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

Queen's Speech response: Welfare reform must deliver for disabled people

We welcome legislation on welfare reform, announced in today's Queen's Speech, as an opportunity to debate employment opportunities for disabled people, but we are also concerned at the impact of penalties on those unable to access work.

Speaking about the Government's plans, Chief Executive of United Response, Su Sayer OBE, said:

"We support the Government’s objective of helping disabled people and those with mental health problems into work. Having a job is an important source of independence, self esteem and social inclusion for everyone, and is particularly important for many people with learning disabilities or mental health needs. However, employment rates for these groups remains low and as competition for jobs increases those furthest from the labour market will undoubtedly be the first to lose out, unless we take action.

"Much has been done to increase support for disabled people wishing to enter in to employment, such as the doubling of the Access to Work budget. But as take up of the scheme remains low, we believe that the Government must do more to increase awareness of such schemes in order for them to have a real impact on employment opportunities.

Read the full press release about our comments on the legislation on welfare reform on our website

European Social Fund backs employment for people with learning disabilities in Cornwall

We have been selected as a key partner in a new project to support people with learning disabilities in Cornwall into employment.

The project is "Cornwall Works for Learning Disability" and is funded by the European Social Fund. The other key partners are Cornwall People First (a local advocacy group), Cornwall County Council's department of social care and service providers Brandon Trust and Home Farm Trust.

Debbie Crowther has been named as United Response's business development manager, responsible for spearheading the project. She has a wealth of experience working with people with learning disabilities, including facilitating Cornwall's Learning Disability Partnership Board.

"We hope this project will prove the real positive impact employment has for people with learning disabilities, and how to bring that about with intelligent, targeted investment," Debbie said.

"I'm very excited about getting on with the job of finding the excellent potential employees we know are in Cornwall, as well as benefiting from genuine partnership with so many excellent organisations."

United Response was selected as a partner as a result of the excellent results its supported employment schemes have achieved across England.

Read the full press release on our website

Making Money Easier launches!

United Response has made a new guide to help people with learning disabilities live independently.

It's called Your Money, Your Home and tells people some of the things they need to know about living in their own house or flat. And how to manage the things they need to pay for.

To find out more you can visit the Your Money, Your Home website

We would like to say a big thank you to HSBC and the Now Let's Talk Money Campaign for funding Your Money, Your Home.

The website is part of a bigger resource called Making Money Easier.

The Making Money Easier resource was produced by ARC and United Response. There is a set of printed booklets and a website produced by ARC. The website is at www.making-money-easier.info

You can find out more background about the resources on our website.

United Response awarded Good Relations grant

We have 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 we 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.

Read the press release about this project on our website

People with learning disabilities help to celebrate Liverpool as 2008 European City of Culture

Here is a press release we put on our website today about people with learning disabilities helping celebrate Liverpool as the European City of Culture:

A group of people with learning disabilities supported by United Response's Oakfield Day Service have put on their dancing shoes to help celebrate Liverpool as the 2008 European City of Culture.

United Response was one of ten community organisations asked to take part in the dance event, which was organised by Liverpool's Empire Theatre.

The build up to the event was intense with eight people supported by United Response attending five workshops with the theatre company throughout June, before starring in the final performance last month.

Anthony Kennedy who took part said: “I enjoyed the acting & dancing it made me feel good and made my family proud.”

Eileen Molloy also took part. She said: “I liked the sound effects, the music and lighting, it was exciting to dance too, it gave me so much confidence to go out in front of an audience”.

Two members of United Response staff also starred in the event. Senior Support Worker, Diane O Leary, said: “We all grew in confidence as the performance went on and the group worked hard for each other, supported each other, and wanted to do it all again!”

Service Manager, Veronica Astor, heads up United Response’s work at the Oakfield Day Service. She said: "We were really pleased to be asked to take part in the dance event. It was a lot of fun and it was great to be able to play our part in the city's celebrations.

"It was also a great opportunity for people to show off their talent. Over the years we have built up strong links with several local groups, making it possible for the people we support to take part in a number of arts projects from creating their own animations to making films about local history. Last year was the tenth anniversary of the Oakfield Service and with the help of the WEA some of the people supported by United Response made a stunning mosaic to celebrate the event.

"These projects and the dance event show just what can be achieved when the community works together to create opportunities for people with learning disabilities."

United Response works with people with learning disabilities throughout the Liverpool area. Working in partnership with other organisations, we provide people with everything from 24 hour care to supporting them to find work and play active role in the community. To find out more about the organisation, and the work they do locally, contact Alexandra Badwi or Mike Crawford on (0151) 4873605.

Boundless - Connecting Artists exhibition

Three artists who are supported by United Response will have their work shown at a London Gallery this summer.

Boundless - Connecting Artists is a exhibition of work from 25 inspiring artists.

Some of the artists have learning disabilities, learning difficulties, mental health needs, or conditions such as Aspergers Syndrome and dyslexia.

The exhibition hopes to introduce the work of these artists at the exhibition which will feature photography, abstract and figurative painting, drawing, digital art and cartoons.

Four leading learning disability organisations are backing Boundless - Connecting Artists (Choice Support, United Response, Regard Partnership and the Skillnet Group). The aim of the event is to celebrate the work of the artists taking part and to show that disability does not get in the way of talent.

The exhibition takes place at the prestigious Bankside Gallery in London from 21st July to 27th July 2008.

Channel 4 News report about people with learning disabilities excluded online

Today, we were pleased when Channel 4 news ran a story on its 12 o'clock programme about how people with learning disabilities are often excluded from accessing goods, services and even jobs online. We’d been involved in preparing the report so it was good to see some strong messages incorporated.

The report showed some of the assistive technology some people with learning disabilities used with The Rix Centre. Ultimately, the report made it clear that many people are literally excluded. Some people with learning disabilities were interviewed in order to back this up.

The report went on to say that some things that are really easy such as easy read options or simple technical changes are "often not even considered by government or businesses." The website provides a link to our website too which is good.

Go to the television news piece and online article.

United Response's Employment Summit - limited places still available

There are still some places left for our Employment Summit on 15th May, in London starting from 8.00am onwards.

Part of the event will see the launch of our Supported Employment Policy Report.

The event will focus on the fact that despite the fact that two thirds of people with learning disabilities want to work, less than one in five are given the opportunity. It will explore the barriers people with learning disabilities face in finding employment and ways to support them.

Phil Hope, minister for the third sector, and Susan Scott Parker, chief executive of the Employer's Forum On Disability, will be among the senior spokespeople from the public and private sector, while employers and employees will be sharing their real life experiences. The event is sponsored by Unum.

For a place, please contact Laura.Golland@unitedresponse.org.uk direct.

United Response on BBC !

United Response was featured on BBC Breakfast News this morning and Radio 4's You and Yours this lunchtime.

Both times, the story was about telesupport or telecare as it is also known. This is a system which uses an integrated telephone/video system so that people can connect with other people.

This means that some people can get some care talking into the phone and seeing the person they are talking to. It can be really helpful for people who are living on their own but need support with some daily tasks. It can also put the user in control of when they recieve that support.

We have piloted using telesupport in some of our services and it has worked really well. We are looking for funding to do more.

To read the BBC News story online go to their website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7213684.stm

To listen to the You and Yours piece, go to the listen again section of their website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/progs/listenagain.shtml#y

To find out more about what we are doing, and for Sharon and Emma's story, go to our website at: http://www.unitedresponse.org.uk/press

CSCI report

CSCI (Commission for Social Care) has written a report about the state of social care.

Our Chief Executive, Su Sayer, has said this in response:

"An evaluation of our social care system and its capacity to meet the needs of those with learning disabilities and others is long overdue. Therefore, we welcome today's CSCI report and the Government's announcement that it will be undertaking its own review of provision.

"Anyone who works in social care is aware of the demographic pressures central Government and local authorities are facing, with a rapidly ageing population and reduced availability of informal care. Those of us providing services are realistic about financial costs and aware of our responsibility to ensure best value for money. One way of achieving this may be more flexible and cost effective approaches to support, such as greater use of Supported Living as an alternative to residential care and the use of new technology alongside traditional methods. Indeed, people with learning disabilities are demanding these changes themselves, as they seek more independence.

"We have come a long way over the last 30 years. People with learning disabilities not only have a right to expect an adequate level of support and care, but are gaining confidence in demanding that right. As a society we cannot allow funding to be cut back to only "critical" services. If we do, the clock will be wound back and people will lose the independence they fought so hard to gain."

Association for Supported Living announces new chair

Bob Tindall, Managing Director of United Response has been announced as the Association for Supported Living's (ASL) new chair.

He said “It’s essential we maintain momentum in delivering an improved quality of supported living for people who choose it as part of their preferred lifestyle,” said Bob. “There are a lot of challenges ahead, with many new policies being introduced and implemented under Gordon Brown, so all our members have to work together to make sure the Government hears our hopes and concerns clearly from the beginning. If we do that, then we’ll make supported living not just better but easier to access, something of vital importance to the 14,000 people with learning disabilities supported by our members.”

The ASL is a member of the Department of Health’s Learning Disability Task Force and the joint Healthcare Commission/ Commission for Social Care Inspection’s Learning Disability Improvement Board. It holds an annual conference and other member consultative events.

Sensory Gardens appeal and Competition

We have launched an appeal to help us to raise funds to build sensory gardens

The appeal is backed by a range of celebrities including Kim Wilde, Anne-Marie Powell and actor George Baker

Many of the people supported by United Response have spent a large part of their lives living in big institutions, with little or no stimulation. Sensory gardens allow them to interact and engage with their environment through sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. This can transform their quality of life.

We are asking people to donate to help us build these gardens around the country.

You can help by going to http://www.unitedresponse.org.uk/appeal

There are also details of a competition to find the most imaginative garden with a great prize. Enter yours or one you know now!

Telesupport

Pioneering twenty first century social care: United Response trials telesupport as a possible means of meeting future social care demands.

We are the first charity pioneering a new integrated telephone/video system as a means of supporting people with learning disabilities or mental health needs. It’s called telesupport.

We released this information to the press :

By 2050, it's predicted that four times as many people will need social care as today*, which will result in a major resourcing crisis for the care sector.

That's why United Response is the first charity pioneering a new integrated telephone/video system as a means of supporting people with learning disabilities or mental health needs. It’s called telesupport.

The project embraces cutting edge technology – a stand-alone unit incorporating broadband-enabled telephone, videoscreen and camera – to pilot a flexible, 24 hour form of support. Telesupport will complement face to face provision, offering a service which is available as and when people need it, with support workers, friends and peers just the touch of a button away. Additionally, by reducing some unnecessary home visits, overall costs will be reduced.

United Response’s partner in the project is Aupix, leading UK experts in the delivery of new solutions incorporating IP and video technology. Aupix have created a unique, tailored solution for the telesupport project which ensures it is fully user friendly for people with learning disabilities or mental health needs.

United Response has already run two workshops involving the technology to test the outline concept. Feedback from people with learning disabilities or mental health needs was overwhelmingly positive, with users finding the devices easy to use and believing they would be both reassuring and highly practical.

As a result, United Response is funding a limited trial, with 5 people with learning disabilities and 3 people with mental health needs using the technology. 7 residences have had the technology installed, so that the effectiveness of the service can be thoroughly tested and evaluated against a benchmark of current provision.

Initial findings show that, in addition to the flexibility of the service, telesupport could provide additional benefits including visual support for those who find verbal communication challenging and also assist with specific mental health conditions – helping people with schizophrenia to manage their "voices" for example, in a way that just isn’t possible with an ordinary telephone.

Although telesupport must never replace essential face to face support, it is likely to be a highly valuable additional technique as part of an overall "care menu". It is very flexible, so can fit around the schedule of the person requiring support, and their own preferences regarding privacy. Initial feedback has also shown that it could provide an excellent channel for peer to peer communications and support, as well as family contact.

Su Sayer, chief executive of United Response, said, "We’ve always tried to pioneer the best ways of supporting people, from the early days of care in the community, and telesupport seems a logical step forward. We believe we are the first organisation to use this technology to create an improved, more accessible and flexible service, and our initial findings show it has a major potential value to people, although it must never replace face to face support."

John Dixon, director of adult services in West Sussex, said, "We are keen to explore anything which can provide an improved but cost effective new way of providing care and support. From United Response’s initial research, it’s clear that telesupport is welcomed by the people who are using it, and has unexpected benefits, particularly in how flexible it can be around individual lifestyles. We look forward to further findings and hopefully seeing telesupport improve the lives of people with learning disabilities or mental health needs in West Sussex and beyond."

Anne Davey, a United Response service manager who has begun using telesupport with three people she works with, said, "It’s a really exciting project and we’re all looking forward to seeing how it can help us. It’s already had one benefit for me, personally. One person I work with often needs a little support out of hours. Because he has a speech difficulty, it’s not always easy to understand what he needs from me, so I have to make a face to face visit just in case. Through telesupport he finds it far easier to communicate, partly through using gestures, so I am able to support him without always having to disrupt his day."

United Response is now seeking funding for a fuller pilot programme and rollout later this year.

* Source: Speech by Stephen Ladyman MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Community, 24 February 2005. "Today we spend over £12bn on providing social care and by 2050 there will be four times as many people needing that care and their needs will be more intensive. More physically disabled people and more people with learning disabilities are now living into old age. A bigger proportion of older people will have mental health problems such as dementia and the fastest growing cohort of people now is older people over the age of 100! But if four times as many people will need care we can be sure of this: we cannot afford to quadruple the cost of care and we certainly cannot quadruple the number of people delivering care."