WAVE – Art and Faith Cafe
WAVE ST NEOTS – Creating inclusive space with people with learning difficulties
WAVE St. Neots began in March 2022 with a one-off pop-up event for people with learning disabilities and friends. Our Art and Faith café is now a regular feature at Berkley St Methodist Church. We run bimonthly on Saturdays between 2 and 4pm, starting with a time to chat followed by an art activity linked to a faith theme. We eat cake baked by SWITCH – the learning disabilities training centre in St Neots, then share news, sing using Makaton when we can, and have a short reflection followed by prayers.
WAVE (We’re All valued Equally) started with WAVE church in North London by two parents – Bernice and Celia, as a response to traditional church failing to respond to the needs of people with learning disabilities. WAVE has since become a platform for sharing ideas and experience promoting the ‘with not for’ ethos – see https://www.wave-for-change.org.uk. Being linked in in this way gives us encouragement and WAVE St. Neots is featured sharing our experience with others.
At WAVE St Neots we have a regular cohort of 10 people with learning disabilities who attend with a friend or family member and other regulars attracted by the inclusive atmosphere. People are increasingly helping out – two come ahead to help move furniture, which takes the sweat out of setting up, others serve the teas and cakes, and members also contribute to the readings and the prayers. One brought their Ukulele band which quickly got everyone up and dancing. Friendships are forming and we do feel that we are building a small community and inclusive space in a loosely faith context. Whilst there is no intention for this to be a bridge to traditional church, it was great that two members joined our Easter Day Extravaganza this year and deliver the Gospel reading.
If you would like more information or details of when we are open do get in touch with our team at Berkley St – Colin, Jan, Emily, Sue, Christine and Marian on wavestneots@aol.com. We will be happy to share experience and learning.
