Helpline

VOICE UK has a telephone helpline. The line is staffed between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday. The helpline number is 0845 122 8695

Legal Advisors

VOICE UK can put people in touch with lawyers who specialise in dealing with cases of abuse and crimes against people with learning disabilities. If the staff at VOICE UK can't help, they will try to find someone who can.

VOICE UK can provide information and advice about your rights and responsibilities under the Sexual Offences Act 2003. For example:

The new Sexual Offences Act - the most radical changes for over 100 years

On the 1st May this year, the new Sexual Offences Act came into force. This is the first time the Act has been substantially overhauled since 1885. Given that this was the Victorian era of gas lamps and penny-farthings and long before women won the right to vote, the new Act is much needed and has been widely welcomed.

New laws protecting the young and vulnerable and tougher penalties for dangerous criminals are central to the new Act as well as clear, coherent laws which reflect modern society by ending discrimination and responding to new threats. The Act also strengthens the monitoring of offenders on the sex offenders register. Importantly, it demonstrates the Government’s commitment to supporting victims and signals that offenders will be heavily punished for their crimes.

For more information on the Act and how it affects working with people with learning disabilities, visit www.homeoffice.gov.uk click on the crime and policing section and go to sexual offences. Alternatively click here to download the Home Office leaflet ‘Working within the Sexual Offences Act 2003’.

All Party Parliamentary Group

VOICE UK works to change the law to protect people with learning disabilities and to support their carers and parents. We have the support of an All Party Parliamentary Group backed by over 40 members of parliament. The Group is chaired by Annette Brooke MP. Meetings are held in the House of Commons throughout the year.

Training

VOICE UK's training is uniquely informed by years of experience of working with people with learning disabilities who've been abused or experienced crime, as well as their families, carers and professional workers. We offer a wide range of training which is designed to meet the needs of different organisations and groups. We also provide speakers for conferences or seminars.

For example, we are providing training to the Metropolitan Police and other Police authorities about the needs of people with learning disabilities. We have also delivered Adult Protection training to national care service providers.

There are no excuses for not knowing the law. There are no excuses for not knowing what to do when abuse or a crime has been committed against a person with learning disabilities.

Advocacy

At VOICE UK we work hard to find the right advocate for people with learning disabilities or their family and carers. We are trying to build a network of advocates for people with learning disabilities who can support people to get access to the criminal justice system.