LOVE SHACK
Let’s talk about sex, relationships and everything in between
LOVE SHACK is Fflamingo’s creative, accessible programme exploring sex, relationships, identity, consent and connection with people with learning disabilities.
People with learning disabilities have the same rights to relationships, intimacy, information and self-expression as everyone else, yet they are usually excluded from honest conversations, given inaccessible information or taught only about risks and what they should not do.
LOVE SHACK creates space for something more: curiosity, choice, pleasure, confidence, connection and the right to make informed decisions.
What is LOVE SHACK?
LOVE SHACK brings people with learning disabilities together to explore the things that matter to them through creative workshops, accessible activities, shared conversations and social experiences.
Rather than telling people what relationships should look like, we create a safe and supportive space where participants can ask questions, share their experiences and explore their own ideas, values and choices.
Topics might include:
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different kinds of relationships;
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attraction, dating and intimacy;
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consent, boundaries and communication;
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sexual orientation and gender identity;
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healthy and unhealthy relationships;
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bodies, pleasure and sexual health;
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online dating and staying safer online;
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confidence, rejection and heartbreak;
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loneliness, friendship and connection;
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having greater control over your own life and relationships.
The programme is honest, joyful and sometimes gloriously awkward — because conversations about sex and relationships do not have to be frightening, clinical or embarrassing.
How does it work?
LOVE SHACK uses creativity to make complex and sensitive subjects easier to understand and talk about.
Sessions might include games, drama, movement, art, music, storytelling, role play and group discussion. Activities are adapted to the people taking part, with accessible language, visual resources and different ways to communicate and contribute.
Nobody is pressured to share personal information. Participants can join discussions in ways that feel comfortable for them, and clear group agreements help create a respectful and safer space.
LOVE SHACK is not a counselling or sexual-health service. Where somebody needs individual or specialist support, we can help signpost them to an appropriately qualified organisation or professional.
Co-produced with people with learning disabilities
People with learning disabilities are not simply invited to take part in LOVE SHACK. They help shape it.
Their experiences, questions and priorities inform the subjects we explore, the activities we use and how the programme develops. Lived experience is recognised as expertise, and people are supported to contribute as participants, co-producers and paid members of the delivery team.
This approach builds on the co-production model developed through House of Deviant, Fflamingo’s award-winning learning-disabled drag collective.
We do not decide what people need and then deliver it to them. We create the work together.
LOVE SHACK Socials
LOVE SHACK Socials create accessible opportunities for people with learning disabilities to meet, connect and enjoy themselves.
They provide an alternative to traditional relationship education by giving people real opportunities to practise social skills, build confidence and form meaningful connections in welcoming and supported environments.
Socials might include themed events, creative activities, games, music and facilitated conversations. The focus is not on finding a romantic partner, it is also about friendship, belonging, confidence and having a place where people can be themselves.
Training for professionals
LOVE SHACK also supports the people and organisations around adults with learning disabilities.
Our creative training helps professionals, support workers, families and organisations feel more confident talking about sex, relationships, consent and LGBTQ+ identities.
Training explores how personal values, organisational cultures and concerns about risk can affect the support people receive. It encourages participants to move beyond avoidance and towards rights-based, person-centred conversations.
We can provide workshops, accessible resources and bespoke training for organisations working across health, social care, education and the third sector.
Our next training event for professionals working with adults with learning disabilities will take place on Wednesday 16th September at Sbectrwm, Fairwater.
Register here -
Who is it for?
LOVE SHACK is for:
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adults with learning disabilities who want to explore relationships, identity and connection;
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organisations looking for accessible workshops or social opportunities for the people they support;
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professionals who want greater confidence discussing sex and relationships;
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commissioners and partners interested in developing inclusive, rights-based services;
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families and supporters seeking more open and constructive approaches.
Why does it matter?
Being protected from harm matters. But a good life must involve more than being kept safe.
People with learning disabilities should have access to understandable information, opportunities to meet others and support that respects their autonomy. They should be able to explore relationships, make choices, take reasonable risks and learn from their experiences.
LOVE SHACK challenges low expectations and replaces silence with honest conversation.
Because everyone deserves the opportunity to love, connect, belong and decide what a fulfilling life means to them.
Work with us
We are developing LOVE SHACK through partnerships with people with learning disabilities, community organisations, professionals and commissioners.
If you are interested in joining the programme, commissioning a workshop, booking professional training or helping us develop LOVE SHACK in your area, we would love to hear from you.
Come inside. Let’s talk about Sex Baby.
