Southampton Mencap

A small, local charity with big ambitions; specialising in truly relevant support and with clear objectives that focus on the needs of our users and their family carers

Southampton Mencap is a vibrant, lively and local registered charity working to meet the needs of people of all ages with a learning disability and their families or carers.  The organisation has been operating since 1960, formed through a group of parents, and in 2003 became a company limited by guarantee.

Amongst our key objectives we strive to be an independent voice by working in partnership with others to raise awareness of the rights of people of all ages with a learning disability and their families or carers.  This is alongside the direct provision of an increasing range of services offering information, advice and support alongside opportunities for inclusion and socialisation which benefit our members and enable their families and carers to benefit from short breaks from their caring responsibilities.  The organisation has a sound reputation and plays an effective role within the community in raising awareness to the rights of our client group.  Good relationships and an ethos of partnership working exist with both statutory and other voluntary agencies, which have made it possible to work together in developing and expanding services and avoiding duplication.

Our staffing infra structure supports contract work with high quality provision delivered over a number of years and we have demonstrated our ability to efficiently manage services whilst expanding our work to deliver positive outcomes. With this philosophy in mind, the organisation has focussed on developing a wide range of services, including a programme of age appropriate play and leisure schemes over the years which offer fun, enjoyable play and leisure opportunities.