Where am I ? : 'Innovative Projects' > Our Award Winning Projects

Our Award Winning Projects

Our unique approach to working with people with learning disabilities, mental health issues and other disabilities has led us to be recognised through a number of awards - both for our direct work with people and for our strategic vision.

Young People Speaking Up (YPSU)

Young People Speaking Up is a project that works with young people with learning disabilities in a variety of settings. The projects range from delivering one to one advocacy and running self-advocacy workshops in schools, to projects which encourage young people to take a more active role in their community and to train professionals how to work in a more empowering way.

The Cambridgeshire Parliament

The Cambridgeshire Parliament is all about people with learning difficulties challenging professionals to make services better.

There are 35 ‘MPs’. We all have a learning difficulty. We are voted for by other people with learning difficulties. Then we listen to our voters to find out what people want to change.

We have a big meeting every two months. We tackle all sorts of subjects from banking to bus passes, from day support to direct payments.

We decide what to talk about then we meet with the people who have the power to make change. The Parliament meetings are big events. We tackle one subject at each meeting. Decision making guests are invited, people who have the power to make a real difference. For example, our guests have included; the mayor, councillors, Learning Disability Partnership commissioners, chief executives, bank managers and Westminster MPs.

If we think the guests are not listening to us then we follow up with a campaign. Our campaigns have included petitions, newspaper articles, radio coverage and presentations to the Council.

We sum up our aim with the slogan ‘Time for Change’.

Next Steps

Next Steps provides award winning services planned by and for people with learning difficulties.

It was set up in 2002 with the ideas of a group of three adults with learning difficulties and support from Next Steps Manger, Sam Hill.

We support people with learning difficulties to find a voice, learn life skills and get the life they want.

Barnsley Mental Health Helpline

We listen, we support, we offer informed choice.

BLINK, Barnsley's mental health helpline, offers a confidential listening and sign-posting service to anyone in Barnsley borough who is experiencing a mental health problem, or who is concerned about the mental welfare of someone else.

It is staffed by a team of dedicated volunteers, many of whom have previously experienced mental health problems, either personally or as carers. All Blink's volunteers are patient, non-judgemental and willing to see issues from callers' points of view.

Recent Awards

Back to top