Learning Disability Weeks 2019 (17 – 23 June) is looking at getting people with learning disabilities out of the home, connected and getting active with their local community.
Leading learning disability charity, Mencap surveyed over 300 18 to 35 years olds with a learning disability and found that: 49 per cent would like to spend more time outside of their house; 18 per cent feel alone and cut off; and one in three spend less than on hour outside of their homes on a typical Saturday.
This week is set to celebrate getting outside and getting active.
PARTNERSHIP
During Learning Disability Week, Mencap and Virgin Money are commencing their charity of the year partnership with a series of sport and inclusion events – known as the Here We Are.
MencapAmbassador Harry Roche, whohas a learning disability, says: “I am really excited that Virgin Money picked Mencap as their charity partner of the year.
“I enjoyed speaking to the Virgin Money colleagues about Mencap and sharing my experience of what it is like to have a learning disability to help them understand why our work at Mencap is so important.
“This partnership is not just about fundraising but about equality, changing public attitudes through sport and making a world where people with a learning disability are living a well, meaningful life just like me.
“I’m looking forward to working with Virgin Money to break down the barriers to people with a learning disability participating in sport and making sport more inclusive. If more people take part in inclusive sport, the world would be a better place.”
EVENTS
Across the country, Mencap are set to hold a series of inclusive sporting events to help improve social inclusion and tackle discrimination against people with a learning disability.
There will be Here We Are events taking place in 15 different locations with activities ranging from inclusive sport days, yoga, a zumbathon as well as a coastal walk along the famous Millennium Coastal Path at Llanelli with Dennis the therapeutic Shetland pony.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support of Virgin Money which means that we are able to host our Here We Are inclusive sports events for communities across the country this Learning Disability Week,” enthuses Jan Tregelles, chief executive of Royal Mencap Society.
ALL MOVE
“Our partnership will help us to make a real difference to the lives of people with a learning disability with the launch of All Move – our vision for a socially inclusive world with young people with and without a learning disability taking part in sport in schools together.”
All Move is a project bringing school children with and without a learning disability together to tackle stigma, and promote understanding. It is hoped this will eradicate bullying because of a learning disability – or other physical, sensory, or mental disability.
How are you getting active this Learning Disability Week? Let us know over on Twitter and Instagram.