Hear Us Heroes

Wednesday 7th May 2025

Notes from our last meeting: 

Attendance:
• 41 people attended.

Welcome & Introductions:
• James Hadleigh welcomed everyone and noted the presence of many new faces.
• James shared updates on The Big Plan, and Anthony Carr from the Blackburn with Darwen Refresh Team returned to present a revised activities timetable from our suggestions.

Updates and Feedback:

1. Good news for Blackburn with Darwen, Bridge House on Jubilee Street transformation
• Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council has secured government funding to transform the Bridge House building on Jubilee Street into a Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Centre.
• The Centre will include a café where students can gain catering and hospitality skills.

2. The Big Plan – Sub Groups Overview:

James told us that workshops had taken place at the Learning Disability Partnership Board and Autism Board meetings. Today we would see the outcome of the workshops and see what people with a Learning Disability, Autism and Neurodiverse Conditions wanted.

James outlined the three proposed Sub Groups told us what feedback had been given at the workshops. He asked if anything had been missed and asked for feedback and views from the Hear Us Heroes group.

Living Well:

Focus: Meaningful Activities, Life Skills, Training, Employment, Volunteering
Your feedback:

• Cooking lessons
• Training and budgeting
• Exercise

Being Safe:

Focus: Safety at home and in the community, safe places, workforce training (ensure staff are trained in the needs of people with a Learning Disability and Autism), transport
Your feedback:

• Being safe in relationships
• Local housing support (concerns about centralized housing associations)

Staying Healthy:

Focus: Health communication, hospital/GP visits, annual health checks
Your feedback:

• Include dental visits

Funding:

• Lottery Funding Secured:
James told us that Care Network had been successful and received 3 years of funding  to continue these Hear Us Heroes meetings and some new activities. New activities to be led by disabled people for disabled people.

• New Role:
Victoria Braithwaite has joined Care Network as Disability Inclusion Manager. She brings fresh ideas and aims to involve younger people and new members.

• Working together:
James said that we could look a working together with the Blackburn with Darwen Refresh Health and Wellbeing Team and maybe have an exercise class.

• New Projects funded by the Lottery Funding:
Mystery Shopping - Visiting public places (shops, GPs, dentists) to identify accessibility issues.

• Staff to receive training.
• Participating locations get a sticker once completed training, so people with a Learning Disability, Autism or a Neurodiverse condition know it is a safe place to go.

• Newsletter Coming Soon:
Published 3 times a year, focusing on Learning Disability, Autism, and Neurodiversity.
Volunteers needed to help create it.  Let us know if you are interested in being part of the team producing the Newsletter.

• Learning Disability and Autism annual awareness Events:
We plan to hold annual awareness events planned to showcase talent, such as art exhibits or drama performances.

• Steering Group Needed:
A group is needed to help run projects – volunteers welcome.

Activities & Volunteering:

• Revised Activity Timetable:
Anthony Carr presented the updated timetable based on feedback given by the Hear Us Heroes group.  Anthony thanked

• Easier to read
• More accessible layout

• Volunteer Leaflet:
Anthony is gathering feedback on simplifying the leaflet.

• Volunteer Opportunities:

• Support Learning Disability sessions
• Help instructors, greet attendees, assist with warm-ups
• Earn badges for progress and achievements
• Certificates of achievement will be offered
• Safeguarding procedures (DBS, references) required

• More Volunteer Roles (with Victoria Braithwaite):

• Mystery Shopping
• Admin roles at Hear Us Heroes
• Community outreach
• Workshop assistants
• Skills training provided

Goal: 40 new volunteers over 3 years

 

Learning Disability Awareness Week:

Dates: Monday 16th – Sunday 22nd June
Theme: Being Seen, Heard and Valued

• Song practice – “This is Me” from The Greatest Showman
• Friday 20th June, 12:45 PM:
March to the Town Hall and sing as a group
(Meet after the Friday Relax and Chat session)

 

Important Reminders:

Meeting Day Change:
• Now held on the first Wednesday of each month

Start Time:
• Arrive at 10:45 AM for an 11:00 AM prompt start

Upcoming Meetings:

• Wednesday 4th June
• Wednesday 2nd July
  
  
  

Visit our Hear Us Heroes main page