Vijay Patel
Like lots of people, a big change can sometimes make me anxious. I’d worked at the same place - Mencap’s Centre of Engagement on Golden Lane, near the Barbican in London - for six years.
When I was told we were moving to new offices, I felt a little sad as I had great memories there. The atmosphere at Golden Lane was great, and being together in the office with so many colleagues meant I was always working together with people on different projects.
But we had fun too! I always remember the competitions at Christmas when we had a “Pod off”, a competition where teams had to decorate their desks or offices with a Christmas theme to get that festive feeling going! There were some amazing decorations over the years.
Since Covid, things have been different though and now people work from home more. The Golden Lane office felt emptier, and I thought we’d lost some of that magic Mencap atmosphere. But I knew there was going to be a new chapter with the new office bringing great benefits.
Packing up the old office ready to move
At the new place, we all sit on the same floor, when before we were separated across different floors. We have hot desks now too, which means we can sit in different places. I think that helps colleagues interact with each other more, especially others who have not spoken to for a long time. I really like being able to sit together with different colleagues while working.
Vijay in the new Mencap London office
There have been lots of other changes for me to get used to as well. I was shown how to use the desk booking system and eventually soon I started to get the hang of how to book a desk. Also knowing to sign in at reception by using an iPad instead of using a pen and paper.
Travelling to the new building was scary as well – I had to change my routine and learn a new route to get to work. I sometimes worry that I could get lost or that I could struggle with new tech.
But there was a good plan in place to make sure the
transition
Transition means changing from one thing to another. Transition sometimes means things like when you change from having children's social care to adult social care.
to the new office was easy for me and other colleagues with a
learning disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
.
When the office move was announced, we had regular meetings once a month right up to the date of the move to make sure that I and others were comfortable about it. We asked questions and talked about what support we might need to help us settle into the new place.
For example, I had support to learn my new route to work, and we were able to go and visit the new office before we moved in to get used to it. It felt good to go inside and getting a tour so we knew where things were around the offices when it came to finding meeting rooms and things like that.
What I find scary is to do with the unknown. I was anxious about travelling to a new building, and using the new desk booking system because I wanted to sit next to colleagues or people that I know. For me, I can find it scary working with new colleagues who I have not worked with before. It takes time to build trust with a new colleague and it’s important to have trust so they are able to work with and support you.
Even though it was hard at first to get used to the new office, colleagues at Mencap have been very supportive. This helped with the anxiety I had at first when making the move.
Overall I feel the office move is a positive change because it’s bringing back the Mencap magic atmosphere!
Mencap's new London office address is:
Mencap
East One
20-22 Commercial Street
Spitalfields
E1 6LP
Find details of how to get in touch with other Mencap offices, teams or departments, including how to make a complaint or give a compliment, on our website.