Be Heard making a difference...

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY , Consulted February 2009 • 

Bracknell Forest Borough Council's new  strategy for the next three years, ‘All of Us’,  "details exactly what the Council, its partners and local people need to do to ensure that community cohesion is strengthened and promoted and to ensure quality for all in Bracknell Forest...  to promote positive relationships and to ensure that we do not disrespect, neglect, or disadvantage any member of our community."  

Be Heard is referred to throughout the document, and consulting with the group on a frequent, ongoing basis is listed as a key mechanism of improving the strategy.  Be Heard  has been asked to review this new document and  give feedback about its contents and implementation.  (Photo is of Be Heard member, Barbara, in a section that highlights her success in buying her own home).  

The Community Engagement Strategy document can be found here.

South Central Learning Disabilities Self-Assessment 2009   Consulted January, 2009 • 

In 2006 and 2007, two disturbing reports came out that highlighted the health inequalities and lack of access to health care by persons with learning disabilities.  Following this,  the NHS began a process of assessment to ensure that adjustments would  be made to improve the quality of the services they provide or comission.  Responding to that, each local authority was asked to carry out a self assessment.  In January 2009, Be Heard members both individually and in small consultation groups were able to comment from their own personal experiences directly to the local authority so that thier views and oppinions could be included within the self assessment.  

VALUING PEOPLE AND VALUING PEOPLE NOW   Consulted December, 2008 • 

With the imminent publication of "Valuing People Now" (2009), local authorities have been assessing their progress and identifying areas in need of work in their efforts to implement it's parent document, The white paper 'Valuing People' (2001).  "Valuing People" (2001) "sets out the Government's vision for people with a learning disability, across a range of services based on four key principles of rights, independence, choice, and inclusion. The white paper's vision covered a range of issues including health, housing and employment."  Be Heard members consulted with the Head of Learning DIsabilities in Bracknell  over eight key sections of Bracknell Forest Borough Council's stratgic plan, and gave feedback on where improvements are still necessary.  The resulting document was presented to the BFBC Partnership Board and recomendations are currently being reviewed. 

More information about the White Papers and downloadable copies can be found here and here.

NEWBURY NHS ASSESSMENT , Consulted April - January 2009 • 

For per

ACCESS ADVISORY, TRANSPORT TRIAL , Consulted April - January 2009 • 

For persons with a learning disability living independantly in the the local community, consultation with Be Heard identified the need for improved transport service to access local facilities and amenities.  A new taxi service was launched in April 2008 that greatly subsidised transport for people with learning disabilities within the borough of Bracknell.  Throughout the whole of the transport trial members of Be Heard participated, giving feedback on two occasions to the council about its success and recomendations for improved service.  The trial culminated in January 2009 with 10 individuals from Be Heard being consulted directly by a indepent comissioned consultancy by Bracknell Forest Borough Council.

PARADIGM  , Consulted September - October 2008 • 

Paradigm leads the UK in information gathering and consultancy to help people access the services they want and need.  In September 2008, Be Heard participated in a National initiative to gather information about access to services for people with learning disabilities.  Be Heard members spent several weekly meetings gathering data that resulted in a comprehensive report about transport, local facilities, and all perceived barriers that prevented them from accessing the services they wanted in Bracknell, and this was then gathered along with other regional information to create a national view of services.