News / Adults with Learning Disabilities
Showcasing talent and celebrating differences at Trinity Centre
It’s around midday on Friday and the celebration day for people with learning disabilities is already in full swing.
Brandon Trust organised the annual event in partnership with several other local services, including AWP Mental Health Trust, Bristol Community Health, and Bristol City Council, with the aim of showcasing talents and achievements of people with learning disabilities, as well as challenging discrimination and stigma that still exists in society as a whole.
As I enter the Trinity Centre, I’m enthusiastically greeted by people, who are handing out bracelets at the door. They tell me how popular the day already is, only half an hour in, and this is evident from the crowd filling the main room.
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Lydia Teagle, who works for AWP Mental Health Trust, is happy to talk about the day and what it represents.
“Last year was our first time having the event and we were overwhelmed by the amount of people with learning disabilities that came,” she says. “There are people with all sorts of needs just enjoying the day and it’s fantastic.”
The Molly Filloughby Show
The Molly Filloughby Show is educational and entertaining
Everywhere I look, I am greeted by smiling faces. Attendees range from young to old, but no matter their age, all of them seem to be comfortable and enjoying themselves.
Close to the entrance, there is a colourful raffle stand, overflowing with goodies to be won, and next to that is a table where you can decorate bags and engage in other arts and crafts.
Further on is the garden, which provides a refreshing breeze in the warmth of the day, and here too there are workshops taking place. Drummers are happily banging away on their instruments and later, there will be a storytelling workshop and a performance by a poet.
There are opportunities everywhere to connect with new people and have fun, and there really is something for everyone.
Jemma Ballinger, Sarah Howard (in wig as Molly Filloughby) and Sam Nicklen who performed at the event
Up on the stage, a piece of drama is just coming to an end: ‘The Molly Filloughby Show’, wherein the eponymous host interviews actors, who are delivering disability hate crime training in Bristol.
Not only is the performance educational, describing some of the work that Brandon Trust does to combat this issue, it is also fun and even features some audience interaction. At the end, the host brings together her warring interviewees with an upbeat song and dance, and before long members of the audience are joining in too.
(Left to right) Katy Tovey, Jemma Ballinger and Daniel Bryan are all trainers who work with Brandon Trust, using drama to combat hate crime
“The point of today is to allow people with learning disabilities to enjoy themselves and to network, and to gain some information about the services that might be available,” Lydia tells me. “It’s just generally to have fun and celebrate the fantastic successes that they have achieved, they have all worked so hard to put on their performances. It’s quite amazing.”
There is a performance by a choir, and then a band, who perform amazingly despite half of their number beings absent due to illness. There is such a lively and positive atmosphere at the Celebration Day, the organisers have undoubtedly succeeded in creating a welcoming and exciting event for people with learning disabilities.
Lydia sums up the day pretty well when she gestures to the main room of the centre. “I think you probably saw for yourself how much fun everyone is having. It’s a really happy, joyous time.”
People of all ages packed into the Trinity Centre
For more information about training workshops and reporting hate crimes, visit: www.bhcds.org.uk.
Read more: Celebrating our differences in Bristol
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