Instagram Post
Wednesday 2nd September 2026
We were delighted to welcome Peter Dowd MP to our Cottage on Friday – and our members did a fantastic job of showing him around and sharing some of the things they've been getting up to. Matty and Paul are regular users of our new gym facilities and took over as tour guides, showing Peter their favourite equipment. Paul's favourite is the treadmill, and he had another achievement to share too. Paul got involved in running through a Couch to 5K initiative we were funded for in the past – and he has kept going! He is now just two runs away from his 50th parkrun and earning his 50 parkrun milestone T-shirt. 🏃👏 The tour didn't stop there. Members showed Peter our gardens, boxing gym, table tennis area and charity shop, sharing the things they enjoy about our building and Mencap along the way. Rachel talked about her work delivering Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training around the country. We've have met with Peter previously to talk about some of the issues people with a learning disability face, so it was brilliant for him to hear Rachel talking about how much she enjoys delivering the training and to see just how proud she is of what she's doing. We also heard about the connections our members are making in the wider community, including working with In Another Place as preparations get underway for the Narnia Experience. And Sue and Phil, two of our longest-attending members, shared some fantastic memories from over the years – including abseiling down Liverpool Anglican Cathedral! 😲 Of course, no visit to the Cottage would be complete without making sure Peter sampled a gorgeous coffee from our coffee shop too. ☕️ A huge thank you to Peter for taking the time to come and see us, and particularly to our members who came along on a very wet and bleak Friday and spoke with such passion about the things they do, the opportunities they've had and what Mencap Liverpool & Sefton means to them. We can tell people what we do – but the best people to tell the story are our members. 💙 #LearningDisability #MemberVoice #Community #Liverpool #Sefton Inclusion
Published by ig on 2026-09-02T18:51:48+0000
Instagram Post
Wednesday 2nd September 2026
🎙️ We’re on YouTube! Earlier this year, members from Mencap Liverpool and Sefton were invited to be the very first guests on Mencap’s new Let’s Talk About Your Community podcast. Now the full podcast is available to watch on YouTube! 💜 Our members Ste, James, Adam and Sue joined the conversation to talk about their community, what matters to them and the things they’re involved in here in Liverpool and Sefton. A huge thank you to the Community Support Group at Mencap for inviting us to be the first guests – and most importantly, for creating another space where people with a learning disability can speak for themselves and have their voices heard. 🎧 Have a watch and let us know what you think! ▶️ https://youtu.be/hHoTjXX7m_Y #LearningDisability #Liverpool #Sefton #Podcast #Community Inclusion
Published by ig on 2026-09-02T18:49:06+0000
Instagram Post
Wednesday 2nd September 2026
We've been spending time at In Another Place in Bootle, helping people make connections and become more confident getting involved in their community. It's been particularly lovely seeing Luke become a firmly established part of the group and really finding his feet. What started as an introduction to somewhere new is becoming somewhere he knows, enjoys and feels comfortable attending. Last week it was also great to see Karen there. Karen is already a well-known face at In Another Place, and after we'd spoken the day before, we'd arranged to meet there. We're really pleased that she's now planning to start joining us more regularly too. 💙 These are the little successes that matter – connections being made, confidence growing and people finding places where they feel they belong. We'd love to encourage more people to join us, so if you know an adult with a learning disability in Liverpool or Sefton who might like to get involved, please get in touch. #LearningDisability #Community #Outreach #Liverpool #Sefton
Published by ig on 2026-09-02T18:44:51+0000
Instagram Post
Tuesday 25th August 2026
Each Tuesday some of our Mencap Members meet up and take part in different activities 🎨🎳🤩 Recently going for a monthly lunch and catch up has been worked into the mix and it's been fabulous! This month we went to the Marine Bar & Kitchen in Waterloo and everyone enjoyed a tasty lunch, catch up and made some plans for the future! ✨ Lovely afternoon finished off with a short walk in the sun 🌞
Published by ig on 2026-08-25T09:57:48+0000
Instagram Post
Tuesday 18th August 2026
winner winner chicken dinner! was it you???
Published by ig on 2026-08-18T11:18:13+0000
Instagram Post
Saturday 15th August 2026
🐝 A fascinating morning last week learning all about bees! I joined the Garden Drop In this morning and had the chance to listen to a brilliant beekeeping session from Dave Cowhig. Dave had such a great way of bringing the world inside a beehive to life. I loved his analogies and the pictures he painted with his words – from the guard bees acting as the bouncers of the hive, tough and protective but apparently not always the brightest, to the undertaker bees, whose importa1qnt job is to remove bees that have died from the hive. We learned about the different roles bees have, how incredibly organised a hive is and, of course, the famous waggle dance, which bees use to communicate information about where to find food. We even got the whole dance demonstrated! There were plenty of props to look at, beekeeper veils to try on and different honeys to taste. I tried lavender honey for the first time and absolutely loved it. 🍯 It was also a real reminder of just how important bees and other pollinators are to our environment and food supply, and why creating places where they can thrive matters. And the garden is certainly doing its bit! 🌸🐝 It's looking absolutely lovely at the moment, with plenty growing and flowering to make it a welcoming place for bees and other wildlife. There was some lovely teamwork happening in the garden too. A metal and mosaic table and chairs donated by Jim have been given a new lease of life, with James sanding them down and Carol painting them – and they've come up a treat. A really interesting morning and a great example of how someone who genuinely knows and loves their subject can make learning about it entertaining, memorable and fun. Thank you to Dave for sharing so much of his knowledge – I definitely came away knowing far more about the secret life of bees than I did when I arrived! 🐝🍯🌼
Published by ig on 2026-08-15T00:30:19+0000
Instagram Post
Saturday 15th August 2026
A slightly different Thursday at @_inanotherplace In Another Place this week! ☕🍰 Instead of the usual cardboard and sewing workshops, the team were holding a consultation session – with plenty of tea and cake to keep everyone going! It was Amber's first visit, giving her the chance to come along, meet some new people and get a feel for what happens at In Another Place. James, Matty and Paul joined us too, which was lovely, while Luke is now becoming a very familiar face and has firmly found his place within the IAP community. And Doe has been busy! 🧶 She brought along even more crochet squares she'd made at home using the wool she was given last week. Sometimes it's not about the activity that's planned – it's simply about having somewhere welcoming to go, meeting people and finding opportunities to get involved. ❤️
Published by ig on 2026-08-15T00:11:47+0000
Instagram Post
Friday 14th August 2026
A fantastic afternoon on Monday at LCR 106.7FM as some of our members got behind the microphones to record the radio advert for our I’m In campaign. The campaign is all about raising awareness of the Learning Disability Register and encouraging people with a learning disability to make sure they are on their GP practice register. Our members have been involved throughout the project, helping to shape the campaign and, today, bringing it to life with their own voices. Sue, Rachel, Amber, Kevin and our volunteerTony did a brilliant job in a very warm and very busy studio! We’re incredibly pleased with what everyone achieved. And they’re already thinking ahead. After recording, the conversation quickly turned to how we should celebrate and launch the finished campaign, with some great ideas about bringing together families, friends, health professionals and people from across our community. There’s more to come from I’m In — watch this space! 🎧
Published by ig on 2026-08-14T20:07:38+0000
Instagram Post
Friday 14th August 2026
A little bit of Friday joy from BBC Radio Merseyside! 📻 A few of our members had the chance to meet the lovely Leanne Campbell while we were visiting the studios last Friday – and to say they were pleased would be an understatement! Lewis, Amber and Rachel in particular were absolutely over the moon, and the smiles afterwards said everything. 😊 A huge thank you to Leanne for taking the time to say hello, have a chat and make their morning, and to the Radio Merseyside team for making everyone feel so welcome. Sometimes it’s the unexpected moments that make a day that little bit special. ❤️
Published by ig on 2026-08-14T20:04:01+0000
Instagram Post
Friday 14th August 2026
🦁 Another brilliant afternoon with In Another Place! 🌲 Every Thursday afternoon we're getting involved with the team at In Another Place as they prepare for their upcoming Narnia Experience – and there's always something different happening! Last week the wonderful Doe brought along some of her beautiful crochet creations, which will be passed on to a local NICU. ❤️ Luke has been coming along every week and has found a place where he can share his art and sewing skills, meet new people and get properly involved with the team. Adam joined us too and got stuck into the cardboard workshop. Jennie soon had all of us working! This week's job was preparing recycled cardboard by removing every bit of tape, labels and stickers ready for it to be transformed into some of the huge pieces needed for Narnia. By layering cardboard together they can create structures as strong as wood! 🌲 One of the best things about these workshops is the atmosphere. At the end of every session everyone comes together to talk about what they've been working on. Staff, volunteers, participants and support staff all work alongside each other and everyone is simply part of the team. A huge thank you to everyone at In Another Place for creating such a friendly and welcoming space. We can't wait to see Narnia taking shape! 🦁✨
Published by ig on 2026-08-14T20:01:33+0000
Instagram Post
Friday 14th August 2026
We had a lovely afternoon at the Feelgood Factory Summer Fair in Netherton last week! Thank you to the @feelgoodfactory2017 for inviting Mencap Liverpool and Sefton along to be part of such a fantastic community event. There was something for everyone, from Gemma Longworth's flower crown making to live music, a BBQ, tombola and lots of brilliant local organisations. A special thank you to our volunteer Ann and members Sue, Adam and Racheal, who spent the afternoon chatting to visitors about everything happening at Mencap Liverpool and Sefton. They shared their experiences, answered questions and helped spread the word about the opportunities available in our community. It was a great day and lovely to meet so many people. Thank you for having us!
Published by ig on 2026-08-14T19:58:04+0000
Instagram Post
Wednesday 5th August 2026
We are on a mission to make travel more inclusive and recently we took a trip to Arriva Bootle Bus Depot 🚌 We learnt a lot of what happens behind the scenes and what is being put into place to make public transport more accessible for all! 🙌 Our members also got to share really valuable feedback and ideas Massive thank you to Neil from Arriva for the invite and a great day and watch this space! 👀 #inclusive #arriva #travel
Published by ig on 2026-08-05T14:07:22+0000
Instagram Post
Thursday 30th July 2026
🎉💜 WOW... WHAT A CELEBRATION! 💜🎉 A huge THANK YOU to everyone who joined us to celebrate @mencap 80th Birthday! 🎂🥳🎈 We were overwhelmed by the incredible turnout and support from our amazing community. Seeing so many people come together to celebrate made the day truly special 💜✨ Unfortunately, our 🥁 Samba Band couldn’t make it due to unexpected minibus problems, but that certainly didn’t stop the fun! 🎉💃🎶 A massive thank you to: 💃 Jennie & Lou for getting everyone up and moving with a fantastic Zumba session,🎧 DJ Ste for keeping the party going with brilliant tunes all day long 🎵🎤,🎨 Zulay for the wonderful arts and crafts activities 🖌️🌈✂️🎪 all the stalls, 🎟️ everyone who donated to The grand raffle (special thank you to Derek at Tesco) 🌟💜 We were also delighted to present our amazing volunteer Helen with a special gift as a token of our appreciation. Helen continually goes above and beyond for both our members and staff, and we are so grateful for everything she does. 👏🎁💜 🙏 A huge thank you to Room to Reward for helping us recognise Helen’s dedication and commitment. 👏💜 A very special thank you goes to our amazing staff and volunteers who worked so hard behind the scenes to organise the event. From planning and setting up to welcoming guests and keeping everything running smoothly, your dedication made the day possible. 🌟🙌 And finally, thank you to everyone who attended, supported, donated, volunteered and celebrated with us. You helped make Mencap’s 80th Birthday a day to remember! 🎂🎉💜 Here’s to the next 80 years! 🥂✨🎈 #mencap80thbirthday 💜 #thankyou 🙏 #communityspirit 🤝 #learningdisabilities 🎉 #togetherwecan 💪 MakingMemories 📸 BirthdayCelebration 🎂 Crosby 🌟 @coffeeatmencap @tescocommunitylitherland @merseysidepolice @neighbourhoodcoffee @mullinsgifts22 @illustrations_by_hilary @utilitywarehouseuk @egienergy @homeinstead_liverpool_central @notjusttravelofficial @jennieempowermentwellbeing @dwpgovuk @peoplefirstmerseyside @secure.inheritance @roomtoreward
Published by ig on 2026-07-30T13:28:24+0000
Instagram Post
Tuesday 28th July 2026
🎈 Join us tomorrow as Mencap turns 80! 🎈 Come along for a day of fun, music, prizes and celebrations! 🥳 📅 Wednesday 29th July ⏰ 10am - 4pm 📍 Mencap Community Cottage, 6-8 Mariners Road, Crosby, L23 6SX ✨ What’s on? 🎪 Stalls 🥁 Samba Band 💃 Zumba 🎵 DJ Ste ☕ Free tea & coffee 🍰 Free cake (while it lasts!) 🎨 Colour & a Cuppa 🎟️ Amazing raffle prizes 🎉 Raffle draw at 3pm We can’t wait to celebrate with you! 💜 #mencap80thbirthday #communitycelebration #crosby #mencapliverpoolandsefon #partytime
Published by ig on 2026-07-28T16:04:00+0000
Instagram Post
Thursday 23rd July 2026
We would like to give a big welcome to our new member, Luke! Luke met with our Outreach Manager Jo, for an initial visit and a big part of these visits is getting to know people, finding out what people enjoy and looking at opportunities in the ocal community that match peoples interests. Luke showed Jo some of the fantastic artwork and sewing pieces he has created in the past – and they were superb! 🎨🧵 This week, Mencap Liverpool & Sefton has started getting involved with the sewing and cardboard workshops at In Another Place @_inanotherplace helping with preparations for the upcoming Narnia Experience. Knowing how creative Luke is, Jo suggested that he come along and see what he thought. Luke met Jo there and, after a tour with Jennie from In Another Place, he was made up! Luke is now going to get involved with creating artwork and costumes for the production. 🦁✨ A brilliant start, Luke – well done for coming along and giving something new a go. And a huge thank you to everyone at In Another Place for being such a welcoming, inclusive and supportive organisation. We’re really looking forward to seeing what Luke and our other members help to create! ❤️
Published by ig on 2026-07-23T16:28:38+0000
Instagram Post
Thursday 23rd July 2026
🌟 Whqt a brilliant day at the SWAGGA Neighbourhood Health Hub! 🌟 Yesterday we were delighted to be invited along to the @swagga_pcn SWAGGA Neighbourhood Health Hub event at South Liverpool Treatment Centre, where we had an information table sharing all the things happening at Mencap Liverpool and Sefton. What a fantastic event! A huge congratulations to everyone involved in organising such a fun, welcoming and informative day for the local community. 👏 There was so much going on, including a brilliant magician and entertainer keeping the children entertained with card tricks, sleight of hand and balloon animals, alongside live music, face painting and lots of fantastic information stalls. It was great to meet and chat with organisations including The Reader, The Carers Centre, Speke Hall, The SWAGGA teams offering ealth checks, the smoothie bikes and many more organisations. It was also a really valuable opportunity to network, make new connections and talk to lots of people from the local community who came through during the day. A massive thank you to our volunteer Tony and member Rachel who came along and did a superb job representing Mencap Liverpool and Sefton chatting to visitors, talking about what we do and making connections with other organisations. 💜 Great work team — a brilliant day all round! 🙌
Published by ig on 2026-07-23T13:39:53+0000
Instagram Post
Tuesday 21st July 2026
☀️ A big welcome to Bill! ☀️ Bill has recently started coming along to Mencap Liverpool and Sefton and is already getting stuck into lots of different activities! Last week, Bill enjoyed coffee at the Cottage in the sunshine and then joined our members for a lovely lunch out at the Marina, and has even joined the team on their visit to the bus depot! 🚌 It’s been lovely seeing you getting involved, meeting everyone and trying new things, Bill. A very warm welcome to Mencap Liverpool and Sefton! 💚
Published by ig on 2026-07-21T19:36:30+0000
Instagram Post
Tuesday 21st July 2026
🌱 Welcome to Mencap Liverpool and Sefton, Robbie! 🌱 A big welcome to our new member Robbie, who has been coming along to our very popular Tuesday gardening sessions and getting to know everyone. It’s been lovely having you join us, Robbie, and we hope you continue to enjoy getting involved! 🌻🌿 Welcome to Mencap Liverpool and Sefton! 💚
Published by ig on 2026-07-21T19:33:02+0000
Instagram Post
Tuesday 21st July 2026
🌟🥗 Healthy Choices, Happy Faces! 💪🍓 🌟 Today our members enjoyed a fantastic Healthier Me nutrition Workshop with Jennie from @mencap 🎉 The session was packed with fun, learning and hands-on activities, helping everyone understand how healthy eating 🍎 and regular exercise 🏃♀️ work together to keep our bodies strong and healthy. 🍹 Members were surprised to discover just how much sugar can be hidden in everyday drinks. 🥗 We created our own healthy plates and learned about making balanced food choices. 💪 Everyone got hands-on with the fat and muscle examples, bringing healthy living to life in a fun and interactive way. 🤸♂️ We also got moving with some group exercises that got everyone involved. 🍓 And of course, there was a fruit tasting session! Members sampled different fruits, with strawberries being the clear favourite and winning the vote! 😋 It was fantastic to see everyone joining in, sharing their ideas and engaging so well throughout the workshop. 👏💜 We were also delighted to welcome Joey from Royal Mencap, who came along to see the amazing work taking place at Mencap Liverpool & Sefton and meet some of our wonderful members. 🌟 A huge thank you to @jennieempowermentwellbeing and Royal Mencap for delivering such an informative, interactive and enjoyable session. We can’t wait for the next one! 🙌 #healthierme 🍎 #healthyliving #wellbeing 💪 #learningdisability Inclusion Community #healthierchoice 🥗 KeepingActive 🏃♀️ StrawberryChampions 🍓✨
Published by ig on 2026-07-21T15:40:27+0000
Instagram Post
Monday 20th July 2026
Last week our Outreach Champions have been busy planning another exciting few months ahead! Together we looked at upcoming projects, community events and opportunities to get involved, including our I'm In project, visits to local organisations, our meeting with Peter Dowd MP, and future radio work. One thing is certain – our Outreach Champions continue to make decisions together, share ideas and help shape the work we do across Liverpool and Sefton. Watch this space... we've got lots more exciting projects coming up over the next few months! 💙
Published by ig on 2026-07-20T12:35:29+0000
Instagram Post
Monday 20th July 2026
Thursday Club Ends the Season with a Wild Celebration! Our final Thursday Club of the season was one to remember as we welcomed our fantastic friends from Boos Zoo for a wonderful evening in our beautiful gardens, enjoying the glorious sunshine and meeting some incredible animals. Over the years, Boos Zoo has become a much-loved part of Thursday Club, and every visit is a real highlight. This year certainly didn't disappoint! Our members had the opportunity to meet, hold and learn about a fascinating range of animals, including Jurgen, the Tegu lizard from Argentina, Jerry and Jessie the mischievous meerkats, Stan the magnificent boa constrictor, and many more amazing creatures. A huge thank you to Ian and Ash from Boos Zoo, who always go above and beyond to make the experience fun, interactive and educational. Their passion for the animals shines through. It is always a real treat to have them with us. As we finish another fantastic Thursday Club season, we would also like to say a MASSIVE thank you to all of our incredible volunteers. Your kindness, enthusiasm and commitment help make Thursday Club such a welcoming and enjoyable place every single week. We simply couldn't do it without you. Thursday Club will now take a break over the summer, but we'll be back in September ready for another season packed with friendship, fun and plenty of exciting activities. We'll let everyone know the start date as soon as it's confirmed. Thank you to everyone who has joined us throughout the season. We hope you all have a wonderful summer, and we can't wait to see you again in September!
Published by ig on 2026-07-20T12:34:05+0000
Instagram Post
Monday 13th July 2026
Check out the very first episode of National Mencap's brand-new podcast – Let's Talk About Your Community! We are incredibly proud that Mencap Liverpool & Sefton was invited to be the very first guest on this fantastic new series. In this episode, some of our amazing Outreach Champions share thoughts and experiences about community, inclusion and why having opportunities to connect with others, contribute and have your voice heard is so important. We couldn't be prouder of our members. Our advocates speak with honesty, warmth and passion, showing exactly why lived experience should always be at the heart of conversations about inclusion. A huge thank you to everyone at National Mencap for inviting us to be part of such a brilliant project. We hope you enjoy listening and watching it as much as we enjoyed taking part. Listen here: https://www.mencapliverpool.org.uk/community-podcasthttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1lvInEcX-TEoArYaJyLSOPuKi6AIglUSB/view?usp=drivesdk-download 🎥 Or watch here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lvInEcX-TEoArYaJyLSOPuKi6AIglUSB/view
Published by ig on 2026-07-13T10:00:29+0000
Instagram Post
Friday 10th July 2026
Today we were delighted to attend the University of Liverpool Medical School's annual Thank You Event, recognising the organisations helping to educate the next generation of doctors. For the past 13 years, Mencap Liverpool and Sefton has proudly worked alongside Dr Fiona Greeley and the University of Liverpool and Mersey Care, supporting people with learning disabilities to deliver awareness training to future doctors. Our members share lived experiences to help students understand that good healthcare is about more than medicine—it's about listening, showing respect, treating people as equals and seeing the person before the diagnosis. A very special thank you goes to Fiona. For over a decade she has been one of our greatest champions. She has never seen our members as people to talk about but as experts by experience whose voices deserve to be heard. Alongside her work as a GP and Senior Clinical Lecturer, she has spoken at our conferences, joined us on the radio, opened doors, created opportunities and always believed in what our members can achieve. Over 4,000 medical students have now learnt directly from people with learning disabilities because Fiona believed our voices belonged in the lecture theatre. Fiona doesn't just teach person-centred care—she lives it. Thank you for your friendship, your encouragement, your unwavering support and for helping our members feel seen, heard and valued. We are incredibly grateful for everything you do and for our dedicated team of members who deliver this training.
Published by ig on 2026-07-10T18:51:13+0000
Instagram Post
Friday 10th July 2026
A huge thank you to Carol and the Elektric Apple for inviting us to watch You Are My Sunshine. From the moment we arrived, it was clear just how much thought and effort had gone into the production. The tickets, programmes, lighting and the incredibly realistic BBC News broadcasts all helped create a brilliant theatrical experience. The acting was outstanding, with some wonderfully memorable performances that had the audience completely absorbed from beginning to end. Sometimes people only see the performance. What they don't always see are the barriers that many performers with learning disabilities have overcome to stand on that stage. Many people experience poorer health, reduced employment opportunities, discrimination and significant inequalities throughout their lives. Yet they continue to pursue their passions, develop their talents and inspire others. Last night was a reminder of why opportunities like this matter. Theatre gives people the chance to express themselves, build confidence and show audiences exactly what they are capable of. Congratulations to everyone involved in You Are My Sunshine. You should all be incredibly proud of what you achieved, and thank you again to Carol for inviting us along. 🌟
Published by ig on 2026-07-10T18:40:03+0000