Leighton Buzzard Mencap (Reg No:- 259104) is an independent, locally run charity operating for the benefit of people with learning disabilities within the local area. It is affiliated, but not supported in any financial or strategic way, with Royal Mencap which is a national based charity.
| charity. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Current Trustees are:- | Mrs Gaye Beattie | Chair |
| Mr Peter Ingram | Secretary | |
| Mr Christopher Porter | Treasurer | |
| Mr David Deacon | Trustee | |
| Ms Daisy Axtell-Powell | Trustee | |
| Ms Sian Rebecca Wilkinson | Trustee | |
| Registered Address:- | Stratfords | |
| Lower Way | ||
| Padbury | ||
| BUCKINGHAM | ||
| MK18 2AX |
It began in 1968 when a local couple who had a child with a learning disability formed a friendship group for other parents with similarly disabled children to provide mutual support and friendship during the initial difficult years when their children were first diagnosed. This friendship grew over the years into the LBMencap of today which provides companionship, support and a variety of activities to people of all ages within the Leighton Buzzard area.
It currently runs four activity groups which meet on a weekly basis throughout the year. These groups have a named leader supported by teams of volunteers who are all DBS checked. No one receives payment for their time although all expenses are re-imbursed.
The Opportunity Group is for parents of young children up to five years old providing a place where they can meet other parents in a similar situation providing comfort and advice at this most difficult time when other help is not readily available.
The High 5’s Group is for older children between the ages of 5 and 16 years old where they can safely meet and play with other children on a weekly basis. It also provides an opportunity for parents to meet other parents with similar needs and gives them a chance to relax knowing that their offspring are enjoying themselves in a safe and caring environment.
The Friends Within Group is for members over 16 years old. The group meets on a weekly basis where they enjoy pastimes of a more adult nature. The Group Leaders, along with a small team of dedicated volunteers, lay on activities such as quizzes, sports challenges and craftwork, together with occasional presentations and entertainment from outside providers such as the Police, Fire Service and local bands. During the year the group have gone on organised camping trips and visits to the Theatre and Cinema.
The Sunshine Club is a relatively new group which LBMencap has recently taken over from a Royal Mencap Residential Home. This group is also for adults but it is largely focussed on helping the members develop a range of life skills. The hall has a small kitchen where members can hone their cooking and culinary skills under close and safe supervision.
In addition to the weekly groups LBMencap also runs an annual Holiday Club for school age children for three weeks during the summer school holidays. Each week it provides three days of activities for example, visiting magicians or musicians, craftwork, toboganning, sailing, soft play, swimming, to name but a few. The trustees visit local Upper schools in the spring to enlist the help of post GCSE students who are willing to give up their time in the school holidays to enable the group to provide one to one support to each child. Each student is DBS checked.
The Trustees constantly endeavour to maintain and increase up to date management procedures to ensure that the appropriate standards of safety and care are maintained at all times. During the past 12 months the charity has undergone a thorough analysis of all operating and management practices by a qualified consultant and is constantly updating its procedures and documentation to meet and maintain appropriate Ofsted standards.
The town of Leighton Buzzard is currently undergoing a period of expansion with new housing being built at a rapid rate. As the population of the town increases it will place more demand on LBMencap’s services resulting in the need to recruit and train more volunteers to maintain the level of services it currently provides. To this end the charity has managed to enlist new trustees with charity management, fundraising and social media experience to enable it to access a wider audience than it was previously able to.
LBMencap does not own property or any other material assets other than equipment which it uses to deliver its activities. All monies raised from donations, grants and awards are used to provide and pay for the services it currently runs. Any monies not spent during the year are put aside to maintain operations in subsequent years when income falls short of expenditure.
local me cap Leighton Buzzard Mencap Summary Re(xipts and Paynt Account Year•wts¥ 3191 2025 Leighton Buzzard and district RECEIPVS GrantsJAwNds EL776 £17.0 E1522120 £2.41797 Éo F¢md £4258.98 £2.373.56 EO.Tr) f16&1XI E627.51 £om £0 £aJB4.( £0 EOJ B1er<s1 Eo £613.22 Triin £iiJ52.50 É12J67.81 £216.QO £3.187A6 E2.Yg.Y £4,111. EJr¥UFy¢s1Ir0 Éo.( E7978 a718. E3,702.52 .975SJ £175 EL9 ESI Éo E&650.n f749.lll £5.448.$8 tt75& tiW.28 £),e07.25 EZ7SY. Trjrt tiS0.70 £4,6W).iYJ É174. 57.98 fJfy) E553.14 £274.92 SLwdrylQl Éts3.C#) £210. TlP 617.59 E45,280.72 ty2,731 15 e17
CHARITY COMMISSION FOR ENGW ANO WES Independent examiner's report on the accounts Section A Independent Examiner's Report Roport to the truste• members of LghtOn Buzzard Mencap On accounts for the yaar ended 31 March 2025 Charity no (If any) 259104 Sgt out on pages I report to the trustees on my examination of the arxounts of the above charity ('Ihe Trust.) for the year ended 5 April 2024. Respon8ibilitlos and ba813 ol report As the Charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the requirements of the Charrties Act 2011 ("the A¢X"). I report in respect of my examination of the Trust's aGcounls carried out under section 145 ofthe 2011 Act and in carying out my examination, I have followed all the applicable reCtionS given by the Charity Comrnission under section 145(5)Ib> of the Act. Independent examlnor'8 Statemont I have completed my examination. I confim thal no material matters have ome to my attention in connection wth the examination which gives me cause lo believe thal in, any material respect.. the accounting records were not kept in a¢cordan¢e with section 130 of the Charities Act,. or the accounts did not a¢¢ord with the accounting records.. or the accounts did not comply with the appli¢able requirernents conceming the fomi and content of accounts set out in the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'true al fair. view which is not a matter considered as part of an independent examination. I have no concem$ and have come acros5 no other matters in connection with the examination to which sltention should be drawn in this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts lo be reached. Slgned: Dats.. 28 November 2025 Name: KENNETH YOUNG IMLSON Relevant professlonal qualificationlsl or body lif anyl: ICAS Address: 71 FYNE DRIVE IER Oct 2018