learning disability | autism | mental health
Annual Review
2016-2017
We won!
Congratulations to our 4 teams of finalists at this year’s National Learning Disabilities and Autism Awards. We were shortlisted in the Trainer, Support Worker, Positive Behaviour Support and Employer of People with a Disability categories.
Our Tuck by Truck employment service in Herne Bay won the Employer of People with a Disability award. Well done!
Working in partnership It is always a delight to look back over the year, especially as we’ve achieved so much. In this annual review you’ll read about the people who have moved into our new developments - Mill House and St Andrews. We’ve also opened a new employment service in Sutton and are working together with local authorities to move to individual service funds. I am always so proud of our staff and volunteers, as they continue to provide personalised support for people. It is their dedication and hard work that deserves so much praise. It is also wonderful news to see services like Tuck by Truck achieve national recognition for their work. Just recently we have decided to work in partnership with Choice Support. This merger will make us a stronger, more financially secure charity, so that we can continue to offer support and to be imaginative in the way we do it. Although we will be operating as separate charities, we hope in future to merge fully. I look forward to updating you on this exciting new development next year!
Oliver Mills, Chair
Moving in:
mental health St Andrews Robert had been living in secure hospitals for over 12 years. “I have spent a long time in hospital. The staff did everything for me and I was dependent on them. I sabotaged my discharge from hospital a few times, as I was scared and I panicked. “Moving to St Andrews was a scary experience. A self-contained flat just for me and no one to tell me what to do!” The staff support Robert to manage his mental health and become more independent. “You know I had never paid a bill in my life! The staff help me with budgeting and check that I’m looking after myself.”
Robe rt ra ised £840 for mcch at the Parallel London 10k fu n ru n.
Moving in:
learning disability Mill House Laurence moved into Mill House less than a year ago and so far he’s loving the independence. “I didn’t want to be independent at first. I liked living with my parents, so I could support them. But now I love it. I pay for my own food, rent and my flat is like a penthouse suite! “At first it was quite difficult moving in, as it’s hard to know who to trust. But when you get to know the staff, it’s ok.” Laurence gets support to help him live more independently. “They help with my medication and making sure I’m ok.” Laurence is studying animal management and would love a job working with animals.
Wellbeing
programme
David had to sell his house in 2006, which led to his first treatment for depression. He’s now being supported by Pathways to Wellbeing in Ashford. “The wellbeing programme helped me to learn about myself. I realised that I do like people and get on with them, and that I can be myself. I also learnt some really useful techniques to manage my mental wellbeing, like mindfulness which comes from Buddhism – and I’m really into that.” The wellbeing programme covers the ways to wellbeing, goal planning and gives practical tips and guidance. David is hoping to start a counselling course and is looking for some part-time work to support his love of music. “I’ve just joined a Nepalese rock band and I love jamming with them and finding out about their culture. I can say for the first time that my future looks brilliant. I know there is going to be some problems, but I know how to deal with them now. And I have so many people I can turn to.”
80%
“It was very informative and very useful in my daily life, which can be filled with a a lot of stressful situations.” An attendee.
80% of people attending tell us they have enjoyed the wellbeing sessions.
7
We run sessions in 7 areas: Maidstone, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Ashford, Sevenoaks, Faversham and Canterbury.
“The 6-week wellbeing programme in Ashford was superb. |t was exactly what | needed.”
Jigsaw
hate crime project We received £48,170 from Kent’s Police and Crime Commissioner to provide specialist support to victims of crimes in Kent. We will be making more people aware of disability hate crimes through training, improved reporting of crimes and better understanding of how to support victims. We will now expand our work with schools, providing support to pupils and helping education providers to become crime reporting hubs.
Louise has been a victim of hate crime and has been talking about her experiences through the Jigsaw project: “Talking to groups about my personal experiences of hate crime has really improved my confidence and hopefully helps people to understand more about autism and learning disabilities.”
Focus on work in Sutton
We won a new contract to support people with autism, learning disabilities, mental health needs and physical disabilities in the London Borough of Sutton. Lucy is being supported by the service. “I find it hard to get companies to employ me. It’s not that I can’t do the job, it’s because of my disability. The company would need to make some reasonable adjustments for me, but that seems like a barrier for them. I really want to get a job in admin, as I like using computers. I want to be given the opportunity to show them what I can do.”
Celebrating
10 years
Peppercorns day centre in Dartford had much to celebrate this year. They have put together a full programme of activities and events for adults with learning disabilities. Their drama groups have performed in some great shows, including Grease The Musical and the Jungle Book, and the Freedom nightclub is as popular as ever.
Chee rs to 10 years!
Volunteering Natalja has been volunteering for 2 years at a day service. “My brother-in-law goes to Peppercorns, which is why I decided to volunteer here. My role is varied. One day I’ll be helping out with the arts and crafts and the next week I’ll be supporting people out in the community.” Natalja volunteers 1 day a week during school time. “I miss not being here during the summer holidays. It’s such a rewarding role. I have been offered lots of training, including first aid, food hygiene and autism awareness, which is great.
“You also learn a lot from the staff and from the people you’re supporting.”
Transforming care
The Nest
We are delighted to be working in partnership with Kent County Council on the delivery of a new service as part of the Transforming Care Programme. We have secured capital funding from the NHS and have purchased a property in Ashford. We will be redeveloping the building to provide a children’s Safe Accommodation service, catering for children over the age of 14 who may stay for up to 12 weeks. This will be for three people at a time with the support being provided by Kent County Council. Each child will have their own bedroom and en-suite bathroom facilities, with several communal spaces (including a sensory room) and a large garden. We have secured planning and hope to open the new service in March 2018.
In other news
P ri me Min iste r visit Through fundraising events and sales of Christmas cards, our wonderful fundraisers have raised over £14,800. We’ve held golf days, bingo nights and people have taken part in cycling and walking challenges.
Event support
The Prime Minister visited our Wellbeing Centre to talk about her vision for a ‘shared society’ and improved mental health provision.
Blues Br othe rs act was huge success Our Special Planning for Events and Conferences (SPECs) group supported an event hosted by the Tizard Centre at the University of Kent.
Finances
Total income
£33,073,000
Total expenditure
£32,012,000 Thank you to all the people and organisations who have donated money or time to support us this year: The many anonymous charitable trusts, Kent Police & Crime Commissioner, Sobell Foundation, Rotary Club Sidcup, ACT Foundation, Clothworkers’ Foundation and Kent County Council Councillors Paul Carter, Dan Daley, Rob Bird and Eric Hotson.
Income and Expenditure Registered care
£13,787,000
Supported living
Expenditure
£11,269,000
£13,738,000
Expenditure £11,083,000
Housing Enterprises
£952,000 Expenditure
£2,503,000
Engagement services
£2,872,000 Expenditure £2,437,000
Expenditure £1,909,000
£993,000
Community support
£819,000 Expenditure £891,000
Respite
£484,000 Expenditure £524,000
Charity shops
£73,000 Expenditure £68,000
Employment
£314,000 Expenditure £369,000
Contact us contactus@mcch.org.uk
/mcchcharity
01622 722400
@mcchcharity
www.mcch.org.uk One Hermitage Court, Hermitage Lane,
Maidstone, Kent, ME16 9NT
Volunteer board of trustees Oliver Mills (Chair)
Kate Wood
Philip Sayer (Vice-Chair)
Peter Hasler
Colin Mills
Anne Chapman
Ann Cooke
Dr Maria Callias
Phil Miller
Nadra Ahmed, OBE *
Robert Maslinski
John MacCabe *
Kultar Nayyar
Angela Slaven ** * Stepped down March 2017 ** Stepped down July 2017
Registered charity number: 1156486