During the UK lockdown that has hit the country hard, Andover and District Mencap, who aim to enable choice and independence, know only too well the strain this has on people with additional needs. Andover Mencap is a small charity who support Andover’s local adults and children with disabilities.
Becky Barret, the centres receptionist says “Its hard for people to understand so we want to do all we can to make to easier for our service users”
For many staff its business as usual, offering support with personal care or cooking and cleaning tasks, but for the service user’s life has very much changed. With not being able to access the community, or have contact with the outside world or friends or family, its had a huge impact on their mental wellbeing.
With this in mind Andover and Distict Mencap have launched a brand new outreach service for all ADM members. Their main aim according to the centre manager Lee Roberts is;
“To provide stimulating and engaging activities to prevent isolation and aim mental wellbeing during lockdown”
Becky told 95.9FM Andover Radio that they had been busy fundraising over the last few weeks and so far have a total of £1200 from donations and competitions they have run.
They have been sending out bespoke activity packs each week for the service users, from sunflower competitions with a horticultural focus, to war and history activity packs. The latest competition was design your own box. One parent said their son was really grateful for the pack as they had created “a worry box” meaning “at night he would write anything down that’s worrying him and put it in a box so he wouldn’t worry overnight and he can sleep well”
Andover and District Mencap said that they have had a really good response from the service users and they are enjoying the packs being personalised to them and their needs and likes.
“We really want to continue providing this service but being a small charity we are funding dependant”
The disability charity have some exciting competitions lined up for the service users over the next few weeks including a baking, which ADSA have donated ingredients for. Even the staff are getting involved with their recent ‘Hula Challenge’, which Becky said was to brighten the staff’s mood as well at raising desperately needed funds. Becky also told 95.9FM Andover Radio that she’s looking forward to the singing competition so she can “dress up and have a laugh”
Cllr Iris Anderson is also getting involved with her “Book Challenge”, she is walking up and down her garden with books placed on her head and has set up a Just Giving page for people to donate money. “easier said than done” says Becky Barrett.
If you would like to donate to Andover and District Mencap to support their much needed outreach project go to www.andovermenap.org and follow the link
During the UK lockdown that has hit the country hard, Andover and District Mencap, who aim to enable choice and independence, know only too well the stain this has on people with additional needs. Andover Mencap is a small charity who support Andover’s local adults and children with disabilities.
Becky Barret, the centres receptionist says “Its hard for people to understand so we want to do all we can to make to easier for our service users”
For many staff its business as usual, offering support with personal care or cooking and cleaning tasks, but for the service user’s life has very much changed. With not being able to access the community, or have contact with the outside world or friends or family, its had a huge impact on their mental wellbeing.
With this in mind Andover and Distict Mencap have launched a brand new outreach service for all ADM members. Their main aim according to the centre manager Lee Roberts is;
“To provide stimulating and engaging activities to prevent isolation and aim mental wellbeing during lockdown”
Becky told 95.9fm Andover Radio that they had been busy fundraising over the last few weeks and so far have a total of £1200 from donations and competitions they have run. They have been sending out bespoke activity packs each week for the service users, from sunflower competitions with a horticultural focus, to war and history activity packs. The latest competition was design your own box. One parent said their son was really grateful for the pack as they had created “a worry box” meaning “at night he would write anything down that’s worrying him and put it in a box so he wouldn’t worry overnight and he can sleep well”
Andover and District Mencap said that they have had a really good response from the service users and they are enjoying the packs being personalised to them and their needs and likes.
“We really want to continue providing this service but being a small charity we are funding dependant”
The disability charity have some exciting competitions lined up for the service users over the next few weeks including a baking, which ADSA have donated ingredients for. Even the staff are getting involved with their recent ‘Hula Challenge’, which Becky said was to brighten the staff’s mood as well at raising desperately needed funds. Becky also told 95.9fm Andover Radio that she’s looking forward to the singing competition so she can “dress up and have a laugh”
Cllr Iris Anderson is also getting involved with her “Book Challenge”, she is walking up and down her garden with books placed on her head and has set up a Just Giving page for people to donate money. “easier said than done” says Becky Barrett.
If you would like to donate to Andover and District Mencap to support their much needed outreach project go to www.andovermenap.org and follow the link
