What is LD:NorthEast

I’ve just returned from an exhilarating black tie fundraiser at North Shields Masonic Hall, on behalf of Learning Disabilities NorthEast.  As I am a Trustee and Vice-Chair of the charity I was asked to ‘tell them where the money is going’.  Here’s what I said ...

Ladies and gentlemen welcome to our fundraiser for Learning Disabilities North East. 

Clodagh has asked me to say a few words about the charity.

It’s quite hard to say what LD:NorthEast actually does in a few words because it does so many different things for people of all ages:

From newly diagnosed babies and their parents

To people in their fifties and sixties and older whose parents have passed away and whose families may have drifted away.

Including younger people for whom education has ended and work is neither available nor appropriate.

Maybe if I make it personal ...

My autistic son is in his twenties. 

His ‘care plan budget’ covers a couple of days a week in a centre, but he likes being out and about and loves shops and shopping centres. 

I hate shopping. 

On a Friday Younus from LDNE takes my son out to do whatever he likes. 

Yes a little break for me, but more importantly the boy gets to go out and do something with someone he likes, and is closer to him in age.  No twenty year old wants to spend all their time with their grey haired old mother.

When my boy is out with Younus I go to LD:NorthEast’s Knit and Natter group. 

Ladies of a certain age with learning disabilities who get together with a couple of volunteers to knit and natter. 

The knitting isn’t that important - the nattering is.  

Once upon a time they went to special schools and day centres together -   

but changes in policy and provision, and cuts, mean those centres are no longer available to them. 

Knit and natter gives them somewhere to go and socialise with friends - something most of the rest of us take for granted. 

Other activities organised by LDNE include the Northern Notes Choir, darts, archery, dominoes, crafts, theatre and cinema trips

In fact LDNE will organise almost any activity the service users request (within reason) including short breaks and holidays. 

You name it and they’ll have a go at organising it – the staff are brilliant.

They also help with practical and serious issues like dealing with forms and official things.

Health advice and getting to the doctor, dentist etc,

Recognising and dealing with hate crime 

– almost anything a person might need assistance with.

Then we have the BBC Children in Need Early Years Play project which helps preschool children with complex disabilities learn and develop through play.

LDNE helps families deal with health and care professionals, provides group and one to one support and puts families together so that we can help and support each other.

There are playgroups, sign and sing sessions and school holiday activities which including other family members.

As the child grows LDNE is still there to help parents and carers deal with officialdom, education, social services etc

If I tried to cover everything we’d be here all night.

What I can say is LDNE has and does make a huge difference to the lives of children and adults with learning disabilities, and us parents –

And it all takes money. 

I won’t bore you with talk of local authority grants and funding, how it’s vanishing and how social services try to get charities to do more and more for less and less.

But I would ask you do dig deep to help LDNorthEast help families and people living with a learning disability to live as full a life as possible.

Thank you and have a lovely evening.

If you would like to find out more about, donate to or volunteer with LD:NorthEast look at the website