With a team of around 150 staff and volunteers, Carlisle Mencap provides support and services for more than 500 people with learning disabilities, and their families, who live throughout the county.

Set up back in June 1968, the organisation offers facilities which cannot be found anywhere else in the region.

Phil Taylor, the events and fundraising manager, said: “Our children’s respite centre, Grace Little Centre, is the only one of its kind in north of Cumbria and south west Scotland. We also run the only adult centre, California House, as well as children’s centres at Hart Street Ulverston and Huntley Avenue, Penrith.

“Our support workers also provide fully trained medical support as well as other assistance to many people, especially adults, who would otherwise be trapped in their homes - or worse, end up in hospital with serious medical problems.”

And, as well as offering help in these group settings, Carlisle Mencap works on a bespoke basis with individuals and some of their projects are life changing.

Phil said: “We set up a new package for two best friends with learning disabilities, Sam and Caroline, who wanted to share a home. Both young ladies were ready to move out of their family homes but needed to maintain the correct levels of support in order to do so.

“Carlisle Mencap’s team provides 24-hour care for the ladies where one member of staff will sleep over and two members of staff provide support during the days and evenings for leisure activities and household tasks.

“They attend day services in and around Carlisle and do different activities, such as college and volunteering from Monday to Friday. During the evenings they do activities such as shopping, household cleaning and jobs, attend night classes for cooking, yoga and aqua fit, they also go to the gym or swimming and go to social events like discos and parties.”

Under normal circumstances, Carlisle Mencap would be organising bag packs and fun days, sports challenges and tournaments, and a guided walk across the sands of Morecambe Bay. They’re labour-intensive fundraising events, which is why the charity’s army of volunteers is so important.

“We are always on the lookout for volunteers to help at fundraising events,” Phil added, “and people can use their own social media too to publicise our events and also the vital work we do across the county.

“They can support us by becoming members, by donating money or gifts and items for our tombolas and raffles, holding coffee mornings and afternoon teas, or selling cakes, as well as by volunteering to help at our fundraising events, by becoming drivers and also by helping out with our Saturday Club and Carlisle Active club on Sundays.

“We are affiliated to national Mencap but we do not get any funding from them, being independently run and funded since being formed in 1968, so we rely heavily on the support of the local community and business sector.”

n Carlisle Mencap, Unit J3, Duchess Avenue, Kingmoor Park North, Carlisle CA6 4SN

www.carlislemencap.co.uk

01228 674393