Holly
Millar
34 year old Holly Millar from Kirkintilloch and was one
of the first people in Scotland to go through the process of personalisation, a
system which enables someone who has a learning disability to manage their own
support. And for Holly it has transformed her life in more ways than she could
have imagined.
Holly, who has a learning disability has lived
independently for five years but has not always felt in control of her life or
the support she received saying “I used to find it hard to make people listen”.
She was keen to improve things and with the support of
her dad, looked for an organisation where she felt she could direct her own
support. Although she felt slightly daunted, she knew the results would be
worth it so she went through the process with the support of C-Change – an
organisation set up to help people take control of their own lives.
Holly went ahead believing it was for the best, saying
“This way I could tell the council what my needs were and what support I needed
rather than them telling me”.
The main thing that has changed for Holly is that the
support she receives is now more flexible and allows her to do what she enjoys.
Holly loves swimming but needs someone to accompany her to the pool so she uses
part of her allocated time with her support worker to go to the leisure centre.
She also enjoys meeting people and getting out and about in the community,
doing things like going to the theatre. Again her support worker can accompany
her so she can get out there and play an active role in the community.
The other main change for Holly is she can now choose and
employ her own support worker opposed to being appointed someone who may or may
not have been the best person suited to her. In fact in the past there was a
succession of support workers coming in and out her life, making it hard to
build a good trusting relationship.
This has made a huge impact on Holly’s life. She knew she
would be spending a considerable amount of time with her support worker so it
was important they hit it off to get the best from each other. Being in charge
of her own budget, Holly held interviews to find the right person to work with
her.
Holly said: “I now feel happier and more in control of my
own life and I also feel more confident”.
And she believes it was her personalisation journey that
gave her the confidence to embark on what she hopes may be a career in the
field of politics. Holly is now in the second year of a degree in law and
politics at Paisley University and is also volunteering for MP Jo Swinson one
day a week. Holly said: “I would never have done it before but now I feel more
confident so I just went to Jo’s surgery and spoke to her and then I followed
it up and asked her for a job. I work in her constituency office one day a week
and do administration, make appointments for Jo and respond to emails”.
And one of Holly’s greatest accolades is her achievements
as Director of Dates n Mates a dating and friendship agency run by and for
people who have learning disabilities which operates as a project of C-Change.
Holly devotes one day a week to Dates n Mates organising events for the
organisation. Dates n Mates was recent finalist in the SSSC Care Accolades
2011.
Holly is also an active member of ENABLE Scotland,
Scotland’s leading charity of and for people who have a learning disability.
Holly is member of ENABLE Scotland’s national self advocacy group ACE and
serves on the charity’s Scottish Council. She has used her knowledge and
experience to support others through her involvement on the charity’s
personalisation focus group – ‘It’s all About Me’.
Holly feels the future is bright and she can achieve so
much more now she is feeling confident and in control saying: “I want to get my
degree and use it. I want to continue to get the right support from C-Change
and work with dates-n-mates and continue representing people who have learning
disabilities through my role on ENABLE Scotland’s Scottish Council”.
She continued:”Personalisation has made me feel good and
happier. I really think it is a good idea - it does make a difference”.
Theresa Shearer Executive
Director ENABLE Scotland said:
"Holly is a true
inspiration. She is hard working and committed to her studies, her work and
also changing the lives of people who have a learning disability. Holly has
achieved so much in the past few years and it has been wonderful to not only
work with her but to see her world turn around. Holly is looking to the future
and has great plans - with her enthusiasm and dedication she will make it
happen".