The Blue Starfish Club Night, which provides adults with a learning disability with an opportunity to showcase their performance skills as DJs, musicians, dancers and artists in front of a supportive audience, held its latest event on Thursday 08 November 2012 at the Worthing Assembly Hall and it was a triumph.

276 members and their friends enjoyed a diverse programme that combined inspiring dance performances by Northbrook College students with an excellent blend of music by the DJ’s and the other performers which suited all tastes. House band, The Revs, which only formed last year with the support of Out There! West Sussex gave the performance of their lives playing with a composure that belied the fact that they have only been together such a short time and the ever popular Coasters from Crawley played a set with typical energy and skill. There was also an outstanding solo set by Ryan O’ Donovan who plays with Brighton rock band Beat Express.

The members received some good news recently when Sussex Police awarded the Club a grant of £250 which will be used to help cover the cost of staging future events. A special presentation of the cheque will made at a rehearsal session of The Revs at the Ivy Arch Road Studios, Worthing on Thursday 6^th December 2012 at 11.45.

“It seems to me”, comments David Smith of Worthing MENCAP and Chair of the Blue Starfish Club, “that this initiative which brings Sussex Police, the district council, local charities and volunteers together to support people with learning disabilities in such a positive way is a real credit to our community.”

Sussex Police’s PCSO’s Ros Tite and Shauna Bowen are Disability Liaison Officers for Adur/Worthing district. They commented “We are so pleased to be involved with this excellent initiative. Having attended the most recent Club Night it was great to see everybody enjoying themselves in a Night Club atmosphere”

“This is a wonderful example of multi-agency working for the benefit of the community; I applaud this initiative,”

said Tom Wye, Worthing Cabinet member for Health and Wellbeing

David Simmons, Cabinet Member for equalities at Adur District Council said:

“As an inclusive society we need to recognise and value the skills which many people have, regardless of their disabilities. This event does just that, and Adur District Council is pleased to be able to support its continuance.  Well done to all involved!”

The Blue Starfish Club was launched in Adur and Worthing in April 2008. It celebrates the artistic achievements of people with learning disabilities as performers and provides adults with a learning disability with the opportunity to enjoy clubbing in a mainstream leisure venue. The Club is supported by Adur Council and Worthing Council through the More Active Communities team but it is working towards becoming a self-sufficient constituted voluntary organization. Volunteers to help as stewards at the events or to be part of the management committee are very welcome.

Out There! West Sussex is a programme of daytime, evening and weekend leisure activities and sports choices, which Outreach 3 Way in partnership with Ferring Country Centre, Worthing Mencap and the Grace Eyre Foundation deliver under the terms of a contract with West Sussex County Council. Outreach 3 Way is a Sussex-based learning disabilities charity. It supports people with learning disabilities in all areas of daily life, from working to socializing. Outreach 3 Way is part of Dimensions, which is a not-for-profit organization supporting around 2,500 people and their families in England and Wales.