In September, representatives from the Cardiff and Vale Regional Partnership Board (RPB) team and Shine Together attended the All Wales Forum of Parents and Carers of People with Learning Disabilities event, “Caring for Change: Family Carers, Community and the Future.”
The event brought together family carers, organisations, partners and stakeholders from across Wales to share experiences, celebrate good practice and explore opportunities for greater collaboration in supporting people with learning disabilities and their families.
The All Wales Forum for Parents and Carers is the only organisation in Wales dedicated exclusively to representing the collective views of parents and carers of people with learning disabilities at a national level. Its work plays an important role in ensuring that the voices, experiences and priorities of families are heard and reflected in the development of policy, services and support.
Learning, Collaboration and Positive Change
Throughout the event, attendees had the opportunity to learn about a range of innovative projects, cooperative approaches and collaborative initiatives making a positive difference to people with learning disabilities and their families across Wales.
The event also created space for open and honest conversations about the challenges facing family carers and the opportunities to work differently, bringing together people with lived experience and those involved in planning and delivering services.
By showcasing examples of good practice, the discussions highlighted the value of working together, sharing knowledge and building stronger relationships between families, communities and organisations.
Strengthening Connections Across Wales
For the RPB team and Shine Together, the event provided a valuable opportunity to make new connections, exchange ideas and explore how learning from across Wales can help inform local partnership working in Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Shine Together, the region’s learning disability network, is focused on bringing people with learning disabilities, families, carers and organisations together to share experiences, strengthen engagement and help shape services and support.
Participation in events such as this supports the RPB’s commitment to co-production, meaningful engagement and ensuring that the voices of people with learning disabilities and their families are central to decisions that affect their lives.
The connections made and learning shared will help inform ongoing partnership work, supporting the ambition for people with learning disabilities to live fulfilling, independent lives, with choice, control and opportunities to be active and valued members of their communities.