Mr. Paul Alford:

Moving out needs plenty of support and help from other organisations. I got help from Possibilities Plus. They are brokers that help people to move out, live a life of their own, and choose their own support. A proper budget is needed to move out. If you are in an institution, independent living or a nursing home you bring that budget with you. People in these places do not want you moving out because they want to keep your budget. They want to support you. However, you might not be happy there. There is a lot of work in trying to get out of these places, fight for your rights and live your own life.

The other thing is that it takes a few years. It took me three years to find somewhere to live, and which was also reasonable to buy. There is also the matter of who is going to support you. In that case are you going to be part of that interview, or are you not going to be part of the interviews? When you are in these institutions they can tell you that Dick and Harry are going to be working with you, and you have no choice in it. You have to do what they want you to do. It is not what you want in life. They should do what you want and it is your choice at the end of the day as to what you want. You have to remind the staff they would not have a job but for the people living in these institutions, independent living and nursing homes. That is an important point to get through to them, but they do not like you saying that. They have to do what you want to do because you are paying them out of your budget. It could take a long time to move out and get the right person to work with you, live a good life and get out to that community, to mix in with other people and know your neighbours.