New service benefits disabled people in Haddington

New service benefits disabled people in Haddington

22/05/2007

Disabled people in Haddington are set to benefit from a new Capability Scotland service which is quite literally available on their doorstep.

Local Area Co-ordination is a free service provided by Capability Scotland on behalf of East Lothian Council.  It acts as a one stop shop which can link disabled people, of all ages, with the support they need in any aspect of their life.  This could include supporting an individual to liaise with a range of local authority departments or linking a young person up to an accessible youth group or other community activity.

However, the service is about more than just providing a connection to local resources.  Local Area Co-ordinators will work with individuals and families on a long term basis, helping them to plan their lives and providing support and advice whenever it is needed.  It is a community based service and will work with individuals in their home or in another preferred environment.

Local Area Co-ordinator, Carrie Poole explains more:  This is a completely new way of working with disabled people. It’s about increasing people’s opportunities to lead their lives as contributing and valued members of their community.  We work with children, adults and families, at their invitation, to enable them to live the life they want to lead and to help them overcome any challenges or obstacles they may face as a result of their disability.

“I would like to invite anyone who thinks they could benefit from the service to get in touch for an informal chat to see how we might be able to help.”

Jan Cochran, Head of Community Support, East Lothian Council added: "The Local Area Co-ordinators can offer help to people to find the support they need to get on with their lives, without using the formal route of social work services. People have asked for this informal, but informed help, for some time, so it is a very welcome addition to East Lothian "

Local area co-ordination is free to people with any disability, adults (up to 65) children and their families living in Haddington.

For more information about the service you can contact: Carrie Poole and Sue Green, Local Area Co-ordinators, Capability Scotland, 37a Sidegate, Haddington, East Lothian, EH41 4UB.  Tel: 01620 82 5937
e-mail carrie.poole@capability-scotland.org.uk
           sue.green@capability-scotland.org.uk

Information about the Local Area Co-ordination service is also available from the Capability Scotland’s Haddington shop in Market Street.

ENDS  

For further information please contact Julie Laird, Capability Scotland, 01698 377 031 or 0784 178 2708.

Editor’s Notes

• Capability Scotland is celebrating its 60th Anniversary. From our beginnings as an Edinburgh-based support group for the parents of children with cerebral palsy, we have become a force for positive change in practice, policy and attitudes towards disabled people.

• For more information please visit www.capability-scotland.org.uk

• Advice Service Capability Scotland ASCS is a national disability information and advice service. We provide free, confidential advice and information on adult and child disability issues.  For more information please call us on Tel: 0131 313 5510, Textphone: 0131 346 2529, or email ascs@capability-scotland.org.uk

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