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August 10 Update

2010-08-05T13:30:49+01:00

August 2010

Hello all it does not feel like 4 months since I last wrote a blog for the project.

This might be because since the last one I’ve had some paternity leave and I am a dad for the second time.

This has not stopped the work continuing and developing the project and increasing awareness of disability hate crime issues in general

Locally I’ve continued to spread the word and make people with a learning disability and their supporters aware of the issues. We still do not have the number of reported incidents at anything like the rate they should be if the stories people tell me are true.

This is a huge issue for the project and increasing reporting (or at least awareness of how to report) is a key part of the project. This work will continue.

I’ve talked to Deborah who is the anti-bullying coordinator for Calderdale Schools and we might well work together in Nov during anti-bullying week.

I’ve been working with people from Wakefield to look at developing a DVD resource regarding Hate (and in particular Mate) Crime. This will involve staff and students Hemsworth Arts and Community College, a drama group from Millennium Care and the Safety Net Project. The work will start in the new school term in Sept.

We have delivered awareness sessions for a number of groups in Calderdale and took part in the event for Learning Disability Awareness Week.

Calderdale Social Services has also received a visit from its Inspectors and Safety Net attended a number of meetings about the work we are doing during this time.

I’ve also attended a Hate Crime Partnership Board meeting locally and the regional event of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Formal Enquiry

The two biggest pieces of work being undertaken are the half-day sessions we have done (one in July the other is in Sept) for people with a learning disability, their families and supporters at the Square Chapel. The presentations and information from these events will be put on the website after the Sept event.

However the initial feedback from those attending was very positive. Sarah and Michael worked hard to develop, practice and deliver these sessions and there are a few photos on the website. Thanks go to the local Police, Adult Safeguarding and Hate Crime Officers for attending the events and sharing their knowledge.

There are a number of conferences coming up in the autumn and Safety Net will be presenting at these. This brings me to the other big bit of work….

Hate Crime currently appears to be a hot topic meaning lots of work going on locally. Often this work is not then shared outside the local boundaries. Even good work done in North or South Yorkshire doesn’t make it to West Yorks and so on. I am undertaking a scoping exercise to find out what people are doing, to share good practice and resources and ensure people do not re-invent wheels.

Alongside this is the need for ALL disability groups to work together. If good work is going on in learning disability organisations this needs to be shared with all disability groups and vice versa. It is also the case that work this needs to be led by people with a disability not for people. Safety Net will continue to make these links as the project develops. A presentation re Hate Crime has been made to the Calderdale Disability Partnership and we continue to have strong links with Stephen Brookes Hate Crime network.

April 10 Conferences, sessions and work

2010-04-13T16:11:01+01:00

The work of the Safety Net Project is really coming on now - lots of meetings, plans and ideas for the future

I was able to have a chat to some of the people working in Hate Crime Reporting Centers at a recent training day about meeting the needs of people with a learning disability

We had a very good day at the Mencap Hate Crime in Pudsey recently. There are some resources from the day on the website, including a Mencap Movie developed and acted by people themselves.

There will be some sessions held in Calderdale soon (one in July one in September) have a look at the flyers on the site. People with a learning disability will be planning, developing and delivering the training sessions.

I’ve met Ruth from the local Safeguarding team today and discussed the project joint working and protocols for people to follow. Safety Net has also been invited to a Safeguarding Champions Day to be held in Calderdale

I’ve met the staff team from Stonham and we will continue to do presentations and sharing resources with others.

March 10 - Happy New Year!

2010-03-09T14:00:38+00:00

Safety Net Blog - Calderdale - March 2010

I know its March but I’ve not written one in 2010 so – Happy New Year. Apologies for the gap between this and the previous blog, it does mean this will be a long one.

Reports in the media continue to highlight the crimes committed against people with a disability that result in a death. These can only continue to strengthen the resolve of those working to make people safer.

The Safety Net project continues to grow and there is some really good news towards the end – so keep reading!

I’ve continued to meet people, attend meetings and promote the work of the project. I’ve been to self-advocacy groups, resident/tenant meetings, formal multi agency meetings and faith groups locally.

I’m talking to some of the Hate Crime reporting centres in Calderdale about how they can promote access for people with a learning disability.

We are working on protocols, training programmes and resources to promote awareness of Hate Crime and Mate Crime.

The work also continues with the development of the Mencap Learning Disability Hate Crime conference in Pudsey on the 31st March.

There are some photos on the website which have developed by the adult learners attending the photo journalism class at Brighouse showing examples of Hate/Mate Crime – thanks to all those who worked on these images. Keep looking at the website to see a PowerPoint presentation which uses some of these images.

Mencap held a day looking at Hate Crime at their offices in London during February and I ensured that Safety Net was represented as well. It was a good positive day where lots of ideas, suggestions and comments were shared with those working in this area.

More locally we also attended the launch of the True Vision Pack in Kirklees. (You can see the pack in the resources section of this website http://www.arcsafety.net/page7/page7.html)

If you didn’t manage to see the C4 programme called ‘Sticks and Stones’ about Disability Hate Crime and its effects then you can see it on the C4 website, at lest until the end of March –
(http://www.channel4.com/programmes/sticks-stones/4od#3039656) Lots of the people featured lived in Yorkshire and Janet and Paul Williams will be at the conference on the 31st March.

Now the good news

The Calderdale Learning Disability Partnership Board has placed ‘Keeping Safe’ high on its list of priorities for the coming year and Safety Net will help to develop in this area.

Safety Net has received some funding from Calderdale MBC to ensure at least 120 people will be able to attend half-day sessions looking at Keeping Safe/Hate Crime over the coming months. These sessions are for people with a learning disability, their families and supporters/carers. More details will follow. So watch this space!

If these sessions stop one person becoming a victim of Hate Crime then they will have been worth the effort.

I’ll try to ensure its not too long before the next posting.

David

Dec 09 Update Happy Festivities!

2009-12-14T21:48:45+00:00

Hello all

I’d not realised it had been so log since the last time I did a blog on here – must be because we’ve been so busy!

There’s a lot of info which has been added to this website since the last blog and I’ll reference that here as well.

The last blog came after the Hate Crime conference in Leeds there is a very good piece which was on the local news (Look North) which came from the conference and I’ve added this clip to the website so don’t worry if you’ve read the last blog and the clip didn’t work there is one on the site under the Calderdale video blog.

The conference was interesting especially for the debate about the term ‘vulnerable’ and being a victim of Hate Crime. It is one area where learning disability may differ from other forms of disability crime. However as the numbers reporting any forms of this Hate Crime I really don’t think learning disability should stand apart or aloof from the rest of disability reporting.

I’ve had another session with the young people at Ravenscliffe and we might well be able to do some work with them developing a video/DVD resource regarding hate/mate crime.

I’ve also met Mary from Mencap who informs me that Mencap are organising a Learning Disability Hate Crime Conference for West Yorkshire in March next year. We will keep in touch and Safety Net will certainly have a strong presence at the event.

I attended the Calderdale Interfaith Council meeting and people of various faiths may be a practical and sensible place to start the information/awareness raising for the wider community later in the course of the project.

We held the second meeting of the Safety Net Team in Calderdale on the 24th November. After the first meeting people asked for a later session closer to public transport. We held the meeting at the library next to Halifax bus station from 4pm – 6pm. Although some different people did attend numbers were no greater than for the first meeting which was a shame. Notes from the meeting are on this website.

The day after the meeting I attended a ‘relationships’ training day run by Dave Hingsburger. Dave is an inspirational and motivating speaker with lots of useful ideas and suggestions. Some of this will feed into the relationships training we develop for the Safety Net project I’m sure.

We held the second Advisory Group meeting in early December and the notes from the meeting will be on the website soon.

The same week I attended a Hate Crime conference in London. The timing for the event could not have been better as the Learning Disability Today have just published a journal focused on Hate Crime which had a report about Safety Net in it which a number of people had read so came for a chat. Some have signed up for the email newsletter as well.

To end a busy week I did a presentation for the Calderdale Learning Disability Partnership Board about Safety Net. The PowerPoint presentation and notes from the meeting are on this site.

The Safety Net workers are meeting Paul the Association of Chief Police Officers this week to discuss the revision of the Police Hate Crime Manual

The next meeting for the Calderdale Safety Net Team will be on Tuesday 26th Jan at Heath Training Centre from 1pm-3pm

Let me take the opportunity to wish everyone Happy Christmas and best wishes for 2010

David
07931 116099
david.grundy@arcuk.org.uk

Update 5 - busy busy

2009-10-24T10:45:48+01:00

Calderdale Safety Net Blog
23rd Oct 2009

Hello all

A very busy few weeks for the Safety Net project in Calderdale

Firstly the date for the next meeting is set for Tuesday 24th November at Halifax Library 4pm – 6pm. All are welcome to attend, emails and messages have been sent out to the contacts locally.

I’ve been having conversations/meetings and informal chats with a number of relevant people -

Those attending the Pennine Magpie workshop

Those attending the social evening at The Works in Sowerby Bridge

Those attending the social evening at the Horse and Jockey in Halifax

Those who attended the launch of the Stars in the Sky Event

Julie from Ravenscliffe School – and I’ll be going back to do a presentation to the 6th Form pupils in a few weeks

Sail – Hate Crime Lead for Calderdale Council and getting involved in his work and accessing his local links

I’ve also been to the ‘Together for Change’ Hate Crime conference in Leeds today and made some good links with people and professionals from all across West Yorkshire – there was a piece on Look North about the conference on Friday 23rd October – if you are quick have a look at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/looknorthyorkslincs/latest_stories/index.shtml

Nationally I’ve added details of the True Vision Hate Crime recording packs to the website and had email conversations with a number of interested people. We are promoting the project at various conferences either in person or by having flyers and information at them.

Update 4 - the work goes on!

2009-10-02T07:21:16+01:00

Hello all (again)

I’m still busy making contacts and talking to people about the Safety Net project.

It is interesting how different people find out about the project but it is impossible to beat word of mouth - so a small challenge readers if you may - tell someone about the project!

I’m happy to attend meetings or occasions and discuss the project with any interested parties so do let me know if you’d like me to come. Also do let me know if you’d like some posters about the project to display.

There are some posters available to view on this site that those attending the first drop in session developed together with some notes about these.

I’ve booked onto the ‘Together for Change’ Disability Hate Crime conference in Leeds on the 23rd so that will be a good networking opportunity. The next Advisory Group meeting for this project is confirmed as the 7th Dec in Cheltenham

If you are local to Calderdale don’t forget about the “Stars in the Sky’ launch on the 19th Oct - there is a poster you can download on the website about the event

Until the next update

David

Update 3 - Drop In Session

2009-09-24T17:05:30+01:00

We had the first drop in session for the project today.

Numbers we not great but a number of organisations and interested parties were present and gave some good suggestions about the way forward. Importantly West Yorkshire Police, Social Services and Safeguarding are all aware and supporting the project.

(These will be written up an shared in more detail on this website soon as will some of the easy read materials we have produced.)

Unfortunately there were only a few of people with a learning disability at the session so I will need to go out and about and have discussions/make more presentations about the project in the next few weeks.

Some good ideas about when and where social gatherings and ‘house meetings’ take place for/with people with a learning disability were shared at the session and I will follow these up.

I have been in contact with a number of people already so I’ll follow these up and make some new ones as well.

We will arrange a meeting for mid/late November and I will get around these gatherings before then to make as many people as possible aware of the project.

I have also booked onto a conference in Leeds on the 23rd October which should be very helpful

Project Update 2 An article has been written for Learning Disability Today magazine promoting the Safety Net project - that will appear in November. I’ve had conversations and meetings with Pauline from the Derbyshire Partnership Board and Ian at Lancaster University Some national documents have been published recently so we’ve been looking through those as well. (CPS and True Vision) In Calderdale I’ve had a meeting with Dale the staff training lead and the project will be promoted when new staff start work in the area and at a local service with a number of people with learning disability themselves. One of the members of staff supporting them is someone I used to work with some time ago so it was good to see him again. As its that time of year for young people to start/return to school and colleges these will be key places to get involved in the project so I will start to make those links. I’m going on annual leave soon so I might try and do a quick blog before I do but there will certainly be a follow up from the event in Calderdale on the 22nd September.

2009-08-27T08:37:42+01:00

Hello all - welcome to another blog

I’ve been spreading the word outside Calderdale mostly in the last few weeks.

An article has been written for Learning Disability Today magazine promoting the Safety Net project - that will appear in November.

I’ve had conversations and meetings with Pauline from the Derbyshire Partnership Board and Paul at Lancaster University

Some national documents have been published recently so we’ve been looking through those as well. (CPS and True Vision)

In Calderdale I’ve had a meeting with Dale the staff training lead and the project will be promoted when new staff start work in the area and at a local service with a number of people with learning disability themselves. One of the members of staff supporting them is someone I used to work with some time ago so it was good to see him again.

As its that time of year for young people to start/return to school and colleges these will be key places to get involved in the project so I will start to make those links.

I’m going on annual leave soon so I might try and do a quick blog before I do but there will certainly be a follow up from the event in Calderdale on the 22nd September.

Project Update

2009-07-28T21:17:48+01:00

Hello all

Just a quick update on the project and how it is going in Calderdale.

I’ve met with a number of people who are important to the project including Leanne from West Yorkshire Police, Liz and Karen from the Stars in the Sky - Yorkshire and Janet from Calderdale Safeguarding

I’ve also attended a meeting of the learning disability service providers and told them about the project.

These meetings have led to links with others so the work continues. I am also making contact with the local voluntary sector and carers groups.

Most encouragingly I’ve also got some meetings planned to talk to people who have a learning disability themselves. So I know that the message is getting out there, but there is still work to do. I am especially keen to ensure that the minority communities within Calderdale are involved and represented, I will keep working on this.

It is good to find out that people are interested in the project and prepared to pass the message on and get involved. That commitment will certainly help as the project moves on.

The big event we have planned is the one on the 22nd Sept but it does look like I will not be the only person in the room now - which is nice!

On a national level we have 30 names on our email group of interested people and I’ve done a presentation for the Derbyshire Learning Disability Partnership Board.

I’m off to try and record a video Blog now which I’m not really looking forward to but it is important to make this website as accessible as possible.

David

Introduction and Welcome

2009-07-16T11:35:40+01:00

Welcome to this blog.

As time goes on more info keeping you up-to-date with the project will be added.

My name is David and I am one of the project workers for the Safety Net project. I will lead on the Calderdale Pilot.

I have worked with people who have a learning disability for 18 years now and find seeing the benefits that projects like this can offer to people very rewarding.

I have worked for ARC for over 5 years on different projects. You could have a look at the Moving On Up or Clear Thoughts websites if you are interested.

I have also worked in learning disability services in Calderdale and I live in Halifax which is the main town of Calderdale and have done so for a number of years.

The first face to face discussions about this pilot took place on the 19th June.

A number of meetings will be held with all the relevant parties over the next few months.

The big launch event for the pilot will take place on Tues 22nd September at Heath Training and Development Centre from 10am until 12pm

Exploitation of vulnerable people by others is something we should all try and prevent.

This project aims to do that in some small way for the people of Calderdale, this does not just affect those people with a learning disability but also the community as a whole.