Ayrshire Independent Living Network are based in the Michael Lynch Centre in Princes St, Ardrossan and we’re open week days to provide people with free information and advice about self-directed support. 

If you or a member of your family needs support, you can contact Health & Social Care. They will advise you about what the criteria is for getting support. If you get an assessment, they will tell you about Self-directed Support (also known as SDS). SDS is a name for the 4 different ways you can receive support.  

The Scottish Government has a long term plan to give people more choice and control over any support they need making sure they can make an informed choice. So, wherever you live in Scotland, your local authority will tell you about SDS and also about the local organisations who can give you free information and advice about it. Ayrshire Independent Living Network provides this service across the 3 Ayrshires and Arran. 

Don’t forget, Self-Directed Support just means that you can now choose to receive any care needed in a way that suits you and lets you get on with the more important things in life.  It’s about making people aware of the four different ways you can do this. SDS is not a welfare benefit and so does not affect any you currently have. 

People use SDS in many different ways across the country, some opt to employ Personal Assistants, some hire care companies, some do a mix of both and others just prefer the local authority to decide everything for them. Our website has easy read information about SDS created with the help of our focus group. There are videos of people who use SDS talking about the changes that it has made to their lives and there are some great case studies you can read to see what other people have achieved. Read about our peer-led Board and get contact details for our SDS advisors who’d be happy to talk over anything you’d like to know about SDS.

 

A SDS event for older people is beingin Ardrossan Indoor Bowling Club on Wednesday May 31. You can learn more about SDS from our advisors, talk to people who already have SDS and there will be loads of other organisations there with services and groups relevant to the over 65’s, including: 

 

Diane Davis-Bailey belly dancer

Ayrshire College – hand massages and manicures

KA Leisure

Strathclyde Police

Scottish Fire Service

TACT

Age Scotland

Home Energy Scotland

Alzheimer’s Scotland

Quarrier’s Demetia Befriending

Centrestage ‘Gie it Laldy'

Lingo Flamingo

Carer's Centre North Ayrshire

Dementia Technology

NA Libraries

Telecare

Food Train

Access Panel

 

The event takes place from 10.30 – 1.30 and will of course have tea, coffee and cakes. 

For any enquiries about SDS call an advisor on 01294 475685 or visit our website www.ailn.org

AILN’s Development Team is funded through the Scottish Government’s 'Support in The Right Direction' fund and we’d be delighted to work collaboratively with any other organisations to help raise awareness and understanding of SDS. Just call Gillian our Development Coordinator on 01294 475682 or email gillian@ailn.org