Our History

Mid Norfolk Mencap has a long established record of providing support services for people with learning disabilities and their family carers, stretching back nearly thirty years.

March 1978: Swaffham Day Centre was established, run entirely by volunteers. This service came into being following consultation with family carers who highlighted a need for some form of respite. The venture was an overnight success, proving the demand for such a service. The Day Centre now operates under a service agreement from Norfolk Adult and Children’s Social Services and has a paid Organiser with valued help from a small group of volunteers.

May 1981 : The Holiday Flat in Hunstanton was purchased and equipped to meet the needs of people with profound disabilities and their families, following a massive fundraising effort by the committee and members of Mid Norfolk Mencap. This gave many families the opportunity to make use of a facility which was far less commonplace than it would be in the present day.

August 1983 : Launch of the Holiday Playscheme for children with a learning disability. This is now funded, like the Swaffham Day Centre, via a service agreement with Children’s Services. The playscheme has provided an opportunity for many young people to have their first experience of working in the social care environment; several have gone on to careers in care.

1984 : Dereham Day Centre begins, following the template of the very successful Swaffham Day Centre and , like its predecessor, is now funded by Service Agreement and run by a paid Organiser.

1986 : Swaffham Toy Library was set up following hard work by the committee. This project was established to enable parents to borrow toys for their children. The Toy Library was funded by a substantial grant from BBC Children In Need and was housed at Hammonds Sixth Form Centre, organised intitially by pupils of the school.

1987 : a Small Registered Home at Cartledge Close, Dereham opened, with three residents. Cartledge Close ran successfully for 15 years until, due to changes in modern residential care policy, the trustees relinquished tenancy of the property.

April 1990 :  Merle Boddy House opened its doors, initially to a mix of short-term and permanent residents. Merle Boddy House remains the key service within Mid Norfolk Mencap and now provides residential care for ten residents with learning disabilities.