As a voice for learning disability as we approach the 2019 General Election we are asking politicians, irrelevant of their political beliefs, to prioritise and address the following ten issues during the lifetime of the next Parliament:

• To urgently publish a comprehensive, progressive and sustainable set of proposals to deliver a world class social care offer to all citizens, irrelevant of age, who require its support

• To commit to funding this offer and enter into a conversation with all of us as to how this will be paid for, even if this requires additional, fairly applied taxation

• To broaden the public conversation about what social care is so that it’s not simply polarised around supporting an ageing population

• That the next parliament will commit to ending, once and for all, the national shame of the incarceration and detention of vulnerable citizens simply because they have a learning disability or autism

• That the next parliament will commit to addressing the discriminatory health inequalities faced by people with a learning disability, that leads to shortened lives and unnecessary deaths

• That the next parliament will work to ensure that disability hate crime is given the same credence and scrutiny as other forms of discrimination and hate as defined by the Equality Act 2010

• That the next parliament will work with people with a learning disability and devise a fully funded national pathway to employment that also ensures all employers are reporting on the recruitment and retention of disabled employees

• That the next parliament recognises family carers as the nations key strategic workforce and delivers a framework of fully funded support that recognises and rewards the commitment of caring

• That the next parliament commits to funding and reforming a regulatory body that retains public confidence and ensures that all housing, care and support provision available is safe, delivered to promote a lifestyle of choice, and that the citizen’s voice is central to its delivery

• That the next Government commits that the post holders to the portfolios of Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and Minister of State for Disabled People, Work and Health is the same person for the lifetime of parliament

This Halloween at Midland Mencap we had a great day full of inclusive family fun! We started the day with a relaxed arts and crafts session where families could create their own marvellous Halloween decorations including tote bags, hanging cobwebs, and spooky mini bats. It was wonderful to see children cutting, glueing, and colouring their own paper ghosts to take home.

Those that wanted to explore the Sutton park’s Pumpkin trail then headed out together. Some used the adapted bikes provided by parkride, some brought their own bikes from home, and some chose to walk. While it was quite a chilly afternoon the interactive games and the company kept everyone is good spirits. It was lovely to see the kids come out of their shell and have a go at activities like hopscotch. Once we’d done a loop around the park, we all came back to the centre to warm up and enjoy some pumpkin cupcakes together.

Events like this are valuable to our community for lots of reasons. Tess, a member of staff and our resident face painter for the day, pointed out that Halloween can be a scary time for many people which is why we provide a safe environment where families can celebrate the occasion together. Oliver, who created ‘Hippo the Friendly Ghost’ out of plastic cups and paper, came out in order to practice his bike riding skills as he has dyspraxia. And Evan and Dade joined us to socialise with their friends. Therefore, we always work hard to make sure that there is something for everyone at all of our events.

To learn more about the events we offer throughout the year, click here

– Anjali, Volunteer Reporter –

The excitement and anticipation could be felt all over Sutton Park on Saturday 5th October as participants and supporters gathered together for a great day of activity, fundraising and personal achievements.

The day commenced with the cycle event where many of our parkriders rode their way to complete an impressive 5km; an amazing achievement for all who took part. This was then followed by 112 enthusiastic individuals taking on either a 5km or 10km run and many more individuals partaking in the 1km fun run which concluded the day. With a mixture of runners, joggers, walkers, bikers and wheelchair users it really was a day for everyone.

As a charity who strive for inclusivity and equality within society, it was especially pleasing to see that was this felt by all those involved in the event. With one participant saying, ‘I’m delighted today’s event has been so inclusive, and everyone has found their own way to take part’ and another saying it was ‘fab to see different people join in confident that they had been thought about! That’s how to deliver an inclusive sports event’. This kind of feedback is always wonderful to receive and proves we are on the right track.

We saw some fantastic results over the day and a special shout out should go to Tim Livesey for winning the 10km in a superb time of 39:44 closely followed in by Dan Melia and Naved Akhtar, and Ruth Horton the first female across the line in an impressive time of 52:58. Martin Farmer dominated the 5km with a winning time of 22:20 and Ruby Inman took the first female with an equally amazing time of 28:00 dead.

Another notable run came from Tom Kirby who took part in this year’s 10km. Tom has been supported at Midland Mencap for over 3 years now and as a keen runner has decided to run the London Marathon with Freddie another individual supported by a local group Harpenden Mencap. They will be running the London Marathon for Mencap as a squad of 15 runners to give back to all those who have helped them over the years. This will be an amazing achievement and we ask everyone to please get behind Tom and Freddie and the 13 other runners and support them through their London Marathon journey. Check out Tom’s fundraising page here

All finishers were awarded medals to mark their achievement and all photos of the event are now available to view online. Check out all the photo’s on our Facebook page here.

Massive thanks have to go to all our volunteers. Without all of you lovely people we would not be able to put on these great events and again massive congratulations must be given to all our runners and participants.

We look forward to welcoming you all back next year when we hope to make the event even bigger and more successful. Keep your eyes peeled for further information but for now, a big THANK YOU!

– Eloise Bull –

Arrival

We all arrived on Monday morning to glorious sunny weather at the Frank Chapman Centre. We spent the first part of our time getting to know the people in our dormitories, unpacking our bags and making our beds. We were staying in large dormitories full of bunk beds. Following this, we had to complete a fire test and have a tour of the centre so we could familiarise ourselves with our surroundings. We learnt where we could go in free time and where we needed to meet for our sessions.

Activity Sessions

Throughout the course of the week, our three groups took part in a round-robin of activities. On Monday afternoon, we stayed in a large group but we were competing against each other in our activity group teams. We took part in various activities earning points for our teams. The activities included gutters (using individual guttering pieces to roll a ball to a cone without dropping it), the mine, low ropes, an obstacle course whilst holding a cup of water and to finish off we had the water pipe where we all got very wet!

Over the middle three days of the residential, we all took turns to take part in archery, climbing, high ropes, bushcraft and catapults.

Our first high ropes session was crate stack and Jacob’s ladder. This required us to work in pairs to try and get as high as we could on both obstacles. On crate stack, we had to pile the crates as high as we could whilst balancing on top! On Jacob’s ladder, we had to work together to climb our way up a ladder where the gaps got bigger and bigger! On our second high ropes session, we did the challenge assent and the high all aboard. For the challenge assent we had to try and climb to the top of the high ropes using ladders and ropes, and the high all aboard we tried to climb to the top of a tall tower and stand on a platform at the top! Some of us went up in pairs together!

On our bushcraft session, we learnt how to make our own little fires from scratch. We had to forage in the woodlands for little twigs and sticks and find dry grass to use at the very start of the fire. Our instructor showed us some different ways you can light a fire and then gave us a fire steel to light ours. We found this very challenging but had a great sense of pride when they lit and we saw them grow into bigger fires! We then cooked some damper bread on our fires and this was very tasty, even though some of us ate it raw in the middle! Our instructor was also very knowledgeable about how to live in the woods and said he had cooked a whole roast dinner on a fire in his back garden!

For our archery session, we all learnt how to correctly load the bow and arrow and how to aim and shoot at a target. This was much easier said than done! Some of the leaders got a little competitive with each other! As this session didn’t last as long, some groups went and completed the nightline course as well. This is where the group are all blindfolded and you have to follow a line with you hand through the wood whilst navigating different obstacles. It was useful to work together and tell people behind you what was coming up in front.

Lastly, we all took part in climbing. This was great as we could all go as high as we wanted to and didn’t have to reach the top to feel like we had achieved something and had a go. We worked together to hold the ropes of the people climbing and encouraged each other to do our best. Some of us took up the challenge of trying to climb up using just one colour of hold on the wall…that was very tricky!

Food!

The Frank Chapman centre provided us with lovely home-cooked food throughout the course of our stay with them. Our breakfasts were made up of a choice of cereals, fruit salad and toast with various toppings. For lunch, we made our own rolls choosing fillings from tuna, egg, turkey, cheese and jam. There was also the option of fruit and crisps and a home-cooked cake or biscuit. These included iced sponges, cornflake flapjack, shortbread and muffins!

For dinner, we were always given options as to what we would like, with there always being a jacket potato with fillings and a fully stocked salad bar to help ourselves to. Our meals included pizza with chips and beans, sausages with mashed potato and vegetables, chicken pie with potatoes and vegetables and spaghetti bolognese. All our evening meals were followed by puddings like strawberry cheesecake, jam tart and custard and chocolate sponge with chocolate custard. Yummy!

Evening sessions

Throughout the week we had different evening entertainment after dinner and before bed. On Monday night, we had a huge game of hide and seek in our free time area. This was great fun and we managed not to lose anyone, although some pairs/groups couldn’t be found and had to come back to the horseshoe when our instructor rang the bell! Obviously they found some amazing hiding places!

On Tuesday evening we all took part in a game called 101. This was where in our teams we had to run around the activity centre site to answer 101 questions like ‘What bird is guarding the kitchen door?’ and ‘What does the sign say next to the boot room door?’ We had great fun running around and trying to get the right answers and beating our competing teams.

On Wednesday we went on a muddy stream walk in the woods. Some of us decided that we just wanted a nice amble through the woods, whilst others of us got very muddy and wet by walking up the streams and commando crawling through the mud! Lots of laughs and fun were had with many of us needing hosing down and showers on arrival back at the centre.

On our last night, Thursday, we had a disco in the evening and just spent time chilling out in our friendship groups outside. It was a nice end to the week to be able to play together and chat before we all left the next day.

Goodbye!

On our last morning, we had to have our bags packed and beds stripped before breakfast, so our leaders woke us up a little earlier than usual…groan..! For our last activity session, our groups were all together again for orienteering. This is where we used a map of the centre and the grounds to locate different markers and punch a stamp into an orienteering card.

We split into smaller groups and our instructor taught us how to read an orienteering map and what all the different symbols meant. We used the larger orienteering map which meant we were allowed to go into the woods to find the markers, and not just stick to the free time area! Some of us did get a little lost, but we knew that to get back to the centre we just had to walk uphill! We impressed our instructor with the number of markers we found!

It was then time for our last packed lunch which we ate outside in the centre grounds as it was a nice day. We said our goodbyes and the minibus/our parents came to pick us up. We all had an amazing time, made new friends and tried lots of new things. Home for a well-needed sleep!

-Deborah Mcgarvey, CYP Coordinator-

Friday 14th of this month it was Midland Mencaps 70th birthday to celebrate it was a party at the town hall with dance and bands and choirs. I was asked to be the host for the event and without hesitation I said yes, as it would be a really great evening of entertainment and celebration. I also felt really privileged that they trusted me with doing the role as it was in front of 500 people! Sometimes I do panic under pressure but because I can improvise due to my past acting skills it flowed really well.

I didn’t want to let anyone down and considering when I got there and given a script a few hours before to help I felt butterflies in my stomach as I did the walk on to where I would be going on the night and what colour my microphone was. The building was really beautiful and I was looked after by Chris Proctor and all the other staff who made me feel really at ease at the job I was going to do when the show started. It was a really good night I am so proud and glad I did it.

Being with everyone, dancing with all my friends plus all in Midland Mencap they are all my family. Talking to Geared about are ongoing rivalry, sitting on the stage with the acts gave me a huge buzz as I was able to really soak in what was a really good night to celebrate Midland Mencap. Who knows maybe I’ll get to host another event as it was a moment I’ll treasure.

I do wear my heart on my sleeve only because I want to show that whatever you want to go for you can do it.

You can see all the pictures from the Birmingham Big Noise here

Tom Kirby – Midland Mencap Ambassador

Tom Kirby is back again with another Podcast! Listen as he and Jane Hatton CEO of Evenbreak discuss the challenges faced by disabled people in getting into employment

Listen to the full podcast here:

On this month’s Podcast Tom Kirby Interviews Councillor John Cotton Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion, Community Safety and Equalities at Birmingham City Council. They talk through topics such as social inclusion, transport, disability hate crime, Brexit and much more!

Listen to the full podcast here

Hello and welcome back to all my readers to this month’s blog for you. This month will be about social media and how it can be positive for people but also can be a negative experience. There are lots of ways to use social media be this sharing photos and videos of you and your friends and family as well as keeping in contact with people you care about who might live far away from you.

Sadly there are lots of examples where social media is used in the wrong way. Lots of people should happily get along but there are lots of people who fall victim to bullying on social media. I’ve been a victim myself and this left me feeling ashamed, vulnerable and isolated from friends and family. These messages had a major impact on people life’s and and it leaves people thinking why they were picked on? . Here’s a statistic about bullying online that I found “ Over 25% of adults and young people have been bullied repeatedly through their phones or the Internet.”

So I urge you to think carefully about what you are replying to online. Think about how you would feel if you got a hateful message as these words can have a serious impact on someone.

I am quite a positive person but it’s okay to say some days I still feel hurt from it and it’s alright to feel that way so let’s work together and stop bullying online. The good thing is that your friends and family are always there to support you if you have any problems online. As well I find it is also good to have a break from social media I love to go out with friends to the cinema to watch a movie or playing sports as you know I love hockey!

Thanks you once again for reading my blog and hope this has inspired you to be more positive to people online. I’m really excited about what I have to share with you all over the next few months so keep your eyes peeled! I was also recently part of the Midland Mencap’s new monthly Podcast so if you missed it you can listen or watch here!!

Tom Kirby – Midland Mencap Monthly Blogger

We’re excited to share our first ever podcast. Listen to Dave Rogers and Tom Kirby talk about our 70th year as a charity, learning disability, mental health, blogging and of course Brexit…

Listen to the full podcast here

Hello everyone for today’s blog I want to look back on 2018. This has been for me first of all a year I’ll never forget! I’ll always remember the first time I became part of the Midland Mencap flyers hockey team from someone who never done any social sports apart from going to swimming lessons and scouts to have a gold medal from Amsterdam in 2017 it’s really still to this day a memory I’ll always remember. And to be able to compete in Barcelona this year is something that is just simply amazing. Hockey has become something that is really special to me. I have grown so much as a player and a team mate it wouldn’t have been possible with Steve and Laura.

So Thank for this for this experience there are no words to say how much this means to me. Even when I have felt I couldn’t do anything even, James, he would get tough with me not because I had done anything wrong but they all wanted me to believe more in myself as a player. Hopefully there will be more experiences with you all to come. PS. Steve the banter we have, I wouldn’t have it any other way!

As well The Real Junk Food Project has given me so much a new taste of cooking to trying new flavours. I’m so proud to volunteer there because of the things it’s given me from running a boutique, to seeing friendly customers every Monday. I would really recommend coming and giving your support to this wonderful project and one day if we all work together help stop food waste. Without donations from the general public we wouldn’t be able to run cafes or a warehouse if you’d like to learn more click here.

Something which has benefited both my skills as a player and mentally is running. Since doing it in myself I have noticed a big difference. I have more energy when running on the pitch and I feel healthier in myself. The good thing about running is you don’t have to be big and strong it makes me feel so free when running and all my fears melt away. I am determined to do 10k this year, So the Geared rivalry continues!

In terms of mental health I am glad to say that I am not OK its nothing to be ashamed of. I want to show you, my readers that with help the road to recovery is a long road but you can do it!! What this year has proven to me like the song from the greatest showman “This is me” yes I am suffering with it. Yes I have scares. But this is me, it’s who I am and that I am not scared anymore because I have the love and support from people. They know who they are and they keep me fighting every day.

Going into next year I will be a stronger person keep working hard see what exciting things next year has in-store like potentially interviewing an actor from Casualty! Last but no means least I’d like thank you my loyal readers and fans. I hope you have enjoyed my journey this year as much as I did sharing it and continue with me into the New Year! Your monthly blogger Tom Kirby