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Summary

AiLN offers a range of support, information and services to current AiLN members and people who are considering how to receive their care package. We provide support and advice for both clients and their families.

Ayrshire Independent Living Network provides support and advice in various ways, from providing information on the various options to help a client make an initial decision about receiving Direct Payments right through to a payroll service. We can send information through the post, discuss options over the phone or make home visits. AiLN also operates an open-door policy - our office is open between 9:30a.m. - 4:30p.m Monday to Friday.

As part of on-going support AiLN facilitates training for employers and personal assistants. Training is available from the Inland Revenue Business Support Team via AiLN. Ayrshire Independent Living Network also endeavors to arrange specific training packages to suit individual requirements.

Once a client has decided to receive Direct Payments AiLN can offer a full payroll service to those who have chosen to employ a Personal Assistant.

AiLN holds Quarterly members meetings usually on a Monday between 1:30 and 4:00pm alternating between North, South and East Ayrshire Venues. The meeting are to allow disabled people using Direct Payments or ILF for their support needs to discuss issues they may be having with other users, to meet new people and to have on hand support from The DP Support Worker, Payroll and AILN Management Committee. New members are welcome to attend.

A newsletter is distributed to members on a quarterly basis, and provides information and advice on current issues, plus news from any related organisations.

If you would like to become a member of AiLN complete your details in the ‘Contact Us’ section stating your postal address and that you wish to become a member in the Enquiry section, membership is free.

Profile of Area Concerned

The former county of Ayrshire is a large geographical area, which, as a result of local government re organisation, was divided into three administrative areas - North, South and East Ayrshire.

North Ayrshire comprises 5 very different areas: Irvine and Kilwinning, the 'three towns', Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenson, the Garnock Valley, the North Coast area and the Isles of Arran and Cumbrae. Previous statistics have proven that 1 in 14 suffer from some kind of disability. South Ayrshire encompasses an area of 422 sq. miles, from Troon and Symington in the North to Ballantrae and Loch Ryan in the South the three main towns in South Ayrshire are Ayr, Prestwick and Troon. Again, there is a significant proportion of the population with some form of disability. East Ayrshire is similar in nature to both North and South Ayrshire and encompasses many former mining areas.

Although income levels in Ayrshire are at or around the national average, the same cannot be said of the disabled section of the population. Many adults with disabilities cannot work. Their financial support is the responsibility of government, through welfare policies and provisions, and their local communities can do little to help in this area.

There also remains the danger that unless there is positive support and action within the community, both informally and formally such as through the A.I.L.N. to include disabled people in the life and dynamics of their community, they could become disengaged and isolated.

We have also prepared posters and leaflets outlining who and what we are, where we are located and the times that we are open for business. At present this information only exists in the written form, but there are plans to put it on the Internet and it will also be made available in large print, Braille and tape formats when the demand arises.

¹ "Enduring economic exclusion: disabled people, income and work" by Tania Burchardt is published for the Joseph Rowntree Foundation by York Publishing Services, 64 Halifield Road, Layerthorpe, York, YO31 7XQ. Public Relations and Promotion