Living on the Edge and Living with Dementia

St Martin-in-the-Fields partners Inclusive Church to offer an annual conference on the subject of disability and church. This year's conference is entitled 'Living on the Edge' and will be held in the St Martin's Hall on Saturday 17th October 2015 (10.30am - 4.30pm).

How do we respond when we find ourselves excluded? A day exploring how disabled people are finding new ways to use their experience of exclusion to improve understanding and address barriers to belonging. Through talks and workshops, using the art space, silent space and marketplace, this is an opportunity organised by and for disabled people, supporters and people with an interest in the issues to gather and resource each other and the church.

Speakers include: Ann Memmott – national autism advisor; Eva McIntyre – Mental Health Matters; the Disability Advisory Group, St Martin’s; WAVE; Disability & Jesus; and Sam Wells.

Cost: £20 | £10 concessions

/stmartininthefields @smitf_london St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 4JJ Phone: 020 7766 1100 Online: www.smitf.org

Register at www.inclusive-church.org/disability-conference-2015 or by post to: Living on the Edge, 4 Ferney, Dursley, Gloucestershire GL11 5AB

St Martin's is also continuing to explore the experience of dementia and faith, through the insight of lived experience and theological reflection, as we look at how our church life and worship might grow in a more dementia-friendly way. This 'Living with Dementia' event will take place in St Martin’s Hall on September 15, 2015 at 7:00 pm. All are welcome.

These initiatives stem from work which is now taken forward by the Disability Advisory Group (DAG). The DAG draws together people with insight or interest in this work arising from their own lived experience of long-term illness, physical or sensory impairment or mental health issues; or from a support, caring or professional role (paid or unpaid). Open meetings once a term, use the gathered expertise to inform and guide work on disability, with a particular focus or topic relating to issues of disability, inclusion and faith.

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Evelyn Glennie - A Little Prayer.