Current Work

At Sunderland People First, we like to keep busy. Listed here are some of the main projects we are currently running or involved in. Both staff and self-advocates enjoy working in partnership to deliver the highest quality bespoke training, expertise, and opportunities. If you would like to know more about any of our work, or if you have any work for us to be involved in, get in touch via the contact details below!

• Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training

  At Sunderland People First we are accredited trainers for the Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training. This training is being delivered across England after a change in the law. It aims to save lives by making sure that staff in all health and social care roles have the right skills and training to provide safe, understanding care to autistic people and people with a learning disability. Learn more about Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training here.

• Be Epilepsy Aware

  Our staff and advocates are trained in being epilepsy aware. We go out into organisations to deliver this training, teaching people how to recognise the signs of epilepsy and seizures, and how to care for and support others.

• Be Cancer Aware

  Our staff and advocates have received specific training in being cancer aware for people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people. We go out into organisations to deliver this training, teaching people with learning disabilities about what cancer is, how to spot the signs of cancer and how to advocate for themselves in a medical setting.

  You can find out more about the project, and watch a video starring our advocates here.

• Be Screening Aware

  Be screening Aware is a co-produced, co-delivered training programme for people with a learning disability and their families. This peer to peer training helps to explain the importance and process of attending a screening appointment in order to detect cancer early.

• Stop People Dying Too Young

  We attend and contribute to fortnightly meetings facilitated by Inclusion North. These meetings are made up of self-advocates, family carers, and people working in disability rights. They look at how to prevent people with learning disabilities and autistic people from dying an avoidable death. Research has shown that people with a learning disability can die up to 27 years earlier than other people – and often these early deaths can be prevented. While the topics covered are heavy and sad, the work is very important and demands that the lives of people with learning disabilities are valued just as much as everybody else. You can find out more about this work here.

• What about Me

  Some people with learning disabilities receive funding from the Government to pay for social care support, whilst others have to rely on unfunded support. We worked with Sheffield University around the experiences of people with a learning disability and their families and carers who do not receive social care support.

• Events and drop ins

  We offer a monthly drop in service for autistic people, people with a learning disability, and their carers. This is on the first Thursday of every month, and takes place at our 9 Derwent Street address. If there is a special day coming up, we will often organise a charity or celebration event. In the past, we have celebrated Neurodiversity Week, World Book Day, and World Down Syndrome Day, to. name a few!

• Attending conferences and events

  We attend several conferences including Learning Disability England conference, and Inclusion North Citizenship conference. We also attend workshops and events to learn new things, share our expertise, and promote our services.