Chloe empowers others to get their voices heard

At only 25, Chloe is a true inspiration and a very worthy 2024 Leaders’ List Award winner. She has overcome some incredibly tough challenges in her life and used her experiences to help others.

We met with Chloe, and in the short time we had together were awestruck by her confidence, positivity and all that she has achieved.

Chloe is L’Arche Project Co-leader for Voice and Power. L’Arche supports adults with learning disabilities, through a mix of residential and home support and activity programmes.

Their support focuses on building communities where people with and without learning disabilities live and work alongside each other.

In her role, Chloe works with individuals within L’Arche, ensuring they have a voice and power over decisions that affect their lives.

Chloe also delivers training on relationships. She trains individuals with and without learning disabilities and autistic people on building meaningful relationships, helping to create a more inclusive and understanding community.

Additionally, Chloe co-facilitates the National Speak Council in L’Arche – a group of individuals with learning disabilities who provide valuable advice to the Board of Trustees. The council addresses crucial matters that influence the decisions that impact the lives of those supported by L’Arche.

“I grew up in foster care, because I did not have the best relationship with my biological family. I also wasn’t given the love and support I deserved from my foster families either.

“I was bullied and treated so badly that it made it very hard for me to trust new people coming into my life. I felt like everyone was judging me and did not see me as a person, but just as a disability or problem to be dealt with and did not take me seriously.”

“I came through a system that robbed my safety, confidence, and relationships, but through my now fantastic support, L’Arche and a community of friends I could trust, I found my voice and gained skills.

“Yes, I have a learning disability, but I know what to say and I have a good brain just as good as anyone else. I am a hardworking person and I like to use my newfound confidence and loud voice to speak up for those who feel invisible like I used to.”

Chloe is passionate and determined in her commitment to making a difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities and autistic people, ensuring they don’t have to go through what she experienced.

She is a very well-loved and trusted individual and someone with whom others are happy to confide. By sharing her experiences and advocating for those who may feel left out of society, Chloe works towards creating a more inclusive and supportive environment.

She is making such a positive impact in helping to build a community where everyone has the opportunity to express themselves and exert influence over their own lives.

“I go to different communities throughout the UK and help people to have a voice and power over their own lives, I teach people that just because you have a learning disability, doesn’t mean you should be ashamed of who you are. Just be who you are!”

“I have now become a recognisable face in L’Arche and my reputation for talking about issues people face and advocating for them has made me a lot of friends. I hope to use my voice to stop what happened to me from happening to anyone else.”

Chloe is a true leader and hopes to inspire others to follow her to become trainers themselves and be sufficiently confident to speak up.

She mentions the skills that she has gained since coming to L’Arche and says how previously she was very shy and didn’t want to speak to anyone and couldn’t use email. This is a world away from the passionate, articulate, and confident young woman she is today.

Chloe’s leadership actively shapes the decision-making at L’Arche and exacts positive changes for those with learning disabilities and/or autistic people.

Chloe should be very proud of all that she has achieved, and we are delighted she is a Leaders’ List 2024 winner. She is looking forward to celebrating with friends and family and letting the fact she has won soak in.

A huge congratulations to Chloe, and for more information about L’Arche please visit https://www.larche.org.uk/