Voice for All (VFA) held a launch party for the new Brothers of Charity Services in England’s ‘Love, Sex and Relationships’ easy read policy on Valentine’s Day. The launch party was attended by many people from across the service as well as friends, colleagues and partners from across the North West.
In 2016 Voice For All, the Brothers of Charity Services self-advocacy group in Lancashire created a new National ‘Sex and Relationships’ policy. This was produced in partnership with the ‘Pleased to Meet You’ self-advocacy group in Merseyside. The policy is very much aimed at support staff to help them whenever they are supporting people with friendships and relationships. But to accompany and compliment this policy, members of ‘Voice For All’ and ‘Pleased to meet you’ wanted to write an ‘easy read’ version of the policy and produce some clear guidelines and information for all the people who use the Brothers the Charity Services.
Becky Gammon, the chair person of VFA and other members of VFA’s Relationship sub-group, worked closely with John Whitehead, Advocacy and Communication Coordinator, to create this much needed and long awaited document entitled ‘Love, Sex and Relationships’.
At the celebration to officially launch the easy read policy and booklet, Becky delivered a wonderful presentation on behalf of VFA and the BOCS, explaining what the ‘Love, Sex and Relationships’ policy is about and what it means to herself, her colleagues, and everyone that we support at the Brothers of Charity Services and beyond.
After Becky’s presentation, everyone celebrated the launch with party poppers, and a glass of bucks fizz. Delicious cupcakes and biscuits from Roccoco were also served at the celebration event with tea and coffee.
Sue Sharples, who produces and delivers the ‘Y Be Shy About Sex’ training courses for people with learning disabilities, and a good friend of Voice for All, was invited to speak at the event and was given some lovely flowers as a thank you gift for the support and guidance she has given to VFA throughout their journey of writing the ‘Love, Sex and Relationships’ policy.
Sue gave some very kind words and said how pleased she was that VFA had created such a fantastic easy read policy and how proud they should feel. Sue also congratulated the Brothers of Charity Services for their positive approach in best supporting people with their friendships and relationships and especially in being proactive and innovative in positively addressing and championing ‘love, sex and relationships’ for people with disabilities.
Darron Grundy, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Brothers of Charity Services in England gave the closing speech. Darron talked about how important the values of ‘love’ and ‘relationships’ are to the Brothers of Charity Services and to each and every one of us. He also said he was extremely proud and grateful, and congratulated the ‘Voice for All’ and ‘Pleased to meet you’ advocacy groups and thanked them for producing two excellent policies which are ‘National’ policies for the Brothers of Charity Services in England.
For the rest of the launch party, the afternoon was spent with more celebrating and dancing by the people who attended!
VFA have already had some fantastic feedback and many compliments from lots of colleagues and partners, not only in Lancashire, but from across the whole North West, for producing such a fantastic and much needed policy and booklet.
Click here to download the easy read Love, Sex and Relationships booklet.
Congratulations everyone!