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'Empowering young people with learning disabilities and physical disabilities to have a voice, speak up and be listened to'

About Voiceability:

Voiceability supports and empowers people with learning difficulties, disabilities and mental health problems to speak up for themselves. We provide a variety of services, including advocacy, self advocacy based projects and consultancy and training. Our mission is Voice – Action – Change.

What makes our Voiceability unique:

• Voiceability is an independent group of 25 young people with learning difficulties and disabilities.
• We empower young people to set their own agenda and choose issues that are important to them.
• We are proactive in taking action and making positive changes in services.
• The Youth MP’s are in control of how the Parliament works, including when and where it is held, who is invited and what changes they want to make.
• We are all about action!

How young people can become MPs:

Roadshows and 1:1 Interviews

• We will be holding roadshows within different services to explain what the Youth Parliament is and how young people can take part. Roadshows will be taking place from October 2008.
• Each young person who would like to stand as an MP has an individual meeting with a Youth Parliament staff member to ensure they understand what the role will involve.

Preparing for Campaigns

• Each young person who wishes to stand as a Youth MP will put a campaign together to tell everyone what they want to make better and why people should vote for them.
• This will be done through posters, DVDs and speeches.

Elections and Induction

• Candidates present their speeches to their peers. Each person can vote for who they would like to represent them. The votes are counted - the candidate is then told and a public announcement is made. Elections start in January 2009;
• Once elected as a Youth MP, each young person will attend an induction session.

Action Days:

• Before each Parliament, Action groups will take place where the MPs have a chance to prepare for the Parliament meeting.
• This will include things such as planning consultation exercises to complete with their peers, setting the agenda for the Parliament day and preparing presentations that will be delivered to guests.

Parliament Meetings:

• Parliament meetings will be held every two to three months. The first Parliament will take place in April 2009.
• The shape and content of each Parliament meeting will be decided by the Youth MPs with support from Project staff.
• They will be planned, designed and led by the Youth MPs, so that they are fully involved and will have the opportunity to speak directly to professionals.

Below are some examples of issues young people might want to make changes about:

Campaigning for Change:

• After Parliament days, the Youth MPs will continue to take the issue that was discussed forward.
• This will be done by consulting with their peers, speaking to relevant professionals and continuing to raise awareness and influence decision makers.
• This could involve contacting the media, collating petitions and holding demonstrations.

Youth MPs will need to be able to:

• Attend Meetings, Action days and Parliament days
• Speak about issues on behalf of other people
• Be committed for at least a year

Benefits of being an MP:

• Personal development – gain confidence
• Actively participate in their local community
• Feel valued and have a sense of achievement
• Help to make other people’s lives better

If you would like to know more information, or if you know a young person that would like to learn more about what we can offer, please contact Jenna Hayes on 0115 9628278 or 07872 601130.

http://www.speakingup.org