We Celebrate Learning Disability Week!

This week, Community Integrated Care are proud to have supported Mencap in marking Learning Disability Week, raising awareness around what life is like with a learning disability, and promoting the social connections of the people we support.

To mark this year’s theme, ‘Living Life With A Learning Disability’, which puts particular focus on how people with learning disabilities can reconnect with their communities following the pandemic, we were pleased to share five key ways the people we support can stay in touch others.

First, we spotlighted our incredible What To Do platform, created in collaboration with our partners at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside and Sport England. What-To-Do.co.uk is a fantastic website that offers free and accessible activity sessions every day to people with care and support needs. From seasonal events like our Pride-themed colouring sessions, to our regular programme of inclusive exercise events, What To Do caters to a wide range of interests, providing an amazing avenue by which people with learning disabilities can form new friendships with other people, across the country.

Next, we focussed on our exciting new report, ‘Care To Play’. In collaboration with Table Tennis England, Care To Play highlights the incredible opportunity sport, and specifically, table tennis, provides for the people we support to reconnect with others – click here to read more.

 

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On Wednesday, we then chose to highlight our ‘Postcard Connections’ initiative. Born out of a desire to stay connected during the height of the pandemic, Postcard Connections gives people supported by Community Integrated Care the chance to bond with pen-pals at services across the country. Whether handmade, bought, or ordered from us, any postcards can be used, allowing long-term friendships to form between services.

Then, on Thursday, we revisited our Walking For Wellbeing initiative. Developed in collaboration with the Rugby League World Cup 2021, our Walking For Wellbeing Toolkit provides all the guidance needed to set up a walking group. With a variety of conversation starters and monthly challenges to prompt discussion, the Toolkit provides the perfect opportunity for people supported by us to strengthen existing relationships within their service, whilst getting fit, too.

Finally, we focussed on the brilliant volunteering opportunities our charity is providing for the people we support. For example, as part of our Inclusive Volunteering programme, people with care and support needs can meet people with similar interests, all whilst helping out at massive Rugby League events! If this might interest somebody you know, you can get in touch with Kelly.Daley@c-i-c.co.uk for more information.

In #LDWeek22 we’re celebrating connections across our charity.

Today we’re spotlighting our fantastic Inclusive Volunteering Programme and the incredible opportunities it offers people we support👉Dreams are made here!

In partnership with @RLWC2021 supported by @Sport_England🏉 pic.twitter.com/QMpu6jWpzj

— Community Integrated Care (@ComIntCare) June 24, 2022

During Learning Disability Week and beyond, we hope these suggestions can facilitate opportunities for people with learning disabilities to reconnect with their communities, whether within or outside of our charity.