Cumbria’s Bendrigg Trust has been given a £5,000 boost thanks to Spar.
Established in the 1970s, Bendrigg is a residential activity centre between Kendal and Sedbergh specialising in supporting young disabled people to access outdoor adventures like climbing, kayaking, caving, archery, and bike riding.
The centre hosts around 4,000 visitors a year from both the local area and across the UK supporting them to be adventurous and take on exciting challenges whether using the site’s facilities or taking people to cave in North Yorkshire, kayak on Windermere or sightsee in the Lake District.
Fiona Drummond, Spar company stores director at James Hall & Co Ltd, presented the cheque to the charity’s fundraising manager Lizzie Feltoe.
Lizzie said: “This grant is a such a boost to Bendrigg and our fundraising efforts for the new sensory room, and it’s brilliant to have the support of the Spar Community Cashback scheme.
“Our current sensory room is over 10 years old and is a firm favourite with our visitors.
“Being away from home, sometimes for the first time, can be an exciting but nerve-wracking experience with a lot of new sights, sounds and experiences that can be overwhelming.
“This is especially the case when children have a learning or sensory disability. The space is a haven of peace and calm for some time out to recharge before heading back out on site again.
“The funding will help purchase user friendly new equipment, like a star projector, musical wall, fibre optic wall carpet and bubble tubes.
“Children will be able to control it themselves, which will be fun for them. We are also going to install a new H hoist which means wheelchair users can safely transfer into any part of the room so that they are fully included.”
Spar Community Cashback is now in its fourth year and James Hall & Co Ltd received 1,400 applications from charities and organisations across the North of England.
