The Learning Disabilities Partnership Board

My name is Sean Dempsey, and I am the ‘Listening to People’ Champion. I live in Swinton in Salford with my family.

Being a champion is all about helping people with learning disabilities to have a chance to speak up. As a champion I can speak up on behalf of other people and represent them.

We are experts by experience and in the past we have not always been listened to but we are the experts about our own lives and what we think should be heard by the bosses.

I go to lots of other group for people with learning disabilities in the North West and nationally. I am passionate about speaking up for people with learning disabilities to help people get better lives.

I wanted to be a Champion because I want to help people, to give them support. I want to make Salford a better place.

That means no violence, I don’t want negativity I want positivity. I want to talk to friends and I just want them to support me like a friend would.

Where you live, and your support, is important. You want them to be nice and give you support and talk to you if you feel angry or frustrated.

It’s important to have a good home, some people are homeless and have no ne to turn to. I would like to be more independent, my staff help me learn the skills I need.

The reason why I wanted to become the health champion is to listen to people and try and help them.

Good health is important to me because I have a health condition called Type 2 diabetes. I think that all health practitioners should always try and understand people with learning disabilities instead of trying to push it under the carpet.

I think health practitioners should come out to the community to where people have learning disabilities and sit down and actually listen to them before trying to diagnose them.

I would like to try and help as many people as I can by listening to them and getting them the help they need because as a person with a learning disability with a background of helping people and listening to them I’d like to help them get their voices heard.

Hi, my name is Amy Carter and I am the employment Champion. I started going to a drama group called DIY theatre company to build my confidence. Before I started DIY I did not give anyone eye contact with but I can give eye contact now and I’ve got a lot more confidence. I run workshops at Springwood Primary School and at Bury college. I’m a fully arts award advisor I use different sensory prop.

I wanted to be a role champion because I can talk to people, do presentations and lead workshops, I led at a conference in Liverpool.

I have had lived experience of being paid at Salford Royal when I was working has a domestic worker. I used to love it but then I left because I left they were giving me all the worst jobs, like cleaning the toilets, – I don’t mind taking my turn at the worst jobs but then I was on the toilets all the time and then I went in to one of the toilets and there was lots of needles on the floor. I also work at the Lowry one session a week, supporting a drama session called YES drama I will be starting to do a bit of paid training through DIY soon.

I am good at talking to people I am good at getting on with people and getting them involved I talk to people when they are upset I’ve got good listening skills, good eye contact, good communication skills and good ideas.

My name is Keith Henry Johnson and I am the ‘Supporting Me’ Champion. I have motivation, drive, guts and determination.

I want to help services for disabled people go forwards. I think everything should be accessible for people who use wheelchairs and other disabled people.

All services should treat everybody with respect, they should really listen to what people want and help them live the lives they want.

I work on behalf of the ‘Listening to People’ group, I am really proud to represent them.