An UK charity which supports disabled people has received a match-funded grant worth £15,000 (€16,290) over the next three years from local firm Grundon Sand & Gravel.
With inclusivity at its heart, Kingsley Organisation provides self-development and training opportunities aimed at creating an environment where disabled people can learn new skills and show off their abilities.
It also has a real community focus and its head office, the Kingsley Centre in Kingsley, near Bordon, Hampshire, southern England, is a well-established community venue, complete with shop, Post Office, café, and a variety of activities. The charity also operates community-based services in Reading and Camden.
Financial cutbacks mean the organisation has been struggling to fund a community development worker, whose role helps bridge the gap between the local community and the services available.
Now, thanks to Grundon, chief executive Helen Dayson says the future is looking brighter.
“For small charities, having the support of local businesses is imperative to our sustainability and we are extremely grateful to Grundon,” she said. “Our vision is to help break down some of the barriers disabled people face, especially in relation to employment and independent living, as we believe supporting them through training and education opportunities is beneficial to all of us.”
Kingsley is close to Grundon’s Frith End Quarry and Andy Bright, the company’s general manager – aggregates, said: “Kingsley Organisation plays a really important role in helping so many people and is very much at the centre of the local community. We take a great deal of pride in supporting the areas in and around our operations and, knowing they were struggling with funding, saw the opportunity to support them over the next three years.”
The charity will be holding a number of activities, including sponsored events and jumble sales to match Grundon’s funding.
