“In my eyes I have the best cooking teacher in the World!”
I started cooking at Harpenden House 9 years ago. When I first started I barely had any experience in either cooking or cake making, I hardly cooked at home other than cheese, beans on toast. A few years later I noticed that my cooking skills had improved quite a lot and my cake making skills had improved a lot as well. After 9 years I had massively improved and I was cooking at home and also I had practically become an expert in cake decorating and cake making because, in my eyes, I have the best cooking teacher in the world and she made me as good as I am now.
‘I miss my dad, but Nottingham Mencap is my 2nd family…and it’s fun!’
Matthew and Laura have enjoyed using Nottingham Mencap day services for the past 10 years. Earlier this year Laura lost her dad through COVID-19, and the couple had to leave their family home. They chose to be supported through Nottingham Mencap’s befriending service to help with emotional and practical support. A year later they are living independent, fulfilled lives and continue to have special relationships with our support network.
‘They have an amazing bond with their workers which is amazing to see.’
‘Javeria and Ismael have been going out together with their Mencap workers and have a lot of fun accessing the community which they can’t otherwise do due to their LDs. They have been to Matlock, Planet Bounce, Pirate Play, many restaurants, on the tram, to Halloween Parties and Trick or Treating. They seem to have an amazing bond with their workers which is amazing to see.’
I like coming to Nottingham Mencap. I like digging and sowing seeds and collecting sticks. I can do all of these things without any help. I feel happy when I come here.
I like gardening. It makes me happy. I like cutting the grass. I’ve got lots of friends here.
I’ve also tried out Drama and I can be very funny when I’m pretending to be someone else. I like the fact I was able to change groups when I wanted to. I like being with Polly.
I enjoy coming here, meeting different people, and doing a variety of wonderful, fabulous things.
You get a lovely cup of tea. You get lovely cobs and spaghetti bolognaise. You need suntan cream when it’s hot. You need a coat when it’s not hot. Have fun, make friends. Plant lovely flowers and vegetables in the garden with an amazing tutor.
We worked with two groups of film makers spent several months making animated films to support the safety of people with learning disabilities. The films will be used as part of social media campaigns, workshops and to share with partners.
"I found it so gratifying to make an animation for people with learning disabilities, I know there are awful people who try to scam people. But I wasn’t aware of things like doorstep scammers or people who would deliberately try to take advantage of vulnerable people specifically so that was super educational, and I feel like we’ve made something important."— Film Maker
"It was a very educational experience for me to make an animation for an audience with disability. It induced me to change my way of thinking and adjust it towards the unusual spectator. It helped me understand a little more how to communicate with people with disabilities which is an experience for which I am grateful, since it is not something that people are taught."— Film Maker
"I've always been passionate about the safety of people with disabilities, no matter what the disability may be."
— Film Maker
" I've always been really passionate about educating the demographic about what to do and how to deal with scammers online, on the phone or in real life situations."— Film Maker
