ARC - Equipping My Supporter

Equipping My Supporter

June 2006

A new project aimed at learning disability self-advocacy groups and their supporters.

ARC (The Association for Real Change), is launching a new training and networking project, Equipping My Supporter, which has been funded by the Department of Health. This England-wide project has two aims:

To produce information about training resources for people who use services, to equip them with the skills which are required when attending formal meetings, partnership boards, etc
To develop a national E-forum, backed up by regional meetings, for voluntary and paid supporters of self advocacy groups to network, share good practice, and seek personal development/training information.

This project follows on from VIA's recent work on the Good Support Training Resource Pack for Self-Advocacy groups, which was also supported by the Department of Health. (Available from VIA Tel 020 7729 5436 or e-mail publications@viauk.org)

ARC will be seeking the views of self-advocates and their supporters, to find out what they feel should be included in the training resource to prepare self-advocates for formal meetings. This resource will be produced to be used in association with VIA's Good Support workbook.

Leaflets asking for your suggestions for the training resource list will be forwarded to self-advocacy groups (click here to download the leaflet - the EmS Postcard), and consultation days - Talk and Share Shops - will be taking place across England in the Autumn. Click here to download the information and application form for these events.

Information about the project in an accessible format can be downloaded by clicking here.

Details of the EmS Support Group can be seen by clicking here.

January 2007

During November and December 2006 many self advocacy group supporters joined Aison Wright, Co ordinator of the Equipping My Supporter project, to discuss the new website for supporters of self advocates who have a learning disability/difficulty. Our consultation sessions, called Talk and Share Shops, were held across several English regions - Harrogate, Chorley, Coventry, Bath, Tunbridge Wells and London.

People were invited to tell us how they would like the new website to look, and discussed the skills and training needed if people were to be fully included in formal meetings.

The website is currently being developed and will include:

A list of training resources which have been recommended by advocacy groups across the country

An e forum Message Board to enable self advocacy supporters to network, share, and learn from each other

Hints and tips about making sure everyone is fully included in meetings

Hints and tips about marketing your own training

The website, called www.castanet.org will be launched in March 2007 and a launch postcard advertising the event will be forwarded to self advocacy groups and Partnership Boards across England.

March 2007

The Castanet website has been launched! - see press release with details.

C - Cast out for ideas and inspiration
A - Advocacy action and networking
S - Share good practice
T - Training ideas at a push of a button
A - Add to your knowledge
N - New ways of working
E - E-forum message board
T - Tell others about your achievements

ABOUT THIS PAGE

HEAR THIS PAGE

Browsealoud reads web pages aloud for people who find it difficult to read online.