West Lancs Peer Support was set-up in 1999 by a group of five parents of sons and daughters who had some form of disability.

It was decided that 'direct payments' would give a better level of support than the traditional services delivered by their local authority, allowing their sons and daughters to take control of their lives by doing what they wanted to do, rather than someone else deciding for them.

At that time there was little support to manage the payments so they formed a 'self-help' group and helped each other to manage the payments. This has progressed since that time by encouraging the ever growing number of parents the group has helped to help yet more people new to the scheme.

Since then WLPS developed a PA (Personal Assistant) register to assist users to find the right people to employ; they manager people's funds for them if they cannot manage them themselves; and they continue to give ongoing support to those on Direct Payments, the Independent Living Funds (ILF) and Individual Budgets.

WLPS are now developing their successful PA register to go nationwide. This will give ALL disabled people the same opportunity to find staff to employ throughout the UK ... including emergency cover.

Les Scaife, director of operations at WLPS, says, "We have assisted setting up a group in Cornwall to "self help" and we have also had an enquiry from St.Helens in Merseyside to assist them in the same work."

"We have also been to Australia a number of times to assist in Direct Payments in Melbourne, also working on a project there for older carers to plan for their son's and daughter's future when they are no longer here."

As parents of peoeple with a disability, UKPAR know more about the needs of their children and are the best people to help them achieve a better quality of life in the community, alongside everyone else. The community based approach to support is the way forward, with parents and family members taking more control over the care their relative needs to lead a life of their own choosing.

5 Nov 08 ::: Please contact our webmaster at any time.