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

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

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

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.

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.