Kumudu and Amanda take Milton Keynes !!! We’re here at the Social History of Learning Disability Conference The Open University for the next two days! Come and see us at the Good Lives Photobooth and share your actions towards Good Lives ✨

The way @mazhedgehog.bsky.social has a brilliant mind, pragmatic and supportive energy. I always feel empowered after a consultation - thank you maz x

Happy #NationalSiblingsDay2025! James O'Rourke Family and Friends Member Representative at Learning Disability England and proud sibling to Tony O’Rourke, reflects on his and Tony’s personal story and the importance of sibling relationships... tinyurl.com/3trh9x7r

Have you seen the latest podcast from People First Keighley and Craven? They attended the Learning Disability England Good Lives Conference and interviewed a huge range of delegates, capturing the spirit, energy and insights of the attendees... Find out more and watch here: tinyurl.com/352jhe3y

DYCP new round announced! Round 23 Opens: 24 April at midday Closes: 22 May at midday Decisions announced: 24 July 2025 www.artscouncil.org.uk/dycp If you’ve made 2 unsuccessful or 1 successful application to DYCP since 05 August 2021 (Round 11), you won’t be eligible to apply to Round 23.

86% of people with a learning disability want to work, though only 6% do... Members tell us changes suggested in parliament last week aren't likely to help people get a job but there are lots of examples of positive action that will in the Good Lives framework: tinyurl.com/yh5jjvvt

We and 30 other organisations have written a joint letter to the DWP calling for them to immediately release all accessible versions of the Green Paper ⬇️ www.unitedresponse.org.uk/news-item/jo...

Listening to Dusty Springfield with the parents and honestly, wall to wall bangers, no skips, elite back catalogue

It was the Learning Disability England (in person) conference last week and I’m holding onto the fire, the hope and the community of that space. At both the online and in-person conferences, it’s been incredible to connect with members and learn more about their work. #ActionTowardsGoodLives

Super late to the party but Conclave deserves all her flowers! Big fan of that gaggle of messy clerics x

"I will be the voice of people with profound and multiple learning disabilities" Members hold their Good Lives actions at the Learning Disability England Annual Conference 2025 📣 #ActionTowardsGoodLives

What an incredible day! Always a privilege to connect with members and hear about their work and #ActionTowardsGoodLives Really looking forward to the in-person conference in Manchester next week, come and say hello if you're coming! www.learningdisabilityengland.org.uk/learning-dis...

Feeling so fired up after a morning of talks, discussions and hearing from members about their #ActionTowardsGoodLives - bring on this afternoon's programme!

"We wanted to reflect members’ positive work, action and impact to bring new ideas for change..." Gary and Amanda from Learning Disability England are launching the new edition of the Good Lives framework at the online conference: Read it now: www.learningdisabilityengland.org.uk/the-framework/

It's the morning of the Learning Disability England annual online conference 📣 Where are you joining from and what are you looking forward to? Share using the hashtag #ActionTowardsGoodLives See event highlights throughout the day right here 👇

Tomorrow 200+ members will be coming together online to share the impact of working together for Good Lives, good work they are doing and what else we can learn... Become part of the movement: tinyurl.com/ye22m7ua Member already? Book and join: tinyurl.com/jb2h8yh9

As a member of the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance, we are delighted to share the new impact report... Read in full here 👇 tinyurl.com/5yk8rshd

This 2010 interview by BBC Radio Sheffield’s Toby Foster feels quite timely in these times of EDI bashing… news.bbc.co.uk/local/sheffi...

It's important everyone over 14 on their doctor's learning disability register has an annual health check. They can help you stay well and find any problems early. If you haven't been offered one you can ask your doctors practice if you can have one.

Having spent the last few weeks talking to voluntary and community groups about the importance of Annual Health Checks for people with #LearningDisabilities, it’s incredibly hard to understand why the NHS have removed the 75% target. Folks, the check is still available. Go get it done.

February is LGBTQ+ History Month 🏳️‍🌈 Michael Chick, Co-founder of United Pride Friends, reflects on some of the challenges LGBTQ+ people have had to overcome – particularly those LGBTQ+ people who also have learning disabilities... tinyurl.com/5c7e69bu

Recently fedback to a funder about language and got an immediate, warm response. Huge thanks to open and understanding funders !!

Thinking back, the practice of keeping logbooks for creative projects really set me up for grant reporting

“My goal is to learn as much as I can from other countries” - Steven Chapman, Self-Advocate and Co-Chair of the Board at Bemix talks self-advocacy and building international connections… Read Steve's blog: tinyurl.com/3f5yf9s8

There are still companies of actors doing pantos, right now, into the depths of January. Christmas feels like a millennium ago. Honestly don’t know how they do it - thank you for your service 🙏🏻

Imagine if this new govt focus to 'turbocharge growth' through the creative sector included all creatives and those who'd be productive in a creative way if they had just a tiny bit of the right support. And there are bonuses: communitylivingmagazine.com/saba-salman-... #LearningDisability #autism

It would have been titled “Meth of a Salesman” naturally

Social Care, The Right Support & Good Lives... Government has announced there will be a social care commission - Learning Disability England reps have been speaking about social care & what it could mean for people #GoodLives Highlights: tinyurl.com/5cpdadk3 Full video: tinyurl.com/2hzrz3ue

Back in the rehearsal room with the Firebirds today - we have lots planned this year and can’t wait to share more x

Introducing Gig Buddies 👋 our befriending project which pairs up adults with learning disabilities and/or autistic people with volunteers based on their shared interests. This can be music, theatre, art, sport - anything you love! This reconnects people with their community & combats isolation 👍👍👍

Tell me your Severance theories!!

If anyone needs me I’ll be watching Severance again in preparation for the new series

The huns were giving on Hootenanny - Jade, Kathy Sledge, Jungle, Roger Taylor

Big lesson for me this year is that some things take time and that’s alright.

So ready !!

I’ll Cover You - Reprise just came on in the shuffle so now I’m crying in public

Huge and brilliant news from Firebird Theatre HQ:

Did everyone else just 💩 with that storm alert ?!!!

One day you’re young and hip and working the door of an underground performance art club and the next you’re writing up multi-strand evaluation strategies…

Massive away win for the little fella.

My Breaking Bad/Death of a Salesman essay would have slapped back in 2013 (only just watching BB now)

Applying for DYCP? We've got free templates for the app, budget + timeline in our *Resources*. Save yourself from a Grantium-related disaster by writing it somewhere else first! www.the-uncultured.com/resources-ar... also helpful if you wanna know what you need to prep before deciding to apply 📝

Being on here feels like starting again so here’s some things about me: I’m company producer with Firebird Theatre (a company of trailblazing Learning Disabled actors based in Bristol) and I get to spend my Mondays with these fabulous people:

I’m am not about having to work by lamplight at FOUR THIRTY PM… I know it happens every year but every year it feels like an unwelcome surprise!

It’s very refreshing over here and nice to re-connect and meet new people :)

Not just because it’s my local but Bristol Old Vic is gorg. The cafebar transformation was incredible, feels like a real hub (and great coffee) x

"People are experts in their own life" - Gary and Amanda recently attended the National Advocacy Conference hosted by Black belt Advocacy and spoke about why self-advocacy is so important: tinyurl.com/psmz9mst

Looking forward to seeing folks there! 🧡

If you're interested in #LearningDisability, I edit this independent, charity-run digital mag, not (yet) on Bluesky (most readers/contributors/supporters/people with lived experience are still on X). On the digital cover: Richard Keegan-Bull and @tuffrey-wijne.bsky.social communitylivingmagazine.com