Let Me In leaflet (2012)

DISABILITY SHOULDN’T BE A BARRIER

‘LET ME IN’ is the new national campaign from Livability, the UK’s largest Christian disability charity.

The campaign aims to make a significant and tangible difference to the lives of thousands of disabled and vulnerable people in the UK. We will do this by championing inclusion and knocking down the barriers that can still prevent disabled people from living as they really want to.

There are over 11 million disabled people in the UK. Each has a unique contribution to make to society.

Our vision for ‘LET ME IN’ is to equip and enable disabled people to live life to the full and to play an active part in their community.

Three cAMPAIGN OBJECTIVES ‘LET ME IN’ will focus on three core objectives:

Lifelong learning Developing knowledge, skills and confidence through ongoing learning.

Learn more about lifelong learning and Dave’s story inside ->

Personal independence Enabling disabled people to make real choices about their lives.

Sharon’s story of personal independence ->

Taking part Ensuring that disabled people can play the part they choose to in society.

Find out how we are helping Kay to take part ->

For more information call 020 7452 2121 Email us on letmein@livability.org.uk Go to our website www.livability.org.uk/letmein Twitter @livabilityuk #LetMeIn

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Freedom to live the life you choose Despite huge progress in the past 20 years, many disabled people still face difficulty when attempting basic, everyday activities.

‘LET ME IN’ will work together with disabled people of all ages to remove these unacceptable barriers to high quality education, suitable housing and full participation in social activities.

Over the next few years, this campaign and appeal will help Livability raise vital funds to provide even greater support and improved services to disabled people.

33%

HATE CRIME AGAINST DISABLED PEOPLE ROSE BY ONE THIRD IN 20111

We will also campaign so that society better understands and identifies the barriers that still prevent disabled people from fulfilling their potential.

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LIFELONG LEARNING

Developing knowledge, skills and confidence through ongoing learning.

Barriers to lifelong learning: Disabled people are less than half as likely to be in employment than their non-disabled peers2, and for people with learning disabilities, this figure drops to less than one in ten having a job3.

We want to open doors to lifelong learning by: • Campaigning for the protection and funding of post-19 education. Disabled people are twice as likely not to hold any qualifications compared to non-disabled people • Working with disabled people to train, prepare and equip them for employment and to work with employers to raise awareness of the benefits of employing disabled people • Changing attitudes towards the employability of disabled people by ensuring that they are able to add real value to the work environment. See our campaign films at www.livability.org.uk/letmein • Showing the importance of education and lifelong learning in helping disabled people develop their skills and independence

Dave’s graphic venture Dave looked hard for a job for three years. He has a degree in digital animation and has work experience from design studios.

They told Dave his work was good. Although he got job interviews, he wasn’t given the job. Setting up his own graphic design business seemed to be the next step. Dave heard about Livability’s Enterprise Agency and he signed up for the eight-week

course on setting up your own business. ‘I found the course very helpful, especially the talks on writing a press release and on tax when you’re selfemployed. If you’re thinking about going on the course, I would say definitely go for it for support, advice and meeting other people.’

Dave is delighted that his business is growing and his cash flow is even better than his forecast.

See Dave’s business at www.davescates.com

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Personal independence

Making sure disabled people can make real choices about their lives.

This means having access to adapted housing, transport and the latest technologies that allow independence.

Barriers to personal independence: Many disabled people live with unacceptable levels of poor or unsuitable housing. Despite this, more hours are spent stuck at home, with disabled people travelling one-third less than non-disabled people5.

We want to open doors to personal independence by: • Providing accommodation that really works for disabled people – over 40 per cent of wheelchair users experiencing difficulty moving around their existing home6

• Campaigning for suitable accommodation for younger disabled people - around 40 per cent of disabled 16-24 year olds live in accommodation that doesn’t meet their needs • Providing technology and communication aids which can transform everyday living for disabled people

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dence Sharon’s indepen Living at a Livability residential centre allows Sharon to be as independent as possible: ‘This is the best place I’ve ever lived in.

The staff help me get organised so I can go out and about on my own. They really try to make things as good as they can for me.’ Last year was a memorable one for Sharon because she and fellow resident

Tom took part in a special ceremony to bless their commitment to each other. ‘It was amazing!’ she says.

‘Tom’s just like an angel.

He treats me right.’

Next to Tom, music and football are the most important things in Sharon’s life: ‘I’m a big Arsenal fan and what I really want to do is go to London and watch them train. What I say is - you’ve got to live life to the full.’

TAKING PART

Ensuring that disabled people can play the part they choose to in society, and are able to add value and feel valued by contributing to their local community.

Barriers to taking part: Hate crime against disabled people rose by one-third in 20111. We want to change this and work with disabled people so they can fully engage with and contribute to society.

We want to open doors to taking part by: • Enabling disabled people to access the full range of leisure activities that their community has to offer • Overcoming transport challenges which prevent people getting out • Equipping disabled people to be advocates for their peers • Creating opportunities for disabled people to express their spirituality • Providing modern, accessible holiday accommodation

Kay gets social Kay loves being part of a Livability social group in Plymouth.

‘It’s brilliant! We get a newsletter once a month with dates for everything. We go for coffee at the Theatre Royal, and I went to the musical Grease which was very good.

I’ve signed up to go

to Paignton Zoo this month.’ Kay is glad that Livability asks the group what they want to do and lets them make decisions. She says the group has helped her to be more confident. And this year, Kay went to London with Livability to take part in a government consultation about disability.

• Increasing volunteering opportunities

Independent newspaper, 2012 | Labour Force Survey, Quarter 2, 2011 | 3Livability, Freedom to Live report, 2008 | 4 Labour Force Survey, Quarter 2, 2010 | 5Attitudes of Disabled People to Transport | 6Livability, Freedom to Live report, 2008 1

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For more information call 020 7452 2121 Email us on letmein@livability.org.uk Go to our website www.livability.org.uk/letmein Twitter @livabilityuk #LetMeIn

Please support OUR ‘Let me in’ campaign Help create a future where all disabled people can fulfil their true potential.

Help us provide disabled people with the services and support they deserve.

Here is how you can take part:

£

8%

GivE a gift

www.livability.org.uk/letmein

Sign-up to the campaign on OUR WEBSITE www.livability.org.uk/letmein

Pray for the success of the campaign Get your church involved www.churchesinc.org.uk

Text 70006 to give £10 now

Livability is the UK’s largest Christian disability charity We create choices for disabled people and bring life to local communities.

Charity registration no. 1116530 Company registration no. 5967087 Transforming society for disabled and disadvantaged people for over 160 years.

Formerly the Shaftesbury Society and John Grooms.

Central office Livability, 50 Scrutton Street London, EC2A 4XQ

For more information call 020 7452 2121 Email us on letmein@livability.org.uk Go to our website www.livability.org.uk/letmein Twitter @livabilityuk #LetMeIn

Less than 8% of people with learning disabilities are in paid employment Source: NHS Information Centre Social Care and Mental Health Indicator 2008.09