A GROUP that helps people with learning disabilities is the latest to receive a Covid-19 grant from a Reading-based charitable foundation.
Members of Reading Mencap were presented with a donation just before Christmas, courtesy of the John Sykes Foundation.
Founder John Sykes visited the day centre and offices of the charity, which works to improve the lives of children, adults, and families with a learning disability, to find out more about its work, and give £920 to Steph Dewar, head of business development, and Charlie Macdonald, principal care support worker, alongside service users of the Mencap Enables Service.
The grant will be used to hold two events for unpaid carers in the local area.
The charity celebrated its 60th anniversary last year and provides multiple services including Family Support, which helps families and individuals with free specialist information, advice, advocacy and in-depth casework.
Their five Family Advisers help around 400 people each year to navigate and manage problems with education, benefits, social care, debt, housing, and health.
A weekly social and leisure club for adults with learning disabilities is also held on site, along with a monthly disco, performing arts workshops, a community choir, and outings for young carers.
Marie-Claire Dillon, Reading Mencap’s fundraising manager, said: “These activities reduce isolation and provide much-needed respite for families.
“Mencap Enables is our Day Activity Service, consisting of full-day group activities and care for 50 adults with Learning Disabilities who are unable to work due to their disability.
“The activities promote choice, health and wellbeing, and develop independence skills.”
Reading Mencap have also recently formed the new Reading and West Berkshire Carers Partnership with CommuniCare, Age UK Reading and Age UK Berkshire to provide carers with information and advice.
They will utilise the grant from the John Sykes Foundation to hold two free-of-charge events for unpaid carers in Reading.
Ms Dillon said: “This year we have hosted two free-of-charge afternoon tea events for family carers of people with learning disabilities.
“These have been very popular and feedback from the carers is that they would like more similar events; they have also suggested pottery painting as an activity.
“We would like to offer two events including a pottery painting session and an afternoon tea. Invitations to the events will be available to all unpaid carers within the newly formed partnership, not just carers of people with learning disabilities.
“We know that sometimes carers have no one else to care for their dependent to be able to attend activities like these, so we will give carers the option of bringing their dependent with them if they wish.”
John Sykes said he had been “enormously inspired” by the dedication that family carers give their loved ones with a learning disability.
“Many of these carers are unsung heroes and provide care and support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, especially since the pandemic, with respite and care services having to close,” he said.
“The cost-of-living crisis will add extra pressure when families are already so stretched. Our Foundation hope that this grant enables the carers to get together and enjoy themselves.”
For more information on Reading Mencap and the services they provide, log on to: https://www.readingmencap.org.uk/
For more details on the work on the foundation, log on to: www.johnsykesfoundation.org
