People First

The challenge

There are 1.5 million people in the UK with learning disabilities, and this group faces high levels of discrimination and barriers. And far too often, the voices of people with learning disabilities are absent from the decisions that affect them.

The organisations that do speak up for them are under serious pressure. Many self-advocacy groups have closed, and those that remain often lack the governance support, accessible communications infrastructure, and connections with each other needed to campaign effectively. As a result, people with learning disabilities have limited collective voice and too little influence over the policies and systems that shape their lives.

The project

People First is a national self-advocacy organisation, run by and for people with learning difficulties. Since 2024, we've funded its London Campaign Network, which brings together self-advocacy groups from across the capital to campaign collectively on the issues that matter most to them.

Over the last 18 months the network has grown from strength to strength. Its most recent meeting in early 2026 was attended by more than 50 people from organisations led by people with learning disabilities across London.

The network is helping people with learning disabilities build a louder voice and collaborate on campaigns they are working on. Currently, it is feeding into the Mayor of London’s Disability Plan.

By building collective power among organisations led by people with learning disabilities, it is building the kind of organised, sustained movement needed to achieve change that lasts.