Our Impact
Our Mission
Reading Mencap aims to support people with a learning disability and their family carers to have fulfilling, healthy and safe lives, achieve their aspirations and participate in their local community and wider society.
We run a range of holistic services, with most clients using more than one service. In this way, we really get to know many of the families we support, seeing them several times a week and building trusted relationships. This leads to many people describing Reading Mencap as a ‘second home’.
Family Support: Outreach information, advice and casework, specialising in social care.
4ME Activities: Day service for adults with a learning disability running weekdays at our centre.
Clubs: Social and leisure groups for adults with a learning disability, such as discos and drama.
Carers Partnership: Information, Carer’s Assessments and social events for family carers.
What we’ve accomplished this year
During 2023, we supported more than 280 people across our four services. 96 people who had used our services during the last year responded to our annual client surveys covering all our services, between January and February 2024. Of those who responded, 48 were adults with a learning disability (LD) and 48 were carers. There are two surveys – one for carers and one for adults with learning disabilities. Percentages on this page refer to the results of these surveys.
Family Support
Our outreach Family Support Service provides free information, advice, casework and practical support for people with learning disabilities and their families. Our Family Advisers:
- Are experienced and qualified professionals in learning disabilities and autism
- Have expert knowledge of the law and guidance governing services for people with disabilities
- Have experience across Reading Borough Council’s Children’s and Adult Services.
During 2023, the Family Support Service supported 151 individuals through 3474 contacts made and received (phone calls, emails, letters and meetings) across more than 16 different areas of support. Most support was in the form of in-depth casework over several months, rather than one-off information & advice.
Social care was the area with the most contacts, followed by wellbeing support and crisis prevention. The majority of people contacting the Family Support team needed support with social care. Family Advisers supported clients to present their needs through Social Care Assessments and Reviews; with care provision and planning; and in the Financial Assessment process. Using the Care Act, the Family Advisers worked with statutory services to highlight issues with delivery of care and failures to meet needs.
Client feedback for the service was overwhelmingly positive:
- 100% of family carers and 94% of adults with a learning disability rated the quality of support they received from their Family Adviser as ‘excellent’ or ‘good’
- 82% of carers and 59% of adults with learning disabilities saying the support was ‘excellent’.
Outcome 1: People with learning disabilities and their family carers are better informed of their options, rights and the services available to them
98% of carers and 87% of adults with LD said they now had a better understanding of their options and rights as a result of using the Family Support Service.
Outcome 2: People with learning disabilities and their family carers have improved access to statutory services
- 72 individuals were supported to access social care services
- 42 individuals were supported to access health services and to manage their health and
- wellbeing
- 37 families were supported to help their children and young people access education
- 32 individuals were supported to access housing services and housing benefit
- 32 individuals were supported to access benefits (Personal Independence Payments,
- Universal Credit and Employment Support Allowance).
‘We have felt really well supported. A listening ear. No judgement. Empathy, kindness and understanding have been shown. We are so grateful.’ (Family carer).
Outcome 3: Parents are better able to plan a fulfilling and secure future for their young person with a learning disability
Our Preparing for Adulthood Family Adviser supported 41 families with the transition to adulthood process, with the aim of enabling young people with a learning disability to achieve a good life as adults, such as living independently or having a job. She guided young people aged 16-25 and their families through the complexities of becoming an adult, to manage the changes in social benefits, housing, health, education, employment and financial management. A small snapshot of the work included:
- 88% of parents supported by this Adviser said they now felt better equipped to plan a fulfilling and secure future for their young person
- 100% of parents rated the quality of support they had received from our Preparing for Adulthood Family Adviser as ‘excellent’.
Outcome 4: People with learning disabilities and their family carers have improved health and personal wellbeing
22 people were supported with casework by our Health Family Adviser and 104 clients were supported with wellbeing & crisis prevention checks – Family Advisers checked in on and listened to clients, providing emotional support and signposting to non-statutory sources of support.
These checks helped to prevent isolation and mental and physical ill health. They also helped to prevent crises or issues from escalating so that they require more costly interventions from statutory services. This vital form of support makes all the difference to enabling clients to ‘cope’ in their daily lives and feel reassured that there is someone looking out for them.
- 94% of adults with a learning disability said they felt more positive now
- 71% felt less anxious or worried
- 90% of adults with a learning disability and 77% of family carers said they feel more able to look after their own health and wellbeing as a result of Reading Mencap’s services.
Outcome 5: Adults with learning disabilities show increased confidence and independence
- 91% of adults with a learning disability said Reading Mencap’s services have made them feel more confident,
- 73% say they are now ‘a lot more’ confident.
- 85% of adults with a learning disability said Reading Mencap has enabled them to make decisions about their lives and
- 62% of family carers said the person they care for has become more independent as a result of Reading Mencap’s input.
Outcome 6: Reduction in loneliness and isolation among people with learning disabilities
- 91% of adults with learning disabilities said they feel less alone or isolated as a result of Reading Mencap’s services (or they would feel isolated if they were unable to attend or get help).
- 74% feel more connected to people in the community
- 92% feel that Reading Mencap has helped them to make new friends or stay in touch with their friends.
‘I love coming to Reading Mencap. I make nice friends and the staff are really helpful.’
Outcome 7: Family carers are better able to cope with their caring responsibilities
- 93% of family carers said the support from Reading Mencap (including services we have referred/signposted to), namely casework, advice and respite provided by 4ME and Clubs, has helped them to feel better able to cope with their caring responsibilities
- 80% of carers said they feel less anxious or worried now
- 80% feel more positive; 93% feel less alone or isolated.
Outcome 8: People with LD and their family carers have better overall quality of life
Our holistic services contribute to improving overall quality of life for people with learning disabilities and their families:
- 94% of adults with LD said Reading Mencap has helped to make their life better
- 67% said their life is ‘a lot better’
- 82% of family carers said Reading Mencap’s support has enabled them to have a better and more fulfilling life.
Looking forward
With the current financial climate, we know that the individuals with learning disabilities whom we support, and their families, will continue to face many challenges in accessing the social care, housing and health services that will meet their needs.
Our client survey has understood the need for continued support in these areas, as family carers highlighted their concerns about needing long-term care for themselves or their loved ones, and they will need guidance and support through that process. Carers also requested help finding suitable daytime activities and opportunities for the person they care for, alongside the lack of good-quality and readily available overnight respite options.
Some carers acknowledge the unpredictable nature of future challenges, and it is evident that they feel much uncertainty ahead. They expressed a general desire to know Reading Mencap would be there to help them when needed.
