by Karen Johnson – community development officer at South Holland District Council
Do you consider that you have a disability? A new group the “South Holland Disability Forum” has now been set up to hear your voices and focus on your abilities and not disabilities.
Lincolnshire Independent Living has been working alongside the Council to establish this valuable group.
The core aim of its work is to focus on the issues and matters that affect people with disabilities and their carers.
It focuses on what matters to you! Members work together to raise issues, share experiences, improve access and directly develop activities in South Holland for people with disabilities including those with physical and mental health or social isolation.
Views and experiences can be shared in a positive and respectful environment. It is also a great way to meet new people.
The forum is committed to equality and everybody who comes along becomes an equal member. Current members of the forum are community groups, local disabled people, their families, charities, South Holland District Council and other statutory bodies.
The forum is open to all service users and groups, however attendance is not necessarily needed. Individuals and groups are encouraged to put information out to their users in order to collect any information.
To date the group has already started to talk to service users and agreed to fund a local support group with new equipment and feed into a project focusing on fuel poverty.
Please come along and join us for an informal chat and a drink at our next meeting. This has been arranged for Thursday, August 11 at Tonic Health, Broadgate House, Westlode Street, Spalding, PE11 2AF.
Please do let us know as well if there is anything that we can do to support you on the day. For more information please contact Iggy Patel at [email protected] or call 07749 982114.