VOICE UK was founded in 1993 by the parents of a woman with Down's Syndrome who was abused by a care worker. The Crown Prosecution Service considered the young woman "too handicapped".
Her parents and many others fought to have the case heard and eventually it was. She gave her evidence from behind a screen and the judge removed his wig so as not to frighten her. These things are now part of the "special measures" in the Youth Justice & Criminal Evidence Act 1999. The care worker was found guilty and served a term of imprisonment. VOICE UK continues to campaign to improve the rights of people with learning disabilities in the criminal justice system.
VOICE UK has given written evidence to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights inquiry into the human rights of adults with learning disabilities. We have also met with members of the Joint Committee to answer their questions. Our evidence describes how crime and abuse violate the human rights of adults with learning disabilities and suggests recommendations the Joint Committee could make to ensure adults with learning disabilities enjoy their human rights.
Parliament recently debated the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Bill and we used this opportunity to highlight the hidden problem of the forced marriage of people with learning disabilities.
VOICE UK has been involved in the Intermediary Scheme since 2002.
VOICE UK Leaflet giving overview of our services
Our independent evaluation from 2009
We are a member of the Fundraising Standards Board and follow the Codes of Practice applicable to fundraising inthe UK.
(link to Fundraising Standards Board website www.frsb.org.uk)
VOICE UK obtained the Investor's in People Award in June 2003 (with 3 further assessments following this) and the Information Standards Award in 2011.
Download a copy of our Annual Accounts here