Our easy read webpages, what do you think?
We know that our webpages would be more accessible for people with learning disabilities if they were in easy read.
We have worked with the web team to develop an easy read template and started on the Housing and where you live pages.
Email to us know what you think: disabilitycomms@surreycc.gov.uk
Making Every Contact Count (MECC) free training courses
MECC (Making Every Contact Count) is an initiative to encourage public facing staff and volunteers to make the most of the contact they have with residents. Surrey County Council offers fully funded MECC training for NHS, local authority, and community sector staff and volunteers in Surrey.
The following courses are available:
- alcohol
- smoking
- mental wellbeing
- food & wellbeing
- food & wellbeing for carers of people with people with learning disabilities and/or autistic people
- fuel poverty
- food, fuel and finances
To find out more and register for the courses, please visit Making Every Contact Count - Healthy Surrey.
Supermarket quiet hours in Surrey
Autism by Experience has put together a list of supermarkets that offer quiet hours. These supermarkets reduce lighting and announcements and most reduce till sounds. Some also avoid moving trolleys during quiet hours.
Webinar for parents of neurodivergent adults
Autistic advocate Viv Dawes is running an online webinar to look at how parents can better understand and support their neurodivergent adult children. They will look at issues such as mental health struggles, addiction and burnout.
Date: Wednesday 25 June
Time: 7.00pm to 9.00pm
Tickets: £20.21 including booking fees
Diabetes survey and app consultation
Diabetes UK, Queen’s University Belfast, and the University of Glasgow have partnered to learn more about what is important for people with learning disabilities and diabetes. They are using a survey to gather information that will help inform research and practice.
The survey is for adults with learning disabilities and diabetes and their carers.
Closing date: Friday 27 June 2025.
They also would like to speak to people with learning disabilities and their carers about an app they are developing to help people with learning disabilities manage their diabetes. The meeting will last about an hour and they are offering a £30 gift voucher for taking part.
For more information email: lauren.fulton@glasgow.ac.uk
LifeWorks Learning Hub
LifeWorks Learning Hub is a new skills-based learning programme for 16 to 25 years olds with complex needs and disabilities to support them in developing skills for adulthood. There are full-time and part-time places available.
Where: YMCA Sovereign Centre, Slipshatch Road, Reigate, RH2 8HA
When: Monday to Friday (term-time)
To find out more information:
Email: lifeworks.hub@ymcaeastsurrey.org.uk
Phone: 01737 222 859
Sunnybank Bowls Session
Sunnybank Bowls is back for another season! Join the fun, friendly, and inclusive Sunnybank Bowls Club every Tuesday afternoon at Alexandra Park, Epsom.
It is a great way to enjoy the outdoors, get active, and make new friends.
For more information:
Email: info@sunnybanktrust.org
Find an optometrist
Seeability has a database of optometrists and dispensing opticians who have told them they welcome people with learning disabilities.
Search your town or postcode and use the filters to find a suitable optometrist near you.
If you represent a practice and would like to sign up to the database or have any queries, please email eyecare@seeability.org.
National Call for Evidence
In collaboration with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Households in Temporary Accommodation, Shared Health Foundation, Autistica and Sensory Lives have organised the first UK-wide Call for Evidence to gather parents/guardians’ experiences of living in temporary accommodation (TA) with neurodivergent children.
The findings will be used to campaign for better support for families living in TA, and families with neurodivergent children especially. The Call is supported by King’s College London and Research England.
The Call for Evidence runs for five weeks between 19 May and 20 June 2025.
There are guidance documents for parents and guardians or for practitioners. to submit evidence.
Social Care Institute for Excellence’s annual co-production week
Co-production week takes place 30 June to 4 July 2025 and is a celebration of the contribution people with lived experience make to creating better social care. This year, the theme is ‘Innovation Through Co-Production’.
Co-production means people who draw on care and support including unpaid carers working in equal partnership with professionals to shape and deliver services. They want to better understand how this approach helps innovation.
If you are a social care professional, a person with lived experience, or a family carer, they want your input. You will help inform case studies, online events and discussions that aim to influence policy and improve practice.
Please take a few minutes to complete this short 15-minute survey.
Performance Making Diploma
The Performance Making Diploma, co led by Access All Areas and Royal Central is the only course of its kind in the world, created by and for people with a learning disability and autistic people to learn performance skills, prepare for different career options in the arts and network with industry experts.
Applications are now open until 24 June 2025 for anyone aged 18+ who is thinking about a career in theatre, TV or film.
Elmbridge: free training to improve wellbeing
Free in-person training courses to enhance wellbeing and build vital skills to support both you and those you work with. Sessions are open to all partners working in the community.
All sessions will be held at:
Elmbridge Civic Centre, 1 High Street, Esher, KT10 9SD
Five ways to wellbeing: explore simple, evidence-based actions to improve mental health and wellbeing.
Suicide first aid: gain the skills and confidence to support someone at risk of suicide.
Tickets are now live for The LinkAble Inclusive Games 2025!
The LinkAble Inclusive Games is taking place on 26 August 2025.
- Time: 10.30am to 4pm
- Where: Woking Sportsbox, Egley Rd, Woking, GU22 0AF
- Cost: £8 early bird (carers free). £10 if purchased after July 23
Four exciting sports designed for all abilities! This is your chance to try:
- Boccia – a precision ball game where players aim to get their balls closest to a target ball
- Table Cricket – an adapted version of cricket played on a table tennis table with teams taking turns to bowl or bat, run by Surrey Indoor Cricket
- Accessible Cycling – enjoy adapted bikes provided by Wheels For All meaning everyone can experience the joy of cycling
- Walking Football – a slower-paced version of football, promoting inclusivity and fun, facilitated by Woking Walking football club