Mencap to host major European conference in Belfast

Maureen Piggot OBE, president of Inclusion Europe

Maureen Piggot OBE, president of Inclusion Europe

Mencap in Northern Ireland will host this year’s annual Europe in Action conference [www.EuropeInAction.org] with Inclusion Europe [inclusion-europe.org/en/about-us] in Belfast from 15-17 May. The conference will see delegates with a learning disability, their families and organisations from across the continent meet in Northern Ireland for the first time.

Europe in Action 2014 ‘Growing up with an intellectual disability’ will explore the impact of learning disability – or intellectual disability as it is referred to in Europe – on the lives of individuals and families from three different perspectives focusing on children and young people, family life and community life.

Encouraging people with a learning disability, family members, carers, professionals and policy makers to register to attend www.e-include.info/europeinaction/registration, Maureen Piggot OBE, president of Inclusion Europe and former Mencap in Northern Ireland director, said that discussions would inform Europe-wide policy.

“Europe In Action is an important conference for people with a learning disability, and this year I am looking forward to welcoming representatives from Inclusion Europe’s 67 member organisations to Belfast from as far as Russia in the east to Cyprus in the south,” she said.

“The conference is always an exciting, meaningful and diverse event as it draws together people from across the continent with different experiences of life, to discuss effective policies and practices to improve the quality of life of people with a learning disability and their families. As president of Inclusion Europe it will be my pleasure to welcome them to Northern Ireland.”

Delegates will contribute to discussions on empowering people with a learning disability and their families from early stage of life and will propose effective policies, strategies and practices to improve the quality of life for people with a learning disability and their families.

To register to attend and find out more about the conference see www.europeinaction.org

About Mencap

There are 33,000 people with a learning disability in Northern Ireland (1.5m in the UK), Mencap in Northern Ireland works to support people with a learning disability and their families and carers by fighting to change laws and improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities. Mencap supports thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want. You can find out more about our services by calling Mencap’s Helpline on 0808 808 1111 or by visiting www.mencap.org.uk/northern-ireland

 

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