I have supported Members of the learning disability in Braintree for many years in the capacity of a Support Worker and now a volunteer at Braintree Mencap. I particularly enjoy assisting at the Art & Craft group and Drama and can usually be found making props for the upcoming drama performance or for special events. I have even made the King & Queen out of paper mache for our Coronation celebrations.

Away from Mencap I enjoy spending time with my family, especially my Grandchildren.

Tiff joined the Volunteer Team to help out at the monthly Carpet Bowls and Boccia sessions, she is familiar with many of the members as for 20 years she has worked at Colchester Institute in the Foundation & Supported Learning department where many of our members finished their journey in post 16 education. Tiff was a Learning Support Practitioner for many years until more recently becoming a Job Coach Supervisor.

Tiff enjoys gardening especially growing vegetables at home, cooking her produce and very much enjoys live music events of various genres.

I started volunteering with Braintree Mencap around 5 years ago and have also sat on the Board of Trustees. Currently I support the Drama Stars group and very much enjoy spending time with the members and watching their creativity evolve. I am willing to help with anything to put a smile on the member’s faces, I have even been a stand in DJ at our Gateway Club!

Mencap has always been close to my heart, I was a Volunteer for Mencap in East Belfast 35 years ago! This took saw me take a group on many outdoor pursuits and hill walking, to this day I still enjoy being out in the countryside, especially when I get to work with horses.

I have been involved with local charities in Braintree since he retired over 12 years ago, and is currently a trustee in 2 other charities. A wish for the future would be to take a narrow boat holiday!

I discovered Braintree Mencap through my daughter Stacey who has a learning disability. I have been volunteering for about 28  years now, I assist in the Art & Craft session where there is always much laugher as well as creativity. I also volunteer at Gateway Club on a Thursday evening taking the entry fees, it is always lovely seeing so many members gather and socialise for the evening. I used to arrange a yearly coach trip for the members with help from a colleague who sadly isn’t with us any more. Every year members used to save up in our savings club so that we could take them for a long weekend at Mersea camping. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience!

I enjoy going to shows and music festivals, eating out with friends and also jazzercise and performing in a Rock choir.

My connection with Braintree Mencap has evolved over the years. It all started when my son started coming to the playscheme on Saturdays and school holidays. It was sometime later when I attended my first Annual General meeting. Whilst there, I was invited to join the Trustee board.

Once my son turned 18 years old, I persuaded him to spend an evening at the Gateway Club, with the promise that I would attend with him so he didn’t feel alone. He had a great time, made some friends and I was immediately introduced to other volunteers who made me feel right at home. From that one night, I came back every Thursday with my son and found my role helping out in the kitchen, that was around 17 years ago and I have been there ever since.

Once I retired from my job, I started volunteering at some daytime classes and have enjoyed being part of the team ever since. It doesn’t seem possible that 28 years have passed. I still enjoy my time spent with the lovely people at Braintree Mencap, it’s like my second home.

I first came to Braintree Mencap on a job to professionally install a set of partition doors in the hall, I then started carrying out maintenance tasks including painting the hall, repairs, there is never a job too big or too small. I am now pleased to be part of the volunteer team, I very much enjoyed my work at the 2025 ICE Fest (Inclusive Community Event) and have more recently been assisting the members in their Makers & Shakers upcycling classes. I have prepared kits for the members to assemble, built a wormery and much more!

I came to Braintree Mencap to volunteer in the Drama Stars sessions, I was invited by my friend Janet Revell who is the session Tutor, I aways immerse myself in the fun, support the members whether it be by singing, acting, or being on the stage. I have been involved in the members performances of Grease, scenes from the West End Musicals and pantomimes, the most recent being “The Wizard that lost it’s Cat”!

I very much enjoy supporting members at the Gateway Thursday evening social Club at Mencap, I take part in a different themed night each week from board games, to karaoke, dance competitions, discos and many more activities! It is a true joy to see such a diverse group of members socialising, connecting, relaxing and enjoying each other’s company.

I have the pleasure of being friends with Janet & Peter Brown, Braintree Mencap’s President and Vice President for many years. In 1970 when I was 15 years old, Peter invited me to a Gateway session as a volunteer, I have been volunteering ever since! I am known by most of the members as “Kaye’s Tuck” as I run the Thursday night Tuck Shop at Gateway where the members enjoy a little sweet treat. I worked for many years as a Learning Disability Nurse and have had the privilege of watching many of the members grow up.

Family time is very close to my heart, especially spending time with my Grandchildren who like to keep me on my toes!

I came to Braintree Mencap as a Volunteer in January 2025, and most definitely found myself amongst many familiar faces as I had taught at Edith Borthwick school in Bocking for 38 years! I have seen many of our members grow into the wonderful adults they are now! I look after the Tuesday Make & Bake class at Mencap where the members are involved in the prepping and cooking of a two course meal which they eat for their Tuesday lunch.

My love for cooking not only extends to Mencap but also to home, I very much enjoy baking and cooking both traditional meals and also experimenting with new recipes and ideas. Out of the kitchen I am a keen reader, I am learning Italian and also enjoy yoga, Jazzercize and walking.

I have been a volunteer at Mencap since 2025, helping out at events, trips and Gateway.  Away from Mencap I manage and coach at a lovely Trampoline Club exclusively for those with Special Educational Needs & or Disabilities, SENergy in Wormingford, Colchester. This follows my own love for trampolining which I started at the age of 2 at a local leisure centre. I started helping with SEN & Disabilities Trampolining when I was 8 at a Club my Mum worked at and have known some of the Mencap members since then, they have seen me grow up!  

I enjoy anything outdoors especially camping, walking water sports and aviation!

I was thrilled to become a volunteer at Braintree Mencap after my Sister joined as a member, she thoroughly enjoys her sessions and always has a fun tale to tell about her days at her very happy place! I was honoured to be very involved in the planning and infrastructure of Braintree Mencap’s Ice Fest in 2025 celebrating their 70th Anniversary. I was able of offer advice on the legal side and ensure the event was safe and pleasurable for all.

Away from Mencap I enjoy family time and have a gorgeous companion, my dog Lola who also enjoys an occasional visit to Braintree Mencap!

I have been involved in Braintree Mencap since 2022 after my daughter joined the Club and I now regularly volunteer at Gateway Club on a Thursday evening making refreshments for the members. Gateway evenings are incredibly fulfilling and are there are never 2 evenings the same, I have recently even judged the summer art competition, it was wonderful seeing all the members efforts.

I came to Braintree Mencap as a volunteer in 2025 and received the warmest of welcomes, I have not looked back since, Mencap is my second family! It is a huge joy to hear the laughter and see the members supporting each other. I start the week the Mencap way with the Musicmania session on a Monday morning, singing, dancing and starting the day in the most vibrant manner. It has been a fantastic journey so far being part of the formation of the Universal Voices choir in October 2025 who have already performed outside of Mencap with the members. I have very much enjoyed assisting with the creations that emerge from the Makers & Shakers upcycling class, from planters out dining room chairs to decoupaged tables, there really are no limits.

Away from Mencap I very much enjoy walking holidays, my favourite destination is Cornwall and walking on the beautiful coast line with my Sister.

I have had the pleasure in being a volunteer at Braintree Mencap for more than 20 years! I first got involved when my daughter Pippa attended, first as a child at the Saturday group and later at the weekly activity classes. One day I was asked if I could help out and here I am still volunteering today! I take the fees at Gateway on a Thursday evening where I remember many members from being young adults to where they are now!

Away from Mencap I take great pleasure in riding my 22 year old horse Deri on a friend’s farmland in Panfield. I also enjoy family time which is always treasured time.

I have had the pleasure of volunteering for Braintree Mencap on and off since 2014, I first got involved when my Son attended the “Young Person’s Social Club” which later became known as “Bridge”. I drove the Mencap mini bus for trips, events and for the weekly member’s hockey sessions at a local club. I assist at most classes across the week and have known many of the members for more than 10 years.

Away from Mencap I enjoy being outdoors, I walk for fitness and have a keen interest in metal detecting on beaches and fields, I have had some interesting finds which are often the topic of conversation with Mencap Members.

I was thrilled to become a volunteer at Braintree Mencap in 2025 following a Braintree District Council volunteering event held locally, it is a huge pleasure to support the members in the art class and see their creativity and confidence shine at the Drama sessions. I am in awe of them performing on a large stage and bringing entertainment and joy to their audience, family and friends.

At home I am a keen reader – when my fur baby dogs allow me to sit! I also enjoy crocheting both small and large items which bring pleasure to people as bespoke gifts.