by Carole Hodgson, Training and Development Officer
What we're learning at i4t and Monkey Park
At MacIntyre’s i4t group (Inspired 4 Training) the first thing we do is talk about the group rules. These have been in place since we started back in 2009, and they’re still the foundation of everything we do.
Why? Because we’re not a traditional training group. I4t was created to change things - to show that people with learning disabilities have something to teach. They have skills, experiences, and insights that matter. From day one, our goal has been to create a space where people support and train one another, whether that’s staff, organisations, or peers and take real ownership of the work they do.
A shift in thinking
One of our core rules is simple but powerful:
We’re all different, and that’s OK. We work together.
When we talk about diversity with the group, they get it immediately. No prompting needed. The message resonates because they live it. And when they’re supported properly, with a diverse group of allies around them, diversity isn’t just accepted, it’s celebrated.
So, what does diversity mean to us?
We asked the i4t group:
Why does diversity in the community matter?
Their answer was clear
Representation. Being seen. Being heard.
They want to be part of something and contribute. A great example of this is our ongoing partnership with the local hospice, where we’ve delivered workshops and built genuine, meaningful relationships. Through projects like this, the people we support have started to recognise their own worth in so many ways.
Food, culture, and new experiences
We’re also involved with a community café called Monkey Park, where we run activities every Tuesday. One recent project involved inviting the Chesterfield Asian Association to join us for a cooking day. The idea was simple: cook together, share a meal, and connect across cultures.
It didn’t quite unfold how we’d imagined in terms of attendance, but what happened instead was just as valuable. For our group, it was a completely new experience. They saw how something as everyday as cooking could become a powerful way to connect with others and themselves.
And the food? Incredible. ‘Chef’ demonstrated to the group how to make a vegetable curry and onion bhajis. We connected with language, gestures, smiles and shared tasks.
Using what we’ve got
We’d love to try making the dishes ourselves. Thanks to a local community food initiative, we’re able to access surplus vegetables at no cost. That means we can experiment, learn, and cook meals together without worrying about price or waste.
It’s not just about food. It’s about resourcefulness, inclusion, and working with what you have to make something meaningful.
Why local links matter
One of the most rewarding parts of our work is building connections with other groups. And what we’ve found is: once you make one connection, others become easier. Each new partnership opens a door. You stop worrying so much about rejection. You start discovering whole new communities, opportunities, and perspectives.
But we also know that one of the biggest barriers out there is fear. People can often be nervous, afraid to say the wrong thing. Sometimes, even afraid to talk directly to someone with a learning disability. But at MacIntyre we know that the only way through that fear is awareness, openness, and honest connection.
What’s next?
At i4t and Monkey Park, we’ll keep doing what we’ve always done: creating space for people to shine, speak up, and support one another. We’ll keep reaching out, trying new things, cooking new meals, and building a more connected, inclusive community.
