Did you know about the Access Fund which supports members who want to go to Conference? I expect you think that it provides resources for people with disabilities – and that is indeed true, because, amongst other things, it funds the BSL signers.
But it also offers grants to individual members who can’t afford the full cost of Conference. It can cover childcare costs and also accommodation and travel.
The deadline for applications to the Access Fund for Spring Conference was a couple of days ago, but not many applications had been received by that date so they are happy to receive late submissions this year. Full details are to be found on the Conference Access Fund page.
Although the Fund was set up by the Federal Conference Committee (and clearly ring-fenced for that purpose) the FCC members do not see any of the applications – they are treated in strict confidence in the Conference Office.
Many thanks to all conference goers who have contributed to the Fund. And I have to say that includes thanks to Lib Dem Voice for some generous donations.
* Mary Reid is a contributing editor on Lib Dem Voice. She was a councillor in Kingston upon Thames, where she is still very active with the local party, and is the Hon President of Kingston Lib Dems.
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6 Comments
The BSL signers were one of the good things about Lib Dem conference especially for those with hearing difficulties.
What was not so great was the members who insisted on blocking your view of them by either sitting in an area they shouldn’t or standing between where you were and the signers!
John Brace – did you report the problem to the stewards? I’m sure they would ask the members to move.
Well I asked the member to move myself (although it was my wife that had the problem). Lord McNally was kind enough to move.
As to the other times it happened, as it was eight years or more ago I can’t remember whether I brought it up with a steward or not. Certainly I didn’t like to leave the person behind to go look for a steward in case the person needed my assistance while I was gone.
But by way of explanation we started off sitting on the front row but this wasn’t suitable as journalists taking photos tended to collide with us and people kept tripping into her leg.
The downside to being a row behind though is that as she was short (5’4”), if someone tall sat directly in front it blocked her view. It didn’t bother me though who was sitting in front as I’m over 6′ tall and could just see over the top.
I am not sure that the access fund would pay for this but fringe meeting rooms without hearing loops are a real problem for those of us with hearing loss. Even when there is a loop, speakers don’t realise that it is sometimes necessary to use the mikes properly or their speech isn’t picked up.
People who have a low income, but not on benefits should be able to access conference at a preferential rate.
Conference is poorer, because it excludes people on part-time, or zero hours