Mencap launches Mencap Direct

Wednesday 14 July 2010

Learning disability charity, Mencap, has today announced the launch of a new national telephone service - Mencap Direct 0300 333 11 11. This is a new service which makes it easy for people with a learning disability, and those who support them, to find and buy the services they need from Mencap. The supporting website http://www.mencapdirect.org.uk/ allows people to find services in their area by a postcode search.

Increasing numbers of people choose to use an individual budget to purchase their support and, for some, finding the right service can be a complex process. Mencap Direct is designed to provide people with a learning disability and those who support them, a single, personal point of contact to provide guidance and support for people wishing to find out more about the Mencap services in their local area.

Whether the caller wants to know about support at home, assistance with finding and maintaining a job, or employing their own personal support worker, the team at Mencap Direct provides detailed information about Mencap services in their area that will meet their needs. Mencap co-ordinators will then stay in regular contact to design the right service and support for each individual.

Jan Tregelles, Mencap's director of personal support, commented: "Individual budgets are empowering people with a learning disability across the country to live more independent lives. For some people finding services can be daunting. Mencap Direct will help people with a learning disability and their families to find services they need for themselves and take control over their own lives."

Contact Mencap Direct on 0300 333 11 11 or visit http://www.mencapdirect.org.uk/.

-ENDS-

For further information, photographs or to arrange an interview contact Jenny Brannan on 020 7696 6017 email jenny.brannan@mencap.org.uk or 07770 656 659 if calling out of hours.

Notes to editors

• About Mencap

Mencap supports the 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK and their families and carers. Mencap fights to change laws and improve services and access to education, employment and leisure facilities, supporting thousands of people with a learning disability to live their lives the way they want.

We are also one of the largest providers of services, information and advice for people with a learning disability across England, Northern Ireland and Wales, including:

• Supported living and accommodation
• Employment and work placements
• Education
• Wills and trusts

Please see http://www.mencap.org.uk/ for more information.

• About learning disability

A learning disability is caused by the way the brain develops before, during or shortly after birth. It is always lifelong and affects someone's intellectual and social development. It used to be called mental handicap but this term is outdated and offensive. Learning disability is NOT a mental illness.

The term learning difficulty is often incorrectly used interchangeably with learning disability.