About
Mencap
What
we do
Mencap is the voice of learning disability. Everything we do is about valuing and supporting people with a learning disability, and their families and carers.
We work in partnership with people with a learning disability, and all our services support people to live life as they choose. Our work includes:
- providing high-quality, flexible services that allow people to live as independently as possible in a place they choose
- providing advice through our helplines and websites
- campaigning for the changes that people with a learning disability want.
A learning disability is caused by the way the brain develops. There are many different types and most develop before a baby is born, during birth or because of a serious illness in early childhood. A learning disability is lifelong and usually has a significant impact on a person’s life. Learning disability is not mental illness or dyslexia.
People with a learning disability find it harder than others to learn, understand and communicate. People with profound and multiple learning disabilities need full-time help with every aspect of their lives – including eating, drinking, washing, dressing and toileting.
There are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK. Like all of us, they are individuals who want different things in life and need different levels of support. We want to create a world where people with a learning disability are valued, equally, listened to and included. Every person should have the opportunity to achieve the things they want from life.
To find out more visit
www.mencap.org.ukWhere the
money is going
Over the past three years, Little Noise Sessions has been thrilled to support the Mencap Arts awards scheme. The scheme provides grants to fund local arts projects for people with a learning disability – giving them the opportunity to express themselves creatively.
The Local Arts Awards provide an opportunity for local Mencap associated and affiliated groups to run arts projects. It allows them to try something new or develop existing talent and projects can be on anything from pottery to photography.
In 2008/9, 59 groups received an award and this benefited over 2150 people with a learning disability.
Nuneaton and Bedworth Mencap society held a Beatrix Potter Experience, by visiting the Beatrix Potter museum for inspiration for their own work.
Winchester Mencap decided to run dance workshops for members of their Blue Apple Theatre Group. Blue Apple Theatre is where adults with a learning disability and without a learning disability discover and develop skills while devising and creating shows for the public. Blue Apple is the only chance for performers with a learning disability to take part in theatre locally to Winchester. Everyone is equally valued and included.
By buying a ticket for Little Noise Sessions, you’re making a huge difference to the lives of people with a learning disability – so thank you. Once we meet our fundraising target for the Mencap arts awards scheme, any additional money raised will go towards our other vitally important projects.