Life-size puppets help young people with learning disabilities in Wirral to look after themselves

Nov 5 2008 by Sue McCann, Birkenhead News

puppets

LIFE-SIZED puppets are helping young people with learning disabilities learn to take care of their own sexual health as well as addressing issues like bullying and racism.

Prenton mum Lynda Hicks launched Jo-Jo Mind & Body Limited, a social enterprise company, when she discovered that there was nowhere locally that offered health advice tailored to her own daughter’s needs – information, for example, that would help 25-year-old Georgina who has Down’s Syndrome.

The company is one of more than 30 voluntary organisations in Wirral currently sharing the latest round of Wirral Primary Care Trust’s Third Sector Health Innovation Fund, totalling £1.2m.

Jo-Jo Mind & Body received £22,000 which will fund the training of 10 actors who can deliver workshops in special schools, day centres and residential homes.

Lynda said: “With breast cancer awareness, for example, people with learning disabilities don’t know what to look for, so it’s getting the message across in a way that is both acceptable and easy to understand. Just because someone has a learning disability doesn’t mean they don’t need to know.”