Page 7 - Community Living Magazine 30-3

FrAnk

CAmPAIgn to loVe trumPS HAte
HelP PeoPle Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures. Frank sees
DeVeloP loVIng Donald Trump’s election bring about an unlikely alliance between
relAtIonSHIPS wife and neighbour Henry
upported Loving is a
S social media campaign “ f my old Dad, starts, still affected. woman, disabled,
to promote the importance I gentleman that “Little girls with a banner African American, Muslim,
of good support in helping he was, were still saying ‘Be nice’. Girl of four Mexican, poor…
people with learning alive today, he would giving out little hearts.
disabilities develop and turn in his grave,” A happy young woman with And then there were those
maintain loving relationships. said neighbour Henry, learning diffculties, sporting images. Winston Churchill’s
It was launched by the scrambling his idioms. pink hair and a wheelchair bust forced to look on while
charity Choice Support “Grabbing women’s covered in ‘Love Trumps the President signed
in February. bits?! You don’t have Hate’ stickers. Their whole war-mongering, planet-
to be a bra-burning lives ahead of them. wrecking, hateful order after
In 2016 Mencap published women’s libber to What will the world come to executive order. Then May
a study showing that just know it’s disgusting now? After everything we’ve and Trump holding hands like
3 per cent of people with to be talking about done. After everything newcomers in a Lonely Hearts
learning disabilities live with grabbing women’s we’ve won. All undone.” club. That last image sucked
a partner, compared to 70% bits,” he continued, all the air out of the sitting
of the general population. supportively Sobbed in solidarity room and dried wife’s eyes
Yet all the evidence shows he thought. “Perhaps the new leader of instantly. “WTF! He wouldn’t
that what people want most the free world is all mouth dare hold Putin’s hand like
is somebody to love. Wife, who had just returned and no trousers,” I ventured, that,” said wife, disgusted.
from the women’s anti-Trump instantly regretting the “What an advert for world
Recent PhD research by march, fashed Henry a half-dressed image. Every leadership! Appeasing
Dr Claire Bates, funded by grim smile and dumped hour on the hour for a week, sycophant seeks pawing,
Choice Support, found that her protest banner in the news contradicted me. pusillanimous patriarch for
in most situations good the recycling bin – Obama Care smashed; special relationship,”
staff support was key to “Free Melania” on one side, the Mexican Wall she spat. I nodded
helping make love happen “We shall overcomb” on ordered; Muslims banned. vigorously in agreement,
for people. Claire says: the other. “You’ve spelt that Every day, wife and friend understanding little, only that
“Close relationships are wrong,” said Henry. in New York emailed each wife was fully armed and
such a big part of most of “Don’t bother,” I whispered other news of each fresh back in the saddle.
our lives, yet people with to wife, ushering her into the attack in what sounded like
learning disabilities often house, leaving Henry out in amplifed Morse Code, then Neighbour Henry invited
miss out because they the cold. hugged each other virtually himself in from the cold.
don’t get the right support. and sobbed in solidarity “Not on my Nelly. Over my
I decided to launch Wife burst into tears. across the Atlantic on Skype. dead body. I’ve signed a
Supported Loving to get a One pot of tea, a hug and a America First alright, petition to ban Trump’s state
conversation going about Tunnock’s tea cake later, just like the inaugural speech visit,” declared Henry,
the importance of she explained in fts and promised, except if you are a who had never signed a
appropriate support, and to petition nor protested against
identify what constitutes ProgrAmme AImS to keeP the establishment in his life
good and poor support before. He handed wife her
in relationships.“ PeoPle ‘well ConneCteD’ placard, the b in ‘We shall
hree Cs have teamed building relationships and overcomb’ crossed out and
The campaign will run for t up with Blackfriars giving and getting support replaced with an e.
six months from February Settlement and former from friends, old and new. “We’ve got to stick together,”
2017. People with learning mental health service users to he said, brandishing his own
disabilities, their families co-produce a programme of Says CEO Jo Clare: freshly painted placard like
and supporters, activities to support people to “Excitingly, everything we do an old hand. On one side it
and professionals are stay ‘Well connected’. under the Well Connected read ‘Trump stinks’, on the
invited to share stories of programme will be user-led other ‘Free Winston
good support with The Well Connected or co-produced. That means Churchill’. “You’re one in a
relationships through Twitter, programme will be run by a that over the next three years, million Henry,” I said.
Facebook and the Supported Community Connector who there will be masses of Delighted, he contradicted
Loving blog. To get involved, will help people fnd and opportunity for people to me: “I am one in one million,
contribute a blog or for stay connected with a range contribute their time and eight hundred and ninety
further information of creative, leisure, learning skills in paid and unpaid fve thousand, one hundred
contact: Claire.Bates and social activities roles, as well as to learn and eighty three to be
@choicesupport.org.uk providing opportunities for through volunteering.” precise. And counting!”

www.cl-initiatives.co.uk Community Living Vol 30 No 3 | Spring 2017 5