Self-advocate who never feared speaking out
Community Living was sad to learn of the death of self-advocate Catherine Carter, aged 51, in November.
Carter, service quality director for Thera North, part of Thera Trust, previously worked at Leeds-based charity Change.
In a statement, Thera Trust said: “You will be missed Catherine… the lessons you have taught us about inclusion will not be forgotten. You made a real difference to many people’s lives.”
Former colleagues Shaun Webster and Dominique Burley said: “Catherine was never afraid to say what was right and what needed to be done to improve the lives of others.
“She’s an inspiration, a friend, a mother and a sister. She will be forever missed and never forgotten.”
Carter won Mencap Activist of the Year 2018. She described her work in Community Living (spring 2024): “Sometimes in life, people need encouragement and support to have their voices heard and that is what my job is all about.”
Last respite holiday firm of its kind closes
The UK’s last remaining provider of holidays with 24-hour care for people with complex disabilities has been forced to close because of financial problems.
In a statement, 60-year-old charity Revitalise said it shut its two holiday centres, in Southport and Chigwell, in November.
It added: “It is with great sadness that Revitalise Respite Holidays must inform you that we are no longer a respite holiday provider.
“Despite every effort to ensure the survival of our respite holiday offering, the financial challenges we faced became insurmountable.
“It remains our lasting hope that policymakers take heed of the critical state of affairs in the social care sector and ensure that respite is properly funded.”
The decision was taken due to a combination of council funding cuts, falling donations and rising running costs.
LDE sets two days for conference
Learning Disability England’s conference in 2025 will take place in person and online.
The online meeting will take place on 26 February and the face-to-face event on 5 March in Manchester.
The theme is Good Lives: Stronger, Louder, Together, based on LDE’s 2024 Good Lives Manifesto (Community Living, summer 2024).
Dancer makes debut at Southbank Centre
Bollywood dancer Harry Cartmill recently made his London debut in a show at the Southbank Centre.
The 17-year old from Birmingham has been dancing since he was a child, perfecting his routines by watching Bollywood dance scenes.
He honed his performance skills under charity Touretteshero’s young artists development programme and appeared at the Southbank Centre as part of Touretteshero’s Biscuit Land Cabaret.
The cabaret event was part of the annual Unlimited festival in September, which showcases performance, dance, comedy, music, poetry and visual art by disabled artists over five days.
Harry says of dancing: “It makes me really happy and excited. It’s the best thing ever.”
The teenager prefers fast music “with lots of drums” and his favourite music to dance to is from Indian films.
The dancer’s idol is Indian actor Hrithik Roshan and his favourite film is the 2001 Hindi family drama Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham.
News briefs
Moggy on the move
Members of People First Dorset have published a book in aid of the charity. Not Lost, by William Parmiter, Kerry Martin and Emily Burr (Community Living, autumn 2024), is the story of a cat who travels around Dorchester. The book, about joy and connection, is illustrated by Catherine Owen. It is available from raggyrat.co.uk and Waterstones.
Exploitation risk
Adults living with cognitive impairment are at risk of control and exploitation. A study by Nottingham Rights Lab at the University of Nottingham suggests financial abuse and “mate crime”(by someone posing as a friend) were the most common forms.
Big fundraiser for building
The Grace Eyre charity, founded in 1898, is aiming to raise £1 million to redevelop its Hove base. Formerly a church and a school, the property needs modernisation to create a sustainable, accessible building, including eight independent living flats. Works are due to start this year.
Blamed for wanting support
A report, Blamed Instead of Helped, published by the Autism and Parental Blame Project, by ADASS West Midlands, the University of Birmingham and parents of autistic children, has found that 86% of parents experience blame when asking for support for their child.
Five years of funds awarded
ActionSpace has won five years’ funding from the City Bridge Foundation. This will allow the arts charity, which marked its 40th anniversary last year, to grow its work with learning-disabled people aged 19-30 years.
All Update stories are by Saba Salman unless otherwise stated
