DRaP Newsletter Is Here!
My name is Alexa Young
The Disability, Rights and Politics (DRaP) group at Brent Mencap has started publishing its own newsletters! Each edition shares what the group has been working on — from co-production meetings with Brent Council to making local information easier to understand. The DRaP team aims to give people with learning disabilities a stronger voice and make sure everyone can access information in a way that works for them.
📩 Read their first issue HERE and stay tuned for more updates every month!
What Brent Mencap Has Been Up To
Sounds like Brent Mencap don’t support people with a learning disability anymore!
Wrong! We make sure they and family carers are supported by social prescribers for advice about benefits, housing etc if needed, Brent Mencap still offers creative and wellbeing activities for people with a learning disability, autism and long-term health conditions. These continued and evolved since Covid.
Recently, 67 people enjoyed 200 group events (385 hours and 1343 participations). WinterWarmFest sessions included yoga, art, ceramics, poetry, singing, cooking, gardening, Breathe and Move, self-advocacy, a new Chat café from Mid-January, CREATE art activities for young people, external trips and parties. 56 new people and 22 known people also received individual support and advice.
This was funded with donations, our savings and short-term grants from Brent Council, Awards for All, Sport England, The Mayor of London and lastly the Community Cost of Living Fund for WinterWarmFest.
Fingers crossed we will get longer term funding for 3 years soon. That means more self-advocacy, creative and wellbeing activities and support for family carers. We/our self-advocates will share our findings and lived experiences more widely. Brent Mencap will influence service providers and decision makers to make Brent Healthier and Fairer.
We have also been very active hosting workshops and events recently! Stay tuned as action never stops! Check out our upcoming events.
Creative Health Event – Empowering People with Learning Disabilities Through Creativity, Conversation, and Connection
On 25th June 2025, Brent Mencap proudly hosted a vibrant Creative Health Event at Kings Hall, with one clear mission: to empower people with learning disabilities (LD) by connecting them to vital health and wellbeing services in a space that was inclusive, informative, and filled with joy.
People with LD are too often excluded from conversations about health, support, and access. This event created a space where their voices were heard, their needs prioritised, and their talents celebrated. We brought together a range of local services who set up engaging stalls and spoke directly with attendees about the support available – from employment and carer support to social prescribing and health coaching.
One of the highlights of the day was the lively and thought-provoking activity led by Bizzie Families, who ran an interactive “Sugar Reduction” session. This fun, movement-based workshop helped everyone reflect on their sugar intake in an accessible way and explored creative methods for regulating blood sugar through dance and physical activity. It was joyful, educational, and energising – and left everyone smiling.
Members of Brent Mencap also took centre stage, sharing personal experiences and speaking openly about the difficulties that people with LD often face when approaching GPs and health services. These powerful testimonies highlighted the importance of accessible care, patient understanding, and the role of health and wellbeing coaches, health educators, and social prescribing in bridging the gap.
The event was full of conversation, learning, creativity, and connection. From engaging with stallholders to enjoying performances by our Brent Mencap singing groups, everyone walked away feeling more informed, supported, and seen.
We’re incredibly grateful to all the organisations who joined us – including Brent Carers, Brent Health Matters, Abilities Development, Shaw Trust, Every Contact Counts, and Bizzie Families – for their openness, compassion, and genuine commitment to inclusion.
Together, we showed what’s possible when we centre the needs, voices, and strengths of people with learning disabilities. It was more than just an event – it was a celebration of dignity, empowerment, and the right to be heard.
Upcoming & Past Events
Creative Health Free Event in BrentWed 25 JunLondon
Brent Mencap
379-381 High Rd, London NW10 2JR Tel: 020 8451 5278
Registered Charity Number: 1077038