Ealing Mencap Annual Report 2011

ANNUAL REPORT 2011

What a year!

Ealing Mencap

I’m sorry to be leaving but I am sixty five and the time has come when I would like to take life at a slower pace and spend more time with my family and four beautiful grand children. I will continue to be involved in Mencap as long as I can.

The inauguration of the new Enterprise Lodge meant I was able to leave on a real high and could look back with a great deal of satisfaction over all the changes that have happened since I started at Ealing Mencap, 18 years ago. At one stage in the early nineties I was the only paid employee, so the only way was up!

I wish Lesley all the best of luck steering you through the uncertain waters that lie ahead and will look forward to staying in touch with you all.

As I write this my wife Jan and I will shortly be off on a trip around Australia and New Zealand followed by a week in the Borneo jungle. A change indeed!

He says goodbye...

Julian Hillman

2

Many thanks to Julian for his good wishes, I certainly have a hard act to follow.

As Julian said, these are uncertain times, however, I already have come to realise

that I have inherited an amazing group of staff and volunteers here at Ealing Mencap

and I am sure that together we will steer our way through whatever lies ahead.

It has been a very busy 6 months for me, getting to know both the organisation and

the surrounding area. I am still meeting new people on a daily basis and putting faces

to names! So if you see me on my travels around the borough, please say hello.

I look forward to getting to know you all and continuing the work we are

doing here at Ealing Mencap.

...and she says helloPage 3

Lesley Dodd

3

Baptism by Fire!!!Since joining Ealing Mencap the time has flown by and I must admit, it certainly has been a baptism of fire – mainly due to the public sector cuts becoming a reality both for our organisation and our customers.

Like many other voluntary sector organisations in Ealing and up and down the country we have lost significant funding. Consequently, we have had to re-configure some of the services and support we provide. We have been striving to keep our existing projects running well, whilst we reorganised those areas affected by the cuts.

This has not been an easy time for our customers or staff and we have had to make some very difficult choices.

Indeed, I expect we will have to make similar ones in the future unless the austere times we are faced with at the moment take a turn for the better.

However, we are nothing if not resilient and on a more positive note our new Ealing Council grant funded services are now up and running.

We are working positively with our partners. For some time now we have been liaising with other local Mencaps and this is proving to be very beneficial in the areas of campaigning, raising new money for projects and cross-borough opportunities for people, such as sports activities and events.

4

We are also developing new opportunities for people who have a personal budget. We already have some on offer and are creating different and varied activities for both children and adults and hope to launch more of these in 2012. As our customers have more choice over how and where to spend their money it is important for us to constantly think and plan ahead in order to match their expectations.

So, lots of changes and challenges lie ahead. As an organisation we need to nurture the flexibility and agility to respond to these.

Finally, I would like to thank all the staff and volunteers here at Ealing Mencap for going the extra mile in making sure that we continue to thrive and offer the support and services that children and adults with learning disabilities in Ealing deserve.

Lesley Dodd 21.11.2011

© 2011 Levi Richards

6

Fancy a coffee?Let’s join Kimberley Quiambao

and Jaspal Gill at the Community Café, which is held every

Friday at All Saints Church.

This project is one of many organised by STEP, the new name

for Supercare. The re-branding reinforces their main objectives,

which are to help people Step towards independence,

Step into the community and Step towards employment.

Now based at Enterprise Lodge they offer a variety of activities and courses for just £48 a day.

To find out more use the contact details on pages 28 and 29.

7

So much fun!We’ve almost finished our first year in the new Enterprise Lodge and it has become the focal point for a lot of our activities.

The Gateway Clubs have returned in the evenings, many different STEP projects are now in place during the week days and I Love Thunder are rehearsing on Mondays.

There have been birthdays, meetings, parties, cooking, photography, music, horticulture, gardening, sports, advocacy, drama, film making, market crafts, computer skills and much more. Over 200 people are using the building every week and we’re hoping to involve the local community more in 2012.

We would love you to come and visit us, just let us know first! Our address is on the back cover.

8

9

Howzat!We offer plenty of alternatives beyond the walls of Enterprise Lodge. Value Life is all about getting out into the community by means of a variety of short break services. There’s always something going on, either for groups or individuals. So whether it’s movies, food, drink, snooker, music or something else we’re sure that you will find something to enjoy.

For 2012 the team are planning even more ambitious events including leisure weekends and supported holidays.

It’s not all grown up stuff though, on Saturday afternoons there is an Activity and Play Club for children of 8 and over.

Use the contact details at the back of this report to get in touch with Value Life for more info!

10

Howzat!

11

Our new project for young people in transition has got off to a good start and we are working with small groups in Harrow, Brent and Ealing.

Anna Simpkinson and James Thurgill, our Synergy project workers, are already supporting young people to articulate what direction they want to go in, whether it’s learning, working, volunteering, or making new connections beyond their home area.

We are delighted to be working with young adults going through the transition process like Levi Richards who produced all the amazing illustrations in this report. Thank you Levi, we love them!

Synergy


We’re using an online system, Click Start, to create our own mini websites, like this one on the left! Below, Nick Radclyffe and Levi are working on a site with some students from Northolt High School.

13

What next?

Here is Chloe Rogers running a workshop about travelling

safely on public transport...

We join the Transition Team at their annual What Next event which was held at the Young Adult Centre in Southall.

During the day there were workshops, music, demonstrations and stalls where students were able to chat to the right people about college courses, apprenticeships, training and preparation for employment, volunteering and other opportunities open to them after finishing school.

There are also regular Transition workshops held at the Carer’s Centre for parent/carers of young people in transition which focus on a variety of relevant topics. Contact the team for more information, you’ll find details on page 28.

14


...whilst some of the visitors take some time out to talk about all the things they have seen at What Next

16

Disability Advice Bureau This year Ealing Council cut funding to

adult advice services for people with learning and physical disabilities by

40% and advocacy services by 60%.

Ealing Mencap and the Ealing Centre for Independent Living (ECIL) had to

change the way they worked to be able to continue providing a service.

They decided to form a consortium to provide a joint advice

and advocacy service known as the Disability Advice Bureau or DAB for short.

Here is Tom Thacker, from the Power Group, listening to Matt Coulham explaining how

DAB works. As you can see, you had to be wearing a hat to get into this meeting!

17

18

Travel BuddiesTravel Buddies support people with

disabilities to travel wherever they need to go. We employ a range of Travel Buddies including those with learning disabilities.

Here you can see one of our Travel Buddies, Martin, supporting

Shanti on her way to college.

Shanti’s family said that without Martin’s support she would be a far less independent and confident person, not only when travelling but in many other

areas of her life. The Travel Buddy project has helped both Shanti, and her family,

to realise that given the right support she is able to do many more things for herself.

Martin has been buddying Shanti for over two years now and the placement is going

brilliantly. So when we heard that due to the funding cuts, we needed to reduce

Shanti’s support, nobody was very happy.

But rather than just moan and accept it, Martin decided to continue to support

Shanti on the extra days, not as a paid employee, but as a Volunteer!

So a big thank you to Martin, and keep up the good work!


Fatima Akhtar, from Advocacy for Asian Families, and Nick attend a transition

meeting at Contact a Family in Southall

20

The EalingHELP website was started in 2006 in response to a demand from parents and

carers for easily accessible information.

In early 2011 Nick Radclyffe went off to the E-government Awards as EalingHELP had been short-listed in the Building a Fairer Society with

e-Government Services category. We’re delighted to say that he brought the award home.

Shortly afterwards the revised website, with many improvements, was launched. This ensures

we have the flexibility to keep right on topic.

Consequently, visitor numbers are growing. Have a look to find out why.

www.ealinghelp.org.uk

21

Power to the people

The Ealing Power Group is made up of representatives with learning disabilities who live in Ealing. Like many of us, they have been affected by the cuts and no

longer receive payment for attending council meetings, however they have decided that their work is too important to stop and are carrying on without pay.

We met up with them before one of their weekly meetings, now held at

Enterprise Lodge, and were told about the group’s plans for the future. A new

logo is being prepared and they are keen to transform themselves into a social

enterprise, selling their feedback to the council and social care organisations.

23

Teresa Begley has just started volunteering for STEP after deciding that after 20 years working in catering she wanted to do something else with her life.

Teresa, on the left in this photo with Stacey Betancourt, said she really looks forward to her day’s work now and couldn’t actually remember when she last felt like that!

Ealing Mencap is constantly looking for volunteers like Teresa, so if you are curious and would like to find out more then please get in touch. You can find all our contact details towards the back of this report.

Volunteering

24

Volunteering

25

Maurice Elliott, in addition to managing Enterprise Lodge, has been slaving away over a hot computer to get our new Ealing Mencap website ready. We’re proud to say that as a result we now have a website that makes it really easy for our clients and staff to access the information they need!

Included in all this work was the launch of our new format newsletter as well. Finally, we have a well deserved professional presence in the community. Thank you Maurice!

www.ealingmencap.org.uk

26


27

Who do I talk to?Now you’ve read a little about the work we do, if 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.

As a rule of thumb, should you wish to email someone at Ealing Mencap, use their full first name and surname separated by a dot, followed by @ealingmencap.org.uk.

You can also find more information at www.ealingmencap.org.uk.

Administrative ManagerFor all general enquiries

Maureen Schofield0208 567 [email protected]

Connexions, Synergy and TransitionGabriel Jones 0208 567 918507837 185 [email protected]

Disability Advice Bureau Matthew Coulam 07837 186 [email protected]

Advocacy for Asian FamiliesFatima Akhtar 07949 506 [email protected]


EMAPP and Older Carers in HounslowRuhi Grover07939 539 [email protected]

Older Carers and Carer Development Project Alka Tripathi 07775 576 [email protected]

Parents with Learning DisabilitiesPatti Vincent 0208 567 [email protected]

Peer AdvocacyAntonio Minott07837 186 [email protected]

Database ManagementMike FrostMarja Suominen020 8567 [email protected]@ealingmencap.org.uk

EalingHELP

Nick Radclyffe07767 [email protected]

Gateway Clubs For young people and adults

0208 566 9575

STEPNick Walsh 020 8566 957507837 173 782

Travel TrainingMatt Gamble 0208 567 918507973 997 [email protected]

Value LifeAlison Murphy 0208 567 918507786 628 [email protected]

3C’s CounsellingLinda Shampan 07813 095 [email protected]

Lesley Beck07968 871 [email protected]

If you are having any problems with accessing or using our services then please call me.

Executive DirectorLesley Dodd07930 399 [email protected]

29

Income & Expenditure Account / Statement of Financial ActivitiesAccounts


For the year ended 31 March 2011 Balance sheet as at 31 March 2011

Restricted Unrestricted 2011 2010 2011 2010Total Total

£ £ £ £ £ £Incoming resources from generated funds Fixed assetsVoluntary income: Tangible assets 1,051,157 130,117

Grants receivable 1,807,939 554,586 2,362,525 1,429,519 Investments 40,422 50,958 Gateway Clubs 606 1,930 2,536 2,717 1,091,579 181,075Donations and gifts 36,030 6,000 42,030 22,457

Current assetsActivities for generating funds: Debtors due within one year 101,968 135,022Commission – Mencap Limited - 16 16 141 Cash at bank and in hand 252,698 127,868General fundraising - 1,673 1,673 2,005

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (93,232) (64,536)

Investment income: 957 120 1,077 1,320Total incoming resources 1,845,532 564,325 2,409,857 1,458,159 Creditors:

amounts falling due in more than one year (270,000) -

Resources expended Net assets 1,083,013 379,429Direct Charitable Expenditure:Cost of generating funds - 158 158 184 FundsCharitable activities 1,941,142 614,931 2,556,073 1,473,931Governance costs 14,850 - 14,850 12,929 Restricted fundsOther resources expended 56,232 960 57,192 72,019 Enterprise Lodge Development Fund 92,930 46,149

Other 940,894 232,367Total resources expended 2,012,224 616,049 2,628,273 1,559,063 Total restricted funds 1,033,824 278,516

Unrestricted funds 49,189 100,913

Net incoming resources / (resources expended) (166,692) (51,724) (218,416) (100,904) 1,083,013 379,429

Transfer from restricted to unrestricted reserves - - - - Approved by the Board of Directors and Trustees on 20th October 2011Net incoming resources / (resources expended) including realised gains on investments

(166,692) (51,724) (218,416) (100,904)B M Perks and G A Venus

Unrealised Gain/(loss) on investment and other assets 922,000

- 922,000 59,237

We gratefully acknowledge revenue funding from Ealing Council, Ealing PCT, the BIG Lottery, City Bridges Trust & numerous donations from members. Also we would like to thank our customers for spending their personal budgets and direct payments with us.

Net movement in funds 755,308 (51,724) 703,584 (41,667)Fund balances at 1 April 2010 278,516 100,913 379,429 421,096

Fund balances at 31 March 2011 1,033,824 49,189 1,083,013 379,429

We are working under the most difficult economic and political environment in a generation whilst trying to introduce entirely new concepts in social care – involving people with learning disabilities having more choice and control. The two things don’t sit easily together and the stresses and strains are there for all to see. We have had to take swift action recently to deal with the effects of grant cuts. This means we will have 15% less money to run the charity in 2012 unless we can generate more volume in the work we are commissioned to do at a more competitive price. There is a long way to go, but over the last few months under Lesley’s leadership, our staff and volunteers have responded magnificently to the challenge as we reorganise to thrive in a more uncertain world.

Families and vulnerable people face an even bigger challenge as both benefits and social services are now under constant threat of being

reduced. Mencap continues to fight hard to change the public’s perception and attitudes towards people with learning disabilities through their campaigns such as the Stand by Me hate crime initiative, Changing Places public toilets and Treat me Right in the NHS. In these campaigns, as well as seeking positive change, we are reminding the public that people with learning disabilities still continue to suffer serious discrimination and inequality in a highly developed society in the 21st century. The national charity has just won an important victory in ensuring that mobility payments are not denied to people living in registered care homes. This is further evidence that we need to remain strong in the face of the postcode and social care system lottery that families often face and be vociferous in demanding positive changes to the system.

On the brighter side I always welcome an

opportunity to visit the new Enterprise Lodge, such a wonderful space to work in and the grand opening by Samantha Cameron in May marked our achievement in grand and inspirational style. The event was also a fitting tribute to Julian who leaves us, retiring after 18 years hard work. Much of what we have achieved as an organisation in that time, would not have happened without his incredible drive and commitment. We will still see him about because of his continuing involvement in the work of Mencap in North West London in various guises but we wish him a long and happy retirement.

It is also heartening when listening to the stories of service users and families, to hear how much they value the support of our services, staff and volunteers, so I would finally like to join Lesley in thanking everyone who has contributed magnificently to our work and reputation for delivering exceptional support and services.

Summary

Trustees (from left to right)

Brenda Perks Hon. Treasurer

Ines Cicero

Roy Willis

Bill Elliott

George Venus Chairman

Dave Widdowson Vice chair

Not in photo:

Anne Warner

Bernice McNaughton MBE

Ken Munford

Dawn Lock

George Venus looks back at the year

Registered Charity No. 1054061 Company No. 3039319

Designed by Nick RadclyffeMain Office

173a Uxbridge Road

London W7 3TH

020 8567 9185

Enterprise Lodge

Stockdove Way

London UB6 8TJ

020 8566 9575


Documents

Ealing Mencap Annual Report 2011