Joint Clubs Dinner

It was the turn of the Rotary Club of Chelmsford Phoenix to organise this evening’s Joint Clubs Dinner for all the Chelmsford Rotary Clubs. It was held at the Ivy Hill Hotel. It was very well attended and included not only members and guests from the five Chelmsford Clubs but four from the Rotary Club of Shenfield and District as well. The photograph shows our President Francis and Rhys Tilsley from our corporate member, Backhouse Solicitors, during a lull in proceedings.

We all enjoyed an excellent meal and excellent company. After dining, we had a presentation from Anthony North of City of Chelmsford Mencap (“CCM”). He explained that this is affiliated with but not part of the national Mencap. CCM is a separate charity with its own trustees, finances and activities. CCM supports those with learning disabilities and their families.

There is a distinction between learning disabilities and learning difficulties. A learning disability is a medical condition or illness which affects the way someone’s brain works and makes it harder for him or her to learn, understand or do things like making new friends. It includes conditions such as autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy. Learning difficulties have more to do with the way information is processed. They include conditions such as dyslexia and dyspraxia.

CCM’s Outreach Academy runs a variety of courses aimed at those with learning disabilities over the age of 19. Different courses are run on different days of the week. When a new person comes to them for help they start by assessing which courses would best suit that individual.

On Tuesday evenings CCM runs Gateway Junior, aimed at those aged between 16 and 25. This provides a variety of activities, including sports and dance workshops, quizzes and theatre visits.

At one point CCM asked those using its services how they would like to be referred to. They decided that, as many of them were taking courses, they would like to to be known as students, so this is the description used.

The number and range of questions Anthony was asked after his talk was evidence of the interest his talk had engendered. He was duly thanked. Thanks are also due to Janet Littlewood and her fellow members of Phoenix for organising the evening.