In March, the UK Organisation Leonard Cheshire Disability, held a conference in Dundee urging political parties in the forthcoming Euro elections to do much more to cater for the one million disabled people in Scotland. Leonard Cheshire Disability Citizenship Academy's annual conference featured a hustings event, where candidates from all major parties standing for election in Scotland were given a platform to address electors.

The Europe-themed event showcased the Academy's work and offered the chance for debate and discussion and mutual learning.  

William Neil, Leonard Cheshire Disability's Citizenship Academy co-ordinator, said:  'Since 2009 is the year of the European Parliament elections, we wanted the conference to better inform disabled people about the role and importance of the EU. We hope that the lasting legacy of the Academy will make sure that disabled people can make their own voices heard loud and clear on what ever subject they feel strongly about. All political parties need to do much more to cater for disabled people- many of their needs are currently being ignored."

The Citizenship Academy, open to any disabled person in Scotland aged 18 and over, is designed to empower disabled people throughout Scotland to become actively involved in their local community. It runs a series of one-day modules.

A Citizenship Academy graduate, said 'One of the mains reasons I came on the course was because there are issues relating to disability that I feel passionate about. The Academy has helped me to find out about what information is out there and what other groups are around to give support."

List of Euro Hustings participants

-    Belinda Don (Conservatives): candidate
-    George Lyon (LibDem): candidate
-    Duncan Ross (SNP): candidate
-    Kirsty Connell (Labour): candidate
-    Shiona Baird, vice convenor of the Scottish Green Party

The Citizenship Academy is designed to empower disabled people throughout Scotland to become actively involved in their local community, with an emphasis on increasing awareness and understanding of the Scottish democratic processes. It provides participants with the confidence and skills needed to voice their opinions understand their rights and influence the decision making processes that affects their lives.

Leonard Cheshire Disability in Scotland is the leading voluntary sector provider of assistance services for disabled people and at the forefront of the campaign for full civil rights for disabled people. LCD support around 1,000 disabled people across Scotland to live independent lives and  have almost 50 services from Inverness to Dumfries.
Leonard Cheshire Disability supports over 21,000 disabled people in the UK and works in 52 countries. We campaign for change and provide innovative services that give disabled people the opportunity to live life their way. Visit www.LCDisability.org