Tag Archives: learning disabilities

Celebrating Connection and Community at “Trivia & Togetherness”

By Matthew McKenzie, Cygnet Carer Ambassador

Continuing on with the Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 theme, the event was more than just another date on the calendar, it was a celebration of unity, joy, and shared purpose at the “Trivia & Togetherness” event hosted at Churchill Hospital.

The event was organised by Socialising Angels C.I.C. in collaboration with Cygnet Health Care, this free event brought together carers, parents, and young adults with learning disabilities from across Lambeth for an uplifting day of fun, food, and fellowship.

just so you know, Socialising Angels C.I.C is a community interest company based in Lambeth, London, dedicated to supporting young adults with learning disabilities. Their mission is to uplift the wellbeing of these individuals by creating inclusive opportunities that tackle social isolation and build confidence, communication, and independence.

As a Cygnet Carer Ambassador, I saw firsthand how vital inclusive events like these are, especially for the community. They give carers a platform to shine, to socialise, and to feel a deep sense of belonging.

Such events also provide carers with a supportive network and a chance to reconnect, share, and celebrate the amazing achievements of those we support. The room was alive with energy from the very beginning. On the event agenda were Trivia quizzes, bingo cards, and also conversation to connect.

It was great to see everyone participating with smiles and laughter. The games were cleverly designed not only to entertain but to encourage communication and teamwork tools.

For Lunch, Cygnet provided a hearty spread of classic fish and chips with peas, lemon wedges, and desserts added that special British comfort everyone loves. It wasn’t just a meal, it was a moment to sit, reflect, and enjoy the company of friends old and new.

Events like this don’t happen by accident. It takes dedication, vision, and real investment in people. That’s where Cygnet comes in. Their support with Socialising Angels is more than sponsorship, it’s a true commitment to improving mental health and social inclusion in our community. Cygnet’s continued support helps make these spaces accessible and vibrant, giving young adults the confidence to grow, and carers the strength to keep going.

To all the volunteers, organisers, and participants thank you. Today reminded us that inclusion isn’t just a word; it’s an action. Where organisations like Socialising Angels and Cygnet help lead the way.

Interview with Ionie Hughes

Supporting unpaid carers is a greatly unrecognized yet profoundly impactful endeavor. In our latest interview from a series dedicated to highlighting those who go out of their way to aid and uplift unpaid carers, Matthew McKenzie had the opportunity to speak with Ionie Hughes.

Ionie talked about how she tries to reach parent carers through her charity, Socialising Angels, which is a C.I.C that was created to help reduce isolation, which focuses to help young adults with social, emotional and mental health needs.

You can watch the full interview below.

Drawing from her personal experiences and relentless advocacy, Ionie provides invaluable insight into the unique challenges and necessities of unpaid carers. Below, we delve into Ionie’s story, her organization, and the far-reaching influence of her work.

Training and Positive Influence

Ionie is trained in Rational Emotional Behavior Therapy, reinforcing her belief that altering one’s mindset and belief systems is crucial for overcoming challenges. She emphasizes positive thinking and speech, offering powerful encouragement and practical advice to other carers. Her ability to balance personal experience with professional training enhances her effectiveness as a support figure.

Socializing Angels: A Community Endeavor

About the Organization

Socializing Angels CIC, founded by Ionie in 2022 and operational since 2023, is based in Brixton. The organization aims to bring young adults with various disabilities into the community, providing them with social engagement opportunities. This initiative not only enriches the lives of the young adults but also offers respite to their parent carers.

Challenges of Running a Non-Profit

Running a community interest company like Socializing Angels comes with its own set of challenges. As the CEO, Ionie juggles multiple responsibilities without financial compensation, as most of the organization’s funds are directed toward service provision. The startup phase of the CIC is heavily reliant on external funding and the dedication of its founder.

Ionie’s work extends beyond service provision for her own son to advocating for and supporting other young adults and their families. This dual role often leads to overwhelming exhaustion and the risk of burnout. However, her steadfast commitment to both her son and her organization underscores the dedication and resilience inherent to unpaid carers.

The Unseen Challenges of Unpaid Carers

Daily Struggles and Lack of Recognition

Unpaid carers perform a plethora of tasks around the clock, often without recognition or financial remuneration. Their roles are multifaceted, ranging from advocacy to personal assistance and emotional support.

Ionie points out that unpaid carers frequently experience burnout due to the nonstop nature of their responsibilities. The mental toll of continually advocating and caring for a loved one, compounded by the financial strain of a cost-of-living crisis, is immense.

Integrity and Unwavering Commitment

Despite these challenges, the integrity and love that motivate unpaid carers are evident. They dedicate themselves selflessly to the welfare of others, driven by an unwavering commitment to their loved ones. This spirit of selflessness is emblematic of the unpaid carer community.

Essential Skills for Carer Outreach

Knowledge of Community Resources

For carers seeking to make a difference, understanding the community landscape is crucial. This involves attending meetings, forums, and various community events to stay informed and engaged. Personal interactions and shared experiences are key elements in creating a supportive network.

Empathy, Compassion, and Understanding

Ionie highlights the importance of empathy, compassion, and active listening in supporting fellow carers. Building a rapport and a community based on mutual understanding and shared experiences can provide both practical support and emotional solace.

Personal Experience and Advocacy

Personal experience is a powerful tool in advocacy. Ionie’s own journey has been instrumental in shaping her ability to help others. By sharing her story and the strategies that have worked for her, she provides a valuable blueprint for other carers seeking guidance and support.

Conclusion

Ionie Hughes’ journey and dedication shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked world of unpaid carers. Her relentless advocacy, personal sacrifices, and the establishment of Socializing Angels CIC stand as a testament to the incredible impact one person can have in making the world a more inclusive and supportive place.

Through recognizing and addressing the challenges faced by unpaid carers, we can begin to create a more understanding and supportive environment. It is imperative to appreciate and uplift those who selflessly dedicate their lives to the care of others, often without any form of compensation or recognition. Ionie’s story is a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience that define the carer community.

Mental Health and Well-being event 2014 review

Welcome to another of my event reviews. Its been a while since I have last blog, but that does not mean I have not been busy. On the 10th of September 2014 I decided to check out the Mental Health and Well-being Event, which was aimed at Adults with Learning disabilities.

This event took place over at the Maudsley Learning center, which is also known as The ORTUS.

I usually visit the Maudsley Learning Center to check out mental health awareness events or conferences that can often be held there, but the ORTUS is more than just an events building, it does many other things where the community can relax and learn more about well-being.

Now I do not know if you had seen my video blog of last years well-being community event, but feel free to check out my video of last years community well-being event. There is also a video blog of the recent 2014 video event near the end of this blog.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAgZWPsjUic

This year being 2014, the Well-being event was big, and I mean more stalls, more workshops, more rooms and more involvement. There was lots on offer and everyone was so friendly, engaging and cooperative.

We have three floors of activities at the event and at the ground floor there were numerous stalls, where I checked out around 13 of them.

The next floor up was some more stalls and a coffee and tea area, then 2 floors up we had to workshops, each workshop running every half an hour, but first lets check out briefly what stalls were on ground floor, before I continue I would like to apologize in advance if I missed any names out.

I cannot go through all the stalls I checked out off the written blog, but if you want something more interactive, you can view the video blog I made of the event.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yCWMAsWtRc

You might have noticed the video blog is around 11 minutes longer than the last years video blog, but this goes to show how much was put into the event this year.

My favourite stalls that I was on the lookout for were the ones which had those who use the services actually helping out off the stalls. This showed me that the service users were inclusive in the services that were provided for them, this meant there was more control for those who may have challenging behaviour.

Other stalls of interest was the “Adults with Learning Disabilities Health Team”. The team must have had around 2 to 3 stalls where each were focusing on a specific health area. One of my favourite stall to visit was the interactive game, which helped divert your mind from how much exercise you was doing.

I always feel learning should be fun and games are one of the powerful way to challenge your mind and at times your body.

Talking about bodies, Quite a few stalls were focused on advertising the sports and health centres dotted around the Southwark area, so many people can take advantage of the sports centers, there were quite a number of discounts on membership that its such good time to get fit and active.

It was also great to see Southwark carers at the well-being event. We must not forget the families or carers who form the backbone of care for those with mental health difficulties or intellectual behaviours. So many carers out there silently cope and do their role without a moments thought for themselves. So hopefully if carers and families of those who have learning disabilities visited that stall, I would hope they get the support they need.

After visiting a few stalls, it was time to check out the workshops. There were quite a few workshops running and fortunately all the workshops were packed.

The workshops running were

What is Austism?
Mindfulness
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
The tree of life
Role of medication
What is Mental Health?

So there were six workshops in all. I could not stay for the full length of time since I was busy exploring the other parts of the event, but what I saw at the workshops made me feel that the organisers spent a large amount of time and energy to get the workshops running.

Unfortunately I could not stay the whole event, since I had a meeting to go to, but I feel so glad to be invited to help cover and promote the event.

A Caring Mind

A blog for carers of mental health and cancer