Latest news
News archive: January 2009 - March 2009
12 March 2009 - National Family Carer Network seeks Director
The National Family Carer Network is recruiting for a part-time Director.
12 March 2009 - Our Early Day Motion
An Early Day Motion (EDM) supporting the Coalition's work has attracted 164 signatures from MPs. The EDM calls on the Government to recognise the problems being cause for people with learning disabilities through the under-funding of social care and calls on them to address the issue in the forthcoming Green Paper on the future of social care.
Read Community Care's coverage
There is still time to call on your MP to sign, if you have not done so already! Click here to email your MP
12 March 2009 - New report makes link between premature births and learning disability
A new report has show that by the age of eleven, 13% of children who were born extremely prematurely will be attending special schools. The increased survival of extremely premature children is a key one in terms of the future demographics of people with learning disabilities.
Read the Indepedent's coverage
11 March 2009 - LGA calls for increased funding for social care
The Local Government Association has published an analysis of the funding problems in social care, calling on the Government to make more money available for service provision and to raise awareness of the importance of the social care system.
11 March 2009 - JRF lays out plans for future of social care
The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has published a report detailing its ideas for the future of social care. However, its plans focus on provision for older people, rather than other groups that use the social care system such as people with learning disabilities.
9 March 2009 - MPs debate the human rights of people with learning disabilities
MPs have discussed the human rights of people with learning disabilities at a Westminster Hall debate. Stephen Ladyman MP, an advisor to the Coalition, called on the Government to commission research into the number of people with a learning disability.
Read a transciption of the debate
4 March 2009 - Coalition seeks Campaigns & Policy Intern
We are recruiting for an intern to help us to campaign for better funding for services for people with learning disabilities.
23 February 2009 - Majority favours increased investment in social care
According to a survey carried out by Leonard Cheshire, 86% of British adults would favour increased investment in social care if it meant that everybody who needs social care was able to receive it. Three quarters of people rated social care as being as important as the NHS.
19 February 2009 - Support the Stay Up Late Campaign
Many people with learning disabilities have to go home early from evening events simply because of their supporters are not employed to work late shifts. The Stay Up Late campaign, led by punk band Heavy Load and supported by Mencap, are calling on people to take action - and fight for the right to party!
04 February 2009 - Prison system failing people with learning disabilities
A report by the Prison Reform Trust has criticised the treatment of people with mental health problems and learning disabilities by the prison system.
04 February 2009 - Care reform 'too difficult' for Tories
David Brindle, the Guardian's Public Services Editor, discusses the Tories' plans to reform the social care system.
03 February 2009 - Underfunding of services examined by More 4 News
An investigation by More 4 News looks at the impact of lack of funding for Government plans to move people with learning disabilities into community care.
28 January 2009 - Vacancies at People First
People First, one of the Coalition's member organisations, is looking for a Support Worker for the Director and a Money Planning and Management Worker.
19 January 2009 - Government releases new strategy for people with a learning disability
The Government has published Valuing People Now, its strategy for people with learning disabilities.
14 January 2009 - Hammersmith and Fulham council cuts free home care
Despite opposition from local groups, the High Court has reached a decision to allow Hammersmith and Fulham council to charge for home care services. The council has announced that it will charge up to £10 per hour for previously free care.
12 January 2009 - Plea for just ruling on 'Death by Indifference'
Mencap is urging the Parliamentary and Health Ombudsman to condemn the actions of the NHS which led to the preventable deaths of six people with a learning disability. The ruling is expected to be issued later this month.
8 January 2009 - Coalition seeks Campaigns & Policy Intern
We are seeking an intern to join our team to help us to campaign for better funding for social care for people with learning disabilities.
8 January 2009 - Sign up to Sense's new e-newsletter
Sense, one of the Coalition's members, are launching a new quarterly electronic newsletter about the issues affecting deafblind people.
5 January 2009 - Joint Committee on Human Rights criticises Government's lack of transparency
A new report by The Joint Committee on Human Rights has criticised the Government's lack of transparency and consultation over the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
5 January 2009 - Anger over Kent 'restructuring'
Kent Partnership Board has hit out at Kent County Council's proposed changes in service provision for people with learning disabilities.
News Archive:
2010
2009
July 2009 - December 2009
2008
October 2008 - December 2008
2007
November 2007 - January 2008