Are you a disabled person residing in Ceredigion, support worker, carer or representative working with disabled people in the county? If so come and join the Ceredigion Disability Forum.
The Forum is a platform, co-ordinated between Ceredigon County Council and CAVO - Ceredigion Association of Voluntary Organisations, to promote better understanding of the challenges facing the disabled community in Ceredigion.
Chesca Ross, Engagement and Collaboration Manager for CAVO said, “The vision for the Forum is a coming together of disabled individuals and organisations working with disabled people. These meetings are a great opportunity for residents of Ceredigion to discuss issues of concern and there is a warm welcome to anyone wishing to attend.”
Members of the Forum are given the opportunity to meet with appropriate statutory sector officers to raise any identified issues and seek to resolve them. The Forum is also a group that the Council can consult with to discuss how its policies and procedures might affect disabled people.
During the last year the work of the Forum has positively influenced a range of issues relating to accessibility and inclusivity including: involvement to influence safeguarding audio systems on public service buses, applications for Blue Badges, processes around planning applications as regards to disabled access and raised awareness of issues under the Caru Ceredigion initiative.
Councillor Ellen ap Gwynn, Leader of Ceredigion County Council and Members’ Champion for Equalities said, “The aim of the Ceredigion Disability Forum is to improve service provision for all. The more people that can attend the meetings the better, in order to ensure that a broad range of issues can be raised and looked at in closer detail. Ceredigion County Council are committed to providing inclusive services for all the residents of Ceredigion and welcome the opportunity to discuss issues raised during the forum meetings. Then, we can to look at how services can be improved with regard to accessibility and inclusivity.”
Open meetings are held quarterly and are rotated around the county to ensure wide participation. Members of the community wishing to attend the open meetings can inform the Forum organisers beforehand of any communication support or accessibility requirements to ensure that planning and forum meetings are inclusive.
The Forum will be meeting on the following dates and venues in 2018/19 on a range of topics regarding services within Ceredigion:
2018
• 13 June: Penmorfa, Aberaeron - Meeting with Statutory Services – Transforming Health Services in Ceredigion.
• 11 July: Maes Mwldan, Cardigan – Informal Gathering - Benefit Changes and the Impact on you.
• 12 September: Penmorfa, Aberaeron - Meeting with Statutory Services - Benefit Changes and the Impact on you.
• 17 October: Holy Trinity Church Hall, Aberaeron – Informal Gathering - Experiences of Hate and Mate Crime.
• 12 December: Penmorfa, Aberaeron - Meeting with Statutory Services - Experiences of Hate and Mate Crime.
2019
• 16 January: Morlan Centre Aberystwyth – Informal Gathering - Changing the way we care in Ceredigion.
• 20 March : Canolfan Rheidol Aberystwyth - Meeting with Statutory Services - Changing the way we care in Ceredigion.
It should be noted that individual complaints and disputes are not relevant for discussion at the Forum. There are defined channels within the council to pursue the resolution of individual issues.
Gatherings are from 1-3pm with refreshments.
For more information contact Carys Morgan on 01545 570 881 / clic@ceredigion.gov.uk or Chesca Ross at CAVO on 01570 423232/ chesca.ross@cavo.org.uk
24/05/2018