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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’.

Parliament Campaigns:

One of the big campaigns the MPs are running at the moment is for Changing Places Toilets. The toilets will mean that people with high physical needs can have personal care whilst out in the community.

Click here to find out more about Parliaments current and past campaigns, and how you can get involved in them.

What has Parliament talked about?

Click on the links below to see the minutes of the subjects which the MPs have talked about. The minutes tell you what was talked about in the meeting.

Housing, January 2007.

Access issues and Budget cuts, March 2007.

Reviewing progress, May 2007.

Crime, July 2007.

Relationships, September 2007.

Reviewing progress, November 2007.

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Promote The Vote

Speaking Up is being supported by The Electoral Commission to provide FREE workshops to encourage people with learning disabilities to gain a better understanding of politics, become active citizens and register to vote.

The workshops consist of a day of fun activities and games using accessible training materials, delivered by a team of people with learning disabilities who are enthusiastic about politics. It will cover:

- How politics affects our lives

- Deciding who to vote for

- Voting at an election

- The opportunity to register to vote

For more information or to make a booking, contact Imogen Ridler, Project Co-ordinator on:

01223 516764 or email: Imogen.Ridler@speakingup.org

Click here to download an accessible leaflet about Promote The Vote

Click here to download a leaflet about Promote The Vote for professionals

How about a Parliament in your area?

Different areas have set up their own Parliament projects. There are more than a dozen Parliament projects in different parts of the country.

We can help you to start up your own Parliament. Click here to find out more.

Louder - The Parliament's newsletter

Parliament has its own newsletter Louder to keep readers up to date with what the Cambridgeshire MPs are up to. Click the links below to see recent issues.

Click here to see the copy from September 2006

Click here to see the copy from October 2007

Click here to see the copy from April 2007

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