History
Herefordshire Mencap recently celebrated 55 years of campaigning, raising awareness and fundraising. The following was written by Philip Thornley, a pivotal person in the Society’s work.
Extracts from a personal account by Philip Thornley, a parent and long-term member of Herefordshire Mencap
“The Herefordshire Society for the Mentally Handicapped Children and Adults” |
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1968 |
8 members meeting at the Percival Hall, St Owen Street, Hereford. Facilities available: Junior Training Centre, Barrs Court, Hereford; Adult Training Centre, Rockfield Road, Hereford; Special Care Unit, Gaol Street, Hereford. Ivy House was the only residential home and for more able people. Everyone else either lived with their parents or loved at Lea Castle in Kidderminster (about 2000 places) and 50 miles away. The Committee ran a bus service on Sundays so relatives could visit Lea Castle. Some went to Dean Hill, an 80 place hospital in the old workhouse in Ross, largely full of older people. |
1971 |
Education Act banishing the ‘ineducable’ label: education was for everyone. Barrs Court Junior Training Centre became a school. |
1970s to 1980s |
“It soon became clear that a significant number of younger parents were deeply unhappy with the total lack of community based opportunities at this time when the community was beginning to be more inclusive, encouraged by government policy. In 1971 the education Act banished the previous label of “ineducable” (the most abominable word I know) and established education for everyone. Along with others, I was involved with creating a much bigger and active group focusing on mutual support, constructive campaigning, fund raising and developing facilities. We got away from Percival Hall, strengthened the committee, made regular contact with the local authority and started active fund raising. The most significant aspect of this was the annual canoe rally, led by the initiative of Fred Carpenter, which raised over £100,000 in it’s lifespan. This money enabled us to buy 19, Old School Lane and employ a Development Officer, Andy Johnson, whose contribution to the development of facilities was huge. During the 1970s and 80s the committee involved several key staff from the local Council and there was a co-operative atmosphere over planning. Along with Worcestershire (because the counties were combined then), we had fruitful annual meetings with the Director of Social Services. To professionally develop and manage facilities we established the charitable companies Mencap Management and then Mencap Management, now called Aspire Choices and Aspire Living. |
| Mid 1990's | By the mid 90s there was quite a big range locally of day activity and places to live. The previous 20 years had seen a complete change to community based opportunities and the large hospitals were mainly closed. During the late 80s and 90s it slowly became more and more difficult to recruit and retain parents to be on the Mencap committee. Many of the older stalwarts died or became too old. Many more families had both parents working and evening meetings and this type of voluntary work seemed to be out of fashion. More and more families had the facilities and support they wanted and no longer felt they needed to provide active support.” |
Philip Thornley |