About us
WAVE stands for We’re All Valued Equally.
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This drives everything we do. We like that our work can be summed up in the two meanings of the word ‘wave’, a universal sign of friendship and a powerful force that can break down barriers.
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We use the experience we have gained from starting and running inclusive groups in North London, to help other communities to mix
How we started
WAVE was started by two parents with first-hand experience of the challenges of integrating a child with learning disabilities into their community. They realised that the greatest barrier they faced can’t be overcome by legislation or policy. It needs a change in the attitudes of those who have little or no experience of disability.
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The Christian faith of the founders, Bernice and Celia, motivated them to work toward a more inclusive society, based on a belief that in God’s eyes we’re all valued equally. WAVE activities have always welcomed and included those of all faiths or none.
Watch Bernice talking about what motivated her to start WAVE
Our Values
In faith & love: we start from a place of belief that we are all valued equally by God. We value and respect everyone in the way we talk, listen to and treat them.
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Simply: we try to keep all that we do and say as simple as possible, so that it is easy for people to understand and they can easily join in.
Having fun: we try to make sure that people enjoy doing stuff together, whether as a participant in activities and events, or as a staff/team member.
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Creatively: we encourage new ideas and different ways of working. We use all forms of creative activity (music, art, craft, food, spoken word, drama etc) to encourage people with and without learning disabilities to comfortably mix and learn from each other.
Inclusively: we want to improve understanding and interactions between people with and without learning disabilities. Those with learning disabilities are welcomed as valued and active members of our teams and activities, not service users or beneficiaries. Those without learning disabilities are welcomed to join in with our mixed-ability events as equally valued participants, not as volunteers to help those who are less fortunate.
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Safely: we follow health and safety rules; have policies in place to protect the vulnerable among us; have necessary insurance cover; and handle personal information as required by privacy laws.