ANNUAL REPORT 2009

ANXIOUS TIMES

Ealing Mencap

Welcome to our 2009 Annual Report, we would like to invite you to join us as we visit some of our many projects throughout Ealing. To kick off our journey we join a few of the admin team here on a well deserved hot chocolate break at Café Gold near the Hanwell office! Ealing Mencap relies heavily on their skills and dedication to help everything run smoothly.

So here are Fiona Schallenbergh, who joined us in March on the left, in the middle is Karen Brown and finally on the right is Marja Suominen.

The administrationPage 2

Anxious times indeed! All political parties are promising public expenditure cuts for the near future and so often it is the least powerful who take the biggest hit. For example, we are all very excited about the Olympics in 2012, which is soaking up huge amounts of money. At the same time, it is proving difficult for us to finance our Special Olympics work despite the 15 medals our Ealing athletes won this summer at the UK games.

It is also unnerving trying to understand the new “personalisation” way of funding social care and what support people will need to make good use of new opportunities. Will it be better for some, but defeat others?

At Ealing Mencap we are worried about how we will complete the building of the new Enterprise Lodge which must happen in 2010, otherwise some of our funding pledges will disappear.

The old motto says “when the going gets tough, the tough get going” and so the campaigning spirit of Mencap must be sustained to make sure people with learning disabilities don’t lose out in the recession. There are other groups who might decrease their expectations first.

Julian Hillman

The bossPage 3

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Value LifeNext let’s join the Value Life group as they get ready to hop on a 65 bus to

do a little shopping in Kingston.

The Value Life group have been truly out and about both in the local community

and also further afield. The social opportunities that this project has created

would be sorely missed. Alison Murphy, the project manager, and Yvonne Taylor are helping families to understand that the block grant will go and the project must be funded by personal budgets.

The Value Life clients decide as a group when and where to go out and for the time being, leaving anxiety about the

future to one side, they’re all determined to continue enjoying themselves.

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A lot of the Ealing Mencap staff use their bikes to get around the borough. Here are Ruhi Grover (on the left) and Sharon Cudjoe heading off for a meeting at Perceval House.

For older carers, these are times of uncertainty about the future for their sons and daughters. Ealing Mencap has expanded to the neighbouring borough of Hounslow and started an Older Carers project there at the beginning of September. Sharon Cudjoe is working hard to ensure that support services are in place for older carers. She is working closely with them to make sure that long term plans for their sons and daughters are in place. Currently, she is focussing on carers whose ages range from 75 to 90!

Along with coordinating the Older Carers Project in Hounslow, Ruhi Grover has been running EMAPP (ethnic minorities access and participation project) for carers from black and minority ethnic communities for the last eight years in Hounslow and Ealing. The project provides group and individual advocacy for carers and also appropriate forums for information and consultation on issues that concern them.

Older CarersPage 6

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Here are Lee Hunt and his sister Kelly after another day at Acton college. The start for Lee didn’t go that smoothly however...

Lee was really looking forward to going to Acton college. Unfortunately, he only got the go ahead for his one-to-one support less than a week before the beginning of term, so he wasn’t able to settle in along with his peers!

Like many families, it was a whole new experience for Lee and his mum to have to find their own support worker and to pay them through direct payments. Lee’s mum, Karen, felt daunted by having to organise it all, so she talked to Ealing Mencap’s Transition team, and they worked with the family to find some support. After a rather confused start, Lee now has a worker he is getting along well with, and is really enjoying college life together with Kelly, who is already studying there.

TransitionPage 8

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Cian Binchy has just finished doing some voluntary mentoring for HAFAD* on their

summer youth scheme. His role was to support and encourage participants to

engage in daily activities such as art projects, sports, computer use and outings.

However the summer has now finished and Cian is looking for work, he is spending too much time at home and is a bit fed up. He

thinks that a lot of people with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) are poorly understood.

He has signed up to Hire Us, Ealing Mencap’s employment project and is on his way to the One Stop Shop in Ealing Broadway to meet Elisha McQueen, an Ealing Mencap

worker funded by Connexions, who is helping him prepare his CV and identify

suitable employers to approach.

Transition

*Hammersmith and Fulham Action on Disability

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Matt Coulam (second left), from the Person Centred Planning Project has been working with Dan Highfield (on the left). Together they have worked out a vision for Dan’s future. One of the things that Dan is really keen on is to live independently. They are meeting Julie Leveque (middle)

from the Transition team, with Gary Brown (second right) and Leanne Stevens (right) who also want to live together.

This first meeting is to let everyone get to know each other and decide on possible ways of moving forward. It is difficult for

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young adults with learning disabilities to meet other people with similar ambitions.

Apart from living independently Dan is keen to join a band and Matt is organising sessions with some other musicians and a professional musician to help get something going.

Leanne and Gary both volunteer at W13 Youth Club, helping kids with physical and learning disabilities to have a good time. Leanne is also studying for her NVQ Youth Worker qualification.

Maybe next year we can visit them all in their new flat!

Person centred planningPage 13

Look at those girls go! What has the Bunny Park got to do with The EalingHELP site, you might wonder. Well, Jen and Christy Moseley found out about Wizzbikes in Brentford through the website and went along to have a look at some of the different bikes on offer. They finally decided on this rather imposing ‘Buddy’ bike and have recently taken part in the Skyride through London.

The EalingHELP site has been slowly becoming part of the lives of many parents and carers of children with disability in Ealing and a first point of call for information on a range of disability related topics. For example, Mary Doody found the new transition section of the site really useful as she prepares for her son Michael’s transition to Adult services.

Why not have a look for yourself:

www.ealinghelp.org.uk

The EalingHELP website Page 14

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Here are Oisin Huhn (on the left) and Bobby Williams on their way to Twyford secondary school. An apparently everyday scene but this tale is a bit more complicated.

Bobby’s mum got in touch with the Travel Training project to see what support they could offer to help Bobby get to school. They approached his school and advertised for potential travel buddies in the 6th form centre. After the selection process Bobby now has two Student Buddies who work with him on separate days.

Oisin has been trained to support Bobby. During his training he learnt how to communicate effectively with Bobby and how to support Bobby to cross the road safely.

The Student Buddy scheme works really well. Not only has it provided Bobby with the opportunity to travel in the community and gain experience on public transport, but also through his friendship with Oisin he is more accepted within the school community.

Student buddy projectPage 16

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Housing projectMaria Fitzgibbon and Barry Lea arrive home after popping out to the shops in

nearby Northfields Avenue. A simple enough photo but one that took a lot of work before it could be taken! Maria’s brother Will was involved from the start. We’ll let

him tell the story:

“After looking at our options we decided to pool family money and put together a deposit for a flat and hoped that Maria and Barry would receive enough benefits

to live independently. The plan was simple and naively I thought the hardest part would be the flat purchase. What we really had no idea about was navigating our

way through the various benefits both Maria and Barry are entitled to. What would happen if we purchased the flat only for the council to refuse to pay benefit?

Luckily for us Ealing Mencap were involved from the start. They pointed out that a similar case had gone to court and the claimant won the case setting a precedent

for our situation. As the purchase proceeded, Clare Parfree from Ealing Mencap was assigned to help the transition. She had a number of meetings with our

parents, who were very nervous about the move. Clare then guided us through the complicated benefit and supplementary services even filling in the laborious

housing benefit application form on our behalf. Maria and Barry are now settled in their new flat and are incredibly happy.”

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3Cs and Carers ConnectPage 20

On a very blustery day in early October, Lesley Beck (on the left) and Linda Shampan arrive outside the Carer’s

Centre in South Ealing to prepare for their first monthly drop in for carers. This is a new move for them following on from the creation of Carers Connect who have taken

over the running of the Carers’ Centre in Ealing.

This consortium includes Ealing Mencap, Alzheimers Concern Ealing, Ealing Centre for Independent Living

and Ealing Crossroads. As you can tell from their names they are all local and have a great deal of

experience working with carers in our community.

3Cs aim to continue providing free confidential counselling for parents or carers of children with disabilities or other

additional needs. Both Lesley and Linda are looking forward to working with Carers Connect and having a

base at the Carers’ Centre, which will, hopefully, enable them to reach more people in need of their services.

3Cs and Carers ConnectPage 21

“As you sow, so shall you reap”Here we join some of the Supercare group on their allotment in Perivale next door to Enterprise Lodge. The plot has come along enormously this year with a bumper crop of vegetables. Everyone worked very hard and plans are already in place for the next season with an even greater quantity and variety of vegetables on the menu!

Talking of menus, once the new Enterprise Lodge is up and running they’re looking forward to using the kitchen to fully appreciate the food that they grow. The Supercare team will also be moving to their new offices in the Lodge. The rent they currently pay will be used to service the loan needed to fund the new building. As an extra bonus the additional space means Supercare will be able to support more people!

Supercare training and employmentPage 22

Supercare training and employmentPage 23

Not an anxious face in sight as we catch up with Shalin, Sabahat and Sanita on a Sunday at the Albert Dane Centre in Southall as they try their hand as some origami.

Whilst only running every other Sunday, at the moment, this project gives people with a learning disability from the South Asian communities a chance to meet up and try out some of the various activities on offer.This is a women’s only group but there is also a mixed group on Saturdays. Ealing Mencap is keen to expand their services in Southall to include weekdays as well. It is a lot easier to get involved if you don’t have to travel miles!

Weekend leisure projectPage 24

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The Special Olympic teamPage 26

Top row: Jijo Mathai Coaching Staff, Sharon Cudjoe Coaching Staff, Karl Atkins Gold SBT • Bronze 100 metre relay, David Leung Gold SBT • Silver 100 metres • Bronze SLT, Nick Walsh Coaching Staff, Alan Seward Silver SBT • Bronze 100 metres • Bronze 100 metre relay and Monica Williams Coaching Staff Bottom Row: Alan Chawishley Gold 50 metre • Gold SLJ, Kaashif Khan Gold SLJ • Bronze SBT, Stacey Betancourt Bronze 50 metres, Prakash Tailor Bronze 100 metre relay and Steven Ogden Bronze 100 metre relay.

The Special Olympic teamPage 27

Top row: Jijo Mathai Coaching Staff, Sharon Cudjoe Coaching Staff, Karl Atkins Gold SBT • Bronze 100 metre relay, David Leung Gold SBT • Silver 100 metres • Bronze SLT, Nick Walsh Coaching Staff, Alan Seward Silver SBT • Bronze 100 metres • Bronze 100 metre relay and Monica Williams Coaching Staff Bottom Row: Alan Chawishley Gold 50 metre • Gold SLJ, Kaashif Khan Gold SLJ • Bronze SBT, Stacey Betancourt Bronze 50 metres, Prakash Tailor Bronze 100 metre relay and Steven Ogden Bronze 100 metre relay.

Leicester July 2009

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At well past 10 o’clock on a Thursday night just off Ealing Common, two of the trustees, Anne Warner and Dave Widdowson meet the architect, Franklyn Nevard, to discuss the finishes and specification for the new lodge. This is a tricky call as there has to be a balance between long term sustainability and immediate construction costs which are under pressure because some of the pledges for finance have a time limit. Hence the late nights. We can be sure there will be many more nights like this before the doors finally open. Anxious but really exciting times indeed!

Enterprise Lodge

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Asian advocacyPage 30

Meanwhile at the elegant Roxy restaurant in Southall a group of carers enjoy a welcome lunch out, when they can relax and share their problems, which as you can imagine are many. It is so important for us to be able to facilitate social occasions like this as many carers spend a lot of time isolated from the world with an almost unique focus on the person they are caring for.

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Who do I talk to?Now you’ve read a little about the work we do and feel that you would like to talk to someone in more detail, use this list to help you.

A lot of our employees only work part time, so please leave a message if you don’t manage to speak to them straight away.

Administrative ManagerFor all general enquiries

Maureen Schofield0208 567 9185

Advocacy and InformationPatti Vincent 0208 567 918507837 173 703

Advocacy for Asian FamiliesFatima Akhtar 07949 506 501

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Beck Sillett, Carol Ann Stockford and Pratima Shah from the Partners’ Power Group

Connexions and TransitionGabriel Jones 0208 567 918507837 185 907

Database ManagementMike Frost020 8567 9185

EalingHELPInformation for families of disabled children

Nick Radclyffewww.ealinghelp.org.ukinfo@ealinghelp.org.uk

Employment Projects & SupercareNick Walsh 0208 222 658807837 173 782

Empowerment Project &Peer Advocacy Caireen Piper 0208 280 226407786 627 300

Gateway Clubs For young people and adults

Daytime 0208 567 9185Evenings 0208 998 3466

Housing ProjectClare Parfree0208 280 226207837 186 476

Older Carers and Carer Development Project Alka Tripathi 0208 280 2261077755 764 489

Older Carers in HounslowRuhi Grover07939539737

Person Centred Planning Matthew Coulam 0208 280 226007837 186 733

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Travel TrainingJennifer Moseley 0208 567 918507973 997 335

Value LifeAlison Murphy 0208 567 918507837 184 628

3C’s CounsellingLinda Shampan 07813 095 383Lesley Beck07968 871 459

Should you be having any problems with accessing or using our services then please call me.

Executive DirectorJulian Hillman07961 160435

ChairmanGeorge Venus

Trustees (from left to right)

Bernice McNaughton MBE

Dave Widdowson Vice chair

Deborah Silver

Brenda Perks Hon. Treasurer

Roy Willis

Bill Elliott

Ken Munford

Dawn Locke

Anne Warner

Registered Charity No. 1054061

Main Office

173a Uxbridge Road

LONDON W7 3TH

020 8567 9185

Acton Office

Acton Business Centre

203–5 The Vale

LONDON W3 7OS

020 8222 6588

West Ealing Office

The Lido Centre

63 Mattock Lane

London W13 9LA

020 8280 2260

Income & Expenditure Account / Statement of Financial ActivitiesPage 34

For the year ended 31st March 2009 Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2009

Restricted Unrestricted 2009 2008 2009 2008Total Total

£ £ £ £ £ £Incoming resources from generated funds Fixed assetsVoluntary income: Tangible assets 86,386 87,062Grants receivable 1,190,725 1,813 1,192,538 1,041,799 Investments 35,021 50,200 Gateway Clubs 1,191 2,936 4,127 4,771 121,407 137,262Donations and gifts 5,993 14,599 20,592 23,856

Current assetsActivities for generating funds: Debtors due within one year 169,346 122,561Commission – Mencap Limited - 559 559 594 Cash at bank and in hand 168,698 244,158General fund-raising - 1,859 1,859 1,904

Creditors (amounts falling due within one year)

(38,355) (27,454)Investment income 4,286 2,741 7,027 9,562

Total incoming resources 1,202,195 24,507 1,226,702 1,082,486Net assets 421,096 476,527

Resources expendedDirect charitable expenditure: FundsCost of generating funds - 281 281 399Charitable activities 1,162,393 33,237 1,195,630 987,568 Restricted fundsGovernance cost-audit fee 11,323 - 11,323 10,195 Enterprise Lodge Development Fund 85,370 144,395Other resources expended 58,400 1,320 59,720 54,250 Other 247,673 314,240

Total restricted funds 333,043 458,635Total resources expended 1,232,116 34,838 1,266,954 1,052,412 Unrestricted funds 88,053 17,892

421,096 476,527Net incoming resources / (resources expended) (29,921) (10,331) (40,252) 30,074

Approved by the Board of Directors and Trustees on 16th July 2009Transfer from restricted to unrestricted reserves (80,492) 80,492 - -

Net incoming resources / (resources expended) including realised gains on investments

(110,413) 70,161 (40,252) 30,074 B M Perks and G A Venus

Unrealised Gain/(loss) on investment assets (15,179) - (15,179) (4,476) Major funding gratefully received from Baily Thomas Trust, Bernard Sunley, BIG Lottery, City Bridges Trust, Clothworkers Foundation, Ealing Council, Ealing PCT, McGrath Charitable Trust, Vitabiotics and the Yerolemou Trust.

Net movement in funds (125,592) 70,161 (55,431) 25,598Fund balances at 1 April 2008 458,635 17,892 476,527 450,929

Fund balances at 31 March 2009 333,043 88,053 421,096 476,527

These are anxious times for everyone. The recent financial crisis brings the possibility of cuts in public expenditure, whoever is in government in 2010. Many people are also concerned about the introduction of individual budgets. That the extra work will add another burden to families for whom anxiety is no stranger and who already struggle to care. They are also worried that current services are not sufficient to realise the promise of more choice and control over the support disabled people receive.

Ealing Mencap’s mission however remains the same, to help people through difficult times, whatever the cause. We draw strength from our long campaigning tradition and reputation as a local charity. We will continue working hard to ensure that people with a learning disability and their carers benefit from the positive aspects of recent government policy changes. We will make sure their concerns are heard by people who have the power to make a positive difference.

As an organisation, we face anxious times too as grants and donations become more difficult to obtain. We have to make sure that we can work successfully with the change to individual budgets, but draw strength and support from the close relationships with Royal Mencap and the wider disability movement both in London and nationally. This has already proved beneficial, particularly in the project to replace the building on the Enterprise Lodge site.

George Venus

The chairPage 35

Despite these anxious times we consider ourselves lucky to count on the support of people like the Mayor of Ealing, Councillor Barbara Yerolemou, her consort, Tony Yerolemou and Gillian Carver, Headmistress of St. Anns. All gathered here for the EDCM (Every Disabled Child Matters) Family Fun Day at that very school in Hanwell.

Ealing Mencap are delighted to be the Mayor’s chosen charity during her term in office and also would like to record its thanks to Gillian for all her tireless help with our projects involving young people.

Ealing MencapRegistered Charity No. 1054061

Designed by Nick Radclyffe