I get by with a little help from my friends

Hi everyone, it’s Kerry here, muddling through another week with a little help from my friends.

First, good news as I’ve finally appointed a new Personal Assistant! It’s been a challenge finding someone (yes, it’s that car height thing - if you’ve been reading, you’ll know what I mean) but PFD stepped in and saved the day.

Over a coffee with my old manager, now trustee, another Laura (D), I explained the problem. She tidied up the job advert, popped it on Indeed, and just like that – success! Honestly, it saved me (and Dorset Council) a load of stress, time, and money.

She also helped me organise cover from agency staff this week, because my PA Louise is on holiday and my new one doesn’t start for another week. It’s not easy, though. Having agency staff feels unsettling, as you never know who’ll walk through the door.

That came up in our MAKE meeting too this week. To remind you- Marshall, Amy, me and Emily work together to raise concerns, and offer solutions, with MPs about bad practices that affect people like us, and which cost the government money. This week Amy wrote a powerful letter to her MP, after reading about the heartbreaking death of 14-year-old Ruth Szymankiewicz. She died because agency staff weren’t properly trained or checked. It’s tragic and Amy’s letter called for serious changes.

Then on Saturday, just as I’m finally relaxing into the weekend, a letter dropped through my door saying my council tax was overdue and must paid this week. I had no idea! With no PA support to help, I panicked, and rang the other Laura (K). She reassured me and will sort it on Tuesday, when the council are back at work.

So that’s my week: a mix of challenges, wins, and the help of PFD friends.

The writers of the Our View column are supported in their editing by People First Dorset - a charity led and run by people with learning disabilities with support from staff