The Allan Boffey Memorial Trophy

• 12th November 2024

The Allan Boffey Memorial Trophy is a fitting tribute to a man who didn't think twice about helping others. Family and friends of Allan get together annually to raise funds for a local charity. This year, the event supported Leeds... Read More...

Enhancing Sensory Experiences

• 17th October 2024

As we continue our series of blog posts this is an important one to kick off the new academic year! Here, at Leeds Mencap, we would like to say a big thank you to the Trustees of the Skipton Building... Read More...

Summer 24 Newsletter

• 10th September 2024

Well, summer is officially here, and although it's the school holidays, we have been busier than ever with our summer playscheme and healthy holidays taking place. It's been lovely to see all the children and young people enjoying activities at the... Read More...

Volunteer Spotlight- Millie

• 26th July 2024

This month, we've welcomed a new Marketing and Communications Volunteer to the team! 'Hi, my name is Millie Mangham. I am from a small town in the West Midlands called Shrewsbury.  I am currently going into my second year at... Read More...

Disability History Month

• 16th November 2023

By Orla Conway, November 16th to December 16th marks UK Disability History Month. Disability Month is a longstanding initiative created and led by disabled organisations. This month aims to create a platform to honour the historical challenges faced by disabled... Read More...

Inclusive Winter Activities

• 2nd November 2023

by Mia Stewart With the nights drawing in and the temperatures dropping, it’s time to get in the festive spirit! There are many winter activities across Leeds and many of them are suitable for those with additional needs! Christmas Family... Read More...

World Mental Health Day

• 9th October 2023

The 10th of October is World Mental Health Day. The Day is all about raising awareness of mental health and helping those to make positive changes for their mental health. Having a good mental health is very important as it... Read More...

Volunteer Spotlight- Orla

• 5th October 2023

With a new academic year, comes new volunteers! Last week we welcomed our new Marketing and Communication Volunteer Orla. Here's a bit more about Orla and what encouraged her to volunteer for us: "My name is Orla Conway, and I... Read More...

Leeds Mencap x Tomoro

• 4th September 2023

To continue our 70th Anniversary blog post series, we chatted with our corporate partners Tomoro all about their journey with Leeds Mencap: "Here at Tomoro Agency we are based in Leeds city centre. We specialise in digital marketing and creative... Read More...

Legacy Fundraising: The basics

• 31st July 2023

Introduction Legacy fundraising, also known as legacy giving, is an growing component of charity fundraising efforts. By encouraging individuals to include a charitable bequest in their will or estate plan, organizations can secure long-term financial support for their mission. In... Read More...

Leeds Mencap's History with Challenge Anneka!

• 25th July 2023

*Photo shared with Leeds Mencap by Integra Buildings Welcome to the latest instalment in our 70th anniversary series, where we reflect on the remarkable milestones that have shaped Leeds Mencap into the organization it is today. In this blog post,... Read More...

Trustee Spotlight-Tim

• 19th July 2023

As we continue our series of blog posts to celebrate our 70th anniversary we are delighted to share the stories of some of our excellent trustees, who have generously supported our work over the years. What is a Trustee? Trustees... Read More...

Leeds Mencap's New Playground!

• 11th July 2023

We are thrilled to announce the grand opening of our brand new playground, made possible by a generous £22,384 grant from The Morrisons Foundation. This exciting project has transformed our space, providing children with enhanced play opportunities and an environment... Read More...

Celebrating the Extraordinary Spirit of the Special Olympics

• 27th June 2023

What are the Special Olympics? The Special Olympics, a global movement that celebrates the abilities and accomplishments of individuals with intellectual disabilities, took place last week (17th-25th June 2023) This exceptional sporting event not only showcases the remarkable athletic talent... Read More...

Inclusive Summer Activities!

• 12th June 2023

Summer is here and it’s time to enjoy the sunshine and have some fun. Whether you’re looking for outdoor adventures, cultural events, or relaxing activities, there’s something for everyone in Leeds this summer. Here are some of the inclusive and... Read More...

Volunteer Week 2023!

• 6th June 2023

In a world where acts of kindness and selflessness often go unnoticed, Volunteers Week takes the time to honour the invaluable contributions of volunteers. This annual celebration, observed in various countries during the first week of June, serves as a... Read More...

The Impact of the Cost of Living Crisis

• 30th May 2023

The cost-of-living-crisis is a devastating, ongoing issue facing everyone in the UK. The cost-of-living crisis refers to the fact that the cost of many essential items such as food, gas and electricity and petrol are quickly increasing, whereas wages and... Read More...

Luca's Story

• 23rd May 2023

We are continuing our 70th Anniversary series of blog posts by focusing on Hawthorn, our specialist nursery playroom for very young children with additional needs. We sat down with nursery staff and Shelby, whose son Luca attends Hawthorn, to hear... Read More...

Mental Health Awareness Week 2023

• 15th May 2023

The 15th May to 21st May is Mental Health Awareness Week. It is important to understand that mental health issues and learning disabilities are not the same thing, as they are often confused for one another. Whilst learning disabilities and... Read More...

Enhancing Communication for Young People with Learning Disabilities

• 9th May 2023

Having a learning disability can make communicating and processing information more difficult than it is for a non-disabled person. Therefore, it is important to know about the different ways to communicate with children, young adults or adults with learning disabilities.... Read More...

Evelyn and Erin's Stories

• 25th April 2023

Evelyn playing on the Leeds Mencap playground (Left) and Erin on a Sib's trip to Puttstars (Right) As Leeds Mencap celebrates its 70th Anniversary, we are pleased to present the first in a series of case studies highlighting the incredible... Read More...

Leeds Mencap's Timeline

• 17th April 2023

Have you ever wondered how Leeds Mencap got to be where we are now? As we mark out 70th Anniversary, we wanted to take time to recap and reflect upon our journey over the last 70 years. We’ve already delved... Read More...

Supporter Celebration- Winston Solicitors!

• 13th April 2023

This week’s blog post is an appreciation post for Winston Solicitors, who have been a generous long-time supporter of Leeds Mencap. Winston Solicitors is an established and welcoming law firm with a first-class reputation, offering family law, conveyancing, wills, trust... Read More...

World Autism Day!

• 28th March 2023

World Autism Day occurs every year on the 2nd of April and aims to raise awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and to promote greater understanding and acceptance of people with ASD. The day was created by the United Nations... Read More...

Our Impact!

• 28th March 2023

Next up in our 70th Anniversary Blog post series, is a summary of our Impact. We've already taken a look back at the origins of Leeds Mencap and the challenges it overcame in its establishment, we will now jump forward... Read More...

Volunteer Spotlight- Shuyue

• 20th March 2023

In the final instalment of our "Meet the Volunteer Series" we're chatting to Shuyue, our new Community and Events Volunteer. "As you might have already guessed, since my hard-to-pronounce name has already given me away, that I am from a... Read More...

Inclusive Spring Activities

• 20th March 2023

It's the first day of spring. And although the drizzly weather may not make it feel like it, we thought we'd kick off the season by rounding up some of the best inclusive activities that will be going on across... Read More...

Neurodiversity Awareness Week 2023

• 13th March 2023

Neurodiversity Awareness Week is an annual event aimed at raising awareness of the diversity of human brains and how these differences should be celebrated, rather than stigmatized or pathologized. This week is an opportunity to promote the idea that neurological... Read More...

Volunteer Spotlight- Alice

• 13th March 2023

Next in our meet the volunteers series is Alice! Read more about her and why she wanted to volunteer for Leeds Mencap below: I initially wanted to join Leeds Mencap after seeing an advertisement for the Fundraising Administration Volunteer on... Read More...

Volunteer Spotlight- Zijing

• 6th March 2023

My name is Zijing Zhang, and I am originally from Suzhou, China. Half a year ago, I came to the University of Leeds for further study and I am currently studying Corporate Communication, Marketing and Public Relations in the business... Read More...

The origins of Leeds Mencap- where it all began!

• 28th February 2023

2023 marks Leeds Mencap's Milestone 70th Anniversary! Throughout this year we will be publishing a series of blog posts and case studies highlighting our journey, our impact and some of our most important moments. To kick off our blog post... Read More...

Volunteer Spotlight- Yashvi

• 27th February 2023

Hi, I am Yashvi a current student at the University of Leeds studying International Business. I am an international student from Hong Kong. During my time in high school, I did the international baccalaureate, I studied higher-level psychology, business, and... Read More...

Volunteer Spotlight - Mia

• 22nd February 2023

Here at Leeds Mencap we have been lucky enough to recruit a brilliant new cohort of volunteers. Mia is one of our new Marketing and Communications Volunteers, here is a bit more about her and why she decided to volunteer... Read More...

Managing Learning Disabilities

• 13th February 2023

What are ways of managing learning disabilities?  Learning disability management can make a lot of difference to children, not just at school but at home as well. If left unmanaged, children can easily become frustrated and experience feelings of failure... Read More...

Disability History Month

• 12th December 2022

What we have been doing From 16th November to 16th December it is world disability history month. Here at Leeds Mencap we are always championing disabilities and this month was no different. We celebrated Disability History Month in many different... Read More...