Last reviewed: October 2025 | Next review: October 2027.
Current situation
People with a learning disability should be able to live their life in the way they choose, like anyone else. Getting the right care and support can be crucial for this to happen. Mencap believe that people with a learning disability must also have choice and control over where they live and how they are supported.
Care and support can range from a few hours to 24 hours a day. This can include many things, like supporting someone to get up and get dressed, develop friendships and
relationships
Relationships are about the people in your life. You might have different types of relationships like friendships, family relationships, or a boyfriend or girlfriend.
, and become active members of their
community
A community is the people and places in an area.
.
The issues
- Almost 1 in 3 young people with a learning disability spend less than an hour a day outside of their home due to public attitudes and
cuts
Cuts are when there is less money to pay for things like clubs and support.
to
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
. (1)
- Today, support for people with a learning disability comprises around 36% of social care funding in the UK. While spending on adult social care in England has increased by £7.1 billion in the last five years (2), there is a £3.5 billion funding gap projected by 2025 if pressures on the system persist (3).
- There are currently around 2,035 people with a learning disability in inpatient units in England (4). Many are there due to a lack of the right support and services in their local community.
(3) https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/95908/html/?utm_source=chatgpt.com
What we want
We want everyone with a learning disability, together with their families and carers, to get the support they require when it’s needed. And we want people with a learning disability to be happy, safe, well and valued; able to live their lives to the full in the way they choose.
In order to make this happen:
- the threshold for getting support should be lowered to ensure people with a learning disability with moderate needs do not miss out
- there must be more funding in the social care system to ensure the needs of people with a learning disability can be met
- the social care workforce must have the right skills to support people with a learning disability, including those with complex needs. They must be paid a
wage
A wage is the money you get for doing a paid job.
that reflects their skills and
responsibility
Responsibility is managing or being in charge of something.
and be valued for the work they do - the right support and services must be developed in local areas to ensure people with a learning disability can become active members of their community. Local authorities A local authority is another name for your local council. It is a group of people whose job is to look after the area where you live. Local authorities means more than one local authority. and the health service must work together effectively to make this happen
- people with a learning disability and their families must get information about the support that is available to them and their rights Rights are the things everyone should be allowed to do like have a say, or go to school. . They must also get the help they need to understand and exercise these rights, including challenging cuts to support and services.