Brent Mencap singing group, the All Stars, album now available.

 

All Stars - a singing group at Brent Mencap have written, recorded and launched a wonderful album of their own songs.

You can listen to it, download it here - https://ditto.fm/all-stars-rock

You can also read more about them and see them perform here - https://www.brentmencap.org.uk/amazing-artists

Listen to My Star My Rock on YouTube Music HERE

 

Please share this with EVERYONE! 

 

All Stars hope to inspire other people who have a learning disabiity to reach their stars and change people's views of what they are a capable of doing.

They will be performing a short set at Harrow Disability Arts Festival on 7^th November -

https://harrowarts.com/whats-on/event/disability-arts-festival-2025

Help the talented and inspiring Brent Mencap AllStars record their first album of original songs

 

 

From Brent Mencap

 

We are AllStars – a band of singers with learning disabilities and/or autism, turning our stories into music that speaks to everyone.

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We’ve written 11 powerful original songs about love, friendship, fears, and dreams – the same hopes and feelings we all share. Now we’re ready to release our first album and bring it to life with a live performance! But to make this dream shine, we need your help. 

We already have £2,300, but we need £1,500 more to:

• Professionally mix and master our tracks

• Hire a rehearsal space

• Host our album launch with a live show

 

By supporting us, you’ll not only hear amazing music – you’ll also highlight how talented and capable people with learning disabilities are. Together, we can inspire other people with a Learning Disability across the UK to share their talents too.

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Be part of the dream. Help us light up the stage.

And donate on our Just Giving page to make it real.

 

At Brent Civic Centre

Our Music Artists

 The Power of Music: Our Singing Groups

At Brent Mencap, music is more than just a pastime — it’s a powerful tool for connection, self-expression, and joy. We currently run two singing groups:

• One is open to anyone who simply loves to sing, whether you're a shower-singer or stage-ready star!

• The other is something truly special...it's Mencap AllStars!

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Meet the Mencap AllStars

Our Mencap AllStars have been on an incredible musical journey. With guidance from Milly, a professional singer-songwriter, the group has been writing and composing their own original songs — songs that tell stories of life, personal experience, friendship, and shared human emotions. Their music is honest, heartfelt, and deeply moving. With the amazing support of our neighbours at BBMC Music Studio, the AllStars have been recording their tracks professionally. The next step? Turning their dream into reality!

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The Vision: An Original Album

We are currently applying for Arts Council funding to support the production of a full 12-track album — featuring one original song from each group member.

But this project is about more than just the music:

• The group will design the album artwork in collaboration with our art group

• They plan to launch the album with a live band performance

• And they want to take the lead on promoting and sharing their music with the world

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This is their voice. Their stories. Their creativity. And we can’t wait to help them bring it all to life! 

 

Stay tuned for more updates — and get ready to hear something truly extraordinary!​

New Information and Advice service for people with a learning disability

From Brent Mencap

Our new specialist Information and Advice service for Brent people with a learning disability aged 18-65 is going live on Thursday January 4th at Brent Mencap. It's only for people with a learning disability (which doesn't include conditions such as dyslexia or dyspraxia nor other disabilities).

As well as a drop in on Thursdays we can give initial information over the phone and get our adviser to ring you back or make an appointment.

Lions of Grunwick immortalised as commemoration mural unveiled

It's finally here! Grunwick 40 is delighted to announce that the mural commemorating the Grunwick strike will be unveiled on Saturday 30th September at noon, Chapter Road, NW2 5ND (by Dollis Hill Jubilee line station).

Designed by artist Anna Ferrie and more than 60 participants at community workshops, the artwork has been a collaborative effort reflecting both memories of the strike for those who were present and the hope it represents for younger generations. Join us as we reveal a colourful memorial to mark this seminal moment in British history!

There will be a reception afterwards close by at Brent Mencap, 379-381 High Road, Willesden, NW10  2JR (Opposite Tony's pub).

Wembley Matters congratulates all involved.

Vacancies at Brent Mencap

We currently have 3 vacancies at Brent Mencap.

The closing date for the advocate post is this Friday 5th August at midday with interviews next week on 10th August. Application forms for this post need to be sent to Brent Mencap.

The closing date for the care navigator posts is Wed 24th August (9am) with interviews being held all day on Tuesday 30th & Wednesday 31st August. The recruitment for these 2 posts is being co-ordinated by Brent CVS so please contact Fuad at Brent CVS with any queries first and not Brent Mencap.

The details of all these posts can be found at the link below.

http://www.brentmencap.org.uk/index.php

Democracy in action? Cuts protesters barred from debate.

A group of protesters entered the Town Hall while others continued to protest outside

I am unable to bring you a report on tonight's Brent Council meeting, which was voting on a cuts package that will seriously damage the people of Brent,  because police barred me, and many others, from attending the meeting of the Council. Admission was by ticket only with a limited number issued. There were empty seats in the chamber and on other occasions the public have been allowed to stand. Not tonight.

I was told by the police that they had been called by the Council and instructed to remove me from the building  (Brent Town Hall)  because I was trespassing.  When I said that I was there to see democracy in action I was told that democracy was voting in elections and protesting was nothing to do with democracy. When I said that I wanted to report on the debate and the arguments for and against the cuts, I was told that it was for the Council to decide whether they wanted their proceedings reported and that Parliament  didn't let the public into all their debates.

Frustrated campaigners continued to protest outside the Council chamber for some time until they left in orderly fashion. They left having made their point that they were not prepared to accept the supine position of Labour councillors who appeared prepared to damage the very people that they had been elected to serve and protect. 

Groups from a variety of campaigns had lobbied outside the Town Hall from 6pm in a good-humoured but determined show of solidarity.

Mencap on Impact of Cuts

Brent Mencap has circulated this message:

Here at Brent Mencap we are very concerned about the effect that public sector spending cuts will have on the lives of people with a learning disability in Brent. Even in the "good times" people with learning disabilities didn't get paid jobs or as good medical treatment as the rest of the population. They were discriminated against by service providers in many other ways.

We think the cuts and changes to things like

• Disability Living Allowance
• Incapacity benefit.
• Social Care services and Community based support
• Housing benefit cuts and longer waits for their own tenancies
• Cuts to transport staff, police, libraries, sports centres, colleges and other public services

will make it much harder for people to feel safe in their communities or access community services. We also think it will slow down the reasonable adjustments that service providers need to make to enable people with a learning disability to access the same services that you and I take for granted.

As a campaigning organisation we are going to hold some meetings for Brent people with a learning disability of all ages and their families . At these meetings we will talk about the kinds of cuts and changes the Government and Council are planning and support people to decide what action they want to take. Please circulate details of these meetings to people you know with a learning disability and their families. The times may not suit some people and we could hold similar meetings at different times if there was enough demand. Please contact ian@brentmencap.org.uk about this.

Please circulate the flier (see under Pages) to your contacts who work with people with a learning disability and their families.

We are looking for volunteers to help support people with a learning disability voice their concerns. If you are interested in volunteering with us please contact Leanne@brentmencap.org.uk

Brent Mencap recognises that other vulnerable groups and the general public will also be badly affected by these cuts and changes. We would encourage other voluntary sector groups, residents groups and other people to also get involved in the local anti-cuts campaign. The next local meeting to plan action against the cuts (organised by Brent Trades Union Council)  is on Wednesday 8th September at 7.30 at the Apollo Club, 377 High Road Willesden NW10 2JR. We would encourage people to attend and also to plan their response to the cuts. For more details of the public meetings please contact Sarah Cox on scox05@toucansurf.com

At the recent meeting we heard that Camden Councillors and their workforce (and parts of Islington Council) will be demonstrating against the cuts on October 20th, the date the comprehensive spending review report is published. To date there seems to be no similar action planned in Brent and it appears as if the cuts will go ahead here with little Brent statutory or voluntary sector public response about how this will badly affect Brent residents