Our project

‘Growing in Friendship‘

Researching and widening the impact of mixed-ability communities of friendship for Christian faith, human community and social change.

People who belong to Lyn’s House, and people who support us, often say how important it is that communities like this exist, and even that it has been life-changing for them. But they often struggle to say why.

So we want to deepen our understanding of who we are. We’ll explore why Lyn’s House matters, and what we experience and discover by being together – about ourselves and each other, about belonging, about what really matters, and about God. 

In November 2023 we began our ‘Growing in Friendship’ project. We’re working with the Centre for Spirituality, Health and Disability in Aberdeen University. Our project leader Carole Irwin is based in Cambridge and works with Professor John Swinton from Aberdeen University.

Members of the Lyn’s House community have been involved in designing the research, not just as objects of it! We are using research methods which work for everyone in a community like ours. So we won’t just use talking, writing and abstract ideas. Art, music, drama, photography and film will also help us explore and express what Lyn’s House means to us. 

We’ll take plenty of time. One of the things we’ve learned from life together is the importance of not rushing. Some of the most worthwhile things – like friendship, and growing together – need time.

We also want to help other groups of people to share what we learn through doing all of that. So we’ll find academic and non-academic ways to communicate what we find. And we’re already talking to other groups and organisations about how we might share what we learn with them.

Potential output

• Resources to help churches grow in confidence and understanding to be places where people with intellectual disabilities belong
• Discipleship and faith-development materials for use by groups of people with varying intellectual abilities
• Learning resources and validated awards for mixed-ability cohorts in theological education, so people training for lay and ordained ministries can choose pathways alongside people with intellectual disabilities
• Support for the founding of new communities like Lyn’s House, particularly in university settings
• Academic and non-academic publications

We’re grateful for generous financial support for ‘Growing in Friendship’ from the Sir Halley Stewart Trust and the Charles Plater Trust.

Please get in touch if you would like to support the project.