25
Jan
2013
By Calvin at 15:14 GMT, 13 years ago
Thanks to David Harris, Safety Consultant, for bringing my attention to the following excellent initiative in Kidderminster that was launched today.
Young people with a learning disability in Kidderminster have been supported to design and deliver a public safety scheme that will give them greater access to community facilities and services. The scheme is part of learning disability charity Mencap's groundbreaking new project, Changemakers.
The youngsters aged between 17 and 24 are members of Our Way Self Advocacy Group and have set-up ‘Safe Places' in and around Kidderminster in partnership with local business and with the support of West Mercia Police.
Mencap research shows that 9 in 10 people with a learning disability have been victim to hate crime and/or bullying, and Safe Places allow vulnerable people who feel threatened whilst out in the community to get support from local shops and community facilities who have signed up to be part of the initiative.
The scheme was developed through Mencap's work with Our Way Self Advocacy Group and West Mercia Police to raise awareness of the impact of disability hate crime.
Changemakers is the first national project of its kind and asks young people with a learning disability to identify what they want to change in their local community and to make this change a reality by being supported to design, develop and lead new local volunteering projects. The year-long programme will see 50 community impact projects established across England, of which the Kidderminster scheme is one.
Changemakers will help young people with a learning disability to raise their self-esteem and develop essential work and life skills, whilst at the same time improving the public's often negative perception of people with a learning disability and their role in the community.
The scheme has been officially launched today at the Our Way Self Advocacy, in Church Road Kidderminster.
Fran Dancyger, Mencap regional partnership officer, said: "This volunteering opportunity will enable young people with a learning disability to become more active members of the community, in turn helping them to gain the respect of their peers, be empowered to make choices in their own lives and benefit from living in a community that better understands the issues that people with a learning disability face every single day.”
Related websites for further information
Mencap Media Centre http://www.mencap.org.uk/news/media-centre
West Mercia Police News pages http://www.westmercia.police.uk/news/news-articles/safe-places-scheme-launched-in-kidderminster.html
West Mercia Police Media enquires http://www.westmercia.police.uk/news/media-officer-contacts.html
