Speaking Up Together Issue 50

Celebrations Winter 2025

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In this news letter Our News

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Ludoquist

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Bexley Speaking Up Group

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Ladies group

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Trip to Broadstairs

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Overnight stay at Cudham

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Members Monthly Meeting – Lewisham Visit

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In this news letter Easy Read Team win an award!

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Getting Older group

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St James’ Park Trip

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Stay up Late at Community

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House - Karaoke

Lads Group Members Monthly Meeting – Cinema trip Peer supporters and volunteers

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In this news letter Positive Voices conference

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Speak Up Sutton

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Bromley Partnership Board news

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Wordsearch

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Dates for your diary

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Contacts

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Our news The lovely Amy got married this summer to her husband Tom. Congratulations Amy and Tom!

Our supporter Susie welcomed two furry kittens into her home. They are called Shadow and Neo

We welcome Josie, our new volunteer, who is helping the ladies group

We also welcome back Cathy, who is helping us with our volunteering

We also welcome Sarah, our new student, who is working with the Bromley and Bexley

groups

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We said goodbye to Tracy. Tracy worked for many years with the self advocacy groups across all the areas. We wish you all the luck for the future, Tracy

Some of members, including Polly, Laura, and Gill, have been taking part in Keep Fit with Mencap

Susie, Isaac, and George attended a cricket match at the Oval in the Summer.

The got to watch from the Pavilion!

The Big Plan for Bromley has now been

printed and is being worked on. You can get your copy from the office

Laura is FINALLY getting her home decorated. She is very excited about it

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Our lovely Polly is the face of Bromley Mencap’s fundraising campaign! Look our for Polly on posters around Bromley

David has retired from being co-chair of the Partnership Board. Thank you David for all the work you have put in over the years

We would like to welcome our new co-chair, Gordon! We wish you all the luck in your new role

Ian is now a trustee on Advocacy For All’s

trustee board, representing the groups.

Congratulations Ian!

This newsletter is filled with secret “celebrations” chocolates – can you find

them all?

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Ludoquist

On Wednesday 19th November The Bexley group and Bromley group went a

games café in Croydon, called Ludoquist

We all played boardgames and had a drink.

Everyone enjoyed themselves, some of the games were quite complex to set up

There were lots of games to choose

from, which was good.

I played a game called Ticked to Ride, where you had to plan a train journey from one American state to another.

Susie showed me how to play it and I really enjoyed it

I would definitely go back again

By Stephen

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I started working for Bexley Mencap as a community hub assistant, and it went off with a bang

3 people including myself had an

introduction for 2 weeks. The 3rd week I went to the Bexley Mencap allotment. I helped people with learning disabilities do weeding, putting bark on the ground over winter

In December with the group, I will be helping making plans for Christmas party and games

The new hub will be in Sidcup and I

will work only on Thursdays. The other community hub assistant will do other days as we have chosen what days we would like to work

By Duncan

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July In ladies night we did a session on: stay safe in the hot weather and staying cool We heard some top tips and facts about keeping cool and played games to help us remember Put 6 – 8 teaspoons of sun cream every 2 hours We met the new volunteer Josie August This session we did self care and relaxation Amy did the self care part, josie did the relaxation with us October We went to the Swan and Mitre for a social

We had nice food and a catch up

By Susie B, Polly, and Teresa

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Broadstairs Trip On 20th August, members from Bromley and Bexley, went on a day trip to Broadstairs

We split up in groups and did lots of different activities, such as the beach, walks and shopping Laura’s favourite bit was going to the Dicken’s House museum. “It was very

interesting. I liked seeing the old dollhouse and Dicken’s bed” Gordon’s favourite bit was walking along the beach. “I also enjoyed the

yummy fish and chips”

We all enjoyed the ice creams at Morellis!

By Laura and Gordon

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Cudham Trip On the 4th June we went to Cudham Environmental Activities Centre, run

by Tracy Cleveland.

We did some activities and also some of us stayed overnight. Polly and Adam went home and come back the following

day

On the first day, we went for a walk in the woods, relaxed, and had a bonfire with hot chocolate!

On the second day, we did a workshop about campaigning, focusing on benefits. We also did a role play

It was nice to get away to Cudham. We hope to do it again next year

By George and Benny

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Members Monthly Meeting Lewisham Speaking Up come to visit us twice at Members Monthly Meeting

They came to talk to us about some campaigns they are involved in

The first one was about benefits changes and a report they had written about what they had learned

The second time they visited us was

about the We Can’t Wait Campaign getting people with learning disabilities put higher on waiting lists for treatment Polly “I learned about how many people are affected by having to wait a long time for treatment, sometimes even life saving treatment. It made me feel frustrated that people can’t get seen quicker. I think it’s a campaign we should get behind”

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Easy read award!

The easy read team travelled to Sheffield to the Learning Disability and Autism Leaders List Awards

The team won an award in the

Advocacy, Policy, and Media category

When we won an award, we gave a speech

We remembered members who have been a part of the team over the years and members who are no longer with us

We were very proud of ourselves, and what we have achieved

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Easy read award!

“I thought the day was lovely, I enjoyed the music performance in the break” Polly

“I liked the speeches from the presenters especially from the Olympian Beth

Moulam and Claire Bates” George

“It was great to see all the different award

winners and seeing all the things people are doing and celebrating people with Learning Disabilities” Teresa

By Polly, George and Teresa

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Easy read award!

While some of the team were at Sheffield, others from the team were celebrating at the office.

We had a party at the office.

Paul set up the laptop to the TV when we arrived at the office before the live stream started.

As the live stream started we watched the easy read team getting the award.

We are proud to get the award for all the hard work the easy read team has been

doing, both recently, and in the past

By Paul and Laura

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Getting Older lunch At the getting older group we have been discussing what issues people

feel are important to them as people with learning disability

We have discussed worrying about getting older, our parents, and carrying responsibilities

We have talked about changes in our own needs and needing our accommodation adapted

People have spoken about wanting to know more about lasting power of attorney

We are going to do some work about planning for a funeral

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Getting Older lunch The group has discussed health changing and the worries of people with a learning disability dying young.

We want to get more involved in a health campaign

Housing and benefits are a worry to people

People say they like to meet so they can look forward to the future

Its about knowing about things that can help us

It can help prepare us for things like

parents getting older and important things like writing a will

By Jan

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St James’ Park We went to St James’ park In London. We met Ian, Benny and

Chris from Bexley, and we met Juan and Rachel from Sutton.

We had our photo taken in front of Buckingham palace

We stopped for a coffee and cake at the café

We saw the pelicans, swans, we stopped for some lunch, played a few games, then we went the portrait gallery

By Teresa and George

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Stay Up Late – Karaoke On 6th August, we hosted a

Karaoke Night at Community House, as a Stay Up Late event

We got to sing our favourite songs. Chris from Bexley was our

DJ.

We had lots of friends come join us for the evening

We also had guests from other advocacy groups, including from Greenwich and Lewisham, as well as members from our Bromley, Bexley and Sutton Groups

It was really fun!

By Polly

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July We talked about complaints and how to make them. we also did an icebreaker called 100 Lists August We had a general chat.

We also talked about the favourite things we like to do September We went to the Pub to celebrate Adam and Sanjay’s birthdays October We talked about Community and how people treat those with learning disabilities November We went bowling at the Pavilion

By George and Gordon

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On 27th October, as part of our Community topic, members of Members Monthly Meeting went to the Cinema to see the film “I Swear”

It was based on a true story about a man with Tourette's Syndrome.

Some bits of the movie were a bit sad, but the film had a good

ending.

It was nice to get out and do something different

By Polly

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Peer Supporters and Volunteers We wanted to celebrate our peer supporters and volunteers. We asked some of them to tell us something they

are proud of Laura – Volunteer “My favourite memory is when I got my Jack Petchey Leaders award. I got it for working hard. Everyone calls me the walking diary!”

Teresa – Peer Supporter “I am proud of being able to get more ladies to coffee morning. We now have 2 more regular women coming. My goal is to get more!”

George – Peer Supporter “I am proud of doing zoom with the lads after my operation. It was important to share my story with the group and help

them learn”

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Peer Supporters and Volunteers Paul – Volunteer

“I love being busy! I like being able to be helpful. I have lots of happy memories from being Yaninka’s PA and keeping her in line”

A big thank you to all of our peer supporters and volunteers, including: • Sarah • Juan • Philip • Josh • Nathan • Amy • Chris

• Sue • Josie • Cathy • And many more!

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Positive Voices A group of members from our Speaking Up groups went to the Positive Voices conference in Birmingham again this year

The conference was about health, and how the NHS has affected people with learning disabilities and autism. There was a panel of professionals and self advocates who were asked questions.

The second half was celebrating what the self advocacy groups have been up to this year.

We shared our Money Money Money part 2 video.

Jan’s group, SUSO, won the best

presentation award!

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Positive Voices Ian “I was happy to have the chance to go to Birmingham for the conference. I enjoyed connecting with many groups from all over the country. I felt proud when seeing the strength and determination each group showed in their presentations and in the panel discussion. Together I feel we have a powerful voice. I hope we can stay connected with the groups” Sarah “I had a great experience, as always! I really enjoy hearing what all the other groups are up to and sharing ideas.

Bring on next year!”

Juan “It was brilliant. It was a fantastic fay. I really enjoyed going, and am glad I went”

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Speak Up Sutton Members of Speak Up Sutton met up for an independent social at

Wetherspoons in Wimbledon

Philip “I enjoyed it”

Anthony “It was nice to see everyone and have lunch with everyone”

Lucy “Had a great time with my friends”

Roger “I have really enjoyed being with you all”

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Bromley Partnership Board The Bromley Partnership Board recently made a huge change.

They said a giant thank you to David Barnett who has been the boards co chair for a very long time.

He said “I’ve enjoyed being co chair I will miss it, but it’s time for a change.”

The members of the board with a learning disability voted for a new co chair.

The winner is…..

Gordon Ager After winning Gordon said “'Thank you for this opportunity I will work very hard and do my best for you all” Congratulations Gordon.

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Celebration

Festival

Birthdays

Crackers

Parties

Party Poppers

Awards

Christmas

Party Hats

Happy

By Susie B

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Dates for your diary 2nd January – groups are open again after Christmas, starting with Bromley Together Coffee Morning

14th February – Stay Up Late event at Sutton United

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Contacts Rachel

07711 590398

Susie

07702 252840

Jan

07730 762924

Yaninka

07706 360405

Isaac

07710 707667

Funmi

07715 068941

Gracie

07395 789110

Bromley Office

0208 315 2508

Swanley office

0345 310 1812 31