In the autumn of 1949, parents were invited to attend the charities first meeting, held in Bull Street Birmingham, which aimed to try and find ways and means of helping children with disabilities and their families to lead fuller lives.

Several decades later, Midland Mencap’s ethos remains the same. The charity works and campaigns for accessible and inclusive services and a better quality of life for everyone with experience of learning disabilities and additional needs.

The charity’s CEO, Dave Rogers, says: “To reach your 70th Anniversary for any organisation is a magnificent achievement. For one founded by family carers it is extra special. We’re honoured to continue to carry forward the ambition and aspirations of those founding families and pioneers who steadfastly campaigned for equality and inclusion for themselves and their loved ones.

“Our celebrations throughout the year will respect their legacy, celebrate our heritage and lay the foundations down for the organisations long into the future.There remains much to be done as we still pursue the ambition of equality and inclusion for people with a learning disability so our 70th birthday will renew that resolve first shown by those remarkable founding families.”

During its seventy years, the charity has helped over 20,000 families and witnessed great successes in the fields of helping find safe, secure and quality housing; offering care, support, advice and information and offering a range of community activities that promote inclusion, well-being and active citizenship.