The Open Door Centre is celebrating after being awarded over £131,000 in National Lottery funding to support its work with adults with learning disabilities.
The charity, based in Gorse Hill, will use the money to establish and develop key partnerships and collaborations with other organisations in the learning disability community, to enable more people to enjoy a wide range of enriching activities and opportunities.
Over 50 adults with learning disabilities attend Open Door each week to socialise, participate in activities which help improve their physical and mental well-being, get support and advice, build their confidence and learn new skills.
The Open Door Choir regularly perform in public, most recently at Swindon’s Famous Duck Race, and the dance group will be performing at Swindon Dance’s Strictly Swindon event on 19 July.
Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of The Open Door Centre, and Jenny Stacey has been the manager since 1987. What started as a group of parents looking for support for their adult children has developed into a thriving and vibrant community.
Jenny Stacey, Centre Manager, says: “We’re delighted that The National Lottery Community Fund has recognised our work in this way.
"Now, thanks to National Lottery players, we will be able to develop plans to ensure Open Door can keep going for the next 40 years.
"Our members are involved in all decision-making at the Centre and have a wish list of things they need to achieve their highest potential.
"Hopefully, working with others in the learning disability community, we will be able to make these things happen for them.”
Over the years, the charity has supported hundreds of people, provided advice and care through the most difficult times and celebrated successes and happy occasions. In September, 40 members will spend a week on Hayling Island, and have previously enjoyed holidays in Ibiza and Majorca, for many this is only possible due to Open Door staff and volunteers.
The funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, which distributes money raised by National Lottery players for good causes and is the largest community funder in the UK, will allow the charity to develop its services over the next few years.
Derek Fry, Chair of the Trustees, said: “All small charities are facing similar challenges at the moment, so this support from The National Lottery Community Fund is so important.
"The cost of living crisis and strain on social care budgets means that collaborative working and partnerships are even more important in providing high-quality, person-centred services for adults with learning disabilities.
"We look forward to seeing what opportunities will arise from this support.”
The National Lottery Community Fund recently launched its new strategy, ‘It starts with community’, which will underpin its efforts to distribute at least £4bn of National Lottery funding by 2030.
As part of this, the funder has four key missions, which are to support communities to come together, be environmentally sustainable, help children and young people thrive and enable people to live healthier lives.
National Lottery players raise over £30 million a week for good causes across the UK. Thanks to them, last year The National Lottery Community Fund was able to distribute over half a billion pounds (£615.4 million) of life-changing funding to communities.
To find out more, people can visit www.TNLCommunityFund.org.uk
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