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Supporting people with learning difficulties to be active and included citizens

Progress Scotland began in July 2008 and is a project of ARC Scotland. We are funded by the Big Lottery and Scottish Government to work in:

• Aberdeenshire
• Dumfries and Galloway
• Scottish Borders

People with learning difficulties tell us time and time again that they want to lead an ordinary life in their community. This includes having the same opportunities for jobs, housing and friendships as anyone else. It also includes being centrally involved and having their voice heard when decisions are being made about the services they receive or how their communities are run.

This view is fully supported by current policy and by provider organisations across the statutory and voluntary sectors. However research and feedback from people with learning difficulties and those who support them indicates that it is still not happening.

Progress Scotland aims to work in partnership with people with learning difficulties, voluntary and statutory bodies in three Local Authority areas (Aberdeenshire, Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders) to assist change and progress towards full and inclusive citizenship for all.

We will achieve this by:

• Supporting people with learning difficulties to develop and build the skills and confidence to effectively contribute to meetings, groups and committees and other places where decisions that affect them are made.
  
  
• Enabling people with learning difficulties to engage with Community Planning processes to ensure the planning and delivery of wider community services is inclusive.
  
  
• Offering provider organisations access to training, information and networks. Sharing practical examples which build their capacity to support people with learning difficulties to be more fully included in their communities.
  
  
• Bringing together people with learning difficulties, provider organisations and staff from Community Health and Planning Partnerships to ensure the views of people with learning difficulties are included in the design and delivery of services through the Community Planning process.
  
  
• Offering provider organisations and people with learning difficulties specialist knowledge and expertise about ‘in Control’, ‘Citizen Leadership’, ‘Person Centred Planning’ and other person centred ways of working.
  
  
• Giving people with learning difficulties information and advice about how they can have more control over their money and awareness about their finances.

People with learning difficulties have told us:

“People always just do what they think is good for us. That's no good. You have to tell them what you want. It is no good leaving some people out”

“Other people always say what’s going to be done. I want my say- I live here too.”

“If there is something you are not happy about, you can do something to change it. I think the Council should listen to us. It is very helpful for people to have a voice.”

 

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