learning disability | autism | mental health
How to be
Happy and Independent
Annual Review 2015-16
We are a charity with over 28 years’ experience, supporting people with autism, learning disabilities and mental health needs across the South East. We also have another charity within the mcch group - the Burgess Autistic Trust, which provides services in Lewisham and Bromley. Follow us on social media: /mcchcharity @mcchcharity
Foreword I am delighted and excited to write this introduction. I have watched mcch grow from the beginning and I would like to thank my predecessor, Ann Cooke, who has been such an excellent ambassador as Chair for the last 15 years. We are very proud, as a charity, to be supporting people to live happy lives as independently as they can. In this annual review, you will read about people getting back into work, staying active, getting the right support and moving into their new homes. It’s important to live somewhere you feel happy and safe, which is why we’ve made significant investments into new housing schemes, such as Mill House and St Andrews. Both properties provide self-contained modern flats and support people to be more independent. We continued to expand our breadth of services by welcoming the Burgess Autistic Trust into our group of charities, whilst fully merging with charity DGSM yourChoice. The sector faces many challenges ahead, but our commitment and values will stay the same. I would like to thank the people we support for sharing their stories with us about what makes them happy or feel independent.
Oliver Mills, Chair
1
Make your own choices
I decided it was time to move out. I love my family, but I needed my own space. I am 25 years old and you can’t live with your parents forever! The place I live in now is great. I have a lovely room and really like all the people I live with. I live with a few of my College friends, which really helped me to settle in. We’re all young and we like to go out a lot. My Dad was really emotional when I first moved out, now I think he’s enjoying life on his own. And that makes me really happy.
“I felt nervous moving into my new home, but I needed to be more independent. It has boosted my confidence.”
Sarah
This is the grand opening of our new home in Bexley.
Sarah’s top tip
“My advice would be, don’t be scared. Staff are around to help you. They helped me with my cooking and now I make meals for the other tenants!”
Living more independently Mill House, Maidstone We redeveloped an old school into a modern supported living scheme for people with learning disabilities. Each tenant has a self-contained flat and an opportunity to live independently.
2
Get back into work
When I started experiencing problems with my mental health a few years ago, I was recommended to go to the Basingstoke Wellbeing Centre. I joined a few support groups whilst at the centre, as well as the craft workshop, and whilst that helped my mental wellbeing, I felt that I needed to get back into work. I had the support of Dawn, the Employment Advisor, and she helped me to get the job I have now. We did mock interviews and she gave me the confidence to go for it. I’m now working full-time and also studying accountancy in my spare time. I am in a really good place now and I am positive about the future.
“When you’re feeling low, it’s hard to contemplate ever getting back into work, but it’s achievable - just look at me”
Claire
Work experience opportunity Our Tuck by Truck enterprises in Herne Bay, Erith and Aylesford support people with learning disabilities and autism to gain work experience. They make up snack trays and deliver to hundreds of businesses in their local areas. At a recent open day in Herne Bay, The Lord Mayor of Canterbury, Councillor George Metcalfe, visited and helped to pack a snack tray.
Claire’s top tip
“Get support and don’t lose hope. Support can come from charities like mcch or from friends and family. Having a supportive network around me was key for me.”
3
Express yourself
We run many drama groups, as a way of supporting someone’s wellbeing or helping people to express themselves in different ways. The Express Yourself drama group is just one of the many groups at the Wellbeing Centre Hart and Rushmoor. Their last performance called ‘The Carnival of Life’ gave the audience a better understanding of what it is like to have good and bad days when experiencing mental ill health.
The Dramarama group in Dartford wowed the audience with their performance of Grease the Musical. The actors knew the film really well and were eager to do the show: “I loved every minute. It was brilliant performing in front of all our friends and family” said Chris, who played ‘Danny Zuko’.
“I like all the dancing and acting. And I love performing in front of people.”
Craig
(Tin Man from The Wizard of Oz show)
The Music, Dance and Drama group is for young people in the Dartford and surrounding areas. They have received grants from Children in Need and more recently from the ACT Foundation (in July 2016). They have performed a variety of different shows to their families, and their latest performance of The Wizard of Oz was a huge success. Georgina said “I really enjoyed myself coming to the workshops. The Wicked Witch of the West was a really challenging part, but I had fun.”
At their Summer fashion show, people who attend the Ken Boyce Centre walked down the catwalk to much applause.
“They had fun with the make-up and hair styling and loved the catwalk. They showed great confidence and their families really enjoyed the show. I am so proud of our models and staff for organising the show, picking the outfits and selling them afterwards. They raised around £200 for our minibus appeal.” Kelly Stedman, Team Leader
4
Spend time settling in
Serley was very quiet when she first moved into her home in Hastings 8 months ago. The staff needed to get to know her and make her feel at ease. So they spent a lot of time chatting and finding out her likes and dislikes. Now Serley has really come out of her shell. She loves shopping, particularly for bags and purses, and enjoys getting about independently. Serley uses her powered wheelchair with ease, which makes going shopping or to College a fun experience. The staff simply walk by her side, giving her greater independence. Serley lives in a self-contained flat, so she benefits from her own space. It’s on the ground floor and she can easily access the courtyard and chat with the other tenants.
“I really like my new home.� Serley
New developments which make an impact A new community living service in Maidstone for people moving on from forensic wards, rehabilitation, the Prison service and the Trevor Gibbens Unit. This new development provides modern accommodation within self-contained flats for 9 people. Tenants will move on to alternative accommodation within 2 years, but only when they are ready.
5
Keep active
The new tenants at our mental health supported living service in Gravesend have been busy working out this year. Their garage was transformed into a gym, thanks to a donation from Hyde Housing and from money raised from fundraising events. “At a tenants’ house meeting we talked about getting fit,” says Ginette, Personal Assistant. “One tenant had been a member of a gym before he became unwell and offered to share exercise routines with the others, which is a big step for him to take. The gym is not just a good way for our tenants to get fit, it’s more than that. The new tenants are getting to know each other, because of their shared interest. And it’s making them feel more confident.”
“The gym is not just a good way for our tenants to get fit, it’s more that that.” Ginette
Tenants’ top tip
“Sometimes you need motivation to keep active, and it’s easy to put off going to the gym. Encourage each other to keep going, and you’ll benefit in the long run, both physically and mentally.”
Terry Lynch cricket match Every year we hold a cricket match at Bexley Cricket Club. There were 3 teams playing this year and include a mixture of people we support and staff. This year the winners were the Lynch Mob made up of people living in Greenwich, Bexley and Gravesend.
6
Get the right support
I was living on the streets for some time before being offered temporary accommodation. Although I had a roof over my head, it was a really difficult time for me. That’s when I needed more help. My GP referred me to mcch’s Bexley community mental health service. My support worker got to know me and my situation, and realised that where I was living just wasn’t right for me. Then when a self-contained flat became available, I moved in and now I am really happy. I get support a few hours a week, which has really helped. I now do some volunteering and my future looks good. I hope to learn to drive and get back into work soon.
Wayne’s top tip
“Be patient and stay calm and everything will be alright.”
Recognising good work The Safe Haven in Hampshire: Shortlisted as a finalist for the Kate Granger Awards for Compassionate Care. Won HSJ Value in Healthcare Awards for improvement in mental health.
Tuck by Truck Caroline (for Marine Parade): Runner-up in the Registered Manager category at the Kent Integrated Care Awards.
Wins Kent Learning Disability Partnership Awards for employer of people with learning disabilities.
We managed the new development of The Pines in Tunbridge Wells: Shortlisted as a finalist for 2 awards: LaingBuisson awards and National Learning Disabilities and Autism awards.
7
Give thanks
We would like to thank all the individuals and organisations who have given their time or money to support us this year. Our fundraisers continued to be active this year, raising money by cycling or walking at organised events. They raised almost £3,500 in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 and nearly £1,000 for our children’s respite service taking on the Thames Bridges Trek.
Our volunteer, Sister Maura, celebrated her 80th birthday!
We have charity shops in Northfleet and Dartford, selling clothes, children’s toys, books and many other items. We’re so grateful for all the donations we receive and for the hard work of our dedicated volunteers. Last year the shops sold £69,345 in items and we hope next year will be even better!
The Jigsaw project continues to raise awareness of hate crime amongst vulnerable people, as well as the Police and other statutory services. We would like to thank the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner for a ÂŁ40,000 donation for our specialist victim services.
We ran three 6-week cookery sessions at Chequers Kitchen for the people attending our Dover and Deal Pathways to Wellbeing mental health services. The project, which was funded by Awards for All, supported people to learn to cook and how food impacts on their mental wellbeing.
Thank you for your donations: Kent Police & Crime Commissioner Big Lottery Fund (Awards for All) Beatrice Laing Charitable Trust The Wilmington Trust Hyde Housing Gallagher Group Cowans Architects Ltd
DCB (Kent) Ltd AJH Flooring Solutions Swale Heating Call Credit Ltd ENS Recruitment Aston Scott ...and our individual fundraisers, volunteers and everyone who has donated items to our charity shops.
£
Financial Review
Registered Care
Expenditure: Income: 206,000 £15,185,000 £15,
Total Income
£34,019,000 Supported Living Expenditure: Income: £10,178,000 £10,054,000
Respite Services Income: £676,000
Expenditure: £654,000
Community Support Income: £357,000
Expenditure: £362,000
£
Total Expenditure
£32,900,000 Housing
Income: £2,990,000
Expenditure: £2,444,000
Employment Services Income: £607,000
Expenditure: £561,000
Interest Income: £133,000
Social E
Income : £1,284,0 00
nterpri
ses
Expend itur £1,252,0 e: 00
Engagement Services Income: £2,609,000
Expenditure: £2,367,000
£
Total investment in housing
£3,591,000
Our board of trustees: Oliver Mills (Chair) Philip Sayer (Vice-Chair) Colin Mills Ann Cooke John MacCabe Nadra Ahmed, OBE Phil Miller /mcchcharity
Angela Slaven Robert Maslinski Kultar Nayyar Kate Wood Peter Hasler Anne Chapman Dr Maria Callias @mcchcharity
mcch, One Hermitage Court, Hermitage Lane, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 9NT 01622 722400
contactus@mcch.org.uk
www.mcch.org.uk
Are you looking for support? Call us free on 0800 028 28 15
mcch is a registered charity. Number 1156486