l i fewww.mcch.org.uk Summer 2014

learning disability | autism | mental health

See how we worked with the National Citizen Service. Page 4

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WelcomeSam Woollard Editor

Do you need support?We have changed our website to make it easier to apply for support from mcch.

You can now apply for support using the new online form on our website www.mcch.org.uk or by calling our free phone number 0800 028 28 15

New London office The Howbury Centre (run by the London Borough of Bexley) has now closed. Our team covering Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich services has moved.

1. A clean home

2. An odour-free home

3. In good decorative order

4. Comfortable temperature

5. In reasonable repair with all equipment in working order

6. Quality furniture and soft furnishings

7. Tidy grounds and gardens

8. Rubbish removed

9. Accommodation vacancies must be clean and clear

10. Notices up to date

The new address is: mcch, Studio 2, Thames Innovation Centre, 2 Veridion Way, Erith, DA18 4AL

0208 320 1290

Your home, our promise To make sure all of our properties are the best they can be, we have some new standards.

3Summer 2014

Our living in fear group was invited to the International Association for the Scientific Study of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Europe Congress in Vienna. They did presentations about the research into hate crime.

They also went to the All Party Parliamentary Group on Autism and Learning Disability at the House of Commons.

Inspired housing

Sharing our findings

Our Holly Lodge service won the supported housing award at the 2014 National Learning Disability Awards. The judges were inspired by what we tried to achieve and the influence the scheme has in the future of building design for people with challenging behaviours.

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Working togetherThis summer our services in Greenwich have been working with the National Citizen Service (NCS) to run workshops for people we support.

NCS gives young people aged 16-17 the chance to build their confidence, self awareness and responsibility by working with people in their community.

The group performed a drama session at Arnold House that was based on the things they like. It included singing, dancing and short plays.

We worked together to plan a fun day for our services in Charlton Park. The day included lots of different activities run by the young people including target practice, giant ludo, throw and catch, football and cricket.

There was also a photography workshop. This gave the group the chance to talk to the people we support and show them how to take a photo. The people we support also had portrait photos taken to take home with them.

Everybody who planned and took part in the fun day was presented with a certificate to thank them. The young people left with a better awareness and understanding of people with learning disabilities. They gave positive feedback about their experiences. Some even expressed interest in volunteering for mcch.

We have also been working with NCS in our Bexley services.

We look forward to working with the National Citizen Service again in the future.Breda Kelly Senior Operations Manager

Personal budgets: what are they?

A personal budget is the amount of money social services will give to meet a person’s assessed social care needs.

If you have your own personal budget you can choose how the money is spent. This is called self-directed support. You can choose who to buy your support from and where you would like to live.

A personal budget must be spent on things that are set out in your support plan. This could be on activities you enjoy or learning something new. It cannot be spent on something that is illegal or would cause you harm.

What is a support plan?

A support plan explains the way you hope to to achieve the life you want. It includes how you want to use your personal budget and any costs attached to the support you wish to receive.

Bobby likes animals and wanted to have his own pet. He bought some fish with his own money that he enjoys looking after.

Jane Bailey Director for Bexley, Bromley and Greenwich

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When: Dates throughout the year

Where: Headcorn Aerodrome, Kent

How much do I have to pay to enter? £70 How much money do I need to raise? £395

How do I take part? Call Emma on 01622 722536 or email fundraising@mcch.org.uk

Take part in a tandem skydive to raise money for mcch. Freefall from over 10,000 feet strapped to a fully qualified instructor reaching speeds of up to 120mph.

Get involved

Take to the skies

7Summer 2014

Emma Cassley Fundraising Manager

Thank you for your support£9,975 from the Santander Foundation For: 25 iPads for the people we support.

£1,000 from Gullands Solicitors For: Sensory equipment for 2 services and an adult swing.

Charity of the year M&S Bexleyheath For: Falconwood children’s respite centre. Money raised will buy sensory equipment.

£3,300 from a charitable trust For: Sensory equipment for our Fen Grove service.

Company volunteering by DSH DSH redecorated rooms and tidied the garden at our Live It Well Centre in Maidstone.

£360 raised by Nicola, Tara and Anna at the KM Charity Abseil.

£350 raised by Slimming World group For: Sensory equipment at the Carlton Centre.

£3,500 raised at a charity football match at Charlton Athletic FC For: Carlton Centre, Marlborough School and Celebrations theatre group.

New minibus for Carlton Centre Made possible thanks to donations made to the centre.

Thank you to Barbara Gonzalez Baz who ran for autism london at the Doitforcharity Superhero Run.

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I have gained such a lot from the training and feedback from others. Venetia

The role is an important one because it brings what is being achieved in the services back to the rest of the organisation for everyone to see. Emilia

I have enjoyed working for mcch and checking that the quality of the services is as high a standard for others as it has been for me. It has boosted my self esteem and confidence. Jane

I’ve enjoyed meeting new people and talking to them. I’ve been interested in their lives and what they have to say. Rob

The team is made up of people who receive support from mcch.

They have been visiting our services and meeting with people we support to find out if we are meeting our new standards and to make sure people are getting support that they are happy with.

Quality supportIn 2013 we launched our new mission, vision, values and standards. To make sure we are meeting our new standards we have recruited a team of Quality Checkers.

9Summer 2014

Technology review

We take a look at guided access

Guided access is a free tool that is on an iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.

Dan Johnson Senior Operations Manager

I was supporting someone to watch videos on their iPad.

She kept pressing the home button by mistake, this made the video stop.

She was getting annoyed that the video kept stopping.

I turned on the guided access feature. This locked the app so she could not close it by mistake.

How do I use guided access?

1. Go to settings.

2. Tap general.

3. Tap accessibility.

4. Turn on guided access.

5. Tap set passcode and use a number you will remember.

6. Open the app you want to use guided access in.

7. Press the home button 3 times then press start in the top right hand corner.

8. To turn off guided access press the home button 3 times and put in the passcode you used earlier.

Cost: Free

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Building the futureRichard Webb Executive Director of Housing & Development

We recognise the need for modern, future proof accommodation that can improve the quality of life for the people we support. At mcch we do not only provide support, we also develop and build innovative services for ourselves and in partnership with other organisations.

Transition service in Tovil This new service in a 150 year old school in Tovil will provide supported living flats for 7 people aged 18-24. The service will help people leaving residential colleges or who live with their parents to develop skills to live independently in the community. We are working in close partnership with families and young people to make sure the new service meets everyone’s needs.

We hope the new service will be open in September 2015.

Mental health forensic step-down service We will be converting and extending a grade II listed building into 10 self contained flats supporting 9 people. This new service will provide step-down accommodation for people with a mental health need who have been in hospital. It will help them to prepare for living in the community once again.

We hope this service will be open in late 2015.

11Summer 2014

Writing talent

James Creative Writer

When James left school, he found he enjoyed writing fan fiction. But after experiencing difficulties with his mental health, he stopped writing for more than 7 years.

It was only when James visited our employment service in Gravesend that staff spotted his talent. They encouraged him to start writing again and James has now had 2 articles published.

Celebrities and big charities:Their intentions and the reality

My name is James and I’m just starting out as a freelance writer. I’ve had a serious form of a social anxiety disorder for the last 16 years of my life, which is why I was interested in writing about mental health.

In my first article for mcch, I ask why celebrities choose to support the big charities or even start their own. I also ask whether their motives for doing so are genuine, or whether it’s just another opportunity for them to gain attention.

I question whether the charities celebrities choose to support are the right ones and whether their work on the ground would actually match up to their ambassadors’ hopes.

Of course, nothing is ever perfect and I put forward my opinion on how I think the big charities could better improve the support they provide to the people they represent.

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If you would like to read more of James’s work, please contact the Gravesend employment service:

01474 321166 eandvgravesend@mcch.org.uk

Read the full article on our website: www.mcch.org.uk

In 2013 - 2014 our Dartford and Gravesend employment services supported 25 people into employment. They supported a further 56 people to retain existing employment.

Are you looking for support? Call us free on 0800 028 28 15

Other versions avaliable:• Mental health and wellbeing news• Easy read• Video

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twitter.com/mcchcharity

mcch One Hermitage Court Hermitage Lane Maidstone Kent ME16 9NT

t. 01622 722400 f. 01622 722450 www.mcch.org.uk

mcch is a registered charity number 1156486 and a company limited by guarantee (registered in England and Wales number 8971493).

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