learning disability | autism | mental health

l i fewww.mcch.org.uk Spring 2016

learning disability | autism | mental health

Jean is a star baker. Page 4

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WelcomeSam Woollard Editor

Read our new annual review

We look back at some of the things we’ve been up to, including abseiling down 80m sculptures, building flagship developments and supporting people to improve communications.

Our annual review can now be viewed online: http://mcchreview2015.mcch.org.uk

Driving success story.

Jean is a ‘Star Baker’.

Raising awareness of disability hate crime.

Get involved.

Fundraisers’ achievements.

Quality support.

Supporting independence.

Thank you Tuck by Truck.

Become a volunteer.

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Sean always wanted to learn how to drive and we didn’t want to let his disability get in the way of this goal.

Because of his physical disability he needed to be assessed by the Ministry of Transport at their test centre in Surrey, to see if he was allowed to drive on the road. He passed this challenge and was given the go-ahead to start driving lessons in an automatic car.

With the support of mcch staff Sean found a driving instructor and started lessons. At the same time, with help from his support worker Mark, he learnt the theory side of the test which he successfully passed on his 3rd attempt.

With his theory test in the bag he had 2 years to pass the practical test, the clock was ticking!

After only 2 attempts he successfully passed his practical test to much celebration by his family and friends!

“I am so pleased that I did it. I love being able to drive!”

Driving success

Sean

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Star bakerJean loves to get out and about to meet people and always attracts everyone’s attention when she enters the room.

Jean and her personal assistant Moira put together a wish list with all of her goals. This involved getting a passport, going on holiday abroad and raising money for charity.

Jean and Moira looked at lots of different ways that they could fundraise and liked the look of the Macmillan coffee mornings the most.

They held their first coffee morning at mcch’s offices in Maidstone. Jean and Moira stayed up late into the evening baking cakes and Jean was in charge, of course! They drummed up lots of support from staff who also got involved with the baking. They raised over £260! The day was such a success that they decided to raise money again for charity the following year.

After the loss of a close friend who supported Jean when she moved out of Leybourne Grange hospital, she decided that the Macmillan coffee morning would be the best charity to support the following year.

Their second coffee morning raised a tremendous £302.11. The housing team also had their own ‘bake off’ donating some ‘show stopping’ cakes.

Jean

Disability hate crime is a terrible thing. There have been tragic cases in parts of the country leading to the deaths and injuries of people with disabilities.

We carried out research into disability hate crime. Almost half the adults surveyed told us that they had been victimised when they were out in the community. And many of the bullies were young people.

Our Jigsaw project aims to make young people aware of the consequences of bullying and victimising people.

To raise awareness, we made a short film highlighting the affects of disability hate crime on the victim and the perpetrators.

Hidden Consequences was made working alongside Medway Youth Trust and Physical Folk. We held the launch at the Britannia Theatre, Chatham. The young people involved in the filming spoke about how it felt to take part and how they hoped it would help to show the effects that bullying have on people.

Hidden Consequences

To find out more about Jigsaw or to watch Hidden Consequences visit:www.mcch.org.uk/jigsaw

HIDDENCONSEQUENCES

Disability hate crime affects everyone.

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When: Thursday 24 March

Where: Hilltop Hotel, Labour-in-Vain Road, nr Brandshatch, TN15 7NY

Ticket price: £45

For more information or to book tickets please call Sheila on 07800 772260 or email sheila.buckley@dgsmyourchoice.org.uk

Dust off your tuxedo and join DGSM yourChoice at their charity dinner and casino. Enjoy a 3-course dinner accompanied by entertainment from singer Chris Till. Then chance your hand at Roulette or Black Jack. The person with the most chips at the end of the night will win a prize.

Charity dinner and casino

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Thursday 24th March 2016 Arrive

7.00pm for a welcome drink

followed by: three-course

dinner, coffee

and mints.

Ticket Price: £45.00

Chance your hand at Roulette and Black Jack playing with chips supplied with your ticket.

Hilltop Hotel Labour-in-Vain Road, TN15 7NY

For more information or to book tickets please contact: Fundraising on 07800 772260 or email sheila.buckley@dgsmyourchoice.org.uk

In the company of singer Chris Till

At the end of the evening the person with the most chips wins a prize.

Charity Dinner & Casino Night

We need your old itemsWe have 2 charity shops that need your help. If you have any clothes, books or bric-a-brac that you would like to donate to a good cause please bring them into one of our charity shops.

DGSM yourChoice 18 Hythe Street Dartford DA1 1BX

DGSM yourChoice 12b Perry Street Northfleet DA11 8QB

Dartford Northfleet

Get involved

Thank you for your help

Police bake off Kent Police Control Room held a Bake Off competition during a recent night shift and raised £101 for mcch.

Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 Dan, David, Chris, Stuart, Andrew, Mike, Paul and John took on the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 raising over £3,000.

Charitable supermarket Asda in Bexleyheath donated £200 to our Hardback Café. The money will buy new equipment for the café.

Thames Bridges Trek Alice, Clara and Ricky took on the Thames Bridges Trek. Starting from Putney Bridge and ending at Tower Bridge. They raised an amazing £1,000.

Brave abseilers Over 30 people abseiled off of the ArcelorMittal Orbit this summer for mcch, raising over £6,000!

Charity of the year Invicta Grammar School’s Interact group put on a festive bingo night raising £509.

Emma Cassley Fundraising Manager

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Quality supportOur Quality Checkers have been busy reviewing our services and producing detailed reports on the new standards that we set 3 years ago.

The team is made up of 3 Quality Checkers who receive support from mcch themselves. They visit our services and talk with other people we support to find out if they are happy with the support they are receiving.

They use an audit tool to carry out reviews. This is designed to involve the people we support in open discussions with the Quality Checkers. The audit includes areas like choice, activities, lifestyle, involvement, accommodation and satisfaction. Our Checkers also make general observations and comments that they also add to the audit form.

The feedback we have received has been very positive. Team Leaders are always happy to help and encourage our checks. This gives us the platform to show what has been achieved by our services to the rest of the organisation, which is in the form of a quality evidence file.

Our Quality Checkers have visited 60 services and spoken to over 80 people. We hope to expand our team to cover even more ground and to continue the high level of standards.

People we support need to have a voice and our Quality Checkers put them in control. Quality checking is going that extra mile to maintain quality standards.

Peter, Performance Manager

Are we getting it right?

When young people move to adult services it can be a huge step for them. We have 3 new services to help make this exciting time smoother for young adults with learning disabilities and autism.

The new transition services in Bexley, Ashford and Maidstone will help them learn the skills that they need to live independently after leaving school, college or their family home.

These supported living services will provide training to equip young adults with the life skills that they need when continuing their journey into adulthood. This includes travel training, paying bills, learning how to cook meals, finding a job and experiencing living in their own home.

Mill House in Maidstone is a brand new development. People will have their own self contained flats with an open plan lounge and kitchen area. There will also be a training flat to teach people the skills they need to become independent.

Supporting independence

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For more information or to apply for one of these services please call or email:

0800 028 28 15

directsupport@mcch.org.uk

Bexley

Ashford

Maidstone - opening this year

Ages

18-25

Ages

18-30

Ages

18-24

Transition Plus supports people aged 18-25 to find paid emplyment. They help people to write their CV, prepare for interviews, search for jobs and find work experience placements.

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Thank you Tuck by TruckDear Karen and staffAs you may be aware, I am no longer a part of Tuck by Truck which I am very upset about because I have been with you for 10 years and you guys are like a second family to me. There may have been some highs and lows along the way but we always came out on top!

I would like to let you know that I am very happy and the happiest that I have ever been. I never thought I would ever be this happy and confident in my life. I am seeing parts of the world while I can all by myself which I thought I would never do, so my life right now is absolutely amazing. Work is better than it has ever been.

I feel now that the time has come to continue my journey without you which of course has upset me but I am feeling very strong about things now.

I would love to say a massive thank you for everything that you have done for me throughout the years. Your support has been excellent and I will never forget it.

All the best for the future.

Take care

Nataliexxx

Natalie came to Tuck by Truck in 2005 and worked up to the role of Delivery Assistant. We supported her to find a job at The Co-operative Food as a full time cashier. We continued to support Natalie in her new role until 2015 when she decided she was ready to move on from Tuck by Truck and we’re so delighted! This is what Tuck by Truck is all about.

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Why volunteer?We have lots of people who volunteer their time to help people have a better life. Volunteering is a rewarding experience that also helps others.

We have volunteers across many of our services, in charity shops, at day centres for people with learning disabilities and in our mental health wellbeing services. People also volunteer to take part in fundraising events like sky dives and bike rides.

Having volunteers helps us run more activities and day trips. They provide more support and help us to run evening social activities.

Being a volunteer gives people experience working in a sector they may never have tried before. We have had nurses volunteer in our charity shops and bar staff teaching in our day services. Volunteering focuses on life skills not just academic qualifications.

Volunteering also offers students from local schools and colleges valuable work experience and the chance to see how rewarding a career supporting others can be.

At mcch, volunteering does not have to be a perminant arrangement, any amount of time helps. You will benefit from a range of different training opportunities and work experience that you can add to your CV.

If you would like to find out more about volunteering visit:www.mcch.org.uk/volunteer

Are you looking for support? Call us free on 0800 028 28 15

Other versions available:• Mental health and wellbeing news• Easy read

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mcch One Hermitage Court Hermitage Lane Maidstone Kent ME16 9NT

t. 01622 722400 f. 01622 722450 www.mcch.org.uk

mcch is a registered charity number 1156486 and a company limited by guarantee (registered in England and Wales number 8971493).

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