Mencap NI Appoint New Director for Northern Ireland
Mencap NI has appointed Gráinne Close as their new Director for Northern Ireland, to lead on all of the charities operations, activity and influencing in Northern Ireland.
Gráinne said, "I am delighted to have been appointed as the Director of Mencap NI. I’ve always aspired to be part of Mencap’s Leadership team and have viewed Mencap as a progressive
organisation
An organisation are a group of people who work together.
, sharing its vision and mission of a world where people with learning disabilities are valued equally, listened to and included.”
This announcement has come during the charities Learning Disability A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. Week, which this year celebrates art and creativity, highlighting all the incredible creative talent in the learning disability A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. community A community is the people and places in an area. .
Gráinne joins Mencap NI from Action Mental Health where for the last 18 months she’s been part of the leadership team, leading on the successful merger between Action Mental Health and New Life Counselling.
Mencap NI Appoint New Director for Northern Ireland
Gráinne said, "I am delighted to have been appointed as the Director of Mencap NI. I’ve always aspired to be part of Mencap’s Leadership team and have viewed Mencap as a progressive organisation, sharing its vision and mission of a world where people with learning disabilities are valued equally, listened to and included.”
The new Mencap NI Director will focus on Mencap’s new Big Plan to improve community and local development to make the UK the best place to live if you have a learning disability.
Gráinne said, “Mencap’s Big Plan 2021 is bold and exciting, setting it apart from other learning disability providers. I share the same professional goals and am personally dedicated to reducing stigma,
discrimination
Discrimination is when someone is treated differently (usually in a bad way) because of things like their disability or their religion.
and promoting
equality
Equality is when everyone is treated fairly.
and the
human rights
Human rights are the rights that everyone has. These include the right to go to school and the right to start a family.
of every individual.”
“I look forward to leading the Northern Ireland team and playing our part in achieving Mencap’s vision to be the best place in the world for people with a learning disability to live happy and healthy lives”.
Gráinne was also the Project Lead on a flagship multi-property resettlement project in collaboration with the Northern Health and
Social Care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
Trust, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, South-Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Inspire Wellbeing, Fairhome Group and En Circle Housing Association supporting the resettlement of people with complex needs moving from long-stay hospital into their own homes in the community.
For the last 17 years, Gráinne has held Executive and Senior Management positions and has a strong track record helping
organisations
Organisations are groups like companies and businesses.
innovate
To innovate means to come up with new ideas or ways of doing things.
, grow and thrive through transformational change. She has extensive
experience
Experience is when you have learned or tried something before.
working as part of an Executive Leadership Team in large complex UK-wide organisation having been Assistant, then National, Director for
Autism
Autism is a disability. Autistic people find it difficult to understand what other people think and feel. They also find it difficult to tell people what they think and feel. Everyone with autism is different.
Initiatives NI.
Gráinne has dedicated her entire career to working in the community and voluntary sector in Northern Ireland, Ireland and USA, with communities who have had their needs overlooked too often.