Special event to mark Learning Disability week | News and events

Learning disability nurse Una Chirisa was named “star baker” at a special meet and greet event to mark Learning Disability week.

The LD Bake Off competition for staff at Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, was part of an afternoon date to showcase the work of learning disability and autism teams in Norfolk and Suffolk.

There were stalls offering advice and resources, including the Community LD and Autism Team East/West, LD Liaison Team, Intensive Support Team, Experts by Experience, Speech and Language teams from East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, Green Light representatives and the team from Walker Close. 

Michelle Andrews, Green Light Lead for Suffolk, said: “It was a great event. The experts by experience had a fabulous time judging the bake off and it was great to be able to chat to people and share best practice.”

Una, who is in the West Suffolk LD and Autism Community Team, took the top prize. Second was Occupational Therapist Gemma Cunliffe, West Suffolk LD and Autism Team, and Liaison Nurse Sarah Darkins was third.

A raffle of the cakes and other baked items raised £60. The money raised will allow the experts by experience to make festive hampers for people who are alone at Christmas. 

The event was attended by Chief Patient Experience Officer and Deputy CEO Cath Byford and was organised by Michelle, Chris Collins, Abbie Oliver-Wilson, Lauren Smith and the experts by experience. Belinda Danso-Langley, Director of Nursing for East Suffolk and Lindsay Sadler Associate Director of Nursing and Quality in East Suffolk, also came along.

Michelle said: “The experts came up with the idea to host a bake off like the TV programme. There were 13 items entered including cakes, quiches, sausage rolls, cupcakes and shortbread and the experts blind judged each item on overall appearance, size and if they would eat it.”