Mencap responds to the government's 'vision for social care'

Tuesday 16 November 2010

David Congdon, Mencap's head of campaigns and policy said:

"The social care system has been in dire financial straits for many years so the government's commitment to reform it is very welcome indeed. For many people with a disability, social care is as central to their wellbeing as the services provided by teachers, doctors and nurses. Personal budgets empower people with a learning disability to live more independent lives, a luxury the rest of us take for granted.

"While the government's plans are a positive step towards people having more control over their lives, October's spending review has dramatically tightened local authority budgets so it's going to be hard for them to deliver this vision for social care. We hope that councils will do all they can to protect the frontline."

ENDS

For more information please contact Jenny Brannan on 020 7696 6017 or email jenny.brannan@mencap.org.uk

Notes to editors

• About Mencap

Mencap supports the 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK and their families and carers. Mencap fights to change laws and improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities, supporting thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.

We are also the largest service provider of services, information and advice for people with a learning disability across England, Northern Ireland and Wales. See http://www.mencap.org.uk/ for more information.

• About learning disability

A learning disability is caused by the way the brain develops before, during or shortly after birth. It is always lifelong and affects someone's intellectual and social development. It used to be called mental handicap but this term is outdated and offensive. Learning disability is NOT a mental illness. The term learning difficulty is often incorrectly used interchangeably with learning disability.