More than 65 years ago, Leeds Mencap was created with the aim of improving the lives of those with learning disabilities in Leeds. Though affiliated with the national Royal Mencap Society, Leeds Mencap is a completely independent charity offering important services and support to children & young people with learning disabilities and their families throughout Leeds and the surrounding area.

Since its conception, Leeds Mencap has grown from a small team and now supports over 450 families and individuals with a variety of services including holiday Playschemes, Youth Clubs and family support groups. However, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has had a huge impact on children & young people with learning disabilities and their families, with a recent survey by the charity finding 94% of families who access Leeds Mencap services reported feeling more isolated during COVID-19, with many experiencing increased anxiety as well as worsening mental & emotional health.

One parent says, “Lockdown has been extremely hard for me and my family, but the support we have received has been a lifeline. The team phone regularly to check in to see if we need help. We also agree goals and targets for Thomas for his development so we can work on them at home.We both love coming to Leeds Mencap. It makes a huge difference as Thomas is getting the early support that he needs as well as the chance to socialise with other children but it’s good for me too, because I meet other families who are in similar situations, who also help support us through our journey. ”If you choose to volunteer for Leeds Mencap, not only will you be enriching the lives of children and young people with learning disabilities you will also get the chance to develop a wide range of transferable skills that will allow you to be successful in a variety of professions.

One of our current marketing volunteers has said “Volunteering at Leeds Mencap, has been a great opportunity for myself. I have been able to develop my skills in an environment I feel comfortable in, while learning from others. It’s a great opportunity to work with a company who are making such a change to so many lives ”We are always looking for enthusiastic and reliable volunteers and have a variety of roles available from marketing based roles, events based roles and administration based roles. Please contact fundraising@leedsmencap.org.uk if you are interested.

Learn more at https://www.leedsmencap.org.uk.