Mencap hands top marketing role to education director

Mencap, the learning disability charity, has promoted Alison Sargent to its top marketing role ahead of an overhaul of the brand, which will start next month.

Sargent replaces Deborah Hamilton-Lewis, who has left the charity, and will be marketing director, adding marketing duties to her existing responsibilities as director of the education and employment business unit.

She will now look after the campaigns, communications and fundraising departments and will take over the role immediately.

The charity says it is repositioning the Mencap brand “to reach more people with learning disabilities”. It is extending its remit to include families, carers, volunteers, education professionals as well as the learning disability community. In the past, it has focused on individuals with learning disabilities.

It has also overhauled its logo to give it a friendly feel. The bright red colouring becomes burgundy and a speech bubble surrounds the first two letters. The charity has consulted staff members, service users local group members and the public and worked with a brand consultant to create the new look.

The charity’s strapline will also change from “Understanding Learning Disability” to “The Voice of Learning Disability”.

Mencap says its new identity aims to update its image and to become a “leading voice” in learning disability. The charity will also be relaunching its website with an interactive video section.

Mencap was founded 60 years ago and has 9,000 staff and 2,000 volunteers.