News Archive
Welcome to our Watford Mencap News Page!
Here you will find out the latest news from our events, our services and our supporters. You can also follow us on Twitter and through the Watford Observer Community Pages.
Easy Read Coalition Government
Posted on 20th May 2010
Follow the link to see the easy read coalition government, which is from Inspired Services. It does not necessarily represent the views of Watford Mencap.
Easy Read Election Manifestos
Posted on 30th April 2010
Follow the links to see easy read election manifestos from the three main political parties:
Celebrity Golf Day 2010
Posted on 15th April 2010
Warren Clarke is hosting another Celebrity Golf Day this year and once again all the proceeds will go to our Children's Centre in North Watford. It will take place on Wednesday 7 July 2010 at Beaconsfield Golf Club. If you would like to enter a team or find out more about this event please call Lesley or Veronica on 01923 713622 or follow the link for the Celebrity Golf Day Invite.
HABS Mencap Funday 2010
Posted on 9th April 2010
On Sunday 27 June 2010 The Haberdashers' Aske's Schools are inviting young people with learning disabilities aged between 5 and 19 to come to a Funday at Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School, Aldenham Road, Elstree, Herts, WD3 3AF. Follow the link for more details and registration form which must be completed by Friday 21 May 2010.
Christmas Came Early to Watford Mencap’s Children’s Centre
Posted on 30th December 2009
On Tuesday 22 December 2009 Kaylee Chapman and Eddsie Jenkins from VocaLink in Rickmansworth visited Watford Mencap’s Children’s Centre’s holiday playscheme, to deliver presents donated by Vocalink employees. This initiative is the latest one to have benefited Watford Mencap.
Earlier this year, VocaLink staff members from Harrogate, Brighton and Rickmansworth spent the day decorating and gardening at one of Watford Mencap’s residential homes in Oxhey and the transformation was amazing. Watford Mencap also received over £500 for a charity quiz night which was organised by their Sports and Social Club. In keeping with their environmental policy, Vocalink are recycling their boardroom furniture, which will be put to good use at Watford Mencap’s new offices at the Old Town Hall, Rickmansworth High Street.
The toys donated will benefit all the children who use Watford Mencap’s services after school, on Saturdays and during the school holidays and they were gratefully received. Ro Linton, Children’s Services Manager commented: ‘The children had a great time unwrapping the presents and there are different toys to suit different children. Thank you Vocalink!’
Kaylee Chapman said ‘This is the first time I have visited the Children’s Centre and thoroughly enjoyed the visit – VocaLink are delighted to support Watford Mencap’.
Young People of the Year Awards
Posted on 28th August 2009
Three pupils at Watford Grammar School for Boys have received official recognition for their sterling work for Watford Mencap.
Tom Smith, Manish Fatania and Muhammad Jaffer were shortlisted in the Citygate Young People of the Year awards which has a top prize of £1,000. The contest rewards young people from Hertfordshire who give to others and are positive role models.
Tom, Manish and Muhammad helped with our Hand in Hand Youth Club.
Launch of Carers Direct
Posted on 6th August 2009
In June 2009 the government launched a new campaign - Carers Direct which is a comprehensive advice and support service for all carers including young carers.
This free service is available both on-line telephone. For more details follow the link below:
Involving People
Posted on 19th June 2009
How do you want to live your life?
Watford Mencap is now a lead partner in the Strengthening User and Carer Involvement pilot project.
Watford Mencap has been awarded funding from the Joint Commissioning Team which is funded by Hertsfordshire County Council and Primary Care Trust to progress our work in giving people with learning disabilities a greater say on how money is spent on services in Hertfordshire.
If you want to know more about the Involving People project and what Watford Mencap are doing to support please click on this Involving People link.
watsup
Posted on 10th June 2009
Watsup offer support for families with special needs children. 'We are a group of parents and carers of children with special needs in the Watford area and we meet usually on the first Monday of the month in term time from 1pm to 3.00pm in the meeting room at the Lemarie centre, 524 St Albans Road. Creche available - please book 2 weeks in advance.
For more information please phone Sue East on 01923 252316 or click here.
Watford Mencap pays tribute to its supporters at John Lewis, Watford
Posted on 22nd May 2009
Cllr Dorothy Thornhill, Mayor of Watford joined other Watford Mencap supporters at John Lewis in the Harlequin on Thursday 21 May to celebrate the people and organisations who support the work of the charity.
Watford Mencap has worked with people with learning disabilities in South West Herts for nearly 60 years. Whilst the charity is affiliated to Royal Mencap, it receives no funding from them and relies heavily on local authority funding, local corporate support and community donations.
The varied nature of Watford Mencap’s work has been brought to light thanks to Lesley Blee, a secondee from John Lewis who spent the last six months of 2008 interviewing and creating a record of the people and organisations who have supported the charity.
David Green, Operations Manager, Fashion and Personnel Manager at John Lewis Watford, warmly welcomed invited visitors to The Place to Eat at 4pm and spoke about some of the projects that John Lewis Watford had undertaken last year when Watford Mencap had been their Charity of the Year.
Jenny Young, mother of a child with a learning disability, spoke about the care her son receives at Watford Mencap Children’s Centre and what the respite means for her and the rest of the family.
Veronica Chamberlain, Watford Mencap’s Funding & Business Development Manager then launched the case studies which have been produced:
“We are incredibly grateful to John Lewis for Lesley’s secondment. Our small fundraising department would never have had the time to research and produce these case studies, but it is really important to us that people should understand what Watford Mencap does.’
To see a series of nine case studies reflecting the experiences of people with learning disabilities, support workers, carers and volunteers please follow this link.
Veronica continued, “We hope that these studies will inspire others to follow in the footsteps of those people and organisations who have been so generous. Without their support we could not continue to do our work”
Homeoaks gets 3 stars!
Posted on 15th April 2009
Congratulations to the Homeoaks team for
receiving a 3 star excellent rating as a result
of their recent Commission for Social Care
Inspection (CSCI).
Manager Coral Brooke said: “I feel proud of the
whole team’s achievement in being awarded a
3 star CSCI rating. It recognises the hard work,
support and dedication by all of the staff at
Homeoaks.”
Resident Susan Tavener said she enjoys living
at Homeoaks because she is able to help with
the cooking and shopping, and can live in the
same house as her friends.
This is the first time one of our residential homes has achieved this rating and they join our Community Support Service in this elite category.
Hertfordshire Travel Wallet
Posted on 11th March 2009
The Hertfordshire Travel Wallet is bright orange wallet with plastic pockets to keep everything together that helps people with disabilities use public transport on their own.
What it will do
The Hertfordshire Travel Wallet will let bus drivers know that people may need help on their journey. It can help people tell bus drivers what help is needed using the bus and also to keep important information about the support that may be needed.
The following people can use the wallet:
Anyone can have a wallet if they currently use or are working towards using buses independently in Hertfordshire and are;
- A person who has a learning disability
- A person who has a physical disability
- A person who has a sensory disability
Please follow this link if you would like more information or would like to apply.
Stuart and Cherry Marshall are riding on a tandem Lands End to John O'Groats
Posted on 5th March 2009
From 6 to 21 June Stuart and Cherry Marshall are cycling the 1,000 miles from Lands End to John O'Groats - on a tandem for Watford Mencap. See why they are doing this on their Just Giving website. They will match any donations made. All at Watford Menap wish Stuart and Cherry a safe journey.
Russell Lincoln is trekking along the Great Wall of China for Watford Mencap
Posted on 26th February 2009
From 16 - 26 April Russell Lincoln, our Operations Manager, will be trekking along the Great Wall of China as part of a group of people raising money for charities. The trek will start in Beijing and take them through remote parts of rural through hilly and steep countryside for up to eight hours a day. 'It looks very exciting, if daunting, as I have never done a trek before! I am paying my own costs for this trek which means that every penny raised will go to Watford Mencap to fund services for young people with learning disabilities. Please give generously to support these really worthwhile services!' says Russell.
If you prefer you can donate on line at Just Giving. Alternatively you can send a cheque, made payable to Watford Mencap to: Lesley Blee, Fundraiser, Watford Mencap, Langwood House, 63-81 High Street, Rickmansworth, Herts, WD3 1EQ.
Good Luck Russell!
Thanks to VocaLink, Thorpedale has a 'new' garden and water feature
Posted on 30th January 2009
During the summer of 2008 three hard working volunteers from VocaLink helped to transform the garden at Thorpedale, one of our residential homes. They also installed a water feature, as you can see. Thanks to VocaLink for their continued support.
Christmas Tea Party
Posted on 12th December 2008
On Saturday 29 November approximately 150 people came along to the Watford Mencap Christmas Tea Party at the Rising Sun Brewers Fayre in Croxley Green. Mince pies tea, coffee and squash were provided. James Tetlow, magician, entertained, and Father Christmas also paid an early visit and brought with him a sack of goodies. We also had a raffle and a ‘name the teddy’ competition. Many thanks to the Rising Sun, once again, for providing the facilities and refreshments and John Lewis Watford for providing the teddy (aka as ‘Barney’), raffle prizes and other gifts. Thanks also to John Whatling and Linda for their contribution to the festivities and Councillor Tony Poole and his wife Sylvia for joining in the fun.
John Lewis Choral Competition
Posted on 26th November 2008
On Wednesday 5 November, John Lewis Watford hosted a Choral Competition at the Watford Colisseum in aid of Watford Mencap.
John Griff was the compere for the evening and 8 local schools took part: St Joan of Arc; Parmiter's; Queens'; St Michaels Catholic High; Rickmansworth; Kings Langley; Watford Grammar School for Girls and WatfordGrammar School for Boys. The judges were Manvinder Rattan, Musical Director of the John Lewis Partnership Music Society, Richard Hobson, Director of Music at Merchant Taylors' School and Paul Day who is the Musical Director and founder of the Life and Mission Choir.
The event raised more than £3,000 for Watford Mencap. We would like to thank all the schools who took part and John Lewis Watford for organising the event.
Chorleywood Tennis Club & Waitrose Donate to Watford Mencap
Posted on 13th October 2008
Chorleywood Tennis Club Finals Day was on Sunday 14th September. Seven finals were fought on that day and at least a hundred members came to watch the action. Food for the barbecue was provided by Waitrose Rickmansworth, in aid of Watford Mencap. The club was able to make a donation of £210 to the charity once all the money was added up. This is in addition to £223, which the club donated to Watford Mencap in August.
Ann Edge, Deputy Manager at Waitrose Rickmansworth, commented, ‘We have been supporting Watford Mencap since we opened in Rickmansworth, and are delighted to have helped the Chorleywood Tennis Club to have a great Finals Day.’
AGM 2008
Posted on 8th October 2008
Thank you to everyone who came along to our AGM last night - the evening was a great success with a display of arts and crafts from people with learning disabilities, a presentation of awards and various films showing what we've been up to.
Thank you to Jenny Tomley, MD of John Lewis Watford, to Carpenders Park Nursery for providing our centrepieces and to Homecooks Catering.
Our Annual Review is available to see now on our homepage.
Watford Mencap AGM
Posted on 3rd October 2008
Join us for the Watford Mencap AGM on Tuesday 7th October. Hear
about what we've been up to in our various projects and what
we've got coming up. There will be stalls from our charity
shops, a raffle and DVDs showing various events and
activities.
If you'd like to join us, contact Rosie on 01923 713620.
Credit Crunch? What Credit Crunch?
Posted on 5th September 2008
Watford Mencap is offering canny Watford shoppers new ways to beat the credit crunch. Managers Sonia Glover and Jean Darke have selected stylish clothes and interesting gifts to show off the bargains hiding in Watford Mencap’s shops.
Volunteer Jo Andrews modelled a smart jacket for £5 and a handbag for £1.50; her daughter Lucia found a top for 80p, and a 20p Jacqueline Wilson book to keep summer boredom at bay. Watford shop manager Sonia Glover found another £5 jacket, a dress for £3.50 and a beautiful doll for £3; Bushey shop manager Jean Darke sported a sharp trouser suit priced at £6.50 and a handbag and scarf ensemble for £2.
Watford Mencap’s shops can be found at 250 St Albans Road, North Watford (jcn Balmoral Road) and at 36 High Street, Bushey Village (opposite the pond).
National Playday
Posted on 12th August 2008
National Playday was a great success... Watford Mencap joined in the local celebrations at the Rickmansworth Aquadrome and held a cuddly toy tombola. The public were also able to ask for information about Watford Mencap and the services we provide. Children went away delighted with their teddies and tigers. We raised more than £200 which was great and had several enquiries about volunteering oppoprtunities too.
Abseil for Watford Mencap
Posted on 12th August 2008
Have you got a Head for Heights?!
Do you fancy scaling the Harlequin for Watford Mencap? On Sunday September 7th 08 John Lewis in Watford are organising an abseil for all our friends and supporters to take up a challenge and raise money for us.
Minimum target sponsorship is £100 per person.
Anyone interested can contact Becky in the office on 01923 713622 or email fundraising@watfordmencap.org.uk
Easy Read Coalition Government
Posted on 1st January 1970
Follow the link to see the easy read coalition government, which is from Inspired Services. It does not necessarily represent the views of Watford Mencap.