Jon Sparkes
@jonsparkes.bsky.social
Chief Executive of Mencap the national learning disability charity. All views expressed here are personal views.
September 27, 2025 at 9:01 PM
So pleased that Disability Minister, Stephen Timms MP was able to join @mencap.org.uk on-site at Yusen Logistics to meet Jimmy, one of our supported interns.
Yet another great example of an inclusive employer matched with a supported intern with a learning disability thriving in the workplace.
Yet another great example of an inclusive employer matched with a supported intern with a learning disability thriving in the workplace.
August 12, 2025 at 7:11 PM
So pleased that Disability Minister, Stephen Timms MP was able to join @mencap.org.uk on-site at Yusen Logistics to meet Jimmy, one of our supported interns.
Yet another great example of an inclusive employer matched with a supported intern with a learning disability thriving in the workplace.
Yet another great example of an inclusive employer matched with a supported intern with a learning disability thriving in the workplace.
Fantastic news, Ruby got a job at @greeneking.bsky.social after her supported internship and work placement through @mencap.org.uk training academy. We're addressing the disability employment gap person by person, employer by employer.
July 31, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Fantastic news, Ruby got a job at @greeneking.bsky.social after her supported internship and work placement through @mencap.org.uk training academy. We're addressing the disability employment gap person by person, employer by employer.
Fantastic news St Petrocs pick up the @homelesslink.bsky.social Award for Workforce Development. St Petrocs continually work to build the evidence-based professional practice of the team to work in ways that end people's homelessness for good; at the same time as embedding a truly values-led culture
June 4, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Fantastic news St Petrocs pick up the @homelesslink.bsky.social Award for Workforce Development. St Petrocs continually work to build the evidence-based professional practice of the team to work in ways that end people's homelessness for good; at the same time as embedding a truly values-led culture
Another hugely valuable roadshow with @mencap.org.uk support worker colleagues, this time in London. There is little more important to me than listening to some of the brilliant people delivering 24/7 social care support for the 4000 people with a learning disability that we support day-in-day-out.
May 30, 2025 at 10:20 AM
Another hugely valuable roadshow with @mencap.org.uk support worker colleagues, this time in London. There is little more important to me than listening to some of the brilliant people delivering 24/7 social care support for the 4000 people with a learning disability that we support day-in-day-out.
Great to have Rag'n'Bone Man on board supporting @mencap.org.uk - here with his sister Lucy sporting the special edition socks launched to mark World Down Syndrome Day last week - which sold out immediately of course!
March 24, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Great to have Rag'n'Bone Man on board supporting @mencap.org.uk - here with his sister Lucy sporting the special edition socks launched to mark World Down Syndrome Day last week - which sold out immediately of course!
Inspiring to spend time with the @omaze-uk.bsky.social team today, to give a massive thank you to the team for the £3.9m funding our partnership has raised for @mencap.org.uk, and to set out why it is so important and the impact we will have on health inequalities with this transformational funding.
February 26, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Inspiring to spend time with the @omaze-uk.bsky.social team today, to give a massive thank you to the team for the £3.9m funding our partnership has raised for @mencap.org.uk, and to set out why it is so important and the impact we will have on health inequalities with this transformational funding.
Taking an opportunity at one of @mencap.bsky.social's many social care services to speak about the impact on the lives of people with a learning disability of the change to the Employers National Insurance Contribution threshold announced in the recent budget.
January 8, 2025 at 8:09 PM
Taking an opportunity at one of @mencap.bsky.social's many social care services to speak about the impact on the lives of people with a learning disability of the change to the Employers National Insurance Contribution threshold announced in the recent budget.
With the wonderful @mencap.bsky.social Myth Buster TV Presenter George Webster just before Christmas at his @cbeebies.bsky.social studio. Great Christmas moment.
December 26, 2024 at 10:52 AM
With the wonderful @mencap.bsky.social Myth Buster TV Presenter George Webster just before Christmas at his @cbeebies.bsky.social studio. Great Christmas moment.
Proper traditional panto with a very special touch of Cornish flavour at Hall for Cornwall. Brilliant for all ages.
December 24, 2024 at 6:32 AM
Proper traditional panto with a very special touch of Cornish flavour at Hall for Cornwall. Brilliant for all ages.
We all benefit from access in-built, and a full supply of truly affordable housing.
#PlanForHousing
www.housing.org.uk/news-and-blo...
#PlanForHousing
www.housing.org.uk/news-and-blo...
December 23, 2024 at 8:09 AM
We all benefit from access in-built, and a full supply of truly affordable housing.
#PlanForHousing
www.housing.org.uk/news-and-blo...
#PlanForHousing
www.housing.org.uk/news-and-blo...
Such a great time yesterday recording a podcast with @mencap.bsky.social's Community Support Group of Lived Experience Advisors, discussing the barriers to equality for people with a learning disability, my hopes and dreams for Mencap, and favourite movie (no spoilers; wait for the podcast).
December 13, 2024 at 2:31 PM
Such a great time yesterday recording a podcast with @mencap.bsky.social's Community Support Group of Lived Experience Advisors, discussing the barriers to equality for people with a learning disability, my hopes and dreams for Mencap, and favourite movie (no spoilers; wait for the podcast).
Poignant, beautiful, start to Christmas at the St Petrocs carol service at Truro Methodist Church this evening. Including clear message that homelessness involves losing everything and then losing more. And the other clear message that we know how to prevent and end homelessness, so we must.
December 6, 2024 at 11:56 PM
Poignant, beautiful, start to Christmas at the St Petrocs carol service at Truro Methodist Church this evening. Including clear message that homelessness involves losing everything and then losing more. And the other clear message that we know how to prevent and end homelessness, so we must.
With the inspirational @mencap.bsky.social #MythBuster George Webster at the BBC in Salford marking International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
December 3, 2024 at 8:04 PM
With the inspirational @mencap.bsky.social #MythBuster George Webster at the BBC in Salford marking International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
This amazes me every time I read it - because Tina from our Helpline helped someone get £8,983 of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) they were entitled to, and because it took our helpline to do this.
Call the @mencap.bsky.social Helpline - for people with a learning disability and their families.
Call the @mencap.bsky.social Helpline - for people with a learning disability and their families.
December 2, 2024 at 7:27 PM
This amazes me every time I read it - because Tina from our Helpline helped someone get £8,983 of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) they were entitled to, and because it took our helpline to do this.
Call the @mencap.bsky.social Helpline - for people with a learning disability and their families.
Call the @mencap.bsky.social Helpline - for people with a learning disability and their families.
This place is phenomenal; and shows just what people with a learning disability can do and should be enabled to do. Great work Bianca Tavella.
November 20, 2024 at 9:06 PM
This place is phenomenal; and shows just what people with a learning disability can do and should be enabled to do. Great work Bianca Tavella.
