Involvement Group
The Involvement Group was set up in November 2005 to enable people with learning disabilities to have a say in how Watford Mencap’s services are run and to help improve them. The group was popular and met monthly for a year, looking at what happens within Watford Mencap. The group looked at all areas of the organisation, learning about finance and recruitment as well as each service.
Plans were agreed in 2006 for the group to become a new sub-committee and for 2 people to join the Council of Management as co–opted members. Over the next year the group learnt about representing others and chairing, and agreed the terms of reference for the new sub-committee. They also learnt about confidentiality and agreed what skills the new co-opted members would need. In November 2007 the group elected Clive Joll and Sylvia Hatch to be co-opted members of the Council of Management. In Jan 2008 Clive and Sylvia attended their first meeting.
The group still meets monthly and sends 3-monthly reports to the Council of Management. Over the last year they have spent a lot of time talking about friendships and how Watford Mencap’s services need to help people become more independent.
The Involvement Group is open to anyone with a learning disability who uses Watford Mencap’s services.
If you would like to talk to someone about this please contact Ruth Murray on 01923 713632 or email ruthmurray@watfordmencap.org.uk