A Fareham charity and membership club for adults with learning difficulties and neurodiversity
Who we are
We are Key to joy. An independent Fareham charity and membership club for adults with mild to moderate learning difficulties and neurodiversity that live in the boroughs of Fareham and Gosport.
As a registered charity, we’re governed by a board of trustees who bear the legal responsibility for the charity's overall management and administration. They fulfil a crucial role, always acting in the charity's best interests. Each member of our board of trustees brings a wealth of diverse experience that aids in supporting the charity's mission.
Our core team of staff, volunteers, students and trustees works tirelessly to enrich the lives of our members with a variety of onsite activities that are often requested by members or linked to their needs. Key to joy operates from Monday to Thursday onsite with additional offsite excursions, experiences and events organised through the week in the local community.
We’re dedicated to fostering the growth of adults with learning difficulties, helping members to reach their full potential and meet their own goals. Ultimately, we want members to become more self-reliant and experience a stronger connection to the local community.
Key to joy is reliant on funding and donations to keep the key in the door, which in turn allows us to bring more joy to members. Please learn more about how you can support us.
Our history
We originally started as the Friday Night Charity (FNC) with a monthly disco club on a Friday night for adults with learning disabilities.
This quickly expanded to further days of the week, where our members could enjoy a range of activities from crafts to lifestyle lessons including cookery. We also enjoyed regular field trips, which included the Marwell Activity Centre.
In 2021, we established our base at the Scout Hut on Highlands Road with the support of our first National Lottery grant, where we remained until August 2025. From September 2025, we relocated to Fareham Hockey Club.
Due to the success of the charity we managed to secure a second grant from the National Lottery Community Fund. As the club evolved we spoke to our members and volunteers about what this club means to them. In December 2023 we changed our name to better fit who we are, which brings us to Key to joy.
Our mission
Key to joy unlocks people’s lives. The lives of our members, adults with learning disabilities, and their loved ones and carers who need support too.
After the age of 24, education provision ceases for adults with learning disabilities and, because our members are considered mild to moderate, they receive no further help from the state. Over time they become isolated and lack the confidence and skills to fully engage with the community and leverage opportunities that enable them to truly live and experience life, friendships, careers, education… growth.
We unlock more people’s lives than those of our members
We give members’ parents and carers information, advice and unlock their lives by giving them respite and space. Some parents become volunteers themselves, as a way of enjoying time with their adult children in way that’s different from home. our volunteers, gain immeasurable benefit from working, playing and being with our members, whether they’re parents or those who just want to give back to society.
“We give them valuable training and with this, the opportunity to unlock a whole new joyous dimension to their lives.” Lyn Davis, Trustee
Ultimately, Key to joy helps many of its members to move towards living more independently, and to contribute to society in ways that would simply be unattainable without our support.
Our values
Activities include life skills and confidence building to empower our members.
Empowerment
The sense of community, the friendships and engagement all help with a sense of belonging.
Belonging
This really is at the core of everything we do. Finding joy in the big and little things together.
Joy
Members are not their diagnosis, they are unique wonderful humans. A judgment free zone.
Inclusivity
Our aims
To provide a safe and happy space three days a week
To offer a range of activities for our members onsite and offsite
To encourage our members to live more independently
To welcome members across Fareham and Gosport Boroughs
To continue to grow and enhance the lives of our members
Our purpose
To give our members the opportunity to flourish
To nurture members toward independent living
To engage with the local community and contribute to society
To give members' parents and carers information and advice
To unlock the lives of parents and carers with respite and space
Our Trustees
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I started volunteering with Key to Joy when I retired from teaching in higher education earlier this year.
Staff, volunteers and the members themselves are so welcoming and friendly, the experience has been truly joyful!
I am therefore delighted to get more involved by becoming a trustee and I hope that I will be able to utilise my Business and People Management expertise and knowledge to the role.
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I retired from St Francis School a few years ago and have enjoyed travelling and photography.
A place as Trustee was offered and I am looking forward to having fun and putting my skills to good use.
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I have extensive banking knowledge and experience focused in small and medium businesses. I built and maintained excellent customer relations as a trusted adviser.
I was invited to join as a trustee in 2019. When I found out about the great work I became a trustee in January 2020 working as Treasurer.
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I became a Trustee in April 2022. I stepped away from my job as a lawyer to spend more time with my children. Now both at school I wanted to use my skills to support the local community.
I very much enjoy my weekly volunteering sessions with the members and being able to play a wider role in the running of Key to joy
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I joined as a Trustee in 2023. I am a leader in the technology, banking and the AI space, having founded an AI business a few years ago. I am currently a Director of a technology firm in the UK.
Outside of work I enjoy cooking, walking and trying to improve my French to impress my boys.
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Nick retired from a long career in Finance Management in Industry in February 2022, where he headed up finance departments in many large and small companies. He is a Trustee of Abbeyfield Fareham Society and also Fareham Sailing and Motor Boat Club, where he enjoys his sailing. He also plays music in a couple of local bands and at the Portsmouth Irish Club, of which he is a member.
He joined Key to joy as a Trustee in May 2022, so he could put to use his extensive financial experience to support such a worthwhile local Charity.
Meet the team
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Michaela has been growing and developing the charity for over four years now. One of the longest running members of the team, Michaela ensures the smooth and efficient running of the charity and the activities that are held both onsite and offsite. She has extensive experience in Health & Social Care. Michaela is the primary contact for carers, families and members. Most importantly, her sense of humour is very popular with the members and the team.
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Gail has worked in the LD sector for many years in different settings and with people of all ages. She is a happy friendly bubbly person and builds very good relationships with the people she works with. Gail's responsibilities include ensuring the safety of the members, venue and overseeing staff, volunteers, and students. She really does love working with and helping the members.
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Becky joined the team in May 2026, bringing experience in fundraising across different funding streams and a variety of charities. She is passionate about continuing the growth of the charity through fundraising to provide the best experience possible for the members.
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Lynne is our newest member of the team. She has 18 years experience in the care sector. She loves working and interacting with people. She enjoys running craft groups. She is popular with the members.
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Rebecca has 9 years of experience in the health and social care field. She is known to be caring and always willing to give a helping hand. Rebecca is always a happy and grounded person, which helps the members to feel comfortable. Rebecca enjoys leading baking sessions and making jam or preparing lunch with the members.
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Reece originally joined us as a volunteer and quickly discovered a real passion for supporting individuals in developing greater independence. He brings a valuable set of skills to the team, which will be both utilised and further adapted as he grows into his role with us.
Our Patrons
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As past Mayor and current Fareham Borough Councillor and Hants County Councillor, I have had the pleasure of visiting on many occasions and been impressed with the variety of activities available from dedicated staff. It is an honour and privilege to support as and when required.
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As Mayor I have seen the good work through many visits, I am pleased to support the group and value the work they are doing to assist adults with learning difficulties to feel valued in the community.
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Lizz Clarke is the founder and MD of LCM (Logical Creative Marketing Ltd), one of the region's longest established and most trusted marketing and PR agencies, serving mainly owner managed businesses and charities.
She has been a Trustee of EDP South (Education Business Partnership) for nearly 20 years, has served as a Director of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, as an advisor to the University of Portsmouth Business School and as a governor at the former Havant College, amongst other voluntary roles.
She is married with three grown up children and one grandchild, and teaches yoga in her leisure time.
Meet our members
Our members are warm and compassionate adults with a range of learning difficulties and neurodiversity.
Many of our members are used to being judged or ignored and overlooked by the system and those around them. But not inside these doors. Here, we offer them belonging, safety, friendship. Here’s you chance to get to know just some of our members.
Meet our volunteers
We’re lucky to have a great team of volunteers who continually show up for our members to help enhance their experience.
There’s a range of volunteer opportunities, whether that’s facilitating activities or getting involved in the daily running of the charity. Key to joy is forever grateful for the continued support of our volunteers and you can get to know them too.
Our Constitution, Accounts, Strategy and Policies
To view the Charity's documents in relation to it's Constitution, Report and Accounts, it's Strategic Plan, plus it's Key Policies & Procedures please click here.