Tag Archives: Learning difficulties
Unpaid Family carers ‘at breaking point’
Family carers ‘at breaking point’
Mencap ambassador Jo Whiley called for help to provide short breaks for carers
The majority of people who care for disabled family members have reached “breaking point”, a charity has warned.
Mencap said that eight in 10 people who care for loved ones with a learning disability feel they do not get the respite or support they need.
Despite the Government allocating funds for carers to have short breaks from their caring responsibilities, the money was not ring-fenced and is being spent elsewhere, the learning disability charity said.
Half the councils across England have cut short break services so carers are not getting any time to themselves, the charity’s report Short Breaks states.
Shopping centre auction raises thousands for learning disability charity
By Emma Hardwick, Reporter Sunday, January 27, 2013
8:00 AM
BIDDERS dug deep into their pockets to raise money for a “fabulous” local charity.
Members of the public spent one month bidding on an online auction, organised by the Howard Centre, in Welwyn Garden City, for Jubilee House, which helps young people with learning disabilities.
Chief executive Catharine Hopper was awarded the cheque in the shopping centre by members of staff who organised the auction late last year.
She said: “It is really good that local businesses have worked together to support a local charity.
Easy News: an extract on the Winterbourne View abuse scandal
A newspaper by and for people with learning disabilities
Care home abuse exposed
In 2011 the BBC showed a programme called Panorama which upset a lot of people.
It showed people with learning disabilities being abused by care workers in a private hospital.
The hospital was called Winterbourne View. After the programme, it was investigated by the police.
In 2012, 11 care workers were put on trial to decide if they were guilty of crimes.
Six care workers have now gone to jail.
Five others have been given suspended sentences. This means they do not go to prison unless they get into trouble again.
The Judge said that if the BBC had not shown the abuse, the staff would have carried on being cruel.
