Having a voice in bromley report

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

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working with other people

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friends

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happier not bored

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the more money you have the more choices you have

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you can buy clothes and go on holiday

direct debits 

direct debits are brilliant

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save time

direct payments 

direct payments can give some people value for money

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bad things work 

hours are a problem

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can stop you doing other things

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no support for employers to get better

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with supported work you lose your benefit

banks 

banks can be scary

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nobody to talk to

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overdrafts are confusing

budgeting and saving 

running out of money too quick

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no money for unexpected things

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hard to budget

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wasting money on little things

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remembering where money is can be hard

benefits

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don’t understand benefit forms

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benefits are hard to get

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you have to travel a long way for a PIP assessment

things getting better budgeting 

would like support with budgeting

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budgeting should be taught in schools

more support 

would like a weekly surgery about money or a 1 to 1 talk

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person centred plan about money

direct payments 

need receipts for direct payments

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Bromley Mencap give more information about direct payments

paying bills 

mobile top up is easier to understand than bills

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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

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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

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we like the conductors on London buses

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other passengers are kind

fares 

freedom pass

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you do not have to carry money for travel

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bad things buses 

sometimes bus ramps don’t work

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too crowded

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sometimes 3 buses in a row will go by before we can get on

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sometimes the touch in machines don’t work

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bells don’t work

drivers 

bus drivers not stopping for passengers

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stopping at stops when no one is there

passengers 

school kids are still rude

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school kids take priority seats

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pressing the bell too much

trains 

sometimes trains pull out too fast

things getting better bus drivers 

bus drivers get people to move down

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better trained

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they pull in to the kerb better

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they wait for me to sit down

safety 

less bus shelters get smashed

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feel safer sitting at the front of the bus

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more community police at school times

stations and trains 

help buttons are good

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it would be good to make it easier to find people to help in stations

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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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