Together for an Active, Inclusive Community: Reflections on the Worthing Mencap Active Community Conference

Active Sussex was one of many organisations from across Sussex that came together for the Worthing Mencap Active Community & Our Active Community Conference. 

The event brought together community partners, researchers, and advocates with a shared goal – to celebrate inclusion and collaboration through sport and physical activity.

The conference was facilitated by Laura Appleton, Community Partner for Mencap’s Our Active Community Thanet and Worthing, and Matthew Wassell, the Community Champion for Worthing, ensuring that lived experience, as represented by Matthew, was at the heart of the conference.

Central to the day was a strong message: collaborating and listening build stronger, more inclusive communities.

The event, which took place on Thursday, October 23, at the Amex Stadium in Brighton & Hove, began with an inspiring keynote from Jessica-Jane Applegate MBE, triple Paralympian and proud Mencap ambassador. 

Jessica-Jane shared her gold medal journey, from her first experiences in swimming to achieving 41 international medals, and reflected on how her community supported her every step of the way.

Her message was one of perseverance, passion, and inclusion, showing what you can achieve if you do something you love and never give up – even when people doubt you.

She spoke about championing the inclusion of women with learning disabilities, the role sport plays in developing key life skills, and how it can add value to one’s life, both mentally and physically.

She also reminded the audience of the importance of visual aids in supporting individuals with learning disabilities in their understanding.

Jessica-Jane highlighted how coaching allows her to see the positive impact and joy that physical activity brings to participants.

Her story reminded everyone in the room of the transformative power of community and how doing something you love can help you achieve extraordinary things.

The Centre for Sport, Physical Education and Activity Research (SPEAR) shared valuable findings from the Our Active Community project, drawing on research from nine communities across the country.

Their workshop explored both the challenges and opportunities in making sport and physical activity accessible for people with learning disabilities. 

Key learnings included the need for clearer communication, the fact that activities often occur during the day and are not inclusive, and the need for participants to often receive help from carers/support workers to join in.

The session also highlighted the growing impact of community connectors – individuals who help bridge gaps, increase collaboration, and change perceptions around inclusion and leadership for people with learning disabilities.

Participants agreed that further training and ongoing support for connectors would further strengthen this important work.

It also discussed how forums and networks help foster a sense of ownership and collaboration.

A particularly thought-provoking session, Getting Started with AI for Activity, explored how artificial intelligence could be used to support people with learning disabilities in leading happier, healthier lives.

From simplifying complex documents into easy-read formats to assisting with funding applications and tutor resources, participants discovered practical ways AI can help make information more accessible.

A creative “AI crossword challenge” helped attendees recognise the potential of AI to enhance communication and problem-solving in real-time.

Key takeaways included trying tools such as Claude AI, and sharing reflections on how AI can complement human empathy and insight, not replace them.

During the afternoon, Parable Dance, alongside dance artist Max Arnold, delivered a fun and engaging practical, inclusive dance session, plus two important workshops were promoted: a Kin-Ball activator course and a Learning Disability and Sport workshop.

Meanwhile, Mencap’s Community Organising workshop reminded everyone of the importance of listening. 

Through a mini listening session, participants explored what was working well and what wasn’t in their local communities. 

This activity echoed one of the conference’s central themes: genuine inclusion begins with listening to local voices and co-designing solutions based on real needs.

As the event drew to a close, participants left feeling inspired and motivated to continue building inclusive, active communities across Sussex and beyond.

Collaboration, listening, and co-design were the recurring themes of the day, and these principles are set to guide the Our Active Community project through to its conclusion in March 2027.

The day proved that when people come together, listen, and take action, everyone can feel the benefits of being active.

A collection of useful resources including insight from research partner SPEAR, from the event can be found here.

Find out more about the Our Active Community project: https://activecommunity.mencap.org.uk/

If you are interested in joining the Mencap Active Community, you can register here: https://activecommunity.mencap.org.uk/active-community-register