We're L'Arche, an international movement of communities for people with and without learning disabilities. L'Arche London, based in West Norwood, is made up of about 100 people with and without learning disabilities, some of whom live in our community houses and others who participate in our workshops or drama group. Joy, openness, and relationship is at the heart of our shared life.
We believe that care is a universal need for everyone and everything. We thrive when we are looked after, and we shouldn't be embarrassed about this. L'Arche is a beacon in the social care landscape for a different kind of care, where friendship is at the heart of the caring encounter and the power inequality of carer/cared-for breaks down. We're joyfully rebelling against a care sector that is too often dehumanising and impersonal.
We are very diverse in terms of ethnicity, nationality, educational background, religion, age, and LGBTQ+ identity. What our members share is an openness to difference, a curiosity about other people, and a desire to build strong friendships.
- Whereas other social care providers talk about people with learning disabilities as 'service users', we call people in our community with learning disabilities members.
- The word 'co-production' has become a hot button word in social care over the last decade, describing working in partnership by sharing power between various stakeholders including 'service users'. In L'Arche, we have been co-producing for fifty years.
- People with learning disabilities have leadership roles across our communities and are involved in decision-making at every level.
- We are not perfect and there is always more work to do. But we are committed to relationship and consensus-based decision-making, and this is reflected in our rich history and diverse communities.
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Our Opportunities
Help maintain our community gardens and kitchen garden.
Join our craft and garden workshops as a volunteer and support our members with learning disabilities in making, growing, and creating beautiful things.
Join our mixed ability drama group who put on regular sell-out shows throughout the year.
