Month: November 2025

Forward Together Project in Kent and Medway

/ dmarsden49 / Leave a comment

Yesterday, we hosted Taylor Anderson and Polly Somervell from the Challenging Behaviour Foundation’s Forward Together project. Their presentation to our Kent, Surrey, Sussex LD Community of Practice demonstrated how regional networks can drive real change for people with learning disabilities and behaviours that challenge.

Watch the YouTube film and view the slides to see how they’re bringing family carers and professionals together, with 115 members already in Kent and Medway tackling transition, early years, older carers, and crisis support.

 

Forward together & Menti responses

Their “End the Cliff Edge” campaign for named transition coordinators deserves your attention.

Get involved: forwardtogether@thecbf.org.uk

Five Essential Rights for Meaningful Lives: A Practical Guide for Our Community

/ dmarsden49 / Leave a comment

This latest paper is a fantastic resource for everyone supporting people with learning disabilities across the South East. It champions five key occupational rights that map out what great practice looks like.

What Are These Rights About?

Simply put, these rights are designed to make sure we’re all making reasonable adjustments so that the people we support can easily take part in the activities and routines that truly matter to them.

These aren’t just theoretical ideas—they’re a practical tool! Their goal is to help people with learning disabilities live the fulfilled lives they deserve.

Who is this Guide for?

This resource is for all of us in the support network:

  • Families and Carers

  • Support Staff and Providers

  • Professionals

  • Commissioners

It gives us a shared understanding and a clear roadmap for how to best support meaningful engagement in daily life.

How Can We Use Them?

The rights help us in two key ways:

  1. Spotting the Good Stuff: They provide a benchmark for what good occupational engagement looks like so we can easily recognise and celebrate when it’s happening!

  2. Knowing When to Ask for Help: The framework also makes it clearer when and how to get specialist support to effectively enable and promote occupation in someone’s life.

Check the Royal College of Occupational Therapists website for more details.