United Response

12/06/2026

What started out as a supported internship at Café West has grown into an award-winning career in hospitality for Matthew.

From learning to make his first latte to serving guests at a 5-star hotel in York, Matthew's story is a testament to his determination, talent and commitment to excellence.

Now approaching two years in his role, he's continuing to go from strength to strength!

Read all about his journey in hospitality here:

Matthew first joined United Response as one of our learners through a supported internship at Café West. Based at the City of York Council West Offices, Café West is staffed predominantly by people we support, serving up a wide menu of meals, snacks and drinks. It provides hands-on expe...

11/06/2026

Last week, colleagues from across United Response came together for the launch of our partnership project with Gloriously Ordinary Lives, alongside members of our People's Forum, United Voice, and senior leaders.

The day was an opportunity to challenge the language often used in social care, and explore what it really means to live a gloriously ordinary life.

We're excited about this partnership and the conversations it will inspire as we continue shaping our future together.

Watch the video to find out more! 📽️

Read more about Gloriously Ordinary Lives here: https://www.gloriouslyordinarylives.co.uk/

10/06/2026

In a new article for Civil Society, our CEO Kate Terroni explains why she believes coproduction isn't just good practice — it's essential.

From shaping services to influencing strategy, she reflects on how the best outcomes come from decisions that are made with people, not for them.

Read the article here:

United Response’s CEO discusses her ambition to lead the most coproduced charity in the country…

09/06/2026

Kelly, who we support in Nottingham, is a big advocate for Makaton and part of several community groups, including a choir where she signs songs and helps others learn Makaton too.

Now, she's taken that passion one step further by creating Sign & Shine — a series of weekly videos designed to raise awareness of Makaton and help more people learn to sign!

Give the videos a watch here:

Kelly brings extensive lived experience. She takes part in several community groups, including a choir where she uses Makaton to sign songs and supports others to learn. Kelly is a passionate advocate for Makaton and is the creator of sign&shine. Weekly videos designed to raise awareness and help pe...

08/06/2026

From her cherished doll collection to her love of Christmas, Kirsty's story is full of the joyful memories that mean the most to her.

In our latest Our Life Stories interview, she reflects on her life and the positive difference that support from United Response has made along the way.

Give it a listen here:

KirstyDate: September 2025Location: NewcastleInterviewed by: Will The full recording will be stored in the records of the The British Library when the Our Life Stories project closes. Short excerpts from the interviews are shared below, which give an insight into Kirsty’s full and detailed account...

05/06/2026

The recent Supreme Court ruling on deprivation of liberty has raised serious concerns that important safeguards will be weakened.

We understand that people will be worried about what this means for people's rights and what these changes could mean.

If you'd like to understand more about the ruling, take a look at Learning Disability England's Easy Read guide explaining the changes:

The UK Supreme Court has changed the way the law on whether a disabled person is being deprived of their liberty if they cannot make the decision themselves.  This means that the rules on Deprivation Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) has changed. The Court has ruled that the long-standing “acid test.....

03/06/2026

Check out the latest episode of the Our Voice Our Journey podcast, produced by some of the people we support at the Old Eight Bells.

In this episode, Mental Health Matters, they discuss their mental health journeys and explore why looking after our wellbeing is so important.

Give it a listen here:

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

02/06/2026

Could 2027 be the year you take on the London Marathon?

Applications are now open, so join Team United Response and be part of something unforgettable! 🏃

By running on our behalf, you'll be helping to raise vital funds that support people with learning disabilities and autistic people to live independent, fulfilling lives.

If you're looking for a challenge with real impact, we'd love to have you on the team.

Apply today:

Do you want to run for United Response in the TCS 2027 London Marathon? Fill out our enquiry form to be considered for a space

02/06/2026

As part of our My Vote My Voice campaign, we've been searching for our first Democracy Champions, and we're delighted to have received so many amazing applications!

But what exactly is a Democracy Champion, and how can they help more people have their voices heard? Take a look to find out more.

If you'd like to get involved with My Vote My Voice, contact Lxx Garcia at [email protected] or read more here:

https://www.myvotemyvoice.org.uk/news-item/become-a-democracy-champion/

01/06/2026

We'd like to give a huge thank you to Cucumber Recruitment, who have generously donated £1,000 towards our 2026 Staff Celebration Day!

Their support will help us hold an amazing event that recognises the dedication and achievements of our colleagues.

We’re incredibly grateful to have them behind us as we prepare for another memorable day of celebration 💫

Read all about last year's Celebration Day here:

On the 9th October, we brought together over 100 colleagues and people we support to hold our annual Celebration Day, recognising and rewarding people who have achieved qualifications, gone the extra mile, and committed huge parts of their life to our charity. The event, which was held at Bestwood L...