Connect in the North

04/08/2026

We had a lovely morning at Hamara. Lovely people and delicious food.

31/07/2026

Why do we so often become curious only after someone with an intellectual or developmental disability has reached breaking point?

We remind ourselves that challenging behavior is communication but by then, a wall has been damaged, someone has been hurt, or a relationship has been strained. Perhaps the better question isn't, "What is this behavior telling us?" but, "What did we miss before it became necessary?"

People deserve to be understood long before distress becomes impossible to ignore. When we take the time to know the person, notice the quieter signs, and build lives filled with purpose, belonging, and genuine relationships, challenging behavior often becomes less necessary.

If you'd like to explore these ideas further, Open Future Learning has a range of learning modules that look at understanding behavior through a person-centred lens rather than simply managing it.
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ID: Image shows someone sat leaning against a wall looking isolated. Text reads: "All behavior is communication." After someone puts a hole in the wall. Do: Ask why someone had to rely on challenging behavior before we understood something wasn't right.

31/07/2026

Thank You to Trust Leeds for 2 brilliant days of facilitator training. We're feeling very excited about people setting up Self Reliant Groups.

20/07/2026

New club nigth video

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

10/07/2026

🚀 Exciting news! The Imperfect Citizens podcast returns with a thought-provoking episode featuring Glyn Butcher & Simon Duffy.

💬 What does “help” really mean? Discover the difference between good and bad help—and explore how we can all make a positive impact in our communities.

🎧 Tune in now:
Spotify: https://ow.ly/uWK350Zm9XP
YouTube: https://ow.ly/pP2950Zm9XO

👇 Share your thoughts: What does good help look like to you?

09/07/2026

People talk about “choice” as though saying the word makes it real. But choice isn’t simply selecting from a menu someone else designed. If every option has already been filtered, approved, and decided by others, what we’re really offering is permission, not control.

Real choice can be untidy. It means listening before planning. It means asking what matters to the person before asking what services are available. It means being willing to hear an answer we weren’t expecting. Because a life directed by other people’s decisions may be safe and convenient, but it will never be fully someone’s own.

The question isn’t whether someone got to choose. The question is: Who chose the choices?
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ID: Fionn holds a cardboard sign above his head that reads Yeah, I choose where I live (from the options someone else picked).

09/07/2026

40 Years of Speaking Up: Memories of the Self Advocacy Movement

In this webinar Gary Bourlet and John Hersov will have a conversation and reflect on:

- What life was like for people with learning disabilities in the early days of the self-advocacy movement.
- How people felt and what changes they wanted to see.
- The growth of People First groups and self-advocacy across the UK.
- The progress that has been made over the last 40 years.
- What changes they would like to see

There will also be a chance for the people attending to share their own memories and experiences if they would like to...

https://tinyurl.com/55k6tkwh

07/07/2026

The amazing Dave Hingsburger

07/07/2026

🌍 What if everyone felt like they truly belonged? At Citizen Network, we’re making that happen—one connection at a time.

We’re united by six simple values:
🔸 Equality – Respect for all
🔸 Inclusion – Everyone’s invited
🔸 Community – We look out for each other
🔸 Democracy – We decide together
🔸 Justice – We share what we have
🔸 Nature – We care for our world

When you join us, you’re joining a friendly, supportive movement for positive change. Citizenship is about kindness and community, not just paperwork.

Ready to join in? We’d love to welcome you! 👉 https://ow.ly/KPxs50YUCzb