An NHS England programme with 28 voluntary and community sector organisations aimed at getting them ‘geared up’ for personal health budgets has started. The national development programme started in June and all participating organisations have been awarded funding to help equip them with the knowledge and expertise to inform their local communities about personal health budgets.   The organisaions will also help support eligible people to discuss the option of a personal health budget with…

The ‘Croft Hill Crew’ have kindly provided this short story about spreading a little sunshine – in more ways than one. Early this year I was visiting a friend in hospital and was reading one of her gardening magazines. I came across an article on Seed Bombing – a friendly, enjoyable and cheap way of spreading a little sunshine into other members of the communities hearts in a subtle and fun way. As an avid…

A Potential Diamond has supplied this inspirational story about Steven finding work after being unemployed all his adult life. Steven, 24, is hard-working, conscientious and totally reliable.   He’s also autistic.   Steven has been unemployed all his adult life. He’s been on many government-funded programmes to support him to find paid employment but none of them have worked for him.   When we met Steven in December 2013 we took the time to get…

To coincide with the Disability Rights UK independent living conference, In Control, Disability Rights UK and others have published a review of the Independent Living Strategy authored by Dr Jenny Morris and have put together some ideas on how to restart and move the independent living debate forward. Over the past year a group of disabled people and allies from a range of organisations have been meeting to discuss concerns about the present state and…

While we’re busy working on our Making the Future – Together paper, we thought we’d give you a little reminder of the energy and passion on the day…   Here you can find a ‘rough’ edit of the amazing performance by Moveable Feast.   More than 200 people from all areas of the health, social care and education sectors, as well as provider organisations, community groups, and ‘experts by experience’ gathered at the event in…

An inspiring blog post from a parent and social worker talking about a workshop run by Caroline Tomlinson on behalf of In Control for Herts CLDS.     Do you have the balls to build community? Caroline Tomlinson certainly has.   Today I had the privilege of attending one of her training sessions on building community.It was a very full day and we all had a lot to learn, I’ll try to remember and share…

By Miro Griffiths   As described by his family, “Connor Sparrowhawk was a fit and healthy young man, who loved buses, London, Eddie Stobart and speaking his mind. He was known as LB online, short for Laughing Boy.”   On the 19 March 2013, he was admitted to Slade House Assessment and Treatment Unit run by Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust in order to be assessed for support.     Devastatingly, after #107days in the…

Nikki Dalgarno and Tricia Nicoll made a lasting impression with their thought provoking and emotional presentation at the 23rd Children’s Residential. Audio and slides from their presentation are now available. Nikki is a Partners in Policymaking graduate and Tricia is one of In Control’s associates. Both are mums and were invited to present at the Children’s Residential event this month to share their experiences of the challenges of the system and the resilience needed to…