Green celebrate learning disability advocacy work in the city by Speak Out.
Green councillors joined service users, staff and volunteers of Brighton and Hove Speak Out to celebrate its work advocating for adults with learning disabilities in the city last week.
The AGM for the charity, held on Tuesday, January 26, showcased its work to ensure that people with learning disabilities can have their say on improving public services and get the support they need.
Since it was founded in 1994, Speak Out has grown significantly and now employs seven staff to help over 200 people each year.
Speak Out aims to ensure that people with learning disabilities can claim their rights and develop the skills, confidence and knowledge to make choices and take control of their lives.
Their advocacy work has led to greater awareness and improvements in services, generating better outcomes for adults with learning disabilities as well as better services for all.
Green Councillor and Convener of the Green Group, Phélim Mac Cafferty, said “I’m delighted to support the incredible work of Brighton and Hove Speak Out. This is an excellent example of a small but incredibly important third sector organisation which adds immense value to the city and directly improves the lives of some of its most vulnerable adults.
“The AGM was a great opportunity to highlight the fantastic contributions of staff and volunteers and demonstrate the real difference Speak Out makes to people’s lives. It is also an opportunity to take stock and look forward to the challenges and opportunities presented to organisations like Speak Out.
“It is critical that we as a council ensure Speak Out is supported to continue its work, and endure well into the future. With massive cuts and privatisation of services for adults with learning disabilities being pushed forward by the Labour administration, there is a significant risk of services deteriorating to unacceptable levels. It is more important than ever that we ensure adults with learning disabilities have their views heard and receive the support they need to inform future service provision”.
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