Aviva Investors and BNY bring connection to life with football, gardening and a wellbeing walk

During Learning Disability Week (15–21 June 2026), employees from Mencap’s corporate partners, Aviva Investors and BNY, came together to support people with a learning disability through a series of inclusive volunteering activities with members of Mencap’s Me Time Islington group.

Me Time is Mencap’s community -led social inclusion and leisure programme. It supports people with a learning disability to build skills and confidence, helping them access local events, try new activities and feel more connected to their communities. Throughout the week, that sense of connection was brought to life.

Starting strong with walking football

The week kicked off with a lively game of walking football, which is an adapted version of the sport designed to be slower-paced and more accessible , with no running involved . This makes it easier for people of all abilities to take part, focus on teamwork and simply enjoy being active together.

We had a fantastic turnout, and the session was full of energy from the start. There was plenty of encouragement, lots of laughs, and a real sense of everyone cheering each other on.

Getting hands-on with wild gardening

The following day, the group swapped footballs for gardening tools, coming together for a wild gardening session to restore an outdoor area at a children’s playground that had become overgrown.

It was a chance to slow things down and spend time outdoors, connecting with nature, and each other. Volunteers and Me Time members worked side by side to tidy, plant and care for the space, creating something lasting together. There was a shared sense of achievement by the end of the session, with everyone able to see the difference they’d made.

Walking, talking and connecting

Finally, volunteers from Aviva Investors and BNY joined Me Time Islington members for One Big Walk for Mencap.

A crowd of supporters with their thumbs up standing outside in London

We ask people to take part in a One Big Walk to get moving while raising awareness of learning disability. It also brings people together and creates space for conversation and connection.

As the group made their way along the Thames, chats flowed easily. Spending time walking side by side helped break down barriers, turning simple conversations into meaningful moments of connection. Although the morning threatened rain, the sunshine made a welcome appearance just in time for the walk.

For many people with a learning disability, opportunities for social connection can be limited. Days like these play an important role in supporting positive wellbeing.

The power of coming together

Across all three activities, one thing was clear: the impact of people coming together to tackle social isolation. Volunteers from Aviva Investors and BNY didn’t just give their time, they helped create welcoming, inclusive spaces where people with a learning disability could feel confident, valued and connected.

The three days gave us a wonderful opportunity to spend time with the Me Time members in familiar environments where they felt comfortable, safe, confident and supported by Johnny. We felt a genuine sense of togetherness throughout each activity. We shared each experience as equals, enjoyed one another’s company, and those connections made a positive difference to everyone involved.

Paul Brady, Aviva Investors

Supporting financial wellbeing

Alongside volunteering, Aviva and BNY also play an important role in supporting Mencap’s wider work on financial wellbeing.

Thanks to support from Aviva Foundation and BNY, Mencap runs programmes to support people with a learning disability to build understanding around money, saving, budgeting and financial safety. This support is key to building confidence and enabling greater independence .

We know there are still significant barriers. According to a 2025 report by Project Nemo, which Mencap contributed to:

91% of people with a learning disability require support to make decisions in everyday life
43% need constant support with everyday spending
32% do not have a bank account in their own name
79% struggle with understanding financial information (such as passwords, products or terminology)
71% find it difficult to talk to bank staff or others about money
33% find paying with cash difficult and 42% struggle to use ATMs
87% are at risk of financial harm due to these unsafe workarounds, increasing vulnerability to exploitation.

Ciara Lawrence, Mencap’s Engagement Lead, explains why this work matters:

“It is important that people with a learning disability like me have access to their own money and a bank account with the right support for them, just like anyone else. Banking and finances should be made accessible for people with a learning disability by making information easy to understand.”