Parents petition political leaders to bring their children with a learning disability home

(from left to right) Lynne McCarrick, Tom Clarke MP, Leo Andrade, Phill Wills, Nina Ni, Sarah Newton MP (Truro & Falmouth), Ann Early and Rob Holland (Parliamentary lead, Mencap) [PIC: mfisher.photo]

(from left to right) Lynne McCarrick, Tom Clarke MP, Leo Andrade, Phill Wills, Nina Ni, Sarah Newton MP (Truro & Falmouth), Ann Early and Rob Holland (Parliamentary lead, Mencap) [PIC: mfisher.photo]

Petitions with almost 300,000 signatures delivered to Number 10 Downing Street and parliament

Yesterday (Tuesday 24 March 2015), five parents whose children with a learning disability are, or have been, stuck in assessment and treatment units, delivered their collective petitions to Number 10 Downing Street and to the Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition, calling on whoever forms the next government to bring their children home. Their Change.org petitions have generated almost 300,000 signatures of support from the British public to date*.

One of the parents delivering the petitions was mum Ann Early, whose son Simon faced abuse at Winterbourne View. Anne is calling on the Prime Minister, David Cameron, and the other party leaders to take responsibility for ensuring that national government, local government and the NHS keep their promise to move people with a learning disability out of units like Winterbourne View**. Anne and her son, Simon, have told their story as part of Mencap’s Hear my voice campaign, which is supporting people with a learning disability and their families to tell election candidates about the issues they want to see action on in the next parliament.

The delivery of the petitions followed the families’ joining a parliamentary meeting where NHS England Chief Executive, Simon Stevens addressed MPs and Peers about the commitment he has made to close institutions and support people with a learning disability to live in the community.

The All Party Parliamentary Groups on Learning Disability and Disability joined together to hold the meeting, giving parliamentarians, people with a learning disability, family members and carers a last opportunity before parliament rises for the General Election campaign to ask senior officials how the Government, NHS and other agencies will meet their commitment to move people out of assessment and treatment units and back into the community. The meeting was co-chaired by Tom Clarke MP and Anne McGuire MP.

Mencap President Lord Rix has been hugely influential in the campaign to bring people with a learning disability home from inappropriate units. He attended the APPG and said: 

“Ever since BBC Panorama exposed the horrific abuse at Winterbourne View, myself and friends in both the Commons and the Lords have together with Mencap been working hard to keep the matter high on the political agenda so that we help people with a learning disability who are trapped in similar units get back into their communities.

“There is still a great amount of work to be done and we will continue to shout loudly so that the next Government, whoever they may be, picks up the mantel – until all people with a learning disability are supported to live independent lives in their communities together with their friends and families.”

Families and MPs went on to question the panel on a large range of issues, from investing in sustainable community support and services to holding services to account when they fail to support someone in their care.

One such parent was Phill Wills. Phill’s 13-year-old son Josh is stuck in a unit 250 miles away from his family home in Cornwall. On the one-year anniversary of the launch of his ‘Bring Josh Home’ petition, which amassed over 240,000 signatures, Phill said: 

“For Josh, our whole family and our 241,000 supporters, delivering our petition to Number 10 Downing Street marked the end of our first year – a year that has seen non-stop campaigning and heartfelt support to get Josh’s voice heard.

“But our work isn’t done. Josh still isn’t home. The wheels are turning slowly but we need to keep going and make sure this isn’t all for nothing. We must make sure that Josh and every other person who is stuck in a unit gets what they have a right to – a family life and a place to call home.

“People like the Care Minister, Norman Lamb, Tom Clarke MP and my local MP Sarah Newton have been fundamental in driving this campaign forward. We have an election coming up and we don’t know who will be in power come May. But what we do know is that the next government – no matter who they are – must carry on this vital campaign to bring our loved ones home.”

Leo Andrade’s 20-year-old son Stephen was stuck in an assessment and treatment unit for two years where he was not allowed outside and was on a mix of inappropriate drugs. She was one of the parents delivering the petition:

“To the next government I would say please, please keep driving this work forward. Find ways for people to keep their families together, where the child is in a loving environment where they belong – and if that isn’t enough, remember it’s actually cheaper than keeping our children in units. They don’t belong in these places where no one can possibly care for them as we do.

“I am supporting Mencap’s Hear my Voice campaign because it allows us to say to all of the people in power, and the people who might come into power, “hear us – the parents – we are important people for you to listen to. We are the best people to teach you about what is happening to our kids.”

About Mencap 

There are 1.4 million people with a learning disability in the UK. Mencap works to support people with a learning disability, their families and carers by fighting to change laws, 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. www.mencap.org.uk

For advice and information about learning disability and Mencap services in your area, contact Mencap Direct on 0808 808 1111 (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday) or email help@mencap.org.uk

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