Central England People First

Main information

Type of service: Advocacy (general)

We were set up in 1990 by a group of people with learning difficulties who wanted more than just to be stuck in a day centre. We started so that people with learning difficulties like us could have a voice. People with learning difficulties are often people that are treated badly. We helped them to understand their rights and to make people understand we were not a disabilty - we are people first.

Helping people to speak up for themselves is called self advocacy. We have helped people to live the lives they want to live not the lives their parents or care homes want them to. There are lots of groups that use the name people first. We all do similar things but we are independent from each other. We help people who live in the centre of England - so around the East Midlands. We do lots of work to make sure people's voices are heard. We do our own research, we go on campaigns, we help people on a one-to-one basis, we speak up at meetings, we do training and we get involved with organisations to make sure the things that they do are good for people with learning difficulties.