WHAT’S NEW?

WHAT’S NEW?

People First (Scotland)

COUNTDOWN TO THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT’S
COMING HOME DEADLINE

The Scottish Government has made the promise to ‘significantly reduce’ long hospital stays and out-of-area residential placements for people with learning disabilities or complex needs by March 2024.

People First (Scotland) welcomes this announcement but a single day longer living in these places is too long. We will post updates here on this work, too many promises have been made before and not kept.

We ask the Scottish Government to abolish substitute decision-making and establish supported decision-making across Scotland, realising and respecting our human rights to independent and family life.

Power Women: Gender-Based Violence and Leadership Course

Members of the Equally Safe Group have been working with the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities to design a course. This course is called Power Women.

Power Women has been designed to empower people with learning disabilities who identify as women. There will be sessions to share and gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to become leaders and make Scotland a better place for women and girls with learning disabilities who have experienced gender-based violence.

You can find more information about the course clicking below!

A New Law for People with Learning Disabilities

People First (Scotland) are pleased to share our film about the new Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiversity Bill. We have been campaigning for a new law for learning disability for over 20 years. In the film we share our key messages and set out what we want to see in the new Bill so that our Human Rights are fully realised and upheld in Scottish Law.

We have also written a statement that you can find by clicking on the image below.

Please share your support by sending the following information:

  1. your name
  2. the date you are signing
  3. the name of the organisation you represent or sign for (if appropriate)
  4. the logo of the organisation you represent or sign for (if appropriate)

Please email to admin@peoplefirstscotland.org with ‘SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE FIRST (SCOTLAND) (LDAN 2023) STATEMENT’ as your subject heading.

‘Our Lives, Our Rights’ event

In March 2023 we held an event in Fife called ‘Our Lives, Our Rights’. Over 25 people with learning disabilities attended the event. We connected digitally with some people who stay in long stay hospital.
We connected with young people, and people who had never been to People First events before. We spoke about the laws in Scotland that affect us and the rights we demand. You can read more by clicking on the hand symbol below.

Report on Gender-Based Violence

People First (Scotland) and the Scottish Commission for people with Learning Disabilities have written a report called ‘Unheard, Unequal, Unjust – But not hidden anymore : Women with Learning Disabilities experience of Gender-Based Violence in Scotland.’

The report is difficult to read as it talks about the level of abuse that women with a learning disability experience throughout their lives. We will continue to raise awareness and campaign for an end to violence against women with a Learning Disability. You can read the report by clicking on the hand symbol below.

People First (Scotland) Annual Report

People First (Scotland) have published our Annual Report for 2021-2022.

You can read it by clicking on the hand symbol below.

Information about the Cost of Living

People First (Scotland) have created an Easy Read document with information about the Cost of Living.

You can read it by clicking on the hand symbol below.

What is Domestic Abuse?

People First (Scotland) have created some Easy Read information about Domestic Abuse in partnership with the Scottish Commission for Learning Disability and Scottish Government. If you are experiencing Domestic Abuse, or are worried about someone that is, then remember that you are not alone and help is available. You can read more by clicking on the hand symbol below.

What is Coercive and Controlling Behaviour?

As well as Easy Read information about Domestic Abuse, we have also created information about Coercive and Controlling behaviour and where to find help. You can read more by clicking on the hand symbol below.

People First Alternative Summary on the Scottish Mental Health Law Review

At the beginning of 2020, the Scottish Mental Health Law Review carried out a consultation for Phase 1 of the review. People First (Scotland) met with the chair of the review, John Scott, on a number of occasions and submitted a written response to the consultation. The Review has now published a summary of the various responses that were gathered.

We were disappointed to see that the summary makes no mention of the contributions and views that People First provided. Although John Scott kindly reassured us that learning disability issues would be included in the next report, the Law and Human Rights Group have decided to go ahead with our alternative summary to address this. You can read our version by clicking on the hand symbol below.

(Please note that the summary is not in Easy Read format. It has been developed with the intention of influencing professionals and decision-makers and is aimed at them)