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Supported Loving launch Past to Present Heritage Fund project
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Supported Loving are proud to announce the launch of Past to Present - an exciting heritage project made possible thanks to National Lottery players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Through interviews with people with learning disabilities and the professionals that support them in Kent, Past to Present will capture and celebrate stories about love, relationships and sexuality over the last 40 years.
These stories will show how things have moved on over time, from people being shut away in institutions to living in their own homes and being part of their communities.
Supported Loving’s Dr Claire Bates said: “For too long, people with learning disabilities have had their love lives controlled, hidden or ignored. This project is about listening to what people have been through, from the past right up to today. It’s about hearing real stories of love, relationships, and the barriers people have faced, and making sure those stories are not forgotten. It’s also about recognising how far things have come, and how far there is still to go.”
The collected stories will be brought to life by a co-created theatre production with our partners at Square Pegs Arts, a public exhibition with Maidstone Museum, and workshops for people with learning disabilities and social care staff. These stories about people’s lives, loves and rights will be held in Kent Archives, so future generations can understand what’s changed and what work still needs to be done.
Choice Support and Supported Loving would like to thank National Lottery players and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for helping us share and preserve this overlooked part of our social history.
Who we are
Supporting individuals based on their choice - not defining people by their support needs.
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What is Supported Loving?
For some people finding love is often more than just chemistry – it can come down to getting the right support
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Choice Support have been supporting autistic people, people with learning disabilities and those with mental health needs lead fulfilling lives for over 40 years.
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