BULLETIN

1
BULLETIN
November/December 2016
AND THE
WINNER
IS...
Congratulations to Philippa Sheppard, winner
of the inaugural Gordon Simmons Achievement
Award. The Award, named after our Vice-President,
recognises disabled people who, through commitment and
dedication, have overcome barriers in their lives to achieve.
Philippa’s dream was to secure employment. She has
been supported by Jobmatch to overcome difficulties and is
now working 16 hours per week at The Richmal Crompton
Wetherspoon pub in Bromley. The award panel agreed that
Philippa’s determination to find employment, despite
setbacks, and her continued commitment to undertake
voluntary work supported her to achieve her goal of
employment.
On hearing she had won the award Philippa said “I wasn’t
expecting this at all, it’s awesome. I am totally shocked. I am
very grateful for all the help and support I got from Bromley
Mencap to gain new interests and employment.”

2
What’s in this issue?
Hello again
That’s it, the last Bulletin of the year, how
on earth did that happen?!
I hope you enjoy this issue, we have loads
for you to enjoy reading during those dark,
cold nights!
Catch up on all the news from the AGM in
October on page 4, including an update
on the Lodge at Norman Park and our aims
for next year. Huge congratulations to our
cover star, Philippa, winner of the
inaugural Gordon Simmons Achievement
Award, which was presented at the AGM.
Also inside are introductions to two of our
newest staff members, Neil and Adesola
and all the usual event listings and
fundraising news, including everything
you can get involved with in the run up to
Christmas.
FAMILY SERVICES
EVENTS 3
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
REPORT 4
NEWS CORNER 7
UPCOMING EVENTS 8
DO YOU KNOW? 9
EVENTS ROUND-UP 12-13
COMMUNITY
FUNDRAISING 14-17
Speaking of which, I wish you all the best
for the upcoming festivities and look
forward to catching up with you again in
the New Year.
All the best,
Luan
luanlanham@btinternet.com

3
Family Services Activities and Events
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Sat/Sun
November 21 22 23 24 25 26/27
Day Opportunities
(age 18+)
Day Opportunities
(age 18+)
Day Opportunities
(age 18+)
28 29 30 December 1 2 3/4
Day Opportunities Day Opportunities Day Opportunities
(age 18+)
(age 18+)
(age 18+)
Carers Lunch Club
and
Information
Session (age 55+)
Adults’
Christmas
Celebration
(3rd) (age 18+)
5 6 7 8 9 10/11
Monday
Afternooners’
- Christmas
Meal
Day Opportunities
(age 18+)
Day Opportunities
(age 18+)
Day Opportunities
(age 18+)
Outdoor
Activity Club
(11th) -
Coach Trip to
Kew Gardens to
see the
Christmas Lights
12 13 14 15 16 17/18
Day Opportunities
(age 18+)
Day Opportunities
(age 18+)
Day Opportunities
(age 18+)
19 20 21 22 23 24/25
Day Opportunities
(age 18+)
Day Opportunities
(age 18+)
Childrens’
Christmas
Party
(age 0-13)
Day Opportunities
(age 18+)
Activity Day
(age 14-30)
26 27 28 29 30 31/1
Karaoke
Evening
(age 11-17)
For more details on any of the above events please call the office on 020 8466 0790

4
CHIEF EXECUTIVE REPORT
EDDIE LYNCH
NEWS FROM OUR AGM
Around 100 people attended our Annual General Meeting on 19th October. The event
was congenially hosted by the Mayor of Bromley, Councillor Ian Payne, and marked the
presentation of the inaugural Gordon Simmons Achievement Award.
We also held focus groups with our members to get feedback on our services and evidence
the impact of what Bromley Mencap does as an organisation.
The annual Summary Report was presented at the meeting and a copy is included with the
Bulletin newsletter.
Highlights from the past year, which were presented at the meeting, included:
Jobmatch got 28 new
jobs for disabled people
and secured two new
contracts - our Certitude
Step Forward training and
employment programme
and a contract with Bromley
Council to support students
with learning disabilities at
Bromley College into work.
We increased the number of short breaks and respite
which included childminding for 61 disabled children
and their families. In addition we provided a wide range
of social and leisure activities for 623 people.
In response to our
outreach work 142 new
members joined Bromley
Mencap and we now
have over
2000 Twitter
followers.
Last year saw a huge
demand for our
information, advice and
welfare benefits support.
We helped disabled
people and carers to
access welfare benefits
totalling £2,000,000!
Our Saturday Club provided
fortnightly breaks for 15
families.
We received funding from
the Council for Disabled
Children to provide
support to parents and
young people to move
on to the new Education,
Health and Care Plans.
We launched our
Day Opportunities
Programme which runs
three days a week and
provides a wide variety
of person centred and
inclusive activities in the
local community.

5
The Lodge – Norman Park
The AGM also provided an update on the Lodge. Over the past year we have been
working on getting ready to launch our new community hub in Norman Park. Bromley
Council leased the Lodge building to us to deliver inclusive activities, training and
employment opportunities for disabled people. We have secured planning permission to
extend both the building and garage to create training facilities.
We have also been fundraising hard to pay for the cost of this new
venture. We need £100,000 for the building and
refurbishment. We’ve raised around half of that and received large
grants from Trusts including Morrisons, Screwfix and the People’s
Postcode Lottery. We are working with a number of businesses
including Homebase, intu and Waitrose and other
stakeholders including Bromley College and Friends of Norman
Park to ensure the hub is connected to the local community.
Once the building work is complete we will be opening a kiosk café, a
bike recycling scheme and a gardening project. Updates will follow in
the next Bulletin.

6
Our priorities for the next year:
1. Providing more services to people with their own personal budgets including our new
Personal Assistant Agency
2. Complete the building work at the Lodge and launch our community hub to increase
training and employment opportunities for disabled people
3. Work with Bromley Council and the Bromley Clinical Commissioning Group through the
Bromley Third Sector Enterprise to develop services for people with learning disabilities
and physical disabilities
4. Continue to campaign for change both locally and with national Scope and Mencap
The AGM ended with the presentation of the Gordon Simmons Achievement Award.
Everyone agreed Philippa was a worthy winner. Congratulations also to Emma Briggs,
Sophie Gregory and the team of Elite Fundraisers who were all nominated and
received certificates.
The Mayor’s selfie with Philippa,
our Award Winner!
The Mayor of Bromley and Eddie Lynch,
Chief Executive, enjoying lunch

7
NEWS
CORNER
Our round-up of local and
national disability news
and developments
ESA Benefit Payments Re-tests Axed
Tens of thousands of
people claiming the
main benefit for longterm
sickness will no
longer face repeated
medical assessments
to keep their payments. Work and Pensions
Secretary Damian Green said it was
pointless to re-test recipients of
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
with severe conditions and no prospect of
improving.
More here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/
uk-politics-37526324
National Autistic Society (NAS)
Employment Campaign
NAS has launched a campaign to raise
awareness of the barriers faced by people
with autism when seeking employment. To
support the campaign and watch the film
click here:
https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/49098-the-autism-employment-gap?utm_source=The%20National%20
Autistic%20Society&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=7670766_TMI%20
thunderclap%20-%20NON-TMI%20CAM-
PAIGNERSn%204&dm_i=YA3,4KESU,A-
2GAG6,GXXO7,1
8 in 10 Autistic Children Experience
School Anxiety
The ‘When will we learn?’ online survey was
carried out from June to September 2016
and 745 young people with autism, parents
and carers completed the survey. Statistics
in the ‘When will we learn?’ campaign
report came from Freedom and Information
requests, research from other organisations
and the Department for Education.
The full article is available here:
https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.
uk/understanding-autism/8-in-10-children-with-autism-experience-anxiety-about-attending-school
NAS Survey
The National Autistic Society has
released their new 2016 survey to help them
decide where they should focus their efforts
next year.
To complete the survey click here:
http://www.autism.org.uk/get-involved/
media-centre/news/2016-10-04-new-survey.
aspx

8
Upcoming
Events
Creative Opportunities at the V&A
Creative opportunities for adults with
learning disabilities to work with the
Gilbert Collection of gold, silver, mosaics,
gold boxes and enamel portrait miniatures.
Colour Space is a partnership between the
Victoria & Albert Museum and Lemos &
Crane and runs on 29th November, 6th and
13th December, 10.30-13.30. Participants
will be making objects as well as taking
iPad photographs.
More details here:
http://www.lemosandcrane.co.uk/home/
index.php?id=237894
Early Bird At The Science
Museum
Between 8.30 -10.00am on
selected Saturdays across the
year the science museum early
bird session enables families
with children with autism to
visit the museum without the
general public. Booking is essential.
More details here:
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/
Special Olympics Great Britain Activity
Festival
Special Olympics Great Britain are hosting
a free Activity Festival on 23rd November
at the Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth
Olympic Park, London, E20 3HB. The event
is aimed at people with a learning disability
aged 13 years and over, to come and try a
range of activities, taster sessions and find
out how to access more near you. Booking
a place in advance is essential. More details
here: http://www.specialolympicsgb.org.uk/
Girls On The Autism Spectrum; The Big
Shout Conference
This conference in London on 27th
January, brings together school leaders,
teachers, health professionals, parents and
carers with high profile speakers and
experts. The conference will give delegates
an insight into the experiences of girls on
the Autism Spectrum and prepare a ‘Call for
Action’ to highlight future areas for
development.
Full details here:
http://www.naht.org.uk/welcome/nahtevents/conferences/girls-on-the-autismspectrum-the-big-shout-conference/
NAS Conference - Autism and Social Skills
The National Autistic
Society is holding a
conference on 25th
November in London.
This conference will
focus on social skills and
feature plenary
sessions looking at how
confusing, unwritten
social rules can be
Autism and social skills
Friday 25 November 2016, The Copthorne Tara Hotel, London
This one day conference will look the impact of social skills on
our lives whilst offering practical advice and strategies for autistic
people and those who support them.
Key topics:
> Social skills and mental health
> Using technology to support the development of social skills
> Developing skills for interviews and the workplace
> Autism and the LGBT community.
www.autism.org.uk/professionals/conferences/social-skills.aspx
anxiety-inducing for autistic people. There
will be interactive seminars on issues
including preparing for puberty, resolving
conflict and sexuality.
More details here: http://www.autism.org.
uk/professionals/conferences/social-skills/

9
Do you know?
Find out about new services or changes
that could have an impact on YOU
Here I Am
Mencap has launched their new ‘Here I Am’
campaign. Learning disability has been
invisible for too long. It’s time to see people
with a learning disability for all they are and
all they can be. Join the ‘Here I Am’ campaign,
spread the word and help change the future.
The campaign features the results of the first
set of in-depth research into public
attitudes towards learning disability in 30
years, a brand new video featuring a DJ, who
has Down’s syndrome, images from fashion
photographer Rankin and a web tool which
allows the public to ask the questions they’re
usually too afraid to ask about learning
disability.
More here:
https://www.mencap.org.uk/get-involved/
here-i-am?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Your%20
Network%20%E2%80%93%20October%20
update%20241016
Flu And How To Stop Getting It
Public Health England has produced an easy
read guide which can be downloaded here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/
file/530741/9833_PHE_Flu-learning-disability-A4-8pp-6-WEB.pdf
Autism Friendly Public Places
Public spaces can be overwhelming for an
autistic person trying to deal with too much
information. The British Retail Consortium
represents over 80% of the UK’s high street.
The National Autistic Trust is asking them to
work with their membership, which
includes some of the country’s biggest
retailers, to make the high street autism
friendly. To find out more and sign the
petition go to: http://www.autism.org.uk/
get-involved/tmi/afa/petition.aspx
Books Beyond Words
Picture books for people who find pictures
easier to understand than words.
Also available on smart phones as an app.
More here:
http://booksbeyondwords.co.uk/
Choking Guide – Easy Read
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust has
produced an easy read information book to
help raise awareness of choking which you
can download here:
http://helpstopchoking.hscni.net/uploaded/files/1/2015/04/1024-Chokingawarenessbookv2.pdf
Avoid Stairs Tube Guide
Transport for London has
produced an
‘Avoiding Stairs Tube
Guide’ with a map and
list of stations showing
all Tube and DLR stations
where you can use lifts,
escalators or ramps
between the street and
the platform.
For a copy click:
http://content.tfl.gov.uk/
avoiding-stairs-tube-guide.pdf
London Underground
Avoiding stairs
Tube guide
Showing all Tube and DLR stations where
you can use lifts, escalators or ramps
between the street and the platform
June 2016
MAYOR
OF LONDON

10
INTRODUCING...
Neil Hart - SEN Independent
Support Worker/
Family Support Worker
I am so pleased to be joining the Bromley Mencap team
providing both SEN Independent Support and family
support. The team does great work with disabled people
and their families in the local community helping to
enhance their lives.
As a parent of a child with autism, I understand how challenging some days can be,
helping your child to jump the hurdles needed in order for them to lead a fulfilling life. I
consider this is a great opportunity for me to have a positive effect on others doing the
same. So I am very much looking forward to meeting you all.
Previously, I was teaching English as a Foreign Language to primary and secondary
students. I returned to the UK in order to get a clear diagnosis for my son, where upon I
began a quest to discover how the British education and healthcare service engages with
its public.
Between work and entertaining my son, I have very little spare time but when I do get a
quiet moment I enjoy spirituality, people and music.
Carers’ Lunch Club (2nd December and 13th January 2017)
Our monthly lunch club is for carers over 55. In December we have our Christmas lunch
club and our Chairman, Peter Prentice, will be our guest speaker. In January our guest
speaker will be Katy Bailey from the Safer Transport Police.
The lunch club has a regular attendance of 20-30 members. It’s a good opportunity to make
new friends and chat to parents in a similar situation while enjoying a free, 3-course lunch
with drinks. We provide information and updates on local
services and there is usually a guest speaker giving
informative talks on a variety of subjects.
If you would like to come along to any of the lunches
please call the Bromley Mencap office on 020 8466 0790 to
book your place. Please let us know as soon as possible as
places are limited. We look forward to seeing you there.

11
Jobmatch Success!
Congratulations Sean and Ashley
for gaining paid employment delivering the
Newsshopper.
Both Sean and Ashley attend the Step Forward
programme at the Astley Day Centre.
INTRODUCING...
Adesola Adesokan - Independent Supporter
As an Independent Supporter at Bromley Mencap,
I feel like I am a significant part of an organisation
that every day seeks to ensure disabled people and
their parents and carers have a good quality of life.
This matters a lot to me as a mother of two children
on the autism spectrum.
More so, my life experience and a HND course
in Health and Social Care have taught me that,
although we are different, some regarded as
‘non-disabled’ others as “disabled”, in the grand
scheme of things, we are all able to achieve in
the right environment and with the right support.
This is why I am excited to be working as an Independent Supporter at Bromley Mencap
where my training as a lawyer, a mother of two children with special needs and life
experience can be used to ensure that the views of children and young people with special
educational needs and disabilities and parents are taken into consideration at every level.
I am passionate about supporting disabled children and young people to achieve their
aspirations and better life outcomes.

12
EVENTS ROUND-UP
Autumn Dance
Our Autumn Dance was held on Wednesday 26th
October and once again proved to be a very popular
event with 55 adults attending.
Music was provided by our regular DJ, Steve, and light
refreshments were served throughout the evening.
Everyone enjoyed meeting up with their friends,
dancing and singing along to popular songs.
A great time was had by all.
Autumn Family Fun
On Monday 24th October, half-term fun began with a coach trip, taking 15 families to
Godstone Farm. We arrived at the farm at 11.00am and fortunately the rain stayed off all
day. The children, along with their parents and carers, were able to enjoy a fun filled day
of activities including the petting farm, tractor rides, play barn, face painting and outside
adventure play park .
Everyone had a great day.

13
Community Fundraising Outdoor Activity - Jane Barnes Club
- Ian Breslin, Outdoor Activities Club Co-ordinator
The Outdoor Activities Club has had two very successful outings recently.
We had a brilliant day out at Old Bury Hill fisheries. Everyone caught at least one fish and
everyone had a laugh - what more could anyone ask for on a day out!?
Our other adventure was a walk around Scadbury Park, followed by a quick visit to the pub.
The walk was very well attended, however we didn’t see much wildlife. This was mainly due
to the level of laughter that took place, which frightened off any potential wildlife spottings!
I am very grateful to all the volunteers who give up their time to help with the smooth
running of the outings. I would also like to thank David De Vere at Old Bury Hill fisheries for
his continuous support and for the excellent service we always receive. Thank you.
I look forward to seeing you all soon for the trip to Kew for the Christmas lights walk.
‘The one that got away’
Mark, who caught this
lovely Crucian Carp
Louise with the one that didn’t
get away!

4
Community Fundraising - Jane Barnes
Quiz Night
Our Quiz night was a great success on Saturday 8th October and we raised a record £1,745.
Thank you to our fantastic Quiz Masters, Pat and John, for making it a fun and
entertaining evening and all free of charge. We are also very grateful to Carmen Azad for
all her help and providing match funding for the night.
Thanks to all the quizzers for taking part and for also making a huge effort with the
dressed up tables. Well done to the winners and thank you to all the teams for supporting
the event. We look forward to seeing you all again next year.
BNI Prince Imperial Chapter
We are delighted to become members of the BNI networking group, which gives us great
links to the local community. We are grateful for the support we have received to date and
look forward to ongoing relationships with the group.
Calendars
Laraine Harding is on the Bromley Mencap Step Forward programme,
which supports people with disabilities in to work. She has a passion for
photography and has overcome a number of barriers due to her visual
impairment and learning disability to master her photography
equipment. Just some of her photography has been used to make a
fabulous calendar for 2017, which is on sale now for £5 (£1 will be
donated to Bromley Mencap). Please call the office to order today.
Grand Raffle
You should have received your raffle tickets by now and a huge thank you to everyone
who has already bought them. If you haven’t already done so, then please return your
money and stubs to us by Friday 9th December to be in the draw.
We have some wonderful prizes to be won, including £250 & £100 cash and gift cards from
Waitrose/John Lewis, Marks & Spencer, Numidie restaurant, Spotlessspinata jewellery,
Finch & House, Orpington and more.

15
Christmas is
coming!!
We are busy as ever getting ready for
our Christmas fundraising events and
we hope you can join in our festive
spirit and support as many as
possible. Help and support is always
much needed to make these events a
success...
Carol Singing
We have three carol singing services
again this year, two will be held at Intu,
Bromley and one at Tesco, Orpington.
These are always lovely events,
especially with all the young children
singing and we need volunteers to help
with our collections. Please get in touch
to let me know when you can help.
Hayes Free Church
Hayes Philharmonic Choir will be
performing “Shakespeare and
Christmas“ at Hayes Parish Church,
Hayes Street on Saturday 26th
November at 7.45pm. We are delighted
that they are supporting Bromley
Mencap with a retiring collection. All
welcome and tickets are £7 for adults
and £2 for children.
Book via email:
hayeschoir@myinternet.com or call
07989 192928.
Christmas Tombola
We are planning to hold our Christmas
Tombola in Bromley High Street on
Saturday 10th December and are
looking for any donations of
unwanted gifts that could be used as
prizes. Please send them in to the office
as soon as possible so we can organise
the stall in time. In the past, we have
received match funding for this event
via Barclays but unfortunately we will
not have this benefit this year.
If you or anyone you know can apply for
match funding through your employers
and would like to help at our stall, then
please get in touch.
This makes a huge difference to our
annual fundraising target so we would
appreciate your help.

6
Christmas Shopping
Don’t forget to buy your Christmas
shopping online via
easyfundraising.org.uk and you will be
making a free donation for Bromley
Mencap with no extra charge to you.
There are nearly 3,000 retailers on
board ready to make a donation,
including Amazon, John Lewis, Aviva,
thetrainline, and Sainsbury’s. It’s really
simple, all you have to do is:
1. JOIN- Head to http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/bromleymencap and sign
up for free.
2. SHOP - Every time you shop online, go to easyfundraising first, pick the retailer you
want and start shopping.
3. RAISE - After you’ve checked out, that retailer will make a donation to your good
cause for no extra cost whatsoever!
Please help us this Christmas by giving more than a gift - there are no catches or hidden
charges.
Christmas Trees
We are pleased to be part of the Layhams
Farm Shop Charity Give Back Scheme
again this year. They will donate £5 to
Bromley Mencap when a Christmas tree is
purchased from them with a voucher that
must be presented at time of purchase.
Please contact me and I will forward the
vouchers to you:
Email jane.barnes@bromleymencap.org
Tel: 020 8466 0790
CHARITY GIVE BACK SCHEME 2016
£5
WILL BE DONATED TO
Bromley Mencap
FOR EVERY CHRISTMAS TREE BOUGHT
WITH THIS VOUCHER
voucher must be presented at time of purchase, no other voucher valid with this offer
magicians every
weekend in December
Christmas crafts
for the kiddies
christmas choirs
every weekend in
December
toddler and soft play areas, tea room and farm shop
open seven days a week from Nov 28th - Free parking
Layhams Road, KESTON, KENT, BR2 6AR
www.layhamsfarmshop.co.uk
Free Parking
christmas
decorations

Community Fundraising
Upcoming Events
Please contact me if you can attend or help at any of the events. Your help and support is always
welcome!
Date Event & Location Help needed Times
Saturday 19 and Sunday 20
November
Saturday 26 November
Homebase, Catford Branch Collectors 10am – 12noon
12noon – 2pm
2pm – 4pm
Choir concert, Hayes Parish
Church, BR2 7LH
All welcome
7.45pm
Friday 2 December
Christmas Bazaar at Astley
Day Centre
Volunteers to help on
stall
10am – 2pm
Wednesday 7 December
Carol singing at Intu,
Bromley
Collectors and choirs
2pm – 4pm
4pm – 6pm
6pm -7pm
Saturday 10 December
Xmas Tombola, High Street,
Bromley
Volunteers to help on
stall
10am – 12noon
12noon – 2pm
2pm – 3pm
Thursday 15 December
Carol singing at Intu,
Bromley
Collectors and singers
11am – 1pm
1pm – 3pm
3pm – 5pm
5pm - 7pm
Sunday 18 December
Carol singing at Tesco,
Orpington
Collectors and choirs
10am – 12noon
12noon – 2pm
2pm – 4pm
Tuesday 20 December Sainsbury’s, Bromley Collectors 10am – 12noon
12noon – 2pm
2pm – 4pm
Twitter / Facebook
All our upcoming events will be on Twitter and/or Facebook so if you don’t follow us already then please do so.
It is the easiest way to get up to date information and learn of ways you can help and give back to the services
that we provide.
Jane Barnes, Corporate and Community Fundraiser
Email jane.barnes@bromleymencap.org Tel: 020 8466 0790
17

8
Copy deadline for January/February 2017 is 3rd January
Editor: Luan Lanham, email: luanlanham@btinternet.com
Publisher: Bromley Mencap, Rutland House, 44 Masons Hill
Bromley Kent BR2 9JG TEL: 020 8466 0790
Copyright © Bromley Mencap Charity Number: 800685
The opinions expressed in Bromley Mencap Bulletin are those
of the individual contributors and not necessarily those of Bromley
Mencap. We reserve the right to edit articles before publication.