Welcome to your supporter magazine
Hello, I’m Karen, and I’m the Vice-Chair of Mencap’s
Voices Council
The Mencap Voices Council are a group of 12 people with a learning disability. They share their views and experiences to help Mencap's Board of Trustees make decisions.
, a group of 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.
who help guide Mencap’s work. In this issue of Mencap Matters, you’ll see what that looks like in action.
Your support is truly creating a future full of possibility for people with a learning disability. I mean that – none of this would be possible without you.
Campaigning for equal rights
People with a learning disability face inequality in every part of their lives – let down by the health system, unable to get paid work, mistreated, and left behind. That’s why we continue to campaign A campaign is when people work together to try to change something. to make sure that people with a learning disability have the same opportunities as everyone else. And with the arrival of a new government last July, we’ve worked tirelessly to ensure their voices are not only heard – but acted upon.
Together we’re changing the lives of people with a learning disability
- Last November,
the government
The Government are the people who run the country. They decide how much tax people should pay for things and how things like the National Health Service should work.
committed to reform the mental health act. This will prevent the unnecessary detention of people with a learning disability or
autism
Autism is a disability. Autistic people find it difficult to understand what other people think and feel. They also find it difficult to tell people what they think and feel. Everyone with autism is different.
in mental health hospitals. We proudly welcome this
hard-fought victory, and we will continue to hold the government to account to ensure they keep their promises. - We pushed for an extension of the Household Support Fund, which provides crisis support for people with a learning disability towards essential household costs. It’s now been extended until March 2026, and we will
continue to work towards a long-term solution. - The government has adopted our recommendations to make apprenticeships more
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.
– opening up
employment
Employment means having a job.
for people with a learning disability who want to work.
We welcome these important wins, including the government’s commitment to invest £1 billion in employment support for disabled people. Vital funds that will help more people into work, including people with a learning disability.
But we remain vigilant. As soon as one victory is achieved, another obstacle emerges. Changes to
National Insurance
National Insurance is a type of tax. It is money that is taken out of the money you earn each month. You pay National Insurance so that you can get a pension when you are older.
contributions have placed immense pressure on the
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
sector. We’re also deeply concerned about changes to the Universal Credit Bill, which risk pushing people with a learning disability into poverty.
We’ve responded with urgency – campaigning for funding, engaging with ministers, and ensuring people with a learning disability are involved Involved is being included in something or taking part in something. every step of the way. Their voices matter most.
Empowering families
We want every child with a learning disability to get the right support early on, so they can learn and develop at their own pace – and continue to thrive as they get older. But parents and carers often face huge barriers – from long waits for diagnosis A diagnosis is when a medical professional like a doctor has said you have a certain illness or condition. to delays accessing services. We regularly hear from families who feel isolated, frustrated and unsure where to turn.
Parents of children with a learning disability are almost twice as likely as other parents to feel depressed or hopeless often or all the time.
This year, 523 families have accessed Mencap’s workshops and peer support groups to help overcome these challenges. Our family engagement programme provides peer support groups and workshops around topics such as
transitions and benefits – helping parents and carers to better understand their children’s
rights
Rights are the things everyone should be allowed to do like have a say, or go to school.
. In partnership with local
organisations
Organisations are groups like companies and businesses.
, we’ve also helped organise coffee mornings and play sessions for children with a learning disability.
Creating safe spaces where children can play and families can connect is so important – because that’s not always a given.
Feedback from both parents and professionals has been overwhelmingly positive.
"The Mencap stay and play groups have made me feel so comfortable, and no one judges any behaviour my child shows. It’s a safe space for my children to be children. It is a massive help navigating the world with a child with additional needs and I don’t know what I would do without the project.” - Parent supported in Tameside
Together, we can build on these successes - and help every child with a learning disability thrive.
Me Time
Me Time gives people the power to shape their own future. Whether they want to get into education Education is when you learn things. When you fill in a form to get a job, education means you write where you went to school, college or university. , develop new skills, or get involved in the community A community is the people and places in an area. , there’s a pathway for everyone – and a chance to feel included and find purpose.
But with your support, our Me Time services are helping people get out in the community, make friends, develop skills and grow in confidence. This year, we supported 187 people with a learning disability in England and Wales to take an active role in their community.
We always want Me Time to reflect the interests and goals of the people we support. That’s why co-production is at the heart of everything we do – because when people with a learning disability are included, we can build a fairer society where no one is left behind. That’s what Me Time is all about.
Highlights include:
- Tameside: The group received a £500 grant to collaborate with a local artist and create a powerful artwork for the National Greater Manchester
Hate Crime
A hate crime is when someone is hurt or bullied because of things like: their disability or their religion.
Campaign – featured in local news and online. - Nottingham: Me Time volunteers completed a 10-week placement in a Mencap retail store, gaining new skills and growing in confidence.
- Islington: Volunteers joined local parks teams to prepare Spa Fields for spring – creating a greener, more inclusive space for everyone.
- Sutton: Participants attended local
advocacy
Advocacy is when you get support to have your say.
meetings, using their voices to make a difference in their community
Mencap Helpline
Our Learning Disability Helpline is a vital source of guidance Guidance means being given clear instructions to be able to do something well. , information and reassurance for people with a learning disability when they need it most. Whether callers are dealing with stressful money worries or a complex benefits system, our team go above and beyond to support them through the most challenging moments in their lives.
How our helpline made a difference this year:
- We supported 5,879 individuals, families, and carers – with many requiring tailored, ongoing support.
- We secured over £321,000 in financial Financial means anything that is to do with money. It is used to describe how people, businesses, or governments get money and how they use it gains for people.
- We responded sensitively to 139 safeguarding Keeping people safe from being hurt, abused, or neglected is called Safeguarding. concerns, ensuring individuals were protected from harm.
- We received over 440,000 views of our advice and information pages.
"It was a lifeline to be able to just ask questions and discuss our concerns about our daughter’s future with someone who has such a wealth of experience Experience is when you have learned or tried something before. and knowledge Knowledge is knowing a lot about something. of the system. Thank you so much!" - Helpline user
The feedback we receive is very positive. People tell us they feel better informed, supported, and confident in their next steps.
Our helpline in England is funded by incredible people like you. It would not have been possible to answer any of these calls without your support. Thank you for helping us be there for those who need us most – and have no one to turn to.
Standout Fundraisers
This year, we had some fantastic support from some incredible fundraisers – including these three superstars:
Michael
Michael is a Mencap
Myth
A myth is an idea about something that is not true.
Buster and Guinness World record holder for furthest distance travelled on foot in one week! Since 2021, this superstar has raised over £11,000 for Mencap.
Cooper
Cooper took part in One Big Walk and smashed his target, raising £260 to support our work.
Lucy
Lucy made every mile count when she took on the TCS London Marathon for Mencap, raising £3,228 to help change lives.
Fancy taking on a challenge for Mencap? Run, bake, yodel – whatever you love do, there are so many ways to get involved.
Supporters who shape our future
Over half our voluntary fundraised income Income is all the money you get from things like paid jobs and government benefits. comes from gifts left in supporters’ Wills. Some of the work featured in this issue would not be possible without their generosity.
Clare left a gift to change lives
We’re remembering Clare, whose meaningful gift will help us keep building a more inclusive future.
"My mother Clare left a gift in her Will to Mencap in memory of her sister, Bernie Spain, who died in 1984. Bernie was a life-long campaigner for equality in health and housing..."
"...Some of her most influential campaigning in the 1970s changed the face of London’s South Bank, meaning that today it’s full of culture, affordable housing and a riverside park, rather than office blocks that would cut off river access. By leaving a gift in her Will to Mencap, my mother hoped to leave a legacy that would improve the quality of life for others, just like Bernie did." - Joe, Clare's daughter
Create a lasting change today
Request your free ‘Gift in Wills’ guide to see how to write your Will – and discover how your gift could change lives. If you have questions or have already put Mencap in your Will, we’d love to hear from you. Email: [email protected]
