People First

People with learning disabilities – COVID-19 Support and Action Group

Wednesday 9th March 2022

Time: 12:30pm-2:30pm https://us06web.zoom.us/j/97471173675 Meeting ID: 974 7117 3675

1. Present

Andrew Jenny Firielle Sam Chris Geraldine

Apologies: Gary
Phil Simone

2. Introductions

Raymond Charles Kweku

Kieran Olcay Sarah

Vicky

Peter

Andrew and Jenny welcomed everyone to the group and then Jenny asked everyone how they were feeling.

Andrew: It’s been a busy week interviewing for the Empower Manager and joining the British Institute of Human Rights in challenging the Ministry of Justice

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about the lack of accessible information about the Human Rights Act Reform consultation.

Jenny: I’m OK, just come from a Wirral Evolutions Speak Up Be Heard Group meeting – although they won’t be Wirral Evolutions in 6 months as Wirral Council are taking day services back in-house.

Charles: I’ve had a good week, and so happy about Alison being the leader of the team. She has lots of ideas for my care and promise for a better future. We’ve had a draft letter written by the solicitor to send to the CCG, which discusses the unlawfulness of what the CCG has said and done and not providing a package. I’m so pleased for sure!

Firielle: I’m good. It’s very cold up north. I’ve been busy with my family and have my God Son’s birthday next week. I’m going to Palestine for my acting 22nd March and will be back in September.

Ray: I’m not too bad, I’ve been doing a bit of cleaning. Looking forward to going to see my girlfriend Christine this Friday after not being able to go up when we had storm Eunice. We’ll being going to into the office next week, so it’ll be good to see everyone face to face. I’ll also be looking out for protests against the war in town around Trafalgar Square or Whitehall.

Kweku: I’ve been very well. I’ve been to a lot of meetings, and we’ve started to make connections with other ‘speaking up’ groups around the country. Also, good to catch up with you guys as well.

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Olcay: I’m ok and trying to get back to normal. We went for a walk at the weekend and went to a coffee shop. Not rushing into it, just taking it step by step.

Samantha: I’m feeling alright, getting there. Taking things slowly and waiting to have an appointment for an assessment on my knee. It’s very painful, it’s been damaged from falls.

Kieran: I’m ok and just had a productive meeting at ‘Speak Up Be Heard’. Some other good news - Heidi has been given permission to take her case to the Court of Appeal.

Chris: Been working, fixed my toilet seat, had a hair cut and went to Comicon last week. I received a letter today to say I didn’t have an advocate anymore and my case was closed.

3. Discussion: Firielle’s topic – Disability LGBTQ+

Firielle spoke about the ‘Speak Up Go Out’ group in Wakefield that is campaigning against hate crime towards people from the LGBTQ+ community. The group is for adults over 18. We make campaigning posters and leaflets, run social activities, have art sessions and have discussions.

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Oljay asked how Firielle found out about the group. Firielle said she started the group with other people that she met at an event at Wakefield Town Hall. It’s run by the members. I went to the Rainbow Pub in Wakefield and met people who arrange LGBTQ+ meetings and demonstrations. They campaign for LGBTQ+ to be treated equally. We want to raise awareness across Wakefield and help encourage everyone to look out for hate crime – everyone should feel safe. People should not be treated differently just because they’re lesbian or gay. Ray asked if Firielle is looking at all hate crime. Firielle said yes it’s for everyone in Wakefield to be safe, but they looking specifically at people who have learning disabilities from the LGBTQ+ community – but we want to be inclusive of everyone.

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Kweku asked if the crime rate was high in Wakefield. Firielle yes and she is arranging meetings with different people, including the police. Leaflets will be put around the town to get the message out. Kweku asked if Wakefield had the ‘Safe Place’ scheme https://www.safeplaces.org.uk/ Firielle said yes, and explained how it works – you can go into shops or public buildings to speak with someone who can contact the police or a family member or friend if you are a vistim of hate crime. Kieran mentioned the ‘Safety in Town’ scheme and Sam spoke about a similar scheme in Hammersmith. Olcay asked if the group was getting paid for the work they do. Firielle said yes. Charles said he was impressed with the support Firielle was providing.

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The group also shared some ideas with Firielle. Contact the local press Find out who the Council Safe Guarding Lead/Officer is Work with the police Include everyone Sam said people have to know about it – they need to feel safe.

Neil Crowther is attending the next meeting to talk about the Down Syndrome Bill. Jenny explained that Neil has raised a concern about how many of the MPs supporting the Down Syndrome Bill are anti- abortionists. He has ben involved in the Disability Rights Commission, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, was active around Valuing People and more recently in Social Care Futures. Jenny asked people what they would like to ask Neil.

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Kieran said the motivation of MPs supporting the Bill and the Heidi court case – it should not become about anti-abortion. Question: Can you tell us more about why you think anti- abortionists are supporting the Down Syndrome Bill Chris said there are many other syndromes – the Down Syndrome Bill is saying one syndrome is more ‘important’ or needs ‘more protection’ than the other. Question: Do you think it is helpful or unhelpful to have separate Acts for different disabilities – what has the Autism Bill done for Autistic people? Why will the Down Syndrome Bill work, when the Autism Bill hasn’t. We have one Act for all disabilities – the Equality Act. Bills coming in for different disabilities is divisive – we need something stronger for everyone. Question: Do you think that the Down Syndrome Bill will be

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divisive? Question: Has the main push for the Bill ben from parents? Andrew said it would be good to think about how we might be able to work with Neil going forward. We then discussed how we want to treat the visitors. We agreed that everyone’s opinion is important. We must make sure we give visitors enough time to speak, but we also have time to ask our questions. If we feel anyone is being disrespectful or not treating the visitors well we must speak up.

Next meeting:

Wednesday 16th March 2022 12:30pm - 2:30pm

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/97471173675

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Chris’s Art Work

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