This year, Learning Disability Week focuses on busting myths and smashing misconceptions about what people can do and shining a light on the stigma that many still face every day.

Your Vote Matters – why?

So many of us take the simple act of being able to vote for granted. Yet people with Learning Disabilities face countless barriers when it comes to registering to vote, knowing who to vote for and casting their vote with confidence. In the UK, voter turnout of people with Learning Disabilities is 40% lower than that of the general population. In fact, The Electoral Commission estimates that 1 in 4 people with a Learning Disability is not even registered to vote.

So what will we be doing about it?

Our Skills and Wellbeing department are delighted to have received funding from Welsh Government’s Democratic Engagement Grant. to set up a new year long pilot project that aims to break down these barriers. They plan to boost political awareness and engagement amongst the people we support with a series of 10 fun and informative workshops about government, elections and the voting process. These workshops will be a blend of in-person and online to reach as many people as possible and will be co-produced with the people we support. The following topics will be covered:

1. What is democracy?
2. What does it mean to vote?
3. Why should I care?
4. The UK and Welsh Governments explained
5. Local government explained
6. Introducing the main political parties
7. The importance of making your own decisions
8. Understanding your voting rights
9. Registering to vote
10. How to vote

They will also be organising some interactive one-off sessions to bring these topics to life. Project participants will get the chance to visit important government buildings, meet local politicians and take part in their very own mock elections to name just a few!

What else?

The Skills and Wellbeing team will be working with project participants to create easy-read resources and videos to make sure that as many people as possible understand the importance of voting and how to register. This information will be available on Insight and will aim to boost political engagement beyond the lifespan of the project.

Find out more

If you would like to find out more about Your Vote Matters then please contact the Skills and Wellbeing department.