At Poole Forum we believe that everyone should be treated the same.


This is our Bill of Rights

1. The right to feel safe when going out.

 - Safe from strangers, burglars and bullying.

The right to feel safe going out The right to feel safe in our own home

2. The right to feel safe in our own home.


- To learn how to be safe in our home.

 - To feel safe from staff

 - To be able to report staff when they are mean.

The right to confidentiality

4. The right to support when and if we need it.


- The right to choose our own carers and to choose how we are supported

- The right to respectful give and take between carers and service users

6. The right to have the relationships.


- To learn about friendships

- To learn about marriage

- To learn about engagements

- To get sex education

- Whether or not to have a relationship

The right to have feelings

7. The right to have feelings.


- The right to grief.

- The right to get angry.

The right to say NO

8. The right to say NO !


- To bullying

- To drugs and drink

- To strangers

- To parents

- To staff

The right to adulthood

9. The right to adulthood.


- To make our own decisions

- To get married

- To have children

- To have sex

- To use birth control

- To vote

- To have a drink.

10. The right to independence.


- To make decisions

- To go out

- To take care of our own stuff

- To run our own business

- To choose what to do

- To come and go when we want

- To be the boss of our own life

- To control our own money

- To get a paid job


The right to paid work

11. The right to transportation.


- To have  accessible transport

- The right to learn to drive.

Please respect our rights

~ they are no more than anyone else expects ~

12. The right to communicate.

- To use the latest technology

- To use alternative communication

- To use plain language with pictures


Take the rights and choices challenge


People take a lot of things for granted, but life is not the same for everyone.  Answer the questions in our Rights and Choices Challenge and see how well

you score.  


Click here to take the Rights and Choices Challenge.



picture of a lady thinking

You can email us to let us know your score.


Did you get 20 out of 20 ?

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Our Bill of Rights

Click here to return to the home page

In 2004 members of Bournemouth People First, Poole Forum and People First Dorset wrote their Bill Of Rights without supporters, but led by speaker Dave Hingsburger.


In 2011 we updated and added to the Bill Of Rights.  

The Rights with a star next to them are the new ones.  


We feel the message should be spread to as many people as possible.

3. The right to live where we want to live.


- To live where we want to

- To live with who we want to

- To make choices in the home and elsewhere

5. The right to confidentiality.


- When making a report that it wont come back on us

- When deciding who sees our life plan

- Around health issues (patient - doctor)

The right to have the relationships we want The right to transportation

13. The right to use public facilities.


- To use swimming pools

- To use libraries etc.

16. The right to freedom of speech.


14. The right to good health care



15. The right to have our voice heard by Government.


- To be able to access day services etc