Dudley People's Parliament
Dudley People's Parliament on employment took place on Friday 26th April.
Several MPs; Kevin Tomkins, Alan Slym and Judy Alcock challenged local decision makers about their pledges made at the last Parliament, which took place in July 2012.
Izzy Brant, MP and Chair Person spoke confidently questioning delegates from Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, staff from the Black Country Partnership Trust and the Employment Plus team.
The Employment Plus team shared the lives and experiences of two paid employees; Susan Baker and Roger Jones. We were able to hear about their positive experiences of being in employment, and the valuable work they do in their roles.
The People's Parliament has put employment high on the agenda within Dudley Council gaining support from John Polychronakis the Chief Executive for Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, who supported the MPs to hold delegates to account.
The pledges that were made were to create paid job opportunities, write a job carving policy and an accessible recruitment process within Dudley Council and the Black Country Partnership Trust. The MPs held the professionals to account, to make sure the needs and voices of people with learning disabilities and autism are herd and acted upon.
There were many delegates present, including Ian Austin, Labour MP. The MPs for Dudley's People's Parliament were pleased to hear from Mr Austin, and will continue to work with him as he has offered them the opportunity to shadow him either locally or in Parliament to see what his job involves.
All delegates were asked to give feedback on what they had achieved to meet their pledge. The MPs then commented on the outcomes and scored them against a new traffic light system. Some of the positive outcomes achieved included:
Councilor Dave Vickers was also present, supporting the work of the MPs and helping to secure the paid job opportunities the Black Country Partnership Trust had agreed to.
The MPs made it clear if they were happy with the feedback and set further actions for the next Parliament. The work is still on going, and we all hope it will continue to improve the opportunities available for people with learning disabilities and autism.
The next Parliament will take place on Friday 25th October 2013.
Read more...
Several MPs; Kevin Tomkins, Alan Slym and Judy Alcock challenged local decision makers about their pledges made at the last Parliament, which took place in July 2012.
Izzy Brant, MP and Chair Person spoke confidently questioning delegates from Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, staff from the Black Country Partnership Trust and the Employment Plus team.
The Employment Plus team shared the lives and experiences of two paid employees; Susan Baker and Roger Jones. We were able to hear about their positive experiences of being in employment, and the valuable work they do in their roles.
The People's Parliament has put employment high on the agenda within Dudley Council gaining support from John Polychronakis the Chief Executive for Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, who supported the MPs to hold delegates to account.
The pledges that were made were to create paid job opportunities, write a job carving policy and an accessible recruitment process within Dudley Council and the Black Country Partnership Trust. The MPs held the professionals to account, to make sure the needs and voices of people with learning disabilities and autism are herd and acted upon.
There were many delegates present, including Ian Austin, Labour MP. The MPs for Dudley's People's Parliament were pleased to hear from Mr Austin, and will continue to work with him as he has offered them the opportunity to shadow him either locally or in Parliament to see what his job involves.
All delegates were asked to give feedback on what they had achieved to meet their pledge. The MPs then commented on the outcomes and scored them against a new traffic light system. Some of the positive outcomes achieved included:
- Dudley Council have created 3 jobs. They were given an amber light, as they hadn't achieved the 5 agreed jobs.
- Lunch on the Run created 4 new jobs for people with learning disabilities.
Councilor Dave Vickers was also present, supporting the work of the MPs and helping to secure the paid job opportunities the Black Country Partnership Trust had agreed to.
The MPs made it clear if they were happy with the feedback and set further actions for the next Parliament. The work is still on going, and we all hope it will continue to improve the opportunities available for people with learning disabilities and autism.
The next Parliament will take place on Friday 25th October 2013.
On Tuesday 12th February Siraaj Nadat, Self Advocacy Officer and Izzy Brant, Chair of Dudley Peoples Parliament, attended 'Life in a Day', a conference for everyone with an interest in making employment a reality for people with disabilities. The event reported on the evaluation of a 3-year programme, funded by NHS West Midlands. It celebrated the ongoing work of many of the projects involved and showcased what had been learnt from a wide variety of approaches to the challenge of getting people into genuine employment.
Dudley People's Parliament was funded through this programme so Changing Our Lives were asked to present on the success of the Parliaments. Siraaj explained that, "To influence policy and shape services you need to build relationships between professionals, service providers and other people that use services to share knowledge, share problems and develop new ways of working together". Izzy and Siraaj showcased the work of People's Parliaments and how this model has brought about cultural change in terms of leadership and employment for people with learning disabilities right across the Black Country.
Izzy spoke proudly of her role as an MP and Chair of the Parliament and the ongoing training and development that she continues to undertake. Then proceeding to test and challenge the values and opinions in the room by presenting the delegates with controversial statements to debate in relation to people with learning disabilities and autism.
After the workshop, delegates were asked to describe what they thought of the workshop in one word...
Karen Ziglam, Area Operations Manager said, "Your workshop was one of the best that I have ever been to".
Please see what other delegates said about the workshop by clicking on the films below.
Read more...
Dudley People's Parliament was funded through this programme so Changing Our Lives were asked to present on the success of the Parliaments. Siraaj explained that, "To influence policy and shape services you need to build relationships between professionals, service providers and other people that use services to share knowledge, share problems and develop new ways of working together". Izzy and Siraaj showcased the work of People's Parliaments and how this model has brought about cultural change in terms of leadership and employment for people with learning disabilities right across the Black Country.
Izzy spoke proudly of her role as an MP and Chair of the Parliament and the ongoing training and development that she continues to undertake. Then proceeding to test and challenge the values and opinions in the room by presenting the delegates with controversial statements to debate in relation to people with learning disabilities and autism.
After the workshop, delegates were asked to describe what they thought of the workshop in one word...
Stimulating, thought provoking, interesting, inspirational, excellent, informative, fun, empowering, encouraging, inspiring, individual, great, lively, wonderful, awesome!
Karen Ziglam, Area Operations Manager said, "Your workshop was one of the best that I have ever been to".
Please see what other delegates said about the workshop by clicking on the films below.
Since the launch of Dudley Peoples Parliament in late July 2012, Dudley MP's have been working to learn more about the issues relating to employment and their role as an MP. "It takes a lot of hard work to develop into a good MP" said Izzy Brant, Chair of the Peoples Parliament in Dudley. In February Izzy will be part of a team that have been asked to present at the 'Life in a Day' conference to look at lessons learnt from the NHS Employment Support Programmed to talk about achieving cultural change and positive outcomes. This workshop will showcase the People.s Parliaments and how this model has brought about cultural change in terms of leadership and employment for people with learning disabilities right across the Black Country.
The next Parliament meeting to follow up the pledges made at the Employment Parliament in 2012 will be held at the Council Chambers at Dudley Council House between 2-4pm on Friday 26th April 2013.
For further information contact Lucy Dunstan on 0121 533 7174.
Read more...
The next Parliament meeting to follow up the pledges made at the Employment Parliament in 2012 will be held at the Council Chambers at Dudley Council House between 2-4pm on Friday 26th April 2013.
For further information contact Lucy Dunstan on 0121 533 7174.
Our Dudley MPs went to Westminster to talk about employment for people with disabilities. Here's what they said about their visit:
"Izzy, Alan, Kamal and I caught the Virgin train from Birmingham New Street to London Euston. When we arrived we took the underground to the Houses of Parliament.
Callum, Personal Assistant to Ian Austin, Dudley North MP, met us, gave us a short talk and then we went to the Public Gallery. We listened to Prime Minister's Question Time which included education and jobs, which is what Dudley Peoples Parliament are working on. Afterwards Calum took us on a short tour of Parliament, before returning to Euston where we had lunch. We arrived back in Birmingham late afternoon after a very interesting day. The following day at Dudley MP meeting we had a visit from Ian Austin, MP Dudley North. We asked questions and talked about the lack of opportunities for people with learning disabilities in the workplace and how people can be treated pretty badly. It was good very interesting, informative and exciting".
By Judy Allcock
"When I went to Westminster I learnt a lot about the difference in numbers between the people who don't have a disability and those who do that are in employment. I really enjoyed the experience and it was good to see the leaders David Cameron and Ed Millaband for the first time. I first went to Westminster on a school trip many years ago, so going again after so long was a good feeling. When I heard the Prime Minister (PM) and other MP's talking I learnt a lot about what's happening around employment. It taught me how important listening is, which will help me become a better MP. I was very happy to be there!"
By Kamal Jassal
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"Izzy, Alan, Kamal and I caught the Virgin train from Birmingham New Street to London Euston. When we arrived we took the underground to the Houses of Parliament.
Callum, Personal Assistant to Ian Austin, Dudley North MP, met us, gave us a short talk and then we went to the Public Gallery. We listened to Prime Minister's Question Time which included education and jobs, which is what Dudley Peoples Parliament are working on. Afterwards Calum took us on a short tour of Parliament, before returning to Euston where we had lunch. We arrived back in Birmingham late afternoon after a very interesting day. The following day at Dudley MP meeting we had a visit from Ian Austin, MP Dudley North. We asked questions and talked about the lack of opportunities for people with learning disabilities in the workplace and how people can be treated pretty badly. It was good very interesting, informative and exciting".
By Judy Allcock
"When I went to Westminster I learnt a lot about the difference in numbers between the people who don't have a disability and those who do that are in employment. I really enjoyed the experience and it was good to see the leaders David Cameron and Ed Millaband for the first time. I first went to Westminster on a school trip many years ago, so going again after so long was a good feeling. When I heard the Prime Minister (PM) and other MP's talking I learnt a lot about what's happening around employment. It taught me how important listening is, which will help me become a better MP. I was very happy to be there!"
By Kamal Jassal
Here are the minutes from Dudley People's Parliaments.
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The People's Parliament in Dudley was launched on 30th July live on Dudley's Council's webcam. Andrea Pope-Smith, Director of Adult Services, Communities and Housing opened the Parliament saying,
Ian Austin, MP for Dudley, made a short film in support of the Parliament as he was unable to attend. He recognized the importance of people with learning disabilities being the Experts in their own lives,
The focus of this first Parliament was employment. Julia Wade, manager of Employment Plus said that 43 people with learning disabilities in Dudley are already in paid employment and local research shows that a further 153 people with learning disabilities known to Council services are actively wanting to work. Dudley Council committed at the Parliament to supporting even more people with learning disabilities to get jobs by developing a Job Carving Policy and creating an accessible recruitment process. The People's Parliament will hold Select Committees to monitor progress, supported by councilor Steve Waltho, Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services and David Vickers, Conservative Councillor.
John Polychronakis, CEO of Dudley Council, closed the Parliament giving his full support to all of the pledges made by individual officers and commenting that the Parliament presented the business case for employing people with learning disabilities.
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She commented on the Parliament's ability to hold council officers and other professionals to account, "Words are not what cuts it with a People's Parliament, actions mean much more. You will be pinned down by the MPs and they will check up on you to make sure you are doing what you said you would.""The Parliament is a powerful vehicle to enrich the lives of people with learning disabilities in Dudley."
Ian Austin, MP for Dudley, made a short film in support of the Parliament as he was unable to attend. He recognized the importance of people with learning disabilities being the Experts in their own lives,
Ian will be working with the People's Parliament over the autumn, training them in what it means to be an MP and arranging for them to visit Westminster and shadow him in his role as a national MP."People with learning disabilities are the Experts: they don't want things done to them, they want to do things for themselves. That's why its important they are in the driving seat as MPs in this Parliament."
The focus of this first Parliament was employment. Julia Wade, manager of Employment Plus said that 43 people with learning disabilities in Dudley are already in paid employment and local research shows that a further 153 people with learning disabilities known to Council services are actively wanting to work. Dudley Council committed at the Parliament to supporting even more people with learning disabilities to get jobs by developing a Job Carving Policy and creating an accessible recruitment process. The People's Parliament will hold Select Committees to monitor progress, supported by councilor Steve Waltho, Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services and David Vickers, Conservative Councillor.
John Polychronakis, CEO of Dudley Council, closed the Parliament giving his full support to all of the pledges made by individual officers and commenting that the Parliament presented the business case for employing people with learning disabilities.
Changing Our Lives have established successful People's Parliaments in Sandwell and Wolverhampton made up of MPs who have learning disabilities. It's a proven way local people can have a powerful voice to help change policy and services.
With funding through the Employment Support Funding from the West Midlands Strategic Health Authority (SHA) we are now supporting adults with learning disabilities in Dudley to set up and run their own Parliament. The Parliament will not only focus on creation of employment by mainstream employers (via existing employment support services) but will also ensure that local health bodies and Councils employ people via job carving and develop an accessible recruitment process to put people with learning disabilities on a level playing field with everyone else. The first Parliament will sit on 30th July at Dudley Council Chambers.
Andrea Pope-Smith, Director of Adult, Community & Housing Services in Dudley welcomes the People's Parliament to Dudley - "This is a great opportunity to raise the profile of these challenging issues and work in real partnership with people with a learning disability. The Right to Work is something that is important to us all and we need to do everything we can to ensure people with a learning disability have that right to".
Councillor Steve Waltho, Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services said, "Dudley Council is pleased to work together with the People's Parliament to bring real tangible benefits to people with a learning disability and to employers. We will do whatever it takes to make sure everyone has the opportunity to bring their range of skills, talents and abilities to the workplace."
To find out more contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.