Mencap’s Client Story

A creative communication workshop for a mixed ability group.

Gateway is a social club for adults with a learning disability, affiliated to Mencap. Groups are run by volunteers who ensure the clubs are friendly, vibrant and productive.

Braintree Mencap Society recognised that the four area clubs needed to coordinate better. They knew improved communication would save time and effort for everyone, but didn’t want their volunteers giving up any more personal time to attend formal training.

So they asked Rebecca to design a fun, creative, fully inclusive day when volunteers and their members could come together and strengthen their communication channels.

With Rebecca facilitating, 16 people came out one sunny Saturday in March to plan a major event: Gateway’s Got Talent! They formed project teams, each taking responsibility for one aspect of the show following a clear set of steps. The project teams quickly discovered the importance of checking in with each other, making sure the plans they were making would all fit together at the end.

By the end of a busy day there were many posters, stickies, scribbled notes and biscuit crumbs – and a glorious floor-length timeline, setting out exactly what needed to happen, when, and who would be responsible for it. Mission accomplished.

General Manager Rachael Lucking picks up the story…

“What a brilliant time we all had on Saturday, Rebecca. You were the perfect trainer for the day, and everyone worked so very very hard. In fact, it is the only course I have been on where at 4pm we all decided to do some extra work and compile a list of Rules for Entry to our competition. Talk about gluttons for punishment, but it was fab!”

And what about the event itself? Gateway’s Got Talent went ahead that June.

“Everything went to plan – thanks to your training day – and it is fair to say that everyone kept their promises and performed their allocated tasks beautifully! It just goes to show what teamwork can do.”

The event was fully reviewed afterwards, and lessons learned.

“Rebecca is an amazing trainer who is able to understand your needs and requirements in order to tailor make a trainer course that really does deliver! Thanks to a course on the Importance of Communication four different local Mencap groups and their members with a learning disability were able to work together in order to plan and organise a large Gateways Got Talent Contest. Without her facilitation this would have been an impossible task, with her it became a fun, learning experience. Thanks Rebecca, you are a superstar!”

Need to bring in a creative approach to solve a problem? We’d love to discuss it with you.

I have found the coaching experience brilliant! … I have learned the importance of self-belief and also of thinking all around an issue rather than just what might have always worked or failed before. The ability to develop this approach and share with others has been so beneficial that I would recommend it to anyone.

Operational Service Manager, Essex County Council