Our Members
DAiSY Member Organisations
At its heart DAiSY is a steering group of like minded organisations who use creativity for the benefit of the local community. These members are spread across the county, vary in size and mode of delivery, but all provide artistic workshops, support mental wellbeing, bringing people together and make artistic work.
The steering group meets regularly to shape DAiSY strategy, discuss ideas and explore countywide issues. We also operate as an informal network, with opportunities for members to contact each other directly for support and advice.
Art Matters
Part of the mental health charity Richmond Fellowship, Art Matters is a community arts studio and centre of wellbeing and mindfulness aiming to connect communities and provide pathways to recovery. The studio offers a person centred and supportive environment encouraging individuals to explore their creativity and develop new skills and confidence.
Art and Laughs
Halow Project
The halow project is dedicated to creating opportunities and supporting young people with a learning disability so that they are able to live independent, meaningful, fulfilled lives and become more involved in their local community.
halow aims to ensure that every person with a learning disability has the same life choices and chances as any other person by providing access to social activities, community based learning and work like experiences.
The young people we work with want the opportunity to:
- Build relationships
- Become part of the community
- Find meaningful employment
- Have a home of their own
Freewheelers Theatre & Media Company
We are an inclusive arts company where artistic excellence goes hand in hand with learning and personal growth.
Our person-centred, creative process and the friendly, communal Freewheelers atmosphere creates an environment where our members’ confidence, independence, social skills and self expression can thrive.
Every week is packed with creative workshops where members come together to share their creative talents, learn new skills and work towards a new performance, film or piece of art.
A day with the Freewheelers is a chance to meet friends, chat, laugh, have fun and be yourself.
Creative Response
Creative Response Arts Ltd is an art related charity for vulnerable adults. The practising artists share visual and performance techniques and provide a safe environment for self-expression. Learnt transferable skills enable artists to manage their own mental health by enhancing self-esteem through sharing and socialising.
There are regular in-house and external exhibitions and projects that stretch and enhance artistic skills.
Dramatize
Dramatize is a charity based in Ashford, Surrey who run theatrical workshops and trips for adults with learning disabilities. Dramatize provides a range of arts-based workshops to help further the personal development of the students who access our provisions. We aim to inspire our students to be independent through a variety of sessions, to encourage a lifetime of creativity and highlight their individual talents as artists. Dramatize aims to provide the opportunity for theatre and the performing arts to be accessible to all!
Link Able
We support people with a learning disability and autistic people to create the life they want to live. Our groups provide a place to feel safe and comfortable being yourself, with room to grow and develop at your own pace. In the welcoming LinkAble community, you will be seen and celebrated as an individual.
Our weekly groups and holiday schemes provide engaging experiences for people with additional needs and vital short breaks for their parents and carers. Choose from sensory activities, day trips, performing, socialising, life skills and more. We are here for people from five years old and have no upper age limit.
Elmbridge Mencap
We help enrich the lives of all people with learning disabilities. Elmbridge Mencap supports children and adults who have learning disabilities, together with their parents and carers in Elmbridge and the surrounding areas. As well as our fantastic facilities, events and activities, we are here to offer help and advice in a practical way.
The Meath Epilepsy Charity
We recognise ability which means that the people that we support are enabled to live as independently as possible, challenge themselves and to fulfil their potential. This positive ‘can do’ culture is shared by the people we support, staff and volunteers alike across our broad range of services and facilities.
Our very special community is located in a stunning setting and boasts fantastic facilities in central Godalming. The Meath’s beautiful Grade II listed manor house, together with other higher-needs modern annex houses and the Skills Centre are all set in landscaped grounds. Our location is both peaceful yet close to local amenities and the main line train station. We are proud to be at the heart of our local community and to enjoy strong links with the town.
Orpheus Centre
Orpheus believes that disabled people should have the same opportunities as their non-disabled peers. We aim to equip young disabled people with the skills and confidence they need in order to live independent and fulfilling lives.
Everything at Orpheus is focussed on maximising lasting independence for our students. We have an entrepreneurial spirit, taking a lead in finding new and effective ways of working in the arts, learning and social care sectors. Our impact and ethos has so engaged and inspired visitors to the college that we benefit from a steady stream of help from arts professionals, tutors, support staff and volunteers. Our students have performed at the House of Lords, the Royal Albert Hall and venues across the UK and worked with schools, prisons, community groups and businesses to break down barriers and challenge stereotypes.
Post 19
Post19 is a leading Life Skills and Support Centre for young adults with learning difficulties. We are based in Farnham and support young adults throughout Surrey and Hampshire. Through accessing our community based programme, Post19 supports our young adults to lead a fulfilling and meaningful life and to reach their full potential. Based across three sites in Farnham, Post19 provides a friendly environment centred on the needs and interests of those who come to us.
Stopgap Dance Company
Stopgap Dance Company is driven by a diverse creative team who uses dance as a movement for change.
Our vision is to create an inclusive world where diversity is not just accepted but pursued, a world where no one is limited by prejudice against D/deaf, disabled, or neurodiverse people.
Working with an artform shaped by human touch and energised by the spark of connectivity, our productions demonstrate the compelling power of diversity and inclusivity.
The Grange
The Grange at Bookham is a friendly and creative place supporting people with learning disabilities to live independent and fulfilling lives.
We provide supported accommodation on our 8-acre site and in the local community and our staff are there to help people with all aspects of daily life.
We are unique in Surrey for our Skills for Life service which offers training and work experience in horticulture, catering, creative arts, retail, woodwork and IT – all on one site. We run several mini businesses, including gift shops, our Simply Scones tea room, fudge and mug making.
The Artventure Trust
Artventure Trust is a charity that provides visual art sessions for adults with learning disabilities, physical impairments and autism in a safe and fun environment. We offer opportunities to explore different art forms from painting and drawing to textile, 3D work and ceramics, we offer printmaking and photography as well. The sessions take place in our purpose built studio that is on the grounds of St Peter’s School in Merrow, Guildford. A dedicated team of artworkers and volunteers support our participants with their creative processes and social interactions.
Bloomin’ Arts
Bloomin’ Arts is a creative arts organisation driven by the voice of disabled adults.
Through the provision of high-quality opportunities in the creative arts, each individual develops their artistic talents. Our aim is to support confidence, independence and physical, social and emotional wellbeing.
We create these opportunities not only to nurture artistic talent, but also to build valuable connections within both our local and artistic community.
Create Ability
Create Ability is a community arts service providing art and craft sessions for people with learning disabilities, autism, physical impairments, complex needs and dementia, based in Farnham, Surrey.
We believe that engaging with creative projects enriches the lives of our participants, through self-expression, personal development, social interactions and a sense of enjoyment. We currently have sessions running in a community hall in Weybourne and in a residential care home.
Include.org
Include is a Redhill based charity committed to breaking down barriers for people with understanding and speaking difficulties.
We work largely with people with learning disabilities / autism but also with people with dementia or other cognitive communication difficulties.
We provide community activities, training and coproduction / self advocacy groups: All of them are based on speech and language therapy evidence, raise awareness of inclusive communication and teach skills to individuals and communities through a creative approach.
Lockwood Studios
From arts workshops and music education to enterprise start-ups and social care programmes, Lockwood Studios is designed to meet the diverse needs of the community today and for the future. The new, regenerated Lockwood helps unlock the potential of thousands of local people across a host of vital services including social care, well-being, the arts and new business enterprise.
