An unexpected surprise at GROWFest learning disability festival

Lauren, who is supported by FitzRoy Hampshire Supported Living, attended a festival especially designed for people with learning disabilities and autism and got a welcome surprise while she was there.

Stacey, Lauren’s Support Worker, told us more.

When I saw an advert for GROWFest I thought it would be a great day out for Lauren. The festival is run by The GROW Project, who run a few local day services for adults with learning and physical disabilities and autism. It is free and open to the public as they want to encourage community inclusion and integration.

Lauren has autism, so at first she was a little anxious about going as she hadn’t been before but was very excited. She relaxed when she got there and there was lots of things to do such as a BBQ, various stalls, face painting and some great live music.

We were standing in a queue when we spotted Joe Swash behind us. Lauren is a massive Eastenders fan, so she was really excited. We asked him if he would mind posing for a photo and he was really lovely. Lauren is normally quite shy, but she was so over the moon to see him she was jumping up and down and chatting away.

Seeing Joe Swash really made Lauren’s day and she’s been buzzing about it ever since. She printed the photo off for her room and couldn’t wait to tell everyone about it when she got home. It was just the cherry on the top of a brilliant day out.