Learning Disability Network London are delighted that we are expanding our Community Hub programme to support more autistic people and people with learning disabilities to overcome social isolation, thanks to funding from Westminster Council.

Westminster Council has awarded LDN London a one-and-a-half-year contract to provide more workshops, activities and advice across the borough. The funding comes from Westminster Council’s Fairer Investment Programme.

LDN currently runs a programme of workshops where people with learning disabilities can socialise, learn about health, relationships, finance, and safety, and take part in activities and trips.

The Hub currently runs sessions across the borough focussing on health, safety and wellbeing.

Our sessions encourage peer support and maximise partnerships with providers of specialist and universal service. For example, recent sessions have included voting workshops with Voice for Change England, inclusive trips to The British Museum, and workshops about having good relationships with Support and Advice around Sexual Health (SASH).

The Hub is for people with mild and moderate learning disabilities and autistic people in Westminster who get few or no support hours. People who don’t qualify for support are particularly at risk of poor health and mental health, isolation and being victims of crime.

This funding will mean we can run events at evenings and weekends as well expand into the South of Westminster, to build on the programme at The Hub at 389A Harrow Road.

The funding from Westminster council will also support LDN London to focus on helping autistic people with workshops, social events and support.

We are hiring new members of the team to help deliver on the project. This will include two apprentices – who are autistic and learning disabled people – and a community engagement worker who will focus on supporting autistic people.

We will also employ two intensive community outreach workers to give up to 25 hours of in-person support to support independence and resilience or address a pressing concern. This may include support in completing forms, managing a dispute, reviewing debt or health matters, joining clubs or activities and referring people for assistance from other organisations.

Thanks to this funding many more people will have the chance to connect with others and be less socially isolated, and get the support they need in health, relationships, safety and employment.

Luana Baptista, Head of the Community Hub, said: “We are grateful for this funding, which means we can reach even more autistic and learning disabled people and really integrate them into our communities.”

Mandy Crowford, Assistant CEO at LDN London, said: “We are really pleased to get this funding from Westminster and excited to help people to be more connected. We want to make London an equal place for autistic and learning disabled people, and to help them be fully included in the life of the city.”

Find out more information and visit The Hub: https://www.ldnlondon.org/find-support/ldn-community-hub/