The Hampshire Ethnic Minority Learning Disability Project (EMLD)

EMLD project can support adults as well as children and their families

“We know it has been especially difficult for people from ethnic minority communities to get good information” Valuing People

The EMLD project was set up in 2005, initially as a pilot project in Eastleigh and Basingstoke. In April 2007, it was granted more funding by Hampshire Learning Disability Partnership Board to extend and cover the whole of Hampshire. The project was set up as a result of the 'Valuing People' White Paper and the 'Learning Difficulties and Ethnicity' report. Valuing People is the government's plan for making the lives of people with learning disabilities, their families and carers better. It was written in 2001, and it was the first White Paper for people with learning disabilities for 30 years. It acknowledges that it has been particularly difficult for children and their parents from minority ethnic communities to get good information. The Learning Difficulties and Ethnicity report recommends that the needs, and in particular the cultural needs of people with learning disabilities from minority ethnic communities must be recognised and addressed through appropriate services. It also acknowledges the need to work with families as well as individuals in recognition of family structures which are different to those in majority communities.

We work with Hampshire advocacy organisations such as Speakeasy and Eastleigh Advocacy Project.

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  What is an advocate?

  An advocate is a trained person who  works independently from services, to support learning disabled people to say what they need and want.

  An advocate will listen to you, support you to speak up or speak for you if it is what you want.