Lotto cash makes Voice louder

Derby-based Voice UK can boost its national profile, providing access to justice following a grant from the Big Lottery Fund says Cathy Reay

When a girl with learning disabilities, who had been abused by her carer, was told she wouldn’t be able to give evidence in her own trial because she was “too handicapped”, her parents fought back and created a support network for other people that had experienced similar injustice.

That was in 1993 and 16 years on Voice UK has expanded into a large, successful organisation which continues to help provide equal access to justice for people with learning disabilities.

Based in Derby, the company was frustrated by not being able to offer personal advice to people in other areas of the country. So when they won their bid for the Big Lottery Fund Reaching Communities Programme earlier this year, it meant they could finally provide more localised support for victims of hate crime.

Kathryn Stone OBE, Voice UK Chief Executive, said: “We were very lucky that our bid for the fund was successful. It means that we can build offices in regions we feel most need this kind of support, which are Devon and Cornwall, Greater Manchester and the Midlands. We’re very excited to be able to offer a local presence and one-to-one casework support in those areas.”

But Kathryn says the funding, in excess of £180,000, is not enough for Voice UK to do everything they had hoped. “Spread across three regions over three years it’s not as much money as you would think! But it’s a fantastic headstart and we’re confident that the project will achieve success, which will give us the impetus to move on to other areas too.”

Clare Hodson, who has learning disabilities and is one of Voice UK’s Equal Access To Justice project workers, said that she never had the option of a support network like the one she now works for. “I never had anything like this when I was growing up, I didn’t have any support in fact, and I think that since I have been a part of this project it’s made things a lot easier for me personally.

“I’m involved in the presentation work we are doing for the project and I’m really enjoying it. I just hope that people that visit our new centres will be able to take our advice on board, then it’ll be worth it.”

• For more information on Voice UK’s work, or to contact the team visit www.voiceuk.org.uk or call 0845 122 8695.