Group and village communities for autistic people and those with learning disabilities are at risk of closure due to restrictive guidance from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A framework introduced in 2020, Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture, aims to promote dignity, independence, and community access. However, a clause prevents the registration or favourable rating of new congregate or campus-style settings, leading to closures and the displacement of residents into unfamiliar environments.

Despite evidence showing that village communities offer a safe, fulfilling way of life, families say the CQC’s stance unfairly limits housing choices. In response, relatives have launched Our Life, Our Choice, demanding guidance be updated to allow well-managed village communities to be considered alongside other housing options such as supported and independent living. Campaigners argue individuals should have the right to decide where they live, whether in urban, rural, or community-based settings.

Policies have rightly moved away from outdated NHS hospitals, but campaigners believe these policies have wrongly equated village communities with past models of care. David Wilks, chair of the campaign, argues current guidance discriminates against learning-disabled individuals, as no such restrictions exist for retirement villages, dementia care homes, or nursing communities. He insists choice, a key principle of care, is being undermined by the CQC’s rigid approach.

Village communities, often in rural locations, provide not only housing but also employment, education, and social opportunities, allowing residents to contribute meaningfully. Critics argue these settings isolate individuals from society, but campaigners maintain that people with learning disabilities should choose how and where they live.