Resources and training
A lot of the time, not having the right information and advice about relationships and sex can be the biggest barrier. People with learning disabilities, their parents/carers, and professionals all need to be able to access the right information and advice to make sure everyone is kept safe and well.
Supported Loving
The Supported Loving Network has made a helpful toolkit. This is a series of guides to help to support people with learning disabilities with issues around sex and relationships.
The guides include:
• Contraception and sexual health
• Domestic violence and women with learning disabilities
• Harmful sexual behavior
• Help for parents
• Housing and supporting relationships
• LGBTQ+
• Making friends
• Masturbation
• Online dating
• Pornography
• Sex positive sexuality and relationships training
• Sex workers
• Staying safe in relationships
• Supporting people to date
• Supporting relationships
• Writing a sex and relationships policy
The Supported Loving Network is also coming to Wales in 2020! The Wales network will be made up of organisations and individuals from across the country who are passionate about improving support around relationships and sex for adults with learning disabilities. The network will support members to discuss important issues and share best practice.
Two groups –the Tizard Centre at the Tizard Centre at the University of Kent and the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTiNDTi) ) working with My Life My Choice –did some did some research looking at relationships for people with learning disabilities. They both found that many people did not know their rights around sex and relationships. With the help of the Supported Loving Network, they made this charter to help people understand.
The Learning Disability Transformation Project will be going along to Cardiff in March for the first network meeting, where we will get the opportunity to help shape how we want the Wales network to run. We will keep you posted!
Sexual Health Buckinghamshire has also put together a handy list of easy read guides and resources, including an app for young people.
The North Wales Relationships and Dating Group has now started back up, and is now co-chaired by an individual with a learning disability and a member of the Transformation Project. This year the group will be working together to look at policy and practice across North Wales, building on lots of existing great work, including the Conwy Sex and Relationships Policy. We will be building on the great work Conwy have already done to create their policy.
Pilot Projects
SPARC
We will be working with the North Wales Advice and Advocacy and Cwmni Addysg Rhyw on ‘Sparc’. This is rights-based sex and relationships training and workshops for citizens, parents/carers and staff. This training will be co-delivered by people with learning disabilities.
Good Touch
We will be working with Cwmni Addysg Rhyw on the project ‘Good Touch’ which involves staff training sessions and parent/carer drop-ins around appropriate masturbation.
Multi-me
In Wrexham and Flintshire, the Learning Disability Transformation Project is also going to be piloting the use of an app called MutiMe, to help people with learning disabilities socialise in a safe online environment. It can be used to communicate with other people, and to set up groups around shared hobbies and interests
Luv2MeetU
Luv2MeetU is a friendships and dating agency for people with a learning disability or autism aged 18 and over. It supports people to make friends, share interests and develop relationships. Luv2MeetU supports people to enjoy a range of activities, and they only organise the events that members want to do.