What does the States Champion do?
The election for States Champion for Disabled People will take place on Friday 1st June 2012.
This is what the Champion does:
- Listens to the concerns of disabled islanders, their familes and the charities and professionals who support them.
- Guides people towards the help that is available.
- Looks at any changes the States plan to make from a disabled person’s point of view.
- Makes speeches about disabled people’s issues in States meetings.
- Encourages other States members to learn more about disabled people and their concerns.
- Raises awareness in the media of the barriers disabled people face.
- Helps develop and put into action the States’ Disability Strategy to improve support for disabled people.
If you are a disabled islander, a close family member or you work with or support disabled islanders in some way, find out how to vote here.
To hear a GDA interview on BBC Guernsey about the election, go to 25 mins in here.
Announcement of candidates for States Champion
The election of States Champion for Disabled People will take place by postal vote on Friday June 1st. Nominations for the role closed on Tuesday at 5pm.
The States’ Champion listens to disabled islanders and speaks on their behalf in the Assembly. It is an official States role, ratified by the Social Policy Group of the Policy Council. To find out more about what the Champion does, click here.
The three candidates are (in alphabetical order):
Deputy John Gollop, proposed by Jennifer Smith and Karen Garnham
Deputy Lester Queripel, proposed by John Buchanan and Richard Cochrane
Deputy Arrun Wilkie, proposed by Debbie Aldous and Barry Brehaut.
Voting is open to all disabled islanders, their close family members, staff and volunteers of disability charities, and health and social care professionals.
The term “disabled islanders” refers to a wide range of people including people with restricted mobility, sight or hearing impairment, mental health conditions, learning or communication difficulties or long-term illness.
To apply for a postal vote, potential voters are asked to send their name and address to info@disabilityalliance.org.gg or to call 07781 467316 or to register in person at the Health Information Exchange office in the foyer of the new block at the PEH. All details are on the Guernsey Disability Alliance website (www.disabilityalliance.org.gg or google “Guernsey Disability Alliance”) and the GDA phone number is in the phonebook.
The election is being organised by the Guernsey Disability Alliance, at the request of States Disability Strategy Steering Group. However, voting is open to everyone, not just people who are part of the GDA or one of its 34 member charities.
Shelaine Green, Chair of the GDA, said:
“Jane Stephens really proved the effectiveness of having a champion for disabled people in the last States. She set up monthly surgeries where disabled islanders and the people who support them could raise their concerns, led a successful amendment to ensure increases in benefits were applied fairly and was a driving force behind the Disability and Inclusion Strategy that will come to the States for debate later this year.
“From meeting deputies at our Speed Hustings and our AGM, we know that there is widespread support for improving life for disabled people within the new States, but it is still important to have a specific champion as the focal point for change. We are delighted that three deputies have stepped forward to be considered for the role and we look forward to reading their manifestos and questioning them at the hustings”.
The hustings will take place on Tuesday May 29th at 7pm at Les Cotils (note: revised date, was May 28th). Each candidate will be interviewed separately by the audience.
Your chance to elect Disability Champion
The search is on for a new States Champion for Disabled People. And your vote could make the difference. To find out the names of the candidates click here.
All disabled islanders, close family members, staff/volunteers from disability charities and health/social care/education professionals working with disabled people are encouraged to take part. People with all types of impairment are included – restricted mobility, visual and hearing impairment, learning difficulty, mental health problem or long term illness.
The States Champion is a deputy who agrees to be the focal point for disabled people’s issues within the States. He/she will be a central point of contact for disabled islanders who need help in dealing with States Departments. He/she will also speak in the States about disabled islanders’ issues.
You can register to vote by emailing your name and address to info@disabilityalliance.org.gg. You must register by the end of May 29th latest. We will send you a voting pack and you must return your vote by 1st June.
If you want to find out more about the deputies who are standing for the position, you will be sent a copy of their manifestos with your voting pack. If you’d like to meet them in person, there will be a Hustings at Les Cotils on Tuesday 29th May at 7pm (Note: new date, was 28th May).
For full details of the voting process, click here.
Please note that you do not have to be a member of the Guernsey Disability Alliance or any of its member charities. However you must be at least 16 years old on Weds 30th May 2012.
24 deputies, including new Chief Minister, at GDA AGM
The 4th AGM of the Guernsey Disability Alliance took place on Weds 2nd May.
Picture if you will…
- A packed Cambridge Room at Beau Sejour – about 100 people
- Familiar GDA faces, plus lots of new ones.
- 24 deputies in total (half the Assembly!)
- No air con (thanks Beau Sejour…)
- Storming round of applause for Jane Stephens.
- More applause as Jenny Hooper voted Vice-Chair and Simon De La Mare, Treasurer.
- Unanimous approval for Rob Platt’s proposal to move to Company Limited By Guarantee.
- Surprise guest speaker – Chief Minister, Deputy Peter Harwood, praises GDA as ‘model to follow’. (His first official appointment.)
- Emilie Yerby, Disability Officer, paints a truly inspirational picture of future for disabled islanders.
- Damp eyes around the room for Jenny’s poignant vote of thanks.
- A rush to sign-up to register to vote for new Champion.
- Huge buzz of conversation as everyone stays on to chat over a sandwich (despite the heat).
To give you a flavour…
- Page 2 lead in Thursday’s Guernsey Press (great pic)
- Page 4 in Friday’s Guernsey Press (not so great pic!)
- BBC Guernsey (Kay Langlois) at 1:06:40.
Here’s what the deputies had to say…
- Deputy Mike Hadley (South-East):
‘Last night was an amazing evening. It’s incredible what the GDA has achieved over the last four years’ - Deputy Rob Jones (Castel):
‘Congratulations to you all for a job well done, this is just the beginning’.
Election of new Champion
The process by which the new States Champion for Disabled Islanders is to be elected will be announced at the Guernsey Disability Alliance AGM on Weds May 2nd at 7pm in the Cambridge Room at Beau Sejour. All are welcome.
Although the GDA has been asked to organise the election process (as delegated by the Disability Strategy Steering Group), please note that the vote will be open to ALL disabled people and charities, not just GDA members. If you cannot make the AGM, please look out for information on this Newsblog or our Facebook page, or send us a message through our Contact Us page. Adverts will also be placed in the Guernsey Press.
The role of Disability Champion is a formal States appointment, it is not just a backbencher who takes it upon themselves to promote the cause. Disabled islanders and charities form the electorate, but the Social Policy Group (part of Policy Council) has to ratify their choice.
For a discussion of the election process on BBC Guernsey, go to 1:10:00 here.
Goodbye Jane, we will miss you
One of the big surprises of Election 2012 was the loss of Jane Stephens from the States.
An intelligent, dedicated politician who focused on getting things done, Jane was best known for asking the questions of the Education Department that led to the Mulkerrin Review. But she was also the first States Champion for Disabled People, carving out the role from scratch.
GDA members were saddened and shocked when Jane suffered a narrow defeat in St Sampson’s. Her deep understanding of disabled peoples’ issues and her tireless devotion to ensuring that disabled islanders’ voices were heard in the States were well recognised and she will be much missed.
Thank you Jane. Your legacy lives on in the Disability Strategy which will come to the States at the end of 2012.
To hear a radio interview about disabled islanders’ reaction to the departure of Jane Stephens, click here and go to 1:10:00.
GDA Speed Hustings – a date with democracy
On the evening of Monday 26th March 2012 a bell sounded in the Harry Bound Room and the hum of deep conversation rose from twelve small tables dotted around the room. The first ever Speed Hustings in Guernsey had begun and disabled islanders, their families, and the local charities that support them, had swung straight into action.
Taking just one minute, GDA members described some of the barriers disabled people face in everyday life in Guernsey and asked the candidates for Election 2012 how they would help overcome them, if elected. Over the next four minutes the candidates responded.
The bell sounded again and the 26 candidates present stood and moved to the next table. From Employment to Respite Care. From Mental Health to Carers. From Community Care to Housing.
As the allotted hour wore on it became more and more difficult for the candidates to leave their seats as their engagement in the stories they were hearing increased. But move on they must, as the invitation had proved so popular that there were a further 24 candidates waiting next door for their chance to take part.
The rationale for tucking a list of the GDA members contact details in the welcome pack became apparent – this was just a “taster session”, a series of glimpses adding up to an overall picture of neglect by previous States. An early salvo in the build-up to the upcoming Disability and Inclusion Strategy.
The reaction?
From the candidates: “very interesting…” “eye-opening…” “emotional and motivational…”.
From GDA members: “great to be able to speak our minds…” “response was heart-warming…” “know who I’ll vote for now”.
On Jim Cathcart’s Show the next morning, GDA members Simon and Nicky were asked if they would have said the same things to the candidates if they’d knocked on their front door. “No. Wouldn’t have been brave enough”.
Democracy. Engagement. Empowerment. Inclusion. Big words.
Brought to life by one simple idea.
Media coverage:
BBC Guernsey – 1 hour 8 minutes in
Channel TV
Guernsey Press
Audioboo (Kevin Stewart)
Audioboo (Gavin St Pier)
Audioboo (Joseph Irvin at 1 min 50 secs)
You can influence the Disability Strategy
A message from Emilie Yerby, Disability and Equality Officer:
You are invited to a consultation meeting on the Disability and Inclusion Strategy
The Disability and Inclusion Strategy Steering Group have prepared a definition of disability, which we would like to use as the basis for the Strategy.
We have identified six priority areas for making changes, to ensure disabled people and carers are fully included in island life.
Before the definition and priority areas are finalised, we would like to consult with disabled people and carers, to make sure that these definitions really reflect local people’s needs and experiences.
We would very much like you to take part in the consultation.
There will be four consultation meetings for disabled people and carers:
Thursday 29 March (17:00 – 19:00)
Saturday 31 March (10:00-12:00)
Monday 2 April (14:30 – 16:30)
Tuesday 3 April (19:00 – 21:00)
Please reply to Emilie Yerby on eyerby@hssd.gov.gg with your name and contact details if you would like to attend. Please indicate all the dates that you could make.
All the meetings will be held in accessible venues and refreshments will be provided. Emilie will confirm the location and the date of your meeting at least one week in advance.
DisabledGo Access Guide to Guernsey goes live
Ever wanted to check out a venue for its accessibility before you leave home? In so much detail, you can even see a photo of what the toilet looks like?
The much-awaited DisabledGo Access Guide to Guernsey launched today at Beau Sejour. This online directory (developed in collaboration with the States, the Guernsey Disability Alliance and the Health Information Exchange) provides easy-to-search survey information on 500 venues in Guernsey.
Survey to determine number of disabled islanders
Guernsey has always been short of statistics when it comes to disabled people. It is one of the reasons it’s been difficult to get any action on developing new services.
But the States have just sent a Health, Wellbeing and Social Inclusion survey to 6500 households which includes questions that should mean we’ll have a lot more data in the future.
It’s all part of the Disability Strategy.