About Us
We hold to the same vision mission and values as Royal Mencap but we are independently governed and remain flexible to respond to local needs. This means that local members who know what living with learning disability is like, decide how we follow the vision, mission and values to help families in Liverpool.
What Mencap wants (our vision)
Our vision is a world where people with a learning disability are valued equally, listened to and included. We want everyone to have the opportunity to achieve the things they want out of life.
How Mencap will achieve this (our mission)
We will:
* listen to people with a learning disability
* fight for the changes that people with a learning disability, and their families and supporters, want and need
* support all people living with a learning disability in all parts of their lives
* give excellent information and advice
* work with people and groups that want the same things we do
Mencap believes in (our values):
* being people centred
* empowering, including and respecting all people
* challenging wrong ways of thinking about learning disability
* transforming lives
* being brave and developing new ideas.
TRUSTEES
Ed Gilchrist (Chair)
Ed is 61 years old and has lived in Melling since 1997. He is married to Marian and they have 3 grown up children. Their daughters are Louisa, who works with the DWP, and Laura who is a musician. Their 26 year old son, Mark, has a number of life challenges, including social impairments and epilepsy. These conditions are further complicated by significant mental health troubles.
Ed has been a trustee since 2003 and wants to help Mencap Liverpool to deliver the best, most relevant support to Liverpool people who live with learning disability.
Ann Cavanagh
Ann has been happily married to Jim for 26 years with two beautiful daughters. She lives in the Walton with her family. Jim, Susan and Sarah. Sarah has Down Syndrome and is currently enjoying College with a view of supported employment. Ann also helps run a Brownie troop, and holds the scout leader title of Tawnie Owl.
Ann helped look after her mum. She works in a school in the evenings and gets involved on a Friday morning with school breakfast. Ann has a busy life like most carers and never has a dull moment. She is active in some events that Mencap are involved with.
Ann has been involved with Mencap Liverpool on a voluntary basis now for a good number of years. Mencap Liverpool have great plans for the coming years and her greatest wish is for more members to come forward and actively get involved. She has also been involved with Down Syndrome Liverpool for years.
John Courtney
John is 71-years-old, from Liverpool and retired. He regularly runs marathons and half-marathons with his foster son James. James is blind and has severe learning disabilities but this hasn’t stopped him competing in 38 marathons. John is marginally ahead with 45. The two of them run and raise money for VICTA (Visually Impaired Children Taking Action). John has been a trustee for over 10 years and wants the organisation to be a voice for people with learning disability and to speak up for people with learning disability.
Peter Cowan
Peter is 50-years-old and lives in South Liverpool. He has four children including a 19-year-old son who has autism and severe learning disabilities. He has been a trustee for the last 18 yrs and hopes to help Mencap Liverpool to provide increasing levels of practical help, information and support to people with a learning disability, and to their families.
Phil Blything
Phil’s career as an internet marketer started more than 14 years ago – he had a ponytail which he insists was cool at the time. Since then, he’s worked with governments, newspapers, universities and businesses, helping all of them succeed with digital communication.
Before setting up Glow, Phil worked as Commercial Manager for the International Centre for Digital Content, a £26 million project run by Liverpool John Moores University where he was responsible for marketing, commercialising the digital technology produced by the centre, developing its business pipeline and strategic partnerships.
Phil previously worked as Business Development Manager for a leading, award winning Internet agency and also in a range of industries including Biosciences, Telecoms and Tourism.
Phil is actively involved with voluntary work and sits on the board of trustees for Mencap Liverpool.
Matt Smith
Matt is our most recent Trustee, joining us in September 2011. Having spent the past 10 years running various races to raise money for charity, he thought it was about time to put some of his other skills to work and get involved with a charity personally. He chose Liverpool Mencap after seeing the difference they make to the lives of local people with learning disabilities and due to a strong interest in equality.
Matt lives in Bebington with his wife Lucy. Matt is an employment lawyer and works at the head office of national law firm Weightmans. In his spare time he runs for Liverpool Running Club, climbs in the peak district and generally does anything that involves adrenaline.
