About Us
Background
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" and would therefore be an unreliable witness. 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.
See VOICE UK's Timeline-History (a pdf file)
What We Do
Helpline
VOICE UK operate telephone helpline staffed between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. The helpline number: 0845 122 8695 is displayed on every page on the website.
The helpline is also for parents, carers and professional workers
We provide help and information about how to do things, like making a complaint, and what to do if you need help if you are a victim or witness to a crime.
Training
VOICE UK's training is uniquely informed by years of experience of working with people with learning disabilities who've been abused or experienced crime, as well as their families, carers and professional workers.
We offer a range of training courses, with a strong emphasis on giving participants, working in health, police, social services, education, criminal justice system and the voluntary sector, a positive, practical approach to adult protection. We are also able to work with your organisation to define and deliver bespoke training to match your organisations needs.
There are no excuses for not knowing the law. There are no excuses for not knowing what to do when abuse or crime has been committed against a person with learning disabilities.
Advocacy
At VOICE UK we work hard to find the right advocate for people with learning disabilities or their family and carers. We are trying to build a network of advocates for people with learning disabilities who can support people to get access to the criminal justice system.
If you would like more information about the project visit the Equal Access to Justice project page.
Books and Information
Members receive newsletters four times a year and are entitled to free or discounted copies of our publications. For more information about VOICE UK and other related publications, please view the publications page.
HELPLINE:
0845 122 8695
Helpline Text Number: 07797800642
CONTACT DETAILS
VOICE UK
Rooms 100-106
Kelvin House
RTC Business Centre
London Road
DERBY DE24 8UP
Phone: 01332 291042
Fax: 01332 207567
Email: voice@voiceuk.org.uk
