1. Valuing People Now Events
What people told us about Valuing People Now and the Partnership Board
By Ian Davies
Learning Disability Partnership Board May 2009

2. In March and April, we held 5 Valuing People Now events, they were in
Kettering
Corby
Wellingborough
Northampton
And Towcester
We saw around 150 people!

3. I went to all the events to tell people about my role on the regional and national forum
Alex and Maisie and I took turns introducing the day at each different event
We asked people what they thought about Valuing People Now and the Partnership Board and this is what they said...

4. Valuing People Now People need to know
That everyone is equal and should be treated equally and that this is the law
That we have the same rights as anyone else
That we need to feel safe on the streets
That we want to learn new skills so that we can get a job
That we should be treated with respect

5. Who should know about Valuing People Now?
Health services and public services
Bus drivers and taxi drivers
Shopkeepers
Pub staff
Small companies that might give us a job
Staff, carers, partners, friends
Police
Teachers
Houses of Parliament and the Prime Minister

6. Elderly people living in the community
People who are blind and
People with complex needs
There could be an “accreditation” scheme so people get stars if they are working to the Valuing People Now ideas and principles
Training for staff – people with learning disabilities could train people who work in services, in shops, or on buses

7. How should we tell people about the Valuing People Now?
Local radio - Radio Northampton, Heart Radio
Newspapers
TV - Lots of people watch programmes like Coronation Street, Valuing People Now could be advertised in the breaks.
Publicity campaign to treat people with learning disabilities the same as everyone else – Rosemary Bromwich said she could ask the council to do this or help with this

8. National promotion about the big messages
Billboards
Post Office adverts
Send letters telling people about Valuing People Now
Visit units to speak to people with learning disabilities
Tell people about Valuing People at team meetings and appoint a person in each team to get the messages to everybody in the service

9. Partnership Board
Some people still don’t know about the Partnership Board or what it does
Partnership Board meetings should be held at different times and days so people would be able to attend.
Meetings could take place in locality areas including “Day Services” and local venues to help include people in the community.
Have signing translations at all meetings and events

10. People on the ground with everyday experience should be at Board meetings.
More parent carers should be on the Board
Some people did not know about the Partnership Board website
There should be 2 way feedback from board to services and for the services to say what they are doing
Board to do less talking and make more things happen
Involve more people with learning disabilities so that they have a voice

11. How should we tell people about the Board?
An accessible DVD about how the Partnership Board works, when and where they meet and what they do. People also want to know about good things and successes.
Partnership Board Newsletter is a good idea. Send it to different places like libraries and doctors surgeries.

12. A summary sent out after each Board meeting and tell people where they can find out more
Advertise the Board in the Talking Newspaper for people who cannot see well
Put information on the internet
Invite more people to the Board meetings
Support people with disabilities to share their ideas with others

13. The people that came to our events gave us lots of ideas about how we can tell people about Valuing People Now and the Partnership Board. We now have lots of work to do to make this happen Thank you