🚨 Social care is in crisis.
In Spring 2023, it was reported that 434,243 people were still waiting for an assessment, a review of their care plan or revised care and support.
⏰ For many, the wait is over 6 months.
We are delighted to announce that...🎺
Harvey Price is our new ambassador! ❤️
We are incredibly excited to have Harvey as part of the Mencap family.
Welcome Harvey! 🚆🐸
@KatiePrice
#HarveyAndMencap
Star of
#LineOfDuty
@tommyjessop
has joined us to answer your questions! 🤩
Hit play ▶ on the video to hear him talk about being on TV's biggest show. 📺
Find out Tommy's favourite scene ❤, who his funniest co-star is 😂 and what he keeps in his freezer! 🥶
From an Oscar to an MBE! 👏
Congratulations to Mencap Ambassador James Martin on being made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) in the New Year's Honours list today! 💜
"I am George. I am a dancer, a singer, an actor and a runner. I am not my learning disability."
Having a
#LearningDisability
means something different and unique to each person with a learning disability.
Listen to George Webster explain what it means to him 🙌.
#HereIAm
We are so excited to see our fantastic ambassador George Webster become a presenter on
@CBeebies
. 😃
Congratulations, George from everyone here at Mencap! 🥳
You are a brilliant role model so it is great you will have the chance to introduce yourself to so many people. 👋
🚨EXCITING NEWS🚨
Our NEW CBeebies House presenter, George will be starting soon! ❤️
He loves cooking and dancing, and he can't wait to be your friend.
🥘🕺🤗
Matthew is thought to be the only funeral director with
#DownSyndrome
in the UK.🎩
He is respected for the utmost care he puts into his work. People with a
#LearningDisability
, like Matthew, have a right to work just like anyone else.
Like if you agree. ❤️
We were really touched this morning when we saw a
@JustGiving
page by
@RedditFreeFolk
had been set up in aid of us in celebration of our Ambassador Kit Harington's many years of hard work on
#GameOfThrones
.❤️
Thank you to all who have donated. So kind. 🙏
Thank you
@jowhiley
for speaking so passionately about your sister Frances’s experience.
All people with a
#LearningDisability
must be prioritised for the vaccine now.
We hope Frances makes a full recovery soon.
Lee is 52 and a kitchen porter.
He loves running and all that.❤️
Having a
#LearningDisability
doesn't define Lee. 🙅
He is running the
@VirginMoney
@LondonMarathon
for his 22nd time! 🎽
Lee wants to raise £1000 for Mencap.
Can you support Lee? 👈
Here's
#MencapMythBuster
George to wish you all a Happy Learning Disability Week! 🥳
We'll be celebrating all week with stories from people with a
#LearningDisability
. 👍
Why not celebrate with us? Tag us in your posts and use
#LDWeek22
to let us know what you're up to! 😀
Harvey has agreed to be our ambassador! 🎉
@katieprice
told us that she is so proud of Harvey wanting to make a difference. ❤️
Harvey wants to be a voice for young people with a
#LearningDisability
.
#HarveyAndMencap
Brilliant news! 🎉
The Government says all
#Health
professionals need
#LearningDisability
training. It is what we have been campaigning for! 🙌
But it is vital that people with a learning disability are a part of this.
💬 Hear from
#TreatMeWell
campaigner Michelle:
"This donations page lifted my heart and brought tears to my eyes, what a beautiful gift to receive....how generous of all of you."
Read a lovely message from
#KitHarington
to those who donated to us in recognition of his work on
#GameofThrones
.
#GoTtoGive
For the 9000 people who emailed their MP. 📧
For our incredible ambassador
@JoWhiley
. 🙌
For everyone who has campaigned with us. 🙋♀️
Here's a message from
@HarryRoche11
to you all. 📣
Thank you so much. ❤️
Congratulations to our fantastic ambassador
#GeorgeWebster
! 🎉
George is one of the
@RadioTimes
Top TV 100, a list of people who helped change entertainment for the better in 2021. 🤩
In September, George became the first
@CBeebiesHQ
presenter with
#DownSyndrome
. 👏
Amazing!😀
Happy Birthday Edge
@U2
. 🎂 We all hope you have a beautiful day!! 🎉
Here's a special message from
@ciarale01
. Thank you for everything you do to support Mencap!
Down's Syndrome is way more than just a diagnosis or definition. ✍️
Each person is unique with their own dreams, interests and talents like anyone else. 👍
Hear from
@BairstowLiam
about what having Down's syndrome means to him.
#WeAreMencap
👇
Meet the
#MencapMythBusters
. 👋
18 people who will show the world what living with a
#LearningDisability
is like. 👍
Ambassadors who want to challenge wrong ideas. 🙅♀️
Activists who will campaign for change. 🙌
Listen. 📣 Ask. 🙋♀️ Learn. ❤️
👈
We're so excited to announce Mencap Myth Buster
#GeorgeWebster
is publishing his debut picture book 'This Is Me' on Thursday 2 March.
George said: "I hope 'This Is Me' will prove that our stories need to be told for all the children and families in the world."
HRH, The Duchess of Edinburgh attended Mencap's health inequalities summit today at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, to learn more about the healthcare inequalities faced by people with a
#LearningDisability
. 1/4
"People with a learning disability need to be accepted and to be valued."
Meet George - a dancer, a park runner, and now a Mencap ambassador. ♥️
He wants to create real change👍, so people with a
#LearningDisability
are treated the same as anyone else.
#HereIAm
@OwenJones84
"I don't want people to see me just as a learning disability person, but to treat me like a human being." - Richard
We believe that people with a
#LearningDisability
should be able to have meaningful jobs and be paid the same as anybody else. We should all be treated equally.
It is incredible news that the
#JVCI
has advised
@GOVUK
to offer everyone on the
#LearningDisability
Register the
#CovidVaccine
.
If you have a learning disability and want the vaccine, urgently talk to your GP to make sure you are registered.
Read more:
Happy
#WorldDownSyndromeDay2020
! ❤️
We have a special message from our Ambassador and Chief Cheerer George Webster! 😊
Please tweet us your photos. 📸
Let's celebrate this amazing day together. 🥳
👋Guess what?👋
Lucinda and Nikki are back!👩👧
This time, they are talking about an incredibly caring and vital role - nurse!🏥
Why not try it too and have some fun with
#Makaton
?
#HereIAm
#TreatMeWell
@makatonlucinda
"Don't let anyone tell you any different, we can all dream big, and we can all do it!"
George has always loved acting. 📽️
He recently got his first film role in
@SAM_FilmUK
.
George wants to tell you that people with a
#LearningDisability
can have the jobs they dream of.
#LDWork20
“Thank you to Her Royal Highness for supporting me to run my first ever marathon. I loved every minute." 🙏
#TeamMencap
's Tom thanks the Countess of Wessex (
@RoyalFamily
) for joining him for the
@VirginMoney
@LondonMarathon
. 🏃♂️
Support Team Mencap: 👈
💬 We asked people with a learning disability to share their experiences of the ‘R’ word. They were so upset and traumatised by the word, they didn’t want to speak about it on camera. This is what they told us.
📢 Challenge it. Report it.
"Can you sign Christmas tree?"🎄
Do you have that festive feeling already? ❤️
Is your Christmas tree up yet? 🎅
Today we join
@makatonlucinda
and Nikki by their beautiful Christmas tree.
Why don't you have fun with
#Makaton
too? 👍
#HereIAm
@MakatonCharity
People with a
#LearningDisability
are six times more likely than the general population to die from
#Coronavirus
.
But they are not in priority group six for the vaccine.
This has to change - they need to be a priority.
Email your MP now: 👈
We are thrilled to announce... 📣
The fantastic
@tommyjessop
has become our latest ambassador! ❤
"I hope through this role I can help Mencap keep doing what they do best” he said. 💬
Welcome Tommy! 😀
We will be announcing more ambassadors soon - keep a look out! 👀
"Over the last 34 years I have not done it, so rock on!"
Richard has a
#LearningDisability
and voted for the first time ever today in the
#GeneralElection2019
.
Did you vote for the very first time day?
Share your story with us using the hashtag
#LDVote19
.
We recently heard some news from
@makatonlucinda
. ❤️
Lucinda is recovering from an operation. 🛌
So we decided she definitely deserved a treat!
What could be better than a video from her hero?
The one and only Mr Tumble. 👋
We hope you feel much better soon Lucinda. 👧
Say hello to Jess. 👋
She has had the
#CovidVaccine
💉 and wanted to share her experience. 💬
Even though Jess hates needles, she was excited to get the vaccine. 🙋♀️
She is looking forward to things getting back to normal, including hugs! ❤️
Thanks for sharing, Jess! 👏
We’re delighted to announce Mencap Myth Buster Harvey has become a
@GWR
title holder for the longest train drawing (II).
Harvey, who lives at National Star College, has completed the mammoth 21.3m long and 1m high drawing of a
@TLRailUK
train!👏
Mencap Myth Buster George shared this video with us for Learning Disability Week.
"This Learning Disability Week, let's focus on what we can do, not what we can't do." 💜
@NHS_RobW
@CBeebiesHQ
Autism is a lifelong condition, but it is more than just a diagnosis. ✍️
It means something unique and different to each person with autism. 👫 👬 👭
Hear from Jack (
@MrJW18
) 💬 about what it means to him.
Find out more about
#Autism
:
#WeAreMencap
"If you carry on using the R-word, it's like emotional bullets at us."
Richard is right.
The R-Word is never acceptable. 🙅♂️
It's discriminatory and it really does hurts.
Please think before you tweet or speak.
Words do have an effect. 🗣️
#AntiBullyingWeek
Time to put on those dancing shoes! 🕺
@andrewdancer97
is hosting his very own..
‘Boogie-thon’, as part of
#MoveForMencap
on Wed 22 July at 4pm on Facebook Live
15 different dance styles, switching every 1.5 minutes! 🤯
Want to support Andrew? Visit
"And on that journey of course at first he didn't know anyone, and now, you know, he's made lots of friends here."
Matt, who has a
#LearningDisability
, has now completed 100 runs at
@parkrunUK
.
Thank you parkrun for bringing people together through sport. 👏
#HereIAm
#TeamMencap
Thank you BGC Partners for your incredible £75,000 donation from your
#BGCCharityDay
. ❤️
This support from your
@bgcpartnerscharityday
will help people with a
#LearningDisability
to take part in our Round the World Challenge.
Thank you for making such a difference. 🙌
It’s Learning Disability Week! 💜
This week is all about challenging misconceptions about life with a learning disability, with people across the country busting myths & showing what they can achieve.
We are excited to see the stories you share so please tag us!
#LDWeek
We think Seb (
@carolineplayle
) would be an incredible News Reader. Retweet if you agree! 😀
Like if you think, someone should offer him the opportunity.
Hint, hint, hint...👍
What a joy to have my
@bbcrb
studio taken over (again!) by the brilliant Seb and his mum
@carolineplayle
this morning at 0820. Talking about going to big school, new uniforms and how Seb wants to read the news!
#star
@Bath_Mencap
Ellie Goldstein from Essex has become the first model with
#DownsSyndrome
to pose for Gucci Beauty. 👗
Her photos will also be in Vogue Italia this month. 📸
What an amazing achievement. 🙂
Read her story here. 👇
For Learning Disability Week 2020, we want to celebrate the incredible friendships and connections that make up our
#MencapFamily
- and show how important they have been during lockdown. Tell us your lockdown friendship stories and we’ll share them with the world!
#LDWeek2020
Here's some wonderful Wednesday cheer for you 😍. The incredible George Wildgust celebrated his 77th birthday last month 🎉 and is believed to be the oldest person in the UK with Down's syndrome. He says dancing keeps him young! 🕺. What a legend 👏
Thank you for training hard. 👟
For never giving up. ❤️
For wanting to make a real difference. ✨
Words can't express how we feel about
#TeamMencap
.
We are truly honoured to have had such incredible and inspiring people run the
@VirginMoney
#LondonMarathon
for us! Thank you.❤️
“I hate it when people go, ‘That’s a brave choice, casting a disabled person.’ No, it isn’t. It’s a good choice." -
@Adam_Pearson
.
How do you feel representation of disability needs to change on screen and in film?
#HereIAm
We're really excited for the 'Gavin and Stacey' special! Mencap ambassador Mat Horne is supporting our Christmas campaign to combat
#loneliness
for people with a learning disability. You can support here: ❤️
#gavinandstacey
We’re delighted to kick off Learning Disability Week by announcing that our Myth Buster Heidi has become a
@GWR
holder for the most celebrity birthdays identified in three minutes – recalling an astonishing 70 birthdays!👏 [1/3]
This is fantastic
@DrAmirKhanGP
. ❤️
Reasonable adjustments are small 🤏 changes that make a big difference. 👍
It gives someone some extra support where needed. 🙂
Take a look at our
#EasyRead
: 👈
I’m off to a care home that caters for adults with learning disabilities to give the residents the Covid-19 vaccine this afternoon
These people would find it too much to come into one of our clinics, so we are going to them
Reasonable Adjustments
Sam has an important message.👋
We agree with
@SamZebedee
that everyone is different and different is definitely good. 👍
We all have our own hopes and dreams. We all have something incredible, worthwhile and meaningful to bring to society. 🙌
Like if you agree. ❤
#HereIAm
Congratulations to
@HeidiCrowter95
& James Carter who got married on Saturday. 👰🤵
They were one of the first couples to have their wedding following lockdown restrictions being lifted. 💒
Watch their beautiful wedding ceremony here 💕
We would like to wish the Duchess of Edinburgh a very happy birthday! 💜
The Duchess of Edinburgh has been a committed and supportive patron of Mencap for over 20 years now, helping us to raise awareness of the needs faced by people with a learning disability. [1/2]
🙌The Government's consultation on
#LearningDisability
training for health care professionals is open. 🙌
✨This is your chance to create real change.✨
Make sure that the training is everything that it should be.
Have your voice heard - 👈
#TreatMeWell
"Can you sign 'Reindeer'?" 🦌
@makatonlucinda
is back ❤ and this time she is joined by her brilliant brother Zack. 👨👧👦
Lucinda will be having fun with some festive feeling Christmas 🎅 Makaton this month.
What is your favourite thing about
#Christmas
?🎄
#HereIAm
#MakatonAdvent
Want to see
@MikeyCobban
dye his hair pink? 💟👦
Like to know more about his experience of working with children with a learning disability? 👍
Want to see a cheeky clip of
@HarryRoche11
presenting at our
@NewBalanceUK
event? 🎤
Watch Mikey's video 👇
The decision to move to a residential college or supported living is not one families take lightly.
But the right support can make a huge difference for someone with a
#LearningDisability
.
We wish Harvey and
@KatiePrice
all the best for a smooth transition to his new college.
Today is
#NursesDay
! 👨⚕️👩⚕️
We want to say a huge thanks 🙏 to
#LearningDisability
nurses everywhere.
You make a massive difference to people with a learning disability who need medical care. 🏥
Here are just a few people who wanted to say "thank you" today. ❤
Today is
#WorldDownSyndromeDay
!💜
Many of you have signed up to take part in our Rock Your Socks campaign by wearing socks that stand out to raise vital funds for Mencap.
Don't forget to tag us in your posts as we would love to see them!
Running marathons is all Nimesh has ever wanted to do.
His life dream is to run a marathon abroad.
Nimesh, like Aaron, wants to prove people wrong!
People with a
#LearningDisability
can achieve anything.
It is just about social inclusion.
Support Nimesh:
We have big news... 🥁
Joe Wicks (
@thebodycoach
) is training his family as they are joining
#TeamMencap
!❤️
His dad, Gary, and his brother, George, are running the
@VirginMoney
@LondonMarathon
!
We will let them explain more.😉
Support Gary and George: 👈
We are delighted our chief executive
@EdelHarris
has been awarded an OBE by The Queen. 😀
Her years of service to the public sector, charity, and to people with a
#LearningDisability
have been recognised with this incredible honour. 👏
Many congratulations, Edel Harris OBE! 🎉
Sally is 54 and has a
#LearningDisability
.
She loves nothing more than playing her piano. 🎹
Sally treats us to wonderful mini concerts.
Today's is in honour of
@iammrvandy
. 🎩
P.S. the piano is out of tune, not Sally!
Her beloved piano is in need of an upgrade. 🎼
The wonderful
@makatonlucinda
is currently recovering from her operation. 🏥
Our lovely Ambassador George has stepped in to help out with all things
#Makaton
in her absence. ❤️
He is talking all thing space today! ☄️
Where would you go in a spaceship? 🚀
@MakatonCharity
Is this romance at a whole another level?❤️
David surprised his girlfriend, Saris Marie, at their high school football game with a beautiful sign, flowers and balloons to ask her if she would be his sunshine and come to homecoming with him. She said yes!
What does having a
#LearningDisability
actually mean? 🤷
As it is
#LDWeek19
, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to ask some people with a learning disability what it means to them. 🤔
Here is what they had to say.👇
#LDWeek19
#HereIAm
Ki is two and has Down's Syndrome.
On a flight he was invited to the cockpit by Captain Weis, a pilot retiring after 35 years, and given the Captain's personal wings.✈️
Ki was overjoyed and signed "Thank you."❤️
Like for three cheers for Captain Weis!🙌
Do you know about
#ReasonableAdjustments
when you are in hospital? 🏥
If you have a
#LearningDisability
, you have a right to ask for things like extra time for appointments. ⌚
It's about you getting the best medical care. 👩⚕️
Learn more: 👈
#TreatMeWell
Everyone has a right to live independently as they grow up. With the right support, people with a
#LearningDisability
can lead happy and healthy lives. 🙌
Tune in now to watch
@KatiePrice
and her son
#Harvey
during an important time in Harvey's life as he becomes an adult. 📺