Meet Charlotte, a carer from Essex

In 2005 I was accepted on a Partners in Policymaking course - a leadership development course for disabled adults & parents of disabled children. The course armed me with all the information I needed not only to radically improve the lives of myself & my son but to get involved locally, regionally & nationally to advocate for the improvement of the lives of other carers & disabled people.

I was asked by the Local Authority to be a carer representative on more & more of their boards & meetings for learning disabilities, this led to my son becoming an Individual Budget user.  I am also the carer representative on the LD Partnership Board, a trainer & mentor for Individual Budgets, trustee & member of a Social Enterprise for Individual Budget users, member of the Eastern Region Carers Forum plus many other groups & forums.

Some advice to carer campaigners:

1. get involved with your Local Action Groups;

2. offer to be a voluntary carer rep at your Local Authority meetings & boards as it gives you the opportunity to meet those influential in local policymaking & will also show them your worth;

3. attend as many regional & national meetings as possible so you can gain information & network with other people across the country.