10.00 – 11.00, 27th April 2018

Rachel Fox (Customer Engagement Manager, Advance Housing and Support) and Claire Bates (founder of Supported Loving, Choice Support) discuss the importance of good support in making and maintaining relationships, focussing on relationships for people with learning disabilities. Claire will give an overview of the research behind the Supported Loving campaign and its work so far, while Rachel provides the perspective of an organisation passionate about putting it into practice – the successes, the challenges and overcoming barriers.

Rachel is the Customer Engagement Manager at Advance, providing housing, support and employment services to people with disabilities and mental health conditions. As a member of the Supported Loving Network, Advance supports the rights of people with learning disabilities to have loving relationships (and sex if they choose). Prior to working at Advance Rachel worked in a range of mental health settings and has a degree in Psychology.

Claire is the founder of Supported Loving, a national network and campaign which focuses on the rights of people with learning disabilities to have loving relationships (and sex if they choose). Claire works for a Choice Support for over 15 years, they are a charity that supports people with learning disabilities, both in the Quality team and also as a manager and support worker. Claire also works as a researcher at the University of Kent’s Tizard Centre conducting research on topics relating to sexuality and relationships for people with learning disabilities.