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. charity Mencap is pleased to announce the appointment of two new trustees, Jitesh Sodha and Dinesh Sattee.
Dinesh has a long and varied history of campaigning and is Mencap’s second trustee who has a learning disability. Jitesh, who joined Mencap at the start of August following a long and distinguished career in senior finance roles, brings a wealth of experience Experience is when you have learned or tried something before. to his new position as trustee and Chair of Mencap’s Audit, Finance and Risk Committee.
Dinesh, who joins in September, has spent much of his life advocating and campaigning to improve the lives of disabled people through work with the National Autistic Society, Every Disabled Child Matters and
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.
Information Network. An elected Parliamentary
Representative
A representative is also called a rep. A representative is someone who speaks up for everyone in their group or team.
for Lewisham Speaking Up, he is also a freelance stage, pyrotechnics and special effects technician. He has also advocated for people with disabilities and people of colour through his membership of broadcasting union BECTU’s Disabled and Black Members Committees.
Dinesh says: "I am honoured and excited to be joining Mencap as its second trustee with a learning disability. Throughout my life I have been very passionate about improving the lives of disabled and autistic people and ensuring their voices are heard.
“I am looking forward to working with the Board, the *Mencap
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.
and the wider Mencap team to help create a more inclusive society where people with learning disabilities are listened to, respected and
involved
Involved is being included in something or taking part in something.
in decisions that affect their lives - a world where things are
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.
and words turn into action."
Jitesh brings more than 25 years of senior finance leadership experience, including five board-level group chief 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 officer (CFO) roles including as group chief financial officer at Spire Healthcare, De La Rue and Greenergy International.
He says: “As I step back from executive life, I'm looking forward to offering my time and skills to organisations Organisations are groups like companies and businesses. whose mission genuinely improves people’s lives and Mencap is exactly that.”
A keen walker and cyclist who loves exploring the world with his wife and son and has walked Hadrian’s Wall coast to coast, Jitesh says: “I am driven by personal connections to people navigating the challenges of living with a disability and needing support from the care system. I am pleased to be able to use my skills gained in corporate life in a role which allows me to give something back and contribute where it counts.”
Lynne Peacock, Mencap’s Chair of the Board of Trustees, who herself joined the organisation at the start of 2026, says: “I am delighted to welcome Dinesh and Jitesh to the Mencap team and look forward to working with them both to use their impressive experience and campaigning energy to improve the lives of people with a learning disability.
“Growing the number of people with a learning disability on our Board is incredibly important. It helps ensure people with lived experience are at the heart of our decision-making and strengthens our ability to create meaningful change.
“This year is a landmark year for Mencap, as we celebrate our 80th birthday and launch our new five-year
strategy
A strategy is a plan to show what an organisation, or a person, wants to do and how they are going to do it.
. We have big ambitions for the years ahead and it’s great to have two such experienced and enthusiastic new trustees on board to help us achieve them. ”
-ENDS-
Note to editors
About Mencap
There are 1.5 million people with a learning disability in the UK and they deserve to live their life to the full. So Mencap supports people with a learning disability to succeed in the things that matter to them. To ensure that people with a learning disability are not left behind at any stage of their life, we campaign for a fairer society; work with families and partners to build inclusive communities; and we deliver person-centred services. We’ve spent 80 years changing lives. Now, with Mencap 2030, we’re changing the future.
What is a learning disability?
A learning disability is a reduced intellectual ability which affects someone for their whole life. Typically, people with a learning disability need more time to learn and process information. They may need extra support to develop skills, complete tasks and interact with others, or they may have more complex needs requiring round-the clock care. The level of support needed is different for everyone and may change during a person’s lifetime.
Learning disability is NOT a mental illness or a learning difficulty. Often, the term ‘learning difficulty’ is wrongly used in place of ‘learning disability’. Having a learning difficulty (such as ADHD or
dyslexia
Dyslexia is a learning difficulty. People who have dyslexia can find it hard to read, write and spell.
) may mean a person learns at a different pace or in a different way BUT – unlike a learning disability - it does not affect a person’s intellect.
With the right support, most people with a learning disability can lead happy, healthy, independent lives. At Mencap, it’s our mission to remove societal barriers and shatter misconceptions to make this more possible for more people.
Mencap’s guide to reporting on Learning Disability
When it comes to creating content with people with a learning disability, we know many people feel nervous about saying and doing the wrong thing. Our guide for journalists, covers everything from up-to-date facts and figures to the right language to use. It also includes tips on how to work with people with a learning disability to gather the best content.
For further information, please contact Mencap’s media team on: [email protected] or 02076 965414 (including out of hours).
