Drama Workshop: One of our wonderful volunteers, Chloe Taylor, is running a weekly drama workshop on Zoom every Monday at 4.30pm. The disco is also organised by Chloe with help from our Vice Chair Scott Ellis and starts at 6pm. Please contact our coordinator Matt Follows on matthew.follows@oxfordmencap.org.uk to get the link each week. 

Zoom Disco: It’s time to get your dancing shoes on for a weekly Zoom meet of boogieing, rocking and singing, every Friday 6pm-7pm! All guests, carers, families and volunteers (past and present) are invited to join this disco extravaganzas, to dance the night away! 🕺💃

The discos take place over ZOOM, the virtual meeting platform so that we can maintain social distance but still have a great time together. If you want to join us  please email administrator@oxfordmencap.org.uk, who will send you an invite link and password to the disco. You need to set up ZOOM on your PC iPad or smartphone If you are unsure how to download or use Zoom, please let us know and we will guide you through the process!
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We would LOVE your song requests! Therefore, at the end of your RSVP email please include at least one song that gets you moving or reminds you of Hill End Camp 🎶🎵
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Please email or DM us if you have any questions or concerns. We want as many people as possible to join so please spread the word

Molly recommends putting it on gallery so you can see everyone dancing You can do this by putting it on full screen and clicking on the little grid square in the left hand corner.

Here is the link to the collaborative Spotify playlist which lists all the music that will be played so far: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7xYXNiA4hBPvjbYP9K4515?si=JpFrqOjfTr-72N_BBYTvEA 

Please do let Molly know any music requests. Her email address is molly.fleming@outlook.com

Also dressing up and disco lights very much encouraged if you would like to! xx

Have fun see you there!!!

This is a very worrying time for us all and we know that some of our families are concerned about how their children/relatives with a learning disability would cope if they needed hospital admission, especially as patients do not seem to be allowed to have family members with them.

Copied below is some useful information from Oxford University Hospitals which ‘Down’s Syndrome Oxford’ are very happy to share with you. If you scroll to the bottom of this page, there is also a link to a hospital passport to fill in, which would be very helpful to hospital staff who might be caring for a child or adult with a learning disability.

There is also information available on the Royal National Mencap website: https://www.mencap.org.uk/advice-and-support/health/coronavirus-covid-19

Since our email about hospitalization yesterday we have received some important extra information from Rowena Roberton, nurse practitioner for children with Down’s syndrome at the John Radcliffe hospital.  She’s been in touch with Stephanie Ross, adult learning disability nurse, Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) who has confirmed that: “The visitor restrictions will not directly apply to carers. As an organisation, we value the important role of family carers and support workers to provide care and advocate for the people they care for, and view this role as different to visitors. We will continue to work with carers and ward staff to assess individuals needs at this time, and establish what is required to meet needs and minimise the risk of the spread of COVID-19. “The Learning Disability Liaison Nurse team can support in identifying needs and how we can best meet them. We appreciate that the availability of family carers and support workers will be changing as the current situation unfolds, and each situation will be different. Having Hospital Passports and care plans ready to bring in will be very helpful.” Stephanie Ross is happy to answer any questions. She can be reached on 01865 743324 or 07795 120853. Another helpful contact could be adult learning disability epilepsy nurse, Jackie Roberts. Her number is 01865 221137. Stephanie Ross has asked for the Learning Disability (LD) team to be contacted if an adult is admitted into the OUH and they will support the wards in making sure the patient’s needs are met. They are available Monday to Friday. Things are changing all the time and being reviewed but at the moment they are welcoming carers for patients with a learning disability. It is great to see there is a LD team who have a presence in the trust and will be able to support families during this time. Just to reassure parents or carers with under-age children with Down’s syndrome: as with adults, OUH are allowing one parent/carer per patient. With best wishes, DSO Trustees

COVID HOSPITAL PASSPORT PDF FILE

It is with regret that we have decided that the 7 o clock club will be suspended for the time being due to the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) pandemic.

We know that many people will be disappointed but the alternative could put vulnerable people at risk. We hope to be up and running as soon as possible. Please check the website for updates.

If you would like to come to this wonderful evening of song and support Oxford and District Mencap, please go onto the Old Fire station website to buy tickets. All money from the ticket sales is going to Oxford and District Mencap as the hire of the venue has been generously paid for by donors. Thank you so much for all your support!

A group of our holiday volunteers are going to attempt the Three Peaks 24hr Challenge from Saturday 2nd May 2nd – Sunday 4th May 2020. 

The Three Peaks 24hr Challenge involves 23 miles of walking up Snowden, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis. We would love as many people involved as possible. If you fancy joining us on this exciting expedition, please contact administrator@oxfordmencap.org.uk.

If you would like to sponsor the people taking part, please click on the following link: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/oxfordmencap3peaks 

A big thank you to the Scottish Medical Students who took part in a fund raising sports tournament. A special thanks to Izzie Dighero who chose Oxford and District Mencap as one of the charities.

When Coco first came to Hill End she was worried about making friends. Her mother and sister warned her volunteer that Coco was shy and sure enough she spent the early days of her first camp singing songs to herself separate from the camp. However, by the last day Coco had come out of her shell and felt close enough to everyone to organise a concert. Everyone gathered on the grass on the last night, tired from the disco, as Coco serenaded us with the Snowman’s ‘We’re Walking in the Air’. 

We were so happy to hear from Coco’s Mum who said:

‘Coco had a unique opportunity to challenge herself in a safe environment amongst a team of incredibly caring and supportive volunteers.  It was a really positive life changing experience for Coco and our family’.

At Hill End Week 1 Summer 2019, campers were taken to an airfield in Oxfordshire where they were able to sit in the pilot seat, preparing for take off. Tommy loved trying on pilot goggles and really getting into the part. 

Summer hasn’t quite finished here at Oxford Mencap! For our final holiday of the year, we are in Wales, staying in a wonderful cottage in beautiful Brecon. We kicked off our holiday with a fab dragon boating trip and a game of mini golf, where everyone got a hole in one! We have also had a great tour of Swansea City stadium for all of our keen football fans, plus we were so lucky to discover the Six Nations rugby trophy on show in our local pub!
On Tuesday night we had our very own party, complete with glow sticks and dance offs! Everyone definitely had their dancing shoes on and were throwing some serious shapes on the dance floor!
Only two days left…we can’t wait for more adventures in this fantastic place!

2020 holiday dates will be released soon so continue checking the website to find out more!