Learning Disability Week 2026: Celebrating involvement and co-production
Posted on 15 June 2026
This Learning Disability Week we are celebrating the people we support and the impact they make in their communities through their involvement and co-production.
Involvement is when someone has a voice in the decisions and services that affect them. Co-production means listening to clients and tenants, valuing their insight, and working alongside them to shape how we do things. We know the best ideas come from the people who use our services, that’s why they play such an important role at Southdown.
Across our 26 supported living and registered care homes in Sussex, clients are involved in their own support every day. They tell us how they like to be supported, what they want, and where we get it right and wrong.
This year, the people we support have been involved in projects across the organisation to make how we work, better. These include opportunities to influence how both the service and Southdown is run. They’ve been involved in redesigning our complaints process, presented at manager meetings and training days, contributed to our e-learning programmes, helped plan our flagship events, taken part in ‘Have Your Say’ involvement groups, and supported our recruitment process, including interviewing candidates for the new Chair of the Board.
But we also support our people to get involved in their local communities. Enabling independence and meaningful purpose is one of our key strategic aims for the next five years. Everyone deserves the chance to grow, contribute, and feel part of something, but we know that people with learning disabilities can face barriers to access and employment in our communities.
The people we support are encouraged to make goals each year, expanding their lives and what’s possible. Many of our clients regularly take part in community groups, arts groups, and fitness activities. They are vital members of their communities.
“The best thing about Southdown support is having continuity in life, learning new things, and going out.”
– Juliet, Southdown client
Juliet lives in one of our supported living services. She says, “It’s good for me to be in control of my own life and tell people how I feel. I’ve felt included in the support. The best thing about Southdown support is having continuity in life, learning new things, and going out. I feel like I’ve changed a bit as a person and building confidence every day.”
Anita Beverton, Head of Learning Disability, says,
“Learning Disability Week is a brilliant opportunity for us to celebrate the incredible contributions the people we support make to Southdown and to their wider communities. I’d like to say thank you to everyone who has taken part in involvement activities this year.
The people we support are involved in recruitment in all our services, and some have attended planning meetings for events, given us feedback about how we do things, worked to develop our My Life tool, and co-facilitated workshops for staff, to name but a few.
We look forward to developing more involvement opportunities in the coming year.”
Getting involved
Learning Disability Week is also about recognising the many ways people contribute, influence and take part in their communities and in Southdown.
Alan on volunteering
“I like being outside. It makes me feel good volunteering at Wakehurst. When I go there, I walk around there. It’s pretty. I see the same people there every week.”
Emma on interviewing
“This was my first time helping with interviews (Chair of the Board). It felt nice to be involved in something important.
I let them in the door at reception and said hello. I helped with the sandwiches for them, and I asked questions to people. I did it for a whole day.
It was alright. It made me feel happy.”
Sharing ‘My Life’ plans
Earlier this month, three clients from one of our supported living services in East Sussex attended our Learning Disability Support Managers Meeting to share their personal My Life plans. Their presentations highlighted the importance of listening to the people we support and ensuring their goals, aspirations and voices remain at the centre of everything we do.
Do you see me – What I love series
What I Love series to bring clients into the centre and for them to share parts of who they are to the world. They also illustrate how we want to support our clients with their interests and skills. Watch their videos using the link below:
What I love – Youtube playlist
Below are some more snippets of our clients being involved in different activities:
