcode lotteries and the recommendation of substantial new funding to be injected into the system are all vital first steps if we are to have a social care system we can be proud of.

That’s why all eyes will be on the social care White Paper due to be released in the next few months. A White Paper which properly considers the Dilnot recommendations and lays the foundations for a well funded and world class social care system could make 2012 a good year for the millions who rely on some form of support or care.

It’s up to all of us to urge our political representatives in all the political parties to co-operate and make sure this is the result we end up with. We’ll be doing our bit. Next week we’ll be releasing a report which will give the perspectives of the people we support on what difference support makes to their lives. We hope it will be a positive contribution to this critical debate. Happy New Year, everyone.

 
Jaime Gill, head of press and public affairs, United Response

Rita Simons speaks at carol service, Torriano Infants and Juniors school in background

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 that if you’ve seen one carol service you’ve seen them all, each one of them had its own unique atmosphere and approach to bringing people together.

The first service took place on Monday in the spectacular grounds of Seaford College in West Sussex, an independent school with which United Response has had a long and fruitful partnership. An informal and upbeat affair, it brought people with disabilities, people with mental health needs and the people who’ve supported them together for an exuberant singalong.

Afterwards, the congregation gathered for after-show tea and cake, where people from across southernEngland met up with old friends and made new ones. The atmosphere was sociable and upbeat, perhaps partly driven by a shared recognition that though 2011 had been a tough year everyone had got through it, with each other’s support.

Togetherness was also the big theme of the second carol service, organised by Action On Hearing Loss in the beautiful St Pancras Parish Church, in North London. Following their brilliant annual performances at our own London carol services, our Ipswich Signing Choir had been invited to perform at the climax of the show, signing “Walking In A Winter Wonderland” to the congregation.

The evening’s guest star, Rita Simons (who plays Roxy in Eastenders) gave a moving speech at the beginning of the ceremony about her twin daughters, one of whom is deaf. Rita spoke about how often her deaf daughter is excluded from special occasions such as carol services, and how wonderful it was to be at an event where the use of sign language meant she could take part in the fun.

But perhaps the most moving aspect of the night was the role of the 40 strong gospel choir of the locally based Torriano Infant and Junior School. Not only did the children sing wonderfully throughout the evening, but they enthusiastically joined in on the signing of “Walking In A Winter Wonderland” at the end.

It’s surely a cause for optimism that every one of these children went away from the evening with a little more understanding of what it means to be born different, whether through hearing loss, disability or both, and that they were able to appreciate that being different doesn’t mean you don’t have something to offer. It’s events like this – which bring together children, people with disabilities, people with hearing loss and the general public in celebration – that can help us look to the future with more hope than fear.

We’re grateful to our partners, Action on Hearing Loss, for giving us the chance to take part, and to everyone who came along and made it a night to remember.

Jaime Gill, head of press and public affairs.

The Seaford College Choir gather

What began as the hopes and dreams of many people at Spire to perform on stage, has developed into reality and the all the hard work over the past few months will come together in their first evening performance tomorrow (10th December)

The group have been getting together weekly at a local social club, where a brilliant relationship has developed with the bar staff and customers; some have even been coming along each week to help with the scenery and staging.

The pantomime is being supported by United Response’s Small Sparks programme which aims to provide some fantastic opportunities to fund a variety of activities which will help enhance relationships between the people we support and the wider community.

This programme was made possible due to a generous donation from the Clothworker’s Foundation. Thanks to them, Spire has been able to open their doors to friends, family, schools and the wider community to a performance they’ll never forget.

“It will definitely be a unique show, there are already talks about what are we doing next!! Said Ro Jones, who works for United Response and is directing and producing the play

Below, we have some truly brilliant photos of the Spire Pantomime Group practising for the performance.

Tickets for tomorrow’s performance are still available. The event will begin at 7.30pm and will take place at Poolsbrook Welfare and Social Club. Tickets cost £1 for adults and 50p for children and pensioners, and are available on the door. All proceeds go to Spire Service’s Pantomime group.

 Natalie Millbank, Fundraising Assistant

People with learning disabilities have the same right to vote and to democratic representation as everyone else. Historically, however, a lack of easy to understand information about what voting means and the role played by MPs and Parliament has resulted in democracy being a closed shop to many – only 1 in 8 adults with learning disabilities voted in the 2005 General Election, for example.

Thanks to the joint working of the disability sector and several public bodies and political organisations, the last general election was the most accessible ever, with approximately 39 per cent of adults with learning disabilities using their right to vote.

We all know however that democracy is about a lot more than voting. It’s about what happens between elections, and ensuring that those who you appointed to represent you do the job you asked them to do. That’s why guides such as these are so important. They highlight the crucial point that although there may still be a very long way to go, people with learning disabilities are finally being recognised as equal citizens, with the same right to express their opinion as everyone else.

Well done Parliament UK, and can we have more please?

Sarah Bartlett, press manager.

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 it’s important.

This video was created by Nicholas Charles Jackson (nicholascharlesjackson.com).

They’ve had some great feedback from the training, with one teacher saying: “The students benefited hugely and I feel the session genuinely challenged and changed the pupils’ perception of people with learning disabilities.”

The sessions have been delivered to more than 30 schools across Merseyside, as well as to police and witness protection units.

A member of the Transport Police said: “I found the consultants informative and feel the course was delivered well. Using their own experiences made awareness greater.”

It’s great to see UR Consultants making such a positive impact – well done to them all!

The consultants provide a range of bespoke disability awareness training – if you’d like to find out more, please email veronica.astor@unitedresponse.org.uk

You can find the original All Together Now! article on their website.

James Dodd, web and digital media editor.

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 with the help of support workers from disability charity United Response, he has turned his life around.

He now has a job delivering papers, volunteers for the British Heart Foundation and is studying sport at West Nottinghamshire College.

Speaking this week, Ashley said: “I enjoyed doing my speech to be honest. Maybe there were a few nerves! When I was younger I didn’t talk very much – my confidence wasn’t very good. But I feel that I am more confident now.”

United Response Team Manager Chris Clarke has worked closely with Ashley since 2009. When he first started working with Ashley he had never travelled anywhere on his own – but now he enjoys using public transport independently.

Reflecting on his time with United Response, Ashley said: “It’s going really well, I’m really enjoying it. I’m doing lots of things that I like at the moment, like football and my course. I know quite a bit now about sport and it is going well actually. I want to do a second year and get my level 2 qualification.”

 Mr Clarke said: “His speech was brilliant. He delivered it perfectly but what really delighted us was that after he had finished he asked if he could say a few more words and totally ad-libbed it. There were about 100 people there but he wasn’t fazed at all. He was fantastic. His speech was overwhelming.”

 Mr Clarke said: “Ashley was painfully shy when I met him – he could hardly speak with us let alone speak to people he didn’t know or do public speaking but he is a totally different person now. He’s very good company, enjoys a laugh and has a great sense of humour. He makes things enjoyable.”

As well as having Asperger Syndrome, Ashley has a chromosome disorder that means that he feels the need to eat a lot because he never feels full. But his support workers have introduced him to ways of eating more healthily and he is much fitter now.

 Mr Clarke said that United Response, which supports over 2,000 people with disabilities in taking control of their lives, use ‘staff matching’ in their work, which has made a real difference to Ashley.

 “Staff matching is a vital part of our job,” explained Mr Clarke. “It means we try to match the experience and interests of our support workers to those of the people we support. So in Ashley’s case, we knew that he was a young lad who likes his sport and so, having worked mainly with young males, and also having an interest in sport, I was a good match with Ashley. We both enjoy a kick about and have bonded over that.”

With the conference under his belt, Ashley is now looking to the future and his next ‘goal’ is to get a job where he can put his sports training to good use.

Ends

For more information, please contact Sarah Bartlett or Jaime Gill in the United Response Press Office on 020 8246 5237/ 020 8246 5122 or email sarah.bartlett@unitedresponse.org.uk or jaime.gill@unitedresponse.org.uk

DLA mobility is a payment made to people with disabilities and is absolutely crucial in allowing people to afford transport to get out, access the community, visit their doctors or stay in touch with family. As we, and many other disability organisations, argued, removing the payment would in effect leave people trapped in their own homes.

The Government’s argument was that local authorities funded this transport. From the moment the announcement was made, providers of social care and disability activists said that this was simply not so. Huge amounts of evidence were sent to the Government by individuals and disability charities, who also collaborated in one of the most energetic campaigns the current Government has faced. United Response was one of many campaigners who gave people we support online tools to contact their MPs, leading to the Prime Minister repeatedly being asked about this most unfair cut in Prime Minister’s Questions.

The most recent, “last ditch” effort was made through the Low Review, an independent review established by charities and headed by cross-bench peer and disability activist Lord Low to collect hard evidence on how mobility is funded in the UK, and what the impact of its removal would be. United Response staff worked hard to compile as many facts and real life stories as it could.

Today, Maria Miller finally confirms that the provision is “patchy” at best, as the disability sector has argued from the beginning. The news will be a huge relief to the 80,000 people who were threatened by this cut, as well as their friends and families.

Why is this good news? It shows that the voices of people with disabilities still matter and can be heard, particularly when they speak out in unison. It shows that disability charities can work together to create change. Perhaps most importantly it shows that Government, when faced with incontrovertible evidence, will listen and amend its plans.

This latter may be the most important point. There are still elements of the current Welfare Reform Bill, currently being debated in the House of Lords, which could have a hugely damaging impact on the quality of life of disabled people. In particular, evidence is mounting that assessments for the new Personal Independence Payment are seriously flawed, leading to erratic decision making. The disability sector will need to continue to work together, and to back up its arguments with calm and objective evidence, in order to ensure that disabled people aren’t the hardest hit by the economic circumstances the UK is currently in.

Jaime Gill, head of press and public affairs.

Part of United Response, Time for You provides support for unpaid carers (sometimes called family carers) through a range of services and activities, that focus on relaxation, creativity and empowerment.

The posters look to raise awareness around that fact that some people have disabilities that are not obviously visible, but that such people may still benefit from priority seating (positioned at the front of the bus). As such, it asks passengers to consider leaving priority seating free, if at all possible.

Through the end of November and into the beginning of December, the posters will be visible on Ipswich Buses and First Buses.

You can see photographs of the posters ‘in action’ on the Time for You facebook page - why not ‘like’ the page while you’re there!

James Dodd, web and digital media editor.

On Wednesday 7th December, the national disability charity, United Response, will be holding its annual celebratory carol service at St Peter’s Church, Eaton Square, SW1.

Hosted by United Response’s president and TV broadcaster, Martyn Lewis CBE, the evening will include interviews with people supported by United Response about their achievements over the last year, as well as performances by United Response’s deaf choir, Seaford College Choir, and the local music theatre company, Swanbank Music. The evening will be a mix of modern and traditional Christmas music.

Guests are asked to be in their seats by 6.15pm for a prompt start at 6.30pm. All are welcome to this free-of-charge event. To reserve your seat or for special requirements (ie wheelchair access, signer etc) please contact Alex Dunwoody on 020 8246 5208 or email alex.dunwoody@unitedresponse.org.uk.

If you are unable to attend but would like to hear the service, you can do so by telephone. Please contact Community Connect on 0845 619 992 as soon as possible and they will send you a programme and provide you with details of how you can take part in the service from the comfort of your own home.

Ends

For more information, please contact Sarah Bartlett or Jaime Gill in the United Response Press Office on 020 8246 5237/ 020 8246 5122 or email sarah.bartlett@unitedresponse.org.uk or jaime.gill@unitedresponse.org.uk

At a time when people with disabilities are facing so many urgent challenges – changes to the benefits system and rising unemployment, for example – the issue of online accessibility could be seen as a bit of a “luxury problem”, but it is far more important than that. People who have Internet access benefit in crucial ways, whether through access to information, improved social contacts, reduced household bills or cheaper ways to shop. If you are disabled, and already more likely to suffer from poverty and isolation, online exclusion makes the problem much greater.

Communications Minister Ed Vaizey is surely right when he says that “The Internet has changed the world but too many people are excluded from the digital revolution”, and it is time to tackle this problem.

The eAccessibility Forum website is certainly a start. At this early stage, it is still a little on the dry side, although it’s understandable that the Government would want to focus on areas such as laws and regulations around accessibility, and how the Government and industry can more effectively inform people about accessibility.  However, when people feed back on their own experiences, we’re likely to see more dynamic examples of which tools are helpful online and which are not, and the real impact of online exclusion on people’s lives. Hopefully, we’ll also see some really simple but effective ideas for breaking down some of the online barriers.

The website itself has made some obvious efforts to make itself accessible, such as an online video introduction from Ed Vaizey (we’ve been promoting the idea of politicians using video online since our Making Democracy Accessible campaign), different colour options, changeable fonts and the use of the versatile, screen-reader-friendly Wordpress platform. However, the language is still overly technical, and “easy read” translations should be added if people with learning disabilities are going to be able to feed their own thoughts into the process.

But picking on the details seems churlish at this stage, particularly as it makes clear that it is seeking feedback on how it should make itself more accessible in the future. The Government deserves congratulations for recognising the real problem of online exclusion, although the highest compliment would be to accept its invitation, and get online and tell them how they can do even better. Spread the online word.

Jaime Gill, head of press and public affairs.

Designed by people we support and with all proceeds going to our charity, they are perfect to send to friends, family, work colleagues and long forgotten relatives (what better time to contact your third cousin once removed?)

Our cards are priced at £3.50 for 10 cards and are available in the 6 different seasonal designs below.

If you would like to purchase our Christmas cards then contact me at mark.schueler@unitedresponse.org.uk or 0208 246 5202.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Mark Schueler, Fundraising Officer

On 8th September 2011 Joanne took to the Stratosphere, the tallest building in Las Vegas, where she SkyJumped a whopping 855 feet to raise money for United Response!

SkyJump Las Vegas – a controlled descent, bungee jumping-like ride – holds the Guinness World Record for ‘highest commercial decelerator descent’.

“I really enjoyed it, it was absolutely terrifying at the time, especially as it was a small platform that I had to walk across and then step off,” said Joanne. “But I jumped at night and Las Vegas was all lit up, so it was really beautiful.”

Joanne is raising money, specifically, for an equality and diversity workshop United Response runs for people we support with learning and physical disabilities in West Hallam.

Each week the workshop focuses on different countries from across the world and aims to stimulate the people we support’s senses, providing them with an opportunity to experience other cultures they would not normally have access to.

For example, one week the workshop focused on the country of India. The people we support at the workshop could listen and dance to Indian music, taste and smell Indian food, touch different Indian clothes and fabrics and watch films about the country.

It is held in a local community centre room which is hired on a weekly basis. However, Joanne’s service can no longer afford the hire costs, which means the workshop is under threat.

Therefore, if you would like to donate to keep the equality and diversity workshop going, please visit Joanne’s Virgin Money Giving Page.

Thank you very much for your support.

 Natalie Millbank, fundraising assistant.