Our Social Networks: Capturing the nature of friendship and intimacy for people with learning disabilities

‘Our Social Networks’ collected the stories of friendships and relationships of 60 people with a learning disability through conversations with them, their friends, romantic partners or family members. 

Did different age groups have different experiences?

The three-year project focused mainly on the stories of two age groups – people aged 18 to 25 years old and those aged 45 and over – and explored whether the experience of the two groups was different.

‘Our Social Networks’ involved a range of people with a learning disability including those with one-to-one support, those with limited or no formal support and those living with parents or other family members.

Empowering people with learning disabilities

The contributors themselves were empowered to decide how their stories were going to be told and how they would be represented at 80 ‘Our Social Networks’ public exhibitions and pop-up events around the country.

The project recruited three ‘ambassadors’ and a project officer with a learning disability and 60 volunteers were trained to help deliver it.

A mobile app was also launched so that people could access the stories that had been collected and they are also part of the People’s Collection Wales.