Let's Talk About Money

10:30-15:00, Friday 7^th April

Lecture Theatre 3, Geoffrey Manton building, Manchester Metropolitan University

On 7th April, MetroPolis, Manchester Met’s new research-led think tank, and Learning Disability England will be bringing together self-advocates, family members and organisations to think and talk about money.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities says that governments should make sure that disabled citizens have enough money to access healthcare, homes and jobs, allowing them to be full members of their communities.

In 2009, the UK government signed up to this Convention. Their “ambition is to remove barriers to create opportunities for disabled people to fulfil their potential and be fully participating members of society.”[1]

After meeting over 200 individuals, MPs, activists and academics in October 2015, the United Nations inquiry team reported that the Austerity measures brought in by the Coalition Government had violated the human rights of disabled people within the UK[2].

“It's important for us to talk about money and people with learning disabilities because money is what you need to have a stable life. Money makes the world go round. I hope that people will join us on 7th April and together we can start to make change for the better.”

- Gary Bourlet, Co-Founder of Learning Disability England, and speaker at the event.

Other speakers include:

Neil Crowther, independent expert on equality and human rights with a particular interest in working to secure the rights of disabled people. Neil provides bespoke services to a wide range of clients in the UK and internationally.

Professor Katherine Runswick-Cole, Professor of Critical Disability Studies & Psychology. Katherine’s research has focused on the lives of disabled children, young people, their families and allies, and more recently her work has focused on the lives of people labelled with learning disabilities in a time of austerity.

This event will discuss what the report said and find out what the experiences of people with learning disabilities are.

 The event will also address:

• Whether there is enough money for people to live good lives in their communities and to take part as equal citizens.
• And whether LDE’s members with learning disabilities are having funding cut to for the help they need, including benefits, housing and speaking up.

The event will be used to create a response to the UK government, on the UN report, and their reaction to this.

This event is for self-advocates and people from organisations, with half the spaces reserved for people with learning disabilities and family members.

To book a place, please e-mail Mariana Ortiz (mariana.ortiz@LDEngland.org.uk).

Should you have any other questions regarding the event, please do not hesitate to contact mcrmetropolis@mmu.ac.uk.

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[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/345120/uk-initial-report.pdf

[2] https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/nov/07/uk-austerity-policies-amount-to-violations-of-disable

We haven't learned from the past: Gary Bourlet on #UnderLockAndKey

LDE Co-Founder Gary Bourlet

Last night there was a programme on Channel 4 about St Andrews Hospital. It's called Under Lock And Key.

If you haven't seen it you can watch it here. It's awful to watch, but very important to watch. 

Here, Learning Disability England's Co-Founder Gary Bourlet shares his thoughts on places like St Andrews.

________

Institutions like St Andrews are inhumane, socially unacceptable and show the lack of respect there is for people with learning disabilities. These places are like prisons. People with learning disabilities are being sent to them not because they’ve committed a crime, but because of their disability. They’re hidden away from the public like in the 19^th and 20^th centuries. They are robbed of their choice and their power.

In hospitals like St Andrews, your entire life is limited. You’re told what you can and can’t do. You’re told where to live, you don’t control your own money, you’re not allowed to take risks. Risks are important and people with learning disabilities should be supported to take them like anyone else.

The effect of being in places like St Andrews is damaging. It doesn’t just affect people with learning disabilities – it affects their families and the people around them. They’ve been punished as well.

We haven’t learned from the past – we’ve known for ages that institutions have cut people off from their families, they’ve been places of abuse and have left people with learning disabilities living in fear. Institutions should have been shut down by now, especially when you’ve had self-advocates like Mabel Cooper campaigning for a long time, talking about their experiences of what these places are like.

The fact that places like St Andrews have not been shut down shows that somebody’s not listening. Nobody’s listening. The fact that these places still exist shows that the medical profession still thinks that they know best. Professionals and politicians think that institutions like St Andrews are the cheaper option, but they aren’t. They cost a fortune and it’s money badly spent.

I’m inspired by Mabel Cooper, who has talked about her experiences of an institution and was the person who got to press the button to demolish it. We need to do this for all institutions. They need to go.

Instead of locking people up we need to provide care for people with learning disabilities in the community. We need to make sure that people have got the services they need where they are, so they don’t have to be moved. People with learning disabilities should have choices. They should be able to choose where to live and who to live with. They shouldn’t be segregated from the rest of the community. For people without learning disabilities who haven’t been in institutions, it seems obvious that relationships are an important part of their lives. So why are people with learning disabilities not supported to build friendships and relationships? Institutions cut you off from other people.

It’s not good enough to close the hospitals down and pretend they never happened. We need to be witnesses to what happened in these places. We also need to make sure that people have the support they need when they leave hospitals, including emotional support. They should have counselling to help them heal from their horrific experiences.

There needs to be memorials for people who have died in these places. There should be a museum about the horrific times that people have had so it’s not forgotten about. 

By Gary Bourlet

Under Lock and Key: Dispatches - Statement from Learning Disability England

Learning Disability England is appalled at the conditions at St Andrews Hospital that were shown in the Dispatches documentary Under Lock and Key, but sadly not surprised.  Our thoughts are with the people and families who have suffered and continue to suffer because of the poor care at St Andrews Hospital.

We don’t believe that institutions like St Andrews should be operating as part of a modern health and social care system for people with learning disabilities and have long been advocating the development of good housing and support in people’s communities.

We ask NHS England to urgently review all patients that they fund at St Andrews with the aim of moving them to alternative services as quickly as possible. 

We ask the Care Quality Commission to carry out an urgent review of their hospital inspection system for learning disability hospitals and ensure that those currently receiving services at St Andrews Hospital are safe.

We want to see the government carry out a full review of how St Andrews Hospital has been able to continue to operate despite government and NHS England commitment and investment into community services.  The findings of such a review should be published in full. 

We want a review of all Learning Disability provision in places like St Andrews.  This is what happened following the dreadful abuse at Winterbourne View when 150 places were inspected. We want to know what has changed since then and what impact the Transforming Care agenda has had in terms of ensuring that people are supported appropriately in the community.

Gary Bourlet, Co-Founder of LDE says:

“Institutions like St Andrews are inhumane, socially unacceptable and show the lack of respect there is for people with learning disabilities. These places are like prisons. People with learning disabilities are being sent to them not because they’ve committed a crime, but because of their disability. They’re hidden away from the public like in the 19^th and 20^th centuries. They are robbed of their choice and their power. The effect of being in places like St Andrews is damaging. It doesn’t just affect people with learning disabilities – it affects their families and the people around them. They’ve been punished as well.

The fact that places like St Andrews have not been shut down shows that somebody’s not listening. Nobody’s listening. The fact that these places still exist shows that the medical profession still thinks that they know best.”

Sheila Moorcroft, a member of LDE’s steering group and a parent of a young man with a learning disability says:

“As the parent of a young man with autism and moderate learning difficulties, my heart goes out to any family whose child is ‘consigned’, (and that feels like the appropriate word), to such an institution. Many people with autism and learning difficulties successfully lead active lives in the community.  Yes, they need a lot of care and support; yes, it costs money. But as with so many of the debates about the NHS, money and inappropriate use of beds, I would lay odds on good care in the community being far cheaper, not to mention far better for the person, in the long run. I would simply ask: would those commissioners who send these vulnerable adults to such a place, to be treated like that, be willing to send their own family member?  If the answer is no, then no one else should have to endure it either.  If the answer is yes, I am worried for all of us.”

Peter Kinsey, CEO of CMG says:

“There is a great deal of expertise within organisations that provide community support and the vast majority of people in hospitals can live successfully in their communities with the right support.”

Alicia Wood, CEO of LDE says:

“We have had recent concerns about the services at St Andrews Hospital for people with learning disabilities and have offered to gather members with expertise to speak with the St Andrews management team and board about the problems we have seen and heard from our members. They declined our offer of advice and support. This demonstrates an organisation that is in no way ready to reflect on what they do and operate transparently, let alone provide effective assessment and treatment to people who are in crisis. Spending vast amounts of public money on poor services where people who need help are abused and neglected is shameful.”

Support for people concerned following the screening of 'Under Lock and Key'

Respond is one of Learning Disability England’s members.  They work with children and adults with learning disabilities who have experienced abuse or trauma, as well as those who have abused others. The Respond support line is open 10.00am to 4.00pm on Thursdays during March.  Outside of these times, please see this document from LDE member the Challenging Behaviour Foundation. 

LDE is recruiting in Canterbury!

EDIT: the deadline for applications has now passed. Thanks to all those who applied! 

We're excited to announce that LDE is recruiting in Canterbury, Kent. 

Learning Disability England is looking for an organized, proactive and friendly Personal Assistant to support our Co-Founder in his unique and exciting role. You will be joining a small and supportive team in a new and rapidly growing charity. The successful candidate for this role will have a keen interest in social justice and human rights, and a willingness to learn about the issues affecting people with learning disabilities.

Learning Disability England is a membership organization and charity that brings together people with learning disabilities, family members, friends and professionals to create a strong, loud voice on the things that matter. LDE’s Co-Founder is a self-advocate with a learning disability who has been fighting for the rights of people with learning disabilities for over 30 years.

The key duties of the Personal Assistant to LDE’s Co-Founder include:

• To support the Co-Founder with his day-to-day tasks. 
• Drafting communications including newsletters, blogs and articles for a range of publications from LDE’s own blog to national news outlets.
• Design and implement systems which support the day-to-day duties of the Co-Founder.

The position is based in a relaxed and modern collaborative working space in Canterbury.

To apply for this position please email mariana.ortiz@LDEngland.org.uk to request an application pack. 

Interviews will be held in the week commencing 20^th March.

Hours: Annualised hours are 936 per year, to be worked flexibly but usually falling Tues-Thurs (18 hours a week).

Salary: £8.25 per hour (£16,087 pro-rata of full-time equivalent)

Closing Date: 5pm, 15^th March 2017