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Outside the Box celebrates Learning Disability Week

Friday, 26 June 2026 09:23

Outside the Box recently joined a nation-wide celebration of the lives of people who have a learning disability, Learning Disability Week.

Running from 15th June, the week is all about celebrating the lives of the 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability and challenging stigma and stereotypes. 

With the campaign’s theme of “Do you see me”, the week at Outside the Box was packed full of performances, exhibitions, personal projects and art displays. Members of Outside the Box, all adults with learning disabilities and/or autism, showcased their many talents and abilities both at The Victorian Arcade, through an art display at the Grove Bookshop as well as online.

Filling the whole of the Victorian Arcade, the home for Outside the Box, was a vibrant exhibition of portraits, prints, collages, models and photographs, and lots of other colourful and creative work produced by OTB members. Pieces included member Sarah Crosbie’s fantastic 3D flowers from her ‘The Secret Garden’ project and George Emsley’s brilliant model inspired by HG Wells’ War of the Worlds.' 

Louise Hale, CEO of the local charity said:

“Learning Disability Week is all about people with a learning disability being seen, hear and valued, which is at the heart of our work. We very much use the power of creativity to foster inclusion for our client community and work hard to positively change the lives of our members – being able to celebrate this and engage the public in our work as part of this annual initiative is so valuable. We hope that more people than ever now see people with a learning disability for who they are – talented, able people with busy lives who make a great contribution in our local community”. 

OTB members from across lots of different groups had the chance to really shine during the week with an exhibition of the Art Group’s African Masks project, Print Group’s work of important people in their lives, Photography Group’s ‘Photobooth Filters’ strips, Music Group’s ‘True Colours’ work and a special performance of Strictly Come Dancing by the Dance Group. 

There was lots of positive feedback from the displays, with OTB Café customers describing them as ‘joyful’ and ‘a great representation of the charity and your lovely community’ and from the OTB Strictly audience, ‘I am delighted we came to support the group’, ‘absolutely fantastic’, and ‘wasn’t to be missed’. 

[Alex Cann and OTB member Jack Riley]

Outside the Box also appeared on local radio with Your Ilkley, giving OTB members Jack Riley and Katie Dawson-Booth the opportunity to talk about their lives and experience of the week. Both were ‘very excited’ to have their work displayed in The Arcade, with Jack commenting, ‘It’s brilliant, and very important to see’. Listen to Jack, Katie and Head of Marketing Beth chatting to Alex Cann on Your Ilkley here.

Outside the Box would like to thank all those who were involved in and supported the week. 

The exhibition will remain up until Wednesday 1st July, as will the African Masks at The Grove Bookshop - there’s still plenty of time to take a look.

For any further information or queries, please get in touch with Outside the Box at 01943 431173 or email marketingevents.outsidethebox@gmail.com; or pop in at Outside the Box Cafe, Victorian Arcade, Ilkley, LS29 9DY; or on their website www.outsidetheboxcafe.com.

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