‘The world needs more kindness’: People with learning disabilities share their hopes for 2025

There are around 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK – and they deserve to be seen, heard and celebrated.  

But there is still a long way to go. A quarter of people say they have never seen people with a learning disability represented in the media, according to charity Mencap.

Earlier this year, for Learning Disability Week in June, the Big Issue was taken over by people with learning disabilities. They were involved in every part of the process, from coming up with ideas for stories to designing the magazine to be more accessible.

• This vegan restaurant offers workers with learning disabilities a pathway to independence
• How world’s first drag troupe with Down’s syndrome is breaking boundaries for people with disabilities

And it doesn’t stop there. We want to make sure people with learning disabilities continue to feel seen.

Here, three impressive people with learning disabilities share their highlights of 2024 and their hopes for the new year.  

Tommy Jessop, a multi award-winning actor best-known for being the first professional actor with Down’s Syndrome to play a leading role in a primetime BBC drama, reflects on becoming a published author in 2024, and what the world needs more of in 2025…

My highlight of 2024 was publishing my memoir ‘A Life Worth Living’ in paperback and audio.  

I wrote this because I’m a man on a mission to show that life with Down’s Syndrome can be exciting and is worth living.   

People with Down’s syndrome should be excited about living their lives to the full. But there are still many misconceptions: 33 million Brits don’t know what a learning disability is, and a quarter of the general population (25%) say they’ve never seen people with a learning disability represented in the media. So I hope me writing this book helps to change that.  

It really feels like an honour and I feel proud to be a published author, especially when Stephen Fry said my book was ‘Simply wonderful’ and that he‘can’t recommend it highly enough’ and Mark Haddon who wrote The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time said I ‘make the world a better place’ and ‘everyone needs to hear’ my voice – that’s really wicked.  

For 2025, I would like to see people making peace with the world and with each other and more kindness. The world needs kindness.  

Aaron Plummer, 24, from London has a learning disability and cerebral palsy. He raced through 2024, taking on sporting challenges he never thought would be possible. Now, he’s lacing up his running shoes once again, and is excited about what 2025 will bring

This year, I was proud to run the London Marathon for the fifth time.  

Training for a marathon is tough and time-consuming. Sometimes I’d get up and do a 16-mile run. All that training can get lonely, but I enjoy seeing London on my feet, and week by week I see myself getting stronger.   

I found a community through running, too – my support runners, who help me cross the finish line, are an inspiration. There’s nothing like the atmosphere on the day… hearing people call your name and cheering you on.  

I remember seeing the marathon on telly as a child and thinking ‘I’d love to do that!’ but I never thought I’d actually be up there. Not in my wildest dreams. I chose to run for the learning disability charity Mencap because they supported me to get a job, and I want to give back.   

I’d say that 2024 was the year I had a mindset shift. I’m very hardworking, but sometimes I’ve felt underestimated.   

For me, a big goal for 2025 is to be able to save money and build my future.   As a person with a learning disability and cerebral palsy, there can be more barriers to finding work.  

I know I’m lucky to have a job, especially when 86% of people with a learning disability want to be in paid employment but can’t get a job.

Before I started my current job, I was juggling two jobs at once… leaving my house at 6:30am and getting home at midnight, only to do it all again the next day.  I felt tired, but I didn’t know how bad it was because I was so focused on my goals.  

Now, I’m going into January wanting balance. I’m thinking that this is my time to save – to work to live, not live to work.  

One of my goals is to be able to get Sky TV in my room so I can watch football in my own space. Now, I have to go to the pub every time I want to watch it. I love the pub, but I’d like to have a choice.   

Me and my family are also going to Jamaica for Christmas on holiday. I’m so grateful to my mum for covering my fare, but I dream of paying for myself, and being able to pay her back for all her hard work raising me.   

Next year, I’m hoping to do loads of exciting things, like going to festivals and different places.  I’d love to go to Glastonbury one year. And there’s another marathon in me yet! 

Sas Granville, 35, a football coach and disability campaigner from Worthing talks about how the last year has been filled with a special accessible holiday and some major new milestones, on and off the pitch…

My personal highlight of 2024 was going to Norway on a cruise with my friends and my support worker. It was a memory of a lifetime that I will never forget.   

I also started football training with a new local football club, Worthing town. When we played in a tournament, I scored a goal, and we won 5-1 and 4-1. It was brilliant!   

Another highlight was going to watch Brighton Women play a match against West Ham with one of my friends. Brighton won 3-2, which was very exciting.  

As a person with a learning disability and cerebral palsy, my independence is really important to me.   

There aren’t always meaningful things for people with a learning disability to do, which means some people can end up stuck at home when they deserve to be out and about. But sport has personally allowed me to stay incredibly active and make great friends.   

I feel much more at home in my local area since I found a football club nearby, and it’s amazing being able to share my successes with people. I also volunteer with other people with a learning disability, creating and selling crafts, and I love telling our customers about my adventures on the pitch.   

In 2025, I’m going to keep chasing my dreams by completing my UEFA C coaching course. My club is sponsoring me, and I will have help from the Football Association. I am going to continue coaching junior players weekly and I can’t wait to learn new skills.  

I’m not looking forwardto Donald Trump being president as I don’t like him or his ideas. At least I don’t live in America! 

Do you have a story to tell or opinions to share about this? Get in touch and tell us more. This Christmas, you can make a lasting change on a vendor’s life. Buy a magazine from your local vendor in the street every week. If you can’t reach them, buy a Vendor Support Kit.