Taking part in leisure activities not only enriches the lives of people with learning disabilities, it can also help prevent them from developing potentially life-threatening illnesses. Jessie Allen emphasises why care providers must take their role in offering service users a meaningful choice of activities more seriously

If asked to think about the benefits of leisure, many people would link it to learning a skill, being creative and having the opportunity to meet new people. However, a closer look would make them realise that perhaps the greatest benefit of taking part in leisure activities is the boost in self-confidence and improvement in the quality of life that they can give.