Photographs of people the disability charity wants to track down after finding the images in its archives

DO you recognise these faces?

A disability charity celebrating its 70th birthday is hoping to track down people who used the service after unearthing a collection of photographs in its archives.

Centre 404, in Holloway, is holding a summer garden party and a special exhibition about the charity’s history.

Exhibition organiser Agnes Meadows said: “I’m hoping to identify some of the people in the photos and speak to them – maybe [they] can describe what was happening that day, what their memories are of the centre.”

During her research, she discovered “minutes from the first meeting in 1951” along with “lots of photos from the 1970s and 80s.”

Centre 404 offers support to people with learning disabilities, autism, and their families. Some of the charity’s core work revolves around helping adults with learning difficulties to live independently in supported housing. It was set up in 1951 as a loose coalition of parents of children with disabilities.

“It was supporting parents of children with learning disabilities, especially because at the time there wasn’t really any educational provision or state support – lots of children ended up institutionalised,” said Ms Meadows.

“At that time, it was mostly parents supporting each other – [today] the state offers a lot more support, and I think there’s a larger focus on community support as well.”

Based in Camden Road since 1961, the centre has also undergone some radical changes over the years, with a revamped garden, interior refurbishment and, more recently, a new building added to the site.

Once the archive exhibition has been displayed, the centre will begin an oral history project, beginning in autumn.

To this end, Ms Meadows has found some recordings of Centre 404’s president, Jean Willson OBE, along with “some other early members” of the organisation.

Ms Willson, who was awarded an OBE for her work at Centre 404, joined the organisation over 50 years ago after her daughter was born with profound physical and learning disabilities.

Ms Willson has described Centre 404 as the “safe haven and life jacket of my heart”.

Birthday exhibition organiser Agnes Meadows (left) and Centre 404 coordinator Josie Korda

Josie Korda, the charity’s coordinator, said: “As we celebrate our brand-new building, it is also important to honour the past, show reverence for how far we’ve come in improving the rights and lives of those with learning disabilities, and celebrate legacy in all its forms. It feels so important to look back on and respect the past so we can move forward into the future feeling wise and well-informed.”