Philip is a regular member of the Leeds Learning Disability People’s Parliament. In this blog post, he talks about standing for election as a representative at the Learning Disability Partnership Board.

Hello there! My name is Philip and I live in Leeds.

I am very passionate about rights for people with lived experience of having a disability and I speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves.

I found out about this group with my enabling team. They come to support me at meetings, helping me with communication, understanding of complex words and sentences and help me to make sure my voice is heard.

Recently, I stood for election at the People’s Parliament to be a elected member of the Partnership Board. I had to do an election speech and tell people why I would be good at representing them.

I wrote my speech and practiced it before the election with my enabling team and my friends at Asking You!

The Leeds Learning Disability People’s Parliament is for adults with learning disabilities in Leeds. It feeds into the Leeds Learning Disability Partnership Board to give adults with learning disabilities a say in what it does.

It meets five times a year, including a takeover of the Council Chambers once a year. Asking You! staff and volunteers help to run it.

Getting elected

I am very pleased to announce that I got through the election and was voted in. That means I will go to meetings and make sure my voice is heard when discussing how we are communicated with and treated by groups like the NHS, transport companies and care services.

I think it’s important for people with a learning disability to be able to speak up for themselves about what they need, because people that do not have a disability do not know what it’s like.

I live with my disability every day and I want to tell people about my experience and how things effect me.

I think it’s really important for as many people with lived experience of having a learning disability to be involved with the People’s Parliament, as it helps get all points across.

For more information, please call 0113 244 0606 and ask for Imogen or Alex, or email [email protected].

Future dates

The next People’s Parliament meeting is on Tuesday 25th November. It is from 10:30am to 1pm.

It will meet in 2026 on these dates:

  • Tuesday 24th February 2026
  • Tuesday 28th April 2026
  • Tuesday 16th June 2026 – Council Chambers Takeover
  • Tuesday 29th September 2026
  • Tuesday 24th November 2026