Durham Advisory Group Members

Here, our Durham Advisory Group tell us what's important about sharing their lived experience of the services of a Local Authority.

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Charles, Paul, Thomas, Nina & Dean are some of the members of the Durham Advisory Group.

The group exists to make sure people with a learning disability who may also be autistic have a say about how services run.

They meet every two months to advise Durham County Council’s Adult Social Care teams how to improve life for people with a learning disability.

The group have been meeting for a year now and are helping the council make a new plan called a ‘Learning Disability Commissioning Strategy’.

All the important conversations the group have been having over the last year will be brought together to help the council make their plan.

They have talked about topics such as:

  • Jobs
  • Health
  • Transport
  • Equal opportunities

…plus, many more

These members are supported by Inspiring Lives in Stanley to attend the Durham Advisory Group.

They also run separate meetings at Inspiring Lives.  They tell people what has been talked about in the Durham Advisory Group meetings and ask people what their own thoughts are.

 

Here are what these members have to say about being part of this group:

Paul – “We come up with ideas to make life easier for others in care. It is important for me to feel that my voice is heard, I might be in a wheelchair, but I can still reply to your questions.”

Thomas – “I enjoy being a member to share my opinions and lived experience in care”

Charles – “I like to go to the Durham Advisory Group to meet new people & make friends. I listen to what they say then me and the other Inspiring Lives Ambassadors get feedback from our friends at the centre. All of our experiences help to make care better for others, this makes me so proud”.

Nina – “It makes me feel good about myself to help others and also gives me confidence”.

Dean – “I went to Durham Advisory Group recently for the first time and loved it, I can’t wait to become a member”.

Charles, Paul, Thomas, Nina & Dean are some of the members of the Durham Advisory Group.

The group exists to make sure people with a learning disability who may also be autistic have a say about how services run.

They meet every two months to advise Durham County Council’s Adult Social Care teams how to improve life for people with a learning disability.

The group have been meeting for a year now and are helping the council make a new plan called a ‘Learning Disability Commissioning Strategy’.

All the important conversations the group have been having over the last year will be brought together to help the council make their plan.

They have talked about topics such as:

  • Jobs
  • Health
  • Transport
  • Equal opportunities

…plus, many more

These members are supported by Inspiring Lives in Stanley to attend the Durham Advisory Group.

They also run separate meetings at Inspiring Lives.  They tell people what has been talked about in the Durham Advisory Group meetings and ask people what their own thoughts are.

Here are what these members have to say about being part of this group:

Paul – “We come up with ideas to make life easier for others in care. It is important for me to feel that my voice is heard, I might be in a wheelchair, but I can still reply to your questions.”

Thomas – “I enjoy being a member to share my opinions and lived experience in care”

Charles – “I like to go to the Durham Advisory Group to meet new people & make friends. I listen to what they say then me and the other Inspiring Lives Ambassadors get feedback from our friends at the centre. All of our experiences help to make care better for others, this makes me so proud”.

Nina – “It makes me feel good about myself to help others and also gives me confidence”.

Dean – “I went to Durham Advisory Group recently for the first time and loved it, I can’t wait to become a member”.