Speaking Up Groups
Speak Out runs several different self-advocacy groups that meet up regularly.
Members support each other to speak up and take action about things that are important to them.
What do the self-advocacy groups do?
The self-advocacy groups are for adults with learning disabilities. They are a safe place where you can talk about things that are important to you and can help you to become more confident about speaking up. The groups can help you to speak up to people in your lives or to services you use.
There are lots of different groups you can join at Speak Out. Take a look at the links below to find out more about our groups:
For for more information please get in contact:
Our Voices Matter
A user-led campaign group
The OVM group works on campaigns to raise awareness of issues that affect people with learning disabilities in Brighton & Hove.
Members take part in demonstrations and public events and can often be seen speaking at various different meetings. They have visited parliament on a number of occasions and previously have been invited to join the All Party Parliamentary Groups for learning disabilities talking about issues such as democracy, employment benefits and health care. They have worked with local politicians to make election material accessible and during election time host accessible hustings events.
The group have won 2 awards for the their work campaigning to make democracy and voting more accessible for people with learning disabilities:
Dimensions Learning Disability and Autism Leaders Award 2021
Read more about the award and the BHIG groups work
UK Parliamentary Campaign Awards for 'Best Community Campaign 2020'
When and Where:
The groups meet every two weeks, Mondays from 10am to 12noon at Speak Out Office, The Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton, BN1 1YD
For more information contact Alex:
The Link Group
The Link Group listen to what people with learning disabilities say at focus groups and feedback their views to the Council.
'We let the Council know what people think so that they can improve things for people with learning disabilities.'
When and Where:
The Link Group meets every two weeks, Tuesdays from 10.30am to 12.30pm at Speak Out Office, The Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton, BN1 1YD
Learning Disability Partnership Board
Brighton and Hove Speak Out and The Link Group plan and chair the Learning Disability Partnership Board as part of the work they do for the council.
The Link Group are an important part of planning and running Partnership Board meetings.
They are group of people with learning disabilities who speak up about the things that matter to them.
Speak Out supports them to chair meetings, give presentations and ask important questions
Other organisations that help with the Partnership Board are:
- Amaze,
- PaCC
- Carers Centre
Other people who come to the meetings are:
- People with learning disabilities
- Council commissioners who plan services
- council service managers
- charities who support people with learning disabilities
- healthcare professionals
The Partnership Board meets four times a year to talk about things that matter to people with learning disabilities. They try to find ways to make accessibility and services better.
Find out more:
For more information please contact Frances:
Thumbs Up
Thumbs up to Good Health Award
We have developed a quality kite mark award with NHS Sussex for primary care services across Sussex. Services can apply for the award in recognition of their proactive approach to improving care for people with learning disabilities.
You can find out more about how we can help make services better for people with learning disabilities here: Link to 8c. Improving Services for PWLD
Developing accessible health promotion resources
The Thumbs Up team, and wider Speak Out community, have co-produced a number of different resources for health promotion.
Find out more:
For more information please contact Frances:
The Power Group
A self-advocacy group for young People with a learning disability.
We are a self- advocacy group for young people aged 16 – 25. We talk about all the things that interest us or concern us.
It’s a safe place to ask questions about things it might be difficult to talk about with other people. No one judges us and it’s all completely confidential.
Sometimes we have people come in to talk to us about things that interest us. We meet new people, make friends and have fun.
If you are interested in joining the Power Group please contact Sarah Charsley before coming along.
Find out more:
The group meets every two weeks, Wednesdays from 4.30pm to 6.30pm at Speak Out's office, Brighthelm Centre, North Road, Brighton
