Ealing Mencap was formed in by a group of parents in 1965 and one of their first tasks was to find a place where people with learning disabilities could participate in activities and events. £10,000 was raised and a site was found in Stockdove Way, Perivale which was leased by the council for a peppercorn rent. A system build timber frame building was erected in 1968 with a life expectancy of 10 years, but in fact the first incarnation of Enterprise Lodge endured until 2010.

The volunteering bedrock of the organisation was established through Gateway clubs and many social events and activities and continued for the next twenty years. A separate company, Ealing Mencap Housing was set up in the 1980’s to manage three group homes in partnership with Notting Hill Housing Trust and continued until the mid 1990’s when they transferred to Support for Living. A development officer was employed in the late 80’s as a response to the trend towards local charities employing staff to deliver services and this resulted in a development project to support families in Southall being established in 1989.

A few small projects were established but it was recognised that additional skills would be required to develop the organisation further and Julian Hillman was appointed as director in 1993. The last 17 years have seen steady growth with some acceleration as the reforms and additional investment resulting from ‘Valuing People’ began to take effect. In 2000, turnover was £0.39m and grew to £1.46m last year, and staffing was 52 fte. The organisation has succeeded in establishing support for people with learning disabilities and their families of all ages and ethnic backgrounds.

Volunteer and staff based activities run side by side and will now occupy common premises on the Enterprise Lodge site. In 2005, the campaign to build a new Enterprise Lodge began in earnest with the acquisition of the freehold from the council, following a successful fundraising campaign. The next four years was spent raising well over £1m to build and equip a modern activity and resource centre, which is being commissioned at the time of writing. We are very proud of this achievement and Enterprise Lodge remains the ‘spiritual home’ of Ealing Mencap.