Why I choose to be a trustee at Leeds Mencap
Our Trustee, Louisa, shares her journey to becoming a trustee at Leeds Mencap.
Raising a child with a learning disability, autism and ADHD has been a rewarding but challenging journey. When my son was younger, I would want to take him out to do all the usual things you would want to do with your child, to play in the park, visit playgrounds and play with other little ones, visit local attractions. I managed it, just, but it was so hard. My son was a runner, he would eat dirt, he would roll around on the floor, he wasn’t toilet trained, he couldn’t cope with change, noise, unpredictability. He had limited social skills, would push other children out of his space, kick, hit. A familiar story for lots of SEND families, but I didn’t know that at the time as it felt to me like we were the only family in this situation. Every trip out required so much planning ahead, it was exhausting. In mainstream school he stood out, he didn’t have any friends, wasn’t allowed to attend the afterschool clubs due to limited staffing, wasn’t able to attend the community clubs as he didn’t have the skills to do so. For my son there was no football club, karate club, gymnastics, art club. This was all so heart breaking as all I wanted for my son was the opportunity to socialise with his peers and have the same opportunities that other children have but in a safe space.
Then, we found Leeds Mencap. This charity has been an absolute game changer for our family. My son can now go to youth club and activity days without his mum, meet new friends, socialise in a safe space, develop his communication skills, play with other young people who really do want to join in with him. He has now got friends that he talks about, he absolutely loves going to Leeds Mencap and now has the equitable experiences that he deserves. For me, Leeds Mencap has offered support when I have needed it and a chance to meet other parents and carers in a similar situation to mine. Leeds Mencap is a community akin to a family.
So, when I saw that Leeds Mencap were recruiting trustees, I knew that I really wanted to give something back to this wonderful charity, to help in supporting the Leeds Mencap family to grow and thrive so that they can continue working to support families like mine across Leeds. I have learnt so much in my time as a trustee about what it takes to run a charity, the challenges of fundraising, accounting and budgeting, safeguarding and so much more. As the family services link trustee, I have had the privilege of supporting the development of this area of Leeds Mencap and to be able to offer a lived experience perspective. My son is 15 now, educated at a specialist setting and is growing into a wonderful sociable young man. The extracurricular opportunities that Leeds Mencap have offered him have been life changing and empowering. We need Leeds Mencap in our life and I am passionate in striving to ensure that this charity can continue to deliver it’s vital services to SEND families across Leeds for a long time to come.
