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People with learning difficulties plan to go direct to Tony Blair in Downing Street to deliver a message from their own conference on the Valuing People white paper.

The decision was made at a four-day event in Nottingham staged by Central England People First, to allow people with learning difficulties to voice their opinions about the learning difficulty white paper.

Delegates decided to write a letter explaining their views about the white paper and hand deliver it to 10 Downing Street.

One of the strongest messages to come out of last week's conference was that many of those taking part liked the ideas in Valuing People, but were worried that they would not be put into practice.

They also believed the government needs to provide more money to pay for the changes.

Jason Chadburn, of Sheffield Speaking Up For Action, told the conference: "It shows that the government is starting to listen to what people with learning difficulties have to say.

"I think this is just a start. I think a lot of work needs to be done to make sure the white paper is not just words."

But Tim Spiers, from Torfaen, in Wales, said he believed the government should have put more money into the measures outlined in the white paper. "This £50 million is not enough. It should be twice that. My day centre had a fire and it cost £1-£2 million to rebuild it."

About 150 individuals and members of self-advocacy groups from across England and Wales attended the conference. Only people with learning difficulties and their supporters were allowed to take part. Karen Spencer, who helped organise the event, said: "It has been a lot more successful than I thought it would be. The government should be listening to people with learning difficulties. Doing this conference has made a lot of people aware of what rights we do have."

Nicola Ballard, of People First Southport, added: "Once you have done a conference, you can do another one and another one and another one.

"I have come here for confidence and I have come here for information as well, so I can go and report it back."