Care & support · England
Learning about good support
Your browser or device provides the reading voice.
Ben Drew started Open Future Learning.
It has videos and courses about supporting people.
Find something useful
You might learn about communication or your rights.
Choose a topic that matters to you.
Watch and talk together
You can ask a supporter to learn with you.
Say what you think.
Ask how the learning could improve your support.
Side by Side
Some courses are called Side by Side.
They are for people and supporters to learn together.
Ask if the course will work for you.
Check the cost
Some public posts and clips are free to view.
The full learning service costs money.
Check before you sign up.
Ask for access
Ask about captions and help with difficult words.
You can pause or stop.
You do not have to watch something upsetting.
Plan staff training
Tell your care team what staff need to learn.
Ask how it could be paid for.
Get agreement before spending your support money.
Check what changes
Ask what staff will do differently.
Tell them whether the change helps you.
Your own needs and choices still matter.
What you can do next
Choose a topic that interests you.
Ask someone to watch with you if you want.
Open the public articles and clips Web pageThis link opens another website.
It may use harder words.
More useful links
- Open Future Learning: Ben Drew and contributors Web page
Meet the founder and contributors, including people with lived experience.
- Open Future Learning: public articles and clips Web page
Public posts and linked videos about support, choice and everyday life. Some topics may be upsetting.
- Open Future Learning: learning together Web page
Side by Side learning for a person and their supporter. Check access and membership costs.
- Open Future Learning: video library Web page
Browse topics and presenters. Full library access is part of the membership offer.
- Open Future Learning: costs and trial enquiries Web page
Check current UK fees, account arrangements and whether a demonstration or trial suits you.
- Open Future Learning: when someone says no Web page
A public post with a Karyn Harvey video about listening to the reasons behind refusal.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Ben Drew and Open Future Learning resources — Easy Read
Find videos and learning about good support, including learning together and checking costs.
England-focused signposting · resources include international perspectives
Who Ben Drew and Open Future Learning are
Ben Drew is the founder of Open Future Learning and qualified as a learning disability nurse in the UK. The organisation offers learning about support for people with learning disabilities. Its contributors include self-advocates, family members and practitioners. Resources come from several countries; check any legal or service advice against the rules in England.
Start with public articles and clips
The public blog includes posts with videos about choice, respectful support and everyday life. One example features Karyn Harvey discussing why someone may say no. You can use a clip as the start of a discussion: what is the person telling us, and what could supporters change? These are learning examples, not individual assessments.
Learning together
Side by Side modules are designed for people receiving support and people providing it to learn together. Topics include being in control, friendships, person-centred planning and circles of support. Ask whether a module fits your interests, communication and pace. You can pause, discuss or stop. Do not assume every module uses Easy Read.
Learning for staff and personal assistants
The catalogue includes learning on communication, active support, rights, intensive interaction and other subjects. The video library includes contributors such as Joanna Grace. Choose training around the person’s needs and goals. Ask workers what they will do differently afterwards, and check that changes happen in everyday support.
Check membership and access before booking
Full courses and the video library are offered through paid membership. Public blog clips do not mean the entire service is free. Check whether your provider already has an account, how many people can use it, the current UK price and cancellation arrangements. Ask about a demonstration or trial without assuming permanent free access.
Ask about accessibility
Before buying, try a sample on the device you will use. Ask about captions, transcripts, controls, screen-reader access, breaks and support to understand the words. Some topics, such as abuse or deaths, may be upsetting. Choose whether to watch, when to pause and who you would like with you.
Connect learning to your funded plan
If training is needed for your support, describe the need, intended change and full cost in your care or health budget discussion. A preferred brand or course is not automatically funded. Ask for a written decision before spending. Follow the linked guide about training for personal assistants and support workers.
Learning does not replace practical competence
A video or completion certificate does not by itself show that someone can safely carry out a clinical task. Follow the person’s clinical plan and the relevant professional’s requirements for practical training, supervision and checking skills. Keep the person’s choices central when applying any learning.
Words you could use
“I would like us to learn about this together: … Please explain the cost, access arrangements and what will improve in my support.”
More useful links
- Open Future Learning: Ben Drew and contributors Web page
Meet the founder and contributors, including people with lived experience.
- Open Future Learning: public articles and clips Web page
Public posts and linked videos about support, choice and everyday life. Some topics may be upsetting.
- Open Future Learning: learning together Web page
Side by Side learning for a person and their supporter. Check access and membership costs.
- Open Future Learning: video library Web page
Browse topics and presenters. Full library access is part of the membership offer.
- Open Future Learning: costs and trial enquiries Web page
Check current UK fees, account arrangements and whether a demonstration or trial suits you.
- Open Future Learning: when someone says no Web page
A public post with a Karyn Harvey video about listening to the reasons behind refusal.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Where the information comes from
Links checked 7 November 2026.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
- Open Future Learning: Ben Drew and contributors Web page
Meet the founder and contributors, including people with lived experience.
- Open Future Learning: public articles and clips Web page
Public posts and linked videos about support, choice and everyday life. Some topics may be upsetting.
- Open Future Learning: learning together Web page
Side by Side learning for a person and their supporter. Check access and membership costs.
- Open Future Learning: video library Video
Browse topics and presenters. Full library access is part of the membership offer.
- Open Future Learning: costs and trial enquiries Web page
Check current UK fees, account arrangements and whether a demonstration or trial suits you.
- Open Future Learning: when someone says no Web page
A public post with a Karyn Harvey video about listening to the reasons behind refusal.
- Open Future Learning: frequently asked questions Web page
Intended users, demonstrations and how the learning service works.