Fundraising allows us to create sustainable change for people with a learning disability
At Mencap, fundraising is vital in helping us make the UK the best place in the world for people 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.
to live happy and healthy lives. Whether through regular givers, event participants, corporate partners, legacy donations or trusts and foundations, the money we raise allows us to create sustainable change.
Fundraising income is essential in enabling us to break down the barriers people with a learning disability face daily, such as struggling to get a paid job, not knowing where to turn for advice, feeling isolated and not receiving the right care.
Below you'll find some of the important examples of the impact our fundraising income has for people with a learning disability:
Running our information and advice service
This includes our helpline in England, which, per year, provides specialist advice and information to over 8,000 people with a learning disability and their families and carers. In a world where
accessible
Accessible means something is easy for people to use or join in with. For example: Accessible writing means the writing is easy to read and understand.
information is often unavailable, this
service
A service gives people what they need, like healthcare services that help people when they are ill, and support services that give people support.
is invaluable.
Continuing our vital campaigning work
Our campaigning work to champion the
rights
Rights are the things everyone should be allowed to do like have a say, or go to school.
of people with a learning disability, including:
- Successfully influencing
the government
The Government are the people who run the country. The Government decide how much tax people should pay and how things like the National Health Service (NHS) should work.
to make crucial changes to the Mental Health Act, to prevent people with a learning disability being wrongfully detained in mental health institutions, where they can be treated terribly. - Promoting the
learning disability register
The learning disability register is a list of people with a learning disability that the doctor’s surgery looks after.
to ensure people with a learning disability are getting the healthcare they’re entitled to, and any reasonable adjustments they need. - Successfully campaigning to grant people with a learning disability priority access to lifesaving COVID vaccinations.
Conducting research
Research
Research is a way of finding out information which could come from books, or asking people what they think.
to help us understand the greatest issues people with a learning disability are facing, including:
- Our Big Learning Disability Survey, where people with a learning disability shared their experiences of everyday life and let us know what mattered most to them, such as getting a paid job, having more personal support and tackling
discrimination
Discrimination is when someone is treated differently (usually in a bad way) because of things like their disability or their
religion
Religion is to do with the things you believe about the world. For example you may believe there is a god or something else. Examples of religions are Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism.
.
. - Research with the National Development Team for Inclusion (NDTI) that helps us understand what people with a learning disability want when it comes to work, and why so few people with a learning disability can access or maintain paid work.
Delivering programmes
Delivering programmes that support with
employment
Employment means having a job.
, family support, wellbeing, staying active and creating a sense of
community
A community is the people and places in an area.
. This includes:
- Our programmes delivered to young people in schools, providing introductory support to employment and employability skills and setting aspirations, which is vital when we consider people with a learning disability have the lowest employment rate for any health condition or disability in the UK.
- Our Family Support services in England, Northern Ireland and Wales, which empower parents to demand the right support for their children, and guide and advise them in parenting their children with a learning disability.
- Our programmes where volunteers with and without a learning disability get
involved
Involved is being included in something or taking part in something.
in activities including designing and creating a sensory community garden, planting trees and making nutritious meals. This helps people feel connected to their local community while having fun.
Running our Network Partner office
The Network Partner office enables us to help our network of over 300 affiliated groups to support people with a learning disability in communities across the UK.
By Mencap