Blog Posts

APLE at the APPG On Poverty #IDEP2022

During the week of International Day to End Poverty and Challenge Poverty Week APLE Collective visited the heart of government. We hosted the APPG Poverty on Wednesday 19th October at Portcullis House, APLE Collective members travelled the length and breadth of the UK, flying in from Glasgow and travelling by train from Cornwall to give just two examples of the tremendous effort our Collective have to go to have our voice heard. “I felt we were Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Travelling to London for APPG on Poverty

It has been nearly a decade since I started to travel to London Independently. London starting another day, it also revealed humans sleeping on pavements. And from riding bikes to riding buses, data and debit cards are king in London. (not cash) I know the route petty well and if I could drive a train could probably sit in the driver’s seat. A lot has changed in that time, seek and electric high-speed have replaced Read more…

By aplecollective, ago
silhouette photography of group of people jumping during golden time

Human Rights for #IDEP2022

MONDAY 17 OCTOBER 2022  Good morning ladies and gentlemen and welcome to Glasgow Square this fine morning. I’ve been asked to say a few words about Human Rights in relation to poverty.  So, what are Human Rights?  I like to compare HR to water – something we know a lot about living in Scotland.  Water is something we take for granted here in Scotland.  It’s always there when we need it – just at the twist of the tap.  It Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

My experience so far with the APLE/Ada Field School- Brian Scott

Hi guys, I’ve been asked to produce a short blog outlining the field research being done between the APLE Collective and the Ada Lovelace Foundation.  So who is the Ada Lovelace Foundation?    Well, they put it a lot better than I can: From the Ada Lovelace website: About Ada Lovelace The Ada Lovelace Institute was established by the Nuffield Foundation in early 2018, in collaboration with the Alan Turing Institute, the Royal Society, the British Academy, the Royal Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Chris Burns writes for #LearningDisabilityWeek

There was a news story and clip on the council’s website about someone with learning difficulties who had gone into supported accommodation in Penzance. The clip explained he liked cooking and loved HMV in Truro. My ganglion cysts on my feet caused me pain last night but I did some yoga in Saltash after l took some old hoovers to the recycling centre. (I did a bit of cobra and child’s pose and downward dog, Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Learning Disability Week- Chris Burns

My journey in disability started with a phone call to a BBC radio station. It was about a death of someone with a learning disability. An investigation found that Cornwall had failed to protect the vulnerable individual properly. At the time it was rare for disability to speak openly and in the public arena. Now thankfully it is very different and learning disability has managed to have a presence in the arts (Sarah Gordy and Read more…

By aplecollective, ago
man sitting on bench

The changing landscape of the digital divide- Disconnected and well and truly left behind.

I’ve never been one for relying on technology. I have very little confidence and get so stressed whenever I have to do anything that relies on me using the internet. I have a few learning difficulties and suffer quite badly with my mental health. The world is moving far too fast for me, and I am aware that people are now having to rely even more on technology and the internet. This is an absolute Read more…

By aplecollective, ago
photo of people using laptop

An open digital world- Phil Parkes.

My name is Phil Parkes, and I am the Network Coordinator at Expert Citizens. I am also a member of the APLE Collective where I take part in the campaigns group activities. For those who don’t know, Expert Citizens (EC) are a lived experience organisation who advocate for people with a lived experience of an issue or issues being at the heart of the conversation regarding those issues. I was a volunteer with EC for Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

APLE at the Raising Voices Exhibition

Friday 25th March was the Raising Voices Exhibition at Catalyst Building on Staffordshire University’s Campus. It was a full day for community members to visit the exhibition of photos, clay and postcards which raise the voices of people experiencing poverty in Stoke on Trent. “We had an area set aside for people to listen to the Raising Voices Podcast along with displays featuring works of clay, postcards, poetry and reflections from a wellness session that Read more…

By aplecollective, ago

Autism Acceptance Week- Chris Burns

Autism is a neurological difference. It is not with big capital letters, a mental health condition. Autism is a spectrum of talents and abilities, some may have an associated learning disability (I have a fixed cognitive impairment on top of my autism) or be non-verbal. I can 100 per cent say just because a person doesn’t verbally communicate, it doesn’t mean they haven’t got something to say or share. However, autism impacts a life we Read more…

By aplecollective, ago