Royal
Mencap Society increases focus on carers
In 2004 Royal Mencap Society published its five-year
strategy document ‘Equal Chances’. It put family carers and
people with a learning disability at the centre of all of
Mencap’s work. In 2005 following a period of restructure
within the organisation a new Carers and Family Members
team was created to take this commitment to carers forward.
The team of six is headed up by Steve Morris and covers
England. Over the course of the next two years the team
plan to work with voluntary and statutory agencies,
Partnership Boards, Valuing People team and carers
themselves, to influence strategy and good practice across
the country. The team have a number of priorities, but one
key area that we have identified is family carers from
black and minority ethnic communities.
Over the past year Royal Mencap Society, alongside
Birmingham Mencap, have commissioned a research study to
identify the key barriers facing carers from black and
minority ethnic community groups accessing Mencap’s
services on a national and local level. The study,
‘Reaching Out’, has also evaluated the work of Birmingham
Mencap’s Black and Minority Ethnic Development Worker over
the past two years. The report is likely to be launched in
May, and will in part guide the future work of the Carers
and Family Members team.
If
you are interested in finding out more about the team, or
the ‘Reaching Out’ report, please contact the Carers and
Family Members team Tel 0161 968 9251
