Dewis Centre for Independent Living's training programme has been possible as a result of the Coalfields Regeneration Trust (CRT) awarding the Charity a two year grant. The CRT exists to support projects which will help to regenerate areas which had formally had a thriving coal industry, and thus projects such as ours are designed to offer new skills through training to people in our community.
It is the case that training opportunities for people who support a disabled person’s independence, whether a personal assistant or a volunteer, are quite limited. We hope that our efforts can change this picture. With the support of the CRT, we now have trainers as our own staff —a Training Co-ordinator and an Independent Living Trainer.
Our training staff will deliver courses which are designed to provide anyone working or planning to work as a personal assistant or a volunteer. They offer a good introduction into the skills and attitudes necessary for such positions. Our courses will improve people’s skills and confidence. They are tailored so that disabled people have their input and their requirements are properly valued. The ideas behind this project were kick-started by Direct Payment users saying what kind of training they would like to see for their personal assistants. What we’ve done is take note of what people have said. Now we are creating opportunities for PAs, which take account of disabled people's needs and views.