Luv2meetU – Transforming friendship for adults with learning disabilities

There’s a packed programme of activities to enjoy every week from arts to mindfulness

Friendships are a vital part of life for people with learning disabilities.

They reduce loneliness and isolation and bring significant health and emotional benefits including promoting wellbeing, independence and connection.

Support organisations, such as Hft’s Luv2meetU (L2MU) initiative, connect people with learning disabilities, enabling them to develop friendships by providing opportunities for social interaction, developing of life skills and making new connections.

Hft’s L2MU currently runs groups in Cheshire, North Wales, Merseyside, Bradford and Bristol.

Meeting regularly, members enjoy a range of activities, from coffee mornings, shopping and day trips to essential life skills training and support in accessing other services that can benefit them in their communities

But when the Covid Pandemic hit, the groups had to stop meeting, prompting the charity to think about how a service could continue to be provided in a different format.

Virtual L2MU was quickly set up, offering a safe space for learning disabled adults to continue connecting and enjoying different experiences and activities.

The virtual service remained in place once restrictions lifted and has continued to grow from strength to strength, with 200 members and dozens meeting daily to enjoy an array of online activities.

The service is run by Hft’s National Co-ordinator, Amy Cook, who works with members to plan a full week of sessions.

“The online sessions came as a result of covid when members could no longer enjoy face to face events and meet up to enjoy activities together,“ said Amy.

“Once restrictions lifted we wanted to keep an online version available as it had worked so well.

“Not everyone can be part of a physical L2MU group for various reasons.

“Some may struggle to get out and about, either for physical or emotional reasons. And for others, there may not be a local or easily accessible group in their area.

“Others feel more comfortable logging in from home to a safe online environment.”

Mondays is Movement and Mindfulness, which includes a short online workout for the body and the mind, followed by a meditation session.

In the afternoon, there’s a Craft and Chat session where members take the opportunity to showcase their artistic skills.

Tuesdays are all about music, kicking off with the Retro Music Event, where members pick a song from years gone by. This is followed by Alphabeat.

“These are very popular sessions,” said Amy.

“Our L2MU members choose one of their favourite tracks and then talk about why it is special to them.

“It’s like having an online boogie.”

There’s also virtual fitness classes on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, and Bingo on a Wednesday.

Wednesday offers members an opportunity to travel the world from the comfort of their own armchair

Each week Amy pulls together a special presentation about different destinations around the world.

“We do a virtual walk through of the location and look at its cuisine, music and culture, as well as any special locations.

“We then have a quiz about each destination and there’s an online passport which gets stamped at the end of every ‘trip.’

“I like to think it’s a way of seeing the world from your armchair.”

“Some people have travelled, while others haven’t. This is a chance for them to share their experiences with each other.

In 2025, the group visited 36 locations, from Transylvania at Halloween and Lapland at Christmas.

Thursday is another, quieter, Craft and Chat session, with members enjoying all sorts of arts, from painting to cross stitching.

Last year, art created by the group featured on the L2MU Christmas card.

It’s karaoke for the later Thursday session – hosted by Terri.

“It’s a really popular session and a real sing a long,” said Amy. “And it’s a way for members to express themselves through music.”

Thursday is rounded off with a film quiz and a soundtrack session where members choose their favourite music from famous movie soundtracks.

Fridays are Feedback Fridays, a chance for Amy to meet with members on a one to one basis.

“These one to one sessions are really important.

“It gives the people we support a chance to chat things through and talk about what has gone well for them that week and perhaps discuss things which they have found difficult and ways to resolve those issues.

“It’s also a forum to suggest events they’d like to see in the programme.

“Then on Fridays we have a session based on their suggestions, this can be anything from a Show and Tell to playing hangman.”

Some members attend all the sessions each week, while others dip in and out.

“Some of the people we support work or volunteer or have other social activities, so they can’t make every session,” said Amy.

“But they know that’s its open to drop in whenever they like.

“Other members come to every session and love the social interaction.

“L2MU is all about building connections and friendships. It’s been wonderful to see new friendships bloom within the group and see existing connections become stronger.

“As it’s a national group and online, it gives the people we support the opportunity to meet people they normally wouldn’t.”

Plans for 2026 include introducing ‘goal setting’ sessions where members can check in with Amy and discuss their aspirations for the future and discuss any support they need to reach their goals.

There are also plans for a L2MU Time Machine session, taking a look back into key moments of history.

“I love my job,” said Amy

“I am so privileged to be part of our members’ lives.

“We receive such positive feedback from the members and their families. That’s the real barometer to measure success, what we are doing and if we are doing it right.

“I never want L2MU to plateau. It’s important we work with the people we support to keep it fresh and look at new ideas for sessions.

“It’s always been, and will continue to be, very much driven by them.”

Each session lasts an hour.

Membership to the online session’s costs £10 a month. You don’t have to be supported by Hft to take part and the group is open to anyone with a learning disability

To find out more email amy.cook@hft.org.uk