Mencap is a charity that works with people who have learning disabilities to ensure their voices are heard. It is thought that up to 350,000 people have severe learning disabilities. On December 17th, the staff at Merton Mencap’s Saturday Club opted to hold several Christmas activities for children as young as seven years old to enrol in: painting a Christmas scene and partying with music and snacks which not only gave the children but the staff as well the best gifts in time for Christmas. What better way to celebrate the festive season!

One of the values that exclusive activities, such as painting Christmas scenes, taught was getting involved. It allowed the children to get their hands dirty which seemed a lot of fun, provided that the children did not give the staff a hard time when trying to clean up a glitter-swept floor with patches of PVA glue. It was a shimmering beauty to behold but a nightmare to mop up. However, some children seemed to be uninterested in the activity but the project manager of the club explained that, “the most important thing is to get them involved in the activities so they can experiment with the varying materials used such as glitter or cotton on a sensory level. A blind child would enjoy the sensation felt from experimenting with mixing cotton and glitter in paint. A child with Down Syndrome’s may have slow reactions to the activities they are involved in so it would be best to keep encouraging the child to experiment with the materials in front of them so that they eventually can make up their mind about the exciting opportunities ahead of them.” With the exhilaration of the children, the staff also got stuck in with the commotion.

With the painting sessions over and a collective effort of staff as well as some eager children wiping the place clean, some music was put on to start a dance number which suggested that true happiness can only be attained by being yourself. Broad smiles and wacky moves gave the sense that everyone had a ball and with some of the staff and children showcasing their talent for karaoke. The energy skyrocketed when crisps but also healthy fruit alternatives were involved but to the surprise of the staff, the children managed to remain well-behaved. They showed a greater affiliation for one another as well as respect by not hurting each other and apologising for misconduct to both staff and kids which is not a usual occurrence with regards to the fact that bruises were normally the result at the end of the day.

Once the day ended, parents bid farewell and wished the staff and other parents and their children a good Christmas and gave gifts to each other. It truly showed how Mencap is one tight-knit family where everyone is valued special and amazing in their own way. As well as this, the stigma against learning disabilities in society was not even the slightest present in this community and without a shadow of doubt, volunteering with Mencap can teach vital life skills for all such as care, patience and empathy and many others which are the best gifts to receive this Christmas season so you can be closer to friends and family.

By Thuvaaraha Nagarajan, Nonsuch High School