The value of social activities and hobbies | The Advocacy Fellows #8

In honour of #learningdisabilityweek, Max, Siobhan, Jamie and new Advocacy Fellow Kieran discuss the importance of friendships, staying social and talk about their favourite hobbies.

According to charity Mencap, young adults with learning disabilities take part in fewer activities and hobbies than their peers.

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Discover Voices (c) 2024, a production by registered charity, disAbility Cornwall & Isles of Scilly.

Episode Transcript

(00:07):
We are
The Advocacy Fellows voicing for
and empowering young adults with learning
disabilities.
[Kieran] Hello and welcome to the advocacy fellows.

(00:30):
This time we're looking at hobbiesand interests that we like to take part in,
either in groups or on our own.
[Max] According to research by Mencap,young people of a young
learning disability take part in feweractivities, than their peers.
Without a learning disability.

(00:50):
One in three young peoplewith a learning disability
spend less than one houroutside their home on
a typical Saturday.
[Kieran] This in the survey of sense.
77% of young people aged 18 to 34 reportfeeling lonely.
Young people with profoundand multiple learning disabilities

(01:11):
have even smaller social networksthan consist mainly of family members.
[Siobhan] What is your hobby?
[Kieran] Okay, my name is Kieran and my hobbies aredrawing, writing, roleplaying,
playing trading card games, playingboard games, doing drama and music!

(01:32):
[Siobhan] I like, a lot of soft toys and
animals and going shopping.
[Max] My hobbies are playing video games,
going out to travel to places and

(01:53):
and sometimes I like to watch
movies and shows.
[Jamie] Hi, I'm Jamie and I like dancing,
knitting and cuddly toys
and I also

(02:15):
have a girlfriend
and also spend time with my familyand friends.
Know how to be
friends.
It's like meeting up with your friend.

(02:38):
At some other places
and just either hang out with them and I'd
a lot of fun.
[Kieran] I find making friends difficult,but this is mainly due to my more
niche hobbies.
But I do have some friendsand I usually meet them on Mondays

(03:00):
at my autism groupand we like to do things and play
games and socialiseand all that kind of stuff.
But other than thatI don't really have that many friends.
But again, as I meet peopleI'll probably gain more friends.
[Max] I, I tend to like
make friends online through my interests

(03:23):
and hobbies and, and I also have a
friend as I sometimes hang out with
with the Time2Shine group.
[Siobhan] I also have a lot of friends.
I met
Jamie in youth Club

(03:46):
and his brother Ashly at the Youth Club,
and we used to know someone called Ruby,
but she left.
And my friend Kira
and my friend

(04:09):
Flynn and Caveman.
Who, I know as well who are different
out of CAAP.
It makes me feel really happywhen I'm collecting toys.
It depends what it is.

(04:30):
[Max] Usually when I do my hobbies,
I usually feel very brilliantand very focussed.
[Kieran] When I do my hobbies,I really do enjoy doing it.
But sometimes I lose focusfrom concentrating so much.
[Jamie] Well, for a hobby for me is

(04:51):
happy and relaxed.
[Kieran] So what a very interesting podcast.
Many thanks to The Advocacy Fellowsfor sharing these experiences.
[Max] A huge thank you to Nick from KMF Radiofor recording our podcast.
Lastly, a hugethank you for you to you for listening.

(05:12):
Please like and subscribe to hear more.
Until next time.
Goodbye!
This video was produced by DiscoverVoices,
part of Disability,Cornwall and Isles of Scilly.
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