We're a new CIO dedicated to uniting communities and celebrating abilities. Our mission is to foster an inclusive society where everyone, regardless of ability, is recognised, valued, and included.
We strive to create a space where every individual, especially children and young people with learning disabilities, can thrive, participate, and feel a genuine sense of belonging.
Children and teenagers with learning disabilities often face significant challenges. Research shows that they participate in fewer activities and have fewer friends. According to the charity Sense, over 77% of disabled people aged 18-34 report feeling lonely. This loneliness is linked to various physical and mental health issues, leading to a lower quality of life.
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We are addressing this loneliness from a wider perspective that seeks to support inclusion and integration into society of people with learning disabilities. We believe that there needs to be more "togetherness" if we are going to overcome the problems that keep people with learning disabilities isolated.
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We recognise that to build a truly inclusive community, we must break down the barriers that keep people divided. That’s why we focus on creating activities and spaces where everyone, regardless of ability, can connect, grow, and thrive together.
We recognise that just being physically present in a community does not necessarily mean people feel connected to or accepted by their peers.
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For us to feel that we belong in this world, we need to be a valued part of the wider society and have meaningful connections and participation in fulfilling activities.
While the term 'inclusion' is often used, true inclusion means full integration into all aspects of society, where people with learning disabilities are seen not as 'other' but as equal participants.
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A prime example of this is to take a look at children's playgrounds. Usually, the idea of inclusion is seen by one piece of play equipment being provided that is wheelchair accessible. No thought into what impact the flooring or pathways leading to the park might raise. The majority now have a lot of cargo netting installed which excludes a high number of children who may be mobile but still have mobility problems.
Real inclusion sees all abilities able to access all equipment all the time. Together.
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A root cause of these problems lies in the reality that the majority of the population do not understand how to or feel comfortable with, interacting with someone with a learning disability. There is a lack of understanding and this can lead to fear, stigmatisation, hate crimes etc.
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Our vision of inclusion extends beyond mere physical presence; it encompasses full integration, where everyone actively contributes to and benefits from the community.
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To that end, we aim to create activities and spaces where everyone, regardless of ability, can connect, grow, and thrive.
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Our board of trustees, all of whom are neurodivergent with disabled children and young people of their own, bring lived experience to our strategies, helping to ensure that our programs are inclusive and effective.
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Our initiatives are designed to bring people together in positive, fulfilling ways. Each initiative is carefully designed with direct input and collaboration from creation to fruition, by the service users.
One of our flagship initiatives is the Community Library. Since Ystalyfera has been without a library since 2016, we partnered with the local community council and Neath Port Talbot Libraries to bring this service back.
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Our Community Library serves as more than just a lending space; it's a hub of integration where individuals of all abilities participate as equal contributors. By managing the library, young people gain not only skills but also build meaningful connections within the wider community.
This setting exemplifies our vision of an inclusive society, where everyone is actively engaged in and valued by the community.
The Resource Lending service's goal is to make learning and growth accessible to all. By offering resources tailored to diverse needs, we promote a shared learning environment where people of varying abilities can explore interests together.
This initiative reduces barriers to participation, reinforcing our belief that an inclusive community is one where resources and opportunities are equally accessible to everyone.
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Not only open to families, schools, charities, and other organisations can also join for a nominal fee, helping to create a more inclusive learning environment across the community. Reducing financial costs, waste and duplication.
Our Digital Hub is not just a tech space; it's a place where integration happens through shared experiences and interests. Here, young people with and without learning disabilities come together to explore technology, learn new skills, and collaborate on creative projects.
By breaking down traditional barriers to tech education, we create a unified community where everyone's contributions are valued, and differences become strengths.
The Sensory Growing Garden is a space where children of all abilities can explore and learn side by side. By designing a garden that caters to diverse sensory needs, we've created a natural environment that fosters inclusion, enabling children to connect with nature and each other without limitations.
This shared space helps build a community where every individual, regardless of ability, feels a sense of belonging and contribution.
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We are unable to make any permanent changes to the space at the community centre, so we are continuing to look at how to make the garden space more accessible to wheelchair users and looking at temporary floor-way solutions that can help make the area more wheelchair friendly.
We run various interest-led activities like after-school crafts, lego club and 3rd party workshops, which are always well-attended.
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These interest-led activities are at the heart of our mission to integrate people of all abilities into everyday social and learning experiences. By carefully designing these sessions to be sensory-friendly and inclusive, we ensure that all participants can contribute, learn, and socialise together.
Our library sessions have served dozens of children, fostering a love of reading and community involvement, particularly with the local school Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera whose support has been amazing. It has also allowed us to offer volunteering opportunities to local young people as well as to pupils on a reduced timetable or for completing schemes like the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
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The sensory garden has provided a safe, therapeutic space for families. Cooking activities are having positive outcomes for some of the children with AFRID Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder).
We've received heartfelt feedback from parents, like one who said, 'For the first time, my child feels like they belong somewhere.'"
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As we continue to grow and develop, we gather evidence to prove our effectiveness at meeting our aims, to shape both our current and future services as well as to ensure they remain valid, accessible and relevant to the community.
Like any organisation, we face challenges both expected and unexpected.
One of the most significant hurdles is the misconception that our activities are solely for 'special needs kids.' This misunderstanding can prevent people from seeing the benefits of our inclusive programmes for the entire community. Many individuals are also unsure how to interact with people with learning disabilities, and overcoming these fears requires education, experience, and open dialogue.
We tackle these challenges by promoting awareness and understanding through our programmes. Our inclusive activities are designed to dispel myths, foster positive interactions, and demonstrate that inclusion enriches everyone.
We encourage people of all ages to participate, including older generations who can share their skills and experiences. This not only helps preserve valuable skills for future generations but also shows that everyone has something to contribute.
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While time and resources are always limited (we desperately need more volunteers/support buddies), our dedicated team continues to push forward, learning and adapting along the way. Every challenge we face is an opportunity to further demonstrate the value of true integration.
Together, we are building a community that embraces diversity, celebrates abilities, and sees every person as an integral part of the whole.