www.mcch.org.uk
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Spring 2015
learning disability | autism | mental health
Abseil 80m for mcch. Page 7
learning disability | autism | mental health
Sam Woollard Editor
Welcome Page 3
DGSM yourChoice join the mcch group.
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Try a new sport.
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Some facts about mcch.
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Walking challenge.
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Abseil down the ArcelorMittal Orbit.
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Fundraisers’ achievments.
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Tuck by Truck improving lives.
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Medal winner.
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Launch of our new autism strategy.
The Pines development is now live! We have started the construction of a new 16 person service in Tunbridge Wells for people with learning disabilities. We will own the property and be the landlord. You can watch the progress of the development on our live camera feed: www.mcch.org.uk/our-services/housing-services
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DGSM yourChoice We would like to welcome the kent-based charity DGSM yourChoice into the mcch group. DGSM yourChoice will retain its identity as a registered charity and will become a subsidiary within the mcch group. We are really excited about working with DGSM yourChoice. Both charities have been working in the same areas for many years, providing complementary services for people with learning disabilities. We have a shared vision of providing the best possible support for people and this partnership will only strengthen that.
DGSM yourChoice - some facts:
Peter Thompson Chief Executive of mcch
DGSM yourChoice provides services and projects in Kent for adults with learning disabilities. These range from 24-hour residential services and supported housing to day centres and employment opportunities.
We are pleased to be merging with an organisation that has similar values to our own and a strong commitment to the people who use services. mcch is well-known to us and some of the people they support also access our services. So for us, this merger is a really good fit.
Kevin Williams
Chief Executive of DGSM yourChoice
• They have 77 full time staff. • They run charity shops in Dartford and Northfleet. • They run a successful drama group. • They organise an annual fundraising golf day every year.
Find out more about DGSM yourChoice on their website: www.dgsmyourchoice.org.uk Spring 2015
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Try a new sport Taking part in sport is a great way to stay fit and healthy, but that’s not all. At mcch we encourage people to take part in and try lots of different sports out in the community. These include: golf, swimming, boxercise, boccia, football, cricket, dancercise, cycling, bowling and rambling. Sport is a great way to build people’s confidence, meet new people, improve health and wellbeing and learn to be part of a team. The Ken Boyce Centre in Footscray is always looking for new sports that everyone can try that they may not have tried before. Lots of these sports can be tried by everyone, despite their disability.
I enjoy going to golf with everyone at Birchwood Golf Club, I am hitting the ball further every time I go. Javendeep
Before coming to Ken Boyce Centre I didn’t do any sports, I enjoy bowling, I like being out with everyone. If it wasn’t for Ken Boyce Centre I would not get the chance to go out and about on the activities. Craig
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About mcch In the 1980s, the Department of Health’s Care in the Community programme helped people with learning disabilities to move out of long-stay hospitals and into homes in the community. No single agency had the skills or resources to take on this task independently. In 1987 agencies in Maidstone joined together as a consortium to form Maidstone Community Care Housing Society ltd. These agencies included Maidstone Health Authority, Kent Social Services, Sanctuary Housing Association and Hyde Housing Association.
We now support around 2000 people with autism, learning disabilities and mental health needs across the South East.
It wasn’t until the Community Care Act in the 1990s that mcch became an independent provider.
Maidstone agencies come together to form mcch. We move 50 patients from the long-stay hospital in Lenham into homes in the community.
1987
1999
2015 2003
2011 1500 people
1251 people supported 1162 people
supported
supported
1992 123 people supported
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Get involved
Thames Path Challenge Follow the Thames from its source in the Cotswolds through London on this 100km, 50km or 25km endurance walk. When: Saturday 12 September to Sunday 13 September Where: London How much do I have to pay to enter? 100km 50km 25km
£49 £39 £29
How much money do I need to raise? 100km 50km 25km
£475 £295 £179
How do I take part? Call Emma on 01622 722536 or email fundraising@mcch.org.uk
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F Henley on Thames
Eton Runnymede
Staines
Kew Gardens
Hampton Court
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Putney Bridge
Emma Cassley Fundraising Manager
Abseil 80m for mcch
Abseil from the tallest sculpture in the UK and raise money for mcch. When: Saturday 4 July Where: ArcelorMittal Orbit, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park How much money do I need to raise? ÂŁ100 How do I take part? Call Emma on 01622 722536 or email fundraising@mcch.org.uk
We have some FREE places for people we support
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Thank you for your help Charity of the year 2 student groups at Invicta Grammar School have chosen mcch as their charity of the year. So far they have raised £1,600.
Creative writers The local writers group in Deal awarded mcch £750 to fund exciting creative writing projects.
Christmas presents Select Plant Hire donated over 40 amazing Christmas presents to the children who go to our playschemes and respite centre in Bexley.
New playground for Falconwood Thanks to donations from the Sobell Foundation, Childwick Trust and an anonymous donor Falconwood has a brand new accessible garden and play equipment. The playground is now a much friendly, accessible and usable space for the children who go to the service.
Brave abseilers Thank you Emma, Alex and Charles who abseiled from the ArcelorMittal Orbit in March. They raised over £1,059 to help us support young people.
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Charity fun day PricewaterhouseCoopers held a charity day at their offices in London raising £529.
Improving lives My name is Lisa, my son Thomas has attended Tuck by Truck for the last 3 years and I just wanted to tell you how much it has helped him. When Thomas was 18, the local authority told us that he would be better off at school as he required 1 to 1 support. We made the choice to take him out of school and decided that Tuck by Truck would be best for him. Thomas goes to Tuck by Truck twice a week. When he first started he was very shy, would put his fingers in his ears if it got to noisy and would get very frustrated. He is very different now. He won Trainee of the Quarter for all of the work he does. Staff say that he is very helpful and his confidence is growing every day. The evening before he goes to Tuck by Truck he gets his lunch ready. When he gets home he puts his uniform in the wash and brings it down to me. This is something he would have never done before. He communicates more with thumbs up on the way home. We have even started going out on public transport on the days he does not go to Tuck by Truck. In the evenings he will spend time with us as a family downstairs instead of going straight to his bedroom when he gets home.
As Thomas’s mum I just want to say a massive thank you. Thomas is so very happy and is a different young man since he has been with Tuck by Truck. Lisa, parent
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Sonia
Medal winner
I have competed in over 7 Special Olympics and have won at least 400 sporting medals. I first competed at the Leicester Special Olympics in 2009 and I am still competing now. I do athletics, shot put, 100m running, women’s relay and am learning how to use the javelin. When I win medals I feel like I have achieved something, especially because I have physical problems (with my knee). It is very embarrassing to have to stand up in front of everyone! I wanted to give something back to others, so I started coaching people with learning disabilities. I trained to be a coach in Eastbourne but I coach in Hastings and Rother at the moment. I started coaching so that if one day I am unable to compete because of my health I can still take part in sports. I encourage people to work hard and do lots of drills!
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Autism strategy launch We have launched our new autism strategy. It tells people how we are going to support people with autism and what we are going to do to make things better. We launched the new strategy at an event that promoted our work in autism. The event inlcuded talks from people we support and people who are involved in mcch projects about their experiences of living with autism. There was information about positive behaviour support, language and technology, storytelling and involving people with autism. The crowd were kept entertained by DJ Chris’s disco and karaoke. Chris is also a delivery assistant at our Tuck by Truck enterprise.
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Are you looking for support? Call us free on 0800 028 28 15
mcch One Hermitage Court Hermitage Lane Maidstone Kent ME16 9NT
Other versions available: • Mental health and wellbeing news • Easy read • Video
t. 01622 722400 f. 01622 722450 www.mcch.org.uk
twitter.com/mcchcharity facebook.com/mcchcharity
Printed on 100% recycled paper
mcch is a registered charity number 1156486 and a company limited by guarantee (registered in England and Wales number 8971493).