Take Control
Taking Control was a three-year partnership between C&T and Monday Night Club, supported by The National Lottery Community Fund. The programme explored how technology, co-production and community participation can help learning-disabled people gain greater control over their wellbeing, independence and quality of life.
Rather than creating services for learning-disabled people, Taking Control was built around a different principle: learning-disabled people should be active designers, creators and decision-makers in the development of the resources intended to support them.
Each year focused on a different aspect of wellbeing.
The first year, Let's Walk Worcestershire, used GPS-enabled storytelling and guided activities to encourage outdoor activity, mindfulness, social connection and engagement with local communities. Participants co-created twenty interactive walks across Worcestershire, significantly exceeding the original project target.
The second year, Saturday Kitchen, focused on healthy eating and independent living. Participants worked with professional chefs and filmmakers to create an accessible digital cooking platform that enables learning-disabled people to prepare nutritious meals independently and confidently.
The final year, 3rd Ref, explored physical activity, rehabilitation and inclusive sport. Through co-created digital resources, participants transformed exercise into an engaging and social experience. The resulting resources have already been adopted by Worcestershire Football Association, SEND schools and inclusion charities, extending their impact beyond the original project participants.
At the heart of Taking Control was a commitment to co-production. Learning-disabled participants shaped every aspect of development, from generating ideas and testing prototypes to filming content, evaluating resources and refining accessibility features. This collaborative approach ensured that the resources reflected real-world needs and aspirations.
The programme demonstrates how creative participation and digital technology can be combined to address health inequalities, support independent living and create lasting community assets. More importantly, it challenges assumptions about who can innovate, design and lead. Taking Control showed that learning-disabled people are not simply beneficiaries of innovation, but active creators of solutions that continue to support others long after the project's completion.
Project Overview
Project Title
Taking Control
Programme
Projects
Story Systems
Place Stories • Adaptive Digital Learning • Motion Stories
Status
Completed
Lead Partners
Monday Night Club • C&T
Funder
The National Lottery Community Fund
Location
Worcestershire
Participants
Learning-disabled adults across Worcestershire
Themes
Health & Wellbeing • Independent Living • Digital Inclusion • Co-Production • Disability Arts • Community Participation
Outputs
20 GPS Wellbeing Walks
10 Adaptive Cooking Experiences
161 Instructional Videos
4 Interactive Sports & Rehabilitation Resources
Digital Infrastructure
Prospero
Impact
All programme objectives achieved.
Resources continue to be used beyond the funded period and have been adopted by Worcestershire Football Association, SEND schools, supported living services and inclusion charities.
Legacy
The project created a lasting digital wellbeing toolkit supporting mental health, healthy eating, physical activity, independent living and social participation. The resources remain freely available and continue to generate impact beyond the life of the original funding programme.
Related Sectors
Community & Inclusion • Health & Wellbeing • Research • Education
Related Programme
Research & Development