Ealing Council ‘Taken Over’ by Residents with Learning Disabilities for a Day
Ealing Council handed over the reins—at least for a day—to more than a dozen residents with learning disabilities as part of Learning Disabilities Week 2025, held on Tuesday, 17 June.
The initiative, in partnership with local charity Ealing Mencap, reflected this year’s campaign theme, “Do you see me?” — a nationwide call to recognise, include, and value people with learning disabilities in everyday life, including in workplaces and local government.
Participants spent the day at Perceval House, working side-by-side with staff across several council departments, including adult services, communications, and community engagement. They were welcomed by Councillor Polly Knewstub, cabinet member for healthy equal lives, and joined teams to help with projects involving social media planning, poster creation, admin support, and equality-focused work.
The goal was to offer participants a chance to influence decision-making and showcase their skills and perspectives—while giving council staff a meaningful opportunity to learn directly from lived experiences.
Annemarie Braganza-Hawkins, community inclusion manager at Ealing Mencap, said:
“Educating people and raising awareness about learning disabilities is the first step—and that’s what we were doing here. We decided to do something a bit bold by taking over Ealing Council for a day. People with learning disabilities stepped into important roles to show just what they can do when given the opportunity.”
She noted that while 60% of adults with learning disabilities say they want to work, just 4.8% are currently in paid employment in the UK.
“For many, it’s not just about earning—it’s about pride, purpose, and feeling part of the community,” she added.
Councillor Knewstub praised the event’s success:
“It was such a great experience working with Ealing Mencap. I had a fantastic time showing one of the participants what I do and answering their questions. I hope we continue offering opportunities like this—it was incredibly valuable for both of us.”
The day ended with a group photo outside Ealing Town Hall, capturing the spirit of collaboration between Ealing Mencap members, council officers, and supporters.
The event follows a similar initiative by the council, where care leavers were invited to take part in decision-making and shadow leadership roles—part of Ealing’s wider commitment to inclusion and empowerment.
