West Berkshire's junior citizen of the year

Among some outstanding feats of endeavour, bravery and charity, West Berkshire’s Junior Citizen of the Year has been chosen. This year’s winner, announced at a ceremony at the West Berkshire Council Market Street building on Tuesday, was Robert Conway, aged 16, from Newbury. Robert has volunteered at West Berkshire Mencap for the last two years, and such has been his efforts he has recently been hired to join the paid staff. He still volunteers and manages his sixth-form studies and other commitments, including helping out after school and during the school holidays, arranging entertainment for the school youth club and Gateway at West Berkshire Mencap.

SUMMER BALL

Thank you to everyone who supported the West Berkshire Mencap Summer Ball and helped the evening to go with a real swing.  Special thanks to Christine, Carrie-Anne, Chris, Linda and Georgina for your organisation and promotion behind the scenes. To Linda and Mark  for your help on the evening and to Richard Phillips who took some fantastic photos which really capture the moment and are a real memento of the evening.  Everyone really enjoyed themselves and are looking forward to the next one, perhaps this could be an annual event

Gill Leech

Family Advisor

GATEWAY AWARD

West Berkshire Gateway Award group held a presentation ceremony on Monday the 4^th July 2011 to honour participants who have attained their national awards.

Steph Searle, John Holliday, Kathryn Schofield, James Haswell and Lorraine Taylor attained their Bronze award While Philip Barham, Alastair Hutchinson and Jeremy Stockdale received both their Silver and Gold awards.  All received certificates, lapel badges and bags to mark the occasion.

The awards were presented by Neale Marney MBE from South Central Ambulance Trust.  Neale has worked with us for the past 8 years helping to deliver a bespoke first Aid course created with his help specifically for those with learning disabilities.

West Berkshire Mencap president and vice president Arthur & Jean Heffernan along with CEO Leila Ferguson were also in attendance to mark the culmination of years of hard work for all the participants.

Following the presentations Arthur made a short speech to thank those who have helped make the award scheme locally so respected at a national level and to thank the participants for their hard work.

Following the award presentations  guests were able to talk with the participants and look at their work while enjoying light refreshments.

Hollington Rose Beef and Pork

Gets Cooking Mexican Style With West Berkshire Mencap Gateway Club

West Berkshire Mencap is always looking for new supporters and sponsors, so was delighted when Hollington Rose Beef and Pork offered to help the charity out at a number of events throughout the year – the first of which was last night at West Berks Mencap’s Centre, where the Gateway Club held a Mexican Fiesta with a sizzling Chilli supper, created with Hollington Rose Farm’s mince!

Hollington Rose Beef and Pork is a new, family run company, producing “Happy Meat” in West Berkshire.  Raising rare breed British Saddle Back pigs and Dexter cows, the farm treats the animals with kindness, nurturing them throughout their lives and allowing them to roam in beautiful fields and woodland.  It is this nurturing element of the company that led Claire Lennon of Hollington Rose Farm to support West Berks Mencap. 

“We wanted to support a local charity that is working in the community to create a good, happy life for those involved,” said Claire Lennon of Hollington Rose Farm. “West Berks Mencap is the perfect charity for us to support – it’s local, it’s working to create a great place to live for everyone and the team is so full of enthusiasm.  Caring for people is always difficult, but caring for those with a learning disabilities takes extra energy and passion – the guys at West Berks Mencap inspired me with their desire to nurture something special to our community, I just had to help!”

“The Mexican Fiesta and chilli cook-off at the Gateway Club was great fun,” commented Leila Ferguson, CEO, West Berks Mencap.  “As with most things at the West Berks Mencap Centre, it was full of noise and laughter!  The club members dressed up, were involved with the cooking and thoroughly enjoyed the party atmosphere.  The Hollington Rose Farm chilli was a great success and helped warm up the evening!  We can’t thank Claire enough for helping to make the event a success and we’re delighted to welcome her to the West Berks Mencap family.”

Hollington Rose Farm will be supporting West Berks Mencap throughout the coming year:  providing prizes for raffles, meat for cooking activities with members at the centre and a hog roast for a fundraising event in the summer 2012!