7. Control through partnership

Citizen Leadership enables people to have more control over their own lives and services, through working in partnership with those services.

Autism Rights Group Highland (ARGH)

Autism Rights Group Highland (ARGH) was formally constituted on May 1st 2007 and has continued as a collective advocacy group. ARGH is a group run by and for autistic adults. As such all full members including the management committee are autistic.

Since being formed ARGH has continued to work to strengthen the voice of autistic adults within Highland. We have three main aims that we strive to adhere to, both within ARGH and in our everyday lives:

Advocating Together (Dundee) SCIO

When Dundee City Council decided it was important to get the views of people who used their learning disability services, they adopted a Citizen Leadership approach. They funded Advocating Together to employ five people with learning disabilities to consult with other people with learning disabilities, and find out what was most important to people, and what services would help them most. Advocating Together provided training for these five 'SAY reps', to give them the skills and information to do the job well.

Skye and Lochalsh Young Carers

The work of Skye and Lochalsh Young Carers represents an excellent example of several of the principles of Citizen Leadership.

The children and young people and the staff work tirelessly together to raise awareness of young carers among services and to ensure that these services can work with young carers to support them effectively.

They are a dynamic group who have made an incredible difference to how young carers are regarded and supported.