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  • Stories from the Manchester Community
  1. Home
  2. Stories from the Manchester Community

Stories from the Manchester Community

The best way to get to know us and the difference we make is through the stories of life-changing relationships in L'Arche between people with and without disabilities. These encounters and friendships are at the heart of our model of individual and societal transformation.

Inner silence, meditation and dancing in the pool

Inner silence, meditation and dancing in the pool

Liska, a live-in assistant at L'Arche Manchester, reflects on her first L'Arche retreat in the Scottish countryside Read more

Published: 8th June, 2026

Updated: 23rd June, 2026

Author: Monika Uboreviciute

A Confident Voice, A Shared Journey

A Confident Voice, A Shared Journey

Discover Siân Walker's inspiring media journey at #ZeroCon25, representing inclusive media communications with support from L'Arche Manchester, Canada and International. Read more

Published: 27th January, 2026

Updated: 3rd February, 2026

Author: Chris Asprey

Working for a world without barriers

Working for a world without barriers

Discover how Siân Walker, L'Arche UK's Inclusive Media Representative, helped promote a world without barriers at the Zero Conference 2025 in Vienna. Read more

Published: 17th March, 2025

Updated: 29th January, 2026

Author: Chris Asprey

Running With Purpose

Running With Purpose

Join the L'Arche Community as they take on the Great Manchester Run! Watch our inspiring video showcasing runners with and without disabilities in action. Read more

Published: 5th March, 2025

Updated: 17th March, 2025

Author: Chris Asprey

A Baptism by Fire

A Baptism by Fire

Dom joined L'Arche, looking for meaning and connection. As he started supporting Crispin, he began to up to a need for inner healing - and a potential in himself he never knew he had. Read more

Published: 4th July, 2024

Updated: 7th August, 2024

Author: Chris Asprey

Dancing All the Way to London

Dancing All the Way to London

Watch our superb dance video to the tune of Take That's iconic Shine and join our Makaton choir by signing the chorus for a more fun and inclusive world! Read more

Published: 12th June, 2024

Updated: 31st January, 2025

Author: Monika Uboreviciute

A church for everyone, everywhere

A church for everyone, everywhere

Five members of L'Arche Manchester hopped on the 07:10 flight to Gothenburg to give a presentation and lead a workshop on discipleship. See how they got on with the task! Read more

Published: 9th February, 2024

Updated: 7th August, 2024

Author: Monika Uboreviciute

Matthew. A bigger life

Matthew. A bigger life

Watch a beautifully captured 3-minute film to see how new life opened up for Matthew - and for L’Arche - when he moved in. Read more

Published: 27th April, 2023

Updated: 7th August, 2024

Author: Monika Uboreviciute

'Climate Sense' - what is it?

'Climate Sense' - what is it?

L'Arche Manchester co-creates a sensory experience designed with people with learning disabilities for people with learning disabilities. Read more

Published: 10th March, 2023

Updated: 8th August, 2023

Author: Monika Uboreviciute

Halle Orchestra brings music to L'Arche

Halle Orchestra brings music to L'Arche

Inspired by L’Arche’s logo, Christine and Ric from Halle led six music sessions in L'Ache Manchester where our members got to explore different rhythms, create music and conduct. Read more

Published: 3rd January, 2023

Updated: 12th January, 2026

Author: Monika Uboreviciute

"I feel really looked after and supported"

Watch Dom describe the small acts of kindness shown by people with and without learning disabilities who gave his family love and support after the birth of his son. Read more

Published: 11th April, 2022

Updated: 16th May, 2024

Author: Monika Uboreviciute

Nia's story

Nia's story

"For me the joy is spending time with people each day, I like it when someone comes to me with a problem and I can help them to work it out and make it better in some way" Read more

Published: 5th January, 2022

Updated: 26th October, 2023

Author: Monika Uboreviciute

From indifference to acceptance: Alban's story

From indifference to acceptance: Alban's story

When Alban arrived at L'Arche in 2014, he wasn't immediately sold. That didn't last long. Here he discusses how his experience pulled him out of a spiritual rut and prepared him for many more adventures. Read more

Published: 22nd August, 2020

Updated: 25th October, 2023

Author: Cate Green

Lockdown letters: A rollercoaster first year at L'Arche

Lockdown letters: A rollercoaster first year at L'Arche

Leaving home to live in community with people with and without learning disabilities is a scary move for anyone. Add a global pandemic to the equation, and it’s surely terrifying. Here, Ellie and Dominic tell us about a first year they could never have anticipated. Read more

Published: 18th August, 2020

Updated: 26th October, 2023

Author: Cate Green

Sports and well-being in L’Arche Manchester

Sports and well-being in L’Arche Manchester

L’Arche Manchester loves sport. The Community has used sport and other physical practices as a way for core members with learning disabilities to stay healthy and well. Read more

Published: 13th June, 2019

Updated: 23rd July, 2023

Author: Anonymised User

These are the things I want to tell you about Joe Ulleri

These are the things I want to tell you about Joe Ulleri

Joe Ulleri was a much-loved core member in L’Arche Manchester. His death, three years ago, attracted national media interest last week when a jury inquest ruled that failures in his care, while in hospital, constituted neglect, which contributed to his death. In this reflective piece, Nem Tomlinson from L’Arche Manchester shares her memories and stories of Joe. Read more

Published: 15th April, 2019

Updated: 23rd July, 2023

Author: Anonymised User

When I’m at L’Arche I like my body

When I’m at L’Arche I like my body

... and, because of that, I’m learning to love it when I’m not. Read more

Published: 19th February, 2019

Updated: 23rd July, 2023

Author: Anonymised User

Bella's story

Bella's story

Bella was a volunteer in the Hive community Kitchen with L’Arche Manchester. She came to L’Arche from her home country of Indonesia with the Vincentians. Here she learnt about patience, vulnerability and the preciousness of people with and without learning disabilities. Read more

Published: 7th August, 2018

Updated: 25th October, 2023

Author: Monika Uboreviciute

Amanda's story

Amanda's story

Amanda’s daughter, Laura, is the founding core member of the L’Arche Manchester community. In this piece, Amanda reflects on the challenges of caring for a child with a learning disability and how L’Arche has transformed hers, and Laura’s life. Read more

Published: 2nd July, 2018

Updated: 7th August, 2023

Author: Cate Green

Sarah's story

Sarah's story

Sarah joined our Community as a Live-in Assistant for a year before going to university. Here she reflects on what her time in L’Arche taught her. Read more

Published: 27th June, 2018

Updated: 25th October, 2023

Author: Monika Uboreviciute

Amy's story

Amy's story

'Living in L’Arche is like holding a mirror up to yourself and seeing the very best and sometimes the very worst of yourself reflected back.' Read more

Published: 28th March, 2018

Updated: 25th October, 2023

Author: Anonymised User

Back to top

Latest

  • Bonjour la France!

    Bonjour la France!

    Emms and Katharine share their experience of a recent research and exchange trip to L'Arche Communities in France. Discover the similarities, the differences, and what we can learn from the French way of doing L'Arche.

  • International Great Voices Group gathers in Taizé

    International Great Voices Group gathers in Taizé

    People with learning disabilities from across the world gather in France to talk inclusion, decision-making, and how to shape the future of L'Arche together.

  • Inner silence, meditation and dancing in the pool

    Inner silence, meditation and dancing in the pool

    Liska, a live-in assistant at L'Arche Manchester, reflects on her first L'Arche retreat in the Scottish countryside

  • Danny: Why I Volunteer

    Danny: Why I Volunteer

    Get a glimpse into the impact of volunteering, a transformative experience that leaves one questioning: who is giving and who is receiving?

Most read

  • Live-in Community Worker

    Live-in Community Worker

    Explore living with people with learning disabilities in L'Arche. This is the live-in option to go for if you are an international applicant on a visa wanting to join L'Arche for a year.

  • Live-In Assistants

    Live-In Assistants

    Find out more about becoming a live-in assistant in L'Arche: the experiences you would have, the skills you would learn and how to apply

  • Volunteer locally

    Volunteer locally

    Do you like fixing furniture? Baking? Playing games? Gardening? Bring your skill or passion and share it with others, by volunteering at your local L'Arche Community!

  • FAQs for Live-In Workers

    FAQs for Live-In Workers

    What is it like to share your life with people with learning disabilities? Do you require qualifications? How important is spirituality in L'Arche? All your questions are answered here!

  • Our vision and values

    Our vision and values

    L'Arche is an international federation of people with and without disabilities in 37 countries. Read what we have agreed about our vision and values here in the UK.

  • Why work for L’Arche?

    Why work for L’Arche?

    Do you want to know a few of the benefits you'll get if you join our team? Click to find out!

  • The L'Arche Internship

    The L'Arche Internship

    Spend a year sharing your life alongside people in L'Arche and participate in a reflective learning programme all about community development, personal growth, and change-making

  • Accessibility

    Accessibility

    Read our policy on accessibility for our site

  • Where we are

    Where we are

    L'Arche is local, national and international, with Communities across the UK and worldwide. Discover here where our 11 Communities are located in the UK.

  • The support we offer

    The support we offer

    Learn about the different ways we offer support to people with learning disabilities

Keep in touch with L'Arche UK 

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L'Arche is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales, No. 1055041.

L'Arche is registered as a charity in England and Wales, No. 264166, and in Scotland, No. SC038493.

Registered Office: L'Arche National Office, Romero House, 55 Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 7JB.

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