Amanda Fawcett

#GoodLives #LearningDisabilities #HumanRights #LearningDisabilityEngland

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 ✨

thee best !! Thank YOU x

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

Developing Your Creative Practice (DYCP) Find out more about Developing your Creative Practice

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

Joint Letter to Department of Work and Pensions: Accessibility should not be an afterthought - United Response The Government consultation about the reform of the health and disability benefits system and employment support has not yet been provided in accessible formats.

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

Two large whiteboards, with a green board in the middle. The large whiteboards have Polaroid pictures of people holding signs with their Actions for Good Lives. The middle sign explains the instructions for the activity - think about your action, describe it on a whiteboard and strike a pose!

Members of the People First Podcast have a group photo. There’s a person with pink hair, who is a wheelchair user next to two people sat on a bench. The person on the right has blonde hair and a leopard print dress and the person in the middle has dark red hair. They’re all smiling warmly and there are People First Podcast posters behind the .

The people first podcasters are interviewing LDE staff member, Jess! They have their backs to the camera but are facing towards eachother. Jess on the left has curly, brown hair and is smiling! The interviewer on the right is holding a microphone and a bright green clipboard and is smiling at Jess.

The photographer is taking a picture of someone at the Good Lives pop up, they’re standing in front of a large, green, glittery curtain which is made up of streamers. They’re holding up their action on a white board and smiling at the camera.

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...

Was a fabulous morning session, chaired by yourself and Liz!

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 🙏🏻

Saba Salman: Creating can shift perceptions in many ways How making can make a difference

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