Deanston House in Scotland was bursting with colour, energy, and joy as the team hosted a special celebration for Learning Disability Week — complete with an awards day to recognise the incredible achievements of the people they support.
The event brought together the entire Deanston community in a meaningful and fun-filled way.
“We wanted to celebrate Learning Disability Week by sharing the amazing achievements of the people we support,” said Leanne, Registered Manager at Deanston House. “It’s about empowering each person to reflect on their own successes and celebrate those of their friends too.”
As part of the day, everyone received a medal and trophy to acknowledge their progress and milestones over the last year. There was a true sense of pride in the air, with team members cheering and supporting each individual.
And what’s a celebration without some fun? Deanston pulled out all the stops, with a BBQ, bouncy castle, music, glitter tattoos, coloured hair spray, hook-a-duck and more — creating a real festival atmosphere.
“We always involve the people we support in planning our parties,” Leanne shared. “That sense of ownership makes the day even more meaningful. They helped with the decorations, set up tables, and even helped with the BBQ.”
This year’s Learning Disability Week theme, “Do You See Me?”, made the celebration especially powerful.
“To me, it means everyone should be seen, heard, and supported to chase their dreams,” Leanne explained. “I’m proud to work with a team and be part of an organisation that shares that belief and lives it every day.”
The event wasn’t just about having fun — it was also about building confidence, self-worth, and emotional skills.
“Recognising your own achievements and celebrating others' is an important part of self-care, and we want to encourage that,” said Leanne. “A party might seem like a small thing, but for many, it brings challenges — so seeing every single person join in, participate, and enjoy themselves was a joy.”
One heartwarming moment came when a family member joined the celebrations:
“One of the people we support was going home for a visit, so their dad came by — and there was just too much fun going on for him not to stay! Later, he left a lovely comment on our private Facebook page that really captured what the day was all about. That others could see and feel what we were trying to do — that was really special.”
The dad wrote “I was lucky enough to pick up A today at lunchtime. It struck me that here was everyone outside - both residents and staff- really happy, enjoying themselves in an atmosphere of calmness, in the sunshine as a group. Great credit to all the staff and everyone was a winner today. Thank you all!”
A big thank you to everyone who helped make the day so special — your hard work, energy, and enthusiasm made it a true celebration of achievement, joy, and community spirit.
