Every day, the people we support are held at the heart of their care and support. For those with a learning disability, empowering their voices and choices is an important part of that. So, our dedicated teams are always seeking new, innovative ways to ensure their voices are heard and their choices take shape. This is what inspired our Edinburgh-based services to form their ‘People Committee’ back in June 2023.
Founded to respect the Care Inspectorate principle ‘Be Included’, our team created the committee so the people we support were truly included in the planning and delivery of their care. Since it was established, the Committee has become a platform for the people we support to collaborate with each other, their support teams, and get involved in every decision about their support. After all, they’re the experts on what great quality support looks like!
Decision-making and ownership
Our Edinburgh People Committee plays a key role in how we support those with a learning disability. Norma Muir, our talented Manager in Edinburgh, meets with the committee every week. Promoting inclusion and co-production, these regular meetings empower our members to contribute to shared decision-making. Often, people with a learning disability feel excluded from society. But through purposeful, inclusive groups like our People Committee, they are assured that their voices count and they are in the driving seat of their support!
During their weekly meetings, discussions focus on the key themes within the Care Inspectorate standards and how we can all work together to make our homes even better! Our committee members also take part in activities that help them develop skills, grow confidence, and build an understanding of the care they receive. Empowering them with knowledge, they’re able to make informed suggestions that lead to meaningful changes.
Each committee member plays an active role in the meetings. Our team and fellow committee members support each other to express their thoughts and feelings, empowering everyone to communicate their needs and wishes.
Outside their meetings, the committee are devoted to strengthening their bonds and building important relationships with each other!
With the support of Norma and our team, they’ve created a vibrant, active culture. Hosting many weekly activities, they have a regular film making group that focuses on topics that help them play out concepts about what good support is! And the ‘Let’s Explore Edinburgh’ group offers opportunities to engage with new experiences in the local area. Along with art clubs, music clubs, pub nights and online social clubs, our committee have found plenty of ways to continue collaboration and support social interactions. So, everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to keep making the committee even better!
Beyond borders
The power of our People Committee stretches beyond the borders of Edinburgh. As part of our commitment to delivering person-centred support, they’ve supported many of our teams to shape the work we do. They’ve collaborated with our Learning and Development team, helping them decide on the best way to recruit other people we support to co-deliver Oliver McGowan training.
They’ve also supported our recruitment team to build a profile of what makes a super Support Worker! This activity has helped our recruitment team understand what characteristics are important to someone with additional needs, like a learning disability.
An important trip
In 2026, our People Committee held an important meeting, which would support our care delivery across the whole country! Visiting our group support office in Lichfield, they shared with our colleagues all the amazing things they’ve achieved as a committee so far.
Meeting with department leaders and sharing lunch with our Senior Management team, they informed everyone of how their committee works, how it changes their support, and what it means to them. Over lunch, they were able to discuss with our CEO Mike McKessar what they thought makes a good CEO! Mike took on board all their opinions. A champion for the people we support, he discussed some actions he could take to make our organisation even better!
And the Edinburgh committee is casting an even wider reach – they’re truly being seen, heard, and valued beyond Voyage Care! They supported Inspiring Scotland and the Scottish government to distribute £1.5 million across Scottish charities. Inspiring Scotland contacted our committee to understand what is important for people with a learning disability. Giving honest, insightful answers, our committee were instrumental in ensuring the money went in the right direction!
Giving a voice to the people we support
From the day it was founded, our People Committee in Edinburgh has achieved a lot for our services within the area and our entire organisation. By helping shape the way care is delivered, influencing colleague training and strengthening recruitment, committee members are making a real and lasting difference. Their input has even helped the service achieve an ‘Excellent’ Care Inspection score!
The Edinburgh People Committee is proof of what can happen when people are given the opportunity to be seen and heard. They represent people with a learning disability, they are everyone’s voice, and they advocate for all the people we support in Edinburgh and beyond. With their help, we’re ensuring everyone has the opportunity to express their wishes and live the fulfilling life they deserve.
Here you can read the latest news, blog posts and views from our staff, the people we support and their families at our services across the UK.
