January is a very important month for campaigning, as we all look forward and hope to bring about positive changes for people with a learning disability in 2012.

Currently I am trying to encourage people with a learning disability to volunteer to become part of the ‘Members Council’ of their local NHS trust.

By sitting on these councils, you could have a say about the provision and policy of health care in your local area. I want to empower people to join these so they are able to raise their concerns and hopefully create positive changes.

Encouraging people to do this, for me personally, is all part of a greater desire to get disabled people – including people with a learning disability – to join together and become more active in mainstream society so that their voices are more widely heard and accepted.  The more proactive we are, the harder it is for those in higher authority to ignore our needs and misconceive important issues!

So we encourage people with a learning disability in Liverpool, if they are a patient/service user of the NHS, to have their say on Merseycare’s member’s council.

The easiest way of doing so is via the application form. If you find this form difficult, myself or another member of the team will always be happy to help!