What Matters to Me Launch at the House of Commons

On Thursday 13th March, the CBF launched the ‘What Matters to Me’ project at the House of Commons to showcase the project findings.  

The What Matters to Me project involved directly engaging with 11 young people who have severe or profound and multiple learning disabilities, working closely with their families and support circles.  The aim was to gather the experiences, preferences and views of young people to influence policy and practice as they made the transition from child to adult services.  

Seeking the views of young people is too often viewed as ‘too difficult’ if the young person has limited or no verbal communication. The What Matters to Me project demonstrated that it is possible to find out what matters to and for this group of young people, and that it is possible to use what matters to drive change.  

The project ran over three years and involved individual and group activities, using creative methods to gather young people’s experiences, preferences and views.   

The project findings can be accessed via a multimedia manifesto consisting of photography and films, guides, case studies and resources. Four short films, which form the centrepiece of the manifesto, were launched today. More resources, including a practical toolkit, will follow before the project ends in June.  

Sign up to the What Matters to Me network for notifications of new resources. 

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Sharon, family carer and participant in the What Matters to Me project, said:  

“This is such a massive stepping stone in the right direction for allowing our young people to integrate into society or show their needs, show their wants, their likes and dislikes, the same as every other person is allowed to do and has the right to do. It can be done. It just needs society just to take a little bit of time and see how these young people express their needs.” 

 Jacqui Shurlock, CEO of the Challenging Behaviour Foundation, said:  

“People with severe or profound and multiple learning disabilities have the same rights as everyone else to share what is important to and for them yet are so rarely included in consultation or participation activities. We hope that What Matters to Me encourages everyone whose work impacts on the lives of people with severe or profound and multiple learning disabilities to reflect on what more they can do to find out what matters and to use what matters to drive change.” 

Kevin Mckenna, MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey and sponsor of the Westminster event, said:  

“It was a privilege to be asked to sponsor the ‘What Matters to Me’ project launch in Parliament today. It’s essential that everyone has the opportunity to participate in consultations and influence the decisions that shape their lives. Last year, I had the honour of visiting Demelza Hospice, a key partner in the project. It was fantastic to see how everyone worked together collaboratively, challenging themselves to help young people who otherwise struggle to be understood to express what is most important to them.“

You can access what matters to me project findings from the link below:  

What Matters to Me Webpage

You can read more about the co-produced, lifelong action plan here.  

You can also join the online launch of the What Matters to Me project on Thursday 27th of March via zoom.  

 What Matters to Me Online Launch Tickets, Thu, Mar 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM

This project was made possible thanks to Blagrave Trust and BBC Children in Need Youth Social Action Fund. We also want to thank our partners at Tizard Centre, Kent University and University of Birmingham.