Independent Living Project 2008/2009
This project will work towards the Government's policy of "Improving the Life Chances of Disabled People".
By 2010, the Government want each area to have a user led organisation.
These are organisations run and controlled by disabled people.
The Government wants to support disabled people to have opportunities to improve their quality of life and to be respected as equal members of society.
This should happen within twenty years.
They think that disabled people should have control over their lives and be fully included in the community.
They speak out about disabled people's views and provide services which give people the chance for independent living.
Independent living is not about living alone without support. It is about having choice and control in your life.
Bath and North East Somerset People First was successful in getting funding for one year from the Department of Health.
Twelve user led groups were chosen - Bath People First was the only group whose main focus is on people with learning difficulties.
Bath People First has been asked to work on:
- How to include all disabled people and family carers.
- How to support disabled people towards independent living.
- How to find out about the needs of a wide group of disabled people.
- How to make sure the organisations have money to keep going after the project.
- How to help the Management Committees to run the organisations and make them stronger.
- How to prove that disabled people's lives have changed.
We will work with the Disability Equality Forum, the Race Equality Council and Care Network.
We can learn from each other and share ideas for the future.