Tired of your voice not being heard and not being included in local decisions that may affect you as a disabled person? Or just want to have more of a say in issues that are important to you? If the answer is yes to either of these, than RADAR's empowerment forum is for you. We kicked off with our first Empowerment Forum - Midlands in Birmingham in September 2009; followed by the second one for the South West region in Plymouth.

This is an exciting opportunity to learn about how to have real input on local services that matter to you and how to realise your full potential. The purpose this e-mail is to:

(a) get the date in people’s diaries and (b) to generate interest for giving a speech, doing a workshop or to come along as a delegate.

With regards to speeches/workshops we are looking for local representatives from Third Sector organisations, Local Authorities and Primary Care Trusts who would like to speak or hold a workshop on their experience with involving people with ill health, injury and disability (IID) in decision-making processes, e.g.:

• how to be able to influence the commissioning of local services (barriers, good practice etc.)
• a workshop on how to engage with local authorities/Primary Care Trusts (key points of contact, methods of contact e.g. phone, email, letter)
• someone from a local authority or PCT who can speak from their perspective on how to become involved in local services
• someone who can run a workshop on how to present yourself and make your voice heard

For further information about the event, please contact Nisha Patel, Nisha.Patel@radar.org.uk