Croydon Mencap news - Spring 2021

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Parents in Partnership @ Croydon Mencap

On 1st April we were very happy to welcome Denise, Jane, Sharon, Sue, and Tansy to our staff team and Trisha to our board of trustees.

Parents in Partnership @ Croydon Mencap will continue to support parents / carers who live in Croydon and care for children and/or young people with additional needs and disabilities who are aged from 0-25.

Croydon Mencap trustees and staff Board of Trustees

Portland House

Chair

James Kiamtia-Cooper

Treasurer

Stuart Dunk

Chief Executive and Company Secretary

Alan Avis

Trustee

Amy Creatura

Trustee

Angelene Rackett

Trustee

Anne Simpson

Trustee

David Congdon

Trustee

Farzana Hayat

Trustee

Kevin Oakhill

Trustee

Tim Flood

Chief Executive

Alan Avis

Operations Manager

Abigail White

Finance Officer

Carole Letchford

Strictly Come Walking Support Worker

Deneshia Campbell

Administration and Communications Officer

Jo Ramsay

Welfare and Rights Worker

Lloyd Thomas

Volunteering Buddies Project Coordinator

Rona Ahmed

Community and Trust Fundraiser

Sarah Grand

Carers Support Worker

Sue Payne

PiP @ Croydon Mencap Office Administrator

Denise Haughton

Parent Forum Coordinator

Jane Speller

Family Link Worker Family Link Worker Family Link Worker

Clubs @ Leslie Park

Chill and Chat

The Saturday Club

Monday Night Social Club

Sharon Scott Sue Utley Tansy Muller

Centre Manager

Kat Edwards

Deputy Manager

Emma Ouzman

Deputy Manager

Rebecca Perry-Bridgewater

Support Worker

Anita Belcher

Support Worker

Georgie Amroussi

Support Worker

Jenny Shannon

Support Worker

Liz Psaila

Support Worker

Tracy Gunaratnam

Coordinator

Christine Bush

Deputy Coordinator

Sue Payne

Coordinator

Rory Goring

Support Worker

Helen Kenyon

Support Worker

Nana Opoku-Acheampong

Interim Coordinator

Rory Goring

Support Worker

Daniel Collison

Support Worker

Georgie Amroussi

Support Worker

Liz Psaila

Support Worker

Toni Daws

Support Worker

Tracy Gunaratnam

Parents in Partnership @ Croydon Mencap As mentioned on the front page, the merger with PiP has now happened, and we are so happy to welcome their staff to our team.

PiP @ Croydon Mencap will officially move into our Portland House offices at the end of April, although they will continue to work from home at the moment.

Early Positive Approaches to Support (E-PAtS) What is E-PAtS? E-PAts is an 8 session group for families of children aged birth to 5 who have a learning or developmental disability.

The group supports resilience and wellbeing for family caregivers, positive development for children, and proactive access to services.

We have just recruited 2 Family Carer Facilitators who will be working with PiP @ Croydon Mencap to deliver the groups.

More information will be sent out when their training is complete and dates are set.

Special General Meeting Thank you to all the Croydon Mencap members that came to the meeting on 29 March 2021.

The meeting was to talk about updating our Articles of Association and taking the word 'Limited' off the end of our name. The Articles of Association are 1 of the legal documents which we have to have. They list rules about how Croydon Mencap must be run.

Members voted for both changes which means that -

1) our new objects (who we help and how) are The objects of the Charity are, for the public benefit: to provide or assist in the provision of services, support and information, in particular to children and adults with a learning disability and/or autism but also to disabled children and adults, children and adults with special needs and their families, dependents and carers in the London Borough of Croydon and its environs, to enable them to experience fulfilling lives and maximise their involvement in the community and participation as citizens; and to provide or assist in the provision of facilities for the recreation or other leisure time occupation for children and adults who have need thereof by reason of learning disability and/or autism or other disability or special needs with the object of improving their conditions of life.

2) We have taken the word 'Limited' off the end of our registered name.

Kerry on the My London news website!

Article written by Reemul Bella, with photos from Kerry's dad, Barry. Feb 2021.

From the article Since Covid struck the nation, Kerry has been shielding as she's in the vulnerable category. However, she received her 1st jab on Tuesday night (Feb 23) and Barry said she was jumping around the house with joy.

Barry said: "I asked her why and she said 'because I can go to Mencap now!" During the pandemic, Croydon Mencap have been carrying out zoom calls every day for an hour with Kerry and other members. They encourage Kerry to do fun and active activities around the house like treasure hunting for hats and scarves. "Often we'll see Kerry running round the house," Barry added. "Croydon Mencap look after her so well now and before when she was going to the centre 5 times a week."

Barry said: "Kerry loves music and there's a DJ course at Matthew's Yard in Croydon for special needs for £50 - she loved the idea." Croydon Mencap told her to raise money for the course instead of just paying for it. It was then Kerry had the idea of riding lengths on her bike she got for her birthday earlier this month. Kerry quickly raised £250 but decided to make it a bigger fundraiser for Croydon Mencap in general. They have already raised over £2000 in the space of 3 days.

"She is so pleased. She doesn't say a lot but you can see it by the smile on her face," Barry said. "She does full lengths of the street which is tough even for me!" Barry said "She went the whole length of the road (we went half) and did that a few times but struggled after that, so we split the 20 lengths over a week instead."

The family thank everyone who has donated so far in an 'immense effort' and they praise Croydon Mencap who have been 'absolutely fantastic for the last year especially.'

Clubs @ Leslie Park Kerry's plan to be a DJ is part of the amazing new 'Don't Hold Me Back Project' at Clubs @ Leslie Park.

The project will encourage members to follow their dreams, and take on incredible challenges, like DJing at a live event, leading a Harry Potter tour, or hosting a masked ball! For more information about the project, please watch the video on our YouTube channel.

If you think you could help any of our members with their challenges please contact Kat.

Jade has chosen an amazing challenge - to do a skydive from 15,000 feet! She is raising money for the London's Air Ambulance Charity and has already raised over £500! www.justgiving.com/fundraising/JadeGabriel

Kat Edwards 020 8662 9201 kat@croydonmencap.org.uk

Kat has also set herself a challenge...

She will be running the London Marathon in October, in memory of Yvonne and raising money for Royal Mencap.

From her JustGiving page Last year, the staff and members of Croydon Mencap were devastated at the loss of our amazing Active Lives manager, Yvonne Pennant Taylor to COVID-19.

Yvonne dedicated much of her career to improving the lives of adults with learning disabilities across both Lambeth and Croydon Mencap.

This year, I am running the London Marathon to remember her vital work and ensure Mencap is always at the forefront of people’s minds to help adults with learning disabilities.

There is so much more to do to show what Mencap members can achieve.

Throughout 2021, Croydon Mencap is running a new project called ‘Don’t Hold Me Back’ to prove exactly what they can do.

So, I am putting my money where my mouth is and starting off the project by running the London Marathon! Please support me and show our members that they too can achieve anything they put their minds to....

If you would like to sponsor Kat please visit her page -

www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kat-edwards1

Clubs @ Leslie Park have made a recipe book!

If you would like to buy a copy of our Feel Better Recipe Book, filled with members favourite recipes, please contact Kat.

Only £6.50 to buy - and all proceeds go to our Don't Hold Me Back Project

Clubs @ Leslie Park hope to be able to increase bubble sizes soon.

We will be holding another online forum for members and their families, and will send out more details as soon as the date is set.

Active Lives We are not able to run our usual Active Lives activities yet.

However, our Active Lives members can join our outdoor activities -

Strictly Come Walking Volunteering Buddies (for people who live in Croydon)

and / or our online activities -

Monday Night Social Club The Saturday Club Elevenses

Learning Disability Forum

The forum is a meeting for service users, parents, carers, and interested voluntary sector groups in Croydon.

The next meeting is Thursday 20 May from 10 am to 12 midday, and will be held on Zoom.

If you would like to attend, please contact us

020 8684 5890 info@croydonmencap.org.uk

Strictly Come Walking! free walking groups for adults with learning disabilities

The Walking Challenge started in January.

Members of the challenge were sent a free step counter, and step count sheet, and had weekly Zoom sessions to keep in touch. The challenge has ended and the final step count is an incredible...

1,048,081 steps!

Well done to everyone that took part - over 1 million steps is absolutely brilliant!

The face to face walking groups are now running every weekend, and we have a special walk and picnic too.

Contact Deneshia to book a place.

May Saturday

1

Saturday

Join us at Crystal Palace for a

1st May

walk and picnic. We will get together to look at the dinosaur statues and enjoy

1.30 pm

music and games.

Deneshia Campbell Deneshia Campbell 07510 593 236 deneshia@croydonmencap.org.uk

Croydon Mencap Support Service Elevenses Our weekly online social event for adults with a learning disability, carers, and families. Chat with old friends and meet new friends. Contact Sue or Lloyd for the Zoom link.

Drop in between 11 am and 12 midday

Events brochure Copies of our new brochure have been sent to our carers in the post, and it can also be read online. If you have not received a copy, and would like to read it, please contact us for the link.

Carers Support For our carers of an adult with a learning disability.

If you would like a 1 to 1 meeting with Sue at Portland House, to have a cup of tea and a catch up, or to discuss any issues you may have, please contact her to make an appointment.

Sue Payne

Lloyd Thomas

07718 494 468

07718 494 473

sue@croydonmencap.org.uk

lloyd@croydonmencap.org.uk

Chill and Chat for parents of children with additional needs from birth to 5 are running online sessions on Friday mornings, and face to face sessions at Portland House on Tuesdays. Contact Chris or Sue to book.

chris@croydonmencap.org.uk

Volunteering Buddies Project is now meeting face to face in small groups to work on some outdoor projects.

Contact Rona to find out more.

07923 173005 rona@croydonmencap.org.uk

Monday Night Social Club is continuing to run online at 7 pm to 8 pm on Mondays (not on bank holidays)

The Saturday Club is running smaller face to face sessions for existing members and Zoom sessions which others can join. Contact Rory for information and the Zoom links.

07718 494 614 rory@croydonmencap.org.uk

Croydon Mencap Portland House 678 London Road Thornton Heath CR7 7HU Registered charity no. 1073063 telephone 020 8684 5890 email info@croydonmencap.org.uk

Croydon Mencap is an autonomous local society affiliated to national Mencap.

Any views expressed herein by the individuals named do not necessarily represent those held by national Mencap or the Board of Croydon Mencap.