Would you like to make some changes to your diet, learning about healthy food and eating habits? Our Weigh to Go programme has just relaunched and we have spaces for new members to join us now. A Weigh to Go is for adults with a learning disability and takes place every Tuesday from 4:30pm - 6pm at Norfolk Lodge. Each session costs £5 and you'll learn about healthy meal choices and how to prepare meals at home. For more information just get in touch with our group leaders Sue and Bridget, who you can reach on 0114 276 7757. You can download a Weigh to Go poster here.

Team leader Tracy Bryant explains what the Young Person’s Radio Project is all about, what sort of things members do and how they and their parents have found it has helped them to develop listening and communication skills, and become more confident. A year ago a group of young teenagers came into a room together for the first time. Nervous parents waited elsewhere in the building expecting their usually anxious child to call them back. Anxious children wondered what awaited them; what is a ‘radio group’ anyway? Well, it’s not all talking into a microphone. There’s a whole range of skills needed to c reate a radio-style podcast, which is what we do in the group. You need to decide on a topic; think about what you’d like to find out about that topic and how that can be presented in a way that’s interesting to your audience. You have to share out jobs before you can even start getting down to making anything. That takes team-work, communication, great listening and thinking about things from other people’s perspectives. And then there’s the focus and planning needed to make your own little piece of a podcast. With support, patience and guidance each member has gradually found their place. For some that is in front of a microphone, for others it’s been in front of a computer researching, writing, making music, finding sound effects or editing the final audio together. Some are wonderful at telling stories and describing what they see; others are intrigued by fact. Each part is vital as each part is needed to make the whole. It’s the members’ group; we just help give it some direction. Sometimes we talk about tough issues; members have supported each other through episodes of bullying. Sometimes we talk about imaginary fungus monsters and sing tunes from the shows. No matter how silly or serious we’re being, the most important thing is that the members tell us they feel valued and respected. Their parents say they’ve noticed their child’s confidence increase and their listening improve. Some of our podcasts were recently played on BBC Radio Sheffield, and the team there were very supportive of our work. "I was very impressed with the quality of the podcasts and the sound effects, music mix and editing." (Trisha Cooper, Producer, BBC Radio Sheffield) Take a listen to the group’s work on SoundCloud . Everything you hear is the young people’s own work; from the music and effects, to the audio and the content choices. We’re so proud of them and hope they are proud too. Radio group runs weekly on Thursdays in term-time from 5-7pm at Norfolk Lodge with occasional Saturday trips out. Spaces currently available. For more information contact Tracy Bryant on tracybryant@sheffieldmencap.org.uk or call 07956 725117

Uncategorized Archives | Sheffield Mencap & Gateway

20 12, 2019

Read our Annual Report

Dave Swindlehurst2019-12-20T16:32:28+00:00December 20th, 2019|

We have recently published our Annual Report for the year 2018-2019. Take a look to see our highlights from the year, how we have met [...]

5 07, 2019

The Summer Fair – thank you for your support!

Dave Swindlehurst2019-07-05T16:50:40+01:00July 5th, 2019|

Our Summer Fair was a big success last month, we raised more than £500 and welcomed lots of new faces as well as old friends [...]

14 06, 2019

Why we are celebrating sport and inclusivity this Learning Disability Week

Dave Swindlehurst2019-06-18T11:35:44+01:00June 14th, 2019|

Our Chief Executive, Janet Sullivan, has blogged about the theme for this year's Learning Disability Week, which is Sport and Inclusivity. She writes about why [...]

14 06, 2019

Celebrating sport and inclusion at our Boccia Tournament!

Dave Swindlehurst2019-06-14T15:07:33+01:00June 14th, 2019|

Sheffield Mencap & Gateway is holding an inclusive Boccia tournament during Learning Disability Week, welcoming teams from local businesses, sports clubs and disability groups. The [...]

31 05, 2019

Question time with our Volunteer Coordinator

Dave Swindlehurst2019-06-01T11:49:08+01:00May 31st, 2019|

To mark Volunteers’ Week 2019, we caught up with Sheffield Mencap & Gateway’s Volunteer Coordinator, Jonathan Raimondi to ask a few questions about his role, [...]

17 05, 2019