No place for Hate- Stop Disability Hate Crime in Lancashire

June 8, 2012 - PRLog -- Learning Disability Week organised by Mencap starts from Monday 18 June to Sunday 24 June. It will continue the great work of Learning Disability week 2011, which saw the launch of the National ‘Stand by me’ campaign against hate crime. This year to kick start the week, local social care provider, Living Ambitions, has organised a community event to raise the profile of ‘Disability Hate Crime’ in Lancashire with the general public.

Working in partnership with Lancashire Constabulary, Lancashire County Council, Preston City Council, Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Tust, Mencap, Disability Equality NW, True Vision and Caritas Care, the Community Event takes place on Saturday 16th June at the Flag Market in Preston City Centre

“Our aim is to make the general public aware of exactly what Disability Hate Crime is” says Robin Bush, MD of Living Ambitions “We support many people who have learning and physical disabilities and it is clear from the feedback we get, that public understanding of disability and hate crime in general is poor”

Information stalls and staff from Living Ambitions and its partners will be operating from the Flag Market, from 11.00am – 15.00pm. The Preston City Council Community bus will be on hand to view a campaign video, get information and/or leave a ‘vox pop’ to show your support.  The Domino Partnership, a working theatre company, will be performing with a theme designed to raise disability awareness and bullying and the ‘Video Bike’ will be travelling around for people to view the campaign video elsewhere in the city centre

“We want the day to be interactive and informative” adds PC Stuart Rutledge, from Lancashire Constabulary’s Diversity Unit “but we also want people to know that these crimes can be reported and where they can be reported as Hate Crime in general is on the increase”

Living Ambitions and the Lancashire Organisations are hoping that people will show their support on the day and during Learning Disability Week. A petition will be available to sign and along with the ‘Vox Pops’ will be presented to the Minister Maria Miller MP, Minister for Disabled People at the Office for Disability Issues,  at Caxton House, London after the event

For further information on the ‘Disability Hate Crime Campaign Day’ please contact:

Robin Bush
Living Ambitions
38 Brownedge Road,
Lostock Hall, Preston, Lancashire
PR5 5AD
Tel: 01772 310 280   Fax: 01772 378 796  
E-Mail: admin@livingambitions.co.uk
Web: www.livingambitions.co.uk

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Notes for the Editor

• Registered as an excellent 3* provider with the Care Quality Commission, Ofsted and the Social Care Inspectorate the organisation is also a preferred social care provider of Lancashire County Council, Wigan and Salford. With demand for ‘Supported Living’, ‘Outreach’ and a variety of innovative services from support providers increasing, Living Ambitions work to provide community support to individuals with Long term and enduring mental health concerns, dual diagnosis and Learning Disabilities.

• Based on Brownedge Road, Lostock Hall, in Preston, Lancashire, the organisation has been an innovative provider of social care services for over 20 years. Originally part of the Watson Healthcare Group operating in Salford & Greater Manchester, it now focuses on developing small bespoke services for individuals of all ages in their local communities throughout the North West