A FREE event for people with learning disabilities and their families is being held in Leicester next week.
The event, at Braunstone Leisure Centre, takes place from 10am-2pm on Wednesday 26 February. It will encourage people with a learning disability to try out a range of sports by offering free taster sessions in activities including basketball, swimming, aerobics and gymnastics.
There will also be the chance to find out about health services and health checks, assistive technology and carer support services.
The event will see the launch of the city council’s learning disability strategy – called the Big Plan – which will set out how health and social care professionals will work together over the next three years to improve the quality of services available to people with learning disabilities.
This will include training all staff in learning disability awareness, and making sure they know how to make reasonable adjustments for people with a learning disability.
The plan has been developed in conjunction with local groups and a public consultation helped to shape the final version. Copies of the plan will be available for visitors to view at the event.
Deputy city mayor Cllr Sarah Russell, who leads on social care, said: “This event will be a great chance for people with learning disabilities to try out a range of free activities, as well as finding out more about support services on offer locally for themselves and their families.
“We’re determined to make council services and activities as inclusive and accessible as possible, because having a learning disability should not be a barrier to taking part in something you enjoy, finding work or accessing services.
“We’re also proud to be launching our Big Plan at this event. The plan is all about inclusion, equality and accessibility and sets out how we want to work with partners to make sure people with a learning disability feel safe and comfortable accessing services in the city.
“The Big Plan also outlines our commitment to closing health inequalities amongst people with learning disabilities compared to people without a learning disability. Additionally, we want to improve people’s chances of finding employment, education, or volunteering opportunities.”
The Big Plan will cover a three-year period, with an annual report each year to outline what has been achieved.