We have been awarded funding to head up two Timebanking schemes in Manchester and Liverpool, bringing together disabled and non-disabled volunteers to share their time and skills on an equal footing.
We have received £24,000 in funding from Trafford Council's Innovation Fund and £19,000 from the Liverpool Making it Happen Partnership Board to set up and run the volunteering schemes, which are based on the principle of people 'depositing' time to help others and receiving help back in return.
After volunteering one hour of their time to help someone else in the Timebank, each person receives one credit, which they can then trade in when they need something done for themselves at a future date.
Read the full press release about the timebanking schemes on our website
Thursday 15 October 2009
Monday 12 October 2009
Making Democracy Accessible
Here is an excerpt from our press release about Making Democracy Accessible:
With a general election imminent, the national learning disability charity, United Response, is launching a set of guides – Making Democracy Accessible - to help politicians, party workers and public officials communicate more effectively with the thousands of people with learning disabilities, who are currently not using their vote.
People with learning disabilities have the same right to vote as everyone else, yet at present many of the 1 million adults with learning disabilities in England are not voting. Research carried out by United Response among the people it supports, shows that while 80% are registered to vote, only 16% voted in the 2005 General Election, compared with a national turnout of 61%.
Read the full press release on our website
Read more about the project on our website
Politicians must make democracy more accessible, says learning disability charity, United Response
With a general election imminent, the national learning disability charity, United Response, is launching a set of guides – Making Democracy Accessible - to help politicians, party workers and public officials communicate more effectively with the thousands of people with learning disabilities, who are currently not using their vote.
People with learning disabilities have the same right to vote as everyone else, yet at present many of the 1 million adults with learning disabilities in England are not voting. Research carried out by United Response among the people it supports, shows that while 80% are registered to vote, only 16% voted in the 2005 General Election, compared with a national turnout of 61%.
Read the full press release on our website
Read more about the project on our website
Monday 5 October 2009
Santa 5K!
It's never too early to start thinking about Christmas!
Why not enter the 5K Santa Race on 6th December in Greenwich Park, London? Get dressed up, have fun and raise money for United Response!
For more information and to sign up, visit http://www.unitedresponse.org.uk/support-us/santa-5k.htm or call us on 020 8268 5200.
Why not enter the 5K Santa Race on 6th December in Greenwich Park, London? Get dressed up, have fun and raise money for United Response!
For more information and to sign up, visit http://www.unitedresponse.org.uk/support-us/santa-5k.htm or call us on 020 8268 5200.
Friday 24 July 2009
Care for people with learning disabilities must not be overlooked
As members of the Learning Disability Coalition, we have written a joint letter to the Guardian, which has been published.
The letter is in response to the green paper on the future of social care funding, published last week, and calls for the specific needs of people with learning disabilities to be addressed as part of the green paper debate.
Read the letter to the Guardian on our website
Find out more about the Learning Disability Coalition
The letter is in response to the green paper on the future of social care funding, published last week, and calls for the specific needs of people with learning disabilities to be addressed as part of the green paper debate.
Read the letter to the Guardian on our website
Find out more about the Learning Disability Coalition
Response to the New Horizons consultation
Su Sayer, chief executive of United Response, says of the New Horizons consultation:
"New Horizons, the Department of Health’s new consultation on mental health, is a bold and positive step towards reform of mental health services in the UK. Its collaborative approach is particularly welcome: by involving people with mental health needs, the NHS and service providers from the start, the consultation is far more likely to lead to a successful new strategy that reflects and addresses the reality of living with mental health needs in the UK."
Read the response in full on our website
"New Horizons, the Department of Health’s new consultation on mental health, is a bold and positive step towards reform of mental health services in the UK. Its collaborative approach is particularly welcome: by involving people with mental health needs, the NHS and service providers from the start, the consultation is far more likely to lead to a successful new strategy that reflects and addresses the reality of living with mental health needs in the UK."
Read the response in full on our website
Wednesday 22 July 2009
Go on - take a challenge!
Have you ever wondered what it's like to take on a charity challenge? Ever thought it might be too much for you?
It be easier and more fun than you think. Jaime recently took the bike ride from London to Paris challenge for United Response, raising a massive £1,300!
He wrote a diary of his experiences. We're sure you'll want to sign up after you've read it! Read Jaime's diary on our website
And if cycling isn't your thing, why not sign up for the Royal Parks Half Marathon on October 11th? Find out more about the race on our website
It be easier and more fun than you think. Jaime recently took the bike ride from London to Paris challenge for United Response, raising a massive £1,300!
He wrote a diary of his experiences. We're sure you'll want to sign up after you've read it! Read Jaime's diary on our website
And if cycling isn't your thing, why not sign up for the Royal Parks Half Marathon on October 11th? Find out more about the race on our website
Monday 20 July 2009
Disabled people must not be overlooked in social care debate
Commenting on Shaping the Future of Care Together, Su Sayer, Chief Executive of United Response, said:
"There needs to be a proper public debate on the future of social care, which is why the publication of this green paper is so important. The demand for social care continues to rise, partly as a result of demographic changes and increasing life expectancy, and we need to work out as a society how to fund it in the years to come, a question made even more pressing by the current economic situation."
Read the full press release on our website
"There needs to be a proper public debate on the future of social care, which is why the publication of this green paper is so important. The demand for social care continues to rise, partly as a result of demographic changes and increasing life expectancy, and we need to work out as a society how to fund it in the years to come, a question made even more pressing by the current economic situation."
Read the full press release on our website
Tuesday 7 July 2009
Photography exhibition opens in London today!
A photography exhibition opens today at Bankside Gallery in London.
The exhibition is the result of a year long project, UR in the Picture. It examines photography as a creative medium through which people can express their feelings about living with mental illness: their hopes, their fears and their achievements.
The project was carried out in partnership with the photographic charity, PhotoVoice.
Details of the exhibition:
July 7th- 11th
Bankside Gallery, 48 Hopton Street, London, SE1 9JH
11.00am - 6.00pm
Free entry
The exhibition is the result of a year long project, UR in the Picture. It examines photography as a creative medium through which people can express their feelings about living with mental illness: their hopes, their fears and their achievements.
The project was carried out in partnership with the photographic charity, PhotoVoice.
Details of the exhibition:
July 7th- 11th
Bankside Gallery, 48 Hopton Street, London, SE1 9JH
11.00am - 6.00pm
Free entry
Wednesday 1 July 2009
Our charity golf day was a great success!
Thank you to everyone who attended our first ever charity golf day at Royal Wimbledon Golf Club on Thursday 18th June.
We raised nearly £15,000 from the day and think it was such a success, we are considering doing it again next year.
Please contact us if you are a golfer and would like to play or if your club hosts charity days and you think we should apply to be the benefitting charity next year!
Contact Kiera Ridge on 020 8246 5200 or email her at kiera.ridge@unitedresponse.org.uk
We raised nearly £15,000 from the day and think it was such a success, we are considering doing it again next year.
Please contact us if you are a golfer and would like to play or if your club hosts charity days and you think we should apply to be the benefitting charity next year!
Contact Kiera Ridge on 020 8246 5200 or email her at kiera.ridge@unitedresponse.org.uk
Thursday 25 June 2009
Response to the Learning Disability employment strategy: Valuing Employment Now
We have made a response to Valuing Employment Now:
We warmly welcome the publication of Valuing Employment Now, the cross-government learning disability employment strategy.
We particularly welcome the ambitious target of increasing employment levels to those of other disabled people by 2025, which implies an almost 5 fold increase in the proportion of people with a learning disability in work. We very much hope that this will be the start of much greater priority being given to employment across agencies working with people with learning disabilities.
From our experience of working with people with learning disabilities we know employment can make an enormous contribution to people's quality of life and social inclusion, as well as having financial benefits.
Read the full response on our website
We warmly welcome the publication of Valuing Employment Now, the cross-government learning disability employment strategy.
We particularly welcome the ambitious target of increasing employment levels to those of other disabled people by 2025, which implies an almost 5 fold increase in the proportion of people with a learning disability in work. We very much hope that this will be the start of much greater priority being given to employment across agencies working with people with learning disabilities.
From our experience of working with people with learning disabilities we know employment can make an enormous contribution to people's quality of life and social inclusion, as well as having financial benefits.
Read the full response on our website
Wednesday 3 June 2009
Every Vote Counts! in Community Care magazine
Every Vote Counts! - the project United Response has been working on to help people with learning disabilities engage with the democratic procress has been featured in Community Care magazine.
Read the article in full on Community Care's website
Read the article in full on Community Care's website
Thursday 14 May 2009
Every Vote Counts! website launched
With elections around the corner, we've launched the Every Vote Counts! website to make it easier for people with learning disabilities to use their vote and have their say.
The website, www.everyvotecounts.org.uk has been built in consultation with people with learning disabilities. It is part of the three year Every Vote Counts! campaign launched by us, and funded by the Electoral Commission. It is designed to open up the democratic process to the thousands of people with learning disabilities in England who are currently missing out on the opportunity to vote.
We hope the Every Vote Counts! website will make the democratic process more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Using pictures, easy to understand words and audio, the site provides information on how politics works, how it affects people's lives and how people can get involved and register their opinion.
It also includes a section where users can feedback on their own experiences of using the website, contributing to its ongoing development as well as the option to register to receive updates as new features are added. The site is continuing to be user tested with people with learning disabilities, so it can be as accessible to as many people as possible.
Read the full press release on our website
The website, www.everyvotecounts.org.uk has been built in consultation with people with learning disabilities. It is part of the three year Every Vote Counts! campaign launched by us, and funded by the Electoral Commission. It is designed to open up the democratic process to the thousands of people with learning disabilities in England who are currently missing out on the opportunity to vote.
We hope the Every Vote Counts! website will make the democratic process more accessible to people with learning disabilities. Using pictures, easy to understand words and audio, the site provides information on how politics works, how it affects people's lives and how people can get involved and register their opinion.
It also includes a section where users can feedback on their own experiences of using the website, contributing to its ongoing development as well as the option to register to receive updates as new features are added. The site is continuing to be user tested with people with learning disabilities, so it can be as accessible to as many people as possible.
Read the full press release on our website
Tuesday 21 April 2009
Calling all women! Run 5k for us!
We've got 10 places for the adidas Women's 5k Challenge 2009.
The race will take place on 6th September in London's Hyde Park. And we have 10 places to fill.
To take part, you just need to pay £15 to the race organiser (£5 of that comes to us). And then pledge to raise £150 sponsorship for United Response.
It couldn't be easier! Find out more about the race and how to apply for a place with us
The race will take place on 6th September in London's Hyde Park. And we have 10 places to fill.
To take part, you just need to pay £15 to the race organiser (£5 of that comes to us). And then pledge to raise £150 sponsorship for United Response.
It couldn't be easier! Find out more about the race and how to apply for a place with us
Wednesday 15 April 2009
What's it like to be a young person with a learning disability?
Two young people with learning disabilities are featured in today's Youth special supplement in The Guardian. They explain that having a learning disability does not stop them from having a girlfriend or holding down a part-time job.
You can read the full feature here
They are both supported by United Response.
You can read the full feature here
They are both supported by United Response.
Tuesday 14 April 2009
Letter in Community Care magazine
We have had a letter printed in Community Care magazine. The letter was a response to the recent healthcare reports.
You can read the letter in full on our website.
You can read the letter in full on our website.
Monday 6 April 2009
Run a half marathon for United Response!
If you fancy running a half marathon for United Response, we have a number of guaranteed places in the Royal Parks Half Marathon up for grabs.
Over 12,500 people will gather together on 11th October 2009 to take part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon. They will race through four Royal Parks, taking in fantastic views of Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Marble Arch and the Royal Albert Hall.
Find out more about the race and how to sign up on our website
Over 12,500 people will gather together on 11th October 2009 to take part in the Royal Parks Half Marathon. They will race through four Royal Parks, taking in fantastic views of Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Marble Arch and the Royal Albert Hall.
Find out more about the race and how to sign up on our website
Friday 3 April 2009
Motor racing champion gets set to raise funds for United Response
Crispian Besley, from Northamptonshire, is using his participation in historic motor racing as a novel way of raising funds and promoting awareness of the national learning disability charity United Response.
The charity has a special significance to Crispian as they provided support for his younger brother, Dominic, for the last 15 years.
Crispian said:
"Dominic was born with Down's Syndrome and sadly died earlier this year at the age of 48 but his years in United Response’s care were some of the happiest of his life."
"I want to use my passion for motor racing to tell others about United Response’s work and to make it possible for more people with learning disabilities to live life to the full."
Crispian, a winner of the Front engine class of the Historic Formula Junior Championship 2008, is asking people to pledge money based on the points that he scores in this year’s championship, with a prize for the donor who correctly guesses the points and his final position. Crispian won the Front Engined class last year and over the last 7 years has scored an average of 43 points.
To read more about Crispian’s fundraising efforts and support him, go to www.justgiving.com/crispianbesley
Read the full press release on our website
The charity has a special significance to Crispian as they provided support for his younger brother, Dominic, for the last 15 years.
Crispian said:
"Dominic was born with Down's Syndrome and sadly died earlier this year at the age of 48 but his years in United Response’s care were some of the happiest of his life."
"I want to use my passion for motor racing to tell others about United Response’s work and to make it possible for more people with learning disabilities to live life to the full."
Crispian, a winner of the Front engine class of the Historic Formula Junior Championship 2008, is asking people to pledge money based on the points that he scores in this year’s championship, with a prize for the donor who correctly guesses the points and his final position. Crispian won the Front Engined class last year and over the last 7 years has scored an average of 43 points.
To read more about Crispian’s fundraising efforts and support him, go to www.justgiving.com/crispianbesley
Read the full press release on our website
Tuesday 17 March 2009
The Perfect Start: New service opens doors for local people with learning disabilities
In partnership with the London Borough of Hillingdon, we have recently launched a unique new skills centre for people with learning disabilities in Uxbridge Town Centre.
The centre offers local people with learning disabilities the opportunity to develop the life skills and experience they need to move towards greater independence and employment.
United Response's Chief Executive, Su Sayer said:
"People with learning disabilities often feel isolated and disconnected from the community around them. Perfect Start is all about rebuilding these links.
"Perfect Start's central location is key to this. It means that there are plenty of opportunities, right on the doorstep, for people to use the new skills they are learning and to play a greater role in the life of the local area."
Read more about the centre and its recent launch on our website
Wednesday 25 February 2009
Charity golf day with Steve Rider and Peter Alliss
Steve Rider has kindly agreed to host a Charity Golf Day in aid of United Response.
The golf event will take place on Thursday 18th June 2009 at Royal Wimbledon Golf Club.
A highlight of the day will be the after lunch appearance of Steve Rider's commentary colleague Peter Alliss who can offer a whole range of great stories and strong opinions from the world of golf.
Registration fee is £125 for a single entry and £500 team entry for four players. We will also have a beginners' swing clinic at the cost of £60.
Read more about this event on our website
Use this link to book online
The golf event will take place on Thursday 18th June 2009 at Royal Wimbledon Golf Club.
A highlight of the day will be the after lunch appearance of Steve Rider's commentary colleague Peter Alliss who can offer a whole range of great stories and strong opinions from the world of golf.
Registration fee is £125 for a single entry and £500 team entry for four players. We will also have a beginners' swing clinic at the cost of £60.
Read more about this event on our website
Use this link to book online
Tuesday 24 February 2009
New working with families section!
We have added a new working with familes section that has information on how United Response is committed to working with the families of the people we support. We aim to form a partnership that respects everyone's roles, skills and responsibilities.
This section new of our website tells you about how we work with families, our promises to you and more about our values.
It also contains our brand new magazine for families: In Touch. You can read it online or download a PDF.
Monday 23 February 2009
Braving the cold: Chris Browne runs 10th marathon for United Response
It may be one of the coldest winters in recent years, but that isn’t stopping Chris Browne, aged 53 from Epsom, who is already out pounding the streets, in training for his 10th marathon for the national disability charity, United Response.
Over the years, Chris has managed to raise a remarkable £18,000 for the charity and with his 2009 London Marathon attempt on 26th April, he hopes to raise even more.
Read the full press release and details on how to sponsor Chris
Over the years, Chris has managed to raise a remarkable £18,000 for the charity and with his 2009 London Marathon attempt on 26th April, he hopes to raise even more.
Read the full press release and details on how to sponsor Chris
Friday 20 February 2009
Animation film premiers at Liverpool’s Big Screen
An animation film made by some people with learning disabilities supported by United Response in Liverpool is being shown on the big screen.
Written, produced and performed by the group from Anfield, “From Oakfiends to Iron Men” is a time travelling adventure, which sees Dr Who taking on his archenemies the Daleks with the help of Crosby Beach’s ‘Iron Men’.
This seven minute animation - a collaboration between the disability charity, United Response and the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) - is being shown hourly at Clayton's Big Screen until 28th February.
Read the press release on our website for more information
Written, produced and performed by the group from Anfield, “From Oakfiends to Iron Men” is a time travelling adventure, which sees Dr Who taking on his archenemies the Daleks with the help of Crosby Beach’s ‘Iron Men’.
This seven minute animation - a collaboration between the disability charity, United Response and the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) - is being shown hourly at Clayton's Big Screen until 28th February.
Read the press release on our website for more information
Wednesday 11 February 2009
Winfield in Chatham is changing lives through IT training
Winfield is an IT training specialist for people with mental health needs, they combine flexibility and continuity to help people move on.
They opened their doors in Chatham three years ago offering their support to people who needed to gain new skills and rebuild their lives, with 75 people currently using the centre on a regular basis.
Winfield has achieved an exemplary pass rate of 85% and offers training across a range of industry standard software including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher and Internet Explorer.
Read the full press release on United Reponse's website to find out more.
They opened their doors in Chatham three years ago offering their support to people who needed to gain new skills and rebuild their lives, with 75 people currently using the centre on a regular basis.
Winfield has achieved an exemplary pass rate of 85% and offers training across a range of industry standard software including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Publisher and Internet Explorer.
Read the full press release on United Reponse's website to find out more.
Friday 30 January 2009
Every Vote Counts! pack launched
We have launched free multimedia tool to engage people with learning disabilities in the democratic process.
With European Parliamentary elections this June and a UK general election just around the corner, we have made a pack to make the democratic process more accessible to the thousands of people with learning disabilities in England.
The pack has been made as part of the three year project Every Vote Counts! which is funded by the Electoral Commission.
The CD and booklet helps people with learning disabilities and their support workers to engage more with politics. It covers everything from why politics is important, to how to support someone to lobby their MP or to join a local action group.
Research carried out by United Response, as part of the project, revealed that while 80% of people with learning disabilities supported by the charity are registered to vote, only 16% participated in the last general election. This compares with 61% turnout across the nation as a whole.
Read the full press release about the pack launch on United Response's website
Go to the Every Vote Counts! website to order your pack
With European Parliamentary elections this June and a UK general election just around the corner, we have made a pack to make the democratic process more accessible to the thousands of people with learning disabilities in England.
The pack has been made as part of the three year project Every Vote Counts! which is funded by the Electoral Commission.
The CD and booklet helps people with learning disabilities and their support workers to engage more with politics. It covers everything from why politics is important, to how to support someone to lobby their MP or to join a local action group.
Research carried out by United Response, as part of the project, revealed that while 80% of people with learning disabilities supported by the charity are registered to vote, only 16% participated in the last general election. This compares with 61% turnout across the nation as a whole.
Read the full press release about the pack launch on United Response's website
Go to the Every Vote Counts! website to order your pack
Tuesday 20 January 2009
Valuing People Now strategy published
The government has published its three year strategy Valuing People Now.
This sets out a strategy for people with learning disabilities following consultation.
We have commented on this on our website. Read our press release about Valuing People Now.
You can find the full strategy, an executive summary and an easy-read version on the Department of Health's website.
This sets out a strategy for people with learning disabilities following consultation.
We have commented on this on our website. Read our press release about Valuing People Now.
You can find the full strategy, an executive summary and an easy-read version on the Department of Health's website.
Monday 19 January 2009
Campaign for better funding - get involved!
United Response is a member of the Learning Disability Coalition, which is campaigning for better funding for social care for people with learning disabilities.
The Coalition is calling on MPs to sign its Early Day Motion (EDM). An EDM is essentially a petition that MPs can sign to ask the government to take action on an issue.
Go to the form on the Learning Disability Coalition's website to help you contact your MP and ask them to sign up.
The website also gives you the opportunity to sign the online petition to support the Learning Disablity Coalition's work.
The Coalition is calling on MPs to sign its Early Day Motion (EDM). An EDM is essentially a petition that MPs can sign to ask the government to take action on an issue.
Go to the form on the Learning Disability Coalition's website to help you contact your MP and ask them to sign up.
The website also gives you the opportunity to sign the online petition to support the Learning Disablity Coalition's work.
Tuesday 13 January 2009
London Recruitment day - calling support staff!
We are holding a recruitment day at our Putney offices in London on 11th February.
If you live in the London area and fancy working for us, come along to our recruitment day!
We have several senior support worker and support worker vacancies we are looking to fill.
All you need to do is to register online, answer some questions and then you could either qualify for an interview on the recruitment day or at a later stage.
Go to the page on our jobs site to register and find out more
You can find out more about working for United Response and some of the benefits you will receive on our own site. Go to the jobs home page on our site at www.unitedresponse.org.uk/jobs
If you live in the London area and fancy working for us, come along to our recruitment day!
We have several senior support worker and support worker vacancies we are looking to fill.
All you need to do is to register online, answer some questions and then you could either qualify for an interview on the recruitment day or at a later stage.
Go to the page on our jobs site to register and find out more
You can find out more about working for United Response and some of the benefits you will receive on our own site. Go to the jobs home page on our site at www.unitedresponse.org.uk/jobs
Monday 5 January 2009
Happy New Year! - fancy a challenge?
We've added another date to our Trek in Machu Picchu challenge event.
As well as the trek from 28th March - 6th April there is another trip planned for 18th-27th September. So there's plenty of time to fundraise!
Update: We've added another date to our London to Paris bike ride too!
The new dates are 1st-5th July. Enough time to really get that fitness campaign underway.
For details on both challenge events, go to the challenge events page on our website.
As well as the trek from 28th March - 6th April there is another trip planned for 18th-27th September. So there's plenty of time to fundraise!
Update: We've added another date to our London to Paris bike ride too!
The new dates are 1st-5th July. Enough time to really get that fitness campaign underway.
For details on both challenge events, go to the challenge events page on our website.
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