People First (Self Advocacy)

People First is a national organisation run and led by people with learning difficulties. We aim to raise awareness of the rights of people with learning difficulties, develop the skill base of self-advocacy groups and individuals, and make sure that their voices are heard at government policy level.

Contact details

Services

  • Advice and advocacy
  • Campaigning and research and representation
  • Disability hate crime support
  • Training and volunteering and employment support
  • For people with learning difficulties: Advocacy Signposting and Advice- national telephone service; Supporting Each Other Equals Power – Lambeth Advocacy Service; Easy Read translation service and picture bank

Boroughs this organisation works in

  • National

About this organisation

People First is a national organisation run and led by people with learning difficulties.

We have individual members, independent member self-advocacy groups (varying in size from 30 to 250 members) and associate members.

We aim to raise awareness of the rights of people with learning difficulties, develop the skill base of self-advocacy groups and individuals, and make sure that their voices are heard at government policy level.

We work at a national level providing support, information, advice and training to individuals and user-led self-advocacy groups.

To reach these aims we have four key activities:

  1. Collecting individual and self-advocacy group members’ views to inform policy and giving information, training and advice to independent self-advocacy groups
  2. Supporting individuals through our Advocacy, Signposting and Advice helpline with issues such as; accessing services and information, advocacy and support, complaints, Access to Work, Hate Crime, employment and benefits.
  3. Easy Read One-Stop-Shop: Easy Read Translation, Easy Read Training and a picture bank, and advice on requesting Easy Read
  4. Cuts Impact Action Now (CIAN), a pilot project with local member Self-Advocacy Group Barnet People’s Choice at Barnet Centre for Independent Living, researching the impact of cuts to services and benefit changes on people with learning difficulties.

We have strong links with a network of organisations, which we partner on specific projects and pieces of work.

Disclaimer: DDPO Directory entries are written by Inclusion London member organisations. Inclusion London cannot assume any responsibility for the organisations or services advertised, and any views expressed, unless specifically stated, are not those of Inclusion London. If you would like your organisation to become an Inclusion London member and appear on the Directory, please visit our membership area.