Great challenges call for visionary thinking
From funding vital work at our leading Mencap Centre to campaigning for change, your support is fuelling a movement with and alongside people with a learning disability.
Mencap NI has supported thousands of people with a learning disability and their families.
We have been making a difference for over 60 years and counting from our leading Mencap Centre that runs all our early years services and youth programmes through to full-scale campaigns and lobbying in Northern Ireland.
Right now, too many people with a learning disability are still facing inequalities and barriers on all fronts. That’s why we want to reach more lives, strengthen our services, and drive impact.
From early years to adulthood, we’re helping people live independently, take part in their communities, and access great opportunities in every stage of their lives.
Together, let’s build a movement, and help make positive change possible.
Marian Nicholas, Chairperson of Mencap NI Special Events Committee
"Right now in NI, our children and young people with learning disabilities are being left behind, this is unjust, as they all deserve the same sort of future as everyone else. I no longer have my daughter Laura, Laura brought so many good things into so many people’s lives, part of her legacy, which I champion, is about expanding the wonderful work that is done in the Mencap Centre, but there is a huge gap in services and provisions at present, and we need your help to raise some much needed and urgent money."
What your support can achieve
Every donation goes a long way. Supporting us contributes to transformational funds, not only helping Mencap NI today, but making a lasting difference into the future.
We urgently need donations to help keep everything running to the highest quality. That means funding the essentials, like our staff, equipment, resources, research Research is a way of finding out information which could come from books, or asking people what they think. , and service delivery.
Our core activities are vital to make sure that our Mencap Centre remains open and build the foundation for more ambitious projects.
Without this support, we couldn’t do what we do.
How your donations could help us
Empowering young voices
Mencap NI’s Youth Service supports young people aged 14–24 to build confidence, learn new skills, and form lasting friendships. Through inclusive programmes, young people take the lead, shaping their communities, sharing their views, and exploring issues that matter to their future. We have recently expanded our support to address identified needs for young people aged 10–13, introducing a range of youth-focused activities and opportunities designed to meet their personal and educational needs during this key transition Transition means changing from one thing to another. Transition sometimes means things like when you change from having children's social care to adult social care. stage. Donations help our programme go from strength to strength!
Running our leading Mencap Centre
Our Mencap Centre is the bricks and mortar for all our impact. It's the building for where our projects and programmes take place in Northern Ireland, including our Children's Centre, which provides early support for families and children aged 2–3 experiencing developmental delays.
The dedicated Children’s Centre is mostly paid for via Belfast Trust and Education Authority. However, we're needing donations to help cover essential costs for the day-to-day core running of the Mencap Centre, including staff salaries and resources, ensuring the best possible experience Experience is when you have learned or tried something before. for everyone using the premises. Without this support, we couldn’t offer the same level of quality in service delivery that makes such a difference every day.
Campaigning in Northern Ireland
We make sure the
rights
Rights are the things everyone should be allowed to do like have a say, or go to school.
of people with a learning disability are not only heard but truly acted on. From local action to major campaigns, we challenge inequality and push for policy change. Whether through media
advocacy
Advocacy is when you get support to have your say.
or
community
A community is the people and places in an area.
-led
activism
Activism is taking action to make change. Going to a campaign event with others, writing letters and speaking up are all ways to take action.
, we’re committed to building a fairer society for our communities in Northern Ireland.
Your support helps drive campaigns like:
- Support to
Vote
People vote in an election. In elections for councillors or MPs, you vote by putting a cross next to the name of the person you want to choose. In less formal elections, like in a small group, you might vote by putting your hand up. The person with the most votes wins.
We help people across Northern Ireland register and vote, using easy-read resources and advice. We’ve also introduced a virtual voting experience using VR technology, helping people understand what to expect at polling stations, reducing anxiety and boosting confidence.
- A Healthier Me
Currently funded by our Omaze partnership, this programme helps people with a learning disability make healthy choices and improve their fitness and diet. It’s based on what we’ve learned about the barriers people face to staying active, and it’s already making a real difference to their health and wellbeing.
Contact the NI Philanthropy Team
To find out more about Mencap NI, and how to help us raise funds, contact Maeve from the NI Philanthropy Team.
