My name is Simone Aspis and for my 50th birthday I have set up this campaign. I am a disabled person wanting to stop the institutionalisation of people with learning difficulties and Autism. I was inspired by a psychiatric inpatient with autism and learning difficulties who asked me to be her advocate. During regular hospital visits, I would be approached by other patients asking for advocacy support. Many patients want independent advocates, with lived experience of disability injustice to speak out for them and secure their rights to freedom.
Thousands of people with learning difficulties and autism are locked up inappropriately in assessment and treatment units (ATUs) and psychiatric hospitals. Last year alone the Government spent £477m on incarcerating 2,500 people with learning difficulties and autism in ATUs. Instead this money could have been spent on providing high quality housing and community care services that give them the right to independent living.
Your donations will help us set up a network of disabled advocates to work with disabled inpatients who are fighting for their freedom to live in their local communities.
INSTITUTIONS ARE NO SOLUTION - HOMES NOT HOSPITALS
Time seems to fly by since I took extended leave to travel around Europe from my paid job during 2019. I was fortunate enough to land safely on UK soil before the covid-19 pandemic took a strong grip over Europe.
Now back in the UK Free Our People Now campaign is picking up the reigns again during covid-19 pandemic. We are monitoring the implementation of the Coronavirus Act 2020 and the impact that the Mental Health Acts temporary changes will have upon psychiatric hospital inpatients.
For further information see National Survivor User Networks Covid-19: the Coronavirus Bill web-link https://www.nsun.org.uk/news/covid-19-the-coronavirus-bill
Free Our People Now Campaign is busily working with disabled peoples organisations and supporting inpatients who are challenging unlawful practices arising from the Coronavirus Act 2020.
We are also aware of a whole range of blanket policies arising from covid-19 outbreak which places inpatients at higher risk of human rights violations within hospital settings. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) stopping routine inspections and Hospitals banning family, friends and Independent Mental Health Advocates visits which provide very important independent safeguards are some of the blanket polices leaving thousands of inpatients open to psychiatric abuse.
Currently we are supporting inpatients challenging hospitals blanket policies involving cancellation of all section 17 community leave in order to control covid-19 infection. Further, we are looking to work with inpatients that are ready for discharge but the Local Authorities are not doing anything to support them to live in the community.
For my 50th Birthday celebrations I decided to raise money to support a network of peer advocates to support our disabled peers to make an escape from institutionalisation.
I am sure you will understand because of taking extended leave and now a covid-19 pandemic, no decision has been made on how to use your kind donations to support peer advocates going into institutions. The donations are being held securely in the London Inclusions charity account. As soon as a decision can be made I will provide an update in a Facebook posting and the just giving web.
Many thanks once again - Keep well and safe during these very challenging times.
You can download an EasyRead version of this update here:
https://www.inclusionlondon.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/FINALfreeourpeopleEASYREADupdate.docx
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