New service for adults with learning disability

A new free service for adults with learning disabilities has been launched by the Western Health and Social Care Trust. The aim is to support people with a learning disability to make decisions which affect their lives and to provide independent information about the options available.

The independent advice service is aimed at people with a learning disability, their families and carers in the Western area. It will be delivered by a Mencap Coordinator who is supported by a team of trained volunteers across the Western Trust area.

Rosaleen Harkin, assistant director for learning disability, Western Trust, said they were delighted with the new service.

“The people this service is aimed at have been involved at every step of the project, including the tendering process, the development of the Advocacy Advisory Panel which will continue to oversee and review the service, and the launch.”

John Fox, who represents users on the Advocacy Advisory Panel, said: “Being involved in this project has been great, we’ve met lots of new people and gone along to meetings about what the project is going to do. I hope that the project will help lots of people, like me, talking about what we want and anything we’re worried about. I hope that anyone with a learning disability finds out more about the project and gets in contact.”

To find out more about learning disability advocacy in the Western area or for information on how you could support the project by becoming a volunteer please contact: Mencap Advocacy Coordinator on 02882259249.