Trust supports learning disability week 2005

The South West Yorkshire Mental Health Trust is giving its support to Mencap’s Learning Disability week 2005 (20th-26th June). The aim of the week is to show how, given the right support and opportunities, people with a learning disability can broaden their horizons and achieve a lot in life.

A new art project at Fieldhead, Wakefield is hoping to realise these aims and help people with learning disabilities fulfil their potential.

Over three weeks in July, a group of people with learning disabilities will be working on making a sign for the Horizon Centre – the learning disability unit at Fieldhead. The sign will be a mosaic made out of tiles that have been kindly donated by staff from the Trust and local businesses.

Occupational therapist Clare Milne says, "The group is made up of our clients past and present. Lots of clients don’t have the same opportunities as other people so this project is a really good chance for them to meet new friends, learn skills and give them a real sense of achievement."

"They’ll be proud of the finished sign – it will be used on their building. Every time they come to the centre they can say ‘we made that!’ The idea for the sign was the clients so the whole project is very client-focused. All the staff here are enthusiastic about it and we’re hoping it will be a really fun project for everyone involved."

The project has been funded by Yorkshire art circus and Wakefield adult education and artists as well as Trust staff will be working with the group on the project.