Call for Autism support

https://www.ivketamine.com/autism/


The Liberal Democrats have passed a motion at their Spring party conference that would see changes made to the Equalities Act and Autism Act to allow those with autism to achieve their full potential. The Motion also calls on the Government to support individuals who are diagnosed with autism.  

The motion calls on the Government to provide support to those who are diagnosed with autism with sweeping reform including:  

Education about neurodivergence to be included on the curriculum in the same way mental health is currently. With increased teacher training.  

Reduced wait lists for diagnosis by increasing funding and making diagnosis more accessible, by stopping gatekeeping and reducing steps required for diagnosis to be official in NHS terms. 

A change to ensure Autism is not represented as decreasing quality of life, and equal access to support and diagnosis for autistic women, girls, non-binary individuals and ethnic minorities. 

Guidance on employment to be updated to ensure the Equality Act 2010 is fulfilled and employers can support autistic individuals in their employment. Further improvements to the Autism Act 2009, to create obligations on employers and local authorities to support autistic people with their care assessments. 

Autistic offenders to be met with support and not punishment when the crime is non-violent. The creation of sensory spaces to be provided for autistic individuals engaging with the justice system. 

Commenting, Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Paddox and Eastlands), said:   

“Every individual should be able to achieve their potential and Liberal Democrats want to see more support for autistic people in Rugby, Warwickshire and across the country. By including lessons on neurodivergence in schools curriculums, putting in place funding to speed up the diagnosis process and ensuring that autistic people can be supported by their employers, we can begin to create a society that works for people with autism.”

Full motion as passed can be found here: F22: Autism Support (libdems.org.uk)

  • Autism is a part of daily life for 2.8 million people in the UK (Child’s Quarter). 
  • Only 8% of autistic people and 5% of family members felt that health and care services had improved since the Autism Act (Pears Foundation). 
  • Only 16% of diagnosed autistic individuals are in full time employment and 32% in part time employment, but many adults remain undiagnosed due to unnecessary hurdles in the assessment system. 
  • 77% of unemployed diagnosed autistic individuals want to work (National Autistic Society). 
  • Misdiagnosis of autistic individuals is far too common – especially in ethnic minorities, women, girls and non-binary individuals. 
  • Autistic people are up to seven times more likely than the general population to be involved in the criminal justice system (Economic and Social Research Council). 

Hidden Inequality

Welcoming the Warwickshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy at the County Council 16th March, Councillor Nicola Davies said:

“It is important to ensure that the Strategy is not overlooking a hidden inequality that mainly – but not exclusively affects women – and that is the perception of and, actual safety as a barrier to health and well-being.

If women and other members of our communities do not feel confident or safe to access and enjoy our open spaces their health and well-being will be negatively affected. This needs to be an important considered when spatial strategies are developed in the future.

Physical and mental health are affected if some members of our communities do not feel they have safe access to exercise and enjoy fresh air and space all year round.

In the future I would ask that this inequality be assessed and addressed to the benefit of all.

The Little Green Book

Liberal Democrats have have campaigned for a greener Warwickshire. Today the Leader of the Liberal Democrat group Cllr Jerry Roodhouse on released the “The Little Green Book” which he has developed as a practical guide to helping the local environment. Cllr Jerry Roodhouse said in releasing this booklet “that by only by working together can we start improving our biodiversity and local environment. Warwickshire does not perform well against its own indicators for biodiversity so we need to do more, I hope residents find this booklet helpful and a practical; way that they can help our environment and planet”.

Liberal Democrats fighting for a greener future

Link to the The Little Green Book

Something’s Not Right

County launches Something’s Not Right Toolkit

Child exploitation is happening in Warwickshire. Don’t ignore it.

Hundreds of children in Warwickshire are victims of exploitation every year and only by working together can we make an impact and improve the lives of the young people affected.

To increase the awareness of child exploitation (CE) in Warwickshire, Warwickshire County Council, in partnership with Warwickshire Police, Barnardo’s, Warwickshire Safeguarding and the Police and Crime Commissioner, is re-launching the Something’s Not Right campaign with a new partnership website https://www.somethingsnotright.co.uk/

The website is being launched to the public on Monday 15th March 2021, to time in with Child Exploitation Awareness Day on Thursday 18th March. Partners are encouraged to use the resources included in this toolkit throughout this week and beyond. It is important that these messages are shared regularly by all partners to continuously raise awareness of child exploitation in Warwickshire.

AskSARA

“These gadgets are making a difference. Taking the right meds at the right time helps me stay well and how I want to stay!”

Help make daily activities easier and stay well for longer. Try AskSARA at http://warwickshire.gov.uk/asksara

#MakeLifeEasier #AskSARA

Putting mental health support for young people and families first.

County Council Budget Meeting 8th February

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse

The Liberal Democrats say that Covid has changed everything and are calling for a Warwickshire that is:

  • Fairer ­– giving opportunities for all
  • Caring – for all our residents
  • Greener – there is no planet B

Our budget amendment to the Conservative administration is to: reduce planned budget cuts, especially in 2021 -2022 to give services the space they need to redesign and restructure themselves, so they can operate effectively in the post-pandemic climate.

Cllr Jerry Roodhouse, Leader of the Liberal Democrats in Warwickshire, said in introducing the amendment:

“First, we need to place on record our thanks to the NHS, Social Care staff all and WCC staff along with every single person who has helped and supported communities through this difficult time. It is right that we need to look forward and tackle head on the legacy that Covid will leave us with, such as increased mental health issues, particularly with young people. The NSPCC says the amount of counselling for loneliness provided by its Childline service has risen by 10% since the pandemic started.  The NSPCC also says, ‘As each lockdown was eased the numbers increased dramatically, along with reports of domestic abuse’. Liberal Democrats would reduce the planned budget cuts in order to allocate a large sum to invest in essential services now. We have also brought Climate Change to the fore and urge the County Council to accelerate its actions.

We have proposed the lowest Council Tax possible without damaging the services that are needed to support recovery after the pandemic. The Conservative Government is forcing Councils to raise Council Tax and at the same time shelving proper funding of adult Social care, and the Liberal Democrats believe these priorities are wrong.”

Families and young people are at the heart of our proposals, all designed to tackle the legacy of Covid:

What future for our siblings
  • Allocation of £4 million over the medium term towards supporting families and young people who have suffered increased anxiety and mental health issues through the pandemic. Because of Covid we need to strengthen safeguarding in Warwickshire.
  • A £150K allocation for the ECO Schools programme to help Warwickshire increase its biodiversity .
  • A £150k allocation towards developing partnership working across the whole of Warwickshire at every level, empowering localism through Town and Parish Councils and supporting the work of WALC.
  • £200k towards implementing the new duties regarding Domestic Abuse and to develop new prevention programmes.
  • Allocation of £300,000 towards new cycling routes and improving rights of way and forestry.

We have also brought together funding pots to create stronger foundations:

  • Climate Change, accelerating the work needed to make Warwickshire County Council a net zero carbon producer by 2030. Supporting the greening of our towns and supporting the awards of High Street funds. Support for joint City of Culture greening initiatives that benefit Warwickshire’s residents. Business cases should also seek to support a green economy, targeting micro businesses that are innovative.
  • A Fairer, Caring Fund that prioritises strengthening Warwickshire’s towns and communities by working in partnership, making us a leader in supporting the extra work needed in areas such as autism and dementia.

COVID-19 Information

Lets Work Together

Council Tax up and highways maintenance funding slashed by Government


Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Eastlands) has expressed his dismay as Warwickshire County Council is set to lose over £5.7 million for local road maintenance.  

The Department for Transport has announced capital funding of £1.385bn for local road maintenance and pothole filling across the country for 2021/22, a £400m reduction on last year’s allocation of £1.783bn. 

Councillor Jerry Roodhouse who is Vice Chairman of the County Council Network is calling on the Government to do more and set a long-term plan for investing in our local road and transport networks. 

Commenting. Councillor Jerry Roodhouse (Eastlands), said: 

“The bad weather recently has not helped our aging infrastructure and Councils rely on this capital funding to ensure our road and footpath networks are kept in good condition. Warwickshire’s allocation from Government is a fraction of what’s needed when you consider the investment required to maintain and keep everything up to standard. With Council Tax increases being set by the Conservative administration at Warwickshire County Council, this is a slap in the face for residents.” 

Warwickshire           24,428,00018,828,000–            5,600,000
Set to loose over £5 million
Local road maintenance and pothole funding 2021/22: CCN response