Spotlighting With-you Associate Gifty and her amazing work with Mencap and people with learning disabilities, as well as working on the Expert Patient Programme:

Sometimes I wonder what people in the general population think about when they see a person who has a learning disability (LD). Someone who is passionate about their friends, who loves flowers, or enjoys learning and messing about with car engines? Or do they see someone who is incapable? A person who has to be perpetually sheltered and whose life is characterised by barriers and limitations that are linked to their LD?

People with LD tend to have poorer mental ill health than the general population and they face stigmatisation and discrimination because of their LD. They are in danger of internalising their own discrimination and developing a critical voice that reinforces all the things that society holds about people with LD. It can be hard to have pride when you face external stigma and a critical voice repeating what it has heard.

Amongst many others, I believe that people with LD are in need of the awesome power of peer support.

During our With-you training, we often refer to the New Economics Foundations’ 5 ways to wellbeing. Be connected, learn something new, take time to notice, be active (especially in nature if you can) and give. The giving bit often causes some confusion until it’s realised that the giving does not have to be substantial and can be very small in nature and still be meaningful.

South West NHS has funded Croydon Mencap and three other grassroot organisations to form a partnership and support LD and autism groups,  during this project I have been working with people with LD to help improve the quality of their lives and create peer support spaces for mutual support. 

What I would like to talk about in this article is some of the learning that has come from my own involvement in this work.

What I have noticed is how hard it is for people with LD to be able to access all of the 5 ways to wellbeing. In particular, some people may struggle with opportunities to give. Now – given that I said that the size of the giving is not important you may be asking. ‘Come on Gifty why are you walking that statement back?’

Well, the problem I have found is in the limitations of the minds of others. For instance, whilst many adults with LD would like to work, very few are afforded the opportunity to do so.
Employment is one of the major ways in which adults in our society give something back. It also gives you money which opens up more choice and self-determination.

In my own experience of trying to seek out volunteering placements, I have found that when a person with LD wants to work in a shop, the response of some staff is that their insurance and health and safety policies do not cover this. It feels like people with LD are seen as a liability, rather than exploring positive risk taking approaches.

Croyden Mencap programme wants to break down barriers, but it also wants to support people who face such deep levels of discrimination which is so damaging at an individual level. So far some of the things we have offered include regular walking activities around the local park, provided arts and crafts sessions, talked about healthy food and co-produced menus and cooked them; undertaken a spa day. 

We ensure that individuals have time to be with each other to learn and get support from each other and the compassion and empathy I have witnessed is beyond words. I have yet to find one person speaking over the other. Everyone give one another time and space to express themselves no matter the situation. Everyone understands, respect and advocate for one another’s’ boundaries ‘Alice does not like to be touched.’ They notice when someone is having a bad day. ‘What’s wrong Neil, you don’t seem to be yourself today?’ Equally impressive is the willingness to share, with each other and with family and friends. We supported this desire to co-produce a menu which the group prepared together and then shared with a family member, friend or carer.

These learning opportunities have increased everyones confidence and helped support skills in relationship building and confidence in helping others and sharing .

As the weeks have gone by, I have seen the people who come to the sessions blossom. We will soon be working towards a graduation event that recognises progress and individual achievements, to most of the group this will be their first Prom- exciting!!!

More peer support programmes that support the wellbeing of people with LD  and which use the framework of the 5 ways to wellbeing can only be of benefit and I hope to see more of these innovative prograames being delivered across the country.

We experience shared humanity - and all have a desire to be treated with love and respect not spoken at or ignored, all voices and opinion matters.

…….

On reflection, I realise that it is the learning I gained from With-you Peer Support training that I was able to develop and deliver this wellbeing work with people with LD. Peer support values and principles have been embedded in this work

These principles can support anyone in need, and we have an opportunity to deliver that message across the country.

If you are interested in learning more about With-you peer support training and peer-based approaches, please see our services page or contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..