Finding joy, purpose, and connection: My journey at Leeds Mencap
I began working at Leeds Mencap when I was just 18 years old, with very little experience working with children with learning disabilities. Before I began, I was not aware of how many children had additional needs and the huge number of families who access the service. My eyes very quickly opened to the wide range of children we support, including children who present with challenging behaviours, mental health conditions and complex medical needs. What surprised me even more was how important our playscheme was for the young people, and especially their families, during the school holidays.
I have now worked at playscheme for 3 years and absolutely love every single day. There are never two days that are the same. I couldn’t imagine not supporting the children and families that I do at playscheme; it brings me so much joy to see the children being supported and having fun!
During our playscheme, we provide a range of activities, such as time in our soft play room and sensory room, as well as arts and crafts, sensory trays and a range of outdoor activities for our children who enjoy running, climbing and jumping.
A few months after I started working as a playscheme assistant, I also began working at our Youth Club as a support worker. This club offers support for children with a learning disability, autism and other complex needs. Seeing the joy on the children’s faces when they meet with peers who they feel they can relate to is an amazing feeling. The difference you can make by listening if they’ve had a bad day, or cheering them up by playing their favourite game, is something I really value.
Leeds Mencap has so many fundraising opportunities which support our young people and families. One way I have supported this is through organising the donation of 200 Easter eggs. When I saw the Easter egg appeal, I knew I could help and did this through family and friend’s workplaces as well as some donations from members of the public.
As I got to see the happiness on the children’s faces as they each chose an Easter egg, I saw how happy it made the young people and how they lit up, as well as how thankful their parents and carers were. This meant a lot to me.
Through working at Leeds Mencap, I have been given training about Intensive Interaction, presented by a Speech and Language Therapist. It is such an undervalued skill to be able to notice very small changes in a child’s body language, non-verbal communication and vocalisations. Being able to learn to react appropriately to these is how I have been able to connect with lots of the young people who access our playscheme or Youth Club. I don’t change who I am, but adapt my communication to best fit the young people I am interacting with, so we are able to experience a positive interaction.
I have always felt fully supported by other members of staff at work. There are always people to offer advice and help me out if I need it, especially when I first started at a young age.
Children and young people with autism or other learning disabilities spend so much time adapting to other people’s way of communicating and doing things that it must feel empowering for us as adults to adapt to their chosen method of communication. This is something I feel passionate about, and I have now seen how a relationship can be built by showing a child you hear and respect their communication through spending time doing Intensive Interaction. I have learnt so much through my roles at Leeds Mencap and will always be grateful for the experiences and joy it has brought me!
