Listening and learning
I attended a SEND hustings on Thursday 25th April 2024 at Highlands Methodist Church in Leigh. There are over 2,000 adults with disabilities living with their families in Southend and this was my chance to meet some of them and listen to their views.
The hustings was arranged by Making Care Fair (MCF), a local campaign led by adults with learning difficulties and Southend Mencap.
The people attending this event said loud and clear is that the council has severely reduced their the level of engagement with them. On top of that, they have not been able to access money they are entitled to because the forms are ridiculously long and difficult to correctly complete. Essential public services like footpaths and busses are not allowing our citizens with mobility issues to get where they need to go.
The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is intended to be financial support for people with learning disabilities (LD) to live independently, regardless of their savings or income. However, in Southend, when applying for care packages, a financial assessment considers PIP, potentially leaving some with very little money for basic needs.
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has called for a new national agency for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Recently, the BBC showed that only 1% of children in Essex received an assessment for an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) within the 20-week legal limit.
A society is not just an economy. It is a community. There is so much we must do for all the citizens of Southend. Otherwise, what are we as people?
Link to the Southend SEND Strategy 2023 to 2026