Sheila Gregory, who has been CEO of Carlisle Mencap since 1998, is due to retire.
Carlisle Mencap provides support for more than 400 people with learning disabilities and autism across Cumbria.
Over the years Sheila has seen Carlisle Mencap grow from a small part-time organization with six part-time staff and a turnover £32,000 to a large organisation with 150 staff and an annual turnover of £3m. Carlisle Mencap is one of the four largest independent Mencap societies in the UK.
Sheila, who began working with people with learning disability as a volunteer 46 years ago, said: “Over the years I have seen a lot of change for the better in the lives of people with a learning disability.
“People were still living in large special hospitals until relevantly recently and were unseen by the community.
“Now people live in the community-supported in their own homes. They are recognised as individual citizens and be seen as part of the community, but there is still a long way to go to reach full equality for our members.
“We still see shocking statistics around life expectancy of people with a learning disability – for example, the life expectancy of a woman with a learning disability is 18 years less than a woman without disability.
“Even though young people with a learning disability were six times more likely to die from COVID, a huge fight had to be put up to get people vaccinated on the priority lists.”
Sheila will retire at the end of this month.
She remembers many memorable occasions over the years. She oversaw both the charity’s 40th and 50th anniversaries. Perhaps the most important memory was the development of the £1m Grace Little Children’s Centre at Kingmoor Park.
After an initial legacy of £200,000 from Grace Little, a parent of a disabled person, Sheila raised the additional £800,000 to build the fully accessible centre which provides respite and community activities for disabled children. The centre celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2023.
Sheila always got fully involved in fundraising activities – including abseiling off the Carlisle Civic Centre on three occasions and gruelling long-distance charity walk challenges.
Sheila enjoyed running with the Olympic Torch at Aspatria in 2012 and being award Cumberland News, Community heroes 2019 – Person of the Year.
“It’s lovely to be thanked,” she said. “However, my best memories will be of how we have helped families in Cumbria to have better lives. It’s always the people I will remember: members, families, staff and volunteers.”
Sheila is looking forward to having time to enjoy her hobbles – fellwalking, bird watching, gardening – her dog, Ben and cat, Sam and spending more time with her husband Bob.
She will still continue to support the Cumbria voluntary sector as a member of the Cumbria CVS board.
Sheila is replaced by experienced CEO Catherine Burn.
