Sheffield Mencap and Gateway
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Sheffield Mencap and Gateway was established in 1951 and over the last 70 years has been supporting individuals with learning disabilities and autism, and their families.
Based at Norfolk Lodge, on Park Grange Road, the organisation is committed to ensuring individuals with learning disabilities in Sheffield, and their caregivers, are appreciated, fulfilled, included and respected.
Mencap was awarded a £1,000 grant from the Legacy Fund, which is being managed and administered by South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation.
The Legacy Fund gives community groups and charitable organisations within a three-mile radius of Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park the opportunity to apply for funding to support physical and mental health and wellbeing and reduce social isolation.
Funding was used to provide safe, inclusive weekly fitness sessions for people with a learning disability. Open to up to 15 people, the hour-long sessions, provided respite for their carers.
Sessions, designed and delivered by specialists in disability health and fitness, included a variety of activities from aerobics and chairobics to dance, tennis and circuits.
The sessions were held on-site at Sheffield Mencap – home to a large sports hall and accessible changing facilities.
Carol Cook from Sheffield Mencap and Gateway said:
The grant funding has made such a difference to the lives of the people we work with, not just those with the learning disabilities, but their families and carers too.
It has allowed us to run these sessions offering a variety of activities to boost health and wellbeing but also provide often much needed respite for carers too.
The participants had so much fun, trying all sorts of new sports and activities. We are really grateful to Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park and South Yorkshire’s Community Foundation for making this happen.
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Sheffield Mencap and Gateway received £1,000 from SYCF to support individuals with learning disabilities and autism, and their families.
Since receiving the funding, Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park has continued supporting Sheffield Mencap, inviting the group for a visit and tour of the Park, which included an accessible ice skating and curling session at iceSheffield.
Sheffield Mencap also linked up with another Legacy Fund recipient, The Eagles Foundation, and the two organisations have since formed a new partnership.
Carol added:
Sheffield Eagles have since run regular tag rugby coaching sessions at Sheffield Mencap and Gateway’s daytime service - including summer sessions at its sports camp which have been a huge success.
As a result, the Sheffield Mencap and Gateway rugby league team made its debut at the Sheffield Eagles Learning Disability Rugby League Festival in June playing against teams from across the North with the Eagles very kindly donating the team a kit!
We have also been visited by Sheffield Eagles player Cory Aston and mascot Errol The Eagle and have a few very enthusiastic Eagles fans here now as a result!