having a voice in Bromley
Monday 10 October 2016
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contents presentations
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people’s stories 8
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workshops
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being lonely
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presentations George, Laura and Adam welcomed everyone. They said what was going happen during the day.
A team David, Holly and Lucy from the A team did a bingo game. The game was about keeping safe and the work the A team do.
Young Advisers Sarah and Philippa from the Young Advisers did a quiz about children’s rights. Philippa went around with a microphone to find out more about people’s ideas and answers.
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Bromley Mencap Caroline and Sarah from Bromley Mencap talked about what services they offer. They talked about day opportunities and helping people get jobs. You can see their video about day opportunities here www.youtube.com/watch?v=p55CBjMJUmQ
Bromley Speaking Up Group Bromley Speaking Up Group showed a podcast about supported living. Members talked about their staff. Some staff are good. Some staff do not listen well or treat people like babies. You can listen to the podcast here https://clyp.it/na5ps55t
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Bromley Sparks Sparks members did a role play. It was about things that have gone wrong in Bromley. Annie was sitting in the park reading. Other Sparks members came along and told her good news about things happening in Bromley like Keyring coming back and more public toilets. In the end Sue came and woke Annie up. It was all just a dream!
We had a break and Bromley Sparks Young Adults showed their film Simply the Best. You can watch it here www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcXwF6WQmdQ
Bromley Speaking Up Group showed their film too. You can watch the film here www.advocacyforall.org.uk/videos/ BSUG_video.mp4?1
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people’s stories
Gillian’s story There were changes to my support from Keyring. There were lots of meetings about it but it felt like no one was listening. One person could not come to the meetings because they were very ill. It got people angry and we did not know what was going on. Some of us get support and some of us do not. I was one of the lucky ones. 3 of us meet for breakfast every Sunday. We don’t see others as much as we used to. I’m worried about my friends who do not get support.
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David’s story The café at Community House is not the same. Lots of people worked there and people were very upset losing their jobs. I felt very sad when it closed. I miss seeing the people in there. I was in there a lot of the time. Other people say they do not see their friends anymore. People feel more isolated. Isolated means that they are on their own more. Shaw Trust used to run it, now someone else does. The food is very good but there is not enough people using it. I worry that we will lose the café if more people don’t go there. Please use the café at Community House so we do not lose this one as well.
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Polly’s story I like where I live because I know the area but I need more support hours. I need more support hours to access things in the community. When I go out with support it makes me feel safer than when I go out on my own. I like going on my own because it is good for my independence. But sometimes it is safer to have support. I like going out independently to meet my friends and go to Gateway clubs and Bromley Sparks meetings. I would like more care hours too, so I can get better at looking after myself.
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James’s story I work at Astley as a kitchen assistant. Recently Astley changed to Certitude. I thought I was going to lose my job. I heard people talking in the dining room about it. I was worried. My ears were hurting me. I felt relieved when I was told I was keeping my job. I like my job even when I get told off! I have upped my game now! In my social life it has been difficult too. My youth club closed because of cuts. I felt upset because I do not like the council making cuts to younger people’s services. What are we supposed to do instead? We need to tell the council not to do more cuts.
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workshops
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health
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money
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transport
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keeping safe from harm
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health
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good things
health check ups
dentist
exercise
I play for Charlton Upbeats
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bad things
cut backs on NHS
sometimes doctors do not fill in black books
GP receptionists need training
drugs
alcohol
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things getting better
black books
Health Access Forum 
more people and new leadership
dentists
learning disability team
hospitals
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3 things to change
stop people taking drugs stop people drinking alcohol train GP receptionists
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money
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good things work and earning money
happy with a part time job
working with other people
friends
happier not bored
the more money you have the more choices you have
you can buy clothes and go on holiday
direct debits
direct debits are brilliant
save time
direct payments
direct payments can give some people value for money
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bad things work
hours are a problem
can stop you doing other things
no support for employers to get better
with supported work you lose your benefit
banks
banks can be scary
nobody to talk to
overdrafts are confusing
budgeting and saving
running out of money too quick
no money for unexpected things
hard to budget
wasting money on little things
remembering where money is can be hard
benefits
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don’t understand benefit forms
benefits are hard to get
you have to travel a long way for a PIP assessment
things getting better budgeting
would like support with budgeting
budgeting should be taught in schools
more support
would like a weekly surgery about money or a 1 to 1 talk
person centred plan about money
direct payments
need receipts for direct payments
Bromley Mencap give more information about direct payments
paying bills
mobile top up is easier to understand than bills
it’s easier to stick with one energy company than change
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Paying bills makes me feel like an adult
I love spending my money on the cinema
I love saving money
My support worker gets my money. I don’t know how much Where does our tax go?
I want to work but there’s no support
There’s not enough going in to keep a savings account open
Money makes you feel special because you can go places
You think you have savings then a direct debit goes out
Services should be better value for money I sometimes do the lottery. Not for excitement just bonus cash
The new £5 notes get stuck together
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3 things to change
get easy read bills
budgeting services
need more money
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transport
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good things stations
Orpington and Bromley stations now have lifts
new stations in London have better disabled access
staff
friendly staff
buses
it’s good when you can see when the bus is coming on the display
we like the conductors on London buses
other passengers are kind
fares
freedom pass
you do not have to carry money for travel
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bad things buses
sometimes bus ramps don’t work
too crowded
sometimes 3 buses in a row will go by before we can get on
sometimes the touch in machines don’t work
bells don’t work
drivers
bus drivers not stopping for passengers
stopping at stops when no one is there
passengers
school kids are still rude
school kids take priority seats
pressing the bell too much
trains
sometimes trains pull out too fast
things getting better bus drivers
bus drivers get people to move down
better trained
they pull in to the kerb better
they wait for me to sit down
safety
less bus shelters get smashed
feel safer sitting at the front of the bus
more community police at school times
stations and trains
help buttons are good
it would be good to make it easier to find people to help in stations
ramps on trains
staff
transport staff trained in learning disabilities and difficulties and being polite
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We try to avoid school kids My carer had to take me in my wheelchair down the step from the bus and she hurt her back
I have a car now but that’s no excuse!
There’s an oyster card for staff too
If kids call you names try to see what school they are from and get help to contact the school so it can be stopped
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3 things to change
bus ramps should always work bus drivers should be helpful and polite every bus stop should have a shelter 29
keeping safe from harm
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good things
police communicate and talk well
road signs are clear
How about police to help people cross the road?
I used to feel strange with the police
You should keep your wallet and phone on you
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bad things
alarms on crossings are not safe for deaf people
the road outside Astley Day Centre is not safe
bus drivers and passengers are impatient when you get on the bus
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things getting better
lots of cars on the roads
better now that Bromley town centre is changed
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being lonely George introduced Jenny Manchester from Bromley Council. Jenny talked about being lonely. She showed a film about a man living on his own. He was being picked on. We did workshops. We talked about feeling lonely and being safe.
Rob Vale talked about trading standards. He talked about cold calling, and being safe on the internet and phone. Cold calling is when someone you do not know comes to your house and tries to sell you something. He talked about keeping your money safe, not telling anyone your bank details.
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Speaking Up Together Team Community House South Street Bromley BR1 1RH 020 8300 9666 and speak to Yaninka sut@advocacyforall.org.uk /biggervoice /biggervoices /advocacy4all www.advocacyforall.org.uk
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