VoiceAbility is working with Essex Council to get more autistic people involved in making decisions about the things are important to them.
VoiceAbility have been appointed as a co production partner for the Council’s All Age Autism Board. They plan to do this by running a number of working groups to look at things like autism diagnosis, accommodation, employment, education, and training. These groups may be online or face to face, or a combination of the two, depending on the preferences of those involved.
The working groups will bring together autistic people, their families, carers and professionals to work as equals to come up with suggestions for how to improve services.
VoiceAbility are able to offer people with these lived experiences a number of opportunities to get involved either as paid employees or volunteers. Paid Speak Out leader role information is here: Speak Out Leader – VoiceAbility (current-vacancies.com)
Volunteers can choose to be part of one or more working groups depending on what they are interested in, and possibly where in Essex they live. Volunteers will be supported in their roles and get:-
- the opportunity to learn new skills, meet new people and gain experience.
- induction training and other learning opportunities that will help you in the role.
- support from staff
- a reference if they complete over six months of volunteering.
- reasonable expenses and travel costs in line with VoiceAbility volunteer policy
More information about applying for volunteer roles is here: VoiceAbility | Speak Out Essex peer volunteer
To find out more about making lives better for autistic people across Essex contact Melanie.Ditmore@voiceability.org or Nicola.bishop@voiceability.org
