CAN – Compass Advocacy Network; Our Foundations as an ‘Advocacy Service’ in 1996;

All about people... • CAN – Compass Advocacy Network; • Our Foundations as an ‘Advocacy Service’ in 1996; • Aims to “Enhance Lives and Create Change” for people with learning disabilities and associated problems aged 12+; • Now work with over 140+ service users, employs 16 staff and sessional workers; • Grass Roots provision – user-managed with the people we serve at our core; • Key Values are Respect, Opportunities, Participation and Empowermentand is the ROPE which binds and runs through our whole organisation I CAN…You CAN…WE CAN!

Core Elements... Health & Well-Being Programmes I CAN…You CAN…WE CAN!

Wise Guys • Funded by BCPP – Building Community Pharmacy Partnership Level 1 • Was a 6 session health education programme for men with learning disabilities • Programme started with the participants choosing the sessions, topics and facilitators • Participants chose all of the additional activities • We had an excellent pharmacist who took what our folks wanted and built her sessions from their foundations • Had to adapt and change to meet the participants changing needs • Was very successful and produced lots of positive impact

HOPE • Healthy Opportunities & Personal Enjoyment • Funded by BCPP level 2 funding • 1 year health education programme for men and women with learning disabilities • Entire programme has been co-produced • Participants have chosen the name, topics covered, facilitators, additional activities and most importantly… the food and refreshments • Started in September 2016 and our last session was Sex & Relationships delivered in partnership with Engage 360 • The same pharmacist is involved and again is taking her direction from our participants about what they want… social media scenario

Co-Production • We have been co-producing projects since our inception • We always called it being user led and managed • The field of Learning Disability have been co-producing projects for many years • We have the structures in place which makes it easier for us to find out what our members want and need from us • We operate from an Equality standpoint so we value the input from all our participants • We recognise that our members are the experts in their own lives.

Co-ProductionThe Core Principles • Our people really are our assets and we value all of their input • We build on existing skills and we recognise all of their life experiences • We promote equality at all levels within our organisation and our members have seats at the boardroom table • We break down barriers and support our members by being an independent voice and interface with the professionals in their lives • We facilitate services rather than deliver them to people • We encourage the accumulation of social capital through the formation of peer networks

In Action Think about who needs to be part of the project – stakeholders Work out how to support each other and learn to make decisions together Work together to agree your agenda or plan Agree with each other about what you want Identify the resources needed to bring about success Work together to plan the short, medium and long term goals – set actions Take action and Just Do It Review your actions and assess success – Did you make a difference?

Example In Action

Thank you….

CAN – Compass Advocacy Network; Our Foundations as an ‘Advocacy Service’ in 1996;