The Scottish Commission for Learning Disability (SCLD) run the annual Learning Disability Week, and this year the theme is ‘looking back, moving forward.’ They are encouraging people, communities and organisations across the country to reflect on their own histories and share their stories, to raise awareness of the issues faced by people with learning disabilities both in Scotland’s past and present.”
To support this, a reunion coffee morning is being held at the Riverbank Centre between 10.30-12.00 on 15th May 2017 to celebrate, with an open invitation to any service users, parents/carers and staff/volunteers that have been involved in both services, as well as those from Kerse Road Day Centre, which closed in 2002.
Current service users will inform what format the event takes, which will give those involved an opportunity to catch up over coffee and cake, to reminisce.
Pamela Carruthers, Streets Ahead Day Services Officer said: “Service users we currently support have already been enthusiastic about discussing the past and looking through old photographs. It’s important to be able to encourage these discussions and support people with learning disabilities to reflect on how their lives have changed in the past 15-20 years and think about the achievements they have made.”
Walker Laing, Riverbank Resource Centre Day Services Officer said: “We hope it will be a thought provoking, fun activity for both former and present service users and meaningful people in their life, offering the opportunity to reflect on our journey from past to present. I’m looking forward to hear people share their experiences and hopefully stimulate thought about our future.”
Stirling Council’s Director of Communities, Children and Enterprise, Stacey Burlet said: “We want to tackle inequalities wherever they exist so everyone in Stirling has opportunities to thrive and reach their potential. Learning Disability Week is a great opportunity to focus on what’s been achieved so far and what we need to do now to keep making progress in this important are of work.”
Riverbank and Streets Ahead Celebrate Learning Disability Week
Stirling Council’s Riverbank Resource Centre and Streets Ahead service will be holding a joint event to mark Learning Disability Week this year.