Rain dampens turnout but -Disability Hate Crime Event is still a big success!

June 20, 2012 - PRLog -- Local social care provider Living Ambitions, based in Lostock Hall, Preston, moved quickly this week to prevent a total wash out of the Disability Hate Crime Event it organised for Saturday 16th June at the Flag Market, Preston. With rain and blustery winds predicted, the event moved indoors to the Preston Guild Hall with organisers and event partners urgently promoting the change.

All was not lost and although the weather was true to the forecast the public turned out and made the day a great success! “The weather did its worst” said Robin Bush, Managing Director of Living Ambitions “But our staff, volunteers, partners and officials all rallied together to produce a truly great day!”

The Event was officially opened by Robin and Lancashire County Council’s Champion for the Disabled, Carole Evans. Partner information stalls included, local organisations such as Lancashire County Council, Lancashire Constabulary Diversity Unit, Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, Mencap, Caritas Care/React, Disability NW, Integrate, Preston City Council Cultural Services, Brothers of Charity and Creative Support.

The Domino Partnership, a theatre company, working with people with learning disabilities performed a sequence of acts designed to raise disability awareness and bullying and the ‘Video Bike’ peddled around Preston City Centre allowing people to view the campaign video elsewhere in the city centre

Local MP for Preston Mark Hendrick was in attendance and addressed the event, praising the coming together of local organisations which was a 1st of its kind in the county! “Our aim to make the general public aware of exactly what Disability Hate Crime is, was achieved” says Robin Bush, MD of Living Ambitions “the day was interactive and informative and despite the bad weather people from all over Preston, local officials and partner organisations helped to raise awareness of these horrible crimes and how they could report them”

A Petition & Vox Pops were started, asking for greater funds to raise awareness of the issues of Disability Hate Crime. This will be added to as the Living Ambitions Community Campaign continues. Both will be presented to the Minister Maria Miller MP, Minister for Disabled People at the Office for Disability Issues, at Caxton House, London and Local MP for Preston, Mark Kendrick, who will present it at Parliament after the campaign

For further information on the Living Ambitions Community Campaign 2012 ‘Disability Hate Crime’ 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