A Cumbrian charity has been awarded £10,000 to help disabled people volunteer.
The Kendal-based Bendrigg Trust has been given the cash by Cumbria Community Foundation for its Someone Like Me project.
The three-year initiative is designed to enable people with disabilities to fulfil their potential as volunteers, harnessing the unique contribution they can bring to the workplace.
Someone Like Me aims to support 40 people a year who have disabilities/additional support needs to participate as volunteers at Bendrigg, in turn enabling 3,000-plus others to access the charity’s services.
Volunteers will be involved in activities from delivery of Bendrigg’s accessible activity breaks; grounds maintenance/environmental projects; marketing/fundraising; office administration; to catering/hospitality roles.
Bendrigg principal Nick Liley said: “We are immensely grateful to Cumbria Community Foundation for its invaluable support for Bendrigg Trust’s pioneering volunteering programme.
“The work of the foundation and the generosity of the trusts involved – in particular, The Roselands Trust, The Edmond Castle Educational Trust, The Catherine Alexander Grassroots Fund and The Holehird Trust Fund – are truly inspiring and offer our new project strong foundations from which to grow.
“The project will provide opportunities for many more people with disabilities in our local communities to volunteer in the great outdoors which is tremendous news.”
Annalee Holliday, senior grants, programmes and communications officer at Cumbria Community Foundation, said: “Bendrigg Trust do a wonderful job helping people with disabilities reach their full potential.
“Like many organisations in the voluntary sector, Bendrigg Trust is playing an important role helping people connect in their local community.”
