People met in five different areas of Norfolk to talk about important issues for people with learning disabilities. These were:
📍 Norwich (10th April)
📍 North Norfolk (17th April)
📍 West Norfolk (24th April)
📍 South Norfolk (1st May)
📍 East Norfolk (8th May)
What happened at the meetings?
The meetings focused on two main topics:
✅ Norfolk Learning Disability Plan – Talking about the plan and how it will be put into action.
✅ Local Activities – Finding out what activities are available in each area.
Each meeting also included discussions about barriers to services and ideas to improve support.
1. The Norfolk Learning Disability Plan
The plan will help people with learning disabilities in different areas of life.
🏡 Housing & Moving On
- Some people worry about what happens when parents/carers can no longer provide care.
- People want more support with housing options and help to find out what is available.
📝 What will be done?
- The Norfolk Learning Disability Partnership Board will discuss how to provide better information and support.
- Housing and transition to adulthood will remain a priority in the plan.
🩺 Health & Wellbeing
- People want easy ways to find local activities that help with health and wellbeing.
- Safe Places are important, but some areas (like Norwich, Cromer, Kings Lynn, Dereham, and Great Yarmouth) do not have any Safe Places registered.
- Some people struggle with transport to activities and appointments.
📝 What will be done?
- Safe Places will be discussed at the next Norfolk Learning Disability Partnership Board meeting to see who is responsible.
- Transport concerns will be raised to improve access.
🚍 Local Activities & What People Enjoy
Each area talked about activities people already enjoy and new things they would like to do.
✅ Norwich
- Bowling, cinema, theatre, and cooking classes.
- Social clubs (Wednesday social, supper club).
- Thalia Theatre (dance sessions for disabled people).
🚧 Barriers
- Transport to evening activities is difficult.
- Taxis feel safer but are expensive.
✅ North Norfolk
- Bingo, bowling, arts & crafts, gardening, music, quizzes.
- Trips to Holt Country Park, zoo, cinema, and archery.
- Life skills training and charity events.
🚧 Barriers
- People want more trips out and new activities.
✅ West Norfolk
- Cinema, crafts, games, bingo, quiz nights.
- Cooking lessons (Food for Thought – free 6-week course).
- STEAM Café, Honey Pot Studios, Autism Anglia, MENCAP.
🚧 Barriers
- Evening and weekend activities are difficult due to lack of resources.
- Wheelchair access and transport need improvements.
✅ South Norfolk
- Concerns about people not attending day services – is it a problem with individuals or providers?
- Norman Centre (Norwich) mentioned as a useful resource.
🚧 Barriers
- Parents and carers worry about what will happen when they can no longer provide care.
✅ East Norfolk
- Swimming, bowling, knitting, community lunches.
- Out There Festival, Thrigby Hall, Banham Zoo, Vauxhall Caravan Park.
- Green Gym, walking groups, community centres.
🚧 Barriers
- People want more information about new activities they don’t know about.
2. Next Steps
📌 A Task for Everyone – Before the next Locality Group meeting, people were asked to find out about one new activity in their area.
📌 Safe Places Project – The Norfolk Learning Disability Partnership Board will look into why some areas do not have Safe Places.
📌 Housing & Moving On Support – The Board will discuss how to improve information on moving into independent living.
📩 If you have more ideas or feedback, email:
contact@norfolkldpartnership.org.uk
