The theme for this years International Day for Disabled People on 3rd December 2015 is Inclusion Matters.
Are we making it easy enough for young people and adults to positively identify as a disabled person in 2015?
Channel 4's return of the superhumans video trailer is tongue in cheek of course but there is a serious message behind it about how 'disabled' people are perceived. The negative image of the villain has been sufficiently perpetuated to become a stereotype which we can all recognise.
One of the sub themes on this day which celebrates disability pride is about improving data and statistics. Less than 1% of the 26,000 modern apprentices in Scotland identified themselves as disabled, even though a larger percentage of those young people would actually fit with the definition of 'disability' under the Equality Act.
That's just one example of how low disclosure rates can skew data and statistics. Skills Development Scotland launched their Equality Action today and Lead Scotland in partnership with the Equality Challenge Unit have been engaging disabled people to make recommendations to encourage disability disclosure to ensure people receive the support they need.
We still meet people who don't know how the Equality Act can support them, particularly learners who are marginalised and/or have lower literacy levels so thought I'd share this easy to read version of the Equality Act which we have found useful as a tool for empowerment.
We respect people's choices about how they define themselves and ultimately what's important is that people feel equal, receive fair treatment and become empowered to overcome any barriers they are facing. We will need to all work harder to look at the nuanced picture; the intersection of disability with other protected characteristics and how disabled people use words like impairment and disability today if the data and statistics are to truly support inclusion.
Happy International Day of Disabled People!
Wednesday 2 December 2015
Tuesday 3 November 2015
Investing in volunteers as learners
Our 2015 volunteer impact survey (36.5% return) showed that over half of our volunteers are looking for accreditation through volunteering.
Over three quarters of our volunteers are keen to access other organisation's training opportunities as well as Lead's own training. "I have moved into employment, then onto College as a result of my volunteering experience," one volunteer said. "It has allowed me to upgrade me ECDL" said another.
The new Adult achievement Awards (AAA) offer a new accreditation route for volunteers to gain even more from volunteering. Lead has been chosen as one of the organisations who are piloting these Awards as part of the implementation of the Statement of Ambition for Adult Learning, highlighted in the Programme of Government for 2015-16.
Our Learning Co-ordinators and a volunteer have now been trained in the delivery of the Awards by Newbattle Abbey staff. Staff and volunteers are currently supporting learners and some volunteers across Scotland through the Award at SCQF levels 3 to 6.
We couldn't offer our services without the support of volunteers and we were extremely delighted to be awarded our Investing in Volunteers Award again in October, held since 2005:
Over three quarters of our volunteers are keen to access other organisation's training opportunities as well as Lead's own training. "I have moved into employment, then onto College as a result of my volunteering experience," one volunteer said. "It has allowed me to upgrade me ECDL" said another.
The new Adult achievement Awards (AAA) offer a new accreditation route for volunteers to gain even more from volunteering. Lead has been chosen as one of the organisations who are piloting these Awards as part of the implementation of the Statement of Ambition for Adult Learning, highlighted in the Programme of Government for 2015-16.
Our Learning Co-ordinators and a volunteer have now been trained in the delivery of the Awards by Newbattle Abbey staff. Staff and volunteers are currently supporting learners and some volunteers across Scotland through the Award at SCQF levels 3 to 6.
We couldn't offer our services without the support of volunteers and we were extremely delighted to be awarded our Investing in Volunteers Award again in October, held since 2005:
George Thomson, Chief Executive Officer, Volunteer Scotland pictured handing over the Investing in Volunteers Award. "Congratulations. On a personal note I have always appreciated the national exemplar you are in Scotland in engaging the whole community in volunteering. You literally see the best in folk and seek out ways by which anyone whatever their circumstances can express themselves through volunteering and bring about a lot of benefits. Well done and good luck for the next 3 years."
One outcome from going through the process of Investing in Volunteers was the creation of Lead's Dr Ethel Gray Volunteer of the Year Award to recognise and celebrate volunteering achievements.
This year's winner announced at our AGM was Jan Marshall from Fife who as well as her volunteering contribution has taken up opportunities to learn a Supporting Adult Literacies qualification and has attended a REAL project workshop. "Receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award from Lead felt like an amazing acknowledgement of the work I share with our learners. As a Lead volunteer I have experienced a real sense of belonging to a truly worthwhile organisation. I have been supported and encouraged to develop my abilities as a volunteer. The opportunities to take part in personal development certificates has boosted my confidence on both a personal level as well as with learners and care providers. Dawn, my coordinator, values and appreciates my efforts and thanks me in person as well as in emails. It is wonderful to feel so cared for and nurtured by Lead which in turn helps me to share this wonderful ethos with our learners."
Hilary Cameron, a Moray volunteer who says just "go for it" was 'Highly Commended' recognising her personal journey through volunteering.
Volunteering brings health benefits as well as opportunities to learn bringing people and communities together through shared striving. One of our volunteers recently said it gave them "a feeling of usefulness and self-worth".
Good luck to those embarking on the Adult Achievement Awards and we'll keep you posted with our experience on the pilot.
One outcome from going through the process of Investing in Volunteers was the creation of Lead's Dr Ethel Gray Volunteer of the Year Award to recognise and celebrate volunteering achievements.
This year's winner announced at our AGM was Jan Marshall from Fife who as well as her volunteering contribution has taken up opportunities to learn a Supporting Adult Literacies qualification and has attended a REAL project workshop. "Receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award from Lead felt like an amazing acknowledgement of the work I share with our learners. As a Lead volunteer I have experienced a real sense of belonging to a truly worthwhile organisation. I have been supported and encouraged to develop my abilities as a volunteer. The opportunities to take part in personal development certificates has boosted my confidence on both a personal level as well as with learners and care providers. Dawn, my coordinator, values and appreciates my efforts and thanks me in person as well as in emails. It is wonderful to feel so cared for and nurtured by Lead which in turn helps me to share this wonderful ethos with our learners."
Hilary Cameron, a Moray volunteer who says just "go for it" was 'Highly Commended' recognising her personal journey through volunteering.
Volunteering brings health benefits as well as opportunities to learn bringing people and communities together through shared striving. One of our volunteers recently said it gave them "a feeling of usefulness and self-worth".
Good luck to those embarking on the Adult Achievement Awards and we'll keep you posted with our experience on the pilot.
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