Page 3 - Community Living Magazine 35-1

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Safeguarding may be denying

Community Living
people warmth and friendship

ISSN 0951-9815
Volume 35, no 1, autumn 2021 e all know why safeguarding measures had to be introduced and why they
are important for protecting people who are often targeted by abusers. There
Published by Wis a long history – which has by no means ended – of people with learning
CL Initiatives Ltd
Link-Ability, Conway House, Ackhurst Business disabilities being mistreated in hospitals, care homes, family homes and in their own
Park, Chorley, Lancashire PR7 1NY homes and communities.
Given this history and this continuing problem, there is no argument against the idea
 www.cl-initiatives.co.uk
 clienquiries@outlook.com that some form of protective measures are needed to lower the risks.
t @CommLivingmag_ However, in a disturbing article (pages 12-13) Paul Williams asks if the pendulum has
f www.facebook.com/ swung too far and whether the strictures of safeguarding policies have become in
CommunityLivingMagazine
 01257 241899 themselves a new form of abuse that deprives people of rights and basic human
comforts, such as a sympathetic touch and friendliness from those they see every day.
Editor Williams describes a litany of measures that create a cold, comfortless world in the
Simon Jarrett, simonjarrett1@outlook.com
daily interactions of people with learning disabilities with the staff who support them.
Publisher and subscription enquiries These range from the prohibition of exchanges of gifts to bans on friendships when there
Jo Adshead, Link-Ability (address as above), is a professional care relationship, which include disclosing information (such as a staff
clienquiries@outlook.com
member’s mobile phone
Production editor and designer number) and prohibiting
Christy Lawrance, www.clcomms.com visits to workers’ homes. It is hard to contemplate living in a world
Research editor Physical affection in the where the people you see every day are
Julie Ridley, reader in social policy and form of hugs is not
practice, University of Central Lancashire permitted, and staff are not not allowed to touch you, cannot form a

Contributors allowed to provide an adult friendship with you and cannot even share
Photographs and interviews: Seán Kelly, placement for or foster a
www.seankellyphotos.com person they work with. information with you about their own lives
Illustrator: Robin Meader, robinmeaderartist@
gmail.com, https://tinyurl.com/robinmeader This withdrawal of
Legal: Belinda Schwehr LLM, legal framework human warmth and normal
trainer and consultant, Care and Health Law, personal interaction from such relationships is exacerbated by the fact that many
belinda@careandhealthlaw.com
Welfare rights: Charlie Callanan people with learning disabilities have few or no relationships or friends apart from
Arts: Tracey Harding those who work with them. They are consigned to a reduced life where they interact
History: Susanna Shapland only with those who are paid to support them, and those employed have to maintain a
Columnists: Simon Duffy, director, Centre for
Welfare Reform; Jan Walmsley, independent considerable professional distance at all times.
researcher; Sara Pickard, disabled people’s No one flourishes in a world where they are cut off from social and friendship groups
employment champion, Welsh Government; and the warmth, connections and interest these bring. Indeed, as recent research
Suzanne Gale, social care consultant
shows (page 22-23), positive relationships are critical to success in life transitions, and
Editorial Board enabling people to move on from settings such as assessment and treatment units.
Jo Adshead, chief executive, Linkability It is hard to contemplate living in a world where the people you see every day are not
Helen Atherton, lecturer in nursing, University
of Leeds allowed to touch you (nor you them), cannot form a friendship with you and cannot
Noelle Blackman, chief executive, Respond even share information with you about their own lives.
Jo Clare, consultant and coach, leading Protection is necessary, but it must not become inhuman and deprive people of a
Innovation and change
Debbie Forde, senior lecturer, School of Social meaningful life – because that is what it was meant to stop happening in the first place.
Work, University of Central Lancashire
Isabelle Garnett Arts are integral to our existence
Simon Jarrett
Gill Levy We have all had tough times over the past 18 months, and the human losses from the
Gabby Machell, chief executive, Learning pandemic as well as the damage to people’s lives have been at times overwhelming.
Disability Network London (formerly the As we move towards a post-pandemic yet still difficult time, we continue to showcase
Westminster Society)
Sue Pemberton, chief executive, Integrate the amazing work people have done to keep going and get through to the other side.
Lynne Tooze, independent sexual violence This has been particularly evident in the arts. In our back section, Juliet Diener writes
adviser, Respond about the online work of the icandance company and their joyous return to dancing
Sally Warren, managing director, Paradigm
together in person. Sam Dook describes how a group of young adults quite literally
Printed by made music by building instruments themselves. Tracey Harding pinpoints some
Character Graphics, Taunton, amazing recent film work by learning disabled film-makers and actors.
Tel 01823 279008
Things we may have taken for granted are precious and also precarious – something
© CL Initiatives Ltd 2021 we learned only when deprived of them. Dance, music, film and other arts are not
Registered charity no 1141176 pleasant add-ons but are integral to who we are as human beings.
Cover image: Seán Kelly ingenuity in the toughest of tough times is a huge tribute to their resilience and ability.
Company registered in England no 7530680
That so many people with learning disabilities have shown such creativity and

Simon Jarrett

www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Editor Community Living Vol 35 No 1 | Autumn 2021 3