Council plans will leave vulnerable
adults isolated, claims Alliance
When Comhairle nan Eilean Siar sets its budget on Thursday this week, it will sentence vulnerable adults throughout the islands to social exclusion and remove vital help that improves their lives, claim the Learning Disability Alliance.
While the council is facing a much tighter funding package it is one of only two councils that proposed to remove Local Area Coordination from adults with learning disabilities. And that other council, Argyll & Bute, has since changed its mind and decided to retain that service.
Local area coordinator work by helping connect people with learning disabilities (or other vulnerable groups) with existing mainstream or specialist services in the areas that they serve. As a result Local Area Coordinators can for a small investment in time and money make the lives of isolated individuals more fully engaged within their communities.
Western Isles has a team of 2 local area coordinators working in different parts of the islands, able to build up a body of knowledge about local resources and helping many individuals take part in day to day life in their towns and villages. The work undertaken by Local Area Coordinators in the Western Isles involves:
- Working with an advocacy group of 16 people to stand up for their rights.
- Working with 90 people individually supporting them with issues, life skills, working towards independent living and supporting their families and carers.
- Supporting people who live in remote rural areas.
- Supporting people who have moved into their own tenancies and are well along the path to independent living.
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