Claire Morgan 25/11/2024 Member Stories

Since we last chatted in January this year, I’ve been re-elected as a co-Chair of the Learning Disability Ministerial Advisory Group (LDMAG).

Currently I’m the only co-chair with a learning disability. I’ve been involved with LDMAG for around 15 years. Being co-chair helps me get my voice heard and helps me to get the opinions of people with learning disabilities listened to.

I was re-elected to the AWPF Board of Directors again this month.  I was on the board around 4 years ago but had to stand down (you can only be on the Board for a certain number of years).  I put myself forward to be elected as co-Chair and I was voted on at the last meeting.  I thought I’d give being a Chair another go – I know I’m good at it because I have lots of experience and it gives me responsibility.

I also co-chair the Stolen Lives committee which is part of the Homes not Hospitals campaign.  We’re currently looking at the data of how many people with learning disabilities are in hospital when they should be in their own homes.

I have to come to Cardiff for all these meetings, so I always try to combine my trips to Cardiff with some socialising and catching up with friends. I do lots of travelling by bus and train. I find that I have to book hotels and stay overnight because I can’t travel home late at night.  There are no late trains and in any case the buses stop at 6.00 pm; I don’t mind a half hour walk home from the train station in the summer, but I don’t feel safe to walk home from the train station in the dark.   I went to the Gig Buddies launch in Swansea last week and had to book into a Travelodge because I knew I wouldn’t be able to get home.

I wasn’t feeling too good last week so I had a week at home – I love being busy, but I think maybe I needed a bit of a rest to recharge myself. Overall I’m feeling ok but I’m still waiting for a hospital appointment to have 5 teeth out. I do experience anxiety although you wouldn’t really know it as I come across as being a confident person.  I do worry about things and sometimes I get chest pains which I think are linked to feeling anxious.

I’m off work this week so I’ve got some nice stuff planned – a trip to Fishguard, cinema with my boyfriend. I’ve also got a trustees meeting with Pembrokeshire People First and on Sunday I’ll be travelling back to Cardiff for the next Stolen Lives meeting.