Our Social Lives: Peer research project by people with learning disabilities

 

Welcome to the Our Social Lives Peer Research Project 

Co-produced research by ARC England, Learning Disability England and Paradigm

• This was a co-produced peer research project that ran throughout England in 2024/25.
• It was created by ARC England, in partnership with Learning Disability England and Paradigm.
• Our Steering Group consisted mainly of experts by experience.

• Training for our peer researchers was co-produced and co-delivered.
• Based on the findings, a large collection of resources have been put together by the team.
  Check out the Resources to help you get the social life you want >

 

Why social lives are important?

We are social creatures that need companionship and community in order to thrive.

Being socially connected to others:

• eases anxiety and depression
• decreases stress
• boosts self-worth
• provides comfort, prevents loneliness
• increases life expectancy
• improves physical health

 

Our Steering Group

The Steering Group say:

“The point of Our Social Lives was to find out about social lives through individual voices.

While we were clear that we could not make improvements ourselves – we hoped by sharing and making sure people are heard, leaders listen and take action to change things.

People themselves can change things but may need a wider experience.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

What we found

The people interviewed for the project said:
– Family and friends are the most important people in their lives.
– Many people feel lonely when routines change or when they cannot see others.
– People enjoy a wide range of hobbies and activities
– Transport is a big problem
– Some people have no paid support

Read full details of the project so far:
– Our Social Lives Report – Easy Read
–Our Social Lives Report with Resources – long version

Launch Webinar 10th December 2025

Watch the webinar recording >

The teams from Learning Disability England and ARC England were joined by the Steering Group, interviewers and everyone interested in finding out what was discovered about the social lives of people with a learning disability and autistic people in England. Almost 100 people took part in the session.

Groups went off into breakout rooms to discuss the findings and what should be done with them.

Everyone recorded their ideas in Mentimeter polls and you can see some of the results in the images on this page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What happens next? Resources to help you get the social life you want

Based on the everyone’s feedback, we have updated the report with a huge Resources section, and you can also access all the links below to resources, services, networks and campaigns to help combat the issues that could prevent you having the social life you want: 

• Friendships and Relationships

• Transport

• Money

• Skills

• Safety

• Access to What’s Available

• Employment

• Access to Your Own Private Space

• Access to Technology

• How services offer support

• Workshop and pledges gathered at the Learning Disability England Conference 2026 

• Show me how and where you belong: Belonging and difference for people with learning disabilities

• Our Social Lives Conversation Board Game

A final word from Christopher Porter and Katie Peacock, Steering Group members

On the day Christopher, Sam and I attended an ARC England meeting in Leeds with Clive and Rod, Christopher and I came across this beautiful and powerful quote painted around the Corn Exchange from Leeds-based poet Ma Maposa. It felt so relevant to this work.

Our past shapes our future. 
Block by block we build firm foundations that turn into skyscrapers. 
From humble beginnings, big ideas, visions turned into real life features. 
We are the makers, we are the creators. 
Dream big, surpass your imargin.

It all stops when you stop moving, so keep on grinding. 
Live how you dream, dream how you want to live. 
You can, I can, we all can. 
It all starts with your imagination.

Ma Maposa