Latest News
Travelling with Confidence
11th February 2025
New project to tackle travel barriers for people with learning disabilities launches ....
Travelling with Confidence is a brand new project funded by the Motability Foundation to increase opportunities for people with learning disabilities in the North East and Cumbria to enjoy and benefit from the ability to travel.
The project is a partnership of six local charities, led by Your Voice Counts working in conjunction with Adapt North East, Bridge Creative, Darlington Association on Disability, People First and Skills for People.
Training and peer support are at the heart of Travelling with Confidence, which will see people with learning disabilities receive accredited travel training so they can deliver bespoke awareness raising sessions and become buddies to help others overcome their own barriers to travel.
A network of Travel Champions with learning disabilities will also be established to engage with the transport sector and provide opportunities to influence policy and practice among local providers.
Lindsay Henderson, Head of Communities at Your Voice Counts, said: “We know from experience that people with learning disabilities often have transport issues and find moving around and travelling to be an overwhelming experience that they often avoid. This means they can miss out on opportunities that would have a positive impact on their lives.
“Through this project, we’ll be providing bespoke training and support to give people the tools and confidence they need to access different methods of transport. Not only that, we’ll be doing it in a way that empowers people with learning disabilities to share their experiences, support their peers and influence how decisions are made.
“At Your Voice Counts, we’re passionate about breaking down barriers and finding ways for people with lived experience to bring about change so I’m excited to get the project off the ground with our like-minded partner organisations and see what we can achieve across our region. Thank you to Motability Foundation for our funding!”
Lisa Jones, Director of Charitable Operations at the Motability Foundation, said: “We’re delighted to award Your Voice Counts with this grant to work in partnership with local organisations to improve access to opportunities for people with learning disabilities in the North East and Cumbria.
“Your Voice Counts, together with its partners, will offer travel awareness training and peer support, supporting people with learning disabilities to travel independently and confidently. Awarding grants to established and local organisations like these helps us to make an immediate difference to the transport needs of disabled people.”
For more information about the Motability Foundation, visit www.motabilityfoundation.org.uk
We have moved!
17th December 2024
We have moved from:
1P Enterprise House, Valley Street, Darlington DL1 1GY
to
Whessoe Technology Centre, Alderman Best Way, Darlington, DL1 4WB
Green Home Support Service
25th September 2024
UK Power Networks launched its new Green Home Support Service, to help its customers take steps towards making their home greener, helping ensure no one is left behind in the transition to Net Zero. In three easy steps, the new online tool can provide a personalised action plan, with information and support to take steps to save money on bills and lower their carbon footprint, without compromising the warmth of their homes.
Please click this link to go to the Green Home Support Service.
Oliver McGowen Training - 3 DAD Trainers are now accredited
25th April 2024
You may already be aware that DAD have funding to provide Oliver McGowen training.
The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training aims to provide the health and care workforce with the right skills and knowledge to provide safe, compassionate and informed care to autistic people and people with a learning disability. This requirement is set out in the Health and Care Act 2022.
This is following a long campaign led by Oliver McGowan’s mother Paula McGowan OBE, HEE and partners at DHSC, NHS England and Skills for Care launched The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism elearning. Oliver McGowan’s death shone a light on the need for health and social care staff to have better training in understanding, communicating with and treating people with a learning disability and autistic people.
Congratulations go to Jenny Byers, Amy Teasdale and James McElheran for successfully completing the required trainer accreditation. Thanks also goes to those staff who recently supported them in their assessment to achieve this qualification.
How you can support us
As a local organisation we very much rely on the support of our local community. We support over 2,000 people every year to have greater choice and control and remove the barriers that disabled adults and children experience in their everyday lives. But we need YOUR help.