How we help
We support people with a learning disability, to live fuller, more independent lives. Our team provides advice and practical help with everything from housing and benefits to health and wellbeing. We connect people to groups, activities, and learning opportunities, helping people to make friends and be part of their community.
Through our speaking-up groups, people empower themselves to understand their rights and influence change. Whether it’s finding work, staying active, or navigating services, we’re here to listen, guide, and be alongside each person on their journey.
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Advice, information and support
Our teams support people with advice and information.
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Connecting with people, places and activities
We can help people to meet new people, make friends and find activities.
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Speaking up groups
Learning about your rights and working to improve local communities and services.
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Keeping well
Our healthy activities help people stay healthy and well.
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Learning
Our courses teach useful skills and promote independence.
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Work and volunteering
We help people to find a job, or volunteering opportunity.
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Guidance, information and support
Too often people who have a learning disability do not know where to turn for help. It can be hard to know which organisation helps with what and how to be in touch with them. A lack of help and support can lead to crisis.
Our services help people who have a learning disability, with any problem. We won’t just signpost – we will help sort out the problem, or make sure they are properly connected to a place which will help them.
We support with practical things like finding housing, accessing benefits, legal issues and navigating health and care systems.
Connecting with people, places and ideas
People who have a learning disability or who are autistic can find themselves isolated and lonely. This can affect their health and wellbeing.
Skills for People works with adults one-to-one to help them make friends, learn new skills, and feel part of their community. Through programmes like Community Connectors, we support people to try hobbies, join groups, and find volunteer opportunities or paid work.
Speaking up groups
Regular speaking up groups bring people who have a learning disability together to learn about their rights and to gain confidence.
These groups often work to provide an insight to health and care services about the lives and needs of people with a learning disability. Several of the groups have contributed to important research projects.
We offer groups aimed at men, women, parents, people who are autistic and more.
Keeping well
People who have a learning disability and autistic people can find it difficult to stay healthy and to get the support they need with their health: they experience health inequalities. Each year hundreds of people attend one of our health education programmes or attend a healthy activity. Being with people, making friends and relationships is an important part of the programmes.
Our activities help people stay healthy and well:
- Walking groups
- Mindfulness courses and groups
- Sports
- Social groups
Learning
People learn new things with Skills for People
- How to stay healthy and well
- How to stay safe on line
- Friends, relationships and sexual health
- Speaking up and rights
- Being in nature and learning about the environment
- Using computers, phones and the internet
Work and volunteering
We help people to find a job, or volunteering opportunity. Our services include helping you find opportunities and preparing for them.
Our employment project in Redcar and Cleveland works closely with people and local organisations, with the aim of getting people who have a learning disability into paid work or volunteering.