From November 2014 I worked as consultant researcher as part of the Open University team commissioned to work in the MacIntyre Memories project. The result of that project can be found here.

In 2016 MacIntyre will celebrate its 50th birthday. We have a number of projects already underway to help us mark and celebrate this landmark. MacIntyre Memories We were delighted last month to receive a grant of £81,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to enable us to create an archive of our Memories. Through the project we will document 50 years of learning disability provision by MacIntyre, from being founded by Kenneth Newton-Wright in 1966 in the absence of suitable provision for his disabled son, to providing support across the UK through 120 different services for children, young people and adults. We have film, photographic and written materials from the past 50 years, as well as stories from people we support, staff and families spanning that time. We have never previously attempted to create a social history of this material and believe this project will serve as valuable historical information both for our own records and for the sector. MacIntyre Providing support…for 50 years Providing support…for 50 years 1966 – 2016 Awarding the grant, Stuart McLeod, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund South East, said: “Heritage is not all castles, museums and old buildings. Recording memories is an important and popular way of learning about our past and sharing this with present and future generations. This project will create an important record, not only of the tireless work MacIntyre do to constantly to improve the lives of disabled people, but it will enable disabled people to tell their story in their own words.” As part of our project we have appointed three Memories Assistants to support the Marketing team with this work. Jenyth, Sui-Ling and Sharon all started in November – we’ll be sharing their stories in future issues of The Ring. We are also working with an established Memories group in Milton Keynes as the project will also link with Milton Keynes’ jubilee in 2017 when we will join local exhibitions. What can you do? If you have any photos, press cuttings or stories you’re able to share with us we’d love to hear from you. Contact us at jubilee@macintyrecharity.org, phone 01908 230100, or post to MacIntyre, 602 South Seventh Street, Milton Keynes, MK9 2JA. We will be happy to return any material that is sent to us. Photo Project We are working with an award-winning photographer, Polly Braden, who is visiting a range of our services to document the work of MacIntyre people. She will be capturing the daily lives of and interactions between our staff and people we support. We intend to create a photo book and touring exhibition in 2016 to highlight and influence best practice in the sector. Great Interactions Research Project MacIntyre has led thinking and practice in values-based recruitment, personality profiling and the role of Great Interactions in delivering positive outcomes for the people we support and our work has been recognised widely. A challenge for the sector, exacerbated by the ongoing economic climate is the increasing focus by commissioners on price. This research, subtitled “Commissioning for Compassion” will focus on a mix of human interest stories and quantitative measures that evidence the impact on quality of life for, and integration of people with learning disabilities through great interactions. MacIntyre has commissioned the Open University Social History of Learning Disability Research Group to conduct this project on our behalf. For more information about any of these projects please don’t hesitate to contact me: Claire Kennedy Head of Marketing & Fundraising Tel: 01908 357012 Email: claire.kennedy@macintyrecharity.org

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