Chance to see the work carers do

Members will also discuss their priorities for the next 12 months.

The event will take place from 10am-2.30pm in Galashiels Rugby Club, on Nether Road. Tea, coffee and sandwich lunch will be provided. Places can be booked by phoning 01896 840200.

Local Citizen Panels meet five times a year and are for people who have a learning disability or who care for a family member who has a learning disability.

There are five local citizen panels covering Berwickshire, Kelso and Coldstream, Hawick and Jedburgh, Galashiels and Selkirk, and Tweeddale.

Membership is open to anyone who lives in the Borders, is over 14 and has a learning disability or cares for someone who has.

Isobel Oliver from Selkirk is a family carer. She said: “My son and I are both members of a panel.

“It has given me real insight into the positive work that panels do, and we’re also finding out about things that might otherwise have passed us by. I like the fact that the panels give their members some degree of power and control over their lives.”

Councillor Joan Campbell, Scottish Borders Council’s learning disability champion, said: “I would encourage anyone with an interest in services for people with a learning disability to come along and hear more about the wide range of activities that have taken part over the past year and what people who actually use the services see as being priorities for the future.”