Celebrating learning disability week in Barnsley

A South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust team in Barnsley who support people with learning disabilities are hosting three events in August to raise awareness and celebrate learning disability awareness week.

Learning Disability Week is Mencap’s national awareness week and this year it runs from 19th – 25th August, celebrating the ‘superheroes’ in people’s families. Staff from the Barnsley learning disability service, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Mencap have worked together to organise the events. The public health service are also supporting the events.

Joanne Brown, professional support and practice development nurse who works in Barnsley learning disability services explained, “We organised the events this year to celebrate those we work with everyday, raise the profile of some of the challenges they face and highlight support available to local people with learning disabilities and their families. We hope all the events will be fun, informative and interactive. Families, friends and people working within learning disability services are invited to come along to find out more.”

The events taking place during the week include:

• Monday 19th August – a talk at Barnsley Hospital from 1.30 – 3.00pm for people with learning disabilities and staff to share their experiences and ideas. There will a celebration in the coffee shop and art workshops for people to participate in.

• Wednesday 21st August – a fun day at Greenacre School, Keresforth Hill Road from 10am — 3.00pm with information stalls about local services, group activities including tai chi, pilates and art workshops. In the afternoon there will also be a karate display and a performance by Take a Bow theatre group. The fun day will be opened by Barnsley’s Mayor, Mr Ken Richardson.

• Friday 23rd August – a presentation at the Alhambra by staff, service users and carers to raise awareness about learning disabilities.

Everyone is invited to attend the events to find out more about the services, activity groups and support available to people with learning disabilities and their families in Barnsley.

For more information about the events contact Joanne Brown at JoanneBrown@barnsley.gov.uk