Press Release
27th October 2008
United Response awarded Good Relations grant
United Response has received a grant of £39,326 from the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to help build relationships between people with learning disabilities and the wider community.
Allocated through the EHRC's Promoting Good Relations programme the grant will fund a year long project aimed primarily at employers and employees.
Through the project United Response will provide bespoke awareness training to help reduce the discrimination and barriers to work experienced by people with learning disabilities.
The training will be delivered by UR Consultants, a Manchester based social enterprise run by United Response and staffed by people with learning disabilities.
Ali Bishop, who will be heading up the project said: "When asked, many people with learning disabilities say that isolation and loneliness are their real disabilities.
"Having a job can draw people into their community, help them develop friendships and build confidence. However, discrimination and a lack of awareness often make it difficult for people to find work.
"Through training delivered directly by people with learning disabilities we hope to challenge misconceptions and create a better understanding of the needs and abilities of people with learning disabilities."
To find out more about the project contact Venetia Simonds on 020 8246 5205 or email venetia.simonds@unitedresponse.org.uk
Ends
For more information, please contact Sarah Bartlett or Jaime Gill in the United Response Press Office on020 8246 5237 or 020 8246 5122 or emailsarah.bartlett@unitedresponse.org.uk or jaime.gill@unitedresponse.org.uk
Notes to editors:
United Response is a national charity that works with people with learning disabilities or mental health needs - including some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
We provide everything from 24 hour care to a few hours of support a week. United Response is community based, working in many localities across England and Wales.
Our mission is to support people with learning disabilities or mental health needs to take control of their lives. We design our care and support around each person and work with them to achieve real inclusion, independence and citizenship for all. We support people across the whole spectrum of learning disability and mental health and have developed a range of specialisms in working with people with the most complex needs, particularly person-centred active support.
We are working towards a society where people with learning disabilities or mental health needs are equal participants and have access to the same rights and opportunities as everyone else.
We have won several awards for our pioneering work and for being a top employer. In 2007 alone, we were highly commended by the Charity Awards for our 'Good To Great' approach to providing support, while the Charity Times named us one of the best six charities to work for in the UK. We are experts in the development of accessible communications.
United Response was founded in 1973 by chief executive Su Sayer. We are a top 100 charity, supporting more than 1,500 people throughout the UK at any one time and employing more than 2,000 staff.