Self-Advocacy

Through a range of self-advocacy and creative project work, we work with people with a learning disability and/or autism, building their confidence, knowledge and skills to speak up about the things that are important to them.

Whether advocating on behalf of yourself or a group of people, we believe self- advocacy can improve quality of life, influence decision making, impact legislation and possibly change the world!

Click here for more information on self-advocacy.

Do you see me?

This film is a celebration of the lives, contributions, and achievements of local people with a learning disability living in Warrington.

As you watch people share their stories you will be both inspired and challenged.

Do we truly see, hear, know, value and respect people for who they are?

The film has been produced by Warrington Speak Up, with contributions from self-advocates at Speak Up 4 All and members of the Gardening Gang, Fit for Tackle and Friendship Group.

Thank you to everyone who took part – you are all incredible!

Any 1 of Us – Speaking up about mental health

This course has been developed to support adults with learning disabilities and includes:

• 4 workshops to help you look after your mental health
• To build your confidence when talking about mental health
• To help you to help others to think positively about mental health

For more information contact Andrea on [email protected]

Peer Support Group

Following the success of the ‘Any 1 of Us’ workshops, a peer support group has been set up to help individuals who have undertaken the course, to continue to build their confidence when talking about their mental health. The group meets monthly and aims to help each other to think positively about their mental well-being.

The sessions are taking place the third Thursday of each month in the Pause Room from 1pm – 2pm.

For more information contact Andrea on [email protected]

This is me!

Six women took part in an eight-week pilot project called This is Me!

It was a thought-provoking journey, using the creative arts to explore who we are and what makes us unique as women.

These photographs capture just some of our activities.

At the end of the project everyone shared that they were keen to continue their journey.

Working Together – Nothing about us without us!

Working Together – Nothing about us without us!  (what services like to call co-production)

We are working together with different organisations to help make services better for autistic people and people with leaning disabilities.

In the last 12 months we have worked on projects with universities, NHS England, Merseycare, Warrington Borough Council and other local groups.

One of our favourite projects has been helping social workers understand how best to work with us!  

Five self-advocates have also been involved in recruiting new social workers to the council. It was a lot of hard getting ready for the interviews,  asking questions, and thinking about their answers. We were involved all the way through and at the end managers came and asked us what we thought. They really listened to what we had to say, and it made a difference to the decisions they made. When the social workers start their new jobs we help to train them to do a good job!

Here’s a photo of us all!