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West Berkshire Mencap |
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Date: 17/08/2010 |
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The outdoor playground is finished! Wahoo! We now have a climbing wall, a huge slide, trampoline, activity panels, music panels, zip wire and much more. Thanks to the Greenham Gift we can have even more fun - yay and thanks Greenham Common Trust and everyone who voted for us. |
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The new outdoor playground extension. |
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Ofsted report that we are “Outstanding” Outstanding is Grade 1 and means “This aspect of the provision is of exceptionally high quality.” Here are a few extracts from the report: “Overall the quality of the provision is outstanding. There is an extensive range of experiences provided in a vibrant and stimulating environment and the successful interaction of the staff ensures that all children are highly motivated in their learning.”
“Leadership and management are outstanding and provide excellent guidance and support to all staff”
“Staff are enthusiastic and committed”
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September 2009 FRIEND’S COMMITTEE |
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We would be very interested in starting a Friends Committee to help with arranging and supporting fundraising events for West Berkshire Mencap. This is your opportunity to join some fellow members and develop your own ideas for fundraising events from quiz evenings to sponsored sky dives, the choice is yours. We appreciate you are all very busy people and any support no matter how small or large would be greatly appreciated. For further details please contact the Mencap Centre 01635 41464. |
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WEST BERKS MENCAP IS GROWING TOGETHER WITH NEWBURY COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTRE
Growing Together took its next step on 24th November 2009, with the assistance of the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane who planted the first tree in the Growing Together Orchard. The project will see West Berks Mencap work in partnership with the Newbury Community Resource Centre (who operate the Community Furniture Project).
The Growing Together project – a community food growing and training programme based at Cottismore Park near Kingsclere - which provides people with learning disabilities and those with disadvantages in the West Berkshire and North Hampshire area to gain accredited training, education and involvement in local food via a programme of growing rotational seasonal fruit and vegetables which will subsequently be offered for sale at the NCRC’s outlets. In addition, there are opportunities for volunteering and job creation.
Through practical involvement the Growing Together project uses greenhouses, allotments and orchard areas. In order for it to come to fruition, the project secured funding from the Big Lottery Local Food Fund (£300,000) which was made possible by the generous support of the Greenham Common Trust, which owns the site and which generously supported the project via matched funding. The project is also being supported by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council through a Voluntary Sector Support Grant.
“We are working through the first phase of the Site Development Plan, which will be completed by next May. The Plan aims to bring the currently redundant facilities on the site back into production while reducing overall energy consumption and maintenance costs of the site,” commented Kelvin Hughes, Newbury Community Resource Centre Chief Executive. “The finished site will have raised beds, two large renovated greenhouses, composting facilities, a rainwater harvesting system, an orchard, fruit cages, a ‘Quiet Garden’; as well as a training centre with classroom and office facilities, secure tool store and renovated canteen facilities. We are delighted that over the first three years of the Growing Together Project in the region of 1,000 people will benefit directly, including 6 newly created employee posts, 15 temporary positions created under the Government’s Future Jobs Fund, 90 volunteers, 60 trainees, 90 service users and many more.”
“This is a wonderful project which expands the opportunities for people with learning disabilities,” said Leila Ferguson, CEO of West Berks Mencap. The project is being developed and managed by two great teams who will be using the experience they have gained working in partnership at the Slater Centre. This is a great example of the third sector working together to provide excellent services to those that need them.” |
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Leila Ferguson was delighted to be asked to speak at the Quaker Church in Newbury on Sunday. The congregation listened to a short talk on what services West Berkshire Mencap were providing and they were joined by Miss Philomena Strang, a user of many of West Berkshire Mencap’s services for many years. The collections for the month of December are being donated to Mencap which we are very grateful for. |
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West Berkshire Mencap and Greenham Common Trust to open fantastic new supported living home in the Spring thanks to £500,000 investment. More details HERE. |
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New Supported Living Joint Venture |
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WBM Leisure Plus Drama Group put on another splendid production in the Phoenix Centre on the 15th December, entitled “Grinch Steals Christmas” it told the story of a very unhappy Grinch who, disguised as Father Christmas came down the chimney and stole all the presents, food and logs for the fire. The family decide the Spirit of Christmas is the important part and singing they convince Grinch of this too. He returns everything and everyone has a lovely time. Despite the bad weather the enthusiastic audience were treated to a wonderful production. |
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Many Thanks to the hardy bunch of souls who braved the cold weather to shake tins outside Newbury’s Tesco Extra store on Friday and Saturday the 5th and 6th of February. It was well worth the effort as a grand total of £903.78 was raised for West Berkshire Mencap funds. Thanks also to Newbury Tesco for allowing us to undertake this collection. |
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West Berkshire Mencap held its annual Race Day at Newbury Racecourse on Friday the 5th March and a great time was had by all. The event raised about £12,000 which is wonderful, particularly in the current financial climate. This was made possible by the fantastic support of the race sponsors, attendees and people who donated some amazing prizes. A team of staff from Children’s Services collected money in buckets around the racecourse, there were silent auctions, raffles and a great auction compered by the irrepressible Chris Boreham. All funds raised will go towards improving and expanding WBMencap’s excellent services including Heffernan House, the new supported living project. More pictures HERE or click the photograph |
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West Berkshire Mencap are pleased to announce the opening of two exciting new projects this spring. Heffernan House in central Newbury will provide supported living for young adults with learning disabilities and additional complex or challenging needs. The home presents an opportunity to transform the lives of people by offering individual tenancies in a supported living environment to meet the needs of young people whose support requirements may mean that accessing this type of accommodation can prove difficult. Each flat comprises a living/dining room with attached kitchenette and bedroom with en suite shower/toilet facilities. In addition the property has ample communal areas including a shared dining room, lounge, large kitchen and fully equipped modern laundry. In addition there is a large contained garden. The property is close to all local facilities but also only a short drive to nearby countryside. More details HERE |
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Your Choice Services is the second project and is a specialist Domiciliary Care Agency developed to provide care and support in the service user’s own (or family) home. Using the existing skills, knowledge and resources that Mencap are renown for the Domiciliary Agency will be dedicated to providing choice and meeting outcome focused personalised care plans.
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For more information please contact Paul Holland at West Berkshire Mencap, Mencap Centre, Enborne Road, Enborne Gate, Newbury, RG14 6AT or by email at DCM@westberkshiremencap.org or by phone on 01635 41464 |
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On the 20th July a fabulous, hot summer’s day dawned and 13 members of the West Berks Mencap Friendship Skills Group braved the rush hour train to London. The day ahead was filled with memorable and interesting experiences, with the main event a tour of the Houses of Parliament. The group reached the station early and boarded a busy train – on reaching Paddington everyone endured the rush hour crush on the tube. So, it was a relieved group that reached Westminster and spilled out onto the pavement, eager to get on with the tour. On arrival at the Houses of Parliament, patience was the key, as a number of other groups were already queuing for the security checks. The West Berks Mencap group was interested by the level of security checks and commented that they were similar to the checks at the airport – with the addition of photos for everyone’s temporary ID. The tour started with the introduction of the friendly and knowledgeable tour guide. Everyone was told a host of interesting facts, like how the Guy Fawkes gunpowder plot was thwarted, why Black Rod has the House of Commons door slammed in his face at the State Opening of Parliament and the big fires which have destroyed parts of the buildings in previous times. The group was even treated to the story of the ‘grey lady’ – a ghost who has been seen walking the corridors at night! A visit to the Lords and Commons Chambers (which look bigger on TV) was included in the tour, along with a visit to the ‘NO’ lobby where everyone saw how a vote is counted in real life, then the group all visited the café, where they could sit down and eat lunch – and finally there was a visit to the souvenir kiosk for those much prized mementoes of the day. |