August 10 Update
05/08/10 13:30
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.
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.