From Engage to Change to WCLD: the story so far

Before WCLD existed, our team worked together on Engage to Change — one of the largest employability programmes for people with learning disabilities and/or autism in Wales.

What Engage to Change achieved

Working from Cardiff University, the project:

• supported over 1000 young people with a learning disability and/or autism to gain work skills or move into paid employment across Wales

• developed co-produced and accessible research methods, with people with learning disabilities advising on every step

• directly influenced Welsh Government employability policy

Why we set up WCLD

The researchers and the people with learning disabilities they worked with felt it was time that people with learning disabilities were more in control of research about their own lives.

So in June 2025, we set up the Welsh Centre for Learning Disability Inclusive Research — a community interest company where people with lived experience are not just participants, but directors and paid researchers.

We want research done with people, not about them.

What comes next

We are now taking on new projects in inclusive research, evaluation, training and consultancy. If you want to work with us, get in touch — we will expect you to commit to the inclusion of people with lived experience of learning disability throughout.