Our Projects
“Informative about benefits and our rights”
Making the voice of people with a disability heard
We are involved in various community planning structures which offer a real opportunity to make the voice of people with a disability heard in the planning and development of services within North Lanarkshire. Good engagement & participation is at the core of everything we do.
We are the umbrella organisations for 2 projects – Improving Lives Initiative & Improving the Cancer Journey Lanarkshire, The Little Care Hub (TLC).
Improving Lives Initiative & Improving the Cancer Journey Lanarkshire
Working together in North Lanarkshire
Across Scotland the Improving Cancer Journey programme is being rolled out to offer support to those affected by cancer and their carers. Within North Lanarkshire, Improving the Cancer Journey Lanarkshire (ICJ) has joined with another Initiative called Improving Lives (ILI).
This project is based within North Lanarkshire Disability Forum, to help develop and implement this joint programme we have established a team of 10 Community Connectors to support people who are living with a long-term conditions/disabilities and those affected by cancer including their carers, who may benefit from informal community-based support, accessing the right support at the right time with the right people. See below for criteria.
Client Feedback
The Little Care Hub (TLC)
- Supporting unpaid carers and people with long term conditions and disabilities in North Lanarkshire.
- Offering sessions that are aimed at empowering people to connect with others. Learn new skills, take part in activities aimed at promoting your wellbeing.
- Throughout North Lanarkshire, sessions will be participant led, help us to build a network of support informed by you.
If you would like some TLC from The Little Care Hub, call 01698 275710 or email TLC@nldforum.org.uk
Community Connector criteria
Through our community connector programme we are able to offer people:
- One to one support to fill out benefit related forms and other matters individuals may want to discuss, we also offer home, office visits or community hubs by appointment or drop in.
- Help to write letters, get in touch with relevant community supports or refer for aids and adaptations.
The project is to help people look after themselves the best they can so we can:
- Support and encourage people to go to health appointments, social work/housing and benefit assessments (no transport). Our aim is to keep people independent so we would travel with individuals using their usual mode of transport. We can assist people with gathering thoughts prior to appointments which offers some emotional support.
- General helpline available to individuals and their carers Monday to Friday 9am – 4pm.
We work closely with different organisations to keep us informed such as:
- Voice of Experience Forum, Lanarkshire Links, NL Carer Together, Community Solutions, with more on our Facebook page.
- We aim to keep people supported in their community, using the community.
The only prerequisite we have is that the person being supported lives in North Lanarkshire and has a long term condition, disability or affected by cancer including their carers. All services are free. We do not offer transport or advocacy but we can refer on to other support services for both. If you would like to get in touch you can call 01698 275 710 or email info@nldforum.org.uk
Get in Touch
Please get in touch if you would like more information about what we do at North Lanarkshire Disability Forum, volunteer with us or if you’d like to become a member. Fill out this online form if you have a question or message for us and tell us how you would prefer we get in contact with you...
42 Civic Square, Motherwell ML1 1TP
Telephone: 01698 275 710
Email: info@nldforum.org.uk
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Engagement and Participation
Supported People's Partnership
Partnership
North Lanarkshire Disability Forum (NLDF), Lanarkshire Links and Voice of Experience Forum (VOEF) are working together for better Health and Social Care for Supported People in North Lanarkshire.
NLDF, Lanarkshire Links, and the VOEF have officially formed a strategic partnership. This collaboration is a direct response to North Lanarkshire University Health and Social Care’s Engagement and Participation Strategy.
Our mission is simple: to ensure that the people who use health and social care services in North Lanarkshire are the ones helping to shape them. By combining our expertise and resources, we can provide a robust structure for representation, ensuring that your lived experiences reach the people making the big decisions.
As each of our organisations specialise in reaching those often considered under-represented, we have combined together our skills, knowledge, and resources, so that we can achieve more effective outcomes for our community than we ever could alone.
We believe that to truly enhance the lives of those living and working in North Lanarkshire, your voice must not only be heard but it must be valued.
Engagement and Participation Network
A key element to this partnership is creating a network of grass roots organisations who engage with supported people, and those under-represented to share their knowledge and experiences of statutory services.
The Engagement and Participation Network will offer collaborative opportunities, experiences and input from the Network members. Through this Network, we will work to highlight gaps in representation allowing us to tailor our communications and approaches to meet the needs of the under-represented groups.
As the Engagement and Participation (E&P) Network is set up as part of the University Health and Social Care North Lanarkshire Engagement and Participation (UH&SC NL E&P) Strategy. The E&P Network has been established to support and compliment a strategic North Lanarkshire wide approach to involvement, engagement, and participation of all.
Vision: The E&P Network aims to ensure that local people with support needs, feel heard, engaged, and involved in the development of health and social care services in North Lanarkshire.
Remit of Group: The E&P Network will ensure that, the network partners work towards promoting best practice, delivering E&P activities, and recording such work and the outcomes across health and social care in North Lanarkshire.
Membership: The E&P Network will include and engage with statutory, community, and voluntary sector colleagues to achieve its aims.
From the Supported People’s Partnership and through the E&P Network we intend to use the ‘Growth Pot Fund’ to help widen participation through the provision of financial support to groups.
The Growth Pot Fund
The Partnership will administer a Growth Pot Fund, where organisations and grass roots community groups can apply for funding to increase their engagement and participation, as a result of their application they will be invited to the E&P Network.
Who can apply?
This fund is open to
· Charities, community groups and associations based in North Lanarkshire
· Organisations with an annual income under £75,000
· Groups that hold a bank account in the name of the organisation
· Groups that have a governing document (i.e. a Constitution or Terms of Reference)
We especially encourage applications from under-represented communities, including ethnic minorities, New Scots, and LGBTQ+ groups.