Who we are
Wave (We’re All Valued Equally) is a grass-roots, volunteer-led, charitable organisation. We're working to help break down the attitudinal barriers that can result in
people with and without learning disabilities being socially segregated.
Our co-founders were awarded the Archbishop of Canterbury’s prestigious Langton Award for Community Service in June 2020.
What we do
Wave is all about
encouraging and enabling mixed-ability friendships. We want to see more people with and without learning disabilities mixing in the heart of their communities
– enjoying doing things
with and not for each other, growing in confidence and friendship. This is the key to overcoming unhelpful attitudes, anxiety and prejudice that still exist around learning disability.
Over the past decade, Wave has set up successful groups and activities in North London. We’re now working to share that experience with new communities to encourage and enable the formation of new mixed-ability groups.
What your support makes possible
To enable a number of new inclusive groups, we’re raising funds to create
Wave in a Box, the tools and resources that will help mixed-ability groups co-create their own genuinely inclusive activities.
Previous funding through Localgiving has covered the cost of setting up and running two activities. The
Wave Friendship Project explored the social barriers many people face and looked at the benefits of and the need for mixed-ability friendships. Our
#WithNotFor workshop brought together innovators, community-leaders, friends and members of Wave to spark ideas for mixed-ability activities and groups in communities. We have two pilot groups already underway and are looking to build up our team to support others who are keen to adopt our ethos in new places.
Your donation will help us develop the digital resources that will support and equip new mixed-ability teams and initiatives in more communities. Our impact so farResearch shows that Wave’s mixed-ability initiatives have helped to
change negative attitudes and prejudice around learning disability. Instead of seeing
vicious circles of avoidance in social places (due to fear of saying or doing the wrong thing), we have started to see
virtuous circles of connection forming between people with and without learning disabilities. Seventy-five percent of residents surveyed in Muswell Hill, North London say that our work benefits the whole community.
Here's what people have experienced through being involved with Wave activities:
"
I understand now that it is about learning from each other rather than my previous view which was about the need ‘to help' people with a learning disability."
"
It helps me feel like I belong – I feel more accepted here."
You can help us in many ways
We want to share Wave’s WithNotFor ethos more widely. Please
follow us on social media and help spread the word! We're on
Facebook,
Instagram and
Twitter.
If you think you'd like to
become a 'changemaker', please contact us at
info@waveforchange.org.uk to find out how Wave in a Box might be used in your community.
And, of course, please do
donate, if you can.
We need talented people who can support Wave with their time and energy and help us run and enable inclusive activities. If you can help in any way, we'd love to have you involved. Please contact us at info@waveforchange.org.uk.
