Sam Avery, Service Quality Director, and Estelle Christmas, Managing Director of Thera South West, celebrated Learning Disability Week 2024 by exploring local communities and networking with other providers. Their day took them (somewhat unexpectedly), to a Music Festival Day being ran at Hallacombe Community Resource Centre. The day, however, was not without its difficulty. Sam explains:
We planned to attend an event however there was a mix-up and upon arrival we discovered it was not taking place. We didn’t want the day to be a waste so we decided to look for something else.
“Our mantra was adapt, and overcome,” explains Estelle. “We got a coffee and looked online and found an event at Hollacombe resource centre. There thing is empowering people with lived experience to reach their full potential; they offer a holistic person-centred approach.”
The event was a Music Festival Day which had people supported, family, and local providers attend in their best festival gear to enjoy the sunshine. It was a wonderful opportunity to build Thera South West’s reputation and brand and meet like-minded individuals with an aim to improve the lives of people with a learning disability.
Space were attending. They are an organisation that helps people with a learning disability to achieve their aims. We also spoke with four gentlemen who play for a learning disability football club. They invited us to pop along for the day.
This began a discussion about the importance of physical activity and how the people that Thera South West supports might benefit from this networking:
The day really developed our network and helped us to continue to look at how we can help improve the lives of the people we support. We had a really long discussion about how sport and physical activities can really benefit people with a learning disability.
The event was a celebration of Learning Disability Week, whose theme this year is “Do you see me?” The people attending the event were certainly seen, as well as heard! There was a DJ from the local community with lived experience of a learning disability providing the music, and dancing and singing in celebration.
We can’t wait to see how 2025 is celebrated!
Find out more about how Thera South West supports people with a learning disability