Our History
Royal Mencap
It all began in 1946...
1940s
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In 1946 Judy Fryd, a mother of a child with a learning disability, formed 'The National Association of Parents of Backward Children' - which later became Mencap.
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She wrote to 'Nursery World' magazine inviting other parents to contact her. Many wrote back to Judy expressing their anger and sorrow at the lack of services for their children.
Saffron Walden Mencap Society History..... take a look at how we started and how far we have come....
60 years ago...... A group of young mothers with children of junior school age, who had learning disabilities. At that time, Mencap was not recognised by the Statutory Authorities, meaning there was no funding available for such a project. However, the group applied for, and were successful in their application to the very first Children in Need, and the Saffron Walden Playgroup and Holiday Club benefitted from a £1,000 donation.
Today, ‘Royal Mencap’ is recognised as one of the leading organisations in campaigning, improving, and promoting the needs of people with learning disabilities. Saffron Walden Mencap is a small charity affiliated to Royal Mencap who, whilst supporting us with invaluable resources and advice, do not provide any financial support. Saffron Walden Mencap Society raises money through fundraising activities, grants, donations, and subscriptions.
Many of the founders of Saffron Walden Mencap Society also formed the original Committee. Apart from providing activities for their children, they also built a valuable network of support with each other. Some of those parents, including our President, remain on the Committee today. They also continue to meet at a monthly Carers group which is open to all parents and carers of current members.
As the Founders children moved into adulthood, Saffron Walden Mencap Society began to provide opportunities and activities for adults with learning disabilities.
2015
Under the direction of Saffron Walden Mencap Society’s Chairman, Patrick Draper, the Side by Side Club was born. The club, which welcomes over 18s with a learning disability meets weekly at the Salvation Army Hall in Saffron Walden. Led by a coordinator and deputy and assisted by a wonderful group of volunteers, members engage in a fantastic range of activities, such as bingo, karaoke, crafts and fish and chip suppers, or, they can just ‘hang out’ with each other!
Every year, several special events are planned, including discos, theatre and canal trips and a Christmas meal. Side by Side Club has become enormously popular with individuals with learning disabilities in the Saffron Walden area, and the membership of the Society currently stands at more than seventy.
2019
Saffron Walden Mencap Society have recently been working together, with the local community, to identify the need for additional services for local individuals with learning disabilities. The 16-25 age group, which bridges the gap between children’s and adult’s services, was the area where both individuals and parents felt there was the greatest immediate need. To address this, Saffron Walden Mencap Society been working towards starting a pilot project called Go With Our Flow. The scheme will operate on Friday evenings, providing planned bespoke activities for individuals and/or small groups. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, it had to be put on hold.
2020
Individuals who would usually attend Saffron Walden Mencap Society’s clubs and activities, are some of the most vulnerable in our society and can so easily become socially isolated. During this year, where possible. members kept in contact by Zoom meetings, some very special ‘socially distanced’ picnics during the Summer, on Facebook, and by sending messages of support.
2021
In 2021, Saffron Walden Mencap Society linked up with the Dig-It charity for a new venture allowing people with a disability to learn a new life skill.
Mencap's GrowAbility group meets every Wednesday morning at the fully accessible ‘Dig-it’ Community Allotment in Saffron Walden. Members learn how to grow flowers, fruits, vegetables and herbs from seed to harvest. After working together on the plot, the group eat lunch together made with produce harvested by them that day, discussing the health benefits, and often take vegetables or fruit home too.
2022
Our Go With Our Flow group, which was due to be launched in early 2020, was launched on Friday the 22nd of April 2022. This project is aimed at young people aged 16 to 25, who have left children's services and may not be ready for adult groups. The Friday night group, enjoys a variety of activities, outings and experiences in the local community. We give our members a 'Voice to make a Choice.'
In 2022, Mencap groups were be able to meet more regularly with members, friends and volunteers and resume all the wonderful activities and events that we have enjoyed organising and taking part in over recent years.
2024
After identifying a need for a peer support group for parents and carers of our adults and young people, a Carers Support Group ‘We ARE Carers!’ was formed. This follows a previously successful ‘older carers group’, but encompasses all families regardless of their home circumstances. The group meets every other month for a meal and has occasional guest speakers where there is a need for expertise on a subject area.
2025
Following a successful trip to see musicians rehearsing at Saffron Hall in October 2024, and feedback from members and families, work began on giving our members an opportunity to become musicians themselves. A workshop was so successful with David Stanley from the Music Man Project in February 2025 - we opened our doors to a new term time weekly Music Man Project with 20 participants on Monday evenings in Saffron Walden at the end of April.
Present day
Saffron Walden Mencap Society continues to grow with new members joining regularly and we continue to pursue links within the local community.
The human spirit is one of ability, perseverance and courage that no disability can steal away......
“Know your limits, but never stop trying to break them.”
Kyle Maynard.