We have a number of exciting opportunities to join our incredible team. Could you help us provide fun experiences for our members?
Have a look at our jobs page for more information.
You can contact us if you have any queries.
Want to apply for a volunteer role? Have a look at volunteer roles here.
We are very grateful to have been selected as one of the charities for this year’s Saltford Santa Dash on Sunday 1 December. We cannot wait to see all of the Santas running around the streets of Saltford!
Before the races begin, members from our music group ‘Music Man Project’ will be performing some Christmas carols to get everyone into the Christmas spirit before the runners set off.
This will start at around 10:25am on the stage by the start/finish line at Saltford Sports Club Ground. Come along and join us for a festive singalong and to cheer the runners on!
A team of our amazing staff and volunteers, Alicia, Lottie, Lucy and Kath will be running the 5k road race. We rely on the help from volunteers and fundraising to continue to run our clubs and services and to help make a difference to the lives of people with learning disabilities.
If you can, please consider supporting our team of runners by either donating to their fundraising page or coming along to cheer them on from the sidelines!
https://localgiving.org/fundraising/KDMSantaDash
If you are running with us, please go to the Mencap gazebo (located near the start/finish line) before the races start so that we can take some group photos before we set off.
Thank you for your support. We hope to see you on Sunday for a fun-filled morning!
Keynsham Mencap is hosting a ‘come and try’ sports event for children with learning disabilities and their siblings on Monday 21st August 2023 from 10am – 2pm.
Choose which activities you want to take part in and collect stamps for each one.
Activities will be overseen by coaches and volunteers but children must be supervised at all times.
Tickets are available through the link below. Each child will require a ticket.
Pop in for as long as you like, or stay all day!
Please bring packed lunch and refreshments.
Venue address: Wellsway Sports Centre BS31 1SR (IKB / Sports Centre entrance).
A big thank you to Family Bakers Warburtons for awarding us £400.00 as part of their Community Grant Scheme. Warburtons Community Grants support charitable organisations towards broader activities which improve health, place, or skills for families in their community.
The impact of grant donations such as this enhance the activities programme in our clubs; giving our members new opportunities and enabling them to take part in more confidence boosting activities that will broaden their horizons and more importantly help them to experience the same activities as their peers, but in a more secure environment. We aim to help all our members live happy and healthy lives and grants like this enable us to do just that!
We are delighted to launch This Is Me Keynsham.
This is Me! tells the stories of the Keynsham Mencap community. From club members to staff, from volunteers to charity trustees, everyone has a story. This photoblog enables you to learn more about who we are and what we do to support adults and children with learning disabilities and autism.
Our first story features Trustee Russ who was awarded the Citizen of the Year award at Keynsham Town Council last week.
Russ’s Keynsham Mencap Story
“My plan is to just keep on doing what I’m doing.
I’ve been a trustee for 10 years now. In the last couple of years it has felt a bit like just when we feel we’ve planned it all right, something happens! There was Brexit and all that uncertainty of course, then the pandemic, and we didn’t know how either would affect us, but we keep moving forward. We do our best. The people who work here at Keynsham Mencap, the leaders and volunteers are incredible. I work to support them to continue what they do.
It’s an amazing team.
I’d just retired from business and was not finding it easy. I’d been a director for 37 years, in roles with responsibility. It was not that easy to switch! This makes me feel that I am useful. I like to paddle my own canoe, and it turned out that I had skills I hadn’t known about until I came here. It’s so different from a commercial organization. I have applied my experience of management and do what I can.
I’m the Treasurer, and work with our bookkeeper and accountant putting together the annual budget. It enables us to know here we are, and plan. Throughout the year, whenever we are looking at events or a sponsorship deal, everything has to be costed and run past me. Unless it will fly, it doesn’t get off the ground.
What do I enjoy? all of it really.
This year has had its moments already! Like everyone, we have been coming out of the end of the pandemic and looking around at cost of living. We put everyone’s wages up, which we had to do, so of course the whole salary bill went up. Part way through last year, we lost a fundraiser and had 4 months without anyone, which is inevitably going to have consequences for this small charity.
As Treasurer, the first time we were given a meaningful grant spread over 3 years was a real highlight. To see that for that 3-year period? We know that we can keep on doing what we do.
The pandemic was really something for us. As soon as I heard that there were special grants I was on it like a blood hound and applied. I got ten grand! Usually if I hear of a grant I pass it to the fundraiser, but in the pandemic, we were all over the place, so I did one myself!
We are looking for a home for Keynsham Mencap. We need a central, accessible, Keynsham property where we can run the clubs and activities, as well as a place for the office staff. Any ideas?”
Keep up to date with our stories and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Do you enjoy creating fun activities for children and young people?
Would you like to join a team with a Deputy Club Leader and a fantastic group pf volunteers to deliver these activities?
And can you help plan indoor and outdoor activities for children with additional needs, ensuring a safe and encouraging environment?
Well, we have a vacancy for a Play Leader to join our friendly team.
We are looking for an enthusiastic person who is excited about being proactive in the delivery of our children’s club (called Super Saturday Club) in Bath.
This is a 6 hours per week role, term time only with 3 hours on a Saturday 9.30am to 12.30pm plus 3 hours preparation time.
£12.61 per hour based in Bath. If this sounds like you, you can apply online here.
You can download a copy of the job description here, or contact us for more information.
Some pictures of our Super Saturday Club members having fun
On Sunday 16th October, TeamKDMS completed the Bath Half Marathon. Dave, Dean, Jack, Pete and Stacey took on the 13.1 mile course around the sights of Bath and past our enthusiastic cheer squad of supporters stationed on Lower Bristol Road.
Well done to everyone who took part and thank you for choosing us as your charity, we really are very grateful for your support.
If you have been inspired by our runners this year the we have 10 Bath Half 2023 places available. The 2023 race is scheduled for Sunday 15th October 2023. If you would like to take part in this iconic running event and raise money for us then please get in touch. It’s only a £25 registration fee, and we ask for a commitment to raise at least £250 in sponsorship. Contact the office for more information.
Do you enjoy talking to new people and getting involved in the local community?
Would you like to run and manage local fundraising events of different sizes?
And can you write compelling copy supporting business cases that would secure grants and trust funding?
Well, we have a vacancy for a fundraiser to join our friendly team.
We are looking for an enthusiastic person who is excited about making a difference for local people and can get the local community involved in helping too.
You would be assisting local people with a learning disability to enjoy social opportunities and activities in Keynsham and the surrounding areas.
A flexible 20 hrs a week role with some weekend and evening work £14.50 per hour based in Keynsham. If this sounds like you, you can apply online here.
You can download a copy of the job description here, or contact us for more information.
Just a tiny taste of the events and fundraising we do…
On Saturday 11th June staff and volunteers took part in a 5K inflatable obstacle race in Bristol. The team thoroughly enjoyed the challenge, not only was it fun and a great team building day but the team raised nearly £1000. Well done everyone!