This campaign has now closed
Founded in the 1960’s, Mencap’s three regional colleges give young people with a learning disability (16-25yrs) the education they need to live an independent adult life. The colleges provide a safe and secure environment where young people, often for the first time, can learn, grow and develop to their full potential, free from bullying and fear. This will support them through the difficult transition to adulthood so they are able to seek meaningful employment and actively contribute to society. Mencap wishes to raise £10 million to redevelop the three colleges and to establish three further sites. Currently the colleges accept admissions from across the country, due to the severe shortage of college places for young people with a learning disability nationally. Each campus has extensive waiting lists that are pre-booked two years in advance. Mencap’s project has three main aims – it aspires to renovate and build more specialist teaching and accommodation blocks on each campus to deliver a 21st century education. Secondly, it needs to develop more specialist facilities to give more young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities an education that will otherwise be denied them. Thirdly, to develop three new regional campuses to meet the growing demands of potential students wishing to enter college life and all the advantages that will afford them.
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Current college sites provide high standards of education. However, looking to the future the existing buildings (mainly old manor houses and in some cases listed buildings) restrict the range of education that can be offered, limit the number of admissions and also limit the range of disabilities that can be accommodated. This project will seek to provide custom built education facilities for the future that will operate as centres of excellence for young people and to ensure their smooth transition into an independent adult life. The colleges wish to pioneer leading methodologies of education as well as piloting innovative independent living projects such as home based learning. The approach within the colleges is person centred, taking a holistic approach to each student, developing personalised support to ensure that all students are fully equipped to achieve their potential. This project will redevelop the three existing sites at Dilston College in the North East, Lufton College in the South West, Pengwern College in North Wales and establish three new sites in the North West, the Midlands and the South East. Mencap needs to raise £10 million from private investment and other voluntary sources. This is an ambitious goal and one that we are committed to achieving in the next 3 years.