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Storysharing® is a unique programme that supports people with severe communication disabilities to remember and share small stories of events in their daily lives.

In 2025, this was one of two projects selected for an Impact Launchpad pilot in care homes in East London, jointly funded by London Social Ventures and Care City. This was an exciting opportunity to try the programme out in the new setting of elder care, including individuals with dementia – as well as the more familiar setting of a learning disability day care service. I had great support from the LSV/CC team.

What were the outcomes?

The Impact Launchpad pilot tested Storysharing across three care settings between November 2025 and March 2026. The findings were clear: Storysharing creates real value for residents, staff and the wider atmosphere of care settings. It helped residents express identity and preferences, strengthened relationships between residents and staff, and gave staff richer ways to understand the people they care for.

One resident said “we’ve got to hear each other’s stories; it’s been an eye opener”. These residents went on to share their stories outside the sessions with others, creating an enthusiasm for exchanging anecdotes.

For those with dementia, it was evident that small stories from family history had the potential to evoke well established memories, particularly when associated with catchphrases. Family members spoke of how telling these stories animated their relatives and brought them out of themselves.

We also saw how great people were at supporting those who communicated nonverbally – one young woman at the day centre was particularly good at this, especially using a Big Mac communication aid.

What’s happening next?

We are delighted to say that RIX is partnering with City Care to develop proposals for taking Storysharing® forward:

• Developing a model of readiness that identifies what stage homes are at in their development of a culture of shared conversational stories, and what support they need to go further
• A toolkit of resources ready made for homes to use immediately
• A new level of Storysharing® light training that sits between our current Foundation level (information) and Licensed Practitioner level (in-depth knowledge and experience)
• An app to support the gathering, recording and sharing of small stories for families, carers and associated professionals

Watch this space for updates on this partnership.

We are grateful to participants, staff and families who helped us in the pilot study, and to LSV and City Care for the opportunity they provided. Special thanks to Anjali Moorthy for her support.

Nicola Grove, Professor for Profound & Multiple Disabilities

Social work students and people with learning disabilities came together on Monday to celebrate the completion of the RIX Big Ideas course, marking the occasion with an inclusive and inspiring graduation event.

Held at the University of East London, the event brought together graduates alongside family members, friends, and supporters. The atmosphere was warm, reflective, and celebratory capturing the essence of a course that is built on partnership, shared learning, and mutual respect.

A central feature of the event was the opportunity for participants to present their learning. Working in mixed groups, students and people with learning disabilities shared some of the key ideas that had stood out to them throughout the course. These presentations were diverse in style and approach, reflecting the inclusive ethos of the programme. Some groups chose to focus on discussion and dialogue, while others used storytelling, visuals, and creative methods to communicate their thinking.

Rather than simply recalling information, participants demonstrated how they had engaged with complex ideas and connected them to real-life experiences. The presentations highlighted not only what had been learned, but how it had been understood, interpreted, and made meaningful by each group.

The Big Ideas course is designed to challenge traditional models of teaching and learning. It brings together social work students and people with learning disabilities in a shared space where everyone contributes equally. Participants explore major social, philosophical, and ethical ideas, but always in ways that are accessible, relevant, and grounded in lived experience.

This approach was clearly visible during the graduation event. There was a strong sense that learning had been co-produced, rather than delivered. Students spoke about gaining new perspectives, while people with learning disabilities shared their insights and interpretations with confidence and clarity. The boundaries between teacher and learner became less defined, replaced by a more collaborative and respectful way of working together.

For many attendees, the event was also an important moment of recognition. Family members and supporters had the opportunity to see the work that participants had been involved in and to celebrate their achievements. The pride in the room was evident not only in completing the course, but in the personal growth, confidence, and relationships that had developed along the way.

The graduation also highlighted the broader impact of inclusive education. By creating spaces where people with learning disabilities are actively involved in exploring and shaping knowledge, programmes like Big Ideas contribute to a shift in how learning is understood and delivered. They demonstrate that complex ideas are not the preserve of traditional academic spaces, but can and should be accessible to everyone.

Importantly, the course supports the development of skills that go beyond the classroom. Participants build confidence in expressing their views, engaging in discussion, and working collaboratively with others. For social work students in particular, this experience provides valuable insight into person-centred and inclusive practice principles that are central to their future professional roles.

The event marked both an ending and a beginning. While it celebrated the completion of the course, it also reinforced the importance of continuing these conversations and approaches in wider educational and professional contexts.

The Big Ideas course is part of RIX’s ongoing commitment to inclusive research and teaching, ensuring that people with learning disabilities are not only included in education, but are active contributors to it.

For those interested in learning more about the course and its innovative approach, further details can be found in the article below.

Read about Big Ideas in Learning Disability Today