Inclusive activity day brings the community together

People with learning disabilities, family carers and support organisations came together at Forest Cottage to celebrate Learning Disability Week with a fun-filled day of activities, information sharing and community spirit.

Hosted by Lead the Way, a service that supports adults with learning disabilities and their family carers across Calderdale, the event brought together around 50 attendees for a day focused on wellbeing, inclusion and connection.

Alongside a range of information stands, participants had the opportunity to take part in active sessions led by Sukey and Amanda from Adult Services. The sessions encouraged everyone to get involved, from people with learning disabilities to family members and carers, creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere throughout the day.

Attendees embraced a variety of sports day-inspired activities, including egg and spoon races, hula hoop challenges and bean bag tossing, before coming together for a lively game of musical chairs. The fun continued with the ever-popular Dance and Smile session, which had people moving, laughing and enjoying themselves together.

The event highlighted an important message that having a learning disability should never be a barrier to being active. By focusing on fun, enjoyment and participation, the sessions demonstrated that moving more can be accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

There were smiles throughout the day, and attendees shared how much they enjoyed taking part in physical activity when it was presented in a relaxed and engaging way.

Karen Graham, Service Manager at Lead the Way, said:

"A fantastic example of what partnership working can achieve. Together we created a welcoming and inclusive physical activity session where people with learning disabilities could enjoy moving more, make new connections and celebrate what they can do."

The event formed part of Learning Disability Week, an annual celebration of the achievements, talents and contributions of people with learning disabilities. This year's theme, Do You See Me?, encouraged communities to ensure that people with learning disabilities are seen, heard and valued every day.

Reflecting on the day, Limitless Day Service said:

"Learning Disability Week is an annual event and is a time to celebrate the achievements, talents, and contributions of people with learning disabilities. It helps raise awareness about the challenges individuals may face and helps promote inclusion, understanding, and equal opportunities for everyone. We believe everyone deserves to be treated with respect and supported to reach their full potential. Today we took part in a health event through Lead the Way. Thank you."

Mayfield Trust also praised the event, saying:

"Today we attended the Lead the Way Health Event, where people had the opportunity to access health information, wellbeing support, and take part in lots of fun activities. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces and people coming together to celebrate inclusion, friendship and healthy living. This year's theme, 'Do You See Me?', reminds us of the importance of ensuring people with learning disabilities are seen, heard and valued every day."

The event showcased the power of partnership working and the positive impact that inclusive physical activity can have. Most importantly, it provided a space where people could come together, build confidence, make connections and discover that being active can be enjoyable for everyone.