Blog | Middlesbrough Voluntary Development Agency

People with learning disabilities are either hidden or visible - my lessons learnt so far

14 October 2021 - 9:55am

I'm getting some useful insights into engaging communities who are sometimes ignored as I reach the halfway point in my piece of work to identify the barriers which those with learning disabilities from minority communities face in accessing Annual Health Checks (AHCs) at their GP surgery.

You can read the background to this piece of work MVDA has been commissioned to do on behalf of NHS England here: Changing the poor take-up of annual health checks by minority communities

Changing the poor take-up of annual health checks for minority communities

28 July 2021 - 4:46pm

After the lockdown I am back at MVDA working on a project to encourage the take-up of Annual Health Checks (AHCs) by those with learning disabilities from ethnic minority communities in Middlesbrough and Stockton-On-Tees

The project’s aim of getting more people from different communities to attend their GP surgery for a check-up would seem straightforward, but this belies and points to structural and individual barriers against this happening.

Sarah's first week at MEC

19 March 2021 - 2:22pm

Guest blog from Sarah Lattaway, CommUNITY Actions project lead at Middlesbrough Environment City (MEC)

I joined MEC amid the pandemic, and frankly with some trepidation. Having had my interview via teams I never met any of the staff I would be spending more time with than my own family, so you can understand my nervousness.

Is COVID-19 the great leveller?

31 March 2020 - 1:45pm

The link between the Marmot Review 10 years on and COVID-19 - deprivation, poverty and health inequalities.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said people (loved ones) are going to die due to the pandemic of COVID-19. The media, politicians and health experts have implied the effects will be across all strata of society, but is this disingenuous?

Using crafts to overcome barriers to volunteering

26 September 2019 - 2:20pm

Using craft sessions to boost your CV? Yes, it works, and let me explain how.

My role at MVDA is volunteer development officer for the Step Forward Tees Valley project which aims to overcome barriers to work for people. One of the ways we do this is by supporting a participant into a volunteering position to enhance their skills, develop their confidence and boost their CV’s.