Jack Buik and Laura Kerr from United Kingdom tell us about good support:

Speaker biographies

Jack Buik

My name is Jack Buik. I am 26 years old and live in Dorchester, Dorset in England. I have Down Syndrome. I am on the Management Committee of People First Dorset, and we help oversee the charity. 

I like talking to my friends with learning disabilities, and their families, about what is important to them. Lots of us go to Speaking Up groups, where we develop our speaking up skills, and can help change things for the better. I also attend the Friendship Club, which meets on Tuesday evenings. We have discos, eat out at different venues, talk and support each other. 

One day a week I work at the Cafe On The Green. This is a training cafe for people with learning disabilities to gain work experience. On other days I go to Dorset Abilities and help run Tuck by Truck, a snack delivery service. We also do different activities like boogie fit, taekwondo, yoga, kickboxing and cooking.

My hobbies are watching and playing football. I also like wrestling and singing. It’s important for me to keep fit and I enjoy using the gym equipment in my garage.

Laura Kerr

Laura Kerr – Manager of People First Dorset.

Initially working in farming, business, marketing and event sectors, I have since spent the last 20 years enabling adults with learning disabilities to develop friendships and speaking up skills, both in Suffolk and now Dorset. This is an area I have become increasingly passionate about, in particular seeing the benefits which can be gained when empowering people with learning disabilities to take the lead.

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