We are proud to work with a wonderful group of social enterprises and organisations supporting people with learning disabilities. Their brilliant initiatives enable people with learning disabilities to gain confidence, improve their health and wellbeing and help them to live their lives with choice, control and independence.
The theme for this year’s Learning Disability Week is art and creativity.
Creative activities are a great way to help people with learning disabilities to boost their confidence, communication and social skills in a fun, sensory and stimulating way. Through gaining confidence in their abilities, these activities can also help people make their own choices, be independent and learn to take control of creative tasks in a relaxed, non-pressured way. People can apply these transferable skills to other parts of their lives.
So, how do some of the social enterprises we work with support people to gain confidence and independence through creativity?
Gro-Organic
“Our Dig-It programme seeks to break down barriers and stigma encountered by people living with mental health and learning and physical disabilities. The activities are specifically designed so that people have the opportunity to gain practical and life skills, enabling them to become more independent and grow their social network. Our sessions use art and creativity to help individuals explore well-being and give them a positive outlet. We provide an inviting space where we can help build people's confidence and skills, improve wellbeing and increase social connections. With nature at the heart of our work, we encourage our crew to seek inspiration from the outdoors and natural objects to inspire their creativity.”
Wildgoose Rural Training & Nature Reserve
“We support adults with learning and physical disabilities and want to make a difference to the lives of people who are often marginalised. Focusing on their ability not their disability, we help them to reach their personal goals and thrive in an environment where they feel respected and safe.
“Our students take part in many activities such as horticulture, agriculture, woodwork and arts and craft. Contributing so much towards rebuilding our new site, embellishing it with beautiful mosaic flowers and fairy houses. Working as a team achieving such tremendous results, giving them, and us, a sense of pride as we build this place together.
“Our art and craft sessions give our students a space to express themselves as they choose which designs, colours, and shapes to work with. They build transferable skills that will help them to make life choices, the building process improves dexterity, and the entire project gives them some control and freedom in a life which is generally organised and planned by others.”
Jericho Foundation
“Supporting people with learning disabilities to access the world of work is hugely important to us here at JERICHO. We use our seven social businesses to provide work, volunteering and training placements for people who need a helping hand to enter the work force, and these provide the perfect opportunity for people with a learning disability to learn about and get involved in the world of work. Real work experience in a real business can provide a much-needed stepping-stone towards mainstream employment and we are privileged to be able to support people with a learning disability towards achieving their aspirations.”
ARK at Egwood
“ARK at Egwood supports people with a learning disability by enabling participation and inclusion, to engage with meaningful and worthwhile experiences, to gain skills, knowledge and confidence, to live life to their full potential. This is achieved by undertaking land-based activities, which includes horticulture, animal husbandry and rural arts and crafts.”
SoFab Sports
“People with learning disabilities often see the world differently and this additional perspective brings a creativity that we would normally be blind to. Ideation from the broadest perspective brings solutions to problems and ideas for development giving us competitive advantage and commercial edge. Our employees with learning disabilities are an asset to our business.”
Resonance Supported Homes Fund
We know that many people with learning disabilities, autism or mental health needs are living in unsuitable and outdated accommodation, unable to live the lives they choose, access the right support networks and engage in their communities.
This is why we created the Resonance Supported Homes Fund. The Fund buys, refurbishes and adapts or builds residential properties in local communities that meet the specific needs of every individual. In addition, by working with our charity and housing partners (who lease the properties from us) the Fund moves people out of unsuitable accommodation and into homes of their choice where they are provided with specialist support enabling them to lead fulfilled lives with independence and choice.
If you're interested in investing in this Fund:
If you're a learning disability, mental health charity or specialist housing association that needs additional property:
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Resonance Limited is a company registered in England and Wales no. 04418625
Resonance Impact Investment Limited, a subsidiary of Resonance Limited, is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Firm number 588462.
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