We have supported people with a learning disability to record East Kent Mencap’s new automated phone system and messages. Now, when anyone calls the charity, they will hear their voices.
This is a small part of East Kent Mencap’s wider aim to ensure people with a learning disability are involved in the running of the charity. East Kent Mencap believes in enabling them to achieve all they wish to, and involving them in how the charity operates is a key part of this empowerment.
This includes being able to choose the activities they wish to take part in, as well as suggest changes and improvements. There are representatives who sit on the board of trustees, and there is a members’ committee which feeds back to the charity’s CEO.
Jason Gerlack, East Kent Mencap’s CEO says, ‘Making sure people feel comfortable and involved with how we run our services is important to the success of those services. Everything we do is focussed on them and ensuring their voice is heard is key.’
East Kent Mencap is a registered charity supporting over 500 adults and children with a learning disability to live as independently as possible and achieve their potential. The charity runs Day Resource sessions, social groups and clubs, manages supported and independent living housing, and provides specialist support services in the community and at individuals’ homes, ensuring that all support provided is person-centric so that every individual gets the specific support they need.
If you have any suggestions for improvements to East Kent Mencap’s new phone system, or if you encounter any glitches, please do get in touch with the charity.
To get in touch with East Kent Mencap, do call 01843 22 44 82 and follow the instructions of the automated phone system. The voices you will hear are those of the charity’s members.
