ANNUAL REPORT 2013-2014

Equal People mencap is an independent charity, affiliated to National mencap. In the past we have worked primarily with people with learning disabilities, their families and carers in Kensington & Chelsea. Now our staff support any vulnerable adult and work across West London.

In brief: • We support over 100 people with independent living,

day opportunities, homecare, personal care, housing management, information and advice

• We provide 1:1 support through personal budget funded support and information, advice and support to vulnerable individuals not in receipt of funding through our drop-in and Resource Centre

• We are on the West London Housing Related Support Framework for Floating Support

• We are CQC registered for homecare• We manage properties owned by 3 Housing

Associations• Our Resource Centre and Drop In Service is open

35 hours per week with staff supporting a wide range of supported activities including some in partnership with employment and education agencies and a social enterprise

• We run a community based Café and a market stall. Both have staff with disabilities

• All staff are paid at least the London Living wage• Equal People runs a carers activity and information

service

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The detail:Our Resource Centre & Drop-In offers a variety of supported services: leisure, health, community education and social groups, events and activities chosen by our members run through the week at our Resource Centre and out in the community, often in partnership with other local organisations. Check our website or ask for an Activities timetable for details.

Our Resource Centre is open as a Drop-In Service Monday to Friday 10am to 4.30pm. Members have a safe, familiar space where they can seek advice, guidance and support, meet with friends and professionals involved in their support and relax. There is a £1 per day charge to members which together with funding from RBKC Adult Social Care helps maintain the support preventing isolation and enables individuals to identify and sort issues relating to health, finances, housing, employment etc before they develop into serious problems.

Activities:Chosen throughout the year by members and supported by staff and volunteers activities have included IT, computers, money management and employment pathway training, cook and taste groups, current affairs, Zumba, music, music therapy and out and about trips to theatres, safari parks and campaign events. The Fun Group planned, organised and ran the Royal Borough’s first ever Disability arts Festival bringing together five arts organisations including the London Mozart Players with 5

other Disability groups, the National Autistic Society, The Depression Alliance, The Stroke Association, RBKC LD Day Centre and MIND to present a theatrical performance based on Shakespeare’s ‘7 Ages of Man’ speech from As You Like it’ at the Chelsea Theatre. A very successful night showcasing individual’s abilities and providing lots of fun, experience and confidence building for all who took part.

The Thursday Club is a lively social group running from 7pm-9pm 48 weeks a year. Dance, karaoke, art or just tea and a chat with friends. We are looking for funding to continue hiring the 2 minibuses (one travelling to/from each part of the borough) as many people would not be able to come without the supported transport. Can you help?

Supported Living Service: Equal People mencap’s Supported Living service now provides 1:1 support t to individuals, mostly purchased through personal budgets. This currently varies from 1 hour to 82 hours a week through Floating Support. Support is person-centred - dictated by the wishes of each person. People are supported to develop and maintain their independence, be heard, live the lives they choose, learn how to stay healthy and safe, go to work and college and build friendships and relationships. Support may be related to independent living or be community based supporting individuals to access and learn routes to college employment etc. Homecare & Personal Care: We are registered with

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Equal People mencap work in partnership with a wide variety of agencies:• The North West London Mencap Consortium (6 local

mencap’s working together) – Hate Crime campaign, housing options workshops and “Expect The Best” peer quality review service providing feedback on social care and supported housing services to providers, statutory commissioners, the CQC and Healthwatch

• Yarrow Housing, supporting UP2US, a user led social network now expanded into Westminster

• NOVA & Pure Innovations: Pathways into employment and money management training groups

• The North West London Mencap Consortium – Hate Crime campaign, housing options workshops

• Challenge UK – youth volunteering opportunities and LD awareness

• Third Sector Potential – Liaising over the Fun Group, Disability arts Festival, Music concert on Portobello Green, the Café & market stall

• Health & Social Care professionals, advocates, employers – building and maintaining a network of support so that individuals have the best support

Equal People mencap’s Aims:• We challenge ourselves to continually improve the

standard of our support, housing and care and ensure the people we support are heard, living the lives they choose and in control

• Everyone is treated with respect, their dignity is maintained and their rights observed and championed

the Care Quality Commission and are providing homecare and personal care to any vulnerable individual in West London. This can mean support with shopping, cooking, cleaning, monitoring medication administration and personal care.

Please contact Araceli Rodriguez our Supported Living Manager: arodriguez@equalpeoplekc.org.uk if you are interested in buying our support (hourly rates apply).

The Oasis Dalgarno Café & Portobello Green Market Stall: We run a café on Thursday’s based at the Dalgarno Trust, 1 Webb Close, W10. Open from 12pm-6pm, the café provides a healthy lunch and has a growing reputation for selling some really delicious cakes to patrons from the local community. The market stall on Portobello Green on Fridays is doing great business selling vegetables and, of course, the cakes. Eight people with learning disabilities currently work as Café Assistants and Stall holders.

The Carers Activity Service: Equal People Mencap can provide advice and signposting to carers needing information and support in RBKC. In addition we organise and support a variety of trips out and events throughout the year. The past year has included a visit to Kew, an Olympia Food show, a barbecue, winter party, a housing information event and theatre trips including Singin’ In the Rain, Wicked, The Thirty-Nine Steps, Spamalot, Top Hat, We Will Rock You and Matilda.

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Discrimination, abuse and hate-crime is challenged and reported

• We follow the aims and wishes of our members as expressed individually and at our open Council of Management meetings where all are invited to suggest ideas and plans for activities, events, campaigns and work for Equal People mencap to do. Staff are equally involved in planning and decisions through the open meetings, staff training and supervisions

• We seek funding to ensure our drop in and resource centre continues to provide meaningful opportunities to vulnerable individuals and prevents isolation or the need for more intensive or emergency services

• We support individuals to access, participate in and influence their local and wider community

• We work closely with the CQC, Adult Social Care and health professionals and housing associations to ensure best practice, high standards and excellent

continuity of care• In the year ahead we will link the Café, market stall

and cook & taste groups with our new allotment in a ‘Making Food Work’ project providing employment and training in all aspects of catering from growing, to preparing, cooking and selling food

• We consult with carers re desired activities and ensure carers are networked to all available support and information

• We continue to seek partnerships to better support our members to participate in and influence their local community

• We play a key role in the North West London mencap Consortium’s “Expect the Best’ peer quality checking service employing and supporting people with disabilities to review support services across west London. We will ensure our services are reviewed as part of this

• We run more open air concerts through our Fun Group• Ongoing and regularly updated training is prioritised for

our staff team and volunteers. We ensure people are fully involved in recruiting the staff working with them

• We recruit more volunteers to support activities in the centre and out in the community, to update the website and to fundraise

• We build upon our experience and support for young vulnerable adults and those with more complex needs

Playing Our Part was a collaborative theatre experience throughout July 2013, organised to showcase

EPM helps you stay less isolated – 100% positive

It means I’m not at home by myself all the time.

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the talents of disabled artists within Kensington and Chelsea.

The idea for the project came from a group of adults with a learning disability at Equal People mencap (The Fun Group), who had previously had limited engagement with professional arts groups.

The Fun Group decided to organise a showcase to: • Participate in arts activity with professional groups • Showcase and build on what we can do already • Assert that disabled people deserve to be involved in

the production of professional arts • Encourage professional arts groups to work with us in

the future • Ensure integration

The project consisted of 24 workshops with disability groups, exploring Shakespeare’s the Seven Ages of Man that built to a workshop/dress rehearsal and final performance, alongside a flashmob in July 2013 at and outside The Chelsea Theatre.

Groups involved included:• Equal People mencap• The Stroke Association• K&C Mind• The National Autistic Society• The Depression Alliance• RBKC Learning Disability Centre

Assisted by artists including:• London Mozart Players• Pro Art• Spare Tyre• Act Too• Juel Stokes• Tara Newton Wordsworth• Robin George• Ava B• Nazarene

It was a fun day enjoyed by many, with a very big audience coming to see the final performance.

Absolutely fabulous, engaging, emotional, thought provoking, absorbing. The list is truly endless...

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I am David Cohen. I have been a volunteer with St John’s Ambulance for many years. I am on duty at events and football matches in West London. I trained hard and I work hard. I really enjoy helping people and tending to them with my colleagues when they are unwell or hurt. I have been awarded the Service Medal of the Order - I am really proud.Volunteering with St John’s Ambulance is really good. I have learnt lots, met lots of people, had fun andhelped lots of people.

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Shazia Khan’s Annual Report

As many of you know, Robert Nessling stood down as as Chair of Equal People last year and I took over his role in December 2013. I and the trustees would like to take this opportunity to thank Robert for his dedication and support of Equal People mencap over the years in his role as both trustee and Chair. I’ve been involved with Equal People mencap for nearly 6 years now and it never ceases to amaze me how much staff and users, believe and support the organisation. Yet again, we have had an exceptionally active year and it is great to see how much you, our users, engage with the activities that we run, such as the Cook and Taste sessions, IT Group, Music Group and Money Management groups. Seeing and hearing about how our users participated in the Learning Disability week, it is good to know that you are raising awareness about learning disabilities in the community. I always like the fact that you are so active in letting us know what you like and don’t like at the Open CoM’s. It is a great opportunity for the trustees and me to hear about what you want to do, as well as what we could do differently. Through our collaboration with the Dalgano Community Centre, our users have been employed at the cafe which again supports our mission to help our users be

independent. It is wonderful to know that we have helped people with learning disabilities get jobs. Equal People mencap have continued to grow and we have again increased the number of hours of support that we provide to existing and new users. It’s good to know that people recognise that we offer a high quality and valuable service. We would not be able to do this without the dedication and loyalty of our staff, who yet again have demonstrated their enthusiasm and commitment to helping our users lead independent lives. Thank you so much. I would also like to thank our funders RBKC Social Care, Culture & Innovations, The Arts Council, Baily Thomas, and Tesco. The funding that we get is crucial to us and helps us run the activities and centre and we are very grateful for all the support we recieve. Very sadly, this is the first and last time that I will write a Chair’s report as I have a new job and will be moving to Ireland in November 2014. I have learnt a great deal as a Trustee of Equal People and will miss you all. However, I feel strongly that Equal People mencap will continue to do well and support you all. I wish you all every success for the future.

Shazia Khan

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Chief Executive’s Report

An exciting and packed year! Equal People mencap members planned and organised The Royal Borough’s first ever Disability Arts Festival. An evening of theatre drawing together 6 different disability groups and artists, including the London Mozart Players, to perform before a very appreciative audience. Well done and thank you to everyone involved.

In addition we ran a music concert on Portobello Green to celebrate Learning Disability week and highlight the continuing blight of hate crime against vulnerable individuals. Our new Café served many healthy meals and lots of delicious cakes at the Dalgarno Centre and our new market stall sold lots of vegetables and more delicious cakes to Portobello Green shoppers.Twenty-five percent of Equal People mencap’s workforce have a disability and all are paid at least the London Living wage rate.

Our primary support continues to be alongside people with learning disabilities, their families and carers, however now our staff can and do work alongside any vulnerable

individual across West London. More individuals, often with more complex needs, are asking us for support, some have just left school and are now going to college or taking their first steps into employment and/or flats of their own. Others move towards increasing independence with regular, reliable support that happens when, how, where and from who they wish that ensures they stay in control and any issues are identified and addressed early preventing the need for intensive or intrusive support. Carers have enjoyed trips to the theatre, gardens, a cookery show and information days such as the Housing Options workshop organised by Golden Lane Housing.

The Resource Centre Drop in continues to provide a vital function in the community supporting individuals who have lost funding but remain vulnerable with staff helping with benefit, housing, health, employment, education and neighbour issues.

Equal People Mencap are part of the North West London Mencap Consortium, funded by the DOH to oversee a Peer Quality Assessment service called ‘Expect The Best.’ Our members are involved as staff going into services and providing reports that will go to the CQC, Healthwatch, social services and the providers themselves.

None of our work would be possible without the inspiring and tireless energy of our staff team and volunteers. Led by example by Araceli Rodriguez, our Supported Living team has listened, supported and gone the extra mile. The

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Activities Team too, led by Yvonne have run a varied and popular programme – the Cook & Taste group, proved so popular it now runs twice a week. Thank you to them and especially to the volunteers involved for their time and infectious enthusiasm.

Our Trustees, both new and long-serving have supported, suggested, reviewed, giving their time and sharing their knowledge and experience. All have made a huge difference and contributed to another successful year. Thank you too to our funders, including Kensington and Chelsea Adult Social Care and Culture, Baily Thomas, the Arts Council and Tesco. In these difficult times your continuing support is very much needed and appreciated.

The needs of vulnerable individuals in our society are increasing. Individuals are coming to us with an ever wider range of issues. The need for properly funded individualised support to ensure everyone has equal opportunity, is safe and able not just to access and participate in the community but positively influence and contribute has never been greater. We aim to provide a flexible, user-led service. Member and CQC feedback is very positive but, as always we will continue to challenge ourselves to improve standards.

Two of my favourite days of the year are the Open Council of Management days with everyone coming together to share thoughts, ideas and wishes. The ideas for the café and market stall started there. Next up our allotment:

watch this space… Finally a heart-felt thank you to our Robert Nessling, our previous Chair, who after many years dedicated service as a Trustee stepped down to enjoy a well-earned retirement. Robert’s knowledge and kind-hearted, thoughtful and considerate approach was a fine example and his leadership helped keep Equal People mencap focussed on staying true to our principles of speaking up for the rights of our members and providing the highest possible standard of support in increasingly difficult times.

Nic WalshChief Executive

Our primary support continues

to be alongside people with learning

disabilities, their families and carers.

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Treasurer’s Report

2013/14 has been a year where Equal People mencap have been feeling the changes in its business as a result of the changing landscape of funding in social care spending. Despite the challenges, the staff have shown incredible resilience and continue to deliver a high quality service which was praised in the recent CQC inspection. We thank the staff for their continued dedication and striving to achieve the best outcomes for our service users and the organisation.

Since last year, we have continued to generate a surplus and add to our reserves which now stand at £353,575 as at 31 March 2014. These reserves ensure we have enough money to fund Equal People mencap if the need arises, and especially important in the forthcoming year which presents challenges but for which the organisation is planning.

In last year’s report, it was mentioned there was some uncertainty around retaining the contracts for some of the properties where we manage accommodation, and in 2013/ 14 unfortunately one of the contracts came to an end. However, the organisation had begun to plan ahead and is growing in the support and services that we provide to users with individual budgets, and is growing its base with younger service users in particular.

We have listened to our users, and as a result have

supported more community based activities, events and trips allowing users to further socialise and to access, participate in and influence their community. We want to continue these improvements to the Centre and the activities, and to invest in our staff. All this requires sound financial planning and ensuring we have the money to be able to do this.

Through the endeavours of our staff, donating organisations, fundraisers and individual sponsors, Equal People mencap ensured we are in a good position to start the new financial year. In particular, I would like to thank RBKC, Baily Thomas, Lloyds Bank, Tesco, individual sponsors, and the staff who ran 10km to fundraise. We’ll certainly be kept on our toes over the next year as we channel our energies to building on the successes of last year and ensuring our users continue to receive the service they deserve.

Sonia Khan

Staff have shown incredible resilience & continue to deliver a high quality service.

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EPM staff treat you with dignity and respect – 95% positive

Staff help and are approachable.“ “

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Staff & Volunteers as of 31st March 2014

Staff Fatima Abubakar, Esther Adeniji, Allan Bell, Michelle Burrows, John Cronin, Mustapha Conteh, Nandini Devi, Teresa Ezenwa, Lech Galuzynski, Zoya Giammetta, Bosena Glinska, James Guy, John Harrington, Lisa Hilditch, Yvonne Isaac, Gbola Lamuye, Sophia Ledgister, Richard Leon, Anna Leoskiewicz, Steven Mrozek, Damaris Mukui, Kelly-Anne Munn, Yvonnne Ndifor, Caroline Nicholls, Cathy Nsubuga, Wakil Oladiran, Ade Oshinowo, Deborah Owen-Hughes, Michelle Platon-Lozano, Hermine Powell, Simon Powell, Pam Ryan, Araceli Rodriguez, Anna Sanchez, Tim Stevens, Nic Walsh, Lucia Wells, Valerie Williams, Jethro Woudhuysen

VolunteersPeter Albert, Nandini Devi, Kate Drake, Conor Kelly, Sophia Ledgister, Gillian Martin, Caesar Narokina, Paul Popa, Clarina Paramo, Susan Scrimgeour, Sara Segal, Gillian Smith, Elizabeth Smith

Council of ManagementChair – Ms Shazia KhanVice Chair/Secretary – Mrs Jenifer RhodeTreasurer – Ms Sonia KhanMembers: Ms Louise Atkinson, Ms Reshma Biring, Mr Robert Ebanks, Ms Amanda Grender, Mr John Harrington, Mrs Mary Paleologo, Ms Jeltje Pollock Heevel, Mr Nooran Solhekol

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Everyone at Equal People mencap would like to thank all those who have supported us through donations and gifts in kind over the past year. Your support makes a huge difference to every individual we support. Thank you.

• The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Adult Social Care

• The Tri Borough Adult Social Care• The Arts Council UK• The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea

Innovations Fund• The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea - Culture• Baily Thomas• Tesco• The Dalgarno Community Trust• The Kensington & Chelsea Foundation• The Westway Trust• Dr Carritt• Mrs M Paleologo• Mrs J. Rohde

We would also like to say thank you to the following individuals and organisations for their help and support over the past year:

Amanda Henman, Teresa McGinn and all at Hammersmith & Fulham mencap, Ava B, Barnet Mencap, Brent mencap, Bukky Awutula (RBKC), all at The Chelsea Theatre, Claire Halbert/ Katie Baggs (UP2US), Csilla Hano (RBKC), Cynthia Dize and all at Age Concern, all at The Catholic

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Children’s Society, David Sharpe (RBKC)), Ealing mencap, Ewa Phelan and all at Notting Hill Housing, Harrow mencap, all at the Kensington and Chelsea Foundation, Jamie Renton & all at ADKC, Jane Klauber, Mary Cheves, Sukanya Ransford at Russell-Cooke Solicitors, Jodie Spiers (Third Sector Potential), Juel Stokes, Karen Ludford and all at the Advocacy Project, Lev Pedro all at Kensington & Chelsea Social Council, Lindy Shufflebotham, Jessica Howey, Tim Hughes and all at Yarrow Housing, Lizzie Cho and all at NOVA, Marta Garcia-Farinos (RBKC), Myrus Smith Auditors, Nazarene, Paul Featherstone and all at Pure Innovations, Paul Rackham (RBKC), Pedro Williams (RBKC), Pete McDonnell (RBKC), Robin George, Sajda Munshi and all at Octavia Housing & Care, Sean Brew (Barclays Bank, Sheila Rodgers (RBKC), Simon Powell, Steve Porter (Third Sector Potential), Steve O’Sullivan (RBKC), Tara Newton-Wordsworth, Vicki Davies and Mackenzie Chapman at the Dalgarno Community Trust, Wendy Noel

Your support makes a huge difference to every individual we support. Thank you.

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Equal People mencapA: 73 St. Charles Square, London, W10 6EJT: 0208 964 0544 / 2883E: enquiries@equalpeoplemencap.org.ukW: equalpeoplemencap.org.ukRegistered Charity no. 298609

Design & layout by Reshma Biring