Stateside trip for Lib Dem Councillor (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Stateside trip for Lib Dem Councillor

February 13, 2006 3:44 PM

Leeds City Councillor Brenda Lancaster is on her way to America as a voluntary member of the Special Abilities group. The Wakefield based organisation is travelling to Minneapolis to bring back puppets which feature in a programme to promote the positive inclusion of children with and without disabilities in schools and communities. The innovative scheme has proved a massive success stateside with hundreds of thousands of children since the programme originated in 1979. Councillor Brenda Lancaster is accompanying the delegation, at her own expense, to see the Count Me In programme first hand.

Councillor Brenda Lancaster (Lib Dem, Moortown) said "I am delighted to join members on this trip. We will visit a school to see how the puppets are used, then take part in a full day's training in order to be able to relay these skills to audiences back here in West Yorkshire. The impact the programme has had in the states is very impressive. The puppet shows engage children as they are both lively and entertaining. The puppets help put across the message that all children want to play and learn to the best of their ability."

Councillor Lancaster added, "Whilst I am excited about the trip I am also a little nervous as this the first time I've ever flown."

Notes to the Editor:

1. Special Abilities, based in Wakefield, is a peer led organisation working to promote equality of opportunities, choices and independence for all disabled children and adults across all services including education, training, work placement and employment.

2. www.abilities.fsnet.co.uk - Special Abilities website

3. http://www.pacer.org/count/index.htm - Count Me In website

4. The delegation flies from Manchester Airport to Minneapolis via Philadelphia on Wednesday 15th Feb 2006 and returns on Sunday 19th Feb 2006.

The views in this Press Release are those of the Liberal Democrat Council Group and not necessarily those of Leeds City Council, its Officers or of the Liberal Democrat Party.