bromley mencap member wins · if you are over 60, would like to attend but don’t receive an...
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Mrs June Larby, a long standing member of Bromley Mencap and a mutual carer has won the Carer Award. The Carer Award is a new initiative by Petts WoodPharmacy and is supported by the News Shopper.
Mrs Larby’s nomination stood out amongst others. Despite her own health difficulties Mrs Larby cares for her husband who has dementia whilst both she and her daughter Carol, who has
mild learning disabilities, mutually care for each other. As well as the award Mrs Larby won a well deserved £1,000.
Congratulations Mrs Larby!
For the full story: http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/bromley/10392967.Petts_Wood_Pharmacy_Carer_Award_winner_*Photo courtesy of Newshopper
May / June 2013
Bromley Mencap Member wins local Carer Award
BULLETIN
*June Larby receiving the Carer Award
Hi Everyone!
Family Services Events
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22nd July 2013: Older Carer’s Lunch (+60 years) St Augustine’s Parish ChurchSouthborough LaneBromley, Kent, BR2 8AT(By personal invitation only)If you are over 60, would like to attend but don’t receive an invitation, please call us!
5th June 2013: Outdoor Activity ClubKeston evening walk, 6:30 pm Meet in the car park of the Greyhound Pub(Flyer to follow) 10th Aug 2013: Outdoor Activity Club Walk around High Elms,10:00 amMeet in the car park at High Elms Country Park in Shire Lane(Flyer to follow )
29th May and 21st Aug 2013: Focus Group Disco(Age 14-30 years) Focus Group 6:30pm to 8pmDisco 8pm to 10pmConey Hall Baptist ChurchConey Hall RoadWest WickhamKent, BR4 9BU(Admission by ticket only)
Keep Fit Classes: Dances From The MoviesEvery Wednesday 7.30pm to 9pm until 24th July 2013The Verrall HallBromley United Reformed Church20 Widmore RoadBromley, Kent, BR1 1RY(cost £1.50 per session)
It’s been a marathon month literally with a number of members taking part in charity runs to raise money for Bromley Mencap. We had one runner in this year’s Virgin London Marathon who raised over £300 and 10 Superheroes including myself who took part in the ‘Do it for charity’ runin Regent’s Park.
Jobmatch’s continuous efforts to place disabled people in jobs is doing fantastically well with the placement of 27 people in a number of mainstream establishments including blue chip companies.
It’s with sadness that we are saying goodbye to Susanne Dowswell who, after 6 years as our Community Fundraiser, is retiring. She has been a valuable asset in creating and maintaining funds for Bromley Mencap and her role will be a challenging one to fill. We wish her all the best in her retirement.
On a positive note we welcome 3 new people to Bromley Mencap. Liz Sharp who has joined us as an Employment Consultant for Jobmatch, Sue Saeed our new Office Assistant and Amanda Smith our new Treasurer.
Laura Quailey Editor
Hi Everyone!
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Family Services Events
NEWS OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 6
CHIEF EXECUTIVE REPORT 4
YOUNG FOCUS GROUP 7
SUMMER ACTIVITY DAYS PG 11
OLYMPIC INSPIRATION 12
BETTER INFORMATIONPLANNED FROMLONDON 13
MEET 15
PERSONAL HEALTHBUDGETS 18
FAMILY SERVICESEVENTS PG 2
CHIEF EXECUTIVE REPORT PG 4
JOBMATCHJOB TOTAL PG 8
COMMUNITYFUNDRAISING PG 10
HOW TO CAMPAIGNGUIDE PG 12
FREE E-LEARNINGFOR PARENTS OFDISABLED CHILDREN PG 17
CHIEF EXECUTIVE REPORTEDDIE LYNCH
After 6 years at Bromley Mencap our Community and Corporate Fundraiser Susanne Dowswell is retiring and sadly leaves us this summer.
Susanne joined us from St Christopher’s Hospice, where she worked as a Fundraiser, and brought a network of key contacts with her to Bromley Mencap. Over the years Susanne has raised vital income for us to help plug our financial deficits and fund new and existing services.
Susanne’s creative approach to fundraising and whirlwind energy has helped to build on Bromley Mencap’s decades of successful fundraising. Susanne has organised numerous successful events over the years including the annual 5k Fun Run, our Award Evenings and in 2009 she secured Marks and Spencer’s sponsorship for Bromley Mencap for a full year.
In addition to community fundraising and making links with local businesses the Fundraiser position has an important role
in getting support from our membership as well as raising awareness of our services within the local community. It is a challenging role and Susanne will be a hard act to follow.
There are a number of other staff changes within the organisation. Liz Sharp has joined us as an Employment Consultant for Jobmatch and Sue Saeed joins us as our new Office Assistant. You can read more about Liz and Sue in this issue.
Finally we are very pleased to have recruited Amanda Smith as our new Treasurer. Amanda works as a Director at Deloitte and I am sure she will be an asset to our Board of Trustees.
4 Farewell to Susanne Dowswell
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Grants Available for Disabled Children
Bromley Mencap recently met with the team from an organisation called the Fashion & Textile Children’s Trust (FTCT) and felt they could be an organisation you should know about, as they could be helping your child. The FTCT provide grants to support the well-being of children whose parents or carers work in any aspect of the UK fashion and textile industry, including those who work in high street retail or a supermarket which sells clothing.
FTCT help hundreds of disabled children and young people every year by funding a variety of items such as therapies, adaptations to the home, extra-curricular activities or respite breaks, clothing, bedding, white goods or school uniform, or access to education, such as specialist equipment, extra tuition, learning support or school necessities. To find out if you are eligible for a grant give them a call.
For information on how to apply contact Karen, Grants Co-Ordinator on 020 7170 4117 or email [email protected]. To find out more, please visit the FTCT website: www.ftct.org.uk
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What’s New at Greengoose?Greengoose is a theatre course run for adults with learning difficulties and disabilities based at Bromley College of Further and Higher Education. We dance, sing, act and perform at least two shows a year. We work with organisations outside the college. In the past we have collaborated with The London Museum, The Horniman Museum and Bromley Mencap.
We run a club once a month, The Wild Goose Club, which is run by and for people with learning difficulties and disabilities.
We have a new purpose built theatre within the college with great facilities.
We have a few places left for our next course which starts in September 2013. To join us you have to be able to work well as part of a team, have a real interest in Performing Arts and still be under 24 on the 15th September 2013.
Check out our past shows on YouTube and follow us on our Facebook and twitter pages. Just type in ‘Greengoose Theatre Company’.
For more information and to arrange a taster visit please contact : Mark Gale on 07812477587
Monday 17th of June at 1.30pm
Tuesday 18th of June at 1.30pm
Wednesday 19th of June at 7pm
TICKETS £5, CALL MARK ON 07812477587 OR EMAIL : [email protected]
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Greengoose presents
FRANKENSTEIN
Monday 17th of June at 1.30pm
Tuesday 18th of June at 1.30pm
Wednesday 19th of June at 7pm
TICKETS £5, CALL MARK ON 07812477587 OR EMAIL : [email protected]
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Jobmatch Job Total Up On Last Year
I look forward to the day when I can say that our job totals are up at Jobmatch because of an improved economy. However, it has been another tough year for the Jobmatch team but they have done brilliantly to support 27 people in their jobs.
As I look over our statistics for the last year and how jobs were supported I can see, yet again, that Jobmatch is not just an employment service that finds new jobs for disabled people, but is also valued for supporting people to sustain their employment. In the last year, for example, employers of 4 people with learning disabilities, who were previously unknown to Jobmatch, were referred to our service for help with potential disciplinary matters. In situations like this we offer support to both the candidate and their employer as many cases just require some information and advice about the candidate’s working arrangements, their duties or how they are supervised and supported by the employer’s workforce.
A few small adjustments are often made, and possibly the introduction of a Job Coach from Jobmatch, and the candidates settle back into their work routines.
Being an established service of almost 20 years we have always been able to consult our employer lists and return to those we know will consider Jobmatch candidates for additional jobs. Sainsbury’s has offered 3 jobs to our candidates in the last year in the Bromley, West Wickham and Merton stores. Riverside School has taken on a second candidate for a cleaning role, and McDonald’s in Orpington recruited 2 candidates for a General Assistant role and Table Clearer. Advocacy for All recruited their 4th Jobmatch candidate last year when they took on a candidate who is a Peer Support Worker.
Bromley Council offered a Jobmatch candidate from our autism project a short term contract to help with some research within the Parks Department.
Fran DillnuttEmployment Services Manager
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New employers this year have included Iceland in Sidcup, Pestana Hotel in London, Amey Services Ltd, Waitrose (Bromley), Rangefield School, Experts by Experience, Stuart Fleming School, ABC Cleaning and Work Place Staff Solutions.
In the last year we have approached blue chip companies in London for placement and job opportunities. Price Waterhouse Coopers offered a short term paid placement to one of our candidates earlier in the year and we are confident of further placements in the future.
The new financial year will present the Jobmatch team with new challenges, but we will continue to strive to develop new employment initiatives that will be of interest and appropriate for our candidates.
Community Fundraising
London Marathon
We had one runner in this year’s Virgin London Marathon - Steven Benjamin, who is the cousin of “Bob the Book Man”. Steven ran the event in 3 hours 44 minutes. This is Steven’s second time competing in the London Marathon and he came in 7106th place. To date, Steven has raised £337.50.
Well done and thank you Steven!
By the time you read this, our team of 10 Super Heroes will have completed their “run” around Regent’s Park. It is not too late to sponsor their efforts. Pictures of the team will be in the next edition of the Bulletin.
Bromley Mencap’s Super Heroes
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Diary of Events
Date Event Help Needed
Saturday 7 September 9.00am – 5.00pm
Annual Flag Day in Bromley Collectors
Friday 15 November10.00am-4.00pm Collection at Sainsbury’s
Locksbottom Collectors
Thursday 5 December(provisional date)
9.30am-7.30pmThe Glades/Intu Carol Singing
Day Collectors
Saturday 14 December Grand Tombola, Bromley High Street Ticket sellers
Thank you to everyone who has responded to my request for help in the last Bulletin and via email and letter. All the summer events are now covered but help is still needed for the events below. Just one hour of your time will make a huge difference and be of enormous help.
At the end of June I am retiring from Bromley Mencap and would like to thank everyone for their support over the last 8 years. I have enjoyed working with the very dedicated team of staff members and volunteers and hope that you will all give the same support to my successor.
We still need paperback books, old mobile phones and printer cartridges which we can convert into cash. We would also be delighted to receive any unwanted gifts for our various events throughout the year.
Susanne Dowswell, Corporate and Community FundraiserEmail [email protected] tel 020 8466 0790
Unwanted gifts?
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How to Campaign GuidesThe campaigning group, ‘Disability, Rights and Politics’, supported by Brent Mencap, has made a DVD and a booklet. The booklet is a guide to people with learning disabilities on how to campaign and can be found here: http://www.mencap.org.uk/node/23069
Both the DVD and booklet are designed to inspire people with learning disabilities to find their voice, to be heard, and to form their own campaigning group.
You can watch the DVD on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngbuC2wpjKg
To order a DVD and booklet please email [email protected] or telephone 020 8451 5278
Disability, Rights and Politics groupSupported by Brent Mencap
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My Five Week Cooking Course in PengeBy Mark Legg
“I really enjoyed my five week cooking course in Penge with Mary Nash.
It helped me with my cooking skills.
I made lots of new friends when I was there.
The best part of the course for me was when I was able to eat the things I had cooked.
My best meal was toad in the hole with Yorkshire pudding.
I hope it helps me to cook again in my own flat where I live.
Thank you Bromley Mencap and Mary Nash for the five week cooking course.
”
How to Campaign GuidesThe campaigning group, ‘Disability, Rights and Politics’, supported by Brent Mencap, has made a DVD and a booklet. The booklet is a guide to people with learning disabilities on how to campaign and can be found here: http://www.mencap.org.uk/node/23069
Both the DVD and booklet are designed to inspire people with learning disabilities to find their voice, to be heard, and to form their own campaigning group.
You can watch the DVD on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngbuC2wpjKg
To order a DVD and booklet please email [email protected] or telephone 020 8451 5278
Disability, Rights and Politics groupSupported by Brent Mencap
Welcome to... Sue SaeedOffice Assistant
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My name is Sue Saeed. I joined the team at Bromley Mencap in April as Office Assistant.
I am married and I have 3 children, a grown up son and twin girls one of whom has learning difficulties and attends a special school in Bromley. In my spare time I like to play badminton, enjoy cooking and of course providing a ‘taxi’ service for the children.
I have previous experience of working as an Admin Assistant in the charity sector. Before working in the charity sector I had very little knowledge of the real difference charities made to people’s lives. When the opportunity of working at Bromley Mencap arose I was very excited and delighted when I was offered the position. I am looking forward to the challenges and rewards my role will bring.
I look forward to meeting some of you and talking to you on the phone.
Welcome to... Sue SaeedOffice Assistant
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Welcome to... Liz SharpEmployment Consultant
My name is Liz Sharp and I am an Employment Consultant for Jobmatch.
I will be supporting people on the autistic spectrum to find employment.
I have worked with people with learning difficulties for 20 + years in a variety of settings including residential, day centres and more recently in education. I have been a lecturer at Bromley College teaching employment skills for the last 7 years and have worked alongside many of our Jobmatch candidates in the training kitchen and restaurant. I’m looking forward to seeing some of my previous students again as well as meeting new people.
I know how awesome you all are to work with and I am determined to help you all find a job that you will enjoy.
I live locally and am married with 3 children and a scruffy dog. I enjoy all things vintage and love singing jazz and blues music. More recently, I have started swing dancing with my husband every week which is good fun, very sociable and a good excuse to build up an extensive shoe collection!
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Keep Fit – Keep on Dancing!Our Keep Fit and Dance classes started after Easter. We have a new teacher, Louise Hadley, who has brought some great ideas to our very popular class.
With a proper introduction on gentle stretching and muscle warm ups, Louise prepares the class for some great exercising and dancing moves to Songs from the Movies.
Gloves with Flashing fingertips for Thriller, Umbrellas for Singing in the Rain and bright pom poms for Mama Mia have made the classes entertaining as well as great for keeping fit!
Laura is enjoying the class and says “ I enjoy coming here being with my friends and getting to know Louise our teacher. We dance to different types of movie music like Mamma Mia, Grease, Dirty Dancing and it is FUN!! Come and join us!”
Keep Fit classes are on every Wednesday evening from 7.30 to 9pm.
Venue: Verrall Hall in the United Reformed Church, Widmore Road, Bromley BR1 1RY
Cost: £1.50 per session
If you want to know more or would like a registration form, please call Sue Saeed on 020 8466 0790
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‘KIDS’ has launched a new e-Learning package for parents and carers, aimed at explaining the key points about personalisation, personal budgets and how they may impact on their family life.
KIDS is the charity that works with disabled children, young people and their families. As part of the ‘Making it Personal’ project, sponsored by the Department for Education, KIDS has created an e-Learning suite aimed at parents and carers of disabled children and young people.
Anyone wishing to access the free e-Learning can do so by creating an account here: http://elearning.kids.org.uk/login/index.php
Free E-Learning for Parents of Disabled Children and Young People
Copy deadline for July/August 2013 is 1st July Editor: Laura Quailey, email: [email protected]: Bromley Mencap, Rutland House, 44 Masons HillBromley Kent BR2 9JG TEL: 020 8466 0790
Copyright © Bromley Mencap Charity Number: 800685
The opinions expressed in Bromley Mencap Bulletin are thoseof the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Bromley Mencap. We reserve the right to edit articles before publication.