partners paper edition 03
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/11/2019 Partners Paper edition 03
1/12
A newspaper from Partners for Inclusion Group / Autumn 2014 / Edition 0
Weve started to describe ourselves
as the Partners for InclusionGroup because thats what we
are, a group made up of Partners,
Just Connections,DM2and our
new project, LinkingLives. Each
organisation within the group
has its own distinct focus and line
management structure.
At its outset Partners for Inclusion
aimed to support around 45 people.
There was concern that if the
organisation became larger than
that it might become remote from
the people it supports. However,limiting the number of people we
support brought a new problem.
As people and funders learned
about how we work in a very
personalised way, more were asking
if we could provide support. Many
of these requests came from people
who wanted a team recruited just for
them or their family member. They
liked the idea that each person ha
their own Individual Service Fund
(ISF), so they can make decisions
about what support they buy. Mo
of all they had heard good things
about Partners for Inclusion and
were desperate to get our supportas there were no other organisatio
doing the same thing locally.
To meet this need Just Connectio
was established. Originally it was
planned that Just Connections
would grow to become a separate
organisation. However, after time
it became clear that it made
more sense economically for Just
Connections to stay with Partners
Inclusion but keep its own identity
with its own management structu
DM2 support people in Ayrshire take control, develop a social circle
and sustain lasting friendships an
relationships by providing social
nights and events. DM2 was inspir
by a similar group in Glasgow
called dates-n-mates, with which
continues to have close
links.
Partners forInclusion GroupYou may have noticed on our website or heardpeople talking about Partners for Inclusion Grourather than just Partners for Inclusion.
MOVING ON,FOLLOWINGTHE STORY OF
SHEILA: PAGE 3
EVERYONEMATTERSCONFERENCE:
PAGES 6-7
MAKING ACONNECTION,PETE RICHMOND:
PAGE 9
IANS YEARIN PICTURES:PAGE 12
Partners forInclusionGroup
Our March 2014 conferencewas called Everyone Matters.
The broad range of attendees
and speakers helped it live up to its
name. The people we support played
major roles showing how truly
personalised support helps people
develop the lives they want at less
cost than more traditional models
of group care. Schools and localemployers helped demonstrate the
importance of making connections in
communities. Read more about the
conference on pages 6 and 7.>> P
Partners forInclusionGroup
-
8/11/2019 Partners Paper edition 03
2/12
Partners Paper |Autumn 2014 | Edition 03 2Partners forInclusionGroup
PublishingInformationThe Partners Paper is anewspaper produced and
distributed by Partners forInclusion Group, a not-for-prot organisation andregistered charity. Companylimited by guarantee Number262549. Scottish CharityNumber SCO35125.
Registered ocePartners for Inclusion GroupWest Kirk84 Portland StreetKilmarnockKA3 1AA
Production
Edit and text: Mark [email protected]
Design: Henry [email protected]
Print: Quotemeprintwww.quotemeprint.com
About the Partnersfor Inclusion Group
Partners for Inclusion Grouphas a long history of providingsupport for people who havea learning or mental healthdiculty or both especiallythose leaving institutions likehospitals and group homes.Partners for Inclusion Grouphas particular expertise insupporting people whosebehaviour challenges services.We provide tailor-madesupport so that people havetheir own home and controlover their life.
306 staf work
for Partners forInclusion Group232 support staf
42 team leaders
11 service leaders
2 senior service leaders
1 chief exec
3 directors
15 central team staf
Angels &Aeroplanes 2
With the success of the 2013Angels & Aeroplanes FashionShow, NeighbourhoodNetworks have received agrant to host a second Angels &Aeroplanes show in 2015.
If you want to be involved inthe next event contact:
Telephone: 0141 314 0027
Great photos and more infoabout last years show:
www.bit.ly/NN-angels-aeroplanes
ContentsPartners Paper. Edition 3,
Autumn 2014.
Disabled in care denied human rights,Supreme Court rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Moving on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Growing Together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Passing on the baton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Training library . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Full House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Everyone matters / Partners forInclusion 2014 conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Up close with Rose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Role call. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Keeping a nger on the Pulse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Making a connection with PeteRichmond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Health and safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
What is Neighbourhood Networks? . . . . . 10
Welfare reform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Stronger Together . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Ians year in pictures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Michele Munro Senior ServiceLeader has been announcedas the new Director of JustConnections. Pete Richmond ismoving to Director of Partnersand June Jeferies previousDirector of Partners will leadTraining and Personalisation.Read more on our webpage andnext issue of the paper.
Breaking News
-
8/11/2019 Partners Paper edition 03
3/12
Partners Paper |Autumn 2014 | Edition 03 3Partners forInclusionGroup
DM2is not about
providing support like
Partners and Just Connections its
about people organising themselves
to get together and have a good time.
Something we all need in our lives.
We believe our way of working with
SFs fits well with The Social Care (Self-
directed Support) Act 2013. However,
with more people seeking to buy
their support either through a Direct
Payment or an Individual Budget, we
needed to become even more flexible.
LinkingLives is the newest part of
the group, providing flexible personal
support, perhaps for just a few hours
per week. People who previously had
more support and have now become
more independent benefit from this
type of flexible approach.
The Partners for Inclusion Group
s registered with the charities
regulator OSCR (Office of Scottish
Charity Regulation) and is a registered
company. Responsibility for the group
ies with its Board of Governors. The
board includes Doreen Kelly our ChiefExecutive and Jill Barbour, Director of
Finance, and several other members
serving in a voluntary capacity.
The Partners for Inclusion Group will
only grow at a pace that fits the ways
we provide personalised support. We
have just started two committees,
one for Partners and one for Just
Connections, as a further step to ensure
the group does not become remote.
These committees are made up of
people who have an understanding of
the day-to-day realities of providingand receiving support people who
have experience of using services,
family members and staff. They help
the board stay in touch with how we
are doing and help make changes when
they need to happen.
Both committees are in their early
stages so if you or someone you
know might like to be involvedplease
contact June Jeffery(for the Partners
committee) and Pete Richmond(for the
Just Connections committee), both on
Tel. 01563 825 555.
Disabled in care denied humanrights, Supreme Court rulesIan Johnston | Wednesday, 19 March 2014
People with disabilities have the same human
rights as the rest of the human race, the Supreme
Court has said in a landmark judgement that three
people had been unlawfully deprived of their liberty.
The Court ruled that two
sisters with learning difficulties
and a man with cerebral palsy
and Downs syndrome had
been denied their human rights
despite the best intentions of
those looking after them in care
facilities in Surrey and Cheshire
respectively.
A gilded cage is still a cage,
Lady Hale, the deputy president
of the Supreme Court, wrote in
the ruling. She added that their
rights have sometimes to be
limited or restricted because
of their disabilities, but the
starting point should be the
same as that for everyone els
Last week, a report by a Hou
of Lords Select Committee fo
tens of thousands of vulnerab
people were being unlawfully
detained in care homes and
hospitals and that legislation
created to protect people wit
mental health conditions had
failed.
Reprinted with permission of The Independent newspaperPartners forInclusionGroup
Moving onIn the last edition of Partners Paper we told the
story of Sheila, who had been living in an outof area private hospital in England, hundreds ofmiles from home.
Beyond Limits,
an organisation
in Plymouth that
shares Partners
approach,
supported Sheila
to return home. The move
was a success and Sheilas life
subsequently has been goingwell. However, she did tell her
staff that the house she had
moved to did not suit her, so
they supported her to find
something else. She is now the
proud owner of a 3-bedroom
house, with plenty of space
inside and out, bought through
the Shared Ownership Scheme.
Beyond Limits have since
helped another three people
move back home from private
hospitals many miles away,
while working with another
three people to do the same.
This is in keeping with the
Westminster governments
plans in response to the
Winterbourne View abuse
scandal, exposed in June
2011 by the BBCs Panorama.
Following the scandal a
Concordat was signed inDecember 2012 by the relevant
public bodies in England,
including NHS England and
the Department of Health. The
Concordat pledged to support
everyone inappropriately
placed in hospitals to move to
community-based support as
quickly as possible but no later
than 1st June 2014.
This target has been missed.
Local health and social services
have been struggling to support
people leaving institutions due
to a lack of local services that aable to support people who ha
labels of challenging behaviou
There have been several social
media campaigns recently, wi
families fighting the system
to bring their loved ones back
home, and while some people
are getting home thanks to
organisations like Beyond Lim
(and Partners for Inclusion Gro
who supported the developm
of Beyond Limits) others are
still stuck in private hospitals
hundreds of miles away.
-
8/11/2019 Partners Paper edition 03
4/12
Partners Paper |Autumn 2014 | Edition 03 4Partners forInclusionGroup
Growing TogetherAfter making a couple of hanging baskets for family and
friends, two South Ayrshire brothers, Kevin and Ryan
Kirkpatrick, were inundated with orders. So they startedtheir own not for profit project, Growing Together.
The brothers grow various plants
and flowers to make hanging
baskets, planters and decorative
pots. They also offer customers a
unique opportunity to reuse the
hanging baskets, by replanting
them with winter flowers at low
cost.
Building on initial success Kevin
and Ryan plan to expand their
business and grow herb boxes,
vegetables, and Christmas items
including holly wreathes. They have
invested in a large greenhouse to
allow them to grow plants all year
round, built with the help of James
Paton, who traded his DIY skills in
return for some flowers.
Kevin and Ryan also set up a
local tenants association, to give
neighbours a way to address any
issues in their street. Now when
problems arise everyone supports
each other.
Gordon Campbell, the Tenant
Participation Officer at South
Ayrshire Council, has been assist
the group. He has suggested tha
Kevin and Ryan could promote
Growing Together by supplying
flower baskets for the street,
and has also put an advert in th
council newsletter.
To contact Growing Together
please call Ryan on
0776 5246388or email
Kevin likes to spend time in the greenhouse potting up plants or enjoying thepeace and quite.
Ryan likes to collect holly and pine cones for Growing Togethers Christmas gifts.
Passing on the batonIn June and July this year the Queens Baton Relay
travelled throughout Scotland, leading up to the 2014
Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Robert Wallace,
who is supported by Partners, was one of many who
carried the baton. Linda Graham interviews him about
the experience.
Linda > How did you manage
to get to carry the baton, did
you have to apply and get
interviewed?Robert > Yes. I applied to get
nominated with help from David
Drennan, my support worker.
Linda > Did you get to pick your
uniform, and can you keep it?Robert > I didnt get to pick my
uniform but I really liked it. In
fact I liked it that much I still
have it hanging up in my room.
Linda > What date, time and place
did you get to carry the baton?Robert > Friday 20th June at 4pm.
South Beach going onto North
Shore Road, Troon.
Linda > How did it feel to actually
carry the baton in front of all
those people?Robert > Happy, but really nervous
at the same time.
Linda > I heard your work
colleagues from the Robert
Burns Birthplace Museum In
Alloway came all the way to
Troon to support you and even
made a banner?Robert > I liked that my work
colleagues came along and
that they were all thinking of
me. They also told me that the
rest of the museum staff were
watching me online.
Linda > Did you get a certificate or
something as a momentum of
your involvement on the day?Robert > I will get a replica of th
baton, so Im looking forward
that.
Linda > What do you remember
most from the day?Robert > I was so excited I was o
a high right through to the en
of the day. I would like to than
everyone who came to suppo
me, especially my family and
work colleagues.
-
8/11/2019 Partners Paper edition 03
5/12
Partners Paper |Autumn 2014 | Edition 03 5Partners forInclusionGroup
Training libraryThe Partners training library has many useful and
relevant articles, books and training tools availableto enhance how we provide support and develop our
thinking, knowledge and skills.
All can be reserved at our office
through the training team, Rose
Loganor Brenda Lundie, and
returned in the same way. We are
currently developing this process
so that in the near future staff
can access material online.
We highly recommend these
two recent additions to our
collection:
Far From The Tree:Parents, Children
and The Searchfor Identity
By Andrew Solomon
n this book Andrew Solomon
draws on decades of research and
writing to tell the stories of
parents who learn to deal with
their exceptional children, and find
profound meaning in doing so.
He documents repeated
triumphs of human love and
compassion in families livingwith deafness, dwarfism, Downs
syndrome, autism, schizophrenia,
disability, with children who are
prodigies, who become criminals,
who are transgender - showing
that the shared experience of
difference is what unites us.
Far from the Tree explores themes
of generosity, acceptance and
tolerance and shows how love for ones
children can transcend every prejudice.
Malcolm Gladwell
DM2s full houseFive DM2 members have achieved their
dream of becoming DJs.
Over 10 weeks Paul Garrod, Allan Thomson, George
Davidson, Christopher McCallionand Stuart Campbe
attended a DJ course at Pulse Recording Studio led by
Laurence Lamb, the studio manager.
The Reason I Jump:One boys voice fromthe silence of autism
By Nakoki Higash
Nokoki Higash was just thirteen
years old when he wrote this
book, and what is remarkable is
that as a teenager with severe
autism he so deeply and clearly
understands the need to
communicate his ideas to others.
This book has been translatedfrom Japanese by the novelist
David Mitchell and his wife, K A
Yoshida, and is mainly based on
questions about the condition
and answers as experienced by
Nakoki, alongside short fables.
I have been reading books about
autism for 20 years, most are of some
value, but a book that makes me want to
say this is truly important and anyone
interested in autism should read it.
Charlotte Moore, The Sunday Times
They mastered the mixing
decks and played about withGarageband, making up their
very own signature tune. The
course also covered areas like
health & safety, equipment
set up, learning to gauge the
audience reaction, and how to
speak to the audience.
In June this year Paul, George
and Christopher made their live
debut, performing at the first
fully inclusive nightclub held in
the Liquor Lounge in Kilmarnoc
Ayrshire. The new owner of theclub Martin Kilbride really pulle
out all the stops making sure
everyone had a great experienc
while Paul, George and
Christopher were on the decks
playing all their favourite danc
trance and house tunes. The
night was a roaring success wit
people from all over Ayrshire a
further afield dancing the nigh
away.
Dancing at the Liquor Lounge, Kilmarnock. Ayrshires first fully inclusivenightclub.
L-R: Christopher Debulle, Stuart Campbell, George Davidson, Paul Garrod
Christopher McCallion (DM2staff) and Allan Thomson.
-
8/11/2019 Partners Paper edition 03
6/12
Partners Paper |Autumn 2014 | Edition 03 6Partners forInclusionGroup
Everyone mattersPartners for Inclusion 2014 conferenceOn Friday 7th March 120 people gathered at The Park Hotel in Kilmarnock for EveryoMatters, the second Partners conference. The theme of the day was how people canget better, more personalised support in a climate of reduced public sector spending
On the day...There were talks, presentations and workshops
from people taking control of their services to get
economically viable support and good outcomes.
We learned how good support benefits not only
the people receiving the support, but the whole
community.
Throughout the conference
there was an emphasis on
making information accessible
so everyone could be involved.
This included using video footageso that people not confident
speaking in front of large groups
could still have their say. And
right through the day there was a
lot of fun singing, laughter, face
painting, relaxing massage andan awards ceremony.
Schools workSince our 2012 conference, when we held a drawing
competition about the meaning of inclusion, we
have been working with schools in south Ayrshire to
design an accessible and interactive workshop raisin
awareness of autism.
Led by Sheila McKinley, Head
Teacher of Fisherton Primary, we
have trained 16 pupils at both
primary and secondary levels
to become trainers and deliver
the workshop. The pupils have
delivered the training to pupils
and teachers in their schools.
The hope is that they will the
train other pupils before they
leave their school, so the trainin
will never be lost. Two of our pu
trainers, Darrel and Rory, came
along to share their experience
2014 CONFERENCEFRIDAY 7 MARCH 2014
-
8/11/2019 Partners Paper edition 03
7/12
Partners Paper |Autumn 2014 | Edition 03 7Partners forInclusionGroup
Conference speakersFollowing an introduction from Willie Coffey,
MSP for Kilmarnock & Loudon, several speakerstalked about aspects of self-directed support.
WorkshopsFour workshops ran concurrently, twice a day in the
morning and the afternoon so everyone had the
chance to attend two.
One featured a young woman
and her family talking about
their experience of finding the
right people to provide support.
Another explored how
providing personalised support
can lead to improved health.
The Joyworks laughter
workshop, a great success at
the first conference, ran again
and was equally popular.
The importance of money
demonstrated how the cost of
support can reduce as people
become more independent.
Maureen Bruce, one of our
speakers, arranged for a follow
up presentation based on
this workshop at the Scottish
Government office.
AwardsPartners employers awards recognise employers that
have been creative in providing job opportunities for
people supported by Partners.
Awards were presented to: Ayr Racecourse, Celtic FCFoundation, The Salvation Army, Barnardos, South AyrshireAdditional Support Needs, Egger Barony Ltd, CVO (East
Ayrshire) , The Co-operative, Galston, The Robert BurnsBirthplace Experience, RAMH.
Willie Coffey, MSPI was
delighted to open the event
and was moved to hear many
of the personal stories from
people who have had to work
so hard to overcome great
difficulties and challenges
in their lives. Partners for
Inclusion offers personalised
support for people who
simply want to play their
part in society and have a
great deal to offer. It was a
pleasure to part of this day.
Varun Vidyarthi, Director of
the Manavodaya Institute of
Participatory Development,
talked about people-based,
self-help approaches in
international development,
and the parallels with
Partners approach to support.
Lee McLaughlinexplained
the features of the Social
Care (Self Directed Support)
(Scotland) Act 2013, and the
flexibility and control it can
offer people receiving
support. He then gave an
example of Lewis, a young
man with autism who is
using his support to
concentrate on developing a
career in music.
Maureen Bruce, Deputy
Director, Care Support and
Rights Division, Scottish
Government focused on
healthcare for people with
learning disabilities, in her
presentation Keys for Life.
James Patonspoke about
what he does with his
support, his job at Eggar
Barony Ltd and going on
holiday to Blackpool.
Kevin and Ryan Kirkpatrick
spoke about their gardening
business and starting a
tenancy group (see page 4).
Tony Hamilton, Chief
Executive of Celtic FC
Foundation, the charitable
arm of Celtic football club,
spoke about the foundations
commitment to employing
disabled people.Two of the twelve Employers Award winners photgraphed at the conference.
-
8/11/2019 Partners Paper edition 03
8/12
Partners Paper |Autumn 2014 | Edition 03 8Partners forInclusionGroup
Role callThe jobs people do for
PartnersIn each issue of the Partner
Paper theres a summary of
one particular job. This time
its the turn of:
Training adminassistant Role and responsibilityAssisting the Training Coordinator
and other members of the Partnersfor Inclusion Group by undertaking
a mixed range of administrative
and training tasks.
Main responsibilitiesAll administrative tasks associated
with the organisations training
activities, including maintaining the
Training Database and participating
in the planning of training
programmes.
Nuts and boltsMaintaining effective record
keeping systems; answering the
phone and dealing with training
queries promptly; helping design
and collate training packs, booklets
and resources; assisting with
organisational events; contributing
to the preparation of funding
and sponsorship applications;
contributing to Partners publicity
and marketing; working flexibly
with other members of the
administration team to assist all
staff and contribute to the smoothrunning of the organisation.
Qualities neededA commitment to the values of
Partners and to helping maintain
a supportive environment for
people with learning disabilities
and mental health needs. Plus good
team working and communication
skills.
AccountabilityAnswers to the training coordinator
The things that gets me upin the morning
My son Declan coming
into my room about 6am
full of life wanting to play
Skylanders.
Life before working atPartners For Inclusion
Group wasI have had a variety of
different jobs before
Partners, none that I stayed
with for very long, including
security guard at Prestwick
Airport, Lecturer at the
University of West Scotland
- Paisley. I also studied at
Paisley for my honours
degree.
If I had a time machine Idgo back to
I wouldnt. I love my life just
now and feel very happy
and content.
My rst memory isBeing on holiday with my
mum in the caravan and
her telling us stories about
the ancient Gods. That
night there was a really big
storm and the sea was very
turbulent. Mum said that
was because she forgot to
mention Poseidon when
telling her stories and that
he was angry.
Something I like aboutmyself
I love my shoe collection.
I have a walk in wardrobe,
where I keep most of
my shoes but its not big
enough for them all.
Something Ill change whenI get round to it is...
I have been clearing out my
house for about 4 years and
am still doing it. As soon
as I get rid of something,
something else fills its
place. I think I am a bit of a
hoarder.
If you were to join me on aSunday afternoon
I would be on the back of
my husbands motorbike, so
you would need to be fast
to keep up.
Given 10 and forced totreat myself, Id
Buy shoes but dont think
I would get many pairs of
Louboutins for 10!
If I had to listen to one
piece of music all day, itwould be
I would rather read my book.
Up close with...Rose Logan Salmond, training admin assistant at Partners.
Keeping a nger on the PulseEarlier in the year Allan Thomson, Kelsey McDowall, Lizzie Bell, Richard
Aitken and Rose Logan went along to Pulse Recording Studio to record their
own version of The Proclaimers 500 miles. They played the recording at the
opening of the Partners conference in March.
Pulse Recording Studioprovides
training in music production
and performance for young
people and adults in the
Ayrshire area and an affordable
professional standard recording
and rehearsal facility on a
commercial basis. It is based
at yipworld, a social enterprise
company, youth initiative,
childcare and training provider
in Cumnock, East Ayrshire.
Rose Logan Salmond: I love myshoe collection.
-
8/11/2019 Partners Paper edition 03
9/12
Partners Paper |Autumn 2014 | Edition 03 9Partners forInclusionGroup
Making a connectionLinda Grahaminterviews Pete Richmond, Director of Just Connections
Pete joined Just Connections in September 2013.
We thought this would be a good time to find
out a little more about him, and hear what he
thinks about Just Connections and the Partners for
Inclusion Group as a whole.
LINDA >Pete, you have been hereat Partners since September
2013, what are your impressions
so far?PETE >Id like to begin by thanking
everyone for giving me such
a warm welcome to the
organisation and tolerating
my moments of getting a little
cross and stamping my feet
when the computer does not
do what I ask! I have known and
been impressed with the work
Partners and Just Connections
have done for a few years and
feel honoured to be joining the
team.
LINDA >What do you think youcan contribute to the team?
PETE >I think its probably upto others to say. But what I do
bring is experience. I began as a
care assistant in 1980 working
with children with disabilities
in Bolton near Manchester
and then had other jobs in
residential care in the London
area. After qualifying as a social
worker in 1990 from Ruskin
College, Oxford, I worked for
two years helping people moveout of long stay hospitals. I
then spent nearly 20 years in
different local authorities as
a social worker and manager,
including nearly 10 years
commissioning social care
services.
LINDA >What have you learned inthis time?
PETE >Over a long career I havehad the opportunity to learn
from innovators from many
walks of life. This includes
people with disabilities
both children and adults,
and their families. I will have
a lot more learning to do
from you all. Throughout mycareer I have been keen to
foster partnerships outside
what might be considered
the more familiar social
care partnerships, such as
with business, community
development organisations
and arts based organisations. I
hope this experience will help
me make a useful contribution
to our work.
LINDA >Outside of your paid jobwith Just Connections I know
you are involved with other
organisations. Can you tell us
about these?PETE >Im a Trustee of three
other organisations, In ControlScotland - which, as many
readers will know, promotes the
idea that people with disabilities
should get more control of
their support; iConnect North
East which is a brand new
organisation in Aberdeen; and
Manavodaya International
UK. Partners for Inclusion and
Just Connections have many
similarities to Manavodaya,
because we work in ways that
aim to be guided by the person
supported.
Pete Richmond It counts to take action.
LINDA >I think our readers miglike to know a little more abo
you as a person, so any family
PETE >My partner Alice and fivechildren, Danny the eldest
at 27 through to Gabrielwho is 11. We are also proud
grandparents of Theo, who is
18 months old.
LINDA >Whats your favourite Tshow?
PETE >Rev. I just watched thelast episode. It makes me
laugh and the last episode
made me cry!
LINDA >What is the trait youmost deplore in yourself?
PETE >Its a toss-up betweenuntidiness, anxiety and being
control-freak.
LINDA >What is the trait youmost deplore in others?
PETE >The tendency toapportion blame too readily
and to think there are simple
answers to complex problems
LINDA >What is your earliestmemory?
PETE >The fierce dog that stoodbetween me and the outside
toilet in my first house.
LINDA >What is the mostimportant lesson life has
taught you?PETE >It counts to take action.
LINDA >What is the worst jobyouve done?
PETE >Driving a 3.5 tonnedelivery truck around St John
Wood in London. Sorry to allthe drivers of very expensive
cars who lost their door
mirrors.
LINDA >What is your mosttreasured possession?
PETE >Optimism.
LINDA >How would you like tobe remembered?
PETE >As a great-great-great-great-great grandfather who
kept his marbles till the end
and didnt smell too bad.
-
8/11/2019 Partners Paper edition 03
10/12
Partners Paper |Autumn 2014 | Edition 03 10Partners forInclusionGroup
2.Haveaclear
planofaction
forthedaysor
weekahead.
Useadiaryorweeklyplanner.Berealistic.
4.Lookafter
yourhealth.
Exerciseregularly.Walking
isoftenunder-ratedbuta
briskwalkwillclearyour
mindandhelptoput
thingsintoperspective.
Enjoyyourfoodandgetenoughsleep.
5.Livefortoday
dontdwellin
thepast.
Learnfromyour
experiences,makeplansforthefuture.
3.Develop
andfoster
friendships.
Getasociallifeshare
yourthoughtsandfeelings.
Health and safety
Personal challenges personal wellbeing
What is Neighbourhood Networks?Neighbourhood Networksis a charity that was set
up in 2001 with the intention of providing housing
and peer support to people with learning disabilities
who often received no other support in their lives.The organisation has grown
and developed over the last 13
years and networks have been
set up across the Central Belt of
Scotland to provide support to
people with learning disabilities,
mental health issues and physical
disabilities. We are also working
with young people in transition
We have over 100 members
n Networks across North
Lanarkshire, West Dumbarton,
Glasgow, and Edinburgh. Our
newest Network is in East
Ayrshire and is based in the
Northwest of Kilmarnock and
Kilmaurs.
A Community Living Worker,
who lives in the area, works
a flexible 16 hours per week,
providing support at times when
the Network member needs it.
The aim is to facilitate a small
local Network of around nine
or ten people to engage with
each other, sharing their skills,
supporting
each other
and to
become less
dependent onstaff or paid
support. Over
the years we
have found that with that sense
of responsibility our members,
very quickly, feel much more
valued and their confidence and
self-esteem and skills grow quite
naturally.
Network members are always
encouraged to be active in their
communities and use their skills
and gifts to make an active
contribution.
5Tipsfora
betterbalance...
Achievingabetterbalance
inyourworkandlifewill
helpyoudiscovernew
levelsofwellbeing,success
creativity,andhappiness.
1.Manageyour
timeeffectively.
Remembertomaketime
foryourself.
Some of the values underpinnin
Neighbourhood Networks
approach are the beliefs that:
Sharing skills and gifts make
us stronger and more confide
Giving and receiving support
important to help us grow. We can all be involved in
making where we live, work a
socialise a better place.
If you would like more informat
about Neighbourhood Network
please contact:
Neighbourhood Networks
Festival Business Centre
Unit 11, 150 Brand Street
Glasgow, G51 1DH
Telephone: 0141 314 0027
www.neighbourhoodnetworks.org
-
8/11/2019 Partners Paper edition 03
11/12
Partners Paper |Autumn 2014 | Edition 03 11Partners forInclusionGroup
Welfare reformAs the governments programme of welfare
reform continues to threaten people withdisabilities, we see the small rises in benefitrates being swallowed up by increases in localauthority charges.
n real terms this often means
people are not even better off by
a few pounds, but their income
remains the same or even
drops. Furthermore, the under
occupancy tax (also know as the
bedroom tax) remains a threatto many peoples home security.
The move from Disability Living
Allowance (DLA) to Personal
Independence Payment (PIP)
is delayed, but it is also likely to
affect many peoples income.
So this is a challenging time
for people with disabilities. We
encourage people to utilise localresources to highlight issues and
campaign for change.
Useful resources
Stronger Together GroupSee the article opposite.
The Learning DisabilityAlliance ScotlandWeb: www.ldascotland.org
Your Citizens Advice BureauWeb: www.cas.org.uk
Welfare Rights websiteWeb: www.bit.ly/WR-local
Local authority welfarerights teamWeb: www.bit.ly/scot-welfare-rights
Campaign for a Fair SocietyWeb: www.bit.ly/CampaignFS
Photofromwww.birminghamagainstthecuts.wordpress.com
Stronger TogetherStronger Together groups are run by the
Learning Disability Alliance Scotland, indifferent parts of Scotland. Currently thereare groups in Aberdeen, Stirling, Edinburgh,Glasgow, Kilmarnock, Ayr and Galashiels.
The idea behind the groups
is that people with learning
disabilities who get support
from different providers come
together to try and improve the
lives of people with learning
disabilities.
Each of the groups decides
what it wants to do, but every
meeting should do at least one
thing to make a difference.
That might be writing a letter,
signing a petition, making some
easy read information or telling
politicians what they think.
Over the last couple of years
the groups have been able
to help make a difference on
the welfare benefit changes,
transport, the independence
referendum, bullying and lots
other things.
More information:
Stronger TogetherIan Hood, LDAS Co-ordinator
Phone: 079 201 418 23
Email: [email protected]
Web:www.ldascotland.org
-
8/11/2019 Partners Paper edition 03
12/12
Partners Paper |Autumn 2014 | Edition 03 12Partners forInclusionGroup
Ians year in picturesIan is someone who likes to spend time trying out
new places. Some of these can be seen in Ians year inpicturesbelow. Ian loves his monthly visit to Linwood
Cinema to see a film. He really enjoys the sounds and
sensations of a good, fast, action movie.
Ian likes Trader Joes bar in Glasgow and enjoys goin
to gigs. Recently hes seen Blondie and Xfactor. Ianfelt very comfortable at the Braehead Bowlplex (Apr
where he listened to the chatter and sound of the
bowls and skittles.
AprilFebruaryJanuary March
Attending my exercise class
doing the weights.
Having a great laugh at the
bowling.
Going to the pictures to see
the latest release.
Enjoying a catch up with my
pal Mark.
May JulyJune August
Celebrating my birthday with
friends & neighbours.
Went to Deep Sea World it
was really interesting.
Went to the Blondie concert at
the SECC it was brilliant!
I really enjoy going on picnic
in the summer.
October DecemberSeptember November
Celebrating Halloween at my
house with the neighbours.
I joined the local walking
group.
Started massage therapy its
very relaxing.
Listening to some music befo
I buy the CDs for Xmas.
Download this paper from the Partners website:
www partnersforinclusion org/pp autumn 2014