Together we are 30
This year, Langdon is celebrating being 30, together with our partners, support workers, volunteers, trustees, employers, and donors, all of whom make our work possible and enable our Members to live their best lives.
For 30 years, Langdon has helped Jewish adults and young people with learning disabilities and autism across the UK to live independent lives and enjoy the same opportunities as their peers. We support Members across London and Manchester to follow their Jewish culture in whichever way they choose, while providing places to live, educational and employment opportunities, and offering a full programme of activities fostering an active community where they can socialise and have fun. Our aim is to ensure our Members can be their best, true selves, which we call Livingness.
It has enabled Members such as Moishy to build a close rapport over seven years with his long-term support worker Arnold, keeping a kosher home in Manchester and enjoying learning to use the computer at Langdon College, and 18-year-old Tova to flourish as she gains confidence and friends while taking part in activities at our youth club Langdon Brady, with the help of volunteer Joe.
Langdon Member Tova, with her mother, Rachelle, and Langdon Brady Volunteer, Joe
Tova’s mother Rachelle said:
“She’s relaxed and comfortable coming here, and I as a mother feel safe, knowing that her needs will be attended to, that people will understand her and she’s also with peers.”
Trustee Paul’s sister Gabs has gained enormously from Langdon College in Manchester which she attended from the age of 16, setting her on a path to independence.
“That decision was probably one of the best decisions my parents made, and it’s transformed my sister’s life, it’s transformed theirs and the whole family’s because it’s set her on this road of independence and this life she wouldn’t have had,” said Paul. “From the college, my sister moved to the community in London and her independence just continues to increase.”
Geoffrey, original Langdon Trustee, with Paul, a current Langdon Trustee
As Langdon celebrates 30 years, we all joined together in October with an online fundraising campaign ‘Together we are 30’. The aim of the campaign was to raise as much of our voluntary income as possible and help enable Livingness for hundreds of young people and adults with learning disabilities and autism, in the years to come. We are delighted to announce that we raised over £800,000 which is an incredible achievement, we are so grateful to all our generous benefactors, ambassadors and donors for their support
“Running a crowdfunding campaign so soon after the mini-budget that destabilised the country no doubt has an effect on people’s ability to make charitable donations,” said Neil Taylor, Langdon’s Chief Executive Officer. “Not only does the economic crisis impact social care charities such as Langdon from a local authority funding perspective, but also people’s ability to donate.
“It’s the voluntary income that funds everything that makes Langdon unique, from our ambitious activities programme and Jewish cultural programme, to our youth service Langdon Brady, our employment service, our social work provision, and our property refurbishment works.”
Looking to the future, we are excited to announce that Langdon and Kisharon have begun to develop a joint strategy, in the form of a merged charity combining both organisations, to offer the best possible service and support to people with Learning Disabilities and Autism in the Jewish community.
This is a great opportunity for us to shape the future together and continue to enable our Members to live their best lives and be their best, true selves. For more information please visit Kisharon and Langdon launch listening exercise on proposed merger.