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Leading the way to independence

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  • Our history

Our history

1996 - 1999: Launch

Uniting Friends was launched by Russell Lerner in October 1996 as part of the Daybreak Barnardo project to support young people in transition to adult services. Its focus was to create a befriending and advocacy service. The organisation was always focused, as it is today, to be user led, involving its service users in the development and delivery of its services. There were just three members of staff at the beginning.

1999 - 2002: Partnership

Uniting Friends was in a partnership with Redbridge Mencap until early 2002.

2002 - present: Independence

In September 2002, the service gained independent charitable status and created a management board. It is run by CEO Russell Lerner and a team of 28 people.  It currently operates a large and busy innovative day opportunities service, an evening and weekend befriending service, a ground to fork allotment project, a nightclub and radio show.

Notable Milestones

May 2006 - Uniting Friends has always been in the forefront towards promoting the rights of people with learning disabilities and in May 2006, following a service user being discriminated in a local pub, it supported a case with the Disability Rights Commission and a service user which resulted in record damages being awarded. This case led the way nationally for others cases to challenge other companies that break the law. 

More than Friends - Over the years Uniting Friends has created many ground breaking projects including a dating agency called More Than Friends. Over 200 members had dates, with 68 members experiencing love for the first time. 42 long term relationships flourished leading to two engagements.

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You can watch more about our history as part of a film made for our 21st anniversary celebrations. Read more about our 21st anniversary here.



Published: 17th March, 2016

Updated: 24th April, 2018

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  • Jobs

    Our work is very important to the people we support. This means we want the best people to join our team. At Uniting Friends, you’ll be given the chance to broaden your expertise in the field of social care as well as many training opportunities.

  • Who and how we help

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  • Getting into work

    Getting into work

    We support you and provide training to learn all the skills you need to find a job and do well in the world of work.

  • The Groovy Cat Club

    The Groovy Cat Club

    The Groovy Cat Club runs every month and is run by and for people with learning disabilities

  • Our Mission

    Our Mission

    Our mission is to enable people with a learning disability to live full and equal lives with independence, freedom and pride.

  • Staff

  • What we do

    What we do

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  • Holidays

    Holidays

    We run holidays both abroad and in the UK throughout the year for our members to relax and have fun!

  • Groovy Cat Club

    Groovy Cat Club

    On the first Thursday of each month we have our nightclub which is run by and for people with learning disabilities. Come and dance the night away!

  • How to access our services

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Uniting Friends
92c Beehive Lane, Ilford, Essex, IG4 5EG
T:020 8551 8800
E: [email protected]

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Uniting Friends is a company limited by guarantee.
Company Reg. No. 6495763
Registered charity no. 1126190

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