Close Menu
Graeme DeyGraeme Dey
  • News
    • Angus South
    • Holyrood
    • Westminster
    • Education
  • About
    • Graeme Dey MSP
    • GDPR
      • Privacy Policy
      • Child Data Protection
      • Cookies
  • Surgeries
  • Issues
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Law & Order
    • Social Security
    • Transport
    • Devolved and Reserved Powers
  • Gallery
    • 2021 –
      • 2024
      • 2023
      • 2022
      • 2021
    • 2016 – 2020
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
    • 2011 – 2015
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
  • Videos
    • Members’ Business
    • Questions
      • First Minister’s Questions
      • General Questions
      • Portfolio Questions
      • Topical Questions
  • Contact
    • Contact Graeme
    • Generic Consent Form
    • NHS Consent Form
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
Friday, June 20
Graeme DeyGraeme Dey
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
  • News
    1. Angus South
    2. Holyrood
    3. Westminster
    4. Education
    5. View All

    Expanding Access to Childcare

    13th June 2025

    Welcoming the funding boost for Appetite for Angus, led by Angus Farmers Market

    9th June 2025

    Supporting Small Food & Drink Businesses

    4th June 2025

    Funding for Angus Climate Action Hub

    30th May 2025

    Securing Grangemouth’s Just Transition

    18th June 2025

    More Support for Care-Experienced Youth

    18th June 2025

    Scrapping 2-Child Limit to Fight Child Poverty

    17th June 2025

    Inward Investment Success

    17th June 2025

    Spending Review presents challenges

    12th June 2025

    Call for National Mission on Living Standards

    23rd May 2025

    Labour immigration policy threatens Scotland’s NHS

    13th May 2025

    Minister condemns ‘devastating’ UK migration proposals

    12th May 2025

    Scottish Languages Bill Passed

    18th June 2025

    Rise in School Leavers in Positive Destinations

    17th June 2025

    Building positive relationships in schools

    17th June 2025

    Boosting university spin-outs

    16th June 2025

    Securing Grangemouth’s Just Transition

    18th June 2025

    More Support for Care-Experienced Youth

    18th June 2025

    Scottish Languages Bill Passed

    18th June 2025

    Scrapping 2-Child Limit to Fight Child Poverty

    17th June 2025
  • About
    • Graeme Dey MSP
    • GDPR
      • Privacy Policy
      • Child Data Protection
      • Cookies
  • Surgeries
  • Issues
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Law & Order
    • Social Security
    • Transport
    • Devolved and Reserved Powers
  • Gallery
    • 2021 –
      • 2024
      • 2023
      • 2022
      • 2021
    • 2016 – 2020
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
    • 2011 – 2015
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
      • 2012
      • 2011
  • Videos
    • Members’ Business
    • Questions
      • First Minister’s Questions
      • General Questions
      • Portfolio Questions
      • Topical Questions
  • Contact
    • Contact Graeme
    • Generic Consent Form
    • NHS Consent Form
Graeme DeyGraeme Dey
You are at:Home»Angus South»Highlighting Learning Disability Week

Highlighting Learning Disability Week

EmiliaBy Emilia27th June 202326 Views3 Mins Read Angus South
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp

Celebrating the rich contribution that people with learning disabilities make to society

Graeme recently visited the Hope Organic Garden and SAPALD to highlight Learning Disability Week.  

There are over 125,000 people with learning disabilities living in Scotland, and raising awareness provides an opportunity to change attitudes, making Scotland a better, fairer and more equal place for everyone.

It was a pleasure to meet with Caroline and catch up about Hope’s great work. They structure their gardening programmes at the appropriate level for each trainee which helps develop the trainee’s self-esteem, confidence and skills, which has a very positive effect on wellbeing. I was particularly pleased to hear Hope recently received funding from Empower Angus Community Foundation which distributes a share of profits from renewable energy projects invested by Empower Community.

I was also pleased to have the opportunity to catch up with the SAPALD team for the first time since the pandemic. It was interesting to hear about the future plans they have to expand their support for local people with learning disabilities.

GRAEME

The event is organised every year by the learning disability charity, Mencap. It aims to improve the quality of life for individuals with learning disabilities by raising awareness about important issues, fighting stigma and discrimination, and raising funds for outreach and support programs.

It was a pleasure to meet with Caroline Gray and some of the trainees at HOPE Organic Garden in Arbroath.
The Garden has provided gardening experience for adults with learning disabilities since 1994, and continues to welcome trainees offering individual support and mentoring. pic.twitter.com/2xTSBIQZWe

— Graeme Dey (@GraemeDeyMSP) June 23, 2023

HOPE is a charitable trust established in 1994 by Cedric de Voil, a local GP, who saw the benefits of gardening for people with learning disabilities. For more than 25 years, the garden has grown organically, thanks to support from the local community. HOPE continues to welcome trainees every year offering individuals support and mentoring. HOPE activities include all aspects of growing fruit and vegetables organically, from sowing to harvesting and selling to the community. Their trainees enjoy working in a safe environment supported by staff and volunteers and, circumstances permitting, they attend the garden one or two mornings per week where they work either individually or in small groups. Some trainees even have their own personal garden area.

Hope has an important place in the lives of our trainees, volunteers and staff, we aim to offer horticultural training and work experience as well as social opportunities for adults with Learning difficulties in Angus. We are also able to supply our local community with a source of organically grown seasonal fruit and vegetables. It’s a great project that reflects the hard work of the Trainees, Volunteers, Staff and Trustees

CAROLINE GRAY, HOPE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Mr Dey visited Hope Organic Garden, where he spoke with Project Development Manager Caroline Gray and some of the Trainees about the support offered by the organisation. He then met with several Trustees of South Angus Parents of Adults with Learning Disabilities (SAPALD) for a planning session to support the charity’s expansion across Angus. SAPALD are a registered charity that was formed by a group of parents to ensure that their adults with learning disabilities are provided with suitable locally supported residential housing, local residential respite short break facilities, and social events. A positive and worthwhile session concluded with the agreement that SAPALD would continue working with both the Angus Health and Social Care Partnership, Angus Carers Centre, and other local organisations to help identify the parent carers of adults with learning disabilities, and support their introduction to the support to which they are entitled.

This was a positive and constructive meeting, and we are grateful to Graeme for his continued positive support for SAPAD, and carers in South Angus.

CAROLINE PETRIE, SAPALD’S SECRETARY
learning disability Local organisations
Previous ArticleScottish Youth Parliament election process gets underway in Angus
Next Article Minimum Unit Pricing Success
Emilia

I started working for Graeme’s office after graduating from Abertay University and while I was studying a post graduate at Dundee University. I then went on to work for Graeme full time as his constituency assistant.

Related Posts

Expanding Access to Childcare

13th June 2025

Welcoming the funding boost for Appetite for Angus, led by Angus Farmers Market

9th June 2025

Supporting Small Food & Drink Businesses

4th June 2025
latest news

Securing Grangemouth’s Just Transition

More Support for Care-Experienced Youth

Scottish Languages Bill Passed

Scrapping 2-Child Limit to Fight Child Poverty

About
About

Graeme Dey is the the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Angus South Constituency.

Having worked for The Courier newspaper for 26 years, Graeme was elected to Holyrood in 2011.

In March 2023, Graeme was chosen by First Minister Humza Yousaf to be Minister for Higher and Further Education; and Minister for Veterans.

Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
Latest Posts

Securing Grangemouth’s Just Transition

More Support for Care-Experienced Youth

Scottish Languages Bill Passed

Scrapping 2-Child Limit to Fight Child Poverty

Flickr Photos
Transport Police
RM Condor Parliament 2
D&A College (Apprenticeship Week) 6
Deaf Hub 3
DofE3
Humza and Graeme close up pro
Humza Graeme Sign
Independence Convention
July7 Surgery 2]
CWA Parl 3
20230712_104835
20230712_110433
Banking Hub 1
SSERC
Ayrshire College
Poverty Alliance
© 2025 Graeme Dey MSP. No parliamentary funds have been used to create and maintain this website. Promoted by G. Dey, 282 High St, DD11 1JF.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.