Future Forum Activities

Many of you will be aware that the forum has been operating for quite some time. As with any project, it is appropriate to review the way it is working. Having done this, we now have a leaner, meaner, slicker management system, so it seems a good time to appeal for new members.

About One Voice and the Forum

One Voice is a Charitable Company that works collaboratively within the Lancaster and Morecambe district as part of the third sector, acting as a platform for disabled people to actively work with each other to:

Help create an inclusive society

Operate to influence the regional framework

Promote the rights of disabled people

Empower disabled people

The Forum will support the above mission statement by providing an opportunity for disabled people to come together to discuss issues of mutual concern which impact on their ability to participate in society. This does not always have to be done through formal meetings; it could be done through email, social events, taster days – in fact, anything that members feel comfortable with. Through these discussions, common themes will be identified to provide feedback to providers of goods and services at local, regional and national levels as appropriate.

  The Forum will be open to anybody with an interest in disability issues, including professionals, supporters and those representing statutory bodies; however, to ensure the views of disabled people are dominant, there will be two different tiers of membership, one being disabled people and the other being the wider community around disability.

  It is our belief that disability presents individuals with circumstances which are unique. However there can be a lot of common issues, and in order to further the aspirations of all disabled people, we believe there are tangible benefits in having a safe place where issues can be raised.

  The benefit of such a forum to service providers is that, by having feedback from the people they serve, they are better able to target resources in order to achieve the best outcomes for everyone.

  One new development is that we are working more closely with the Disability Partnership Board and are hoping to develop relationships with other related forums in order to get a broader perspective.

  email to: forum@onevoiced.org.uk

To contact the Forum chair, email John Speak on jspeak@onevoiced.org.uk