British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD)

The British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD) is a national charity working to improve opportunities and outcomes for people with learning disabilities across the UK. Since 1971, the organisation has built expertise in understanding what people with learning disabilities need and finding practical ways to address these needs.

BILD advocates for equal rights and opportunities for people with learning disabilities. They conduct research, deliver training, provide policy advice and support services to change attitudes throughout society.

Research and Policy Influence

BILD conducts studies into different aspects of learning disability support, from housing and employment to health services and social care. This research builds a clearer picture of what works well and where improvements are needed.

The charity uses this evidence to provide advisory input to government policy. They respond to consultations, offer expert advice to parliamentary committees, and provide guidance to departments on policies affecting people with learning disabilities. This includes areas like social care reform, education policy, and employment support.

Their research findings reach other organisations, professionals and families through reports, briefings and an academic journal. These publications help spread knowledge across the learning disability sector.

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Training and Professional Development

Training programmes cover practical skills like person-centred planning, positive behaviour support, and safeguarding. Courses also address legislation, policy changes, and best practice approaches.

People with learning disabilities often help deliver training sessions. This brings real experience into learning and ensures training reflects what actually matters to the people being supported.

Support workers, social workers, nurses, managers, and commissioners attend BILD courses. Family carers can also access some programmes, particularly around understanding rights and navigating services.

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Quality Network and Service Improvement

The Quality Network helps organisations review and improve their services through peer review rather than inspection. Services complete detailed self-assessments about their work, then present findings to other services at network meetings for feedback. People with learning disabilities take part in these reviews, giving their perspective on how services perform.

Different networks focus on day centres, supported living schemes, employment projects and family support services. Each has specific quality standards relevant to that service type.

Organisations find this helpful because they get structured feedback and connect with others facing similar challenges. The peer approach means learning practical solutions that have worked elsewhere.

Current Priorities and Getting Involved

Recent work has focused on personalisation in social care, helping people understand personal budgets and direct payments. Employment support remains a priority, working to increase opportunities for people with learning disabilities to find paid work.

Health inequalities are another focus area. People with learning disabilities often experience poorer health outcomes and face barriers using health services. BILD works with NHS organisations to improve healthcare access and quality.

BILD operates a membership scheme open to individuals and organisations. Members include people with learning disabilities, family members, support workers, managers, and students. Different membership rates include discounts for people with learning disabilities, students, and people receiving certain benefits.

Membership benefits include training discounts, access to online resources, networking events, BILD's magazine and online discussion groups. For professionals, membership provides ongoing development opportunities and updates on policy changes and research.

BILD collaborates with other national charities, local self-advocacy groups, professional bodies, and academic institutions. They participate in coalitions campaigning on issues affecting people with learning disabilities and work internationally with similar organisations.

Their website contains research reports, training programmes, and guidance documents. Many resources are freely available, with additional materials for members. Regular conferences and seminars feature people with learning disabilities as speakers alongside researchers, policy makers, and practitioners. BILD also offers consultancy support for organisations looking to improve their services.

The Next Step

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