This survey seeks your assistance in enabling the Scottish Government to better understand how Organisational Blue Badges are used to facilitate access to different services for disabled persons.

This survey forms part of wider research aimed at better understanding the use of the Blue Badge Scheme for disabled persons.  We want to gather information on how the Blue Badge Scheme impacts on the lives of holders and how it fits with other transport provision for disabled people.

The survey will take about 10 minutes to complete and can be returned on line or by post to the address at the end of the survey.  The closing date for completion of the survey is  Tuesday 20th March 2012.

To take part in the survey please click here

By doing this, you will leave the VIAS website. To come back please click on the blue arrow that looks like this

Thank you for your participation.

Blue Badge Reform
Scottish Government

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As someone who grew up through the miners strikes of the 80's, the fall of heavy industry and lots of other things that saw entire communities pulled apart, I have seen a lot. Margaret Thatcher, the architect, has a lot to answer for but I am beginning to think that she was tame compared with what is happening now. At least she understood that some people needed invalidity benefit and shouldn't be forced to work. At least she encouraged investment in supported employment to help people who wanted to work to do so. This is the end of the praise for Thatcher. It pains me to do it!

What is happening now? Regardless of who tells them, the Tories are pressing on with welfare reforms that will put the lives of sick and disabled people at risk. They ignore the Scottish Government, the Lords, disabled people and anyone else with a valid opinion. They ignore the 30 + reported suicides as a result of flawed ESA tests and rising debts. They demonise sick and disabled people through the press. Regardless of almost complete opposition from all sides, they are pressing on with the privitisation of the English NHS. UK business sees the flaws in the Workfare programme before the UK Government does. Remember, there is no time limit to how long sick and disabled people can be forced to stay on this unpaid programme or risk losing essential benefits.

Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the UK Government are considering a watered down version of the UK Human Rights Act, they have changed the criteria of who can apply for legal aid and are also looking at reducing the rights of workers in general and relaxing health and safety legislation.

The question is, does this only affect disabled people? No, they are hell bent on punishing the 99% of the population with the least wealth to feather the pockets of the 1% who are richest. Mothers are going hungry to feed their kids and a new food bank opens in the UK every four days.

Remember that the majority of the UK Government Cabinet are millionaires. They are just feeding the general population in a clever, nasty way that divides the population and sets us all against each other.

I apologise as I just didn't realise how bad things could get. I thought that they were all the same. They are not. If you are a Liberal Democrat, shame on you! Your party is all but finished unless you remember your principles? If that word is still in your vocabulary?

I don't believe for a minute that the British public would accept what is happening if they truly understood it but we all have a responsibility to inform and to get people on side. So my plea is this, write to the tabloids, talk to your neighbours, campaign and get the true message out there. Yes, we are all in it together (with the exception of the Tory millionaires) and what is happening now is nothing to do with austerity measures and everything to do with Tory policy which is documented as far back as 2006, before the financial crisis of 2008.

Are you up for it?

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UNISON Scotland, Social Work Action Network and Defend Glasgow Services

have organised a community conference on Saturday 10th March 2012 which

will provide an opportunity for people who use services, workers, carers and families

and those interested in the issues around personalisation to come together.

For more information, please click on the attachment below:-

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Our February newsletter is now available to either download or read online. This edition carries stories about

• Updates on the Scottish Campaign for a Fair Society
• Equal Futures publication Planning for Tomorrow, Changes Today
• SHRC's submission on the UK Bill of Rights
• Community based support explained by The Centre for Welfare Reform

plus much, much more!!

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U N I T E D   N A T I O N S                            N A T I O N S   U N I E S

THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

--

MESSAGE ON The International Day

of Persons with Disabilities

“Together for a better world for all

including persons with disabilities in development”

3 December 2011

It is thirty years since the United Nations first observed the International Year of Disabled Persons under the theme “Full Participation and Equality”.  During that period, there has been significant progress in raising awareness about the rights of persons with disabilities and in strengthening the international normative framework to realize those rights – from the World Programme of Action (1982) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2006).

More and more countries are committing to protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities.  However, many challenges remain.  Persons with disabilities experience higher rates of poverty and deprivation and are twice as likely to lack health care.  Employment rates of persons with disabilities in some countries are as low as one-third of that of the overall population.  In developing countries, the gap in primary school attendance rates between children with disabilities and others ranges from 10 per cent to 60 per cent.

This multi-dimensional exclusion represents a huge cost, not only to persons with disabilities but to society as a whole.  This year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities reminds us that development can only be sustainable when it is equitable, inclusive and accessible for all.  Persons with disabilities need therefore to be included at all stages of development processes, from inception to monitoring and evaluation.

Addressing negative attitudes, the lack of services or ready access to them, and other harmful social, economic and cultural barriers will benefit all of society. 

On this International Day of Persons with Disabilities, I call on governments, civil society and the global community to work for and alongside persons with disabilities to achieve inclusive, sustainable and equitable development worldwide.

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Our November newsletter is now available to either download or read online. This edition carries stories about

• Cardinal Keith O'Brien's, leader of the Catholic Church in Scotland's perspective on the UK Welfare Reforms
• An inspiring article by Rich Donovan, a New York based disabled businessman on mining the disability market
• A Guardian report on the sharp rise in demand for food handouts in the UK
• Co-production explained by The Centre for Welfare Reform

plus much, much more!!

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PRESS RELEASE

Major charities across Scotland including ENABLE Scotland and the Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland will consult with MSP’s and senior figures on the draft UK manifesto of Campaign for a Fair Society on 7^th December 2011 at Holyrood.

They say that many of society’s disabled people are being forced to shoulder far more than their fair share of the Government’s austerity burden.

Now the charities, including Alzheimer’s Scotland and Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living, will give presentations on the impact that the UK austerity measures will have on their lives and the lives of those that they represent.

It is all part of their fast growing Campaign for a Fair Society first launched on 8^th February 2011 and which has now spread across Scotland and the UK.

Members of the campaign’s Scottish steering group said it was totally unfair and unacceptable that more than £7 billion of the Government’s £27 billion of cuts should fall on less than two per cent of society’s most vulnerable people.

John Dalrymple, of Neighbourhood Networks, said this is an excellent opportunity to inform MSP’s, senior figures across Scotland and the general public about the real impact of the UK Welfare Reform Bill.

“Disabled people in Scotland are set to lose £1billion in welfare support in the next five years as a result of this Bill. Many of them are already struggling on very low incomes. These are not the actions of a fair society.”

Jim Elder-Woodward, of Independent Living in Scotland added

"This millionaire UK government is making sure the rich and able within the City can carry on as if nothing has happened, whilst making damn sure the most poor and disabled outside, those who need the most support just to exist, are most affected in their efforts to deal with the mess originating from the rich and able of the City."

Norma Curran, of Values into Action Scotland, further added that there are better ways of distributing limited funding and that they are calling for a system of welfare reform which is fairer than the one currently proposed by the Coalition Government

“Through our UK manifesto and other means, Campaign members will be working together to propose a range of clear alternative policy solutions and will go on seeking support from the general public and political groups for real reform and fairness,” Norma said.

Now the Scottish steering committee is calling for people to join the Campaign by visiting their website www.campaignforafairsociety.org, lobbying local MPs and MSP’s, making donations and spreading the word via social media.

Ends

Notes

The Campaign for a Fair Society was born in London in 2010 but has now spread across England, Scotland and Wales. More than 70 UK charities, several influential individuals and approximately 1,500 members of the public have already signed up to it.

CfFS is not just another anti-cuts campaign, but it promotes positive principles for a fair welfare reform. It campaigns for:

• A commitment to human rights
• A commitment to make the right to support an objective right established in law
• A commitment to provide families and individuals with early support
• A commitment to put people back in control of their own lives
• A commitment to good housing
• A commitment to a guaranteed minimum income free from means-testing
• A commitment to end the current super-tax on older and disabled people levied through local authority charges

Timing of the event

This event falls on the Wednesday between International Day of Persons with Disabilities (3^rd December) and United Nations Human Rights Day (10^th December).

 Scottish Organisational members (56 + 1 observer)

Altrum; Alzheimer Scotland; Archibald Foundation; Ark Housing Association; Autism Rights Group; C-Change, CCPS – Coalition of Care and Support Providers in Scotland; Choices Care; Cosgrove Care; Direct Inclusive Collaborative Enterprise (DICE) CIC; Diversity Matter; Down’s Syndrome Scotland; Edinburgh Development Group; Empower Quality Supports; ENABLE Scotland; Equal Futures
Ethnic Enable; FOCUS – The Richmond Fellowship Scotland; Give Me A Chance; Glasgow Centre for Inclusive Living; Glasgow Disability Alliance; Greensyde Carers; Hayfield Support Service with Deaf People; Humanist Society Scotland; In Control Scotland; Inclusion Glasgow; Inclusion Scotland; Independent Living in Scotland; Inspiring Inclusion; Intowork; L’Arche Scotland; Lead Scotland; Learning Disability Alliance Scotland; Link Living; Local Area Coordinators Network Scotland; Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland (LTCAS); Lothian Centre for Inclusive Living; Margaret Blackwood Housing Association; Neighbourhood Networks; PAMIS; Partners for Inclusion; Partners in Advocacy; Pave Graphics
People First Scotland; Potential Living; Renfrewshire Access Panel
Roberts Care and Training; Scottish Consortium for Learning Disability; Scottish Human Rights Commission (observer); Scottish Union of Supported Employment; Sense Scotland; Support for Ordinary Living; The Dolphin Club; Thistle Foundation; UPDATE, Disability Information Scotland; Values Into Action Scotland; VAMW Care

Note

For more live comment from Scottish Campaign spokespersons or to arrange security passes for journalists who wish to attend on the day (1.15pm - 2.15pm on Wednesday 7th December) please call:

Norma Curran, Interim Chair, Scottish Campaign for a Fair Society, 07806 282993.

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MSPs will soon be voting on a Legislative Consent Memorandum to decide whether to refuse legal consent to the Bill. To read the paper submitted by LCiL, please click on the attachment below:-

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The Scottish Campaign for a Fair Society’s coalition has submitted a paper to the United Nations’ Human Rights Council. This is because they will do the second Universal Periodic Review of the United Kingdom(in 2012).

The Report is not available in easy read yet because we had to write it quickly. We hope to do an easy read version very soon.

Many thanks to Pauline Nolan from Inclusion Scotland for doing so much work so quickly.

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Are you concerned about the impact of the UK Welfare Reform Bill on the people and communities you work with? SCVO is facilitating an event with the Scottish Parliament for your organisation to provide input to the three Scottish Parliament committees that will be scrutinising the UK Welfare Reform Bill.
1 November, 5.30-8pm
Scottish Parliament

You must register with SCVO to attend this event. Please contact Felix Spittal on 01463 251 724 or email pon@scvo.org.uk.

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PRESS RELEASE

14^thOctober 2011

In the run up to the Edinburgh Hardest Hit Protest on October 22^nd, Cardinal Keith O’Brien has offered his support to Campaign for a Fair Society.  The Cardinal said “I am very aware of the concern being expressed regarding the proposed changes to the welfare system (Welfare Reform Bill) and the potential impacts on individuals in receipt of benefits.”   The Campaign for a Fair Society says that that 25% of the Government’s cuts will fall on the 3% of the population that is most vulnerable – making them the Hardest Hit.  

Cardinal O’Brien went on to say

“While there is a general acceptance of the need of the system to be reformed, those concerns highlight the danger of many genuinely vulnerable individuals being made more vulnerable and placed at risk. In particular I am conscious that those with disabilities have particular concerns that over time they will see a reduction in the overall value of their benefits, as well as reduced access to social care services. For many, they are particularly worried that a loss of Disability Living Allowance will mean a loss of their independence altogether.

The role of the Catholic Church in this situation is not to take political sides or support particular policies. It is however, to draw attention to our commitment to the Common Good which encourages us to give particular attention to the needs of those who are most vulnerable. This commitment has at its heart the understanding that how we organise society directly affects human dignity and the ability of individuals to grow in community.”

Concerned about the impact of the impending welfare reforms he added,

“I therefore urge all those involved in policy making, and those working on behalf of those who are affected by these benefit changes, to work together to strive for a welfare system that has the Common Good at its heart, one that is just, fair and compassionate, for the moral test of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable members as pointed out in the pastoral letter "Economic Justice for All":

Cardinal Keith O'Brien is the only living Scottish Cardinal and Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh of the Roman Catholic Church.  He is the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland  and heads its Conference of Bishops.

Norma Curran, Scottish Coordinator of the Campaign for A Fair Society, said, “We really welcome the support of the Cardinal.  It is very important that all parts of civil society cooperate to change the Coalition’s policies.  Their current plans are that 25% of the cuts will fall on the 3% of the population that is most vulnerable.    Hopefully with the support of people like the Cardinal we can begin to change this.”

 Ends

Notes

The Campaign for a Fair Societystarted on 8^thFebruary 2011 and has now spread across Scotland, England and Wales. More than 50 Scottish charities, 100 UK charities, several influential individuals and approximately 1,500 members of the public have already signed up to it.

CfFS is not just another anti-cuts campaign, but it promotes positive principles for a fair welfare reform. It campaigns for:

• A commitment to human rights
• A commitment to make the right to support an objective right established in law
• A commitment to provide families and individuals with early support
• A commitment to put people back in control of their own lives
• A commitment to good housing
• A commitment to a guaranteed minimum income free from means-testing
• A commitment to end the current super-tax on older and disabled people levied through local authority charges

Note

For more live comment from Scottish Campaign spokespersons please call:

Norma Curran, Values Into Action Scotland, 0141 880 9055 or 07806 282993.

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