New partnership breaks down barriers

The Safe, Well, Happy Harborough Partnership will involve statutory, voluntary and other local organisations as well as people with learning disabilities, parents and carers.

A drop-in launch event, supported by the Market Harborough and the Bowdens Charity, focusing on health, wellbeing and keeping safe is being held on Tuesday 22 May 2018 from 10am until 2pm at Market Harborough Leisure Centre.

There will be opportunities for people to take part in activities they may not have felt able to take part in before, or to chat about barriers they face. The group will also aim to make local services and facilities more inclusive with simple steps like training of staff.

Councillor Janette Ackerley, portfolio holder for wellbeing and localities for Harborough District Council which is championing the partnership, said: “People with learning disabilities can find it more difficult to feel fully included within communities. Sometimes this leaves people feeling isolated and not as safe, well and happy as they could be, which affects their quality of life. A little support, understanding and removal of barriers can really make a difference.”

The Safe, Well, Happy Harborough Partnership is part of a wider partnership covering Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.  The wider partnership was developed following work by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust through a project called ‘My Care, My Voice’ which used the experiences of people with learning disabilities, their families and healthcare staff to agree and develop service improvements.

Research from  Sport England shows that disabled people or those with learning disabilities are twice as likely to be physically inactive than non-disabled people. 

More information about the event can be found by visiting https://www.harboroughsport.org.uk/events/2018/05/safe-well-happy-harborough-launch-event, by emailing activetogether@harborough.gov.uk or by phoning Miranda Graham on 07470 936707.