What United Response is doing to tackle the cuts – and how you can help.
We know that many of the people we support, as well as their friends and families, are worried that the huge spending cuts facing most local authorities may result in them losing out on support. Many want to know what United Response is doing to try to ensure that such cuts do not fall disproportionately on people with disabilities, and what they can do themselves.
As an organisation, we are working closely with local authorities across the country to try and negotiate the best possible deal for the people we support. We are also working to secure the long term future of support for people with disabilities, by providing evidence to the Commission on Social Care Funding. We are also inviting MPs to meet the people we work with and see just how important support is to them.
More publicly, we have also spoken out in national newspapers and on our website on the long term impact cuts could have on people with disabilities. We have firmly and publicly opposed the unfair removal of the DLA mobility component. We are also a member of the Learning Disability Coalition, who have spearheaded a vigorous “Protect The Frontline” campaign, contacting MPs and local newspapers across the country.
If you would like to do more as an individual, then there are many opportunities to do so. The Learning Disability Coalition website offer a number of ways to take action and get your voice heard. Another opportunity to have your say will be at Mencap’s Big Cuts events, which are running over the next three months and bringing together people from across the learning disability community to discuss the cuts in their local area. You can find out more and register on the Big Cuts event webpage.
If you do decide to contact your MP, councillor or local newspaper and you get a response, then we’d love to know. This helps us to work out who we might be able to work with in the future. Please contact jaime.gill@unitedresponse.org.uk
