ECDP is pleased to announce that it has been awarded £143,766 as part of the Big Lottery Fund's Reaching Communities programme.

We will be using the money to expand a successful volunteering programme that helps disabled people become more confident and less isolated in the community. The expansion will include training disabled people to become volunteers so they can help others in the community and gain valuable skills.

Ann Gregson, Volunteers and Mentoring Manager at EDCP, said: "We are really pleased to have been granted funding from the Big Lottery Fund. It means that our very worthwhile project, the Independent Visitors Scheme, can continue to build on the success it has had so far. We will also be able to move into areas of Essex that we have not had the capacity to deal with in the past.

"The volunteers and clients involved in the scheme will be thrilled to learn that the project will continue. We have volunteers who were once clients of the scheme who had no confidence, had problems going out into their community and had little hope of ever finding employment. One such volunteer is now doing a post-graduate degree in disability equality at Anglia Ruskin University."

Mike Adams, Chief Executive of ECDP, will be appearing on Dream 107FM radio news bulletins throughout today (Wednesday 26 March). He will be commenting on current issues of physical access for disabled people to stores like the Post Office and WH Smith in Chelmsford town centre.

On the issue, Mr Adams said: "Access for all disabled people, and not just those in wheelchairs, should be a key consideration for people who run shops and businesses. The key message is that businesses shouldn’t see disabled people as a problem, but instead recognise the potential buying power of the disabled pound."

Essex Coalition of Disabled People (ECDP) is delighted to announce we have been successful in a bid to the Department of Health to support the development of a Centre for Inclusive Living (CIL) in Cambridgeshire. ECDP will become a mentor to a wide range of disability groups in Cambridgeshire supporting them to establish their own user-led organisation. The bid was only one of three in the whole country which was funded and the project will start in April and last for 13 months.

Mike Adams, Chief Executive of ECDP, commented: "This is excellent news for disabled people in Cambridgeshire and will provide a real voice, bringing together those in all parts of the county. It is also recognition for the work carried out by ECDP and we are delighted to be able to share our knowledge and expertise. Every county should have a Centre for Inclusive Living to represent the views and needs of disabled people and we look forward to a successful project!"

Lynn Hester, from Cambridgeshire, said: "This funding is crucial to further develop involvement and influence of disabled people in Cambridgeshire. I hope all disabled people in the county will take full advantage of working on this project to improve our services and choices."

For further information on the project, please contact Rich Watts, Director of Operations.

The British Institute of Human rights is continuing a theme of its work on how the Human Rights Act has been used positively. This has especially included ensuring that disabled people are treated fairly and equally, something ECDP obviously supports. Previous case studies are included in a publication called Changing Lives, which you can download here.

The British Institute of Human Rights is looking for more case studies of where disabled people have used the Human Rights Act in a positive way. This could include using the Act to protect dignity, challenge discrimination, or challenging blanket policies that don’t take account of individual circumstances. If you have any experience of using the Human Rights Act for this or ay other purpose, or know anyone else that has, please get in touch with Rich Watts at ECDP.

More information about the British Institute of Human Rights is available from its website: http://www.bihr.org/

Essex Coalition of Disabled People (ECDP) welcomes the consultation document on the future of adult social care in Essex released by Essex County Council.

The County Council plans to change the way it provides adult social care by introducing self-directed support and personal budgets for all new service users from the second half of 2008. This is likely to mean that, instead of being told what care package they will receive, people who qualify will instead receive a personal budget and they can decide how to allocate it.

Mike Adams , Chief Executive of ECDP, said: “This consultation gives disabled people, and organisations like ECDP that provide services for disabled people, an opportunity to shape the future of social care in Essex. ECDP believes that any developments which potentially mean that disabled people are able to live independently should be welcomed.”

ECDP will submit a formal response to the consultation in due course, and the response will be made available on our website. If you would like to make a comment to ECDP on any aspect of the consultation, please get in touch with us.