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Events held for people with learning disabilities

Caroline Robinson
BBC News
BBC Two women sat facing the camera. The woman on the left is wearing a blue patterned top and has a bob and is wearing pink glasses. The woman on the right is wearing light blue trousers and a white top. Both are looking at the camera smiling. Behind then is green grass and trees. BBC
Shelia Morels' daughter Elizabeth Morels is a Jersey Mencap user

A service has hosted a week of events in Jersey to show the support available for adults with a learning disability.

Health and Care Jersey's Adult Learning Disability Service partnered with Mencap, Haute Vallée School and other organisations to host events from 16 to 20 June.

There are approximately 280 islanders with a learning disability, the Adult Learning Disability Service said.

The week included an art class, zumba and drop-in sessions to help raise awareness.

A woman, with shoulder length hair in a white top. She is looking at the camera smiling. She is is stood on the right. In the left in the background are other people and bags with sports balls in them. The grass is vibrant green and there are trees and bushes.
Alex Wiles, from Jersey Mencap, said it was an opportunity to raise awareness

Alex Wiles, from Jersey Mencap, said: "I think often people misunderstand what a learning disability is and the types of challenges people have.

"This is an opportunity to raise a bit of awareness of that and to showcase some of the amazing opportunities that are on the island."

Shelia Morels, whose daughter Elizabeth Morels is a Jersey Mencap user, said: "the Mencap social club is brilliant because it gives them a social life that they wouldn't normally have and experiences."

Her daughter said Jersey Mencap helped her with life and "helps me to get out the house for a while."

Libby Paisley, practice development practitioner for Jersey Learning Disability Service, said: "Our services are important in the sense that we look at the health of people with learning disabilities ... and support them to access mainstream services."

"Please approach us, please come forward and let us see how we can help you."

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