Celebrating 80 years of Mencap at Trinity Community Project
Posted Thursday 17th September 2026
A joyful afternoon bringing together members, volunteers and staff to celebrate 80 years of Mencap
On Wednesday 16 September, St Albans Mencap came together at Trinity Community Project at Homewood Road URC to celebrate the 80th birthday of the Royal Mencap Society.
It was a wonderful afternoon, with around 50 members, volunteers, staff and supporters joining together for a celebration full of smiles, laughter, music, games, refreshments and, of course fish 'n' chips!
We were also delighted to welcome the Mayor of St Albans, Councillor Matt Fisher, who spent time chatting with our members, volunteers and staff and finding out more about the work of St Albans Mencap.
The Mayor was a fantastic guest and really embraced the occasion, taking the time to meet people and join in with the celebrations.
Celebrating our community
While the afternoon marked 80 years of Mencap, it was also a celebration of the people who make St Albans Mencap what it is today.
Our members are at the heart of everything we do, and it was lovely to see so many people enjoying themselves together. Events like this are a great reminder of the importance of friendship, inclusion and having opportunities to be part of the wider community.
David Keen, Chair of St Albans Mencap, said:
“It was a really special afternoon and a wonderful way to celebrate 80 years of Mencap. The sheer sense of joy in the room was fantastic – members, volunteers, staff and supporters all coming together and enjoying themselves.
“We are very proud to be part of the wider Mencap family, but we are equally proud of the community we have built here in St Albans. Our members are at the heart of everything we do, and it was wonderful to see everyone celebrating together.”
Dean Davis, Service Manager at Trinity Community Project, added:
“It was fantastic to see so many people coming together to celebrate. Trinity is all about people having opportunities to meet others, build friendships, take part in activities and feel part of their community, so an event like this really captures what we are about.
“The atmosphere was brilliant and it was lovely to see members, volunteers and staff celebrating together.”
Looking to the future
Mencap was founded 80 years ago by families who wanted better lives and greater opportunities for people with learning disabilities. Eight decades later, that spirit of inclusion remains just as important.
At St Albans Mencap, we are proud to continue that work locally, supporting children and adults with learning disabilities and mental health challenges, alongside their families and carers.
Our Trinity Community Project provides opportunities for adults to socialise, learn new skills, try different activities and build friendships in a welcoming environment.
As we celebrated Mencap's 80th birthday, we also looked forward to the years ahead and to continuing to build a community where everyone has the opportunity to belong, participate and enjoy themselves.
A huge thank you to everyone who came along, to our wonderful volunteers and staff, and to the Mayor for joining us and helping make it such a memorable afternoon.
Happy 80th birthday, Mencap! 🎂
