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FAQ's
1. How can my group make sure that the voice of disabled people is heard in my area?
2. Is there equipment available for groups to use?
3. How can I find information on the local Compacts?
4. Where are the local LINks (Local Involvement Networks) in Merseyside?
1. How can my group make sure that the voice of disabled people is heard in my area?
One new route available is through the structures and systems of the Local Strategic Partnership, which can help you find out what's happening in your area, and how the views of disabled people and their organisations can be heard in the "corridors of power".
National: For information on the national background to LSPs you'll find a useful summary in The LSP Guide - a handy guide to getting involved for voluntary and community groups... To download this from the website of The Urban Forum click here.
Greater Merseyside: LSPs have developed differently in each Merseyside local authority area. We've listed some useful information and contact points here for each district. We've set it out under these general headings:
- What's the LSP called in this area? (this is the main, formal, Strategic Partnership meeting that brings together representatives of public, commercial and voluntary organisations)
- Are there any subgroups of the LSP that are particularly important for disabled people and groups of and for disabled people?
- What's the overall grouping of voluntary and community groups in the area called?
- What groups intend to represent voluntary organisations of and for disabled people to the LSP?
- Who do I contact to get the views of organisations of and for disabled people put forward at the LSP or to any LSP subgroups?
- What is the lead agency and contact?
Halton
- LSP: Halton Strategic Partnership
- Subgroup: Specialist strategic partnerships on which voluntary groups are represented
- Overall voluntary group organisation: Halton Together
- Groups helping to represent "disabled organisations" to the LSP: no special group yet, terms of reference for Halton Disability Alliance are being confirmed
- Contact: Andy Guile (Chair of Halton Together) & Mike Fry represent all voluntary groups on the LSP. Contact them via Halton Voluntary Action
- lead agency: Kath Parkes - Halton Voluntary Action (01928) 592405, www.haltonva.org.uk , kparkes@haltonva.org.uk
- updated 8/3/05
Knowsley
- LSP: The Knowsley Partnership
- Subgroup: The Knowsley Disability Forum has held a number of meetings that may lead to it taking on this role.
- Overall voluntary group organisation: Community Empowerment Network - Knowsley
Groups helping to represent "disabled organisations" to the LSP: The Knowsley Disability Forum meets regularly and may take on more responsibilities for this in the future.
- contacts: Chris Roderick (Chair of Knowsley Disability Forum - (0151) 480-4090) There are also 4 area-based groups of all types of voluntary organisations that elect area representatives to the LSP.
- lead agency: Network Co-ordinator at Community Empowerment Network Knowsley - Judy Freedman (0151) 546-5137, ccu.kcvs@virgin.net, www.knowsleynetwork.org
- updated 9/3/05
Liverpool
- LSP: Liverpool Partnership Group
- Subgroup: Liverpool Disability Network is represented on a number of Strategic Issue Partnerships (SIPs)
- Overall voluntary group organisation: Liverpool Community Network
Groups helping to represent "disabled organisations" to the LSP: Liverpool Disability Network
- contacts: Tom Hughes (Tom.Hughes@pannone.co.uk) or Peter Bates, peter@merseydisability.org.uk , (0151) 291-9570
- lead agency: Liverpool CVS Community Network Team, (0151) 236-7728, www.liverpool-community.org.uk
- updated 1/8/05
St Helens
- LSP: St Helens Together (www.ravenheadrenaissance.co.uk)
- Subgroup: No - social exclusion. is a "crosscutting theme" (There is a Promoting Independence Thematic Group of the LSP)
- Overall voluntary group organisation: St Helens Voluntary & Community Sector Network Panel
- Groups helping to represent "disabled organisations" to the LSP: no separate representation route for disability-related groups. The St Helens Disability Empowerment Network (DEN) brings together individuals and groups, and has a representative on the St Helens Voluntary and Community Sector Network Panel.
- contacts: Jane Dearden (via St Helens CVS (01744) 457110, jane.d@virgin.net
- contacts: Phil Longworth (01744) 454530, philipacsthelens@hotmail.com
- contacts: Paul Pennington (01744) 601204 / sthelenmind@yahoo.co
- contacts: Kate Williams (via St Helens CVS (01744) 457100)
- lead agency: Howard Matthew, St Helens CVS (01744) 457109, www.sthelenscvs.org.uk/cen , howard@sthelenscvs.org.uk
- updated 11/3/05
Sefton
- LSP: Sefton Borough Partnership
- Subgroup: Health & Social Care Forum
- Groups helping to represent "disabled organisations" to the LSP: Ability (has a formal seat on LSP - but is not a direct LSP subgroup)
- contacts: Roger Driver (Mental Health Issues and Learning Disabilities) (0151) 922-3316
- contacts: Cathy Rafferty elected to represent Ability on the LSP via (0151) 920-0726 ext 204
- lead agency: Disability Development Worker at Sefton LCVS - Cathy Rafferty (0151) 920-0726 ext 204
- updated 8/3/05
Wirral
- LSP: Wirral Local Strategic Partnership
- Overall voluntary group organisation: Wirral Voluntary & Community Sectors Network (WVCN)
- Groups helping to represent "disabled organisations" to the LSP: The LSP has members who are from relevant sectors of interest, but they represent the voluntary sector as a whole. ("The "Physical Disability" subgroup of the Wirral Empowerment Network now meets at the same time as WIRED's Wirral Disability Advisory Group).
- contacts: the WCVN Panel has four nominated representatives ...
- "Physical Disability" - vacant
- "Mental Health" - vacant
- "Care" - Karen Urmston (0151) 482-3148
- "Learning Disabilities" - vacant
- lead agency: Joe Thwaites at Wirral CVS (0151) 647-5432, www.wvcsn.org , joethwaites@email.com
- updated 1/11/05
2. Is there equipment available for groups to use?
MDF has a portable hearing loop that can be used at your meetings, if you have to hold them in rooms without built-in loop systems. It is available on free short-term loan to MDF members.
Other equipment held by Mereyside voluntary groups that are part of the Merseyside ChangeUp consortium, and which is sometimes available for hire or loan, can be found here
For more information contact admin. at MDF.
3. How can I find information on the local Compacts?
Compacts are codes of practice to help smooth relationships between government and the voluntary sector. Each local council has drawn up a Compact for their own area. These are the latest known available on the web (last updated 6/6/08):
see also the Commission on the Compact website at www.thecompact.org.uk/
4. Where are the local LINks (Local Involvement Networks) in Merseyside?
Halton:
host organisation: Halton Voluntary Action, Sefton House, Public Hall Street, Runcorn WA7 1NG
contact: Lyn Williams
E: info@haltonlink.org.uk
T: 0192 859 2405
Knowsley:
host organisaton: Knowsley LINk Support, Knowsley CVS
contact: Paul Mavers
E: paul.mavers@knowsleycvs.org
T: 0151 489 1222
Liverpool:
host organisation: Liverpool Charity and VoluntaryServices (LCVS)
contact:Kathy Hull
E: Kathy.Hull@lcvs.org.uk
T: 0151 277 5177
St Helens:
host organisation: St Helens CVS, Tontine House, 24 Church St, St Helens WA10 1BD
contact:Emma Rodriguez Dos Santos
E: sthelenslink@sthelenscvs.org.uk
T: 01744 457119
Sefton:
host organisation: Sefton LINk Support, Sefton CVS
contact: Ian Ross
E: ian.ross@seftoncvs.org.uk
T: 0151 920 0726 ext 303
Wirral:
host organisation: Link Support Team. Wirral Voluntary and Commuinity Action (VCA), 65 The Village, Bebington, Wirral CH63 7PL
E: wirrallink@vcawirral.org.uk
T: 0151 645 4038
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