We want a world where people with a learning disability and their families and carers are listened to and included in the decisions that affect their lives. — Mencap

A general election is upon us here in the UK – an opportunity to make our voices heard and to choose the leadership not only of the central Government, but locally too.

At Apple House homes, we know that everyone has the fundamental right to have their voice heard, to vote according to their individual beliefs, and free from influence or coercion.  We therefore adopt a multitude of aids to ensure that everyone supported within our services, has the means at their disposal to register their vote.

Easy Read manifestos are just one means of making information accessible on which to base decision.  All of the major parties, with the exception of The Liberal Democrats, agreed to produce easy read editions of their manifestos.  In addition, discussion within our homes has been ongoing since the election was called; from the dinner table to house meetings to visits by local candidates, the election has been the same hot topic as it has been in most households within the UK.

Learning Disability England state, ‘People with learning disabilities need to be able to ask questions of candidates and have access to manifestos in a format that is useful for them.   Sometimes people with learning disabilities don’t realise that they can vote – carers may try and speak for them.   People who are in residential homes don’t always get to vote. You can still vote if you have a learning disability. Even if you do not communicate using words.’

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“We have spent the last few weeks getting ready to vote.  T voted by post last week, posting off his postal vote.  K and R went to the polling station today, having gone through the Easy News May 2016 special EU edition.  Both were very keen to have their say and expressed strong opinions on the issues that the magazine raised.

We have decided that, after the results are known tomorrow, we shall all get on with our weekend at Summerwood and that everything will be the same here at home.  Here is a photo from today.” –– John Caslake, Registered Manager, Summerwood.

Residents at all of our homes are being supported today to vote if they wish to do so.  A big day for us all, this being only the third time in British history that a national referendum has taken place!

Our role during any national election is to support our residents to have access to information on all aspects of voting, so that they are empowered to make the choices that reflect their views, their needs, their futures.

The EU Referendum is fast approaching.  June 23rd will see a national vote on staying in or leaving the European Union.  There has been minimal literature provided to households surrounding the benefits of leaving, more so surrounding the benefits of remaining ‘in.’

Therefore, we continue to source other means of information including the useful Mencap/Electoral Commission Easy Read Guide.  Click HERE to read it.  News, discussions, house meetings – there are so many ways to ensure that every single voice is heard, that every individual has their say if they want to do so.

As with much of the Nation, our team is representative of the diverse views on this: the INs, the OUTs, the UNDECIDEDs.  We welcome the views of our team on matters that effect our communities and wider country.  John Caslake, Registered Manager at Summerwood, shares his views on the current EU Referendum in the context of immigration and the wider topic of social care and recruitment:

“For all those living in and those working in care, days are full of diversity and difference that we celebrate.

As a manager in a labour-intensive industry, I am always on the lookout for caring and compassionate staff who will put the interests of the people they care for first.  Many staff in social care are foreign nationals (both from Europe and the wider world), with the right to work in the UK.   They come here for a variety of reasons, but all believe that the UK is a great place to live and work.

Immigrants are a vital part of the social care system; without their valuable input, the sector could struggle to provide the quality of care that residents demand and providers expect.” –– John Caslake, Registered Manager, Summerwood.

Whatever the outcome of the Referendum, it really has been interesting to follow and be a part of the vote.