Following the successful launch of the Brothers of Charity Services (BOCS) easy read policy and guidelines: ‘Love, Sex and Relationships’. Becky Gammon has been busier than ever championing the importance of ‘Friendships, Love and Relationships’ for people with learning disabilities.
Love, Sex and Relationships
In 2016, Becky, together with friends and fellow self-advocates from Lancashire and Merseyside, were invited to write a National ‘Sex and Relationships’ policy for BOCS. This was written to help support staff in providing great support with friendships and relationships. Also with love, sex and sexuality, and staying safe, to name but a few.
Becky and her colleagues were extremely proud of their new policy for staff, but to compliment and accompany the staff policy. They asked for an accessible and easy to read ‘Sex and Relationships’ policy and guidelines for everybody at BOCS.
The work resulted in the easy read document ‘Love, Sex and Relationships’.
This policy, together with Voice for All’s booklet ‘How best to support me with Friendships and Relationships’ have been shared far and wide. Both have received lots of positive comments from social care providers, commissioners and professionals across the North West of England.
Supported Loving
Becky and VFA were delighted when Dr. Claire Bates from Choice Support, London contacted them asking for a meeting. Dr. Bates is the founder of the National ‘Supported Loving’ Campaign. This highlights the importance of good support in helping people with learning disabilities develop and maintain loving relationships. https://www.choicesupport.org.uk/our-work/supported-loving-campaign
Claire had heard about the work Voice for All were doing in the area of friendships and relationships and was very impressed. Particularly with the easy read policy and guidelines, she wanted to share them nationally. Both ‘Supported Loving’ and ‘Paradigm UK’ shared and promoted our policy and guidelines as ‘best practice’ at a national level. They were also featured on the internet, twitter and Facebook.
When Claire visited for the first time, she met with our colleagues from across the North West. She also heard lots more about the fantastic work that VFA have done. Especially around sex education and joint training courses, easy read and accessible information. As well as around improvement to Sexual Health Services, involvement with PRIDE events and championing the LGBT community.
Becky’s Presentation
As a result of her work, Becky was invited to do a presentation and workshop at the National Supported Loving Conference. Held by Choice Support, in Westminster, London on 5th October 2017.
Becky made a huge impact with all the delegates regarding the importance of ‘Love, Sex and Relationships’ for everyone. Also raising awareness of people with a learning disability having the right, choice, freedom and support to form meaningful and loving relationships of their choice. She also made lots of new contacts and friends from all corners of the UK following the conference.
John Whitehead, Advocacy and Communications Co-ordinator at BOCS joined Becky at the conference. He said: “it was a great honour and it was a pleasure and a privilege to accompany Becky and see her in action”.