Jackie O’Sullivan, Executive Director of
Strategy
A strategy is a plan to show what an organisation, or a person, wants to do and how they are going to do it.
and Influence at
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
charity Mencap, said:
“This survey is yet another worrying picture of the strain councils are under to provide social care to some of the most
vulnerable
Being vulnerable means being at risk of harm, or that you need special care because of your age or disability.
people in our communities.
“It comes less than a week after the Chancellor’s Budget which has done little to alleviate the situation. Whilst the sector welcomed a cash injection of £600 million, both the increase to the National Living
Wage
A wage is the money you get for doing a paid job.
and
National Insurance
National Insurance is a type of tax. It is money that is taken out of the money you earn each month. You pay National Insurance so that you can get a pension when you are older.
employer contributions will eat up all this funding and more. In fact, based on OBR estimates, we should need double that amount just for adult social care.
“Social care is a public service that should be funded from the public purse. This report makes it clear that
Local Authorities
A local authority is another name for your local council. It is a group of people whose job is to look after the area where you live. Local authorities means more than one local authority.
don’t have the money and care providers and charities don't either. Social care is about people and more care workers, in desperate need of higher pay already, will end up on the minimum wage as a result.
“It is simply unsustainable and ultimately it will be people with a learning disability who rely on social care who will feel the impact most. This cannot be right, and we urge the Government The Government are the people who run the country. They decide how much tax people should pay for things and how things like the National Health Service should work. to work with the social care sector on funding a solution.”
-ENDS-
For further information or to arrange an
interview
An interview is a meeting where you talk to someone or a group of people about something. When you have an interview for a job, you have to answer questions and say why you would be good at the job. The person who gives the best answers is offered the job.
with a Mencap
spokesperson
A spokesperson is someone who speaks up about something. They usually speak up on behalf of a group or organisation.
or
case study
A case study is a piece of writing that tells people more information about someone's experience.
, please contact Mencap’s media team on: [email protected] or 02076965414 (including out of hours).
Notes to editors:
About Mencap:
Mencap exists to ensure the UK is the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives. We support people directly and
campaign
A campaign is when people work together to try to change something.
with people with a learning disability, their families and carers. We work to change laws, increase representation and campaign for better health, social care and
employment
Employment means having a job.
opportunities for the 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK.
What is a learning disability?
A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability which affects someone for their whole life. Typically, people with a learning disability need more time to learn and process information. They may need extra support to develop skills, complete tasks and interact with others, or they may have more complex needs requiring round-the clock care. The level of support needed is different for everyone and may change during a person’s lifetime.
Learning disability is NOT a mental illness or a learning difficulty. Often, the term ‘learning difficulty’ is wrongly used in place of ‘learning disability’. Having a learning difficulty (such as ADHD or
dyslexia
Dyslexia is a learning difficulty. People who have dyslexia can find it hard to read, write and spell.
) may mean a person learns at a different pace or in a different way BUT – unlike a learning disability - it does not affect a person’s intellect.
With the right support, most people with a learning disability can lead happy, healthy, independent lives. At Mencap, it’s our mission to remove societal barriers and shatter misconceptions to make this more possible for more people.
Mencap’s guide to reporting on Learning Disability
When it comes to creating content with people with a learning disability, we know many people feel nervous about saying and doing the wrong thing. Our guide for journalists, covers everything from up to date facts and figures to the right language to use. It also includes tips on how to work with people with a learning disability to gather the best content.