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Who cares about disabled people?

Scope

2 min read Partner content

A new campaign, called Britain Cares, was launched today to encourage the public to show they support disabled people.

Scope, the disability charity, said the campaign will show the Government that people care about the quality of life of disabled people and are concerned about how benefit cuts will affect them.

The charity said 70,000 disabled people are already struggling to get by without social care after cuts by local councils and at least another 30,000 more disabled people are at risk of losing their independence.

As part of the campaign, people are being asked to show their concern by taking a photo of themselves with the words 'I Care' written either on them or something they can hold, and then send it to their MP.

The MP will be asked raise the issue of whether disabled people have the essential support they need to live their lives with the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

The Government is being asked to ensure disabled people get local support for basics like getting washed, dressed and out of the house.

The Britain Cares website, where people and community groups can upload photos and find out more, is now live.

Today also marks the start of a social media push backed by the hash-tag: #BritainCares

Over the coming weeks the campaign will include an online video from award-winning producers, celebrity tweets and a set of bold adverts in Scope's 240 charity shops.

to put in place the funding to make sure disabled people get local support for basics like getting washed, dressed and out of the house.

Matt Jackson, Head of Campaigns at Scope, said:

“This campaign is about showing the Government that British people really do care about whether or not disabled people can live independently.

“We are convinced that the British public has an innate sense of fairness; that most people would want to see disabled people given the same chance as everyone else to get on with living their lives.

“Social care is the help disabled people receive to get out of bed, get washed, dressed and leave the house - the basics in life – yet too many disabled people are being denied this.

“The Government has a chance to stop this, and it makes a difference if they see people care enough to speak out. We aim to show them they do.